CHAPTER 132
The carriage carrying Babiyen, Iox, and Vanessa departed.
Upon hearing of Babiyen’s resurrection, Vasia and her mother burst into tears.
They apologized to her over and over, blaming themselves for their mistakes.
Babiyen watched them without saying much.
She would never forgive her family.
Their actions were just a self-serving atonement.
The Asteria Barony was now obligated to support Babiyen more than ever before.
But Babiyen was now more independent from the Asteria Barony than ever before.
In this ironic situation, Babiyen set off on her journey to the Imperial Palace.
I had also revived the Red Flame Lord to teach Babiyen.
Immediately after her revival, I had Iox destroy her magic circuits.
I then made a few deals with the crippled Red Flame Lord.
Having already lost her life once, she was surprisingly cooperative.
「This isn't a bad deal for me at all. Being alive is, after all, an opportunity. Right, boyfriend?」
I ignored the disgusting, flirty smile the Red Flame Lord gave me.
I trusted that Iox would manage her thoroughly.
As Babiyen’s carriage disappeared into the distance, I turned away as well.
I, too, had quite a few things to do.
“Harua!”
Just then, I heard Babiyen’s voice.
I looked back and saw Babiyen leaning out of the carriage window.
“I’ll be back soon! Don’t you go looking at anyone else!”
Does she think I’m going to let my eyes wander?
I snorted at the ridiculous comment and replied.
“Just focus on learning magic.”
“I will, even if you didn’t tell me to!”
With that, Babiyen was truly gone.
We might not see each other for a long time.
Still, I had a feeling that neither of us would forget the other.
‘Besides, we’ll be in regular contact regarding Imperial Palace matters anyway.’
Now, for the next task.
“Lululio, you said a report came in from the Regular Army.”
“Yes, that’s right-ssumda.”
We had stopped by Marenta, the mining town where Iox was staying.
And there, Aigis had sensed the presence of the Radiance Faith.
I reported this to the Regular Army, and they immediately launched an investigation.
The results came in today.
“Movements of the Radiance Faith have been detected in the villages near the Holy Church.”
Villages near the Holy Church.
The Radiance Faith had been spotted continuously in the nearby towns, including Marenta.
“Doesn’t seem to be any high-ranking members-ssumda. Most of the ones we catch are just ordinary people-ssumda.”
“That must be a tricky situation for the Regular Army.”
The Radiance Faith is, for now, a religion.
And it was a religion with a surprisingly large number of ordinary followers.
Cracking down on a religion was a difficult matter, even for the Regular Army.
The Radiance Faith is a group that harbors extreme hatred for Transferees.
Conversely, the Regular Army was a military force built around Transferees.
No matter how much each nation recognized them as an official army, it was a fact that the proportion of Transferees was high.
With hatred for Transferees at an all-time high due to Black Dawn's continuous terror attacks, a large-scale crackdown on the Radiance Faith would cause a backlash among the general populace.
Ordinary citizens don't know how corrupt the Radiance Faith truly is.
In their eyes, it would look like they were being oppressed simply for protesting against Transferees.
It could easily lead to resentment and massive protests from the locals of this world.
The Regular Army is, after all, a military force that gained recognition by accomplishing numerous deeds in this world.
Since they weren't an army that existed from the beginning, a single misstep could be the catalyst for their downfall.
That's why the Regular Army had been unable to move rashly on matters related to the Radiance Faith until now.
They were currently investigating the possibility that Bloody Crown had revived the Great Sinner as an Apostle, but…
...due to the aforementioned situation, their movements were inevitably slow.
This is why groups of people are such a headache.
It’s not easy when various ideologies and beliefs clash, constantly creating problems.
“And the Imperial and Royal Families are just dumping this whole problem on the Regular Army.”
“That’s right-ssumda. They don’t want to suffer any losses themselves, and since they have a good military tool called the Regular Army, they just pass the buck-ssumda.”
“And yet, their actual authority doesn't match that of the Imperial and Royal Families, so their investigations ultimately have limits.”
The Regular Army couldn't be completely free from the societal constraints of this world.
It's also why I refused positions like noble or Saint.

A position comes with responsibility, and a group comes with rules.
Getting entangled in them is exactly what leads to situations like this.
And that’s precisely why I anticipated such a scenario and put myself in this position.
“So, you intend to make a move yourself, Lord Harua.”
“As sharp as ever, Lady Aigis.”
Just as she said, I fully intend to intervene in this case.
“I have a foot in the Holy Church, a foot in the Imperial Family, and a foot in the Regular Army.”
It was a very ambiguous position.
I had recognition from all of them, but no official standing in any.
However, separate from that, I had built up a considerable amount of trust.
A single word from me, and the Regular Army, the Holy Church, or the Imperial Family would lend me their support.
It was because my power was so ambiguous that I had the most freedom.
“I am the one who can investigate the Radiance Faith without restraint.”
And there was one person I could ask for help in this matter.
That man who owes me a debt.
As a grim smile spread across my face, Aigis and Lululio glanced at each other.
“You might get scolded by Lady Aranseol or Lady Babiyen later.”¹
“Haha, you’re doing it for a good cause in the end, right?”
They both agreed with my plan.
With this, I had secured the power of both the Regular Army and the Holy Church.
Bloody Crown of the Radiance Faith.
Just you wait, you son of a bitch.
I’m coming for you myself.

The person I sought out next was already decided.
“Harua!”
The man greeted me with a bright smile the moment I arrived.
Bulldog.
It had been a while, and his face was blooming with a radiant smile.
His son had finally gotten married a short while ago.
Now that his wife was also healthy, he was happier than he’d ever been.
“It’s been a while, old man.”
“Yeah, it has. I’ve been hearing stories about you from all over. They say you’ve become a Saint.”
“It’s not official. Just something people are saying.”
“Hahahaha! Who would’ve thought the kid who used to carry my bags would become a Saint! But then again, if anyone deserves the title, it’s you! I knew you had it in you!”
It seemed he was really keeping up with news about me.
“So, what brings you here?”
Just like Bulldog.
He cut the small talk short and got straight to the point.
“It’s about the Radiance Faith.”
“Those rotten bastards?”

He was a man who had suffered all sorts of hardships because of the Radiance Faith.
Naturally, the mere thought of them made his blood boil.
“Yes. We need to dig up information on them and find their Archbishop, Bloody Crown.”
“Hmm, the Archbishop, you say.”
The old man had once been a member of the Radiance Faith himself.
Though, his membership ended when he died.
“I was only active for a little while. I doubt I’ll be of much help, you know?”
“No, I have a plan. Do you remember how they were hunting that No-Named murderer in the past?”
The No-Named who went around disguised as the Apostle of Wrath.
The Radiance Faith had dispatched a bishop and Bulldog to capture her.
“You, Bulldog, will visit the Radiance Faith, bringing the No-Named murderer with you.”
I had saved Bulldog’s wife.
But in the process, Bulldog had learned that the No-Named murderer had also been brought back to life.
Separate from his wife’s revival, his grudge against the murderer remained.
Unable to tolerate her living in peace, he had kidnapped her and taken her to the Radiance Faith, seeking to grant her a permanent death from which she could never be revived.
“...They’d believe that, for sure.”
“Yes. They’re the kind of lunatics who show killing intent at the mere sight of a Transferee. They’ll absolutely sympathize with your rage.”
They weren’t called fanatics for nothing.

“No, more than that… Harua, just as you said, I still hold a grudge over that incident.”
Ah, I see.
I looked into Bulldog’s eyes and understood instantly.
She was the murderer who had killed his wife.
Even if she had been captured and tortured by the Regular Army, his hatred wouldn't just disappear.
“Of course, thanks to you, I don’t indiscriminately hate all Transferees. But that No-Named murderer, that woman… she can never escape being the target of my resentment. Even now, my wife sometimes spends sleepless nights because of her.”
She had inflicted pain, death, and lasting trauma on his wife.
His grudge was justified.
“Bloody Crown knows that I revived your wife. Considering our personal relationship, there’s a high probability he’ll approach you directly.”
The Radiance Faith was a cult that expanded its influence by claiming to save people.
But with my appearance—someone who could actually bring people back to life—their power had dwindled rapidly.
From their perspective, I was both an obstacle and a coveted prize.
It was obvious they would try to get their hands on Bulldog.
“Harua, the Radiance Faith is a dangerous group.”
“Yes. That’s why I will guarantee your life. No matter what happens, I’ll revive you.”
“No, I’m not worried about my own life. I’m saying this for your sake.”
Bulldog placed a thick, heavy hand on my shoulder.
“You’re not overdoing it, are you?”
I was.
To anyone else, the path I was walking would certainly look that way.
I was constantly on the move, working to solve one problem after another with hardly a day’s rest.
But I could say this with certainty.
“Just as you hold a grudge against the No-Named murderer, there’s someone who holds a deep-seated grudge against me.”
Bloody Crown.
I had sworn to smash my fist right into that bastard’s face.
That’s why this wasn’t overdoing it or anything of the sort.
This was a crucial step for me, a chance to fix the first button that had been wrongly fastened.
“That bastard did something unforgivable. I have to absolutely crush him.”
“The people who praise you as a Saint would be horrified if they saw you now.”
“That’s why I refused the title.”
The image of the Saint was ultimately something created by the public, an image I had cultivated. It wasn’t the real me.
At my bloodthirsty smile, Bulldog smiled back.
“Alright. Let’s put an end to this damn connection once and for all.”
The Radiance Faith infiltration mission.
It begins now.

Translator Notes:
¹ Lululio ends her sentences with "-ssumda," a slangy, military-style verbal tic. This is rendered as a clipped, direct speaking style.