Chapter 442
Chapter 442
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 442
Chapter Title: Devilish Bastards
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I got up at dawn, finished getting ready to head out, said goodbye to my wives, and stepped outside. Winia was a bit worried, but since Elise was coming along, she said it should be fine.
Still, she wanted to come with me if she could, but her magic research was at a critical point where she couldn't afford any slip-ups.
At times like this, it was better for her to stay home and focus, so I stroked her shoulder and firmly told her to hole up. You have to seize the moment when inspiration strikes.
Didn't I do the same when practicing the Circlet techniques, dropping everything else?
She apologized to me, but this was absolutely nothing to feel sorry about.
Cloudy was sleeping as usual, and Karin and Risha were planning to wash up after I left. I was heading out earlier than them today.
"Elise!"
As soon as morning began and I reached the city gates, I spotted her standing there off in the distance. She was dressed in her usual blue nun's habit with light armor over it, a pouch and canteen on her belt, and her holy book and mace at the ready.
Fully prepared.
"Divine!"
"Divine!"
"Friend!"
I'd rushed out as early as possible, but Elise had beaten me here.
"What? When did you leave? Isn't this too early? Sorry for keeping you waiting."
I try to live diligently myself, but as a religious person, Elise takes diligence to another level.
"Not at all. I've only just arrived myself. Shall we head out, then? I want to exterminate those imps as soon as possible!"
"Same here!"
Isn't that more like a subjugation mission than an investigation?
Anyway, we agreed to shout slogans and battle cries once we were outside the city and into the forest, then passed through the gates.
As we walked, Elise explained the plan for the day. Well, "plan" was a bit generous—it basically boiled down to slaughtering every imp we found. She'd apparently forgotten the meaning of "investigation" somewhere along the way.
The moment we entered the forest, we bellowed holy chants like thunder and got to work.
"Kim Katt, deploying!"
"Elise, mobilizing!"
—Fwoosh!
The first thing we did upon entering the woods was use yesterday's imp kill sites as reference points, guess where more might gather, and charge toward those spots.
We butchered every imp we encountered that way, spilling blood across the forest floor again today. Not a single one escaped. Of course, we saw no heretics, and naturally, no gates either.
I'd hoped for some traces, but the forest is vast.
No way it'd be that easy to find.
Still, my hunch was that this wasn't some gate linking to a truly hellish realm. There had to be another reason.
"Elise, aren't there a ton of heretics in this world?"
"Far too many."
I asked while cutting off an imp's horn.
"Just as crime never ends in this world, those fallen into foul faiths overflow in number. Studies even show they multiply despite all efforts to stamp them out. It's utterly hateful."
"Fucking hell with these bastards!"
It was lamentable how many fell into demonic cults. Best to smash their skulls on sight.
"Humans are weak to desire and temptation, so maybe it's inevitable. Evil ones always lure us in."
There were plenty of heretics summoning evil gods or demon kings, but cults baiting people with power or desires were just as common, she said.
Those who fell into such faiths didn't just ruin themselves—they sacrificed innocents as "offerings," harming others. Demons typically demanded that, according to Elise.
Demons tempt with fulfilled desires, demanding sacrifices to open gates or manifest for invasion. And they deliver on promises or contracts.
A true win-win.
The beggar offers up a sacrifice for wealth; the vengeful, for revenge. Utterly deplorable. That's why heresy spreads uncontrollably—striking at the root of human cravings.
"Speaking of demon kings, any recent incidents?"
This had bugged me for a while.
"Once, decades ago, but it was an incomplete summon. The allied holy knights from each order, already in pursuit, sealed it swiftly with minimal damage."
"Huh."
So it happened once.
"Hee hee. Our order had a hero from that event. Not here now—she serves as Grand Inquisitor at headquarters."
Elise beamed with pride.
Makes sense she'd hold a top post after slaying a demon king.
"Aside from that, no demon king summons since the Idol Wars. If one slipped past the churches unnoticed, the world would be in ruins by now. Nothing like that currently."
"Got it."
Even if heretics went apeshit, no evil gods or demon kings descended. Thanks to this world's fanatical believers rolling up their sleeves.
Psycho as they seemed, they were fundamentally good and order-loving. I'd thank them later—for fighting battles we never see.
No need to worry, after all.
"Historically, great demons have been summoned, though..."
We were chatting with Elise when it happened.
—Rustle rustle.
"Elise."
"...Divine."
We'd caught enough imps to know their shapes and sizes inside out. Same for local monsters. Nothing unfamiliar around here—I'd hunted most.
—Kee hee hee, grrrruk!
But the pitch-black beast crouched ahead, tearing into a goblin corpse? I'd swear on the heavens I'd never seen anything like it.
—Crunch! Crunch! Kee hee hee! Grrr ruk!!
It gnawed goblin limbs with grotesque sounds, devouring them so tantalizingly it made my mouth water.
That bastard... a food thief?
Not even a three-day-starved beggar would eat chicken legs like that.
This psycho, starved ravenous, shoved the goblin's arm into its gut pile, rubbed it around, coated it in gore, and slurped it down.
This fucker knows his flavors...!
"What the hell is that?"
I shook off the dumb thoughts, steeling my resolve and focus. I don't fight unknown monsters lightly. But beside me was Elise—no one else.
Leave it to her judgment.
"High Imp... looks like a High Imp."
"High Imp?"
Just a stronger imp, huh.
Straightforward naming wins.
Elise and I hid behind trees and bushes, whispering as we observed.
"Matches the church's monster compendium perfectly. High Imps evolve from regular ones for some reason."
Churches have monster guides?
I'd checked the library once—nothing. If common, it'd make dealing with them easier.
"Fucking strong?"
More importantly, its power.
If it's too much, bail... Not as scary as that Evil Giant from the slums' basement, but still tough-looking.
—Grrrrunch! Gruk gruk! Gree hee hit!
Tall, for starters.
Sitting, about my height or a bit shorter. Bizarrely bloated newborn-like body for its size, but impish features confirmed the evolution.
Jet-black skin, unnaturally long arms, two buffalo horns on its head.
Huge mouth, razor fangs galore.
Looks stronger than an orc, easy.
"Elise. Fucking strong?"
"...Not really. Uses magic, varies by individual, but compendium says not overwhelmingly so. Together, we can take it."
Good enough.
Judgment for the wicked: death, always.
"Kee hee hee! Delicious, so delicious! Delicious! Blood...! Blood's so delicious!!!"
Human speech rang out.
"Wanna eat moooore!!!! Grrrr ruk!!!"
The High Imp devouring goblin flesh suddenly spread its arms and roared. Gore and fangs sprayed savagely.
This fucker speaks human!
Shocking, but I'd seen talking monsters before—no big deal. Elise gawked, eyes wide.
"Human scent! Kee hee hee! Starving, insanely starving!!!"
—Whoosh!
It hurled a goblin arm bone at us.
"...Elise. It knows we're here."
"Shut your trap! Silence, you motherless lowly fiend! You have no right to human speech without even a mother!!!"
"Whoa."
"Holy Enchant!"
—Crackle!
My sword and Elise's mace glowed with holy power, sacred light surging.
Nice one, Elise!
Against evil, Holy Enchant first! Her battle experience shines—she gets it best!
"Kieee eeeek!!!"
Holy aura ignited unstoppable fury. I roared and charged.
"No forgiveness!!!"
Elise bellowed too, leaping ahead. She outpaced me; I chased her.
"Elise eeee!!! Devils!!!"
"Shall perish!!!"
"Ahh, Elise! Invoke the holy name! Devils!!"
"Motherless!"
"Fatherless!"
In peak frenzy, I chanted dreamlike; Elise echoed perfectly. Pure Divine Ddutbul burns.
"Friendless and brotherless!"
"Not even neighbors or cousins!"
We roared like a song toward the High Imp.
"Ultimately, a monster without conscience or goodness—fit only to die!!!"
"Slaughter them all!!!"
"Of course, of course—!!!"
First strike wins! Its nature? Who cares! If we must kill it, we will!
"Execution Swordsmanship!!!"
Scanning for traps or foes mid-charge, of course.
"Humans! Crave human blood!! Grrruk!!!"
The High Imp rose, raising one hand.
"Da—rk, Speeeear!!!"
—Zzzzap!!!
Dark spear formed in its grip. Magic, huh! It hurled like a Greek hero.
"Become skewered meat!! Grunch!"
Deadly on hit—I dodged sideways with Heavenly Demon Supremacy.
—Boom!
The spear exploded behind, black flames engulfing trees and brush.
"You fucking bastard, using dark sorcery!!!"
Close call!
It targeted me, not Elise—judged my bulk stronger? Elise reached first, mace raised.
"Die, wicked fiend!!!"
"Grrruk!! Tiny human! Rip you apart and chew your guts!!!"
High Imp extended claws to clash. Elise strong, but one-on-one? Hell yeah—I trust her!
"Who the fuck told you to speak?!"
I roared, charging again.
End it quick! Closed with Execution Steps.
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
But Elise was already pummeling it one-sidedly with her mace.
"The Order God forgives you not!"
"Grrr ruk!!! Gruk!"
Knew it.
Elise doesn't lose to punks—she crushes them. High Imp crumpled, vomiting blood.
My turn for a stab.
"Die, fucker!"
—Stab!
Slid behind during her frontal barrage, thrusting into its exposed back.
"Grrruk!!! H-human! St-stop...! Stop!"
Blade sank deep. Yanked and repeated—black smoke poured from wounds.
"You shitstain! Elise! Finish it!"
"Yes!"
—Kieee eeeek!!!!
We utterly demolished the High Imp.
Elise smashed its body; I carved its flesh. Together, we body anything short of top-tier.
"Guh...! Grrruk! St-stop! Kahaaaak!!!"
Finally, fresh sashimi collapsed.
Not that strong.
Tanking this damage and surviving? Had some grit.
Elise stomped its solar plexus boot-first, mace aimed, bellowing.
"If you wish not eternal annihilation under the judgment of Holy Order God Izermart, speak your purpose, wicked beast!!!"
With that, she smashed a fist into its face.
—Thwack!
True Execution Fist art—blood and teeth flew.
"Kuh, kheek!!! I-I'll talk...! What humans want...! So stop, seed of Order!"
Imps had some humanity? Tortured post-beatdown, it spilled info.
Good.
Investigations done right. Nice, Elise—
"No words worth hearing from a motherless wretch!!!"
—or so I thought,
—Crunch!
"Grruk..."
Elise swung her mace, pulverizing its skull.
What the fuck?
The info?
"Elise?"
"Hoo, this lowly wicked fiend...! So hateful, unbearable!! Better to erase it now!"
But you told it to talk.
"Thus, the High Imp meets its end realizing its folly. Fitting demise for such vileness!"
"Y-yeah."
You're right.
"Can't trust demon lies anyway!"
"Exactly, Divine! Never commune with demons, no matter what! No dialogue ever—they curse through words! Their slippery tongues sow corruption!"
Elise raised her mace high, preaching fire.
Demons get summary execution from now on.