After dragging the demon contractee all the way to the temple, the priests took him deep inside for interrogation.
Me? I stayed outside. I wanted to watch how the interrogation went, but going too far into the temple started draining my HP.
It wasn't just HP—it felt like my senses were being blocked by something. Not like a solid glass wall, but more like the air itself rejecting my existence? It made breathing uncomfortable?
So I gave up. I had no idea why it got hard to breathe deeper inside, but this was supposed to be a game meant to be fun.
No way was I putting up with discomfort like that. Especially not when it wasn't mandatory like a carriage ride, and I didn't even have any interrogation-related skills.
"...."
But if I'd known I'd end up alone with Kimchi Mandu, I would've just gone in. The HP drain was about the same speed as a car ride, so I figured I could've lasted a few hours.
Ignoring the inquisitor who kept sneaking glances at me, I tended to my longsword. Compared to True Thunder, its edge was pretty dull, so it needed some work.
Shhhk. Shhhk. Shhhk.
I sharpened the blade with a whetstone from the general store. No specific skill for it, but it felt like my hands moved on their own with some kind of correction from the start.
Clatter.
As I worked, the inquisitor—who'd been dozing off—suddenly pulled out his own mace and shield. He could've just slept, but no, he started polishing them too. It looked like he was copying me, and my fist clenched on instinct.
I'd read somewhere that excessive cuteness triggers violent impulses as a backlash. Was that really true?
"We've kept you waiting."
Fortunately, before the cuteness-induced violence hit its limit, the Archmage returned.
Her hair—or mane, whatever you called it—the face peeking out from under the long growth on top of her head showed some subtle emotions.
"Archmage!"
"Oh... Polishing your weapons and armor preserves your life. Well done. However...."
The mage said that while glancing around. I knew exactly why, so I kept my head down and focused on sharpening.
Yeah. Sharpening weapons in the chapel is kinda off. I get it.
But my concept was preparing to slay demons that defy the gods—surely the gods wouldn't get mad if I did it right in front of them.
"…For now, let's move somewhere else. There's something we need to discuss."
Anyway, the Archmage had come back because the interrogation was over. I'd just finished with my sword, so it was easy to leave.
Of course, I didn't lighten the mood at all. The concept character wasn't ready to cheer up yet.
"For now, the interrogation hasn't yielded any results."
"Is that so...."
Then why'd you come out? Sure, for a game, this had already taken way longer than usual.
"As expected of someone who sold his soul to a demon. Tough and tenacious to the point of nausea."
While I picked my lines, the inquisitor grimaced and growled fiercely. He was usually so innocent and scatterbrained like a kimchi mandu, but anything demon-related turned him into a rabid dog.
"No results?"
But when it came to demons, I was the bigger rabid dog! Ha!
"You call that reporting?"
I pressed my voice low for maximum chill, accenting each word like I was biting them off. It made me sound seriously pissed.
"Calm down. I said no results yet. We just didn't have enough time— we'll uncover something soon."
Yeah, but when? Do I have to wait hours like for a reward? Or grind something first?
That wouldn't work. My full dive was about to end soon.
「❖ Village Hidden Evil
∎ Talk to the Bishop」
Pretending to glare at the Archmage, I checked the quest window. Still no update.
"You'd better bring results before my patience runs out."
No helping it. With the quest stalled, I'd have to do something else until it progressed.
Ah, but knowing the original Draugr event progression made me uneasy leaving them to interrogate alone. Why wasn't there a party member leave-behind function?
"Maybe I should step in...."
"No, Inquisitor. I don't doubt your skills, but if the hero gets directly involved, they might clam up even more."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. For them, being tortured personally by the hero is an honor... like a trophy."
Who cares. If they're asking for a smack upside the head, they get one. Better to hunt other quests than waste time.
Leaving the chatting pair behind, I exited the temple. The streets were still dark and damp at this hour, too early to call it dawn.
"Ah, where are you going, Demon Knight?"
I'd tried some solo activity, but they noticed right away. I picked up my pace as the two NPCs hurried after me. No chance.
"Is something the matter?"
The Archmage caught up and casually asked. Both would keep giving me those eyes—sparkling with curiosity, super burdensome—until they figured out my goal.
Too realistic NPCs were a curse. In a normal game, they'd just follow blindly.
"…Damn it, do you two need someone spoon-feeding you info to catch demons?"
"...!"
"Oh...."
For some reason, my offhand remark left them deeply impressed.
"That's profoundly meaningful. I learned something."
…What profound meaning was in what I just said?
"As expected of you...!"
I was just a player with one quest blocked, so obviously I'd go hunt others. I hated wasting time—side quests or even leveling would do.
But apparently, my player diligence hit them differently.
Two pairs of eyes, sparkling for a whole different reason now, bored into my back. Burdensome.
"But it's night—hard to ask around, isn't it?"
I wanted to snap that night had nothing to do with it, but held back.
Normal RPGs just darkened the sky and buffed monsters at night, but this game shut down shops and everything. NPCs went "off duty."
Quests unavailable, info gathering through talk impossible. Another downside of excessive realism.
But I had one last resort.
「Summon: Adventurer's Guild」
"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild...."
The Adventurer's Guild ran 24/7.
"Ah... I see. The guild gets tons of requests... Some might involve demons. My thinking was too narrow."
I half-ignored the Archmage. Must be story-driven affinity correction. Otherwise, why gush over nonsense?
"What can I do for you?"
Meanwhile, a tired-looking NPC at the counter asked for my business. Probably a clerk.
"Requests. Demon-related."
"Ah... An adventurer, huh. Then I'll check your adventurer plate first."
The dark-circled NPC adjusted his glasses and took my plate. The iron tag spun in his fingers.
"Verified, adventurer."
He muttered listlessly in his drawling tone.
"We've got few demon requests... Um, ones suspected to involve demons okay?"
Attitude and competence don't always match.
I checked the request list he described. Would've been better to show the papers, but he insisted on reciting. Kinda inconvenient.
"In this city, or exclude anything a day's travel or more away."
By the third explanation, I set limits upfront.
"And exclude any that'd take weeks stuck in one spot."
"Yessir."
The NPC seemed relieved by the conditions, flipping through papers with a better expression.
"And don't tell me— just show me the requests."
"Uh...? You can read?"
…High illiteracy rate in this world, huh.
Not weird setting-wise, but annoying for players. Technically I was illiterate too, but game system translation let me read... Still inconvenient.
"This is... new. I thought the Sage registered you for easier travels. Didn't know using the guild for info was an option."
"Heh heh, to be precise, that's why I suggested it. But using the guild like this... Can't match an active adventurer's resourcefulness. True learning lies beyond the tower—I've realized it once more."
While I browsed, the inquisitor and Archmage whispered behind me. Not real adventurers, so the guild's utility shocked them. I didn't get it, but whatever.
Flip.
Anyway, I focused on the NPC shuffling papers. Dozens passed, no matches.
"Um...."
As I scowled harder, the NPC glanced nervously, eyes darting.
"Only one fits your conditions. But... The temple's already taken it...."
What. Only one? And the temple's on it?
"I'll show it anyway. The city lord declared rewards for whoever solves it first...."
I took the paper without relaxing my frown. Recent unexplained deaths in the city. Victims died in various ways. Common testimony: foul stench at the scene...
The familiar content furrowed my brow even deeper—I thought it was maxed out already.
"Already solved this."
Wait. Reward's a whopping 500,000 gal? Would the temple pay up...? Felt like they'd pocket it themselves...
"Huh?"
"...?"
Curious about my chat with the clerk, the Archmage and inquisitor sidled closer. I ignored them and handed back the paper.
No way was I thinking temple. That'd ruin my GAO.
"Nothing else?"
"Yessir. Military handles demon sightings. Frontier, so not many demons anyway."
Tch. That the setting? No hunting grounds at all? Explains no grindy side quests.
What a weird game. Demon-hunting game with no nearby demon spawns. Makes no sense.
My mind raced, but I felt stuck. RPGs are about quests and grinding—lose both, what's left?
"Then how about this? Sudden disappearances, people acting out irrationally... Anything slightly off from usual. Rumors count, no need for formal requests."
As I pondered, the Archmage slyly cut in. The NPC panicked, glancing between us three.
"No formal requests like that... But, are you three together...?"
"Traveling companions."
"I see... Then you two adventurers too...?"
"Correct."
The Archmage and inquisitor showed their plates. The NPC fumbled them, then gaped.
"Th-the Sage of the Magic Tower and the Heresy Inquisitor!"
"No need to be so shocked. Any rumors?"
"Uh-uh...."
Suddenly alert, the NPC clutched his head, then exclaimed soon after.
"W-well, might be nothing, but some adventurers said pickpockets have dropped lately."
"Pickpockets?"
"Yessir... Also, beggars wandering for scraps have thinned out."
The NPC backpedaled, unsure since he hadn't paid attention.
"Nothing else...."
"No, that's enough."
As the Archmage said, plenty. In games, that's a total flag.
"More demon spawn, huh."
Quest not popping bugged me, but given the game's track record, hard to be sure. From a pure concept perspective, pretty suspicious.
So I laid out my grim speculation. The inquisitor mirrored me, brows raised with fiery intensity.
"Forgotten the gods' grace, and still lurking in this city?"
As Kimchi Mandu and I got bloodshot, the Archmage rubbed her temple in headache. But she didn't deny it—seemed she saw the possibility too.
"…Demons in the city?"
The clerk, stuck in the middle, just got the revelation, eyes wide and sputtering.
"Not certain. But worth investigating. So, if more related info comes in, could you contact the temple?"
The Archmage added belatedly.
"For safety, I'll send an official letter. Tell your boss too."
"That'd be appreciated."
The clerk looked glum with sudden work dumped on him. Not my problem, so I ignored it. I had more to do than him anyway.
"Then... We'll meet pickpockets and beggars directly, hear their testimonies."
Like what Kimchi Mandu just said. I'd have to leg it out.
「❖ Ominous Signs
∎ Talk to Pickpockets 0 / ?
∎ Talk to Beggars 0 / ?」
Then, a translucent window popped in my view. Separate from the ongoing one—a new quest.
My hunch was right.
"…The Inquisitor's right. We should meet them first, hear them out. They know their world best."
"But... How? Just wander the streets?"
The inquisitor asked dubiously. I dismissed the quest window inwardly, denying it.
If it stuck to canon, probably not.
"Possible, but as the saying goes, more pheasants in the hills than chatter, more fish in the sea."
Exactly. Pickpockets and beggars were mostly poor, and 'Hero Legend' gave them their own district.
"To the slums."
A shantytown where the poor but demon-fueled lived—the so-called slums.
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