Chapter 485
Chapter 485
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 485
Chapter Title: Killing Demons
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I took a moment to organize my thoughts.
The information Hildegarte had shared seemed pretty useful.
Of course, it needed verification, but roughly piecing together the situation, it all fit without any glaring contradictions. Even judging by my own common sense, it made a decent amount of sense.
It was definitely worth listening to.
Elise would have yelled that none of it made sense if she'd been here, but my thinking differed from hers a bit. Fusion Confucianism teaches that even from enemies, you take whatever you can get.
Besides, this wasn't an opponent I could immediately avenge Elise against anyway.
This bastard wasn't someone I could smash to pieces with my current abilities on the spot.
So, let's hear a little more.
"I hope that satisfied your curiosity?"
Just then, the food arrived.
"Now, shall we get into some personal talk?"
Hildegarte seemed to have learned some table manners; she tasted the food with a surprisingly demure demeanor before speaking.
"But why are you telling me all this?"
"Now, personal talk..."
"Spit it out."
"...Obviously, to win your favor, sir knight."
"Bullshit."
She wouldn't sell out her own kind for something that lame.
Wait, no—thinking about it again, this was a demon. Demons could absolutely do that.
It might even be encouraged.
Demons are the kind of scum who'll sell out parents, siblings, friends, neighbors, and even their own race if there's profit in it. Humans are the same, of course. Fucking hell.
"There's gotta be another reason."
"Well, there are other reasons, but they're minor."
"Like what?"
"..."
Hildegarte dabbed at her mouth with a napkin.
"To be honest."
Then she spoke up.
"If you kill those demons for me, it'd benefit me too."
"What? Benefit you?"
"Of course. I win your favor, and I get something out of it. Perfect, right?"
"What kind of benefit?"
So there was some gain in it for her after all.
Was she aiming for a win-win? If so, she'd make a great trading partner. If she were human, that is.
"Demons don't see others of different races as kin or compatriots. They're just enemies with their own goals and thoughts. Humans fight among themselves—why wouldn't demons? And honestly, even same-race demons mostly lack any sense of camaraderie?"
"...Sense of camaraderie."
I couldn't verify the truth of it, but it sounded plausible for demons.
I'd assumed demons at least saw each other as kin, but there probably wasn't anyone with less racial loyalty than them.
"Take us succubi—we call each other sisters, but some are close, others hated. I'd kill a sister if she threatened me. If we kill our own kind sometimes, imagine how we'd treat other demon races?"
"Fair enough."
Same with humans.
Trash humans would chop up their own fathers and eat them for a handful of gold coins. Hell, plenty do it without the gold. Some already have.
It's a world overflowing with criminals.
"Anyway, Pandemonium's like that. For me, other demons dying in the human world is a huge gain?"
So, demons invading the human realm and getting killed helped her out. That's why she was spilling info so freely.
But.
"So you're saying you're using me?"
That meant she planned to use me.
"Using you? I'm just helping you out, sir knight. Besides, even without me telling you, aren't the humans here already obsessed with demon hunting?"
Hildegarte spoke as if trying to persuade me.
"Whether I tell you or not, the result's the same. Lots of demons die, and that benefits me. Sure, a powered-up demon might show up... but let's worry about that later."
I always think this, but the better someone talks, the better they scam. Anyone with a smooth mouth is a con artist 100 times out of 100.
"I just want to help you gain from this situation. I told you—I want your favor."
Hildegarte's info seemed logical enough on the surface.
Which made it more suspicious.
"You bitch! Trying to use me?!"
"Eek! I just explained it's not!"
"Then tell me where demons are popping up en masse!"
Shrrk!
I immediately pulled a map from my pocket.
I'd learned a lot, but to profit myself, I needed to know where demons were appearing.
If she told me that, it was worth testing.
"...If I do, you'll trust me?"
"We'll see."
"Really... No matter how hard I try to earn your trust, you won't believe me."
"Would you trust other demons?"
At my question, Hildegarte rolled her eyes for a moment.
"Hmm... Fair point. I wouldn't trust them either. Demons can't be trusted. Sigh. Makes me question being one. Winning a man's trust is this hard? Normally, just showing my face does it."
Other guys might fall for her beauty hook, line, and sinker, but not me. I needed the plain truth.
"Not interested in your face. But more importantly."
I pushed my plate aside and spread the map out.
"You said demons open gates themselves... Can you pinpoint locations?"
Hildegarte had explained gates were easy to open here, and demons came through individually.
But answering right away didn't add up.
"Even if it's easier, some demons still can't open them. There's one fixed gate open. I'll tell you where. Mostly weaklings come through, though. Still, numbers make it useful—up to you, sir knight."
"Hmmm... Really?"
It was a test question to spot lies, and she answered smoothly.
"But can you read maps?"
"I fly around all the time—terrain's a joke."
She scanned the map briefly, traced with her finger, then started marking paths with her blue-polished nail like a pen.
"Here, around this area... Confirmed one open just days ago. Even if gone, traces of a long-open gate linger."
She detailed as she marked.
Pretty dedicated.
Looked like she was genuinely trying to give me an edge. Finally, she circled a spot.
"Here. Fixed gate. If it's still open, demons are crossing now. Some scatter or hide, sure. But ignoring it spells trouble for humans."
"Exact spot?"
"Marked on map, so approximate. But you'll spot signs."
High chance it's a trap.
But who am I? Saint Kim Katt. Going with church folk knowing the risk? Trap's no issue. Trap itself proves demon activity—reward city.
Worth checking.
Even if scam, I lose nothing poking it.
"Alright, I'll look into this info positively."
Location's a bit far.
Might take a day's march.
Had holy knights missed it? Forest's vast and dense. Short on troops too.
Lord's soldiers move on reports, but most guard nearby villages.
"Heh heh, hope you use it well. Eyeing church rewards? Good luck getting what you want."
Hildegarte propped her chin on her hands, staring into my eyes.
"And being this specific... It's partly apology for hurting your friend last time. Forgive me?"
"I'd forgive you when I'm dead and reborn, bitch."
"Too harsh. I'm deeply sorry. Want to apologize."
Hurting Elise? Unforgivable.
"Sir knight... I'm sincere. Why won't you believe me? I'm trying so hard materially and otherwise."
"What would you think if a strange demon acted nice?"
"Ugh, you keep saying that? Leaves me speechless."
"Then don't speak."
"Sigh."
Hildegarte sighed.
Heard all I needed. Time to go.
Head to church, hand over demon pebble.
"Sir knight. Lately, I think only of you. Nothing else."
"You stalker bitch!"
"Yes. Stalker."
Fucking hell!
I shot up from my seat. Hildegarte stared blankly and continued.
"Just thinking of you daily... Curiosity, possessiveness, obsession sprout up. Ah, leaving? Didn't even get personal talk."
"Leaking personal info's illegal."
"What... Anyway, if you profit from my info, you'll trust me then?"
If true and I gain, maybe reconsider. But I'd never trust a demon.
"Hey. Demons? Can't trust 'em, period."
"Sigh. Again. Well, safe travels. Nice talking. Best time ever. Don't worry about bill—I'll cover it."
"..."
Hildegarte sighed, straightened her clothes, smiled, and waved.
I left without responding.
Succubus... Seduce men to death.
Monster or not, get info if possible.
Shrrk.
I checked the map.
Marked path made it easy.
Worth testing.
Pocketed map, headed to Brass Celestial Society church. Still early morning. Talk didn't take long.
Soon reached church.
Told priest I had demon kill proof. He guided me inside. Bounty drew adventurers.
Adventurers.
They knew blood and holy water react, made pebbles? Or just blood? Or body parts?
Reached church training yard. Priests and holy knights there. Priest said show proof there, left.
Let's ask.
"Greetings. Have demon kill proof."
Approached young holy knight. He recognized me, smiled, greeted. My face sold well.
Quick greeting, showed demon pebble.
"Ooh, genuine."
He took it, nodded.
"Demon blood and holy water reaction. Demons usually melt on death, so we use blood or this."
"Got it. Other adventurers too?"
"Mostly blood. Some brought body parts."
"Bodies sometimes remain?"
"Rarely. Don't know why exactly—hard to say."
He shook his head.
Too bad.
"Here's bounty and Verde's blessing prize ticket."
"Ticket?"
"Collect for church relics. From mindset of fair reward for devotion. Collect diligently, Saint!"