Chapter 65 - If There Is a God (8)

"Hey, Archmage."

"What is it?"

"I just remembered, what happened to dispatching a Great Sage for us?"

"Ahem. I am right here, am I not?"

"……?"

"…Ahem."

"…Don't tell me it's you?"

"Ahem, ahem."

"You piece of trash—."

Right around the time I wondered how the people of Zakrati and the Temple had called a truce. And right around the time they caught up to me and reached the enemy's next stronghold.

The Archmage was grabbed by the collar and shaken by Windhand over a contract issue.

If not for a Mage tactlessly blurting out the truth—that the Great Sage who was supposed to be dispatched took advantage of the urging Archmage's absence to blow off the contract—he might still be held by the collar even now.

Or perhaps. If Windhand hadn't sent half his subordinates to request relief from some city named Luwan or Luwin or whatever, he might have been beaten to a pulp with curses by that group.

"If you don't pay the penalty fee, I'll kill you."

"…I will pay it even if I have to sell that Great Sage's inventions, so do not worry."

Still, the power of money was truly great. Windhand somehow managed to suppress his anger. It was an excellent display of patience.

CRASH!

"Oh…… It seems the situation has finally been sorted out."

"…If it weren't for the Demon Knight, you'd be dead."

"…I should convey my thanks to him."

Of course, as that conversation revealed, my performance had influenced that patience. Indeed, watching a person demolish a stronghold single-handedly would bring out a little patience even if there was none to begin with.

"You think you can live after doing th—!"

"You know your place well."

I grabbed the neck of this stronghold's boss—if I could even call him a boss—and slammed him into the ground. With this distance and posture, I could react and counter even if he threw a curse jar.

"Do not expect to live after committing such deeds."

"Ghk!"

Besides, when people get choked, they usually try their best to peel off whatever is choking them.

This enemy was no different. The target grabbed my hand that was gripping his neck, scratching it wildly or trying to aim for my eyes.

CRACK.

"Keugh!"

However, the opponent's fatal mistake was this: I was stronger than him. And by gripping his neck with only one hand, I could use my other hand to break his resistance.

The man, whose arms were twisted like screws, let out only a groan and was completely subdued.

"Phew, you're carrying something dangerous around your waist."

Meanwhile, DeB approached me and fearlessly slipped something out from the subdued man's waist. It was the jar I had seen at the fortress in Garorimnyang.

I didn't think he was even there when that guy threw it, so I don't know when he had taken note of it.

"Th-That is…… Keugh."

The boss flailed his broken limbs and tried to reach out. But DeB had already stepped back. Even if the guy's arms were intact, it's questionable whether he could have caught DeB.

"Now we just need to interrogate him."

DeB was right. Capturing him alive for that purpose was the goal in the first place.

However…….

Considering my concept, I stared down quietly at the guy's neck for a moment while stroking my sword hilt. The Heresy Inquisitors who were about to drag the target away flinched briefly.

"Sir?"

Thank you for talking to me at the perfect timing.

I turned around in response to DeB. Then, the traces of the slashes I had carved out while storming the stronghold began to fill my view.

Those were probably what made the Heresy Inquisitors, who stow away their fears in the face of faith, walk on eggshells around me.

"It would be best to settle down and rest here for today."

'The sun hasn't even set yet?'

Hearing the Archmage's words, I glanced up at the sky. With the orange hues slowly mixing in, it was definitely an awkward time. It would be one thing if we were a small group, but right now we had nearly a hundred people.

"We also need to investigate."

'That's true too.'

Earlier, the evidence had all evaporated because of the hasty Purification, but not this time. We had to analyze the jar containing the plague's curse, and we had to find out the cause behind why the executive-level humans had suddenly bulked up.

Of course, for now, even if they transformed like that, I didn't feel much of a difference, but the final boss of a quest would be a different story.

"How in the world do you achieve this level of magical concentration?"

"Look at this, the cross-section is rough. It means the concentration isn't perfect."

"You're saying it takes on that form and flies this far even when the concentration isn't perfect?"

"That's crazy. Do you think he'd listen if we asked him to use it one more time?"

'But with the Mages acting like that, is an investigation even possible?'

'More importantly, what's magical concentration anyway? Isn't a rough cross-section just a visual effect?'

'I mean, of course it cuts smoothly sometimes and sometimes it doesn't. But does that even mean anything?'

CLAP, CLAP.

At that moment, the Archmage clapped his hands together. Because his hands were covered in fur, the sound was somewhat muffled, but that actually became a distinguishing feature. All the Mages realized it belonged to the Archmage and raised their heads.

They looked exactly like meerkats.

"Could you hand that over for a moment?"

"Pardon? Yes."

With all eyes on him, the Archmage received the curse jar from DeB. Not only was it covered densely in writing, but it was also a jar that radiated a bizarre energy even a layman could sense.

"A jar containing the curse of the plague. Is there anyone to analyze it?"

"Me!!!"

"I will do it!!"

'…I guess an investigation is possible.'

'Is the Archmage a god?'

"Take it. If you break it, your life will be forfeit, so please be careful."

"Gasp, thank you!"

"Let me see too!"

"Is this the jar containing the curse?"

"It's an elaborate shielding magic. I didn't know mere demon worshipers could create something like this!"

"Is that really a curse inside?"

"It couldn't hide the unique feeling of demonic energy. It's certain."

I began to worry in a different sense now. 'Are they going to pop the stopper or break the jar on purpose just to look inside?'

"We found the captured people!"

"……!"

However, my worries didn't last till the end. The topic shifted in an instant.

Adventurers were throwing open a trapdoor in one area and sticking their heads out.

"Wait!"

Windhand sprinted forward first.

"I will go as well!"

Next was the Inquisitor. A few Priests capable of healing tactfully followed them down into the basement. They were likely planning to treat the injured among the captured people.

Of course, whether they would obediently accept the treatment was the question, but…… Since Windhand went, I figured it would work out somehow. It wasn't something for me to get involved in.

"Then I'll also go poke around and see if anything is hidden here."

DeB slowly slipped away to fulfill his role as well. I was the only one with nothing to do.

Technically, the Archmage just hadn't moved yet; he could still join the Mages and investigate the magic.

'Even though I pretty much did all the work up until just a moment ago.'

"Ah, right. Regarding the dragon carcass, I somehow managed to secure your share."

'Hmm, so what do I do now. If I'm just sticking to the concept, I should skip resting and advance straight ahead…… Ack?'

"I wanted to secure as much as possible for you, but…… I apologize. About a quarter of the carcass was the best I could do."

'What? He secured my share? And not only that, my stake is a whole quarter? He's really giving that to me?'

"Even if it does not meet your expectations, please overlook it."

I clenched my fists tight.

'How could I not be satisfied! It was a reward I gave up on receiving in the first place!'

I was so happy I almost gave a thumbs-up for a second. I was that satisfied.

"I left it at the Temple for safekeeping, so you can pick it up when you return to the mainland. And also…… The Adventurer's Guild said they would prepare your second medal of merit and told you to go get it. You can pick that up when you return to the mainland as well."

'I don't really care about the medal of merit.'

'It's true that it has decent uses, but since I already have one, receiving more is just a waste of inventory space.'

I roughly pondered over what to do with the dragon carcass. I wouldn't be able to replace all my gear, but it was still a happy dilemma.

「A hostile target exists within a 30m radius.」

At that moment, a notification signaled me. Since the enemies already in the stronghold were all dead or captured, it wasn't them, meaning there was a high chance it was a newly appeared enemy.

My steps hurriedly reached the vicinity of the wooden palisade.

SKREEEEEECH!

A bizarre cry reached my ears. It was the kind of cry I had heard once during some material research.

"Demonic energy!"

The Heresy Inquisitors belatedly tried to approach me. It was at that timing that something entered my field of vision. I saw a deer through the gaps in the wooden pillars.

"Demonic erosion……."

To describe it more precisely, it was a deer that had been demonized, its skin peeled off in various places to expose flesh and bone.

「Deer | A pitiful beast devoured by demonic energy and demonized. This animal, which originally would have only grazed on grass, can now devour everything.」

SWISH.

The moment I spotted it, I vaulted over the palisade. It was a bit gross, but a demon was a demon. If I saw one, I had to eliminate it.

SKREEEAAAAAARK!

In response, the deer also began to charge toward me. The antlers on its head had grown bizarrely larger and sharper, taking on the complete shape of a weapon.

"Enjoy your eternal rest."

SLASH!

But how could I, who had even slain a dragon, lose to the likes of a deer!

I drew my Zweihander, cleaved its neck and torso simultaneously, and crushed its fallen head under my foot.

Something pitch-black and mashed revealed itself from the head that split open like a ripe watermelon. Whether it had eaten away at the brain, the wrinkly parts weren't visible in the slightest.

"I will perform Purification!"

As I flicked the blood off my sword, a Heresy Inquisitor came running up panting from behind. He knelt before the deer's corpse and slowly began to chant a prayer.

However, the Purification that would have ended ages ago if it were Kimchi Dumpling lasted for a whole three minutes. The fact that sweat beaded on his cheeks from just doing that was a bonus.

Although it was merely a single drop, its very existence seemed to show the skill gap between the Inquisitor and ordinary Priests.

"……."

'Regardless, what do I do now? No matter how I look at this, it has all the angles of a time-attack.'

I fell into deep thought while socially distancing myself from the Heresy Inquisitor who was pumping out divine power. In the sky, the golden hues were slowly overcoming the blue.

"Phew."

And when the Heresy Inquisitor finished the Purification, I swiftly turned around and headed back into the stronghold. My gaze quickly swept through the crowd and found DeB.

"Have you found anything?"

"Huh? I've only found one thing so far."

Perhaps it was because it was so rare for me to strike up a conversation first. DeB, who had just come out from searching an area, pricked up his ears and shook his head side to side.

"Instead, I did find a letter telling them to send people somewhere—"

SNATCH.

I snatched the paper DeB fumbled to hand over and quickly scanned it. Send them to the base beneath Turtle Barnacle Rock. That was the clue.

「❖ The Fangs Aiming at Zakrati

∎ Find the Bipurit gang's stronghold 3 / ?

∎ Eliminate the Bipurit gang's stronghold 2 / ?

∎ Bonus: Kill Bipurit」

The quest updated once more, taking on a fixed form as its count ticked up.

"Come up carefully."

"L-Light……."

"We lived……."

Around the same time, those who had gone down began coming back up, supporting the people.

Thank heavens, it seemed a 'you die, I die' mutual destruction situation with the Temple hadn't occurred. Not that they were accepting their help, however.

"First, get some treatment……."

'But for me, that was enough. A situation where we could talk it out was plenty.'

"Demon Knight?"

"You lot."

I walked past Windhand and showed the letter to the people who had just come up. Inwardly, I went 'Oops, do these people even know how to read?' but the deed was already done. It would be fine if I just read it aloud to them anyway.

"Does anyone know the location of Turtle Barnacle Rock?"

"…Turtle Barnacle?"

"If it's Turtle Barnacle……."

Perhaps it was because I spoke to them in a high-handed manner. The people grew terrified and began throwing glances at each other. My brow twitched.

"People will get startled if you ask them so out of the blue like that."

Fortunately, Windhand intervened and mediated between me and the people. Was it because they were from the same region, even if they were from different cities? The people listened well to Windhand's words, at least.

"If it's Turtle Barnacle Rock, it's a place you'll find after crossing those two hills over there."

At any rate, the words I wanted to hear soon came out.

'The location has now been specified. I can depart.'

"The base beneath Turtle Barnacle Rock. That is our next destination."

"…I feel like I know the answer, but I will ask anyway. You aren't planning on going right away, are you?"

"That son of a bitch Bipurit…… Just what is he trying to do by gathering people……."

"Sir, I haven't even finished poking around yet."

'In order, that was the Inquisitor, the Archmage, Windhand, and DeB.'

I tossed the letter back to DeB and started walking. I couldn't care less that DeB shrieked "Waah!" and flailed his arms wildly at the fluttering letter.

'From here on out, it's a forced march while managing my fatigue as much as possible! Concept aside, since it's a time-attack quest no matter how you look at it, I need to make quick progress!'

"Ah, if we depart now, the people—"

"Since it is confirmed that demonization is taking place, moving quickly isn't wrong, but…… The people are the problem."

"Pardon? Demonization?"

"Wait? What is taking place?"

"Doesn't demonization mean exactly that? Demons being created?"

At my actions that didn't betray expectations, the Inquisitor, Windhand, and DeB each tried to show their own reactions. And they would have, if not for the remark from the Archmage, who had witnessed what had just happened firsthand because he stayed above ground.

"…Then we must advance immediately. The longer we leave it be, the more dangerous this land will become."

"D-Demonization on this land? Wait, then what about the people? What happens to these people!"

"Wow, are we really going to be fine with just these forces? No, more importantly, you really aren't stopping a single step for us, Sir!"

At the newly added problem, the three of them each showed a different reaction in their own sense.

Me? Naturally, I was completely ignoring them and keeping going. It was true that the discovered victims needed relief, but that wasn't my responsibility.

If it's not my job, it's better to just turn off my attention to it and focus on what I can do.

"It seems we had better split our numbers, Inquisitor."

And out of the things I can do, the one that's the most helpful and the one I do best is just one thing.

"I will remain here and lead them. I will take charge of both the people's protection and Purification."

Advancing at full speed and butchering every last one of those bastards.

"Instead, the three of you should follow the Demon Knight first. That will be more efficient."

The party split.