Chapter 525
Chapter 525
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 525
Chapter Title: A Useful Fellow
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Hildegart laid out the information in an utterly flat tone: groups borrowing demonic power were flocking to this city, scheming something shady.
Odville wasn't exactly a logistics hub, but it was still a city where a hefty volume of goods moved through every day. Naturally, it was easy to come and go. With all the foot traffic, it wouldn't be strange if shady types slipped in from somewhere.
Plus, the city was overflowing with laborers.
"A place brimming with human desires is practically a demon's nest. Especially when it's packed with folks dissatisfied with their lot in life."
But just because laborers were everywhere didn't mean they had any real stake in things. Did those guys even have voting rights? What did they have?
In this era, scraping by as a low-class laborer was grueling work, pure and simple.
It was like the low-level adventurers who dropped dead now and then—no real difference. Rock bottom life itself. Lowly laborers or newbie adventurers, they both lived hand-to-mouth, so the gap was negligible.
Just a matter of working outside versus inside, really.
These types usually harbored resentment about their situation and were primed for crime at the drop of a hat—prime villain material. That's been my experience, anyway. Back when I was living like dirt, I clashed plenty with the city's bottom-rung laborers and F-rank adventurers. I knew their vibe.
Scum like that always operated the same way.
Being that sort, their desires ran rampant, making them easy prey for demons. Plenty of idiots fell for outrageous temptations. Hell, even on modern Earth, trucks full of people wrecked their lives over dumb shit—why would it be any different here?
"Heh heh, demon schemes are so predictable."
Whether these were full-on heretics or just demon-borrowers, we'd need a deeper investigation. No way for me to know right now.
One thing was clear: groups using demonic power to climb the ladder were holding rallies targeting low-class laborers.
Hildegart said she'd infiltrated several of those secret gatherings during her probe. Everyone there was from the city's underbelly.
"Ahem, ahem."
Clearing her throat, Hildegart struck a pose like she was giving a speech, mimicking some cult leader as she spoke.
"You who toil the hardest, making this city prosper—you're the true heroes of Odville. But look at your lives. How much coin do you have in your pockets right now? Enough to get through tomorrow? You make the sacrifices, pour in the sweat, yet the fat cats who've never hauled a load pocket all the gold."
What?
"'Now's the time for us laborers to unite and smash this unfair system!' Something like that? Humans sure know how to talk."
"Wait, demon proletarian revolution or what?"
Hold up—was Marx isekai'd here and turned into a demon?
I got the picture.
Humans are weak to that kind of temptation by nature. If demons dangled the bait of success and power, who wouldn't bite?
Poor folks always fall hardest for it.
Sure, laborers have it rough—everyone knows that. But what can you do in a world like this?
If they'd borrowed demonic power, per Saint Cardia's orders, I'd smash them. Take out the ringleaders, and these rallies would fizzle out naturally.
"Makes sense."
Winia nodded after hearing Hildegart's tale.
"But aren't you a demon too? Even if you wanna help, selling out your own kind? Sounds fishy."
Winia asked the obvious question.
I'd thought the same.
"As I already told Katt, demons dying benefits me too."
"Benefits, huh? Explain, blackie."
"Come here."
To the skeptical Winia, I gave the quick rundown on hell's ecosystem that Hildegart had explained. Demons had zero tribal loyalty. One croaking meant gains for the rest.
"Huh. That tracks."
"Right? Demons gonna demon."
Anyway, situation grasped.
Follow her lead to the rally spot, snag hard evidence. Solve this, and I'd profit—but ultimately, so would Hildegart.
True win-win.
"You bastard! Planning to use me again, huh!"
"Katt, 'use' is such harsh words. Once we resolve this, don't you benefit too? Think of my cut as just hazard pay."
This bitch was demon through and through.
She'd throw other demons to the wolves for her own safety and gain. Fine by me. Mutual exploitation. Yeah, solid business partner material.
"It's easier than ever for demons to slip into the human world now, so tons are chasing old ambitions. Those dimwits all dying off would make my life way smoother. Life in Pandemonium is exhausting, you know?"
"Fine, it's on the to-do list anyway. Any demons I find, I'll kill 'em all."
"Ufufu, that's my Katt."
Background briefed, time to move. But if I wrapped it up too quick, the saint might get suspicious. Better to poke around, verify Hildegart's intel a bit.
"Alright, Hildegart. Let's hunt these bastards down. You know the rally spots? You've been a few times, but they probably don't stick to one place."
These types switched venues constantly.
"Spot on. Heh heh, Katt, you're so sharp. Handsome and smart—Hildegart can't keep her head straight around you!"
She beamed.
"Flattery gets you nowhere. Where? Can you track 'em?"
"Easy. Venues change, but not a problem for me. Got simple disguise magic, and pinpointing demon aura? Piece of cake."
"Damn, cheat skills."
Hildegart's abilities were ridiculously convenient.
Demon sensing demon vibes meant locations, evidence, all simple. Disguise magic for intel extraction or light mind control? Terrorism perfected.
No wonder demons feared traitors most.
"How's that, Katt? Helpful?"
"Yeah, great intel. Thanks."
"Kyaa! Praise! I'm thrilled! Hold on... gonna burst... Gotta hold it in here. Heh heh!"
Hildegart rubbed her cheeks, squealing to herself. What a nutjob!
"Blackie, what the hell was..."
"Freaky as shit, right?"
Winia eyed her warily. Composing herself, Hildegart addressed Winia.
"Lady Winia, no need to be so guarded. I mean well."
"...Hard not to. Nice story or not, can't trust you."
"Fair. But mess with Cloudy, and I'm dead meat. My life's in her hands—no reason to screw around."
Hildegart had clocked Cloudy's level at a glance. Honestly, if Cloudy wanted, this one couldn't escape whatever.
"Polite attitude."
Cloudy eyed Hildegart.
"Of course. You're Katt's wives. Gotta impress the lady of the house."
"Oh? Thinking that already?"
"Always."
"Insolent?"
"I'll behave."
"Heh heh, good girl."
Cloudy looked amused. Nah, she couldn't actually like her. Cloudy's angling for more heirs through me, but succubus? No thanks.
Hildegart said succubi rarely got pregnant, and offspring were always succubi.
My daughters as succubi? Hard pass.
"Anyway, real action starts at nightfall. Humans are working now."
Made sense—rallies after dark. Sneaky, plus workers off shift.
"Come back tonight then."
"What?! Chat a bit more! Just business?"
"Winia's uncomfortable."
"...You sure dote on the wives. Guess I can't butt in yet. See you at night."
She turned and slipped out the door.
"Rest well, Katt."
"Uh... yeah. You too."
Hildegart gone, room just us. Nothing to do till night.
Eat, sleep, done.
"What the hell was that succubus... Ugh, annoying. Blackie, c'mere."
"Our queen Winia pissed?"
"Damn right. Rub my tits. Dying here."
"That help?"
"Yeah."
We killed the afternoon with slow, teasing sex, then napped. Work tonight—better rest. Cloudy and Winia, wrecked from orgasms, drifted off blissed out.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Night fell.
Hildegart returned; we were ready, hoods up, following her lead.
Couldn't gear up fully—armor'd blow infiltration cover. Casual bought clothes instead. Winia and Cloudy in waitress getups under hoods.
"Lucky—rally tonight. Hmm... demon auras incoming."
Sunset plunged streets into dark.
Streetlamps and shop lanterns lit the way. No stars, dim moon. Still, folks hustled—mostly guys hitting bars or gambling dens. Quitting time.
We trailed Hildegart.
She guided expertly.
"Yo, what about your aura? Won't they sense you?"
Hildegart sensed demons. Vice versa? She turned, grinning.
"Heh heh, no worries. I handle my business. With you? No risks left behind. Aura's locked down tight. These demons are lower-tier anyway. Nothing to sweat."
"Cool."
Seemed cloaked.
Couldn't verify, but reliant now—roll with it. Demons charging? Still no match.
"Even if sniffed out, they'd probably ignore it. Too busy reeling in humans to care about other demons. Why fight with so many marks around? Let idiots die."
"This one..."
Sound thinking.
Strike foes when laxest. Her philosophy worked for me.
"Sigh... but Katt."
"What."
"You're giving off way too much sexy scent..."
"Say what?"
Heart-eyes, sultry tone.
"Fun wife time? Still pent-up though. Heh heh... such an irresistible man... Ahh."
She could smell the sex. Time short, hadn't fully vented.
"Shut it and lead, bitch. Keep yapping?"
"S-Sorry! This way anyway."
She led to the city outskirts. Small canal there. Repurposed natural waterway? Logistics city perks—canals eased transport.
"Warehouse?"
"Yep. Looks like."
We'd hit warehouse district.
Perfect rally spot—no better hideout.