Chapter 484
Chapter 484
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 484
Chapter Title: Demon Slaying
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"A quiet place, huh... You're something else, knight."
I pointed at her accusingly as I spoke, and suddenly she started rubbing her thighs together, biting her lower lip, and speaking in a seductive tone.
"Have you finally decided to hold me? Hehe, sure. I'm game anytime. Let's head to a quiet inn nearby. I'll cater to your tastes."
Son of a bitch.
"This asshole starts spouting nonsense the second I even pretend to listen. I'm out."
"Ah! Wait! I was just kidding!"
"You think we're in the mood for games?"
"Knight, please! You can't tease me like this and then bail! Why won't my seduction work on you? Why!"
Anyway, Hildegart seemed genuinely eager to talk to me.
If her offer was sincere, the intel on the demons was worth hearing out.
—A true warrior knows how to use even their enemies.
Reject and despise your foes, but learn from them if there's something to gain.
That's the true way of Fusion Confucianism.
Of course, she'd probably use the info as an excuse to beg for a hug or some bullshit, but the ruthless Kim Katt was the type to suck out only what he needed from an enemy and ditch her without a second thought.
She was on high alert, listening intently as I asked for her story.
Listen for an opening and strike when the moment's right.
"Then shut up and lead me to that quiet spot."
"Mm... How about a quiet restaurant?"
"What makes you think you know what to put in my food?"
"If you don't trust me, just don't eat. Problem solved, right?"
Fair enough.
"Fine, let's go."
I kept a safe distance from Hildegart as we moved. It looked like I was following her lead. After about ten minutes, a small eatery came into view.
It seemed like a diner, but wasn't it too cramped for demon talk? Folks nearby might overhear everything in a hole-in-the-wall like this.
Hildegart slipped inside and beckoned me.
...Might as well check it out.
If I could score good intel, I'd rack up more demon kills.
The lord's bounty and the church's holy gear were damn tempting.
—Creak.
I stepped right in, and there she was in the corner booth, waving me over with exaggerated flair.
"Knight! Over here!"
Just two staffers in the place—no other customers.
Off-peak hours, maybe?
I took the seat across from her anyway.
"This feels nice. Thanks so much for trusting me enough to come along."
"Not trusting you. Spill what you know first. If I like it, I'll listen. If not, I'm gone."
"Hehe. Hold on. Let me order real quick."
She called the server and rattled off a bunch of orders. Sandwiches, stew, bacon—the usual grub.
She ordered a ton. Was she starving or what?
"Talking here seems sketchy, though. Planning to whisper?"
"No worries. Watch."
—Tap tap.
Hildegart called back the server who'd brought the orders.
Something was off.
The guy's eyes were glazed over.
She stood, waved her open palm in front of his face—no reaction. He just stood there like a puppet.
This bitch!
"He's under my hypnosis spell right now."
Figured as much.
"This way, we eat for free. Pretty sweet, huh? Humans here are weak. Easy to toy with."
This fucking whore?
"What? You wanna die?"
"Huh?"
She looked at me like I'd grown a second head.
"You think you can pull freebie crap in front of me? Skip the bill, and I'll shove a dagger in your skull—no story time."
"Huh? Why?"
"You eat, you pay, dumbass. You crazy?"
Yep, she was a demon bitch through and through.
Time to exorcise her ASAP.
If scum like this ran rampant, local shopkeeps would go bust, and folks'd off themselves like street rats.
"Uh... wh-what?"
Hildegart looked utterly baffled.
To demons, probably using powers for freebies was just how life worked.
"We're leaving!"
I scolded her on the spot.
Kim Katt knew patience.
I came for intel, so I'd hold my rage.
"Ah! Calm down, knight. I'll pay... Mm, you're more upright than I thought?"
"Good eye. But seriously, you always eat like this?"
Hildegart hemmed and hawed, picking her words.
"...Honestly, yeah. But if you hate it, I won't anymore. Happy? Forgive me?"
"Don't ask me—apologize to the owners."
"Do I have to? You're the one who matters to me, not them. But if you want, I'll grovel to them too."
"..."
Arguing morals with a demon whose common sense was alien? Waste of time.
"Fine, whatever. Now spill everything you know. Demons are swarming outside the city—what's the deal?"
"You always cut to the chase... Let's start with some buildup. Just ten minutes. Talk about something else with me. Personal stuff."
"Haa, fuck."
Her beaming smile pissed me off.
—Whoosh!
On impulse, I whipped out a dagger and hurled it at her forehead. My secret dagger art. It flew fast, but a succubus like her could dodge.
"Eek!"
She jerked her head aside reflexively.
—Thud!
The dagger buried into the wall, momentum intact.
"Dodged? This bitch dodged?"
"You actually threw it? For real? I thought we were building trust!"
She yelped in shock.
"Would've trusted you if you'd started with the demon talk!"
"Ugh, seriously...! I'm gonna cry for real!"
"Fuck, I'm about to cry blood! You won't shut up with the bullshit even when I'm hearing you out!"
Her constant deflections screamed ulterior motives.
I won't fall for a demon's tricks!
I stood, and she mist-formed instantly, fleeing to the kitchen. I'd just gotten up to grab my dagger this time.
"...Knight. Why do you hate me so much?"
Using the blank-eyed cook as a shield, she snapped irritably.
I didn't hate just Hildegart.
Demons in general pissed me off.
"You're a demon."
"All demons?"
"Fuck yeah, all of 'em."
"Why?"
"'Cause demons suck."
"I don't."
No bad guy ever admits they're bad.
"Bullshit. You're fucking awful, idiot. Forgot our first meeting? You threatened to crush my friend. I'm barely holding back from killing you, and you keep yapping?"
"That was..."
Our first run-in, she'd tormented Elise with violent threats about crushing her—my closest divine friend.
That alone warranted death.
"I'm really sorry. But I never meant it. Just bait to lure you out. And you struck first, remember? Still, my bad. I won't do it again."
Hildegart started pleading apologies. Most isekai folks never apologized properly for screw-ups.
At least she knew how—basic decency.
—But accepting a demon's apology turns you into one.
"Knight... believe me. I just want to win you over. Sorry if you're mad. I wanted to chat more, but if you insist, I'll share the intel now."
"...You bitch."
I sheathed the dagger and sat back down.
"About time!"
She clapped gleefully after staring blankly.
—Rustle.
The staff snapped back to life. The cook started prepping, the server tidied up.
"Shall we begin?"
"Yeah!"
She smiled again, cautiously sitting across from me.
"So, knight. You're planning to hunt demons here for rewards, right?"
"Spot on. That's the play. But why are they crossing over? Some gate open?"
"Yes. There's a gate open nearby. All sorts are slipping through it."
Figured.
"Who's opening it? You?"
I eyed the succubus suspiciously.
Hildegart could open gates at will, I'd judged.
I'd crushed her with Heavenly Demon Supremacy and Holy Chant, but she'd gated out.
Her return meant she could do it again.
"My gate only brought me and a few small fry. The others opened their own."
"Their own?"
That didn't add up.
If every demon weak enough for me to kill could open gates willy-nilly, this planet would've been demon turf ages ago.
Maybe not, but by my logic, yeah. Demons weren't logical, though.
Wait.
This one hid well in the city... No way!
Human world might already be overrun!
"Kieeeek!!!"
The shocking truth hit like a mace to the skull—I clutched my head and screamed.
"Whoa! Why the sudden yell?!"
Hildegart jumped.
—Haa.
After the scream, my head cleared. Razor-sharp judgment took over.
"...Whew! Not buying it, but if any demon can open gates, why bother struggling? Human collaborators? Demon summoners?"
No need to gate near people if you could.
Better to pop up remote, build forces, then move. With paladins hunting demons to prove their faith, why risk it here?
So either they could only gate here despite self-opening, or cultists helped.
Whatever—gates only here explained their swarming.
Or random spots, unaware of the city/church strength.
Tough puzzle.
That was my limit.
"Right. If all could, no struggle needed. But it's true—they're gating themselves over."
Hildegart stated firmly.
"How the fuck did they suddenly get gate powers?"
"Dunno."
"What, you bitch?"
"No, really! I don't know! Just realized one day gates were opening nearby! I've been studying it since crossing!"
"...Gates opening nearby?"
If true, something made normally rare hell gates easy here.
Gates don't pop casually.
Needs expertise, power.
—But now, easy mode here for some reason.
Demons ditched questions, seized the human invasion chance they'd craved.
Each with their agendas.
Mystery unsolved, but plausible.
"Maybe humans wanting demons made gates easier. But we don't care. Pandemonium demons grow strong on humans. Risky, but tempting opportunity? See—I met you!"
—Hehehe.
Hildegart laughed seductively.
Who to believe? But hearing her out fully seemed profitable.