Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: What God Desires?
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Demons are the enemies of humanity.
They are invaders who trespass on the continent bestowed upon humans by the gods, wicked beings who constantly scheme for humanity's extermination. They devour human flesh and blood, harbor blind malice toward mankind, and eradicating such demons is precisely what the gods desire from us humans—it is the sacred mission of the heroes chosen by the holy relics.
"...That's what I was taught."
That was the extent of it. Those were the words Jeanne had heard repeated endlessly after being chosen as the Saintess and residing in the empire's capital.
In truth, there were rare occasions when the "Temple of Return" activated, delivering the bodies of heroes scouting enemy lines or fighting on the perilous northern front. At those times, she had burned with righteous fury toward the demons who had reduced brave heroes to such states.
Even in the heroic tales of past Saintesses that Jeanne so adored, demons were always depicted as irreconcilable evils, monstrous abominations with grotesque and terrifying forms that could never coexist with humans.
But...
"P-Please spare me...! I have no intention of harming you, nor the strength to do so. I just... I just want to farm and live quietly around here...!"
"...Huh...?"
The first demon Jeanne ever encountered. Unlike the captured beasts occasionally brought by holy knights, she had never laid eyes on a true demon before. And now, after all these years, the reality of the demon she faced was...
"That thing... a monster?"
Just a frail old man. One who harbored no hostility toward them, bore no hideous form, and was so emaciated that it was questionable if he could even hunt a single rabbit, let alone humans.
No matter how she looked at him, he seemed utterly unlike the demons she'd heard described endlessly. Jeanne fell into momentary confusion at the sight.
"A... a trick? A demon's deception? Or maybe this one's just some backward straggler...?"
She hadn't imagined a situation like this in her long-cherished dreams of life beyond the capital. Lost in confusion, Jeanne hesitated before the demon begging for his life.
But before she could make any decision, the heroes escorting her sprang into action first.
"Filthy demon scum...!"
The heroes who always wore kind, gentle smiles for her now twisted their faces into demonic masks. Without a shred of pity or hesitation, they raised their weapons right there in front of her and swung mercilessly.
-Slash!!
"Ah...!!"
Instinctively, Jeanne reached out as the heroes' swords extended, but it was too late. The blades traced impeccably clean arcs, their razor edges unyieldingly severing the frail old demon's neck.
-Thud.
The old demon's head, devoid of any malice or enmity and stained only with fear, rolled free. His unclosed eyes met Jeanne's gaze until the very end.
"Saintess! Are you alright?"
"Did that demon do something to you...?"
The heroes, who had moments ago worn faces like vengeful spirits, now looked at her with faces full of concern, as if nothing had happened.
"...No. I'm fine."
Jeanne averted her eyes from the heroes' worried gazes. More than the slain demons, their expressions seemed to fit the demonic image she'd been taught all those years.
Instead, with trembling eyes, she stared at the pool of blood forming from the demon.
A crimson pool, identical in color to human blood.
"So... no special news?"
"Yes. The humans seem focused on the incidents in the north and east, taking no particular actions in the south."
Ever since successfully infiltrating human cities with my kin once before, I'd been periodically disguising demons as humans and sending them into human settlements.
"They haven't been discovered, have they?"
"No. We've even started making citizen IDs for them now."
We had some help from demons already hiding among humans, but with Lilith's illusion powers growing stronger lately, disguising and infiltrating a demon or two was child's play.
So I'd been receiving regular reports from those embedded among humans on their current movements...
"No unusual activity..."
By now, the truth of 4-star hero Paul's ignoble death should have come to light, and with the charmed heroes having suicided as well, I figured humans would retaliate. But contrary to my worries, they were too busy handling sudden crises in the north and east.
In the north, the half-dragon tribe—called the strongest demon race of the current era—was leading northern demons southward. In the east, the master of a demonic realm had emerged from her dungeon and was prowling the region.
"Three 5-star heroes dispatched to the north, two to the east, leaving just one 5-star hero to guard the capital..."
Thanks to this, I got intel on the 5-star heroes I'd been most wary of. It could be seen as good news, but there was something deeply unsettling...
"The Radiant Hero returned to the capital?"
"Yes. The humans are anxious about it, wondering if the Radiant Hero has turned traitor and plans to defy the emperor's orders..."
The Radiant Hero, who had headed north on imperial orders to block the half-dragons, had defied those orders and returned to the capital without permission.
That alone was troubling enough, but even more so was the complete lack of any sightings of the Radiant Hero afterward.
"No evidence at all, but..."
Why this gut feeling that the suddenly silent Radiant Hero might come here?
Anyway...
"The master of the eastern demonic realm?"
"Yes. A woman called the 'Empress.' Unlike other demonic realms that command numerous subordinates, she rules alone with just her own dungeon's power, earning the title of an unconquerable demonic realm. She's an extraordinary Dungeon Master."
I'd heard about the half-dragons and the northern demonic realm before, during talks of dragon blood. Back when humans couldn't pioneer the harsh north, this master had conquered all northern dungeons, subjugated them, and seized control of the entire region.
But from what my subordinate said, the eastern demonic realm seemed the polar opposite of the northern one.
"No subordinate dungeons, just her main one to claim the demonic realm title...?"
"Yes. Even other demonic realm masters are monstrously powerful, but she's reputed to be the strongest among them. Long ago, eastern humans, fearing her lofty dominion, began calling her the 'Empress' out of dread and awe."
"The imperial family naturally forbade the title, but despite their efforts, it stuck naturally even without her claiming it herself."
So humans were greatly shocked and panicked by the current situation: the reclusive eastern 'Empress' venturing out of her dungeon.
"Also notably, her race remains unknown. Her subordinates all have bloodshot red eyes and absolute obedience to her commands..."
"Enough. That's sufficient on the eastern demonic realm. Heroes take priority now."
Demonic realm info was intriguing, but not crucial at the moment.
"Anything else special?"
"Special info... Ah!"
I asked without much expectation, but the subordinate pondered briefly before adding something nonchalant.
"The Saintess who usually performs miracles in the capital didn't appear this week. Sick folk seeking healing left disappointed..."
"...The Saintess?"
"Yes. She's skipped before due to baptism schedules or personal refusals, so probably something similar..."
The subordinate spoke dismissively, as if it weren't important...
...But for some reason, it left me deeply uneasy.
"...Of all times?"
With the Radiant Hero defying the emperor, abandoning the northern front, and vanishing without sightings... now the Saintess disappears?
"Tch. Ominous..."
I hoped it was just a bad feeling, but it gnawed at me. Worst case, I might have to prepare for a 5-star hero and Saintess teaming up. My head already ached just bracing for 5-stars...
"Alright, dismissed... Ah."
As I was about to send the reporting subordinate away, a question sparked by the Saintess mention made me call them back.
"Wait. One thing I'm curious about..."
"What is it, my lord? I'll answer anything I know to the best of my ability."
"Nothing major... The Saintess you mentioned—is she the one who can hear God's voice?"
"Yes. She's the only being who can hear God's voice, her authority nearly matching the emperor's..."
Yeah. That's the issue. The same doubt had flickered last time I heard it...
"So, only the Saintess can hear God's voice?"
"Yes. Humans' god has been silent since scattering holy relics upon the earth..."
"Then... what were those fools shouting?"
I recalled the chill from facing 4-star hero Paul. The madness staining his warrior's eyes as he spat those words.
"Didn't they scream 'God desires it' whenever they slaughtered demons? If only the Saintess hears God's voice, how do they know His will?"
"...Pardon?"
The subordinate looked utterly blindsided, but quickly bowed and offered a guess.
"W-Well... I'm not sure. Perhaps a past Saintess received an oracle, or their god gave one before going silent...?"
"...Maybe."
I dismissed the subordinate, unease lingering.
...Hm. Following some ancient oracle from their god...
"But that hero's madness... it was like he'd heard God's voice himself."
I mulled it over briefly, then shook off the thought—trying to understand a fanatic's mind was pointless—and resumed cleaning.
Current Contamination Level: 50.5%
Contamination was about to hit 50% soon.