Chapter 508
Chapter 508
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 508
Chapter Title: Junior Priest Kim Katt
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The villagers figured the murderer had fled toward another village and let out a collective sigh of relief. I was relieved too. Traveling with this guy would boost our chances of nabbing the bastard.
The killer might still be stalking his next prey.
If so, backtracking his path could lead us right into that lurking psycho.
"Heh heh heh, don't worry about it. Once we wrap this up, I'll make sure you're compensated handsomely. It's for the greater good, so lend us a hand. Besides, don't you want revenge for your buddies?"
"W-Well... alright."
I sweet-talked the terrified man into cooperating.
Turned out he'd been attacked just yesterday, fleeing like mad to reach this village—the closest one around. He probably wanted to head straight back home, but as a key witness who might still be a target, I had no choice but to keep him with us. I'd reward him later.
With the villagers' help, we got him some food and let him rest a bit before hitting the road.
"P-Priest... that guy was seriously strong. My friends got slaughtered in the blink of an eye..."
"No worries. I'm a junior priest of the Brass Celestial Society. Hunting down scum like that is second nature to me."
"Still..."
"Hey now, relax. We've got a warrior and a mage right here with us."
"..."
As we traveled, I grilled him on the murderer's description.
The killer was like some maniac radiating pure malice. A serial slayer with a pitch-black sword, charging in with a roar, he said.
Sounded like a total lunatic from the description alone... but a black sword? Guess the guy was human after all.
"We need to retrace the path you took yesterday and today. Nice and slow. That's our best shot at running into him."
"...Got it."
And so we cut through the forest. He got a bit turned around at first, but since it was a familiar route until the ambush, he quickly got his bearings. Being a local, he knew the way better than I did.
That's how he'd made it to the village.
But our pace was sluggish. The guy was exhausted. The mental trauma and physical fatigue had slowed him to a crawl.
"Darkie, let's take a break. You're dragging."
"Yeah."
At my suggestion for a short rest, he slumped against a tree.
I handed him some jerky and asked,
"When did you first hear the rumors about this killer?"
"They were all over the area... I've known for a while. Thought traveling in a group would be safe enough, but..."
"Must hit hard. I'll make sure to kill the bastard for you."
Not just his companions, but the cargo on the wagon and even the oxen pulling it—all gone. No wonder he was devastated.
They should've avoided long trips until things settled down.
Eh, livelihoods were on the line, though.
Anyway, time was of the essence.
I promised him compensation again and we pressed on. Whenever he lagged, I just carried him piggyback. He protested that a priest couldn't possibly carry him, but he was our navigator—non-negotiable.
By afternoon, we reached the crime scene. Carrying him actually sped things up. Wasn't even tiring.
"Hng... gruesome, huh?"
The site was every bit as horrific as Cloudy described.
Dead oxen and human bodies lay scattered about.
Lucky break—the wagon was intact. The contents, fruits and crops apparently, had been devoured by monsters.
"O-Oh...!"
The man dropped to his knees, bursting into tears at the sight. I comforted him while inspecting the corpses. Two bodies, just as he said.
They'd been hacked to pieces.
What the hell was this guy's motive? He avoided villages, striking only in the woods and on paths... and leaving them mutilated like a trophy? Bizarre.
"Euwaaah!!!"
I let him wail it out, then pulled Cloudy and Winia aside.
"Darkie, shouldn't we quiet him down?"
"Let him grieve now. Gotta let it out when you need to."
His cries might even lure the killer over.
We watched from behind a tree nearby. He just sat there sobbing like a child.
Someone who drives that kind of grief into people's hearts? No forgiveness. I'd kill him now and claim that black sword. No private property for scum like that.
Not even his life.
"Hic, hiiic... Uh, huh? Priest?"
After a good cry, he calmed and stopped. He called out to me, then bolted up like a orphaned pup, scanning around.
Look behind you.
"Right here."
"Ah...! Thought you'd vanished for a sec—why are you over th—"
That was when he started toward us.
"Get down!!!"
"Huh?"
—Fwoosh!
I kicked off the ground and lunged forward.
"Groooaaarrr!!"
"Priest? Wh-What? Whaaat!!"
No time to think. The killer burst from the bushes, black sword raised high. He took the bait perfectly! Time to fight!
"Finally showed up, you fucking bastard!!!"
—Screeech!
I swung as I charged.
—Clang!
"Guoooh...!"
Our blades met in a shower of sparks. A split-second later, and that sword would've caved in the guy's skull. But I'd planned for it all—no mistakes from me!
"Uwaaaah!!"
The man fell on his ass in terror, scrambling back. Good, stay down!
But as I went for the kill—
"What the fuck?!"
—A heavy force pulsed through my blade!
"Groooaaarrr!!"
The murderer was lost in madness. Eyes bloodshot, ragged clothes soaked in blood. Roaring like a beast.
And that sword... it reminded me of the black-iron greatsword Karin gave me long ago, but something felt off. Shit!
The bastard wielded it better than expected!
"Cloudy! Winia! Guard that guy and the area! Jump in when the timing's right!"
—Clang!
I twisted my blade up and unleashed a flurry of strikes—the pinnacle of my swordsmanship, honed through relentless training and battle.
The power from his sword proved he was no slouch.
But better than Karin? I stepped forward, pressing the attack.
"You motherfucking piece of shit! What the hell are you?!"
"Grrrraaah...!"
He just foamed at the mouth, no response. Figures—can't reason with trash like this. Still, with skills like that, he could've easily butchered D-rank adventurers.
"Mute bastard? Why won't you talk?!"
"Guooaaarrr!!"
But that was it.
He swung hard, but not up to my level. Fierce and powerful, sure, but I handled him effortlessly.
His blade never touched me. The initial clash had me hopeful for a sec, but nah—Kim Katt was untouchable.
"Grrrruuuh...!"
Skilled with the sword, he blocked well enough. But weirdly full of openings despite that. Like the blade controlled him.
Whatever—openings in battle mean defeat.
"Fuck you!"
—Thud!
I closed in and kneed his gut hard.
"Guhk!"
Perfect hit—he puked blood and buckled. Worked in one shot? Karin shrugs this off easy.
"Heavenly Demon Iron Claw!!"
I spread my hand and clamped his neck as he bent over, slamming him face-first into the dirt. My strength, pumped by brutal training and mana, crushes orcs easy.
—Crunch!
"Kieeeek...!"
I could snap his neck right there, but no need to kill a subdued foe. He writhed on the ground, limbs flailing, still clutching that sword. Totally insane.
"You... cocky little shit, huh? Thought you were hot stuff picking off weak villagers? Eh?!"
"Groooaaarrr!! Groooaaarrr!"
I tried interrogating, but he just roared like a monster—lost in lunacy, as expected.
Can't speak properly?
"Speak human, you fuck! Cloudy!"
"Yeah?"
Physical persuasion might snap him out. Killing him's fine, but interrogation could reveal more victims.
"Hack off his limbs! Winia, cauterize the stumps!"
"Hee hee, quick thinking as always."
Cloudy smirked and swung lightly—his arms and legs flew off in an instant.
"Uwooooaaaarrrghhh!!!"
Shock would kill a normal person, but crazies are immune. He screamed like a man who'd lost all four.
"Fire Bolt!"
—Whoosh!
Winia's spell torched the severed limbs. No need to save him anyway. If he dies, fine. We'd stop the bleeding before he bled out.
"Gyaeeeeek!!!"
Only way to restrain a psycho serial killer like this. Can't control him otherwise. Standard procedure: summary execution for these types.
"Bleurghhh!!!"
"Stay still, asshole! We're patching you up! Wanna die that bad?!"
Easier than expected.
Decent sword skills, enough for multiple D-ranks, but not me. Without us, more would've died.
"Gehk!"
After the treatment, limbless like a maggot, he convulsed, eyes rolled back, foaming. Like a caterpillar.
Pain regressed his brain to bug level.
But he survived the shock. Human resilience is a wonder. This freak squandered it on mad slaughter. Now it was his turn.
No excuses, even as a bug.
"One down. Heh heh, Cloudy, could've helped sooner."
"You were dominating. Your skills are really coming along. Mama's proud."
"Me too!"
Cloudy praised me.
"Anyway... not sure we can interrogate now. He'll die soon if we leave him. Wake him if we're doing it."
"Right."
Winia poked his face with her staff. I soccer-kicked his side.
—Thud!
"Kwehk!"
"Rise and shine! And you! Revenge served!"
"Th-Thank you! Thank you! Thankyouthankyou! Euwaaah!"
Everything went perfectly.
The man, who had pissed himself in fear, crawled over on all fours, blubbering gratitude. Doing good filled me with joy. This must be the spirit of service for the faithful.
Maybe the killer appeared just to teach me this gratitude. My chest swelled.
Time for interrogation.
"Spill everything you know, fucker! Unless you want what's left of your arms sliced like sashimi, heh heh heh!"
As I went to stomp his arm—
—Tremble.
Something weird happened.
—Tremble.
—Tremble tremble tremble.
—Tremble tremble tremble...!
"Wh-What the fuck? What's this?"
The black sword, tossed nearby, started vibrating like a vibrator on its own. Then it shook off the hand that had gripped it and stood up.
—Whoosh!
"It stood up?!"
A sword standing by itself?!
All eyes locked on it.
We gawked at the surreal, inhuman sight.
—Humm.
Not content with standing, it floated up. Black aura seeped from the blade.
"Keh heh heh... Contract failed, human. I'll claim your soul and all your spoils."
"Holy shit! What the hell is going on?!"
The cold voice sent chills down my spine. Contract? Soul? As it finished, the writhing killer on the ground thrashed wildly, screaming clearly.
"N-No! Nooooooo!!! Nooooooo!! Nooooooo!!!"
This bastard! The muteness was an act?!