“You bastard!” Juaquin snarled, his hand instinctively flying to the hilt of his sword. His eyes burned with indignation, his face flushed with anger as he took a step toward Ludwig. But Ludwig didn’t flinch. His eyes met Juaquin’s furious gaze, his expression calm but defiant. The tension in the room was palpable, the air thick with hostility.
Van Dijk’s lips curled into a smirk, his amusement barely concealed.
The bishop raised a hand his expression calm but firm. “The boy is right We are not here to admonish or to undermine the authority of the Black Tower,” he said, his voice smooth and measured. “Regardless, Master Van Dijk, we need to know a bit more about your last… adventure in the city.”
Van Dijk sighed, leaning back in his chair. His crimson eyes flicked to the bishop, his expression a mix of annoyance and resignation. “I had my disciple go and check out Rima,” he began, his tone clipped. “I had a feeling something was wrong there. After receiving reports from the dean…” He trailed off, pulling open a small drawer beneath his desk. He retrieved a piece of paper and placed it on the table with a deliberate motion.
The bishop picked up the document, his eyes scanning the contents with a practiced ease. His expression remained unreadable as he read through the details.
“Once my disciple went there,” Van Dijk continued, “he began investigating the traces of Dark Magic. He ended up finding a small cult of terrorists who had apparently defected from under the Sultan’s rule. Sirou should have all that information since he led the investigation…”
The bishop’s eyes narrowed slightly as he set the document down. “Are you telling me this boy managed to beat an entire faction by himself?” he asked, his tone skeptical. “Come now, Van Dijk. We know you’re not the most honest, but this is a blatant lie.”
Van Dijk’s smirk widened, his amusement evident. “There are very few people who can study at the Black Tower,” he said, his voice calm but laced with a subtle edge. “And even fewer who have the right to follow me. But there is only one who has ever become my disciple. It is your own lack of understanding that limits your mind from thinking beyond its capabilities. Ludwig has always been an exceptional student.”
The bishop’s expression remained calm, but his eyes flicked to Ludwig, a hint of curiosity in his gaze. “We have heard rumors of this boy,” he said, his tone measured. “Apparently, he scored exceptionally well in one of your cruel dungeon tests. And even was implicated in a murder… quite the dark fellow.”
Van Dijk’s smirk faded, replaced by a cold, steely expression. “One must do what it takes to survive the Black Tower Academy,” he said, his voice sharp. “As for the murder, it’s nothing but lies—fabricated by his peers out of jealousy. We’re still investigating the perpetrator. Regardless, I’m sure you’re not here just to investigate my disciple’s past. Tell me, what do you want?”
The bishop leaned back, his expression calm but unyielding. “Right, right. Regardless, after conducting our own investigation—since Sirou’s wasn’t too conclusive—we came to the conclusion that something very sinister was going on. Do you mind telling us what?”
Van Dijk’s eyes flicked to Ludwig, a subtle signal passing between them. “I think Ludwig will have a better account of what happened,” he said, deftly shifting the focus to his disciple.
Ludwig stepped forward, his expression calm but his tone laced with a subtle edge. “Nothing really,” he said, his voice steady. “Just some crazy whacko wanting to gain immortality by absorbing the souls of the people they caught. Turns out, he received help from someone at the Tibari Bog. You should go check that place out if you want to find out more.”
The bishop’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening slightly. “What do you mean?” he asked, his tone sharp.
Ludwig met his gaze, his expression unreadable. “You know about the guy in the Bog, right? Surely, with all this ‘holier than thou’ attitude, if you’re actually seeking to purge darkness, you should start there.” His tone was mocking, his words cutting through the air like a blade.
The bishop’s smile tightened, but he remained calm. “Ah, that filthy thing. We’ll handle it when the time comes,” he said, his tone dismissive.
Ludwig’s lips curled into a smirk. “Ah, it’s fine. Just say you can’t. After all, he isn’t something you can take on. I mean, if I were you, I wouldn’t even want to get close to it. I’d also go around bullying other factions instead of dealing with the real threat.”
The paladin’s face flushed with anger, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. “Watch your tongue, boy!” he snapped, his voice sharp and dangerous.
Ludwig’s smirk widened. “Or what? If you have better things to do, go and kill the owner of the Bog. Stop wasting time here, cowards.”
The paladin’s rage boiled over, but the bishop raised a hand, silencing him with a single gesture. “Indeed, the boy is right,” he said, his tone calm but laced with a subtle edge. “Though our purpose is to rid the world of all that is vile, we have yet to receive the clear order to venture into the Bog. Also, it isn’t the only one. Still, tell me, how did you two survive the creature in the Bog?”
Ludwig shrugged, his tone casual. “Survive? We never fought it. We simply had a conversation.”
The bishop’s eyes narrowed, his curiosity piqued. “I’m interested in the content of the conversation,” he said, his tone calm but probing.
Ludwig glanced at Van Dijk, who gave a subtle nod. “Nothing really,” Ludwig said, his tone casual but laced with a subtle edge. “He was pretty arrogant—more than you guys—but at the same time, respectful. His arrogance came from his own strength.”
The paladin’s lips twisted into a scowl. “Sounds like you’re praising something that is dark,” he said, his voice sharp and accusatory. “You can get hanged for it.”
Ludwig’s smirk widened. “Praise? Nah, that was respect for power. I have no praise for something that would eat people’s innards and minds, turning them into undead husks that know neither the taste of life nor the rest of death. What I don’t praise is your lack of action against a foe that is so confidently living in this world, bringing nothing but death and hunger, while you’re sitting on your ass, preaching righteousness without action.”
The paladin’s face flushed with anger, but the bishop raised a hand, silencing him once more. “I can see why you chose him as your disciple,” the bishop said, his tone calm but laced with a subtle edge. “He has the same temperament as you, Van Dijk.”
Van Dijk’s smirk returned, but he said nothing. Instead, he gestured for Ludwig to stand next to him. “Enough, Ludwig. Come here,” he said, his tone firm but calm.
The bishop leaned back, his expression calm but unyielding. “Well, I’ll be sending a small expedition to see what’s up with the Bog. We have yet to fully understand the scope of corruption there. We also have more matters to attend to, with the new saint and all.”
Van Dijk’s eyes narrowed, his curiosity piqued. “You have a new saint? What happened to the other one?”
The bishop’s smile tightened, his tone calm but laced with a subtle edge. “Ah, she died. Simple as that.”