"You're Not a Devil Worshiper? Then What Is Kelly?"
Kelly had clearly introduced herself as a paladin. No one had doubted it, given her armored figure, confident posture, and commanding tone. But Kelly was a devil worshiper? That was hard to swallow.
Yoahim could buy that Gilbert wasn't one. Suspicious behavior didn't make everyone a devil worshiper. But a devil worshiper posing as a paladin? That didn't add up. Why the hell would one impersonate a paladin to hunt other devil worshipers?
"We'll talk details after we take that bastard down."
"Hold on. This isn't some trap, is it?"
Gilbert let out a small chuckle. "Who knows. But I don't have the knack for setting traps with paladins whose heads are twisted off and guts spilling out."
Fair point. And Gilbert had no reason to lure Yoahim into a trap. Even if he did, there was no sense in this convoluted bullshit.
Still, just to be safe, Yoahim focused his mind and sensed the flow of mana. If this was an illusion, there'd be some unnatural mana ripple somewhere. But no matter how hard he concentrated, nothing felt off. Those things were real, and they reeked of evil energy.
"I'll handle Kelly. You all make sure her minions don't escape. We can't let them get outside."
"Got it."
Yoahim's group grabbed their weapons and charged at the soldiers. Like Kelly, they were mangled messes, but still shambling around undead-like. Their durability was shit compared to real zombies, though. A sword swing or arrow shot dropped them without proper defense.
But killing them once wasn't enough. Every time Yoahim's crew beheaded them as they rose, slashed shoulders, or stabbed thighs, it took longer for the soldiers to get back up once parts started falling off. Eventually, they turned the fuckers into bobbleheads that never rose again.
"Looks like none slipped away."
Yoahim shook the gunk off his sword and glanced at Gilbert. The guy was darting around nimbly, trading blows with Kelly. As the fight dragged on, her form lost its shape, morphing closer to monster territory. She whipped her elongated legs like lashes.
Gilbert bent low at the waist, then shot forward like an arrow using his body's momentum. Kelly's left eye was already pulp; her remaining right eye bulged wide. She yanked her leg back for a counter, but a flash erupted first.
The light sliced from top to bottom, cleaving Kelly's body in half. Lightning-fast strike.
Faster than I thought.
Yoahim, watching from the rear, swallowed hard. This guy was strong.
"You all done over there? Good. Now we can talk."
Gilbert grinned, brushing filth from his clothes. He sheathed his sword, scanned the wrecked tavern, and plopped into the least damaged chair. Gesturing casually to Yoahim like they were buds.
"...Hope you're not hiding shit from us."
As Yoahim dragged over a chair, Gilbert chuckled. "Guess I should start with an apology, then. Sorry. I was planning to use you guys."
"Use us?"
"Yeah. Use you."
Gilbert wasn't a devil worshiper. So how the hell did he plan to exploit them?
"Let me explain. Kelly is a devil worshiper. As you all saw."
"A fallen paladin?" Sasha asked.
Gilbert shook his head. "Nope. She was never a paladin. Not even named Kelly, really. Don't know her real name."
"Then?"
"Since I don't know it, we'll stick with Kelly. She's a devil worshiper with a special power. Ever heard of shapeshifters?"
Yoahim furrowed his brow. "People who transform into others?"
"Exactly. That's the power she got from the devil. Shapeshifters usually kill a villager, mimic their form, and hide in plain sight. They quietly pick off people, sowing fear and paranoia. Then they hunt the panicked villagers as sacrifices to the devil. One by one, nice and slow. Wiping out the whole place."
Vile bastards. Yoahim grimaced.
"I've been tracking Kelly. But it was all suspicion, no hard proof. Shapeshifters are cautious as hell; they don't reveal themselves easily. And if I chased the wrong person by mistake, it'd be a mess. Needed certainty."
"So you used us for that certainty?"
"Right. Kelly spread that fake rumor about a devil worshiper sneaking in to seal the village. Probably planned to trap everyone inside and harvest souls with a magic circle all at once. I figured if someone tried to leave, she'd come out herself to stop them—revealing her true colors."
Now it clicked how Gilbert had planned to use them. He'd tagged along with Yoahim's group, baiting Kelly out. Four targets beat one.
"I can handle Kelly solo. But not her minions too. Chasing escapees would've been a pain, so I used you. Even without a sense of justice, people's survival instincts kick in when lives are on the line."
Whatever the reason, getting played sucked. As Yoahim and Leon eyed him, Gilbert gave an awkward smile. "Didn't expect her to attack first, before I even moved. She must've sensed what I was instinctively and tried to take me out. Made it easy to wipe them all."
"Using us without knowing who we were? Ballsy. We might've been useless scrubs."
Gilbert wagged a finger at Leon. "Your level's obvious from a glance at your gait. Trained fighters reveal it in every move. Plus, I spotted your mercenary badges peeking from inside your armor. Steel and Silver rank. Plenty to handle devil worshipers."
Sharp eyes. Yoahim realized this guy was no pushover.
"And I already knew you two under the hoods were dark elves."
Leon and Sasha flinched. They'd only doffed hoods indoors, yet busted so easily.
Gilbert shrugged. "No need to worry. I'm against racial discrimination. Not all dark elves worship Kakaril and commit atrocities, right? Plenty converted to Raello's faith. The Fair King's integration policies cut discrimination way down."
Leon and Sasha quietly looked away. Sure, not every dark elf followed Kakaril—but that cut both ways; not every one believed in Raello either. These two were Kakaril devotees, followers of Apostle Yoahim to boot.
Doesn't know my identity, at least.
Yoahim hummed. Gilbert didn't seem aware he was an apostle of an evil god. Dodged a messy scene there.
"So who the hell are you to hunt devil worshipers?"
"Ah, late on intros. Officially: I'm..."
As Gilbert started to reveal himself, the kitchen door creaked open. Out stumbled the trembling innkeeper.
"W-who the hell are you people...? What happened to my inn...?"
Gilbert stood solemnly, face wiped of mirth. He pulled a necklace from under his clothes. The medallion's intricate emblem screamed mystery and divinity.
In a low voice: "Sun Society First-Class Secret Inquisitor Gilbert. We're still sorting the situation. Please wait somewhere safe."
"Gasp! Secret inquisitor? Y-yes, sir!"
The quiet tone was a request—and an order. The innkeeper shut up and retreated to the kitchen.
"Secret inquisitor?"
Yoahim's words brought back Gilbert's grin. "Yep, that's my title. Paladins' code says no hiding identity, but you can't beat sly devil worshipers with honesty alone. Someone's gotta lie, play dirty, take the heat. That's what we secret inquisitors are for."
Paladins fought in the light; secret inquisitors in the shadows. Yoahim nodded.
"Didn't know you were such a big shot."
"Haha, don't tease. Nothing impressive. Without your help, killing them all would've been rough. If even one escaped and took villagers hostage, it'd be a headache."
Yoahim smirked, lips twisting. "If you're really grateful, show it with some reward."
They'd been used, after all. Demanding compensation was fair game.
"Hm... I'm broke from the trip here, nothing on hand. But how's this? I'm heading back to Ranien now. If you come by later, find me. I'll introduce you to Saintess Liana."
Saintess Liana? Why the sudden name-drop? As Yoahim blinked in confusion, Gilbert laughed.
"No need to freak. You know she used to roam punishing devils herself. Circumstances keep her in Ranien now, so she passes time hearing travelers' tales. Just share your adventures; get a blessing in return. Sound like decent pay?"
"...."
No, won't I just die if I go there?