Chapter 452
Chapter 452
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 452
Chapter Title: Kim Katt and the Ghost's House
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―Kweeeeeeek!!!!
After proper nutrition and treatment had bulked it up, Coolcool let out a roar like a beast eyeing its prey. Gone was the frail figure from before; now it had transformed into a monster condensed from pure malice, crawling toward the convict using only its arms.
―Twitch.
Its arm muscles were impressive. Thinner than the male adult troll I'd beheaded in the past, but more than enough for murder. Humans are weak.
―Drakus.
That thing was no longer Coolcool.
It was merely a monster restored to its true form.
"Uwaaaaaah!!!! Fuck, fuck! You fucking bastards!!!!!!!! Open the door! Open the damn door!!!!"
With both arms bound, the convict fled like a madman. He pounded on the arena door with his legs, but it wouldn't open again. He'd need to use Heavenly Demon Supremacy to smash the iron bars with his feet.
"Open the door, you fucking dogs!!!!!!"
The convict was unarmed.
Only his legs were his limited lifeline.
It was a one-sided execution show from the start.
"You fucking dogs, open the door, fuck!!!!!!!!!"
The theme today was probably just showing a powerless convict fleeing before being torn apart by the troll. The audience loved that sort of thing.
"Wahahahahaha!!"
"Kuhahaha! It's howling!"
"The troll looks so scary!!"
"Hahaha! Look at that guy running!"
The spectators pointed and laughed gleefully at the convict. No one pitied him. Among the people of this era, it was common belief that heinous criminals deserved excessive retribution before a brutal death.
"Hey, convict uncle! The troll's catching up! Run faster! Getting killed in one hit would be no fun!"
A mischievous boy in the seats above the convict's head, who was plastered to the door, shouted mockingly. The convict spasmed and spat as he screamed back.
"You little fuck! Come down! Get down here! I'll curse you!"
"Kekeke! Just run! You retarded rapist fuck! Get raped by the troll!"
"Fuuuuck!!!! Get down here, you fucker!!"
Laughter erupted from the stands at the sight.
"Hmm, a troll, huh... It looks insane."
"A real monster. One of my neighbors got snatched by a troll when I was a kid."
"An inhuman beast!"
Some marveled in shock at Coolcool's appearance. No, that troll was no longer Coolcool—it was the arena's new executioner, Drakus.
―Kweeeeeeek!!!!!
Anyway, Drakus's upper body had bulked up to an extreme degree, but its legs were still as spindly as chopsticks, making it look even more grotesque.
The sight reminded me of those Sanwa Money mascot chicks, but you couldn't call that overpowered thing a Sanwa Money anymore.
Drakus, now an Ancient Hyper-Sanwa Money, raced across the arena using only its arms. Incredible speed. But just a hair slower than a human sprint.
"Fuck!"
As Drakus closed in, the convict bolted desperately.
"No salvation even in flight, you fiend! Know your sins and die miserably!!! Meet your end bathed in hatred and curses!"
Elise, now fully immersed, shouted from atop my head while shaking her body. She really loved this stuff. I grabbed her thighs and held her steady.
―Kraaaaaak!!!
After running for a good while, the convict was finally caught by Drakus.
His speed had been faster than the handicapped troll's, but the troll's stamina and endurance were superior. In a circular arena, there was nowhere to run.
―Kweeeeeeek!!
What was Coolcool... Drakus seeing right now?
The hateful monster hoisted the convict up. It looked just like a mythic demon about to roast some evil being in the flames of the sun.
Monster and convict. Hard to find a more fitting pair.
And then.
―Rriiiippp!!!
"Gack...!"
Drakus tore the convict in half.
Blood and entrails splattered across the arena floor with a deafening sound. The troll bellowed as it devoured the blood and flesh. Its maw was huge, its teeth sharp. The monster feasted on meat.
―A natural sight.
"Waaaaaah!!!"
"Order God!"
The audience and Elise went wild at the murder show, as if it were the most natural thing.
Trolls were murder monsters.
That was their essence, their truth.
Watching the scene, I thought of the hunchbacked man from Oros Village. Had the village forgiven him? Or punished him?
―Crunch crunch.
The brutal serial killer and horrific rapist vanished down the troll's throat like that. Truly just retribution. Only when the body was fully gone did the armed breeders enter with nets and restraints.
As I watched, I tried grasping the wriggling thread of true Fusion Confucianism within me. Justified madness. The weight of sin. What could be done, what must not.
A noisy world filled with the crowd's cheers.
Focusing made the sounds fade gradually.
In that silence, as my mind sank back inward once more.
"Saint, the execution is over."
Elise placed a hand on my head and said.
I snapped to attention.
"Shall I put you down?"
"Mm... No. Wait a bit. I want to see the troll leave too."
"Heh heh heh, sure."
"Thank you."
The armed breeders dragged Drakus away.
We watched until the end, then I set Elise down.
"Elise. Was it fun?"
"Fun...? Less fun, more like ecstasy from witnessing something fitting."
"That's what fun is. The joy of entertainment."
"...I see."
"Well, since we're here, want to see another match?"
"No, let's head out."
We left right away.
As we walked, Elise said her tastes were only two things: gladiators killing monsters, and executions of criminals.
Fights between gladiators held no appeal or meaning.
Watching something die that wasn't a criminal or monster just felt unpleasant, she said.
She just wanted to see monsters or heinous criminals die.
"Anyway, Elise. Don't worry about me. I'm fully recovered."
"As expected of the Saint. So resilient."
"Heh heh heh, you're tougher. Stronger than me."
"No. If I were stronger than the Saint, I wouldn't have been neutralized by the succubus's binding ritual."
That was a matchup issue. We chatted a bit more, then parted. She had to write her report.
"Well, Saint. I'll head back the morning after tomorrow."
"I'll meet you at the gates then. Safe travels."
"Hee hee. Got it. Rest well too, Saint. Divine friends!"
"Yeah! We're divine friends!"
After parting with Elise, I headed home.
Still before lunch.
"Back from your outing?"
"Ah, Lady Lisha, you're up? Just stepped out for a bit."
Lisha was sitting on the first-floor sofa. She said everyone else was just getting up and washing. She was an early riser. Screams and splashes came from the bathroom.
"Hee hee hee, last night was incredible. Toying with my body like that. Such a cheeky boy."
Lisha approached with a grin and hugged me. I naturally wrapped my arm around her waist and stroked her butt.
"All because you're so beautiful, Lady Lisha."
"Eut... My butt..."
"What's that on the table?"
The high imp's bracelet I'd given her sat there.
"Ah... It's confirmed. Seems like a Pandemonium item."
"Ooh. As expected. The engraving on that bracelet—was it infernal script?"
"Correct."
We sat on the sofa as she explained briefly.
The bracelet the high imp wore was indeed from hell. That settled it.
Succubi weren't the only things crossing from hell.
"Anyway, why don't you tell me the details about slaying that succubus?"
Yesterday's explanation had been brief, so I filled in everything: Hildegaard's words and actions, her goals, everything she'd said.
"Obsessed with men to that degree... She might come back. But rest easy. She can't invade this house where I've set root."
Lisha tickled my chin reassuringly.
I wasn't worried.
I never feared beings I'd already beaten. My struggle with Hildegaard was only because Elise got caught.
"Heh heh heh, no worries."
A mere succubus couldn't take on Lisha. Her mana was full, but her combat power was below mine.
"Daring to touch my consort. Grave sin."
Beings from hell came weakened, so did that mean the high imp and succubus were at reduced strength?
"But if it's a woman who can lavish you with affection, I welcome it. The more wives to sate your lust, the better."
"Pardon? That's something Claudia would say."
"That girl and I think alike in many ways."
"No way."
With that shocking remark, the bathroom door opened.
"Hee hee, Lady Lisha. Well said."
"Just the truth."
Claudia approached drying her hair. Being peers, she and Lisha had already grown close.
―Swish.
Winia pretended disinterest but whispered as she brushed past.
"Die, nigger."
"Gasp."
Anyway, it was a rest day, and everyone was cleaned up, so eating together seemed good. As I suggested going out, Karin tossed a towel on my head.
"Fuck, I'm starving. Hubby. Let's eat out today. Winia knows a good spot."
"Sounds good."
Out for food today.
* * *
"Elise... I'll miss you!!"
"I'll miss you too. But our reunion with the Saint!"
It's confirmed!
"Ah, yeah! We're destined to reunite!"
"Exactly!"
I had no doubt about reuniting with Elise.
If something happened, she'd rush here—no way we wouldn't meet.
"Bodies apart, but bound by faith and friendship!"
"One last time, shall we?"
"Divine―? Eugh... Still a bit embarrassing."
She did it fine when excited, but normally she was shy.
"Embarrassed? You don't want to?"
"N-no! I absolutely do!"
Face red, Elise shouted.
"Heh heh heh."
I quietly extended my arm.
She said she was embarrassed, so no yelling.
"S-Saint...?"
When I didn't shout, Elise peeked up at my face cautiously, then beamed happily and extended her arm.
"See you next time!"
"Got it!"
Elise was returning hitched to the regular Krasheim caravan that had just departed. After goodbyes, it left, and she waved while following.
Farewell, Elise.
I stretched and headed to the Adventurer's Guild.
Time to make money.
Helping Elise investigate wasn't lucrative. Lisha warned the high imp bracelet was blatantly demonic—selling it could land me in trouble.
Returning it to the church might yield a reward, but holy water was useless now, so I kept it home.
―Murmur murmur.
The guild was as rowdy as ever.
Today felt extra chaotic, so I looked into it and learned something eerie.
The mansion Kobson mentioned before.
Adventurers heading there were vanishing. That alone wouldn't be big news, but villages en route and other travelers were disappearing too.
People vanishing in groups.
"What the fuck kind of bullshit is this."