Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Trap
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I had no idea where the leak started.
It wasn't that I couldn't guess; it was that there were too many possibilities.
I couldn't count on anonymity.
Sure, if you've done something good, you spread it far and wide for praise—but that depends on the deed.
The people of this world didn't think deeply about such things.
The moment I revealed that the ominous amethyst was directly linked to demons, they deliberately praised me in front of everyone.
And then, right there in front of everyone, they handed me two gold coins. My reputation soared, no doubt.
But in turn, the number of people gunning for me had skyrocketed.
A wooden-tag apprentice adventurer—not even bronze, let alone silver—carrying two gold coins.
To put it in modern terms, it was like a naive kid walking around with 20 million won in cash.
Even before I could train properly, I'd already caught three pickpockets.
"Tch."
I clicked my tongue and scanned the surroundings.
The moment Shan left first, they started tailing me and finally showed their true colors.
I analyzed the situation.
I looked at the weighted dice results.
Villain and Gloomy Aura.
Villain was relatively new, so I hadn't fully tested it, but Gloomy Aura had rarely appeared on the dice before.
It had shown up once before.
That was during the demon giant incident.
So, I could interpret the Villain and Gloomy Aura on the dice now as meaning the enemies I faced were tied to demons.
Logically, that made sense, and my instincts agreed.
I knew it at a glance.
Guys in masks, radiating unpleasant vibes—they were demon worshippers nine times out of ten.
Under the moonlight, I eyed the weapons they wielded.
Enormous iron spits.
Not proper weapons.
But their menace was more chilling than any standard gear.
The dice showed a 3.
A manageable number.
I rested my hand on the sword hilt.
Electrocute one with a surprise attack, then flee into an alley and take them one by one. Even if I couldn't drop them all, if I stalled long enough, backup would come.
This was the capital.
Late as it was, with everyone asleep, the guards still patrolled.
But they probably knew that too.
No matter how dumb they were, they'd know where they were fighting.
In other words, my job was to buy time, and theirs was to finish me quickly.
So.
"I'm curious why you've come to see me so late at night."
I started talking.
If they charged right away, I could take one down, but I couldn't guarantee I'd seize the advantage after.
So, I aimed to stall safely.
With a mask of composure hiding my trembling voice, they reacted.
"......You worship the same being as us, so why do you aid the heretics?"
It was like they'd swallowed a handful of shattered glass.
A grating, harsh voice echoed.
I spun my brain as fast as I could.
You worship the same being as us.
This meant they mistook me for a demon worshipper too, and "why aid heretics" meant "why snitch to the temple?"
What to do?
A half-baked lie would get busted fast.
Lies are tricky like that—ones too close to truth unravel easily.
Outlandish, blatant lies surprisingly fool people more often.
I had to be shameless.
Dazzle them with absurdity.
With that thought, I leaned against the wall with a feigned smile, crossing my arms to seal the hand that'd draw my sword.
Showing I had no intent to fight.
"Differences in interpretation lead to these misunderstandings often."
I flashed a bright smile.
Disgust roiled in my gut, but this was my chance.
Proof: they hadn't impaled the defenseless me yet, iron spits at the ready.
"......Misunderstanding."
"Yes, a misunderstanding. How could I, a fellow worshipper, betray them? How could I aid heretics?"
"......Then explain why you committed such acts."
"Of course. You all blindly summon them without proper knowledge, so my 'faction' has no choice but to intervene."
"......What do you mean?"
"Foolish folk point fingers at us. They say we cling to beings who grant no wishes, only bring harm, and end up slain by what we worship."
Info from the temple folks and Shan.
Demons never granted worshippers' wishes.
So why not use that?
Even zealots—could they harbor zero doubt?
No fear of monsters that ignored their pleas?
And if they saw me as one of them, wouldn't my striking looks raise flags?
Use every card.
I'm no genius, but I've got wits for petty schemes.
"They're not wrong, you know. It can't be helped."
Stir doubt. Stoke suspicion and hostility toward me.
Having your beliefs denied is infuriating peak, but I barreled on before they could retort.
"This world has humans and monsters. Theirs is no different. Why assume what you summon is the beings we revere?"
Your worship isn't wrong.
"Your worship is correct. But you're summoning the wrong ones, so how could my faction stand by?"
Not the worship wrong—the summoned beings wrong.
Belief and method right, result wrong.
"......We're summoning the wrong beings?"
"Yes."
"......Our faith isn't wrong?"
I smirked slyly.
They were doubting already.
Yeah, zealots have their limits.
They believed in wish-granters who never granted any, only slaughtering indiscriminately—faith shakes there.
I didn't know why they craved wishes.
Money, women, or some tragic backstory.
That's why they sought granters, turning zealot.
They believed in wishes, not demons themselves.
But spell it out, and they'd skewer me—so exploit it.
"Wondering how I know? Why I look this good? Why I seem so young despite knowing all this?"
I removed my sunglasses.
Opened my eyes to meet the worshippers' gazes.
They flinched under my disgusted stare.
"I've already met the being you desire and received its teachings."
I'm different.
Plausibility? Who cares.
If they believe in wishes, they'll swallow that everything I have came from one.
Deny it, and their blind wish-chasing crimes crumble.
"I've been granted new life to live again, and my faction guides those whose faith is right but results wrong—like you."
"......Your faction."
"Don't ask. You don't deserve the name until you find the right path yourselves."
Speak low, demean.
But their hostility had long faded.
"Those gems you use? In their world, they're goblin shit—how could I not report and remove them?"
No rebuttals allowed.
I rapid-fired my prepared lines.
From here, pure fabrication—but I'd sown enough belief.
"Obviously mimics from their world. Might lure their kin. But seducing humans with goblin crap? Absurd."
I knew zilch about how those ominous gems were made.
But rational thought kills zealotry.
Vibe of omniscience trumped cold logic.
"Drop it. Stop defiling them further."
"......Then how do we properly summon them?"
"Figure it out yourselves. My faction corrects wrongs, doesn't guide."
"......Why do you still believe after your wish was granted?"
Ridiculous question.
Confirmed: they believed in wishes, not demons.
I clasped hands in prayer, eyes closed, and intoned to the worshippers.
"How could I not? Have the temple's gods ever saved us? If their almighty, human-loving god existed, would the world spin like this? That's why I reject gods. Reject selfless kindness. But 'deals'—exchanging desires? That's trustworthy. That's why I follow them."
"......Deals."
"Yes. Deals."
The worshippers pondered briefly, but not long.
"One last lesson, folks."
Sunglasses back on, casual tone drawing their eyes.
All gazes locked—seconds ticked by.
Then I sneered, drew my sword, and unleashed lightning.
"Lies, you fucking idiots!"
One convulsed, meat searing.
As they panicked, uncomprehending—
An axe flew from behind, cleaving the skull of the guy nearest me.
Brains, fluid, blood, bone shards sprayed. The encirclement broke; I bolted toward the axe source.
Shan and priests behind him charged past, swords drawn, at the demon worshippers.
They killed four, captured seven.
As it wrapped in a flash, Shan wiped blood and brains from his axe and approached. I griped at him.
"......Never make me bait again. Thought I'd die shaking."
"Thanks to you, we caught the hiding rats. Be grateful."
"Yeah, my doing."
"But."
"But?"
"Was that last bit true?"
What the hell?
"How should I know?"
I'd made it all up on the spot—what was I supposed to say?
I shot him an incredulous look, and Shan averted his eyes.