Chapter 512
Chapter 512
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 512
Chapter Title: Junior Priest Kim Katt
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"Blackie... you done talking to that demon bastard? Ugh, gross. Just kill the blackie already. Killing scum like that benefits the world more."
Winia approached hesitantly, pointing her staff at the Vuigal dagger while spouting utterly correct words. She wore a look of pure disgust.
—...!
Vuigal shuddered as if offended by her words. This bastard dares to react to Winia like that? I immediately punished it by slamming the blade into a rock.
—Kwang!
"Kahaaak...! Stop! Please stop!"
Was this guy a drama queen?
Sword mages fought like this all the time... Well, there was a difference between just swinging a sword and smashing down with full force on a rock.
Normally, doing something like this would be an insult to the blade. A sword was a tool for slicing people, not a hammer.
But Vuigal deserved the insult.
"I told you to shut up, so why don't you listen? Didn't your mom teach you to be quiet?"
"...!"
The bastard smartly clamped its mouth shut.
I couldn't stand it.
"Answer me, you fucking bastard!"
"Y-yes, sir! I'm sorry! I won't do it again!"
"I said shut up, you fucking bitch!!!! You're ignoring me again!"
"Uwaaaah!!!"
I relentlessly smashed the rock down while unleashing devastating mental attacks on Vuigal. Nothing was worse than being berated with utter nonsense like this.
—Tremble tremble.
When I finally stopped the harsh treatment, the badly chipped blade began slowly regenerating.
Incredible recovery power.
Until now, it had gathered blood and pain through the murderer, and by finally devouring the murderer's body and soul, it could wield this power in the real world.
Even in its incomplete flesh form, it could regenerate like this... It really was a powerful demon.
A regenerating sword was awfully tempting. No maintenance needed if it healed like that. That was why demon swords were cheat weapons.
"Heh heh heh, this Vuigal bastard. You said you wanted human blood, pain, and negative emotions, right? I think there's no need to hunt humans—our friend Vuigal here can provide it all."
"Hng...! Hic! Wh-why... whyyy...!"
"Weak bastard. Don't cry."
Not even a child, and it was crying.
"It'll get worse from now on."
"N-no way! You said you'd spare me!"
Vuigal sobbed hysterically, throwing a fit.
Demons or humans, nobody wanted to die. Those who treated others' lives lightly valued their own the most. Vuigal was that type.
"Heh heh heh, I could spare you. Though you'd suffer worse than death."
"This is insane!"
I drew the Brass Celestial Society dagger and unleashed sword aura, slicing Vuigal into five pieces. It screamed in agony as it became fragmented blades.
I wrapped them carefully in cloth and picked them up.
Anyway, the incident was resolved.
Let's stop by the village once, then head back to the city.
"Seriously, Blackie... even threatening the demon. What if something goes wrong? You gotta eliminate the source of trouble."
Winia came over and said.
"Of course. But since we captured it alive, dragging it like this isn't bad. What do you think, Winia? Best to hand it to the church, right?"
"Do whatever."
It'd be nice to use the demon sword, but the risks outweighed the gains. Better to submit it to the church for a reward. Or sell it at the arena. Was there a demon trafficking law?
Capturing a demon alive was an opportunity.
And opportunities required thought.
Well, I'd ponder it slowly on the way back.
"Katt, shall we head back now?"
"Yeah."
I woke the man lying nearby. He'd passed out from the shocks.
"Ugh, ugh... Priest?"
"The situation's resolved. Murderer and demon—both destroyed."
"Sniff, hng... hng! Thank you! Thank you, Priest!"
"Heh heh heh, it was easy because you guided us. Here, guide fee. Life has much suffering, but overcoming it is what living is."
I handed him two silver coins. He bowed deeply, took the money, and guided us back to the village. He planned to report the damages and the murderer's subjugation to his own village after.
By the time we returned, it was deep night.
"Th-the priest and his party are back!"
The vigilante on the palisade confirmed my identity and opened the gate. His main concern was the murderer.
"Gather the people. I'll make an announcement about the murderer."
"Yes, sir, Priest!"
At my word, sleepy folks rushed out with torches and lanterns. So many lights turned the clearing into a bright camp bonfire.
"Priest! Announcement about the murderer!"
"What...! What happened?!"
"No way! Is the murderer dead?!"
"Please let it be real!!! I can't deny reality anymore!!"
—Murmur murmur.
"Quiet."
I raised my hand, and the excited shouts ceased. I gauged the mood, then spoke.
"The serial killer threatening the village and world has been subjugated by me—Junior Priest of the Brass Celestial Society and D-rank adventurer of the Isvant Adventurer's Guild, Kim Katt!!"
"W-whoaaa!!!"
"I-it's real!!!! Hooray!!!"
"Priest, hooray!!"
The villagers erupted in frenzy at my announcement. I let them revel a bit. Soon, a recovered elder asked,
"B-but proof...?"
"I was just about to show it... Come out, demon! Reveal your true form!"
—Thud!
I yanked out the cloth-wrapped Vuigal and slammed it to the ground. It stabbed into the dirt like a shuriken.
"Wh-what...? The murderer's weapon?"
"Wait a moment. Vuigal! Show your true form unless you want more pain!"
I drew the Brass Celestial Society dagger and barked. Vuigal vibrated, spewed black smoke, and transformed into a dwarf demon.
"Krrk... H-humans..."
Pathetically weak, yet utterly evil.
The demon had manifested.
"Gasp!!!!!"
"What the heeeeell!!!!"
"Demon, deeeeemon!!!"
"This can't be real!!!!"
"Kyaaaaaaaah!!!!!!"
As expected, the villagers panicked wildly upon seeing the demon.
Those with hair tore at theirs; the bald pounded their scalps madly. Elders slapped their lips, babbling "Avavavava!"; kids spun in place clapping.
"Gaaaaah!!"
"Deeeeemon!!!!"
It was pure madness. Common folk's reaction to a real demon was dynamic and bizarre.
An unprecedented shock, for sure.
Even modern Earthlings wouldn't react calmly to a real demon.
The frenzied screams lasted until they tired. When they regained senses, I shouted vigorously.
"This is the demon that controlled the serial killer! I slew the murderer and subdued the demon! Captured alive to judge with divine power!"
—Thud!
"Ghek!"
I kicked Vuigal and declared.
"Ooooh!!!"
"The priest vanquished the demon!!!"
"Whoooaaa!!!"
A priest solving the case and beating a demon before their eyes? Of course they'd cheer.
"Priest, hooray!"
"Hooray!"
"Brass Celestial Society, hooray!!"
"Wooo!! Priest hooray!!"
I was doing too much good for the Brass Celestial Society.
One reason they gave me the junior priest title was probably this.
Me roaming, doing righteous deeds.
It'd spread my name, boosting the church's reputation. If I screwed up, it'd backfire, but they trusted me.
"Heh heh heh, Cloudy. Winia. Look, everyone's thrilled."
"Seriously... Blackie talks too well when you watch him."
"Hee hee hee, strong warriors always get recognized easily. I'm so happy, Katt."
Anyway, I riled the villagers enough to order them to beat Vuigal.
"Nooooooo!"
Soon, the mad mob clubbed it with clubs, tools, and torches.
"You fucking bitch!"
"Shit demon bastard!"
"Die, die!"
"Kaaaaah!!!"
They'd lost family, friends, comrades—letting them vent was natural. It aligned with Brass Celestial Society teachings.
Vuigal endured murderous beatings from deep night till dawn's end. Even after we bathed, slept, and woke, it continued.
Perfect—I'd worried how to restrain it overnight.
"Gek, kekekek... kekek..."
Anyway, Vuigal was minced meat, moaning pitifully. Quite dignified for a demon's end.
"Priest...! Truly grateful!"
"Priest is the village's benefactor!"
"Heh heh heh, calm down. Be vigilant—such things may happen again."
The request wrapped up like this. The village chief tearfully gave me the proof prior adventurers got. Submit this and the dead adventurers' IDs, done.
We departed for Isvant in the villagers' warm send-off, riding a carriage.
Vuigal crammed into a free rusty cage, skewered by ten sharp rods through the bars to pin its body.
"Gek..."
Despite the brutal lynching, it regenerated fine. But mentally broken, it just stared blankly, making weird noises.
Heading home sweet home.
Dragging a demon to the village and making a scene—my fame would spread wide. When it reaches the city, it'll be worth watching. I pondered Vuigal's fate while eyeing its mad state.
Convert to sword form for easy carry—no guard fuss over a demon.
"..."
Thinking it over, it was risky.
If some scumbag smuggled a demon sword like this, chaos. But not me, so whatever.
Upon city arrival, convert to sword and take home.
Show Lisha first, then church.
Luckily, she might handle it.
No biggie either way. Had to go to church anyway. Couldn't hide after bragging to villagers.
Church would reward handsomely for the demon sword. Maybe a holy knight's blade that can't leave premises.
—Still, this sword's tempting.
"Gek, kekek..."
"Hey, hey. You really lost it?"
In the carriage, I checked the pathetic caged demon. This was a demon's miserable end. All demons deserved this. Especially Vuigal—this shit used that murderer to gruesomely slaughter over ten people.
"Fucking gross. What kinda ugly mug is that?"
Winia eyed it with utter revulsion.
—Poke, poke.
"Krgek...! Gheuk...!"
Cloudy snatched my dagger, stabbing through the bars to torment it. Black blood poured. She played with indifferent calm.
Of course, Vuigal didn't die—just sobbed.
Tedious, but torture nonstop en route. Couldn't let it recover power. Keep it mentally shattered with pain.
Thus, we tortured Vuigal until reaching Isvant.