Arsen's Hero (2)

After finishing the examination, I returned to the guest house. Not much time had passed, but it felt like I'd spent a month in the dungeon.

"...How long has it been since I last came here."

The familiar sight of the guest house felt strangely alien now. For three straight days after conquering the dungeon, I'd been dragged out everywhere. Proper leisure was a distant dream.

And the reason? A demon had hidden itself inside the dungeon.

Citizens' complaints poured in over this unprecedented incident. The faculty launched an investigation, and voices questioning the value of training in the mock dungeon grew louder. As the ones who fought the demon, Rebecca and I were summoned to every meeting imaginable.

By the time I made it back to the dorm, it was nearly dawn. I'd collapse into bed, soaked from the rain, and that was it. I'd toss and turn for hours before waking to find morning had come. Then the next day's schedule began.

And today marked the end of all that.

I lay on the bed and checked the system.

Capturing that demon had leveled up my talent by one stage. In exchange, a new sub-trait unlocked.

The list had grown so long it now spanned two pages in the system, but checking new traits always brought a smile. Each addition chipped away at a sniper's weaknesses.

As I stared at it with heavy-lidded eyes, my Sense pinged. Right on time—I closed the system and got up from the bed.

Knock knock.

"Shion."

"Come in."

The door creaked open cautiously. She'd probably thought it was locked and knocked, but I'd left it unlocked from the start.

The visitor was Isabel Priest from the Holy Church. She peeked her head through the gap, scanned the room, then tiptoed in.

"This place is different from the other dorms."

"It's the guest house."

"The room I was assigned downstairs is narrower and sparsely furnished. Yours feels like a luxury hotel suite."

"Well... sort of."

To be precise, it wasn't mine—it was on indefinite loan. But since Rebecca had framed it as an investment in me, it didn't really matter.

Isabel approached with quick steps, clutching a shopping bag. She rummaged inside and set items on the table.

"I heard you haven't been sleeping well. I brought something to help with that."

"...You remembered that?"

"Of course."

It was something I'd mentioned offhand when I visited her a few days ago. I hadn't expected her to remember.

Up close, it resembled an hourglass. A faint mana signature visible to my Watcher's Eye marked it as some kind of artifact.

Artifacts weren't just for combat. Everyday enchanted tools counted too, so this gift wasn't unusual.

"And these are the items you mentioned last time."

The bag now empty, Isabel's movements slowed, then stopped. One hand still inside, she turned to look at me.

"I brought them, but... what exactly do you plan to use them for?"

"Hard to say right now."

Realizing I meant it, her expression softened.

"I heard you fought a demon. Is this related?"

Her gaze was direct, not hostile or suspicious like before, but filled with deep concern.

I had little to say. If anything, just one line.

"Probably."

From mid-Act 1 onward, all sorts of unholy things would rampage. The demon Onin de Chantus we'd caught in the dungeon had been brought by Duke Esperand himself, but it was just the beginning.

Soon, more vicious and cruel ones would appear.

Still, Isabel had willingly provided items forbidden for export from the Holy Church. Unlike others, I could trust her with this.

"I'll be facing even more unholy abominations ahead. I asked for these to prepare in advance."

"......"

"The less damage, the better. Blocking threats early is ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ideal."

If we'd missed that demon in the dungeon, it could've spiraled into disaster. Rebecca and I had stopped it early, lending weight to my words.

But Isabel looked thoughtful, elsewhere.

"Are you worried another demon might come for revenge?"

Half right, half wrong.

"Possible, but demons mostly form factions. Not out of camaraderie, though."

"I've heard rumors of factions."

She nodded solemnly. Living at the Holy Church, she'd faced plenty of demons—likely knew more than I did in some ways.

That's why I'd accelerated contact with the Church. As this incident proved, demons could appear anywhere. Unprepared, you're dead.

Main quests offered buffs, but I had to assume everything else.

This demon breach had been widely reported. A demon invaded the dungeon, only to fall to a cadet. Arsen, partnering with the Hunter Association, promoted it as a success story.

I'd wanted to stay low-key, but no choice. Better to show my face than let the scandal expose Duke Esperand's involvement.

Chased by the cadet press and minor hassles aside, covering it up made it worth it.

But now the issue: Groups displeased with this existed in this world.

"Shion, you don't think the Demon Association will make trouble over this?"

"Probably not."

Demon Association. In Act 2, they'd go wild—a group of demons opposing the Hunter Association, behind most atrocities.

"If I were them, I'd cut ties. No need to provoke Arsen further."

Demon Association members lacked camaraderie. Like Esperand, but crueler. They ranked by hierarchy, unlike the Hunter Association.

...And the executives? The so-called Single Numbers.

Those in single-digit ranks decided the Association's path. Lower demons dreamed of climbing by killing superiors.

The Association ignored infighting—even encouraged it. Stronger demons? The Single Numbers welcomed them.

Such events were routine in...

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Demon Association, Act 2's foe.

"Anyway, that's what I meant."

Most main villains ahead tied to the Demon Association. Biern Professor at Arsen was prime example. Dozens of infiltrators lurked, hiding claws until ready to flip the academy from within.

I needed Isabel's help against them.

"I'm borrowing your power to fight those unholy things ahead."

"In return, I'll help reform the Holy Church later..."

"Not the time yet."

I gestured for her to drop it. I'd promised aid for her reform when the time came, but it was distant. No solid plan even.

"......"

"Not refusing—just waiting for the right moment."

I'd issued similar IOUs to Iri, uncertain if I'd deliver. My biggest worry? Myself.

No lies told, so she'd trust and wait. She'd provided Church items ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on faith— I felt indebted, guilty even.

"The time will come. When it does, I'll come to you first. No matter how long."

So trust and wait. I took her hand, pleading once more.

Pope Benedict II's scandals were nearing exposure. Then Isabel ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could act. She'd team with Kyle and protagonists to uncover Church corruption.

But not yet. Couldn't rush it.

"...This can't keep happening."

"Pardon?"

"......"

Sudden silence—I released her hand. Her face flushed.

My intent reached her. Sincere words sufficed now.

But as I turned, nerves clenched. No warning—my Sense flared.

The room door slid open silently. It auto-locked. Only one other could open it besides me.

The original owner. Student council president.

Rebecca von Anastasia Grander.

"...You have a guest."

"Misunderstanding."

No reply. The half-open door shut.

Before it closed fully, I bolted out. Isabel tilted her head, but no time to explain.