The Inquisitor vanished without a trace. There was a slight dent in the middle of the sofa, a sign that he had been there until a few moments ago. The other Hunters and I looked back and forth between the empty spot on the sofa and the hologram. “Gong-Ja, do you really think he’ll do okay?” “Hmm. The Inquisitor has changed a bit.” “Even if you take out the ‘h’ in psycho, the word will still be pronounced the same. He’s just as insane as he was before.” “Anastasha, think of it . Wouldn’t he make significant progress if the ‘path’ in ‘psychopath’ disappeared?” “What the hell are you guys saying?” the Paladin asked, baffled. “Ever since you two became friends, listening to your conversations makes me dizzy. Black Dragon Master and Death King, I thought you two would never become such good buddies, so it’s astonishing that you ended up getting along so well. One was the epitome of a goofy gangster, and the other used to be a perfect city girl.” “Why? Are you feeling lonely since we became besties? I’ve always kept my heart open for you, Miss Paladin. Let’s have a magical friendship! Come on!” The Paladin could only sigh. “You are the second in rank in our Tower...” Something changed in the hologram. Just moments ago, laughter like that used to fill the waiting room. This time, it was coming from beyond the hologram. We turned to watch the Inquisitor. He was like a stinky trash can left open in the sun, so we had no choice but to turn our heads toward the source of the foul smell. The universe’s cutest blonde trash can smiled radiantly, floating above the jungle. He beamed, his smile similar to the stars twinkling in the sky. —Hello! Greetings to you, Shellmounts and non-Shellmounts! It’s my first time seeing you ! While I was in Slimepolis, I mostly used dogs to communicate with you. Even in your dreams, I took the form of a dog! So perhaps this is the perfect greeting I can offer for you here. Nice to meet you for the first time, Shellmounts! —It’s him, the same guy we saw in our heads! —What is the meaning of this? The Shellmounts gazed up at the sky. It wasn’t just them. Because Saimeslam had displayed tremendous skills, numerous people from all species glanced above her, where the Inquisitor was. —Lime, he looks very divine... The Shellmounts were in awe. Indeed, seeing someone leisurely walking on air felt sacred. In reality, the Inquisitor was using his Divine Formula: Teleportation at intervals of 0.5 seconds, creating the illusion that he was floating gracefully. The Shellmounts had no way of knowing this, so they gazed up at their god with shiny eyes. A flicker of hope crossed the minds of my colleagues in the waiting room. “It’s going surprisingly well, isn’t it?” “Yeah, Mr. Inquisitor does look rather captivating. Honestly, no one would argue if he were ranked fourth in the Tower based on looks alone. He’s the most handsome person in our Tower. With just a few bright smiles...” “It might be surprisingly easy to sway them.” Yes, we probably underestimated the Inquisitor too much. He and the Black Witch were both extremely attractive. With the Inquisitor’s stunning face and deceptively innocent voice and smile, he had no issues attracting ignorant humans. Since he was also floating in the sky, didn’t that make him a god? The Inquisitor gently placed his hands on his chest. Having been the guild leader of the Pantheon for ten years for a good reason, he moved in a very divine manner as he said his prayer. —Dear Shellmounts, I love you all. His face resembled a beautifully-carved marble statue. Beneath his slightly lowered eyebrows, his bright eyes stood out. His lips were delicately pursed, as if he was about to share a secret or a confession. All these gestures captivated the Shellmounts as they watched in awe. —You've all seen the memories, so you know that I’m the Inquisitor, the one you hailed as the Great Dog. For two hundred years, I left my colleagues and imprisoned myself in this world. I wished to be with you so I could watch over you closely and care for you all! —Yes, he’s telling the truth. When the other gods’ work was done, they quickly left for the other... Hmm, should I call it other world or outside world? Anyhow, they simply went elsewhere. —But our god chose to remain by our side... It's tough for a human to live for fifty years, let alone two hundred. He stayed by our side for two hundred years without revealing his true self to anyone or even speaking to his friends... That's... The Inquisitor clasped his hands together with yet another bright smile. —Yes, I did it because I love you. Cheers from excited Shellmounts erupted. It was understandable. Finding out that their god was actually a human was undeniably shocking, but knowing they were cared for by a human who was devoted to their cause eclipsed the initial shock and made the Shellmounts emotional. Since this human had watched over them for so long, did it matter that he was human? If he wasn’t a god, then what was a god in the first place? A young Shellmount waved their tentacles. —Angel! He’s an angel! —Exactly! He’s an angel who loves our species! —Angel, you are so beautiful! Ah, angel! Thank you! All they had to do was replace the title of a god with that of an angel. —Hahaha. My lovely snails! The Inquisitor was adept at manipulating emotions, fabricating stories, orchestrating pyramid schemes, and mass-producing fervent followers. With a most enchanting voice, a very elegant appearance and equipped with a chillingly psychopathic personality that distanced him from humanity, it was inevitable for him to become who he was today. —Don’t be surprised by our differences in appearance. What matters is the love we share! When the Inquisitor snapped his fingers, his form changed to a slimmer adult. Startled, the Shellmounts waved their tentacles and shouted “Laimu!” The Inquisitor transformed back into his boy form. —As you can see, I can alter my appearance at will. Appearance isn’t important! Love! Only my love for you and how you all cherish me truly matters! —Great Dog, the leader of our species... I had to admit that I had underestimated the Inquisitor's abilities. “He would be able to establish a cult in any world he stepped foot in.” The Black Witch shook her head. “Yes, he’s inherently gifted to become a cult leader. Isn’t that strange? I think the universe is at fault for birthing the Inquisitor.” The Paladin commented, “The Inquisitor has encountered countless religions and heretics from outside the Tower. He has found and dealt with all of them. The believers he didn’t kill are now under his management. It’s impossible to defeat him in the religious department.” But there were always exceptions. The sound of a whip echoed. The palm leaves in the jungle shivered, and the wind whisked away the fine bark on the trunks. The Shellmounts quickly regained their composure, directing their tentacles toward the source of the whipping sound. —Despite the recently submitted bill in the Fire Water Council, it seems my foolish compatriots are unaware of its severity. Saimeslam was visibly annoyed. Her tentacle twitched. —If you want to discuss gods, you must challenge me to a duel and block my attack at least once. That’s the law. It’s unmistakably clear. Yet, lime, why are you all gawking at this guy? Is it because you’ve forgotten why I considerately offer a grace period? It’s acceptable to execute everyone who breaks the law, you know. The jungle's air grew heavy with tension. —But, given the case’s uniqueness, I’ll let it slide this time. Sighs of relief echoed throughout the jungle. Everyone knew how strict the chairwoman was. Her strictness was especially famous among the Shellmounts. The prevalent belief was that Saimeslam was stricter with her own species. When the area fell silent, Saimeslam raised her tentacle and gazed upward at the Inquisitor. —Lime. You said your name is the Inquisitor, yes? —First, can you confirm if that’s the actual name of the Great Lime? The Inquisitor grinned. —If you're asking whether that's my real name, hmm, that's a little tricky to answer. I possess a name signifying my life and another that I was born with. The Inquisitor represents the former. It’s akin to your title of Chairman of the Fire Water Council! It expresses my position, defines my responsibilities, and showcases my capabilities.” Saimeslam looked at the Inquisitor impassively. —I am Saimeslam, the council chairwoman, but I can still choose to resign if I want to. I had a life before I assumed my chairmanship, and I can forge a new path after I quit. Thus, Saimeslam alone is my name. What is yours? Time drifted by. It was noon. The sun was shining brightly. The midday sunlight rays bounced from the palm leaves, casting fractal shadows on the ground. Saimeslam’s face was half-covered by one of these shadows, while the Inquisitor’s face darkened. The Inquisitor offered a faint smile. —It translates to “doll.” From your perspective, it's a word from a language belonging to an entirely different realm. It makes no difference if you call me Kukra since it bears the same meaning. However, I kindly ask that you avoid calling me Bambolina if possible. —It’s the name my one and only master occasionally uses for me! If you must address me by my actual name, please refer to me as Kukra. —I understand, Kukra. My colleagues silently observed me. The Inquisitor himself had spread the news that I was now his master. People of high caliber, like the Black Witch and the Paladin, would have guessed how exceptionally special the contract between the Inquisitor and me was. The Inquisitor revealed his real name to his children. It was a name he had revealed to me to show his loyalty. Now, he had to do it a second time. “Bambolina must have realized that the meeting isn’t merely a congregation of religious leaders and followers,” I said. I had to meet many prerequisites to learn the Inquisitor's real name, such as surmounting numerous challenges and validating my qualifications and capabilities. I had to prove I was more competent than him and that I could utilize his potential. However, there were some people in the world whom one had to reveal their true self without meeting those requisites. “If I were to describe what I’m seeing, this is a meeting between a father and his children.” Children. Daughters. Sons. I went on. “Even though he is the leader of one of the Tower’s top five guilds, the Inquisitor can’t introduce himself as the Pantheon Master. Being the Rank 4 Hunter isn’t an accomplishment he can flaunt right now.” When parents and children spent time together, the parents aged while the children matured until the latter reached a stage where they coexisted with their parents in society. Once that happened, they could come to appreciate the weight of his titles like Pantheon Master or the Rank 4 Hunter. This could also foster affection from understanding and respect, but that wasn’t the case now. “As Bambolina mentioned, this is his first official encounter with the Shellmounts.” It was the first time he properly met his children. Because of this, Bambolina had to show his true self, not the Inquisitor or the Pantheon Master, unless he intended to use his children for his own gain. The Inquisitor was still smiling, though the air around him felt rather cold. The warm, bright, and kind smile of everyone’s leader transformed into a mere courtesy to comfort others. However, the Shellmounts were basically his children. Saimeslam stared at her father, her god and angel. —We Shellmounts possess a unique way of thinking. In our view, only the useful are worth living. The useless ought to be neglected so that they can perish. Saimeslam waved her tentacle. —We dedicate our lives to being useful. Rest serves merely as preparation for labor, and sleep is a necessary part of daily life. We wake at dawn, train ourselves, and return only after finishing our work at night. Throughout the day, we continually assess our usefulness and check for any lapses in our diligence. Saimeslam’s voice resembled the shadows of numerous palm trees creeping along the dark ground. The Shellmounts, clinging to the shade and coated in mucus, nodded in agreement. Saimeslam went on. —The useless are flawed from the start. We bestow bluestones to them and let them rot in the old tunnels that no one uses anymore. Bluestone was a luminous blue stone primarily used as medicine among the Shellmounts. Still, it was highly addictive, so consumption was shunned. The other Shellmounts nodded in agreement once again. Like a cuckoo’s echo, the Shellmounts murmured from the shadows. The air felt tense. —There is no need to kill the weak. Rather, we spare them as much as we can. If they run out of bluestones, they scream that they don’t care that they’re starving, they just want more bluestones. When we see them, we think, Oh, we’re still useful and are at ease. —It’s not bad to be a loser in life. After all, these losers squandered their lives because they got addicted to bluestones. They say that they like bluestones better than living normal lives. If that’s the case, we give them gifts that are better than life. We tell them “Lime, eat more. More. Indulge.” —They are losers, but that alone holds value. It keeps us vigilant. Lime. We are a remarkable species. We subdued all six species under our tentacles, constructed the Great Cave, and reigned there. Although the millennium empire fell because of the slaves, the empire still lives in our memories. Even today, we aspire to spend a useful day as citizens of the empire. —These are all your lessons. —You taught us what is valuable and what is not. We were young, so we just nodded along and followed what you said. As we matured, we used our tentacles and took action. You encouraged us to be proud, so that’s what we did. With your guidance, we built an empire. Your words made us who we are. —You gave us life. Taught us how to hate others, feel joy, pride, what is and isn’t considered taboo... Everything we know is what you taught us. You passed these lessons down to us. —So, Kukra. Even if you didn’t physically give birth to us, you birthed our spirit, our senses, and our very lives. You are our father. I mean, think about our way of speaking. At first, you called yourself Lime, so we say lime when we feel happy. If we feel down, we say laimu. Do you get it? Your name shapes happiness and sadness. —Lime, lime. Laimu. Lime. —However, after spending time with these Terra fools... Saimeslam looked around. The red-skinned Asuras stood with their arms crossed, listening to her with remarkably serious expressions. Maybe that was what made her chuckle. —I came to realize just how abnormal our species is. A person can be useful in one moment and be completely useless the next. Uburka, revered as the mightiest warrior in the history of the Terras, was born with albinism and struggled to walk under the sun. He was a failure as a warrior, yet he saw albinism as a challenge to conquer and has built his life through perseverance. Had he been born into our species, he likely would have been addicted to bluestones since childhood and lived in a pit. And he would have served his purpose by accepting our scorn and mockery. The Inquisitor was silent. Saimeslam gazed at him impassively. Only then did I realize that the Inquisitor wasn’t smiling anymore. The experienced Shellmount child asked her father a question. —Why are you a psycho?