Inquisition
One day, as the Journey continued...
...An exorcism ritual?
The Monolith Order does that too?
Yes...!
Lord Gaph protected humanity from Ehror, Bugg, and all manner of evil beings...
Relics are the body of Lord Gaph—they naturally carry the sacred power of purification and banishment.
There are priests who specialize in such rites, but...
If I borrow the power of the sacred relics... I might be able to perform one myself...!
First, please attach this to your body...!
What's this?
The evil aura released by Ehror and Bugg can cause sickness just by touching it.
This sacred relic will protect you from such wicked energy.
Elisa attached a small metallic seal to my clothes.
Its surface was badly worn, but I could faintly make out the words EMF protection.
R-right... of course.
And this is our Order's holy water—Hexaqua.
It's said to be highly effective for purification and healing.
We put it in a sprayer like this...
Then, please stand here on this platform.
This platform converts the air above into negative ions. Those are lethal to corrupted entities.
D-did I... explain that properly?
...I think so?
All right, then...!
With her free hand, Elisa suddenly drew her flail and pointed it straight at me!
R-reveal your true form!
Wait, me?!
Y-yes, Captain! You!
If... if you really are Ehror...!
Then purging you myself... will be the last mercy I can offer...!
So please, surrender and...
Receive the wrath... of divine judgment!
Elisa charged forward, eyes squeezed shut.
I quietly sidestepped, and she ran headfirst into the wall.
Oww...
What's gotten into me...?!
Every time I look at you, my heart races and my throat tightens!
The air around you glows, and time feels like it's slowing down!
Even during prayer...! Even in worship...!
Instead of Lord Gaph's blessed image, all I can think about... is your face!
S-so how can you say you're not Ehror?!
S-stop hiding your true form!!
Aah... s-such sweet, cruel words again...!
B-but if I stop here... I'll never accomplish anything...!
Sorry about this!
I snatched the sprayer from Elisa's hand.
Ah, C-Captain?!
That water burns demons on contact...!
I opened the cap and drank it down in one gulp.
Ah.
...Nothing happened, right?
No reaction from the ion field either...
And no smoke coming out of your mouth...
That must mean... you're not a demon after all...
I'm glad that clears it up.
Y-yes...
Forgive me, Captain...
But where did you even get that idea?
Well... um...
You got swept up again, didn't you...?
S-swept up?!
It's just that...
I couldn't understand why you'd praise someone like me...
So when I was told that I was hearing the whispers of Ehror, I... kind of... believed it...
Elisa hung her head, shrinking into herself.
I thought it would end in self-blame again, but...
When she looked up, her eyes carried a newfound determination.
...
I... I don't want to be a burden to you, Captain.
I want to cast off this weak self... and be reborn as someone better!
That's the spirit! I'll help you!
Thankfully, all her training on the Journey wasn't for nothing.
...Though maybe drinking that entire bottle of Hexaqua wasn't the best idea as my stomach hurt for two days straight afterward.
I swore never again to drink anything when I didn't know what was in it...