Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Saintess's Secret Pact
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"No real progress yet. I've been too busy treating people."
"That's not the only reason."
"……."
"The Disease Demon King is a unique case, tied to specific times and places of appearance. Yet no Saintess in history has ever subjugated him. There's only one reason: he's a possession-type Demon King."
Demon Kings are classified into Quasi-Demon Kings, Lesser Demon Kings, Standard Demon Kings, Arch Demon Kings, and Demon Gods.
But that's just based on raw power or threat level. There are other ways to categorize them.
One is classification by their characteristics.
Single-body, reincarnation-type, possession-type.
Single-body means they have only one life.
Once killed, they're gone for good.
Reincarnation-type can revive in a new body after about thirty years on average, even after being killed once.
Finally, possession-type.
Possession-type Demon Kings immediately possess someone else upon death and resume their activities.
Killing them just means chasing down their new host, so they're the kind that demand capture and imprisonment rather than execution.
The Disease Demon King was one of those rare possession-type Demon Kings.
'That's why he's only ranked 88th but has been active for two hundred years.'
Incidentally, single-body types vastly outnumber the others.
Followed by reincarnation-types, then possession-types.
Of course, not every Demon King's post-death behavior has been confirmed.
Unless you get a revelation, you'd have to kill them first to find out.
But Demon King hunts aren't that easy.
Especially the top ten—they've never been subjugated even once, so no one knows what kind of life form they have.
That's when Rennel spoke up.
"I've always wondered... Couldn't we use the Saintess's revelation to pinpoint the Disease Demon King, capture him, and lock him away? Under constant watch so he can't suicide?"
"Revelations aren't like ordering from a menu at a restaurant. I pray to place the order, but sometimes you ask for chicken and get roast pork instead."
"……."
"The Illusion Demon King was subjugated recently, right? Thanks to you, Dai-il."
"Yeah. Something like that."
"The revelation that identified the Illusion Demon King actually came from a prayer asking to find the Disease Demon King. The Deception Demon King was a similar case."
The Saintess said this and turned to Chris.
Her gaze carried a question: What happened to the Deception Demon King you were supposed to handle?
And about the God's Mirror borrowed from the Papal Court.
Chris fidgeted awkwardly, at a loss for words.
I was about to step in, but unexpectedly, the Saintess returned to the main topic.
"That was a lucky case. More often, you pray for chicken and get mud or manure. Sometimes I'd pray about the Disease Demon King's whereabouts and get useless info like the Pope's health."
"Th-that's not entirely useless... "
"Of course, the most common outcome is..."
The Saintess's brow furrowed slightly.
"No menu at all. That's the vast majority."
"……."
"Actually, we did find the Disease Demon King once, ten years ago."
Everyone's eyes widened at that, including mine.
This was news even I hadn't heard in my previous life.
The Saintess gazed into the distance as she continued.
"It was a rare case where I ordered beer and actually got beer. Ten years ago was right when the Disease Demon King was active. The Papal Court and I searched full-force based on the revelation's description of his appearance, and we succeeded."
"Then why..."
"The moment we caught him at the Papal Court, he killed himself on the spot."
"……."
"As expected of a possession-type, he must have jumped into someone else's body right away. That's why he's started operating again in Bardlin territory now."
She spoke with a complicated expression.
"Ever since that day, I've prayed nonstop to the gods for ten years. To let me find him again before his next activity period. This time, I won't let him suicide."
"……."
"But the gods haven't given a clear revelation. And this is the result."
"Why wasn't the incident from ten years ago ever made public?"
"Would the Papal Court ever admit their failure to the public? They hide more than you think."
The biggest being that you're not the real Saintess.
...I wanted to point that out, but her expression was too sorrowful, so I held my tongue.
Even if it weren't for that, it wasn't a truth to speak lightly.
Roll roll.
I could hear Rennel's eyes rolling.
She asked cautiously.
"But why tell us? It's a truth the Papal Court desperately hides."
"I'm at the top of the Papal Court. It's my call who hears it."
"Uh..."
"Pfft. Just kidding. Well..."
She brushed it off and changed the subject.
"I originally planned to bring the God's Mirror this time. In fact, every Saintess in history has."
"Ah."
"But between the Deception Demon King and the Disease Demon King, they prioritized lending it to the Radiant Knights Order because the Deception one's harm was greater."
"……."
"That's true, actually. If I come out, I can treat most of the territory's people... For the same reason, previous Saintesses' efforts kept casualties from past Disease Demon Kings surprisingly low."
Then the Saintess's eyes sharpened.
But her inherently kind features made her look less intimidating.
"Still, some children die if treatment comes too late. Seems the higher-ups don't care about those 'minor sacrifices.'"
"Higher-ups? Didn't you say you're at the top?"
"Thanks for taking my word for it."
"……."
"Setting this meeting up was partly to get the God's Mirror back. Your timely arrival feels like divine guidance."
The Saintess stared intently at Chris.
Hand it over quick.
Chris was sweating bullets—enough that wringing out his towel would make a rainbow.
No choice. I stepped forward.
"We'll return it later."
"Later? It's essential right now."
"We have our reasons."
"Dai-il Magnus. Sorry, but this is Papal Court and Radiant Knights Order business. A mere adventurer like you has no business... Hm."
The Saintess trailed off, looking thoughtful.
Silence. More silence.
Just when I thought Chris might collapse from dehydration, she finally spoke.
"Dai-il, your name carries weight even in the Papal Court. They've say you've subjugated double-digit Demon Kings already?"
"Yes. Twenty-three."
"Mostly Quasi-Demon Kings, but several Lesser ones too, I hear."
"Yes."
"Any know-how to share? Advice for this case. If you do, we can delay the Mirror's return."
I glanced at the quad wrangle etched on the back of her right hand.
She noticed and placed her left hand over it.
I said,
"My know-how is a trade secret. Like how the Papal Court doesn't publicize revelation failures."
"……!"
"D-Dai-il. Watch your mouth."
"Sorry, Saintess. He's got a good heart, but sometimes his mouth runs away."
"Instead."
I continued deliberately.
"I'll find and capture the Disease Demon King for you."
"Pardon?"
"I'll make sure he can't suicide, then deliver him to you."
The Saintess blinked in disbelief.
But soon she let out a soft chuckle.
No matter my reputation as a Demon King hunter, she couldn't believe I'd succeed where no one had in two hundred years since his first appearance.
I pressed on regardless.
"And I'd like to request compensation from you."
"Compensation?"
"Think of it as quest reward. Adventurers aren't big on grand ideals."
"Adventurers... Adventurers."
She thought for a moment, then asked,
"What do you want?"
"I'll tell you when the time comes."
"Can't be too outrageous. Like a title or territory—those fall under the Emperor, not the Papal Court."
"If you judge it too much after hearing, feel free to refuse."
She made her decision at my straightforward reply.
"Fine. Then formally, I commission you: Find the Disease Demon King, capture him, and bring him before me. Do not kill him."
"Quest accepted."
"An adventurer unswayed by grand causes or duty to humanity..."
She smiled warmly.
"I like that. Adventurers."
We left the Lord's mansion.
No one spoke the whole way back.
I said to the two with their blank stares,
"Why are you both so out of it?"
"No matter how I think about it, that didn't sound sane."
"The Saintess does have her quirks."
"You—you!"
Rennel clutched her forehead.
"What gave you the confidence to make that bold claim? Capturing the Disease Demon King no one's caught in two hundred years?"
"They caught him once ten years ago. He just suicided and possessed a new body."
"That was through a revelation! Do you have Saintess-level prophecy skills?"
I didn't, but I had something better.
No matter whose body the Disease Demon King possessed, he wasn't strutting around in his true form.
He'd obviously disguised himself to hide his real body.
Which meant his entire body would be covered in white squares.
Find those bizarre white squares, and it was over.
Of course, I gave a more fitting explanation.
"I have a way to sense Demon Kings."
"Huh?"
"Like smelling their scent. Anyway, no matter how they hide, I'll find them. Just trust me and follow."
"……Never heard of an ability like that."
Rennel eyed me skeptically but couldn't argue further.
She had proof: I'd spotted the Deception Demon King disguised as Chris's brother.
Then Chris spoke.
"But how do you plan to find him?"
"I just said. I can smell Demon Kings..."
"No, not that. This territory has around a hundred thousand residents. You planning to check them one by one?"
"……."
"And if he's spreading disease outside the territory? That's more likely. With the Saintess and Papal forces here, even a possession-type wouldn't risk it."
I stared at Chris in shock.
"Why'd you get so smart? Don't tell me a Demon King possessed you."
"Hahaha."
"Kidding."
"I know. I laughed."
"You really got smart. Suspicious."
Chris's point was valid.
I'd considered it, but had no sharp solution.
Best plan: Climb somewhere high like a bell tower and scan the territory.
My eyesight could cover the whole area.
But if he hid indoors, it'd take time.
"It's fine. The Disease Demon King sticks around a territory for six months once he shows up. All records show the plagues vanish like a miracle after six months."
"Huh? Who said that?"
"Every historian, from every record."
"Why didn't I know?"
"……."
"Never mind."
Thankfully, Chris was back to normal.
As I relaxed, Rennel asked,
"But what if he's outside the territory?"
"Honestly, no idea. Hope he's not... Huh?"
That's when it happened.
A small quad wrangle entered my vision.
A small rock by the roadside in the territory.
Part of it was covered in white squares.
I hurried to the rock.
Pointing at the quad wrangle in the center, I said,
"Rennel. Chris. What does this look like?"
"A rock."
"It's a rock."
"No, not the whole rock. Specifically, anything odd where my fingertip's pointing?"
They peered closely at my fingertip.
Soon they looked at each other and tilted their heads.
"Just a rock."
"It's a rock."
This won't do. No choice.
I punched the rock.
Crack. Boom.
The rock shattered into pieces and crumbled to the ground.
Both gaped in unison.
"Why smash a perfectly good rock? And how?"
"Is this nothing for an S-rank?"
I ignored them and checked the rock again.
The quad wrangle was gone.
Mine usually vanish when the target dies.
Rocks aren't alive, but losing its form should dispel it.
My guess was right.
I gathered the five shards from where the quad wrangle had been.
Put them together and looked.
"This pattern?"
"Ah. That's."
Rennel and I said it together.
"Sloth Demon King."