Chapter 38
Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Devil Hunter
Devil Hunter.
There are two kinds of demons that burrow into dreams.
Succubi that feed on men's essence.
And demons that delight in tormenting their victims by inducing nightmares, blurring the line between reality and dreams.
If one had to classify the demon inside the Saintess, it fell into the latter category.
Put another way, it was a parasite dwelling within her body, seemingly able to see the outside world with perfect clarity.
Unlike most demons that return to their 'nests' after a contract ends, this one continued whispering in her ear even while she was awake in the real world, pondering how to torment her further.
And if its domination rate increased enough to control her body as well... well,
Should that demon, having amassed a colossal amount of magic power within her, use the Saintess as a vessel to resurrect itself, the worst-case scenario would be the revival of at least a legion commander-class demon.
"...Ugh."
The Saintess awoke from sleep, roughly sweeping back her snow-white hair with a grimace.
Even as a Saintess, she wasn't immune to pain.
Ever since the contract with the demon was severed, her gradually returning divine power allowed her to endure the days somehow, but at bedtime or in the midst of sleep, a gnawing agony like bugs devouring her insides would well up.
She suffered from severe vomiting, stress, insomnia, and various other issues, though even these were symptoms mitigated by Ian's interventions to some degree.
Were she an ordinary person, she would have died from the curse long ago without question. It meant the demon on the other side had grown that enormous inside her body.
She survived only because she was a Saintess who had received her 'true name.' Had she been one who hadn't fully awakened yet, she would have perished.
The Saintess hurriedly rose from the bed in search of her medicine case.
Limping along, she steadied herself repeatedly against the wall until she reached the case on the desk. Half-collapsing onto the table, she snatched up the medicine and dumped it into her mouth.
However.
Keep popping those pills like that, and the vessel I'm claiming will wear out faster.
"...Eh, ugh... kgh."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Along with the demon's whisper, a hand materialized in midair and hurled the medicine case to the floor.
Her eyelids fluttered rapidly, and the trauma deeply embedded in her body prevented any proper resistance.
Confirming this, the Saintess's pupils contracted sharply once.
"...Nonsense. How can it have progressed this far."
Facing the demon's hand directly, the Saintess staggered and collapsed to the floor.
The fact that a demon, which previously couldn't even interfere with mental images from afar, was now manifesting so clearly meant its 'metamorphosis' was nearly complete.
No matter how abruptly the contract had ended, the demon could burst out of her body at any moment.
The contract was something you agreed to. I'm merely taking the corresponding price—and killing as many as I save.
"Shut... up. You tricked me, prattling on about justice, making me kill people... and called it 'for the greater good'?"
Hmm? Isn't sacrificing the few for the many a natural principle? You lack the power to save without sacrifice. I truly can't comprehend your kind's mindset.
"Demon... spouting such drivel...!"
Fine then, let me ask. Did I force the contract on you? I laid out both the gains and losses. And you agreed. Abandon one village to defend a nation from invasion. Did I feed you false information?
Collapsed on the floor, the Saintess ground her teeth.
Even now, that thing was smirking vilely behind its mask. It knew how sensitive she was to such questions and was deliberately needling her.
All it wanted was for her to waver.
That would make seizing her body all the easier.
The Saintess ultimately ignored it and opened the door to her room.
'...I-an. That man. If it's him... he can heal me again...'
Her limping silhouette, propped against the wall as she shuffled along, was utterly wretched.
The demon followed behind, sneering as if even that amused it.
You're leaning on that man again? He's nothing, you know. Surely you realize your disgrace won't be brushed off easily if word reaches the Holy Kingdom.
"Be... quiet. I... won't tolerate... sullying my lord's reputation."
Lord... god... Pfft. One fluke miracle from coincidences, and you deify him? Pathetic. The Heavenly God's voice never reached you, so you cling to a mortal. He knows your state full well, yet insists on keeping you around as a contractor. If I were him, I'd have cast you out ages ago.
"Don't... compare Ian... to the likes of you. He's not... someone you can compare to."
A grinding sound came from between Isabella's clenched teeth, accompanying her fury-filled voice. She had seen through the demon's intent in disparaging him.
The Saintess belonged to the Holy Kingdom—she was practically the face of its people. For such a figure to turn her back on the Heavenly God everyone revered and fix her gaze on a mere human instead... The moment the faith-obsessed Holy Kingdom caught wind of it, it would balloon into a massive scandal.
All those who viewed receiving their true name as 'divine grace' were the same.
Ultimately, they treated her as disposable.
Yet they were the mad fools who groveled in worship of a curse capable of inflicting eternal torment on its bearer.
Finally arriving at the door, she took a deep breath and reached for the handle—
—
Ian's door was locked.
With only a single letter placed before it.
Of course. A busy man might be away even at night.
But...
Mm, I saw it myself last time too. That man lost in rapture with the vampire. But isn't he the one you harbor feelings for? If you desire it, I could lend my power directly to grant you one wish. Yes... I could make him yours.
"...No. Absolutely not. I won't... interfere with my lord's happiness."
Gazing at the Saintess as she scowled and resisted every temptation, the demon wore an 'as expected' expression.
Your so-called Ian's maid is a demon with the dominion to command dragons, you know? Lord Baphomet is practically salivating with possessiveness and desire to dominate her.
Staring straight at the Saintess, the demon continued.
Hand her over to my side, and I won't object to pairing you off with that man. A husk I've fully devoured would be a subordinate anyway upon revival. I confirmed it last time. If I could claim all the magic power that maid wields as my own... I might even usurp Baphomet's position. It'd be no waste to offer up such a vessel.
"Join... your vain ambitions... against a god...? No... ughhh...!"
The intensifying pain sent the Saintess crumpling before the door once more, curling into a ball.
Ian's maid was especially precious to him as well. His eyes changed whenever he looked at her. Isabella had once entertained foolish fantasies of him directing that same gaze at her.
She couldn't allow harm to come to her. A life saved wouldn't stoop to such ingratitude.
Undoubtedly, the 'flesh' in the demon's scheme was of critical importance. It would determine the rank of demon it revived as, and thus its own standing.
It had taken note of the power Yuria wielded—the 1000 demons and the dragon.
And from there, it sought to exploit Isabella's feelings for both her and Ian, driving a wedge between them.
She knew it all too well.
The pain in her shoulder worsened. If she refused to listen, it would force the issue. Cooperate already.
'...To be honest, I didn't want to heed that maid's words.'
But it was just as they had said.
If you hear the demon's whispers, tear the letter left at my door without hesitation.
Ian himself had told her as much.
With the demon's domination advanced this far, his method was the only option left.
What do you gain by enduring more pain? It'd be pointless. Hurry up...
"...Fine."
"..."
The demon paused briefly before chuckling.
Agreeing to my words?
"Yes. I'll... obey."
...
"I won't... move according to your will... any longer."
You're willing to casually stake your life—and that of the lord you so revere?
The Saintess said no more.
And tore the letter left before Ian's door to shreds.
??? Otherworld Summon (Level 1)
Target: ?????????
Even if the demon hadn't fully manifested yet, having grown to such size within her, no ordinary priest could lay a hand on it.
Unless it was the techniques and power cultivated directly by the Empire, anything else would be concealed inside her body—impossible to eradicate perfectly without slaying the Saintess alongside it.
Simply applying purification or holy water wouldn't shrink it enough to kill.
And the demon knew better than anyone that she had no knights she could rely on.
Even if she did, they lacked the power to slay it.
However.
There was one outlier powerhouse the demon hadn't accounted for.
A woman wielding the power of 'ice'—the only force capable of binding the demon's true form.
And she was aligned with Ian.
The moment it registered the woman smashing through the door with a thunderous crash—
????? Divine Power Blessing (3rd Hierarchy) Level 3.
Makes the demon's true form visible to the user.
Power flowed from the special gauntlets, surging straight toward Rachel and seizing the demon.
....!
—Craaaaaack.
The demon's body began freezing at terrifying speed, encasing the entire wall where it was slammed in solid ice.
"A demon, it is."
Someone radiating murderous intent expressed their rage.
Of course, this wouldn't inflict major damage. It merely imposed a brief restriction on its movements.
But.
Soon enough, it began to understand why the sudden intruder hadn't slain it outright.
It was all a ploy to buy time.
Pretending to feel pain.
Acting as if swayed by its questions and words.
Then feigning agreement at a completely unforeseen moment.
Piquing its interest.
Exploiting that momentary lapse in guard.
To land this blow.
And the 'someone' now radiating an overwhelming aura.
That monster had sensed the disturbance here. It was only a matter of time before it arrived.
The demon knew full well who that monster was.
Above all, it was the vessel it had coveted so ravenously—enough to abandon the Saintess over.
Sensing the approach from all around, the demon realized its predicament.
"A life, yes. One cannot stake it lightly. However... you shall stake yours as well."
...
In the demon's eyes.
A maid appeared, silhouetted against the pale moonlight.
A vampire with crimson irises.
"I came because an uninvited guest had intruded into my master's room..."
"And wouldn't you know it—the most loathsome breed I despise: a demon."