Chapter 78
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: Catching Cockroaches
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78
Catching Cockroaches
‘Vampires…’
I muttered, shaking out my tingling hand.
The door opened, and the abbot and Inquisitor Parsee entered, their expressions grim.
*Shuffle, shuffle.*
As if by instinct, the reject was already hiding behind me. When I subtly shifted to the side, she immediately stuck to me.
“Good heavens, did you really swing that hammer?! What if he had been an innocent victim…”
I jutted my chin toward the creature’s black blood. The abbot let out a low groan, his face filled with unease.
“Incredible. The Black Blood bastards are so cunning they can even disguise the color of their blood, making them difficult to identify. To think you managed it…”
Parsee’s admiration was genuine.
‘That’s because you lot don’t know the meaning of moderation.’
These were the types who considered even speaking to a demon a sin, refusing to so much as interrogate them. If the abbot hadn't been here earlier, all three would have surely been drowned or burned at the stake.
“…Though it is dark, may the sun shine upon you.”
The abbot knelt beside the corpse and recited a prayer. It was unusual; most people avoided getting close to demons, yet here he was, praying right next to one.
Inquisitor Parsee narrowed his eyes, looking down at him.
“What is this Black Blood?”
“Ah… As I mentioned earlier, they are an organization of blasphemers active in the eastern part of the Empire. Unlike the Society, anyone can join, so their quality is poor, but for that very reason, their ability to multiply is unparalleled. They used to keep a low profile, wary of the Society's 'Great Darkness,' but recently…”
Parsee answered my question as if he had been waiting for it.
In short, they were a hodgepodge of miscreants, and now that their designated enforcer, the ‘Great Darkness,’ was gone, they had started to operate in earnest.
“The fact that we’ve found one means Castle Casedic has already been exposed. If we don’t take swift action, their numbers will grow beyond our control.”
Parsee warned with a grave expression.
If you see one, there’s already an infestation, and if you don’t stamp it out early, it gets out of control… This is just…
‘They’re cockroaches, aren’t they?’
Their size and threat level were different, but the characteristics were eerily similar.
“Inquisitor Parsee, what do you think we should do?”
“Pardon? My name is Parhan. That is a difficult question. Normally, we would conduct a trial by water, a needle test, or have them read from the holy scriptures. But these fiends prey on the desires of the starving, and their numbers are so vast that implementing the above methods is impossible. That is why other places are also being overrun, helpless.”
‘So they don’t have a real solution either.’
Garlic was the first thing that came to mind for vampires, but the people here seemed to have no taste buds; they despised garlic for its smell, making it hard to find. And there was no guarantee it would even work on the vampires here.
“Did you say they prey on the desires of the starving?”
“Yes, that is their characteristic. All the ‘Black Blood’ members captured so far have been commoners or lower. There have been no wealthy individuals or nobles among them. We suspect the reason they’ve been particularly rampant in Blant Castle, which recently raised its taxes, is similar.”
‘They only target commoners and below…’
I nodded, mulling it over.
“Then what about using potions as a method of distinction?”
“For a potion to affect the impure, its concentration must be high. If diluted, it won’t be able to discern them.”
Parhan answered in a roundabout way, implying that potions were too expensive to waste.
I had seen earlier that the chapel had fewer than twenty left, not nearly enough to use.
‘Hmm…’
I glanced at the reject, figuring her experience might offer some insight. But she was glaring at the abbot with intense suspicion, so I held my tongue.
“If we use the same method as before…”
Parhan trailed off, his eyes on the hammer in my hand.
‘Hmm…’
I let out a soft grunt, organizing my thoughts.
“For that, we’d need a much larger space. Complete isolation. The moment word gets out, it’ll stop working.”
As I spoke, I realized it wasn’t impossible.
It would be a lot of work and quite troublesome, but…
As long as no one leaked the plan, it could work.
The basis of the method was to make them feel a threat to their lives, forcing them to reveal their true nature. A hammer wasn't the only way to achieve that.
‘First, isolate them, make sure the story doesn't get out… then continuously apply pressure to the remaining ones while leaving a small opening for escape…’
It seemed feasible. Even if it didn't go as planned, I could just swing the hammer 2,000 times.
One thought led to another.
Various ideas surfaced, giving my plan a more concrete shape.
Of course, these methods were only possible because this was the Middle Ages, but unfortunately, it was the Middle Ages.
According to Parhan, if we delayed even a little, their numbers would grow exponentially. The most efficient and fastest method was the right choice.
“It still seems too dangerous. Perhaps we should seek another way…”
“No. It should be fine. Let’s start by isolating the two trapped down here.”
“……Pardon?”
Parhan’s eyes went wide at my response.
I looked at him and finished organizing my thoughts.
‘The most important thing is who can be trusted.’
Since they only targeted commoners and below, the inquisitors and the abbot here were likely safe.
“Wait! This is too dangerous! The slightest mistake could create an innocent victim!”
The abbot protested, his face scrunched in disapproval.
“I agree. It is far too risky. Even if an innocent victim is created, their innocence must be proven through due process.”
I didn't see the difference between being drowned and having your head smashed in, but "due process" seemed important to the inquisitors.
Their way did sound dangerous.
Of course, it only seemed that way.
Showing them would be faster than explaining.
I drew my sword and swung it lightly.
*Whoosh—.* With a sound of tearing air, my sword stopped at the tip of the abbot’s nose. It lightly scraped his blackheads.
The abbot squinted.
However, despite the sharp blade right in front of him, he showed no fear.
“What is the meaning of this…”
Just as a horrified Inquisitor Parhan reached for his mace, I swung my sword again.
This time, it just barely grazed the abbot’s eyelid. The abbot’s gaze remained steady on me.
And next, the abbot’s messy bangs.
The longest strand was neatly snipped off.
Even Inquisitor Parhan, who had been about to get angry, froze and stared at me with a look of astonishment.
He looked just like an opponent who’d watched me roll a six three times in a row in a dice game.
I looked the abbot straight in the eye and sheathed my sword.
“You know how many times I swing my sword every morning, don’t you?”
The abbot, who had been watching me with a deeply contemplative expression, spoke.
“At least two thousand times. And you stop at the same height every time.”
Only then did the abbot nod, though his face was still uneasy.
“I will not make a mistake.”
It was a daily routine.
I left the rest unsaid.
The abbot closed his eyes for a moment.
Inquisitor Parhan looked at me with an expression of awe.
The reject, however…
‘What is she doing?’
The reject, who had somehow picked up a mace, swung it at Inquisitor Parhan.
*Whoosh—.*
*Thunk.*
She did stop it precisely.
The problem was that she’d stopped it with the pointy end, pricking him slightly.
‘…!’
Parhan and the reject’s eyes widened simultaneously. Parhan grimaced in pain, and the reject hastily raised her hand, which began to glow.
“First, let us discuss this with the Lord.”
The abbot rose from his spot.
I followed the stern-faced abbot up the stairs.
Waiting there was the Captain, awkwardly clad in heavy armor, a few squad leaders, Pul, and the rest of my squad members.
It looked like Pul had gathered everyone.
The kid was quick on the uptake, which made him easy to work with.
“Abbot Brighton. Squad Leader Aron.”
The Captain, wearing an uncharacteristically serious expression, spoke up.
“Vampires have appeared. There may be more. They reproduce quickly, so if we leave them be, Castle Casedic will soon be overrun.”
A small stir went through the squad leaders at my words.
“Quiet! What’s the plan?”
Everyone fell silent at the Captain’s shout.
“First… there are two of them downstairs. Make sure they can’t speak to anyone until this is over.”
I said, looking at Pul.
Pul nodded in response.
I had Pul drink a potion. He drank it without a word, even swishing it around in his mouth.
“Don’t trust anyone. Don’t let them talk to anyone.”
“Yes, Squad Leader.”
Pul nodded, taking out his crossbow.
After Pul went down, I turned to see the Captain staring at me with a sullen face. I continued.
“First, I’ll report to the Lord. Anyone connected to the fruit vendor, Deniran, needs to be isolated separately, and we need to check if any other residents are acting strangely.”
“Everyone, spread out and investigate anyone who’s been acting strange recently…”
The Captain relayed my words to the men behind him. The squad leaders moved before he even finished speaking. The Captain stared at their backs nonchalantly as he finished his sentence.
“We’re going to the Lord.”
“Yes, sir.”
I headed for the inner castle with the unusually quiet abbot, the reject who was flailing her arms in the air, and Inquisitor Parhan, who was stroking his head.
Residents with tense faces peeked out from their doors.
‘Word has already spread.’
Rumors usually took a day to circulate here, but since this involved a demon, it seemed to have spread in an instant.
The residents quickly shut their doors and went back inside.
On the way to the inner castle, I discussed the plan with the abbot.
“Seeing what you did just now, I suppose it might work.”
The abbot still looked uneasy, but Inquisitor Parhan nodded repeatedly, adding his own suggestions.
By the time we reached the inner castle gate, we had a rough plan.
I ran into Hana at the gate.
Kanna, who was balancing on an empty cart, saw me and waved. Behind her, Hana held onto Kanna, smiling gently.
“Aron! Are you going to the inner castle?”
“Yeah.”
“What’s going on?”
Hana and Kanna’s gazes shifted to the reject next to me.
“A demon showed up. Lock your doors and don’t come out.”
“What about you, Aron?!”
Hana suddenly shouted. She seemed more surprised than I was by her own outburst, her eyes widening as she covered her mouth.
“Me? I have to go catch the demon.”
“It hasn’t even been that long since the last time…”
Hana tried to control her voice, but it was tinged with an irritation she couldn't hide. It didn't seem directed at me.
“Honorary Monk Aron.”
The abbot urged me on.
“Ah, these ones are just small fry, so it’s fine. I just caught one on my way here. For now, go lock your doors.”
“Me too! Me!”
Next was Kanna. She shot her hand up, and a burst of flame erupted from it. It was already hot, and the sudden fire show made me break out in a sweat.
‘…Where did the fire come from?’
“What do you mean, ‘me too’? You go hide. This is no place for kids.”
When I spoke firmly, Kanna’s expression turned peculiar.
A mix of relief and some kind of dissatisfaction.
After twitching her lips for a moment, Kanna nodded.
“Aron! Be careful! It wasn’t that long ago, you know!”
Hana warned me again.
I gave a dismissive wave and moved on quickly.
The guard at the inner castle gate guided us to the Lord’s castle.
We couldn't see the Lord right away.
A well-dressed man led us to a reception room.
It was too damp and shabby to be called a reception room, but since the entire castle was made of stone, it was much the same everywhere.
‘Feels like being in a well-ventilated cave.’
I stood by the window and checked outside.
I could see soldiers running about busily.
A short while later, a handmaiden came and took the abbot, Parhan, and the reject away.
‘First, I’ll catch a few demons and…’
I organized my thoughts while eating the cookies on the table.
‘They should be in a meeting by now.’
I hope this goes well…
I muttered, popping another cookie into my mouth.
***
“Another demon has appeared?”
Baron Pulpuchu’s head throbbed.
“That’s right. They’re not like the Great Darkness from before, just small fry, but if left alone, the castle will surely be filled with the impure in no time.”
‘…Parhan, was it?’
The fact that he was an Inquisitor made his throat feel scratchy.
The expressionless female inquisitor behind him kept fidgeting with her mace, which was extremely distracting.
“Is there a plan?”
“…There is.”
The abbot answered curtly.
‘It must be a dangerous plan.’
The lack of an immediate explanation and the grim expressions of the clergy suggested it wasn't a very pleasant method.
“What is this plan?”
At Pulpuchu's question, the abbot seemed to hesitate. When Inquisitor Parhan tried to answer, the abbot raised a hand to stop him.
“It is a method devised by Honorary Monk Aron, and secrecy is key. However, its effectiveness is certain.”
Abbot Brighton answered vaguely.
Pulpuchu focused on the name ‘Aron.’
‘…That man again.’
He had heard the man had come along, but he had intentionally not summoned him inside to maintain his distance.
“That’s absurd! We should be asking the Pener family for help, not him!”
Gerel sputtered, spittle flying from his mouth as he objected.
‘The opposite of what Gerel says.’
“As you know, Aron is a reliable man. It would be best to lend him your support…”
Nova cut Gerel off, giving him a subtle look.
‘As Nova says.’
The man had saved Casedic from danger several times already. There had been significant damage in the process, but he had protected the castle nonetheless. Pulpuchu himself was still alive thanks to him.
‘Aron’s… um…’
Pulpuchu pressed his temples, searching for the right words.
“For a mere squad leader to become so arrogant that he won't even reveal his methods! He's clearly just doing whatever he wants!”
As Knight Adela fumed, Pulpuchu found the perfect phrase.
‘As Aron wishes.’
Pulpuchu muttered quietly and nodded.
Adding that one sentence made the decision much simpler.
“Alright, what is this method?”
Pulpuchu asked, leaning back in his seat.
“To begin with…”
The abbot, looking as if he’d eaten something foul, slowly began to explain.
***
Just as I was searching for any remaining cookies, the door opened silently.
I instinctively grabbed the hilt of my sword and looked up.
“Found you!”
It was the blockheaded noble lady with a perfectly innocent smile.
“Lady Vivian.”
“It’s been a while! The security has gotten so tight, you know?! That’s why I couldn’t visit!”
The lady twirled as if dancing and sat down across from me.
It was only natural for security to be tightened. All the recent chaos had been aimed at this blockheaded lady.
The lady’s bright smile contrasted sharply with the wretched state of Castle Casedic.
‘She’s just a blockhead. She’s not at fault.’
I thought to myself, relaxing my grip on my sword hilt.
Even now, vampires were turning the castle upside down, an issue unrelated to her. It was just an unavoidable random event in the Middle Ages.
“Hmm?! Your expression was a little scary just now!”
The lady’s eyes widened, and she tilted her head from side to side. I briefly marveled at her beauty.
“Wahahaha! Your expression just now was so silly!”
‘Even if she’s not at fault, maybe it’s okay to smack her a few times.’
I briefly considered it as she laughed heartily.
“Anyway! It’s been so frustrating lately! Everyone’s walking around with such stern faces! They don’t even play along with my pranks like they used to! Is something happening outside?!”
‘How could she not know? Was she locked in a basement somewhere?’
I pondered for a moment before shaking my head. It was all over now.
“Anyway! Just a moment!”
The lady shot up from her seat, ran to the door, stuck her rear out, and peeked around outside. I let out a small sigh at her loud and foolish movements and looked away.
After checking outside, the lady tiptoed back to me like a thief and put on a serious face.
“You know what you said last time!”
The lady tilted her head, a strangely sly smile on her face.
“That your breasts are pretty?”
“Ah! Not that! The reward! The small, shiny thing!”
Giggling, the lady reached into her dress, pulled something out, and handed it to me. I took it unconsciously and examined the object.
‘A ring?’
It was no ordinary ring. A mix of shimmering gold and an ethereal metal, it looked incredibly luxurious…
‘Crazy… it’s a signet ring.’
Suddenly, the small ring felt incredibly heavy, and my mind snapped to attention. It was like having a bucket of ice water dumped over my head.
Startled, I looked up to find the lady right in front of me, her sparkling eyes looking up at me.
For a moment, I was almost captivated by her beautiful, jewel-like eyes, but I managed to hold on.
‘This crazy blockhead…’
I thought she would just pick up a random gem…
No, I had been half-joking in the first place. It was my mistake to overlook the fact that the lady lacked the intelligence to distinguish a joke.
‘Still, to just bring me her family’s signet ring.’
It was amazing that there was someone whose brain was more damaged than my farm.
“This isn’t something you should carelessly give to an outsider…”
Just then, I heard someone approaching.
“Aah! It’ll be big trouble if I’m caught!”
With those words, the lady scurried away and disappeared out the window. She was so fast that I didn’t even have time to give the signet ring back.
I briefly considered throwing the ring out the window after her but ended up tucking it inside my armor. It felt like I had shoved a thorny ball in there; the inside of my armor suddenly felt prickly.
The door opened, and Nova, the reject, and the abbot walked in.
“I’ve heard everything. It’s not a bad plan. I think it will work, too.”
Nova, her brow furrowed despite her words, approached me.
“But you’re going to do it alone? Are you sure you’ll be okay?”
Her concern felt different from Hana’s.
“Yeah. It’s nothing. My arms are thick, aren’t they?”
“…Alright. It is the best option.”
Nova poked my bicep and nodded.
***
“Stand straight!! No talking!!”
Gelatus jumped in surprise at the shout from beside him and straightened his posture.
He was needlessly tense, his palms sweating and his head clammy. It was a good thing the day was hot. Otherwise, he would have been found out already.
‘They have a method? They said it was impossible to tell.’
The sounds from the side made Gelatus’s nerves fray. He forced himself to repeat the words he’d heard from above to calm himself.
‘It’s a lie. They said there was no way to distinguish us. In fact, the inquisitor I met face-to-face just passed me by.’
As he was reassuring himself, a cart approached. It was the same cart that had left with about twenty people earlier, but now it was empty.
The empty space felt eerie.
It was Gelatus’s turn.
Gelatus subtly exchanged glances with those around him.
A few of them gave slight nods.
Confirming this, Gelatus squeezed into the cart.
The day was hot, and with the cramped space packed with people, the smell of sweat and flesh… his appetite surged. He wanted to bite into the neck of the man next to him, but Gelatus forced himself to endure.
The cart headed off somewhere.
When they got off again, they were in front of a large building.
“Get out! Heads down! Eyes on the ground!!”
With shouts coming from all directions, Gelatus lowered his head and followed the man in front of him. He kept whispering ‘it’s okay’ to himself, controlling his urges.
Soon, they entered a basement that was naturally calming to his senses.
The basement had rows of doors on both sides.
‘A prison…’
A sense of urgency began to rise.
The people in front of him were being put into the side rooms one by one.
Gelatus turned his head to look inside and swallowed hard.
The room was red, as if painted with blood, and there was a corpse inside.
Faced with a clear threat, Gelatus’s fingers began to itch.
Gelatus was locked in the very last room.
“Stay still.”
A familiar face tied him to a wooden board.
A wave of anxiety washed over him.
‘Was his name Dylan?’
He knew the man. A punk who was always slacking off and scamming people at every opportunity. A man full of greed. A man who looked like he belonged with the demons.
“Hey, Dylan.”
“Don’t talk to me.”
*Clank.* His hands were bound in thick iron shackles. Their weight made his anxiety surge, and his fangs threatened to emerge.
Gelatus forced them back and spoke again.
‘That guy… he wanted to beat Aron, right? In the squad leader selection and all that.’
“You, if there was a way to defeat Aron…”
Gelatus spoke in a sweet voice, just like the one that had whispered to him.
Gelatus was certain the man would take the bait. After all, his greed was notorious, and he had coveted the squad leader position, so naturally…
“Hiiiek! Aron!”
The moment Dylan heard the two syllables of Aron’s name, he convulsed as if having a seizure, let out a sharp scream, and fled as if his life depended on it.
Gelatus was so shocked he was at a loss for words.
*Aaaargh!*
The screams continued.
The thick scent of blood.
His head was spinning, and it was hard to keep his composure.
A short while later, the door creaked open.
The moment he saw the face of the person who entered, it became difficult to control his impulses.
A face full of scars.
Emotionless eyes.
The man approached without a word.
His steps were like those of a stonemason approaching a rock, devoid of any emotion, which sent a chill down his spine.
Blood dripped from the hammer in his hand.
‘There’s no way to tell.’
Gelatus acted as if he had done nothing wrong and stared at Aron, who stood right in front of him.
“Ah… Aron! You know me! I’m Gelatus! Me, a demon! That’s impossible!!”
There was no reply.
Facing the already menacing man in a basement while tied up, it was hard to suppress the rising terror.
As if he couldn't hear Gelatus’s cries, the man remained silent, his eyes still emotionless as he raised the hammer high.
Watching the blood drip from the hammer, many thoughts raced through his mind.
‘Did… did that guy who was caught first betray me? Or is he planning to kill everyone involved?’
The hammer drew closer.
He had to choose.
Unleash his power.
Or stay still.
‘Aron wouldn’t do that. This is all a ploy to get a confession. There’s no way to tell.’
Gelatus’s eyes widened as he forced himself to endure.
Contrary to his thoughts, the hammer did not stop.
It’ll stop here—
As it passed the point Gelatus had imagined, his vision filled with the hammer.
It felt as if the world was made of a hammer.
His forehead tingled as if his head were about to be crushed.
And then the hammer was right in front of him.
This was a matter of instinct, something he couldn't endure.
Just as someone blinks when a fist is thrown at them, Gelatus unleashed his power. No, in the face of a threat to his life, the power burst forth on its own.
Perhaps he could have endured it with training, but he had never done anything of the sort.
In an instant, blood rushed through his body.
His vision turned red, his eyes bulged.
His canines elongated, and power overflowed.
*Kyahhhhaaaak!!!*
Gelatus, his mask thrown off, unleashed his fury.
However, the iron shackles binding him were made of steel and didn't budge.
*Tap.*
The man’s hammer lightly tapped his forehead—
A brief silence descended.
“Hehe…”
Gelatus, his canines extended, looked up at the still expressionless Aron and laughed awkwardly. He tried to retract his fangs, but…
*SPLAT—.*
‘What a funny bastard.’
I looked at the satisfyingly exploded head and casually wiped the black blood from my hand.
The door opened, and Berman and Kel entered.
“Whoa, got another one, sir?”
“Yeah.”
Kel joked casually as he looked at the corpse.
When I nodded, they wrapped the body in a cloth they’d brought and carried it out.
“Keep up the good work, sir.”
“Right. Tell them to keep a close eye on the plaza. The inquisitors are there, right?”
“Yes, they’re all in hiding.”
“It’ll be a disaster if you miss any.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll tell them again.”
Berman bowed his head deeply, and Kel gave a playful salute as they left.
Without wiping the blood from my hand, I moved to the next room.
‘There are more of them than I thought.’
I hadn't even swung the hammer a hundred times yet, but I was already feeling tired.
***
Inquisitor Parhan’s eyes were wide as he watched the scene before him.
Many people were gathered in the plaza.
The guards positioned in plain sight were Outer Wall Guards with shabby equipment—opponents a demon could easily defeat.
The fiends knew they were safest, and most threatening, when hidden within a crowd. They wouldn't reveal themselves easily.
Then, a cart approached.
The cart door opened—
Unlike before, the cart was loaded with the black, blood-soaked corpses of demons.
A commotion erupted among the crowd at the gruesome sight.
Someone’s scream spread like a contagion.
The plaza instantly descended into chaos.
The Outer Wall Guards brandished their weapons to suppress them. The commotion only died down after a few people were kicked to the ground.
Parhan turned his head to check his surroundings. Two knights and two inquisitors. And Inquisitor Joanna as well. It was an impressive force for such a backwater castle.
“Shut up!! Next, this side, get in. Don’t worry! We have a way to identify demons! Can’t you see we’ve picked out only the demons?! It’ll be over soon, so everyone get in!”
The smallest guard, said to be the youngest, shouted as he pointed to one side.
A heavy silence fell.
No one dared to move.
But among them, some were exchanging glances.
‘The fear and pressure that there might be a demon detection method, and the surprisingly lax security.’
Parhan sensed the time had come and gripped the handle of his mace.
“Everyone, rise! We’re breaking out!”
The small-fry demons made their move.
The ones who revealed themselves were no match for the inquisitors and knights.
‘Aron… a fearsome man.’
Parhan shivered slightly as he charged forward.
However, before he could reach them, Inquisitor Joanna unleashed a brilliant white light, swinging her greatsword in a wide arc—
Hideously transformed faces flew into the air.
At that, Parhan touched the spot on his head where he’d been hit earlier and let out a low groan.
***
Swalowitz hesitated for a moment before picking up his pen.
‘I don’t want to get involved with those Gray Magic Tower folks, but… if it’s for the future of magic…’
Having made his decision, Swalowitz slowly began to fill the paper.
[To Hans of the Gray Magic Tower. This is Swalowitz of the White Magic Tower. I have heard that you have researched the one blessed by mana. I, too, am conducting research on the matter, and I must report that the current individual blessed by mana is truly, utterly stupid. This is no jest or exaggeration; she is genuinely a fool. For such a monumental amount of mana to be vested in such an imbecile is a great loss to the world of magic. Therefore, I am searching for a method to transfer the mana from this stupid, mana-blessed individual to another… Ah, do not misunderstand, this is not for my own benefit, but for a truly suitable candidate I have in mind. In any case, if you know of a method of transfer…]
After finishing the letter, Swalowitz reread it carefully, realized the word ‘stupid’ appeared too infrequently, and hurriedly added a few more.