Chapter 527
Chapter 527
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 527
Chapter Title: A Useful One
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Those scheming bastards!"
I stood in front of the basement door and let out a cry of anguish.
"They've locked the door!!"
Those crafty sons of bitches had locked the door.
An iron padlock was firmly sealing the entrance to the basement. I could split it with sword ki easily enough, but that would give me away.
Damn these demonic bastards! Scum like this needs to be rounded up and locked away.
"N-now, now, calm down, Katt. This is nothing to worry about."
Hildegart tapped the padlock with her finger—clink!—and it unlocked itself, falling to the floor.
"You bastard! You can do that too?!"
As expected of a succubus with superior magical abilities, she had all sorts of convenient tricks up her sleeve. Way more useful than I'd thought.
A pain in the ass as an enemy, but a real asset as an ally.
A demon sidekick through and through.
"Hee hee hee! Did I do good?"
"Yeah!"
Anyway, we headed straight into the basement.
Tssst.
Winia immediately cast a light spell to illuminate the place.
The silent basement was eerily quiet, as if the meeting from moments ago had been a figment of our imagination.
"Hildegart, you're up."
"Yes!"
I had her scout for anything reeking of demonic energy right away.
"Ah, Katt! I think this is it!"
Hildegart, who had gone toward the platform, pointed at some traces. We gathered closer to inspect it.
"What's this?"
"It's like a magic circle used by demons. A lesser demon's handiwork—something that can mess with human minds."
"Oh, really?"
It was a magic circle that had been half-erased.
They must've drawn it, used its effect, then roughly wiped it away on their way out.
Typical demonic bastards.
"Too bad it's half gone."
"Any other evidence?"
"Hmm... Not sure. Doesn't seem like there are any other items."
"Damn."
No evidence to collect like this.
Well, they wouldn't exactly leave behind speakers or projectors. Even if they had, they'd have taken them all. The meeting spots change constantly, too.
We searched the basement a bit more, erased our signs of entry, and slipped back outside.
Nothing much to find.
"Hey, Hildegart."
"Yes."
"You said there are more than one or two who've borrowed demonic power, right?"
Saintess Cardia had definitely caught wind of suspicious types gathering in this city.
Her directive said she'd compiled reports from around Isvant, locations where demons were found, places where their human collaborators were apprehended, and testimonies to make her judgment.
Her assessment was spot-on.
As someone who's bedded a saintess from a high position, her analytical skills are top-notch. It's not just this demon proletarian group here.
"Yes, yes. Quite a few, from what I could tell. This one's the biggest, so I told you about it first. It'll be the most help to you, Katt."
Hildegart had pointed me to the largest demon pack first, figuring it'd be the biggest help.
So the others aren't as big?
"What else is out there?"
"Well... Some aren't making moves, some kidnap human kids, and others support gatherings like this. All sorts. Demons' desires are just like humans'—everyone wants something different."
What?
"The city's pretty developed, but with no church, it's easy pickings. All sorts are swarming in to get what they want."
"Wait, hold up. What'd you just say?"
"Human desires?"
"Before that. Kidnapping human kids?"
"Ah, yeah. The most common sacrifices."
For a split second, I swear I saw Hildegart's fangs. Her slit pupils sharpened like a predator's.
Human kids means children.
"You fucking bastards!"
What kind of psychos kidnap kids?!
"That's the most important thing! What's going on?!"
People borrowing demonic power are kidnapping kids?
Just three seconds of thought, and you can guess what sick shit they're up to. A fierce impulse burned in me, like the true doctrine of Fusion Confucianism igniting.
"Huh? Most important? This one's the smallest scale. They target abandoned kids, so no one else notices."
"Holy shit!"
Hildegart, being a demon, didn't grasp the gravity. Her values differ from humans' that much... No, wait.
Humans are the ones doing the kidnapping in the first place.
Fucking hell.
Humans are the worst shits after all.
"Tell me the details. That's the top priority for me right now."
"Really? If you say it's most important, Katt, then it must be the biggest deal! I'll tell you right now!"
Hildegart launched into an excited explanation like it was no big deal.
The kid's kidnapped or whatever—since I care, she'll act like she does too.
"Demons' tastes vary, but the classic one? Human blood, souls, flesh—as sacrifices."
Her story was pretty repulsive.
"Nothing easier to grab than abandoned kids. Cities are overflowing with them left to rot, so they're the handiest sacrifices by far."
Cities like this are always crawling with orphans.
People pump out kids left and right, but there's no infrastructure to raise them properly.
Irresponsible men and incompetent women—brutal one-two punch—leaves kids discarded everywhere.
Every city does some relief work, but they can't feed them all. Isvant's slums are full of 'em. Lina's an orphan too, for that matter.
These kids outside society's safety net scrape by with zero protection.
Precious few survive, and even those who grow up aren't right in the head. Then they make more orphans. A vicious cycle of grim reality.
No church makes it even easier for crime to fester.
That was the gist of Hildegart's tale.
"Sacrificing kids for demonic power?"
"Yep, that's it. Honestly, when those kids vanish, it doesn't raise eyebrows. No one notices."
"Fucking hell."
This horrific shit happening right under our noses? Demons and their ilk deserve to die.
Anyway, gotta track this incident too.
Fusion Confucian duty: no mercy for scum who touch kids.
Saintess Cardia will prioritize this too. Crimes against kids always spark outrage.
Even those who ignore orphans daily would rage to kill the perps hearing this.
Report's gonna be juicy.
"For now, fuck... let's rest and track that too."
Head back, write the report, then pursue the orphan kidnappings.
Saintess, you bitch. Dumping this heavy shit on me alone?
I'll make you pay dearly.
"Good night then!"
I parted with Hildegart and returned to the inn.
"Katt. That succubus is pretty useful, huh?"
"She is... but what're you thinking, Cloudy?"
"Hee hee hee. Want to know Mama's thoughts?"
"You're up to no good!"
Cloudy clung to me, whispering in my ear.
Half-elf thing? Tolerant of other races?
Elves and dwarves are people, but monsters—even talking ones—aren't.
Anyway, I slipped my hand into Cloudy's panties, fingering her playfully, when Winia spoke up.
"Darky, if you're gonna play, write the report first."
"Yeah, you're right."
Winia, in her underwear, sidled up beside me. Fresh from a shower, she smelled amazing. We'd brought all the soap and such.
I let Cloudy go and grabbed a pen.
"Darky, when you write the report, hide everything about that succubus, got it?"
"Don't worry. I know."
Hiding shit like this is street smarts 101.
Never let anything that could bite you in the ass slip out.
"Problem is the intro. How do I say we caught their tail?"
"Remember when you raided the slums with that nun girl? Use that. Say you paid slum dwellers for info or poked suspicious spots first."
"Hmm... Yeah, that'll work."
I wrote the report with Winia. We double-checked everything and finished today's task. No issues.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We stayed in Odville a few days, investigating thoroughly with Hildegart's help.
Most stuff happened in the shadows, secretly.
Without her demon-sniffing, it'd have taken forever. Gotta admit, her cooperation's appreciated.
Anyway, city demon incidents boiled down to three.
One's the guy inciting workers now.
Biggest operation. Purpose unclear, but meetings pack the house, cheers at bourgeois-bashing. Otherwise, he holes up like a dead rat.
No outright crimes.
But consorting with demon contacts.
Another: sneaking off slum orphans.
This one's weak demon vibes—even Hildegart can't pinpoint. Low power.
Last: the silent ones.
They ooze demonic aura but no moves, so no pretext to bust 'em.
Can't report grabbing inactives—looks fishy. Letting 'em slide.
Anyway, nab the main two, wrap up, and go home.
Prioritize urgent: found orphan hangout.
"Hey, kids. Want some of this?"
I dangled cheap bread I'd bought ahead.
"...!"
Orphans scattered at my sudden appearance but eyed it hungrily from afar.
Bread's the way to starving kids' hearts.
"I'll give you some if you answer my questions?"
Kept waving the black loaf. Bought plenty cheap.
For work, a few coppers are fine.
Bonus: it's been a while since I donated.
"What questions...?"
A starving little boy approached.
Hooked one already.
"Nothing big. Any friends vanish? Suspicious adults take 'em?"
"...Dunno."
"Alright, guess I'll eat it all then."
I was hungry too—shoved bread in my mouth, chomped away. Cheap stuff: hard, tasteless.
"...!"
As I chewed, the kid's face crumpled, frozen stiff.
Plenty more bread, don't worry, you brats.
Ignored him, kept eating.
"Um, mister..."
About a minute later, a grubby kid shuffled over.
"A f-friend vanished suddenly."
There we go.
"Why'd he vanish?"
"D-don't know... Friends disappearing is common... Saw him all the time, but not for days now..."
Probably snatched nights ago, demon fodder by now. High odds.