“I’d also like to request a full lockdown of the temple—immediately, if possible.”
“…The entire temple?”
Irik sighed, clearly already exhausted, then blinked in confusion at my sudden demand.
“Kento wasn’t the only spy.”
“What?”
“There are more spies?”
Both Irik and Seth looked utterly shocked.
I was starting to feel a little bad for constantly startling the two of them—but unfortunately, it was the truth.
“Yes, though I don’t know who they are or how many there might be.”
That part was completely true. If I had known, I could’ve earned their full trust right now.
But, of course, the original novel skimmed over this part. How frustrating.
Which meant I’d have to go digging for the answers myself.
“I’d like to leave the investigation to you, High Priest and Captain. I’m sorry to burden you with this just as you’ve returned, Captain.”
I did consider doing the interrogation myself—since that’s basically my specialty now—but these two were both male lead candidates.
They’d handle the job thoroughly without my help. I’d trust them with it.
“Not at all. As Captain of the Holy Knights, it’s my duty. I’ll conduct a full investigation, so please rest for now. You don’t look well.”
Honestly, I did want to spend the night grilling Kento with Seth…
“But I’ll leave it to you, then. We can talk about the rest tomorrow.”
My mind was sharp, but my body was ready to go on strike.
Had Ordell’s body never done a day of exercise? Her stamina was total garbage.
This wasn’t going to work. I’d need to start with basic physical training soon.
“You look like walking is hard for you… May I escort you to your room?”
Seth gently took my arm, clearly worried I’d collapse if I moved even one step.
“Oh my, then please do.”
Why refuse? No reason to.
I left Irik with a brief farewell and leaned into Seth’s strong shoulder as we headed toward my bedroom, slowly.
* * *
Once Ordell and Seth had left, Irik remained alone in the kitchen and pressed a hand to his forehead.
The chronic headache that had accompanied Ordell’s appointment as the temple’s saint had grown worse in recent days.
Specifically, since she had started to change.
Whether that was a good thing or not, he still didn’t know.
‘She said she didn’t tell me because she couldn’t trust me…’
That’s what Ordell had said—without the slightest hesitation—as if it were nothing.
But did she realize?
That it also meant she didn’t trust herself either?
Her tone, as if she never expected him to trust her to begin with, rubbed him the wrong way.
Ordell had been in the Grand Temple for two years.
And not once in that time had they built anything resembling trust.
So why did it sting to hear it spoken aloud?
Irik let out a dry laugh.
“Ah, you’re still here.”
Just then, Seth returned to the kitchen after escorting Ordell.
Irik took the opportunity to ask something he’d been wondering.
“Captain, why didn’t you recognize the Saint? You’ve seen her more than once.”
Seth was a swordmaster with impeccable perception. For him to miss something like that was strange.
“Well… her impression was just so different. It felt like I was seeing a completely different person.”
“Different?”
“Yes. The last time I saw her before leaving the temple, she had a rather fierce aura. But now… she’s so gentle, I didn’t think it could be the same person.”
Seth recalled his last memories of Ordell.
She’d always had sharp, glaring eyes and a stubborn scowl.
Her yellow-tinted gaze had been so aggressive, no one dared treat her lightly.
But the woman he’d seen again tonight, after half a year, was completely different.
Seth had never seen such a gentle, serene expression on her before.
Even her eyes, once blazing yellow, now looked golden—like warm honey.
The contrast was so extreme that it was harder to believe they were the same person.
Ironically, his sharp perception had made it harder to recognize her.
“…It seems the Saint has undergone a major change in mindset recently. Her personality’s changed as well.”
Irik briefly explained some of what Ordell had done over the past few days in the temple.
How she’d demanded better meals for the children. How she had started dining with them. How she had caught Kento embezzling earlier that day.
Seth was stunned.
“She’s really done a great thing. I should’ve been the one to catch the embezzler… I’ve been away too long.”
“This isn’t just your fault, Captain. I’m the one who failed to notice a rat eating through our stores.”
Irik smiled bitterly.
He should’ve paid more attention with Seth gone, but it had been his own lapse.
“And now isn’t the time to assign blame. We have to identify the remaining spies before it’s too late.”
Seth’s icy-blue eyes darkened at Irik’s words.
“You’re right, High Priest. As the Saint said, we’ll begin the lockdown immediately and summon everyone in the temple.”
“Every priest, knight, and acolyte—leave no one out. Be gentle with the children, but examine everyone thoroughly.”
Including the children might seem excessive, but the temple’s safety was at stake.
They couldn’t afford another slip.
Seth nodded, expression firm.
“I’ll be thorough.”
“I’ll interrogate Kento in the meantime. I’ll make sure he confesses to his accomplices.”
“Are you sure you want to do it alone? I can take over if—”
Irik shook his head firmly.
“This concerns the temple’s honor. I won’t take it lightly. Don’t worry.”
Seth didn’t press further and simply nodded.
Then, they both moved without hesitation.
Seth gathered the Holy Knights, and Irik headed alone to the deepest dungeon where Kento was held.
The air was dank and heavy with rot.
Two knights personally trained and trusted by Seth stood guard outside the cell—knights with no chance of being spies. That put Irik at ease.
Inside, Kento was chained at the wrists and ankles, shackled to the wall.
“Kento. From now on, you’ll answer every question I ask. Clearly. Honestly.”
Irik picked up a whip hanging from the wall.
Kento, who had been sneering at first, began to falter at the sight of the barbed tip.
Did he think torture didn’t happen in a temple that served the gods? Fool.
It’s because this is a temple that such judgment is allowed.
Striking down the wicked who defile the god’s name is only right.
“I’m in a terrible mood, so this is going to hurt quite a lot. Scream all you like. And when you can’t take it anymore, start talking. That might make me feel a bit better.”
Sensing danger, Kento tried to shrink back—but there was nowhere to run in a locked room.
“Don’t worry. You won’t die. Luckily for you, the god I serve—our Sun God—specializes in healing.”
Torture, heal, interrogate, heal—repeat.
Understanding that, Kento’s face turned a sickly shade of gray.
But Irik, looking down at him, didn’t show a shred of emotion.
A moment later, a horrific scream echoed through the dungeon.
* * *
The next morning.
After fulfilling their duties through the night, Irik and Seth met once more in front of the Saint’s drawing room.
Seth gave Irik a concerned look as he caught a faint scent of blood.
“High Priest… you smell like blood.”
“Ah, I tried to wash it off thoroughly. Is it still noticeable?”
“Just barely. The Saint probably won’t pick up on it, but in a closed room it might be stronger.”
Irik nodded. First thing upon entering, he’d need to open the windows. Ordell always took her time getting ready anyway—
‘Ah, no. That’s not true anymore.’
She used to spend forever putting on extravagant dresses and flashy accessories.
But recently, she had ordered all of them discarded.
Now she wore the saint’s robes or plain clothes—ones she used to ignore completely.
It was a stark sign that she’d really changed.
Remembering her quiet request to be trusted, Irik sighed.
“Um, High Priest… Captain…”
Just then, a maid who had gone into Ordell’s room returned with a startled expression.
“Th-The Saint isn’t in her room. It’s been completely cleaned out.”
At her unexpected report, both men’s eyes widened in shock.