Chapter 43

The Demon Hunting Method Of The Regressed Inquisitor 43

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The interrogation ended earlier than expected, and as I took off the blood-stained gloves, I came out.

Kurud’s pale face appeared.

“Who’s that?”

“You started the interrogation less than an hour ago, and it’s already over.”

Of course, the interrogation didn’t target just one person.

Kurud was interrogating another person in the next room, and the sounds of screams and wails from beyond the wall were unmistakable.

“It seems you heard it well.”

“Yeah, even if I cover my ears, I can still hear it. How can you do this for over three hours?”

“Did you hear everything? You said it was over in less than an hour, but it seems you’re stalling for time elsewhere.”

“I’m the master here, aren’t I? Speak sensibly. I’m a person who knows how to take responsibility, at least.”

“Well, if you intended to take responsibility, you should have stopped me, an outsider, from conducting the interrogation in the first place.”

“Getting involved in religious matters is suicidal. I said I’d take responsibility, but it’s not a responsibility worth risking one’s life for.”

“Good judgment.”

“However.”

Kurud, who was sitting in the chair, slightly bent his body and glared at me.

It wasn’t a killing intent, but a sense of discontent was palpable.

“People like me, a rare species, naturally have a strong attachment to the place where we were born.”

“So what?”

“If your actions harm this city…”

A gray light, symbolizing the 365-day rainy city, began to emanate from the sword on his shoulder.

“It’s ready to destroy the temple and everything else.”

Kurud, pointing the sword’s tip at me, was warning me. This guy is really cool.

“Then let’s get out of here. It’s time for your cool ‘mindset’ to shine. You don’t want to see the city get destroyed, do you?”

If I had finished everything and said that, it would have been really cool.

“Uh… right now?”

“Yes, right now.”

It was an expected outcome.

I knew about Lilia’s power from direct experience. I judged that it was impossible for her to be killed by anyone.

It’s probably one of two things.

Either they continue to wreak havoc here, and Kurud and others somehow gather strength to retaliate.

This is the first assumption. But seeing how both Anne and Kurud refer to the opponent as a ‘whining brat,’ it doesn’t seem like they would kill them.

Then there’s the second assumption.

“Strong but foolish people are always easy to exploit.”

“Do you think that kid is doing such things because he was deceived? We haven’t thought about that either…”

“It’s probably his nature. However, exploiting doesn’t necessarily mean directly manipulating that kid.”

“What do you mean?”

“Let me give you an example. What if the relationship between the Hunter Guild and the Merchant Guild deteriorates in the absence of that kid?”

“Isn’t that pretty much the same as now?”

Yes. The current situation is delicately balanced.

Lilia, who possesses overwhelming force but doesn’t have a proper faction to call her own.

The Hunter Guild, a forceful group with considerable strength and numbers.

And the Merchant Guild, which controls the financial power.

Let’s exclude Lilia for now, for the sake of explanation.

“What if you die in that state?”

“Why me?”

“I’m asking what would happen if you were assassinated by someone who doesn’t even know who you are.”

“…I’m not without influence.”

“Then?”

“The kids would rise up.”

“Exactly. There’s someone targeting that. Someone who’s watching that kid act recklessly and plans to deal with him when the time is ripe.”

“But that guy doesn’t have a faction…”

“Do you think parents would stay still if their child was harmed?”

“…Who are that kid’s parents? Are they emperors or something?”

“Didn’t Anne tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“This is a bit surprising.”

They didn’t seem to have a bad relationship, but they didn’t share this information?

Is it because they don’t trust Kurud, or is there another side to this?

“That kid is the child of the ＜Eroder＞. Well, not a biological daughter, but a relationship deeper than blood.”

Kurud seemed to ponder for a moment, then gradually turned pale. He must have imagined the consequences of my assumption.

“There must have been someone waiting for the moment to kill that kid.”

“So?”

“I’ve found the kid’s location. So, you block the way until I persuade the kid.”

“Persuade? You? Won’t it backfire?”

“Then Kurud, are you confident you can persuade the kid?”

“Unfortunately, I believe conversations are meant to be with humans, not beasts.”

“Then I have to do it, don’t I?”

It’s something I can do.

At least, that’s what I believe.

* * *

Before heading straight to my destination, I found Anne.

As the master of the Merchant Guild, she would have all sorts of items.

I bought bullets from her.

Surprisingly, as long as the caliber and length of the bullets match, a revolver can fire any type of bullet.

Given that most firearms are practically custom-made, this convenience outweighs other disadvantages.

It means I don’t have to go all the way to Nidavellir to buy bullets.

“Kid, will this be enough?”

“It’s sufficient.”

“Will this number be enough?”

“Too many would just be heavy. Besides, I don’t plan to fire them recklessly.”

“The price doesn’t match. Buy more. Do you think I’m running a charity?”

“No, I thought you were worried about me. Just put it on my tab. I’ll come to collect it after this job is done.”

“That’s how it should be.”

I guess I had false expectations.

Of course, she wouldn’t worry about me. We’re not that close.

That’s how merchants are.

Having gathered what I needed, I left the Merchant Guild.

Two people were waiting for me.

Kurud, who hasn’t yet heard which path to block, and Linea, who could be called my caretaker.

Claire seems to be resting in her quarters, possibly because she’s not feeling well.

“Mr. Lost, take this.”

“…What is this?”

What Linea handed over was a strange black potion with bubbling foam.

What kind of poison has she concocted?

“Drink it. Right now, in front of me.”

“If you tell me what I did wrong, I’ll gladly take it.”

“It’s not poison.”

“Then what is it?”

“It’s an antidote.”

At those words, I felt like I had been hit on the head with a hammer.

“How?”

“Sometimes, there are patients who say they know their bodies better than anyone else. But usually, people don’t know what they look like unless they look in a mirror.”

“I never said that.”

“But you acted like it. Do you think I went to find herbs for no reason? I found them to make this. It’s the Spirine family’s elixir.”

“The color is a bit strange.”

“Medicine is supposed to be bitter.”

“Not the taste… Never mind.”

I gulp it down.

I don’t know if this will actually help, but since I already have the infestation in my body, no poison could be worse than that.

Whether it eases her anger or her worries, if it can do either, I’ll gladly swallow it.

“How is it?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“It’s not as bitter as I thought.”

“That’s because your tongue is numb.”

“…”

Come to think of it, my tongue does feel numb.

I thought the taste was mild, but it seems it destroyed my tongue the moment it touched it.

“I’ll expect it to be as effective as it is bitter.”

“Oh, saying that suddenly makes me feel pressured.”

“It was meant to make you feel burdened.”

In fact, I don’t really care much.

But it’s fun to watch Linea fidgeting nervously.

Isn’t that enough?

“Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

A gray city where the rain pours down steadily.

I check my supplies, rummaging through my coat.

One sword from my master, one revolver, 24 bullets prepared excluding the ones loaded in the revolver.

A cigarette to soothe my mind and body.

And the mask of the Inquisitor.

“Phew.”

“Give me one too.”

“I don’t think I’ve been paid back for the one I lent you last time.”

“Don’t be so stingy. You can boss around the guild master with just a nod, can’t you give me this much?”

“If you promise to work diligently without slacking off, I’ll give it to you.”

“You dirty, stingy b*stard. Give it to me!”

I hand a cigarette to Kurud.

Then I light it with Vesta’s flame.

“Don’t the gods get angry if you use holy magic for something like this?”

“They are merciful. It shouldn’t be a big deal.”

There’s a reason I light it with Vesta’s flame.

It’s not something worth telling others, but the gods will understand.

“You should block this area. You roughly know the destination, right?”

“…The waterway?”

“Yes.”

“Staying in such a dangerous place? What a crazy… No, she’s a crazy woman, so it’s actually fitting?”

“She is crazy, but not just because she’s crazy.”

A city where it rains 365 days a year.

In such a city, the waterways must be well-made to drain the water. If not, it would flood, so they have to do it well.

Rubia has an excessive amount of water flowing. The device that Kurud just mentioned, called the aqueduct, gathers all that water and channels it outside.

The pouring rainwater bounces off the ceiling, seeps into the grooves on the floor, and eventually gathers in the center of the city.

Naturally, when that much water gathers, it becomes a dangerous waterway comparable to a flooding river.

“Have you ever wondered why, out of all the many cities, it had to appear here and cause havoc?”

“I’ve thought about it more than a hundred times.”

“It had to be this city. It’s the same species as the ＜Eroding One＞. You know what the forest where that trial is located looks like, right?”

The ＜Eroding One＞ can intoxicate others just by breathing or making eye contact.

A toxic energy that cannot be suppressed.

Therefore, just by moving, it contaminates everything in its path.

Such a being is the ＜Eroding One＞ Untouchable.

In that case, it’s entirely possible that his daughter, Lilia, might have the same problem.

“In other cities, a catastrophe could occur. It must have found a place overflowing with water to dilute its power without causing any issues.”

Water is not scarce in Rubia.

The rain pouring from the sky is so clean that it doesn’t need any special treatment. You can just collect and use it.

But in other cities or towns?

If there were such a massive waterway that could flood, it would be natural to source water from there.

No, the city or town itself would have been established based on that river.

If the erosion is being diluted in such a river, it would indeed be a catastrophe.

“Well, regardless of everything, I don’t want to see people dying.”

“Then I wish you wouldn’t cause any accidents.”

“Indeed.”

He extinguishes the nearly smoked cigarette by crushing it on the ground. Anyway, it will be washed away by the rainwater.

Surprisingly, this city has many advantages.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.”

“Well, nothing will happen, but I’ll make sure to block this path until you return.”

Finally, Kurud and I part ways.

Since that damn kid got me, this might be the first time I’m wandering alone like this.

No one to talk to, and the only sound is the falling rain.

Walking through such a desolate space, I finally approach the aqueduct.

The place I had anticipated.

He must be here.

“Is it okay for you to be wandering around already?”

“…I wondered where you were wandering off to, and you were here?”

When I arrived at the aqueduct, it was Titan, who had been missing, who spoke to me.

I was a little surprised. It was a different person than I had expected.

It seemed he had been watching over him here.

“Stop, don’t come any closer.”

“Are you poisoned or something?”

“No. I just hope you understand that I need some personal time right now.”

“You sound like a teenager going through puberty.”

“Because I am a teenager going through puberty.”

“Haha!”

Thinking it was a funny joke, I laughed out loud for a while, then remembered that he was still 15 years old.

Yes, he was indeed a teenager going through puberty.

It wasn’t a joke…

Amidst the water flowing like a waterfall, Titan, who was in a corner of the holes in the middle of the path, was not clearly visible from here.

I thought I saw a yellow light, but I didn’t pay much attention to it.

Since he is also a royal, it would be better to pretend not to notice, as he seems to have something he wants to hide.

“Where is he?”

“He’s a little further down from here. Are you planning to meet him?”

“Isn’t it obvious, considering I came all the way here?”

“…It seems you are well-prepared. Then it doesn’t matter. Since you are challenging him fairly, not ambushing him, I have no reason to help.”

“I didn’t expect you to.”

Titan is not the type to interfere in a duel.

Even if it ends in death, if it’s something he’s prepared for, he would just watch.

The line is clearly drawn.

“What do you think are my chances of winning?”

From noble mtl dot com

“If you use the same power as last time, you will definitely win.”

He was referring to the situation where I used the ＜Fragment of Morpheus’ Dream＞.

“What if I don’t use it?”

“I’ll pray for your soul.”

“You can’t even lie properly, you b*stard.”

Isn’t it just like cursing me to death?

I never thought the trust in me would be that low.

“I can’t do this anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

“There are too many runaway teenagers around me. There’s a limit to how much I can take care of them as a guardian.”

Linnea, Titan, and now even the daughter of the ＜Corruptor＞ has run away.

I can’t live like this, with parents I don’t even know asking me to bring their daughters back.

“So, shouldn’t I forcibly repatriate at least one of them?”

With those words, I quietly put on my mask.

I no longer needed to search myself.

It seems they noticed I shamelessly came to find them, and decided to come in person.