Recruitment? And the Final Truth

"You're right. I did it." Ansu didn't see any reason to hide it.

Cecilia had deliberately avoided using so-called "black magic." She'd defeated Terry using only low-level spells, which were perfectly legal in the Empire.

After all, the technology behind the entire magitech industry was a complex magical rune structure, combined from a dozen or so of the most basic zero-circle spells by some genius. The emperor of the Empire would have to be a fool to ban magic outright.

Only the Church, with its "conflict of faith," was so opposed to magic. They never tired of preaching "the evils of magic," which naturally annoyed the emperor and the new nobility across the Empire who'd made their fortunes from the magitech industry.

"You defeated Bishop Terry using nothing but low-level magic?" Leonard sounded surprised.

He studied Ansu carefully. There was no hostility in his gaze; instead, it held a note of appreciation. "Looks like you're a magical prodigy."

"Bishop Leonard!" Freya hadn't picked up on the implications of his words. Worried that the Bishop Leonard's Demon Hunter Squad might take Ansu away, she hurriedly said, "Ansu isn't a black mage! He's a good, righteous person who believes in the Holy Light! I'll vouch for him!"

"Freya, don't worry." Leonard hadn't expected her to react so strongly, so he smiled. "I didn't come here to arrest him."

"Then why did you come...?" Freya asked, confused.

"Someone as young as Ansu, who can make low-level magic so powerful, is a rare talent!" Leonard praised him, then suddenly proposed, "Since Freya thinks so highly of you, and you seem to have such a connection with our Church, why not join my ranks and become a member of the Demon Hunter Squad?"

"Hm?" Ansu hadn't expected him to try to recruit him.

In the original story, Vera had joined the Demon Hunter Squad. He hadn't expected it to be his turn this time. He had to admit, his family seemed to have quite a connection with this organization...

"You don't need to worry," Leonard said, seeing that Ansu had been silent for a while and assuming he had reservations. "My Demon Hunter Squad has magic users among its ranks, and I'm not as old-fashioned as the other Church bishops. As long as you're willing to serve the Church and pass my test, you can receive special authorization from the Church."

"Thank you for your trust, Bishop Leonard." Ansu smiled politely. He knew the Demon Hunter Squad was indeed an outlier within the Church.

The organization was far more pragmatic. To hunt down "dangerous individuals" hiding in society as efficiently as possible, they accepted all kinds of extraordinary powers.

Many members of the Demon Hunter Squad had even taken potions and been transformed into people with an affinity for magic. Like Hunting the Darkness—Vera in the story, they had some skill in magic, divine arts, and martial techniques, making them near-omnipotent combat monsters.

Ansu was certainly tempted by the Church's "special authorization," but he didn't want to join the Demon Hunter Squad and work for Leonard.

"I appreciate the offer, but my main priority right now is my studies. I'll think about joining the Demon Hunter Squad," Ansu said, politely declining and explaining his predicament.

"Very well..." Bishop Leonard said, disappointed, but he didn't press the matter.

He then inspected the room with several of his subordinates, spoke with Freya for a while about Bishop Terry, and left.

That left only the three of them in the room.

After hearing the Church's people gradually leave, Cecilia raised an eyebrow. "Bishop Leonard is more capable than he seems."

Few people could have sensed the magical aura she'd deliberately concealed.

"He's more than just capable," Ansu said meaningfully. "The matter with Bishop Terry isn't over yet..."

"You mean..." Cecilia was basically on the same wavelength as Ansu about this. She narrowed her eyes, suspicion in her voice. "That man just now—something was off about him?"

"Huh? Is there something wrong with Bishop Leonard, too?" Freya couldn't keep up with the two of them. She stared wide-eyed at them. "But Bishop Leonard doesn't look like a bad person at all!"

Ansu looked helplessly at Freya. "Saintess, do you really judge whether someone's good or bad just by their appearance...?"

"Not exactly..." Freya looked conflicted as she gazed at Ansu. "I've always been good at sensing these things... For example, from the first moment I saw you, I knew you weren't a bad person!"

Cecilia burst out laughing.

Could there really be a good person in the Echo of Truth Cult?

Ansu wondered what kind of expression this Saintess would make if she learned his true identity.

Ansu glanced silently at Cecilia. She held back her laughter for a long while before finally managing to stop, while Freya watched their reactions, growing even more confused.

"Freya... people are complicated. Don't make judgments so easily in the future..." Ansu said quietly. "None of these three bishops are as simple as they seem—even Paul, who's been the kindest to you. And Leonard commands a violent organization like the Demon Hunter Squad."

"Since Terry already knew about the cultists operating in Benalu City," Ansu continued thoughtfully, "there's no way the Demon Hunter Squad, fighting on the front lines, knew nothing about them. Leonard may have already realized the threat posed by the Echo of Truth Cult..."

Cecilia stopped laughing and followed Ansu's reasoning. "Even if Leonard wasn't the mastermind, he knew what was going on. He might even have helped bring it about indirectly."

"That's what I think, too." Ansu nodded gravely.

Freya listened to the two of them, unable to get a word in.

"If we work backward from what we know, Leonard really is the one who benefits most." Ansu tried to piece together the whole truth. "Bishop Terry has become a traitor, despised by everyone. Of the three candidates for pope, only the rather mediocre Paul remains."

"Freya," Ansu suddenly asked, "I've had you keep an eye on the three archbishops this whole time, even noting their daily routines..."

"I remember you telling me about their personalities and hobbies. Tell me about Leonard again, in detail!"

"Okay!" Freya nodded.

Ansu listened quietly as Freya described him. When she mentioned one particular detail, his brow unfurrowed, and he suddenly understood.

"He idolizes the tenth pope, Gregory, and even has a portrait of Saint Gregory hanging in his room..."

"So that's it..."

For the past few centuries, newly elected popes had rarely used their given names. Instead, they usually chose another name as their papal title, often that of a legendary "saint" or a famous pope from history, to serve as a model and carry on a particular governing vision...

Saint Gregory had been a decisive pope who led humanity out of darkness. If Leonard rose to power, he would take the name Gregory IV.

And in the original story, the next pope was Gregory IV...

That was it.

Ansu was still using his advantage of knowing the story to work backward toward the truth. If Leonard was ultimately going to be elected pope, then he was far too suspicious.

Gregory IV was a background character in the game's main story, which began before these events. He never even showed his face. That was why Ansu hadn't been able to connect him with Leonard at first. The pope had reigned for only three years before Cecilia assassinated him, making him a stepping stone to the terrifying reputation of the Witch of World Destruction.

Ansu gazed thoughtfully at Cecilia. According to the original story, Terry ultimately failed to kill Samantha and ended up causing the Academy Tragedy. He'd tried to pull off a clever scheme and only shot himself in the foot...

In the end, neither Bishop Terry, with all his power, nor Paul, who bore responsibility for the chaos in his diocese, came out on top. Leonard had reaped the rewards.

So that was the final truth...