Chapter 534
Chapter 534
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 534
Chapter Title: A Useful Guy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Black demonic blood poured out.
From the agitator's body sprawled out on the floor like a starfish, the rippling black demon aura peeled away. Like autumn leaves scattering in the wind, the black shell flaked off, revealing his true flesh beneath.
It was an endlessly small and pathetic body.
Apparently, those bulging muscles had been the power of the demon.
Demon... So that's what this guy wanted? To fully become one with your body?
Was that worth shattering people's convictions?
I had no way of knowing.
"Cough... hack!"
A massive hole gaped in his chest. He vomited blood and barely managed to open his mouth. His heart had already exploded, but a tiny remnant of demonic power still lingered in him.
"Th-this place... is it... the workers'... paradise...?"
His glazed eyes reached out with a trembling hand.
The demon's power had mostly been stripped away. The spark of life would soon flicker out. In his final moments, he'd returned to his senses. Well, not quite his right mind, but anyway.
I looked down at him and replied.
"Yeah. This is the socialist earthly paradise."
Many had dreamed of an earthly paradise.
In the Cold War era. And even before that. People with all sorts of ideologies had poured out their knowledge, sacrificing everything to create utopia.
"S-socialist... earthly paradise...?"
But creating paradise with human hands was impossible. Most humans harbored demons in their hearts.
Paradise existed only in dreams.
"A paradise where everyone lives in equality—the workers' paradise."
I traced out a socialist earthly paradise with my hands for the man struggling to speak. If paradise only existed in dreams, at least I could let him dream that much before death.
In truth, this bastard hadn't caused any actual victims.
So I'd cut him some slack.
"You've arrived there."
A space of pure light. A space filled only with the laughter of workers. Didn't Marx say socialists go to a paradise of nothing but workers upon death? No conflict, no pain.
Just one equal mass of light...
"I... see... I wasn't... w-wrong..."
He stared excitedly at the socialist earthly paradise I'd sketched in the air, spewing words. Black blood gushed out with each syllable. Right now, he was seeing paradise.
"The workers... with me... forever... equality... rights..."
—Plop.
His hand fell limp.
—He stopped breathing.
The agitator died with his eyes wide open.
I closed his eyes, then yanked the Heavenly Demon God Sword from the floor and shouted.
"The demon has been slain!!! Kneel where you are and submit to arrest immediately!!! If you're innocent, you'll be released. If guilty, you'll face punishment!!!"
"..."
"Priest..."
At my words, the workers meekly knelt.
No other demon worshippers seemed to be among them. There had been a few helpers earlier, but they weren't visible now. Maybe they hadn't shown up today?
Or perhaps they'd fled.
"City Guards! Do not use violence against those who don't resist! They'll submit to arrest peacefully now!"
"Y-yes, sir!!!"
"No violence as the priest says! Arrest them!"
The City Guards, following my request, herded the workers away like salted fish on a line.
Was it the shock of seeing the demon? Or realizing the truth about the man they'd believed in? They complied like soulless dolls.
"Katt."
As I stood there, Cloudy called from behind, slipping her arm around my waist.
"You did great. Perfectly clean. Anyone would believe a priest slew the demon. Hehehe, you really have a talent for this, Katt. You've got the skills."
"Yeah."
It would seem that way.
"...He's really dead, right?"
Winia poked the agitator's corpse with the tip of her staff.
"Yeah... he's dead."
The demon had been obliterated by my Heavenly Demon Explosive Palm Strike to the heart.
With that, the City Guards carted off the workers. The High Captain, arriving late, showered me with thanks and praise.
The operation dubbed "Arrest of Demon Worshippers and Their Brainwashed Cult Followers" had thus concluded.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day, things got pretty busy.
Using documents I'd already prepared, I collaborated with the High Captain to perfect the report. It was officially recognized that I'd led this massive arrest operation to flawless success, even earning the mayor's certification.
Of course, the incidental loot from the scene flowed into my pockets too. Not a huge amount, though.
Next, I brought the mayor and High Captain along for another meeting.
Soon, with the incident announcement, the city would present me with a commendation plaque and rewards. They were even issuing an honorary citizenship certificate. That said it all. I got various tickets too.
"Fucking perfect."
The job was wrapped up impeccably.
Honestly, we hadn't caught the inactive demon worshippers or the agitator's backers, but with two incidents crushed, nothing could be more perfect.
I read through the official documents for the two cases I'd resolved, filling in the conclusion of the report to submit to the Saintess.
Huge shit handled.
"Cloudy, Winia. Let's go grab some food."
I set down my pen and grabbed my coat.
"That place the black-haired guy went with the mayor?"
"Yeah. Food there's killer. Order whatever we want and chow down."
It really was delicious.
"Katt, shouldn't we bring that succubus too?"
"Oh, Hilde."
Should I take Hildegart along?
If we ran into her on the way, sure, I'd invite her. Fact was, she'd provided the biggest help.
"Leave her be, sis. She can tag along if she wants."
Winia said this while letting her hair spill out from under her robe.
"I'm grateful for the help, but she's still super suspicious to me."
"Hmm, didn't seem like she had bad intentions?"
"She's got her eyes on the black-haired guy. That's bad intentions. I'm against it."
"Hehehe, opposing your big sis like this. Has Winia grown as much as these tits?"
Cloudy hugged Winia from behind, cupping the undersides of her breasts.
"Ugh, whatever, don't grab 'em. Ahh! Sensitive, I said! Sis surrenders!"
Oof.
Anyway, I headed out with them in tow.
I figured Hildegart would pop up right away, but no sign of her. Maybe tonight? Straight to the restaurant.
Last time with the mayor, I couldn't order what I wanted, so it sucked. Now that work was done, I ordered everything I'd craved and pigged out.
Plus, the mayor's tickets made it free.
That day passed peacefully.
The next morning, the High Captain came to see me personally.
"Heh heh heh, welcome, High Captain."
"An honor to see you again, Priest. Shall we go? I'll guide you."
"Thanks."
I followed him right away.
The mayor was presenting the rewards himself now.
—Rustle rustle.
Trailing him to the plaza, I saw a swarm of people gathered. We skirted around to a tent beside the wooden platform.
"Wait here a moment, and the mayor will call you. Don't worry about etiquette. No one would demand that of the city's hero."
"Heh heh heh, I'll handle it fine. No worries."
And so the ceremony went.
Soon the mayor summoned me. I stepped out of the tent onto the platform.
Last time I got a plaque was probably back in the military.
"Junior Priest Kim Katt of the Brass Celestial Society. This man devoted his body and soul to the city's safety and security. In the operation that crushed the demon and its worshippers in one fell swoop, he performed great feats. We shall award this commendation plaque and reward gold to the junior priest."
The mayor read from the paper, then handed me the plaque and a pouch of coins personally. Pretty heavy. About 50 silvers? Nice side income.
"Thank you, Mayor."
The Saintess's missions paid well. Rewards from the locals plus direct pay from her. Double dipping. Seemed worthwhile.
"Ahem, I'm the grateful one. Now, say a few words to the gathered citizens. Something to reassure them... or heighten their vigilance."
The mayor gripped both my hands, smiling, and whispered.
No worries.
"The demons hiding in the city have been purged!"
My work was thorough.
"No need for concern now! But demons prey on human weakness! Stay vigilant and cautious always! Report anything suspicious to the City Guard immediately! We could apprehend the demons thanks to the mayor and City Guards working day and night!!"
I gave the mayor and guards some props while preaching basic precautions to the crowd. This speech would wrap things up beautifully.
—Waaaaah!
—Brass Celestial Society forever!
—Forever!
As I finished, the citizens cheered and chanted. The mayor looked pleased too.
"Ahem. We've sent an official letter to your church as well. And arranged the finest carriage. Take that back. Once more, you did splendidly. Thank you."
Finest carriage, huh.
The trip home would be comfy.
"Heh heh heh, my thanks to you, Mayor."
With the ceremony done, I returned to the inn.
Time to head back.
Well, he offered a big night at the city's best tavern, but I passed. Looked like they'd throw women at me. Why would I go?
"Katt!"
"Oh, Hilde."
As I headed to the inn, Hildegart appeared out of nowhere calling me. She always had such a bright face.
"Great job! Looks like everything wrapped up perfectly!"
"Heh heh heh, yeah. All good."
"You owe me, right?"
She said it with a coquettish grin.
"Fucking thanks a ton, you bitch. You're my demon friend from now on."
Sure, Hildegart was a demon and the prick who attacked Elise, but she'd handed me massive gains twice. Undeniable fact. Per Fusion Confucianism, she had to be a friend. Friends fight sometimes anyway.
"Sex friend?"
"Fuck off."
"Hehehe, you called me a friend! Yes! Great! We're friends starting today! Oh, but I prefer a master-servant thing, so I'll think of it that way."
Why volunteer as a slave?
"Katt. If you can't hold back, call me. I watched for days—you weren't satisfied with just your wives. Hehehe, keeping two women up all night... impressive."
"When the hell did you peep?"
"Every night."
This crazy bitch...!
"Here, my crystal. Grip it tight and channel mana, and you can summon me anytime. Oh, but don't use it to hand me over to the church or anything weird?"
She reached into her cleavage, rummaged, and handed me a pink crystal orb about golf ball-sized.
Transparent inside—glass? Or isekai metal maybe.
Should show it to Lisha later.
"You sure it's okay to give me this?"
"Of course. You're my master, Katt. Ever since I dreamed of taking you in my mouth... Ngh! I was your perfect captive then! See you next time! I'll wait obediently, thinking only of you!"
—Mwah!
Hildegart blew a kiss, winked, and vanished.
"Crazy succubus bitch."
My demon friend, that one.
Straight back to the inn.
Cloudy and Winia had already packed for departure.
"Blacky's back. Let's roll, sis."
I shouldered my pack and said.
"Cloudy. Winia. Mayor hooked us up with a top-class carriage. Heh heh heh, comfy ride ahead."
"Oh my."
"Nice. Let's head out."
And so we left the inn.
Wow, over two weeks here.
Returning, Karin and Lisha would chew me out.
Outstation work was my main gig, so this happened.
At the gates, a large carriage drawn by two horses waited. Confirmed it was ours, loaded up, and boarded.
—Rumble.
Soon we rolled out with a few other carriages.
Wheels turning made my eyes heavy.
Head to the church first when back, then home.