It took over ten hours of perceived time riding in the carriage to reach the northwest forest.
It was pure hell. The ride itself was bad enough, but the game devs hadn't included a skip function at all.
On top of that, for the sake of that damn GAO, I had my arms crossed, legs folded, eyes closed, stuck in this uncomfortable pose.
I figured we'd arrive soon, so I held the position thoughtlessly for hours.
I half-wondered if I'd entered some kind of psychiatric ward or time dilation chamber.
Now that we'd arrived and the sun was setting, it was clearly only two or three hours in real time, but it felt like ten hours—or even +n hours—and I'd believe it.
Still, I endured those awful conditions to the end, surprisingly even to myself.
Of course, it was less a victory of patience and more sheer stubborn spite. After the first perceived hour, I kept going because wasting that hour would've sucked; after the second, same deal.
Anyway, getting off was similar. Even if just to avoid wasting the endured time, I couldn't show a hint of discomfort.
Thanks to that, I earned looks bordering on awe, which was at least some consolation. Just consolation.
Deep Sea Pearl, you bastard...
* * *
I checked the quest window with a rotten expression.
「Ticone Village」
「❖ Danger Lurking in the Northwest Forest
∎ Travel to the northwest forest
∎ Search for the demon hidden in the northwest forest」
It was straightforward content, but with my whole body aching like I'd been beaten, even this text pissed me off.
Damn, I take back what I said about the travel system being shit but the game still not failing. Travel time being N hours is one thing, but ride quality this crap?
No patch, and the game is doomed. Even I, a longtime fan, want to quit—newbies will all ragequit!
"Sir..."
I finally slung my sword over my shoulder—or pretended to, since it was too long and I'd had to unsheathe it to sit—and straightened my back a bit. I'd gritted my teeth and played it cool because wasting the endurance sucked, but I couldn't hold out anymore.
Crack. My back popped.
"The trip here—was it peaceful... heh heh."
I scowled harder at the sound and glanced over. The coachman was rubbing his hands, eyeing me. Clearly begging for a tip.
"What answer are you fishing for?"
Why me, of all people? Unnecessary thought. I'd given the boy who found the coachman a hefty tip before leaving.
So the coachman witnessing that and expecting the same from me wasn't weird. Or was it.
"I've already paid for the service you provided. Maybe even more than that."
Who tries to squeeze a tip out of ride quality like that? Only a thieving bastard.
I hadn't planned to tip anyway, and after that ordeal, no way in hell for extra. I hardened my expression.
"No other business? Then scram."
Just in case, I clenched my fist. My left gauntlet creaked, and the coachman yelped and fled.
Serves you right.
I snorted lightly and turned. As I took a step forward, the people around me started backing away bit by bit.
Not a coincidental timing...
Scaring off just the coachman worked too well. Maybe the sincerity in it helped.
"Hoo."
But it wasn't intentional, and it didn't break character anyway.
I rolled my neck with the minimum stretch to save face and advanced. Goal: cross the village and enter that forest visible in the distance.
"Th-there's no inn that way...!"
Around then, some brave soul shouted at me. Not advice I'd asked for, but the concern was appreciated.
"Seriously, there isn't..."
But playable characters stay fine without sleep—that's the rule. Separate from any sleep function.
So no inn detour for rest. If I get tired, switch to sleep mode, but I can hold out now, so why bother?
If I planned to sleep regularly, why full dive?
Mental drain from the carriage ride refills with hunting or whatever. I'm worn out from boredom, not actual fatigue.
"If you're heading into the forest, stop."
These folks here. Too nice. Strangers, yet stepping up to care.
"Demons are appearing."
But? I'm a prickly urban guy... no, a cold bastard now.
I passed him without a glance. The man bristled, veins popping in his neck.
"I said demons are coming out! Going into that forest at night, not even daytime!"
I slowed my step just a fraction.
"Day or night—what's it matter?"
Usually, night monsters are stronger. They balance it with more HP or attack power sometimes.
"If I lose to hell-spawn vermin just because it's night, that'd be the real problem."
But whatever. In hunting-focused games, they don't make the difficulty gap too wide.
With this pre-order weapon's attack power, it'd handle mid-game mobs at least—surely early-game night monsters are no issue?
My long gaming experience led to that judgment. I stepped toward the darkening forest.
The dense woods, rejecting even light, swallowed my body.
* * *
"Honestly, when I first heard 700,000 gal on that demon's head, I thought it was exaggerated."
A woman bashed a goblin blocking her path with her mace.
Her loosely tied red hair draped forward, so vivid it hid whether blood had splattered or not.
"Understandable. The visible victims alone aren't few."
A portly old man followed the cleared path. Beneath his snow-white hair wasn't a typical human face, but one resembling a lion's. The soft-grown white fur gave an elegant, noble air.
"Still... I feel my thinking was too narrow. Even without direct harm, losing one's livelihood can kill just as surely."
"Realizing that is enough. You're fresh from the temple, learning the world."
At the old man's words, the woman faintly furrowed her brows. Displeasure at herself, and slight anger at the unresolved situation.
"For the sake of the young lambs, we must uproot the lurking evil soon, yet it hides so well."
"That's why the bounty has swelled like this. Don't rush. Haste ruins things."
"I know. But..."
She sighed at the demon that hadn't appeared despite days of searching.
It was that frustrating. She hadn't expected this when receiving the oracle and leaving the temple. The outside world was so complex and harsh on first encounter.
No set routine or answers. She had to judge, decide, and proceed alone.
"Sigh, as the Archmage said, fretting won't make the evil show. I'll pull myself together and sweep the forest once more."
"Wise choice."
She steeled herself, smashing another goblin with her mace.
"...This thick demonic energy!"
In response, a dense malice unlike any she'd sensed while roaming the forest touched her senses.
"Archmage!"
"Yes, I felt it too. Go ahead, Inquisitor."
"Excuse me!"
Leaving the old man grabbing his staff, she dashed to the source of the demonic energy.
"Found you, demon!"
At the end stood a man with a lantern at his waist and a massive sword on his shoulder.
Thick demonic energy oozed from his right hand, fitted with what seemed a gauntlet.
"To become human and dare betray the gods!"
She couldn't tolerate it more.
A human harboring demonic energy in his body. Unless contracted with a demon, impossible. It meant turning from the gods and betraying humanity.
"In the name of the gods, I shall judge you!"
She vowed not to let this traitor who deserved execution live.
Gripping her shield firm, she infused holy power into her mace.
"...?"
Suddenly, the gloomy eye not covered by his eyepatch met hers.
Clang!
Sword met mace.
* * *
「Detection │ Picking out enemies is combat basics. Become able to sense hostility.
Effect: Provides target mark to the nearest person when a hostile target approaches within 10m.」
Night made demons hard to spot, so I'd tried the lifestyle skill 'Detection' for once. Trusted it'd mark hostiles within 10m radius.
「A target harboring hostility exists within 10m radius.」
"...?"
Didn't expect to use the freshly acquired Detection skill right away.
"To become human and dare betray the gods!"
And the target wasn't even the demon I wanted. It was a person.
"In the name of the gods, I shall judge you!"
I barely suppressed my bewilderment and swung my two-hander. Parrying the mace with the blade would dull it, but no choice now.
Clang!
The sound suggested 'Perfect Parry' had triggered.
Unlike regular 'Parry' that cuts damage by 90% on timed weapon deflection, this defense skill nullifies 100%.
Thanks to it, I hid my surprise and quickly assumed the next stance. Ready for any incoming attack.
"A churchgoer, huh."
My mind raced too.
The opponent... calling on the gods' name, white light at mace tip—definitely priest-class.
Wearing plate on shield yet moving nimbly—not low level.
"Yeah, came to judge you."
But pinpointing her identity just made me more baffled. A priest... why me?
No new quest or update, so not event or story.
Field boss? Nah, design doesn't fit the map. Priest guarding forest? Weird setting, no backstory.
Then story or event? Nothing like this in original, but remake—who knows. Stunned.
"The church I know spreads good deeds and mercy in the gods' name, yet today it seems not. Blindly swinging violence."
Hm. Anyway, since it's here, might as well enjoy. Not like I'm RPing to relive my life or something.
"A mere demon lecturing on violence!"
Separately, her lines showed the conversation was off-kilter.
Why scream demon at a perfectly fine human.
Mistaking me for a demon? Based on what?
What about me screams demon...
Not even holding a cursed item...
Wait...
No way, my right arm?
"...!"
Realization hit instantly; hardening my expression was concept zealot instinct.
Of course—the lore is I wear the gauntlet to hide the demon-possessed arm. I hate demons, yet agonize seeing it: am I still human?
That guy gets called demon by a priest? Hey, this is prime switch-flipping material! Guaranteed ragebait!
"Don't call me demon, zealot!"
Can't tolerate it. Veins popping, gotta bellow!
My self-esteem already at min from wandering if I'm human—this pushes it over!
"You dare, fallen traitor!"
Her being higher level and advantageous matchup as priest? Irrelevant. These games don't decide win/loss purely on levels; die and retry.
For a concept zealot, dying is content too. Fun either way.
"Receive judgment meekly!"
I suppressed my grinning lips twitching with excitement and dodged the priest's mace. Then raised my sword skyward for the promised rite.
"To my sword, victory; to the heavens, glory...!"
"Playing knight, are we!"
Eh, playing knight. But not a formally knighted real one, so won't fight all noble-like?
I doused my waist lantern and melted into the darkness.
She glowed all over from buffs; I didn't. Extinguish mine, my vision narrows, but unlike her, I can spot her.
"You sly...!"
As expected, she lost target immediately. Situation favored me outwardly.
"I'll cut that tongue and offer it to the gods...!"
Then time to teach the ambusher a lesson. Wonder if it'll land.
"Breaker...!"
「Breaker │ Cloak weapon in mana and deliver powerful magic-attribute overhead smash over wide frontal area.
Effect: Consume 10 mana. Attack enemies in frontal area for 540% damage.」
The attack skill Breaker I'd taken before Detection added black effects to the two-hander, cleaving the night air.
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