Chapter 441
Chapter 441
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 441
Chapter Title: Those Devilish Bastards
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Nothing could stop Elise, who had instantly become a master of bare-handed execution fist techniques. We raced through the forest, laughing heartily as we smashed every last imp with our bare fists.
Slaughtering these hellspawn demon brats was an act of righteousness from the start. No mercy or forgiveness was needed.
-Crunch.
-Pop pop pop!
We turned the forest into a bloodbath, just like we were out on a casual volunteer mission. Doing such good deeds filled me with satisfaction and pure joy. It felt just like handing out coal briquettes for charity back in my school days.
"Elise! Grab it!"
"Understood!"
At my shout, Elise snatched an imp trying to slither away across the ground and restrained it like a cop cuffing a perp red-handed.
-Grrruk!
The imp thrashed wildly to escape, but there was no way it could overpower Elise's strength. In terms of raw power, she might even surpass me.
"Perfect! Divine combo time!"
"Divine combo! Yes!"
I slammed an Asura Blood-Splattering Fist straight into the imp's gut that Elise was holding, pounding it like a punching bag.
"Asura Blood-Splattering Fist!"
-Grrk!!!
The imp let out a death screech and spewed a fountain of blood from its mouth. Without hesitation, Elise grabbed its legs, spun it around like a top, and hurled it toward a nearby tree.
-Splat!
The flying imp smashed into the tree and exploded into pieces, bursting completely apart. Sure, it looked gruesome, but it was no different from fireworks.
"This is too much fun, Elise!"
"I'm having a blast too, Saint! Everything's fun when I'm with you!"
"Same here!"
A massive swarm of imps showing up just meant a massive slaughter was incoming. It had been a while since I'd teamed up with my Divine Friend and holy little sister Elise, and it was pure bliss.
-Grrruuuk!!
-Grrk, grrk!
"Who the hell said you bastards could run?!"
"You have no right to flee!!!"
And so, unleashing bare-handed execution fist techniques alongside Elise, we annihilated every imp in the vicinity.
After smashing a dozen or so in one spot, we'd stir up the forest again, and another pack would appear. It was an imp goldmine.
Elise went berserk every time she spotted one, like she was racking up good deeds.
To her, pulverizing imps was the equivalent of bringing paradise to earth—and it really was.
Of course, the imps occasionally fought back, but their attacks were nothing to us. We brushed them off lightly and stomped them flat.
After turning about fifty of them into pulp like that, both Elise and I were splattered head to toe in blood. We'd wrapped it up so quickly that it was barely lunchtime.
"Whew, Elise. Let's take a short break and get back to it."
"Understood."
We cleared a spot right nearby and pulled out hardtack, jerky, and dried fruit. Elise brought out similar rations, and we shared them as we started eating.
"Heh heh heh. We turned an investigation into a massacre."
"Hee hee, now that you mention it, yeah. But wiping out all the imps should lead us to the truth soon enough."
"Yeah, probably."
It didn't seem like just killing imps would count as a proper investigation, but for now, I decided to keep things simple.
Thrashing through the forest and smashing them all might uncover something eventually. Isn't that what investigations are all about?
"I'll diligently practice the bare-handed execution fist techniques you've taught me and never forget them."
"Don't get too obsessed. It's just an auxiliary combat style for when you can't use weapons."
Elise, who always wielded her mace, had gotten hooked on bare-handed techniques after smashing imps with them. But execution fist arts were meant as backup. If you can use a weapon, always go for the weapon.
Fighting bare-handed instead of using one just makes you a third-rate brawler.
Bare-knuckle fighting shines only when you're forced into it after losing your weapon.
Those damn brawlers need to get that through their thick skulls.
Looking at the gauntlets, knuckles, clawed gloves, and tonfas they lug around as "weapons" is just infuriating.
Unless you're some master martial artist, blocking even a single sword strike with that crap is a pipe dream. And even if you do, there's no guarantee you'll handle the follow-up combos.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Good."
With that, Elise and I finished our leisurely meal.
Monster howls echoed nonstop while we ate. Probably drawn by the blood scent from the imps.
"Whoa, check it out—we nabbed a shit-ton of imp horns."
Each imp horn fetches about one copper.
Of course, I, Kim Katt, never leave loot behind. Every time we moved, I'd hack off the horns from the corpses.
We had nearly four dozen. Selling in bulk might drop the price a bit, but it should cover our food expenses at least.
"Teaming up with you really speeds things up, Saint. I'm grateful for the help, but it also makes me feel a bit guilty."
"Elise, guilty? What are you talking about?"
She seemed apologetic for asking for my help.
I don't see it that way at all. Helping Elise is the right thing to do, and it benefits me too.
"There's nothing more important than aiding you to uphold justice in this world. I can stick around for a few days, no problem."
I conveyed that to her.
"So don't feel bad. Honestly, it's righteous work, and helping you benefits me too. We're Divine Friends. No need to apologize."
"...Hee hee, got it."
Elise smiled and nodded, accepting my words.
"As expected of you, Saint. You're the epitome of piety. If there were more people like you, this world would surely be a better place."
Under heaven, there's only one Heavenly Demon.
"Yeah... maybe. All done eating? Let's go."
"Yes! Time to resume our service!"
"Alright!"
After the meal, we dove back into ravaging the forest.
We spotted more imps and a few other monsters, but the outcome was the same: total annihilation.
We smashed every creature we encountered while probing the woods.
"Hey, Elise. You think there's really a gate? I can't buy it."
The deeper we ventured, the more the gate idea preoccupied me.
Demons... still feels too unreal.
"A gate is just one possibility."
Elise calmly explained in response to my question.
"There's a higher chance the imp outbreak has another cause. If a real gate had opened and demons poured out, this place wouldn't be so peaceful."
"Hmm..."
"That's why I came to investigate. The incident started just over a week ago, by my estimate, and nothing major has happened since."
They'd hyped up a possible demon gate, but in the end, the order just sent Elise on a task she could handle.
Gates might exist, but they don't just pop open willy-nilly.
"I see."
As Elise said, if a real gate had opened with demons roaming nearby, something would've gone down by now.
Even without Kobson tipping me off, we'd have noticed.
Demons weaken upon entering the real world, sure, but they're still demons—packing serious combat power.
One troll showing up causes a huge stir; demons would be even worse.
Yeah, makes sense.
I'd been thinking along the same lines.
Before I knew it, late afternoon had arrived while hanging with Elise. Can't enter the city after dark, so let's wrap up today's investigation.
"Elise, that's it for today. We'll finish tomorrow."
"Sunset's approaching... Shame."
"No biggie. We can do it tomorrow. Meet early morning at the gate."
"Hee hee. Got it. Together again tomorrow!"
"Yeah! We'll crush it!"
Elise pulled out a map and marked the spots where we'd encountered imp packs. I couldn't read it, of course.
Once done, we exited the forest.
Our first day's haul from the investigation? Just a few dozen imp horns. No real progress on the actual probe, but you can't fill up on the first sip.
A few more days of this.
If we find solid proof of a gate, we bolt and report to the Brass Celestial Society church. With Elise backing it, the holy knights will mobilize for sure.
"Elise, run! Gates are closing soon!"
"Got it!"
Sunset loomed, so we sprinted out of the forest. We barely made it through the gates as dusk fell.
Lingering would've meant camping outside.
"Saint. Tomorrow too, then..."
"Hold up. Gotta sell these horns first."
"Right."
"To the Alchemist's Guild."
First things first: offload the backpack stuffed with imp horns.
We headed straight to the Alchemist's Guild and sold them. They stay open late, so no issue. We queued up and reached the counter.
"Total buy price: 30 coppers."
The appraiser quickly tallied the pile of horns on the counter.
Fuck, 30 coppers for Kim Katt's haul? Seriously?
"That's cheap, isn't it?"
"Imp horns have flooded the market lately; prices are down."
"Fair enough."
Supply and demand, after all. We sold the forty-odd horns for 30 coppers.
I handed half to Elise right away.
"Elise, see you tomorrow. Be at the gate before sunrise."
"Will do... Today was the holiest day imaginable. Thanks for the help."
"Heh heh heh, no need to thank me that much. Get home safe."
Elise kept expressing her gratitude.
We parted with smiles, and I headed home.
It was a trek, so by arrival, the streets were pitch black. No moonlight tonight—super dark.
Perfect time to test it.
"Latras."
-Fwoosh.
I reached into my pocket, pulled out the Latras necklace, gripped and shook it. A burst of light illuminated the path ahead.
"Holy shit, this thing's legit."
Pretty solid brightness.
Trying it out ramped up my satisfaction. This much light would navigate total darkness no problem.
Grinning, I headed inside.
-Creak.
"I'm back."
The moment I opened the door, there they were: my four wives gathered in the first-floor living room, lounging on the sofa and eyeing me.
"Finally home?"
"Katt, you're late."
"Darkie... you barely made curfew?"
"What kept you? Ditching your big sis?"
They all spoke at once, catching me off guard, but I'd just slipped in after sunset—not that late.
"...Wives? I thought I was early."
They each tossed in a quip, nagging me to come home sooner. Who knew? Four wives meant quadruple the nagging.
Anyway, I stripped off my gear and clothes.
Time to brief the waiting ladies on the day's events.
"Any progress on the imp investigation?"
"Well..."
To Lisha's question, I explained spending the whole day with Elise probing the imp issue. No real results, of course.
"With that nun girl?"
"Yeah, she showed up today. Seemed suspicious about the imps too."
"Hmm... Well, if it's the nun, no worries."
Winia nodded at Elise's name; she'd seen her skills from past jobs.
"Elise is solid."
First, a wash.
"Elise? Sounds like a girl's name. Who's she?"
As I headed to bathe, Karin followed.
"Oh, right, you wouldn't know. Friend of mine. Nun. We team up often."
"You... not thinking of adding another girl, are you? I know Cloudie's pushing it, but maybe hold off?"
"Nah, nothing like that."
Cloudie, Winia, and Lisha had already bathed.
Karin got off work late and hadn't yet. We washed together. We fooled around a bit scrubbing each other, then dried off and hit the bedroom.
"Katt, going again tomorrow?"
Cloudie, first to climb on top, asked.
"Gotta. Might take a few days."
"Mmm... Fine, I guess. Need to go all out?"
"Heh heh heh, no worries."
As usual, surrounded by my four wives, I rocked till dawn before crashing. Wanted two or three rounds each, but early start tomorrow meant restraint.