Hero’s Downfall Report

53 – Report on the Fall of Humility (1)

Nicapolis, meaning ‘city of victors’, is a city under the direct control of the empire and is located in the southwestern region near the Western Desert. Its glorious name was given in commemoration of the conquest of this place, a sacred place for western pagans, by the combined forces of the Empire and the Southern Kingdom during the Third Crusade.

Unfortunately, most of the people of the empire and even public officials call this place by its old name, ‘Emmao’. It often appears not only in daily conversation but also in official documents, and we must clearly recognize that this is not only an incorrect expression but also an act that dishonors the empire.

First of all, the word ‘Emmaos’ itself is a Western pagan language that is blasphemous to even say. In uncivilized and vulgar language, it means ‘warm spring’ or ‘clear water’. The reason it was given this name is because the water comes from Nikapolis.

The southwestern region of the empire has a dry climate and little rain, and groundwater is rare, making it difficult to dig wells.

However, Nikapolis has not only a well, but also a small lake-sized spring from which groundwater gushes. In the hot spring where warm water gushes out, there is also a spring where you can drink natural carbonated water, which can be said to be God’s grace.

(Footnote: Imperial edict absolutely prohibits the distribution of carbonated water outside of Nikapolis. This is a measure to revitalize the local economy.)

No matter how foolish and dull a pagan is, he or she knows the value of water. For them, Emmaus was a holy place and a center of transportation and commerce.

The fact that there are people who still cling to the old name even after more than 30 years after its conquest illustrates how much Nikapolis meant to the Empire and to the pagans of the West, while at the same time helping the empire that conquered this great city. Makes his achievements even more brilliant.

So, a sensible person would say that it would be better to use the ‘victor’s expression’ called Nikkapolis instead of the ‘loser’s expression’ called Emmaus.

– Excerpt (draft) from the ‘Emmao-＞Nicapolis’ section in ‘Place names incorrectly used in imperial official documents and their correct notation’, edited by the Imperial Finance Bureau.

– Warning: This book is a valuable asset of the Empire and the Treasury, so use, quotation, mention, duplication, sharing, copying, reprocessing, redistribution, or requotation without paying a fair usage fee is strictly prohibited. Each imperial civil servant must ‘purchase and use one ticket at a fair price.’

* * * * *

For three hours in her carriage, Mary, dressed as a nun, gazed intently at her Cain.

It wasn’t something to look the other way and look somewhere else; it was literally an observation. It was a level of concentration similar to that of a painter looking intently at the scenery to paint a landscape.

“If I’ve seen that much, I think I haven’t watched it long enough.”

Cain pointed this out gently, but Maria didn’t seem to be listening.

“That’s because I don’t understand. “It’s so good that I lose my mind just looking at it.”

The second words were clearly directed at Lily. Lily answered expressionlessly, as if they were exchanging sword strikes.

“It’s better not to know.”

“Why?”

“If you know, you can’t help but like it.”

Lily asked if she was asking something obvious. Mary was at a loss for words for a moment, and Cain seriously considered getting out of her carriage and joining her driver.

“… Excuse me. Sorry. It’s my fault.”

That’s what I said, but Maria doesn’t seem very pleased. Lily has changed since what happened at Masada. She openly followed Cain around, and became restless if he was not seen even for a moment. She said that Mary was like the mother who left her child by the water, but Cain could not find anything to say in response.

The shadow brings out the image that the person is afraid of. They range from something she wants to avoid, turn away from, and forget to something she finds disgusting, she said.

As the darkness deepens, the shadows reveal a more intense image. Cain indirectly asked her what on earth she had seen that night, but Lily just trembled and came closer to her, unable to say anything out loud.

Typically, it was a symptom of agents who had experienced something terrible. This is a symptom of anxiety that Cain is familiar with through numerous accident cases.

Although it is said to be something that every agent experiences at least once, she seemed to have come to Lily unusually quickly. If she was in a probationary state, she would have nothing to say even if she was immediately instructed to rest and rest.

But Lily is now a full-time agent. Even though she said that Cain’s actions bordered on her authority, she raised the report, so she is a fait accompli. Now, whether she likes it or not, she is as good as Grandpa Bernays can order Lily to take leave of her own power.

Knock knock.

The coachman knocked on the cabin.

“Cain. Emmaus is just around the corner. If you want to get off, you have to get off here.”

Although Emmaus is not the front line of the empire, it is the most important supply base and warehouse on the southwestern border and is a large city with many civilians.

Pagan caravans or imperial merchants wishing to cross the border must undergo thorough searches and logistics at the border and Emmaus. Even the imperial mail carriage is no exception.

So, the three decided to get off at a suitable place before entering Emmaus. The modified mail carriage, with only a human driver, would pass through customs without any problems and arrive properly at the Security Bureau branch disguised as the Post Office.

Instead, Cain and Lily decided to act as ‘secret investigators’ hired by Inquisitor Maria. This took advantage of the Inquisitor’s immunity and confidentiality rights.

In principle, the Heretic Questioners work in secret. If you go around openly, heretics and heretics will know in advance and run away.

Therefore, Mary briefly shows the Inquisitor’s ring and the miracle of sacred fire, and she says, ‘If word spreads that the Inquisitor has arrived in the city and the heretic runs away, your guards will also be judged to be sympathizers.’ It may be intimidating.

The three people packed their luggage that they had packed in advance. Cain’s backpack was quite light, having sent Anna her report on the fall of chastity and volumes 1 and 2 of her sordid diary. Of course, the three diaries are still inside.

The carriage left, and the group entered the road. Horse-drawn carriages aren’t the only thing traveling on Southern Boulevard. Hikers can also be seen frequently. Most of them are pilgrims trying to retrace their journey to Magdeburg and the Third Crusade.

Cain was even holding her cane, and Mary was wearing a nun’s uniform, so they seemed like ordinary pilgrims. The camouflage was perfect, and there was nothing to catch.

However, the group was surprisingly caught in the search.

* * * * *

As expected, there were wagons lined up at the checkpoint. Imperial soldiers and Emmaus officials came and went diligently, inspecting the cargo.

However, it was unexpected that the Holy Grail Knights set up a separate checkpoint. Even when they said they had passed the imperial checkpoint, they remained steadfast.

An argument broke out, but the knights did not budge. He didn’t even say why. I even ignored it completely.

“Hey. Security agents. “Do you know anything?” Maria, who was quite embarrassed, whispered in her ear. But Cain and Lily also heard nothing. Even the coachman looked very embarrassed.

If nothing else, the fact that the ‘coachman belonging to the Southern Branch of the Security Bureau’ was surprised could be evidence that something had happened in the city a day ago or this morning. Otherwise, there is no way such an urgent change could occur.

I passed the imperial military post without much difficulty. Behind the guard post, Mary snapped her fingers, sparking holy fire at her fingertips and displaying the Inquisitor seal.

The security commander, who was asked to cooperate with the ban on disclosure and even threatened, willingly let it pass as if he had already experienced this many times.

However, when asked what exactly happened that the Holy Grail Knights would conduct a search and search, he seemed reluctant. He argued that misunderstandings would be reduced if he went and listened in person, rather than relying on his own poor verbal skills. Other people were also standing in line, so Maria just endured it and passed on.

And after a long wait, after her face had turned red and blue several times, Maria and her group arrived at the Holy Grail Knights post.

Men and women with shaved heads formed groups of two to search people’s bodies and luggage. They ranged from hikers to expensive merchants, but they didn’t show any respect. They threatened and threatened civilians.

“Look at those guys?”

Mary took the ring off her finger and put it in her pocket. Cain looked at Mary with her bewildered eyes.

“Why that?”

“Let’s see what happens to me.” Maria, dressed as a nun, growled.

Soon, the group’s turn came. A weasel-looking male member, who had no beard and was now an adult or not, looked up and down.

“You must be a nun.”

Maria tried to smile. She seemed to be holding back her anger.

“Go to the tent over there and take off your clothes.”

“I don’t quite understand, sir.”

Maria answered politely. To Cain, it sounded like a cat purring in front of her mouse. Her weasel knight pushed Maria away.

“Go.”

Cain had to hold back her laughter. Maria tilted her body as if she had been really pushed, but before the knight could push her, she had thrown herself back like a reed.

“No. You need to explain. I have heard of cases like this in the Knights Templar… “

“Oh my god, really! “Get out of there!”

The guy tried to push Maria again, even spitting at her. Cain intervened. As if to say, ‘What are you?’ The knight pushed Cain’s chest with her gauntleted hand. But Cain was not pushed away at all.

“I guess cursing at nuns is the basic policy of the Knights of the Holy Grail?”

“This bastard… “

“There. What!”

A man walked behind her, who had cut her hair short and had a long scar on his face. Judging by his thick, protruding eyebrows and the vertical line between his eyebrows, he looked like he was easily irritable. Seeing the weasel knight frown for a moment, it seems clear.

“Didn’t I tell you that if you don’t respond, just accept the next person? You. You can’t pass, so come back tomorrow. Now, next!”

“Wait a minute. “You have to explain it so I can understand.”

Lily, who was inferior, protested politely. Her scarred man frowned at her.

“What can a wandering wanderer do on his own? “It’s no good knowing.”

Ping.

The sparkle in Maria’s hand flew in a parabola towards her man. Because it was slow, had a high altitude, and had grand movements, her scarred man was able to catch it without difficulty.

“How dare you throw this kind of trash…” “

The Scar Knight’s face turned pale as he slowly examined the Heretic Questioner’s signet ring.

“Hey.”

Maria scratched the back of her head.

“Call the tallest kid.”

* * * * *

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Kubler, the detachment leader and a female knight who appeared to be in her mid to late thirties, was restless. “I. That’s it. Heretic Questioner… “

And he glared at his subordinates with his resentful eyes. The weasel man and the scarred knight were lying face down with their heads on the floor of the headquarters tent with their backs on their backs, so they had no idea how angry the detachment leader was.

“I’m disappointed. Detachment leader. Was the level of the Holy Grail Knights originally this high? “Is it natural for people to swear, push, and spit on people, whether they are civilians, soldiers, or even nuns?”

“Sorry!”

Kubler stood at attention, but Maria did not seem impressed at all.

“Sorry? Being sorry means you know what went wrong. It’s getting more annoying, isn’t it? Why do you make mistakes on purpose? Tell me straight. Is this your opinion, or did someone higher up above you give you instructions? “If you lie, you will be taken to the Magdeburg headquarters on perjury charges, so that’s what I know.”

“It was an order from above.” Kübler sweatdropped. “Yes, but please forgive me for not telling you sooner.”

Quebler looked at Cain and Lily alternately, as if asking them to help. Cain nodded her head as if it was okay for her to speak.

“As you know, Nikapolis is a reliable source of drinking water in the region. There are places where groundwater springs, but it is difficult to touch the water vein indiscriminately, so water can only be drawn from designated wells.”

“But?”

“But this morning, a person was found dead after drowning in one of the wells. “There was a dagger stuck in my heart.”

Maria tilted her body. She was ready to grab Kübler by the collar.

“What is your identity? “Has it been confirmed?”

“… Yes.”

“Who is it?”

Kübler closed his eyes tightly. He looked like he was telling a bad joke.

“This is Rabbi Shazar al-Dur. Former western pagan general, also known as the Sword Dancer….”