Chapter 15 - At the Cost of Ignorance (1)

Considering there were multiple inns, wondering if general stores would be the same and checking them turned out to be a brilliant move.

There were many general stores, and the prices were even different at each one.

"..."

Haggling separately or checking too many shops didn't fit my concept, anyway.

I decided that from now on, I would tactfully choose to enter shops that seemed less likely to rip me off. Though that was something I had never succeeded at even in reality.

"Um, Archmage. The Demon Knight looks to be in a bad mood."

"Seeing as he was forced to join this journey, it can't be helped."

"...?! H-He was forced to join? Did I perhaps coerce him without even realizing...?!"

"No, I didn't mean it like that..."

However, whatever they made of my stiff expression as I pondered, the two NPCs started whispering to each other.

At this point, honestly, they seemed like Dumb and Dumber. Just watching them was funny.

"We're departing!"

Meanwhile, the caravan shouted their departure. The cargo wagon where I and the two NPCs were sitting also began to move with a clatter.

They said this was a consideration gained in exchange for not receiving payment... but my stomach churned every time my butt bounced up and down. At this point, it didn't seem like a consideration at all.

Eventually, I closed my eyes. I had powered through with pure grit last time, but was there any need to do that again this time?

Roleplaying a concept was meant to be fun, not torturous. I could endure the rest for the sake of greater enjoyment, but not in this case. At times like this, it was better to give up.

"Are you sleeping?"

Instead of answering, I thought of sleep. Then, a window popped up in my vision even with my eyelids closed. I didn't even need to touch it; just thinking about it made the time increase on its own.

For now, let's set it to roughly 3 hours. It would be nice if I could set it to last until we arrived, but I didn't know the exact arrival time. If it wasn't enough, I could just sleep more then.

"May the god grant you a peaceful slumber..."

Along with the Inquisitor's blessing, my vision went pitch black. The darkness, swallowing even the light seeping through my closed eyelids, felt like dripping paint.

* * *

Having been to the Northwest Forest, I was an idiot for expecting 3 hours.

It took nearly a whopping three days to reach the next city. Yeah. That meant it took a whole day in real time too.

Even worse, after the escort ended, all three of us had ridden on horseback and galloped fiercely, yet it still took that long.

I did fend off some bandits and minor wild beasts here and there, but other than that, there were zero events or quests. It truly was an incredibly boring few days.

One day out of my three-day full-dive, which cost me 300,000 won, had evaporated meaninglessly. Now, the remaining time was one in-game day, which was less than 8 hours in real time.

"I have one thing I wish to ask you."

So I mostly just kept my face scrunched up while figuring out how to ride a horse... but that seemed to puzzle the Archmage.

When we arrived at the next city, he spoke to me.

"You haven't asked a single question. Are you not curious about whether we truly received a revelation, where we are going, or why we are going there?"

That was a strange question. The biggest reason I hadn't conversed with them was because of my concept.

In addition to that, it was also because I was a player. After all, the main quest proved their identities, so what reason would I have to doubt them?

Moreover, since I had no knowledge of this world's lore, I wouldn't know the destination even if I heard it. Even having played the original game, my memory wasn't good enough to recall every city name.

Ah, I was a little curious about why we were changing cities... but did I want to know badly enough to break my concept? Not really.

Above all, the setting was that those two were pulling in companions, including the 'player', because they needed combat power.

If there was a mandatory quest I needed to step up for, they would explain it on their own. After all, it was quite common to end up dying a dog's death after being mobilized without a word.

"If the revelation is a lie, I can just kill you bastards. And if it were a place I needed to know about to respond properly, your mouths would have already confessed it unless your brains had melted to mush."

After translating those thoughts and speaking them out loud, I caught my breath. The final line was important.

"Lastly. No matter what you bastards do or what trouble you cause, as long as you don't get in my way, I have no interest."

Haha, even adding the implication that this was merely a companionship for hunting demons and that I had no interest in them personally—it was perfect. There was nothing strange about drawing the line multiple times.

"Is that so."

The Archmage stroked his chin, seemingly convinced. He didn't look particularly offended, but I couldn't be sure. My affinity with them might have dropped.

"Then, have you ever been involved with the Magic Tower or the Temple until now—"

"I've sold the horses! Here is the payment... Ah, were you two having a conversation?"

But just then, before the Archmage could finish his sentence, the youth who had been sent to the stables to sell the horses returned.

The Archmage had put her in charge of it, saying she needed to get used to society, and even to me, it didn't seem like a bad move. Social experience only improves through practice.

Though I didn't know if NPCs were actually equipped with the ability to learn through repetitive actions.

"Did I interrupt..."

"Haha, not at all. We were just having a brief chat. Now, let us go. There is a Temple here, so we won't need to get an inn."

I was a bit curious about what he was trying to say, but the opportunity was already gone. It wasn't like I could ask again with this concept of mine, either.

So I focused on our next destination. It was my first time visiting a Temple since starting the game, so I was curious about how it was designed. The Temple had been incredibly magnificent in the original game, so it would probably be amazing here too, right?

Ah, if I knew it would be like this, I should have checked out the Temple in the previous city too. Though I hadn't been able to go because it was too far away and I couldn't find the right timing.

The village near the Northwest Forest hadn't had a Temple at all.

With those idle thoughts, I followed the Archmage, who was leading the way. Having to follow an NPC instead of them following me felt a bit unfamiliar.

In situations like this, the unwritten rule was that the NPC would walk so slowly that you'd overtake them and then wander back and forth in front of them.

"The reason we came to this city is because of a message from the Temple stating that a demon has been appearing here."

Had we walked for a little bit? The Archmage explained the situation. The Kimchi Dumpling only then made a face like she had just remembered.

"Separate from gathering companions, we have been visiting places where the Temple requests aid or rumors circulate to offer our help. As followers of the god, we cannot turn a blind eye to those suffering in misery."

I hadn't particularly asked for an explanation, but it wasn't a bad thing to know. Right. So that meant I could just get all the main quests through you guys.

"There is a Temple established here, but they contacted us saying it was impossible to resolve with their strength alone. Thus..."

Anyway, if it was demon-related, I could jump in. My concept was a lunatic crazy for demons, after all. Mwahaha.

"I don't care about those kinds of circumstances. What kind of bastard is the demon? Where and when does it appear?"

"We do not know that yet. We only received a message that a demon was appearing; it did not contain detailed explanations. We will likely have to go to the Temple to find out."

Well, gathering information always took priority in these types of quests.

"How utterly incompetent."

But my concept didn't know that.

While spewing insults from my mouth, I looked at the updated quest, thinking about the investigation, exploration, and hunting that would soon follow.

「❖ The Evil Hidden in the Town

∎ Go to the Temple

∎ Talk to the Bishop」

But why wasn't this treated as a main quest? It wasn't a very important issue, though.

Whatever, I just wanted to progress the quest quickly. The travel time ruined the score, but hunting and catching demons was actually pretty fun.

Then again, what would even be left in an ARPG if you took out the combat?

Anticipating the upcoming quest, I gripped the hilt of my sword tightly. From a distance, a medium-sized cathedral began to come into view.

* * *

"It's a demon!"

But I said I wanted to receive a quest; I never asked to be treated like this.

I should have foreseen this from the moment the Inquisitor misunderstood and attacked me early on. If so, was it actually a stroke of luck that I couldn't visit the Temple in the previous city?

"Wait, calm down!"

As soon as we approached the Temple, Priests came rushing out and aimed their weapons at me. If the Archmage and the Inquisitor hadn't stepped in front of me, I might have been attacked immediately instead of just facing a standoff.

The enemy detection alarm obscured a portion of my vision with a translucent overlay. I'd have to change its target settings later or something.

"He is not an enemy!"

"But!"

"Is a servant of the god protecting a demon?!"

The Inquisitor panicked and kept glancing over at me. However, despite her shouts, their fierce reaction didn't subside. If anything, their hostility only intensified.

"I will say it again. He is not an enemy!"

Judging that the situation wouldn't be resolved easily, the Inquisitor took off her gauntlet. Only her skin was pale; her hand, which was full of calluses and scars even from a distance, was revealed.

However, no one could call that hand hideous. That was even more true if they could recognize the crest on the back of her hand that became visible the moment she expressed her divine power.

"T-The Hero's Mark...?"

Come to think of it, a question I hadn't thought of when playing the original game came to mind.

Back then, that crest would be engraved on the character of the class chosen by the player. And the setting was that the crest only manifested when touched by or using divine power.

But the Demon Knight is a class that takes damage the moment they come into contact with divine power. If so, how did they verify it back then? As expected, was it just a game allowance?

"I swear on my name, he is a victim, but he is not a demon. So please, put away your weapons."

Along with my distracted thoughts, I observed what they were doing.

Perhaps because the weight of her words had suddenly escalated from those of a simple Priest to those of a Hero. The eyes of those who had rushed out of the Temple were as wide as saucers.

"Did the Hero not ask you to put away your weapons?"

And even the Archmage driving the point home.

The priests hastily put away their weapons and changed their attitudes. Though there was still suspicion mixed in when they looked at me, it was a clear indication that they would at least not be hostile.

"Since the god's representative says so, we shall comply."

But just because you guys do that, doesn't mean there's any law saying I have to do the same, right?

I gripped the hilt of my longsword tightly and tensed my neck. With my neck muscles twitching, it would be perfect if a vein popped out right about now. Though I felt like I was expecting too much from a game.

"Please endure it."

At the same time, as I was about to take a step forward, the Archmage's hand blocked me. A hand half again as large as mine pressed down on my sword and the hand gripping it.

"They meant no ill will."

I was only going to go as far as gripping it anyway, but it was great for me if they stopped me like this.

"If there had been ill will, I would have already cut them down."

I trudged inside with a foul expression on my face. The two people flanking me on either side kept stealing glances at me. It was so obvious they were walking on eggshells around me that it was extremely enjoyable.

Ah, I should head straight out once I get the case info.

* * *

The briefing of the incident proceeded in a brutal atmosphere from start to finish. The Hero and the Sage received a warm welcome, but that wasn't the case for me.

A subtle battle of nerves between me and the Temple personnel continued—the taste of overflowing roleplay was fun—and it remained the same even after the briefing ended.

"The rooms have been prepared. Or would you like to have a meal first? If the dining hall is uncomfortable, we can also have it delivered to your rooms."

He said that last part while looking at me. For a mere NPC, he was incredibly insidious.

"I refuse."

But did that in itself displease me? Absolutely not!

That was because the Priests were currently holding us up at the Temple, desperately pleading with the two of them to start the search tomorrow using fatigue as an excuse.

But giving me the side-eye like this? Giving me an excuse to naturally leave while maintaining my concept?

"Sleeping on the forest floor would be closer to the god's embrace than staying in a nest of hypocrites."

"What...!"

I couldn't resist when they were blatantly spoon-feeding me like this. I didn't have much time left until I had to log out anyway! I was absolutely going to explore!

I turned around with my luggage, which I hadn't set down for a single moment.

I was halfway being kicked out, but whatever. They had given me a dirty look, but in the end, it was my own choice to walk out, and most importantly, I had no intention of sleeping from the start!

After all, I didn't prefer playing games at a painfully slow tempo. Plus, my mindset was that since I had done a full-dive, I had to get my money's worth.

Thanks to that, this kind of development was rather a reward.

Ah, of course, I would have to pretend to be in a bad mood for the sake of the concept. Right, right. Because I'm a pro roleplayer.

"Demon Knight!"

Furthermore, the quest had just been updated through the earlier conversation. There was no problem finding it. Even without those two, I was confident I could find it on my own.

"Wait...!"

Leaving behind the Inquisitor who tried to catch me, I briefly checked the quest window.

「❖ The Evil Hidden in the Town

∎ Track down the demon hidden in the town

∎ Optional: Ask the residents

∎ Optional: Find traces of the demon」

The optional objectives gave a hint that I could track it down by asking the residents or finding traces of the demon.

However, that was an unnecessary task for me. I had already figured out the answer with just the information given by the Temple.

The type of demon was unknown, but it appeared regardless of day or night. Its targets were usually sleeping people, and it killed them in various ways such as crushing, bloodsucking, and cannibalism.

As someone who frequently did data research, it was a fairly familiar bastard. Not to mention, I even had a track record of playing the original game.

There might be newly added mobs, but at least this was one I knew. I could be certain.

This was a 'Draugr'.

"Please wait a moment!"

GRAB.

In an instant, my hanging right hand was grabbed. The arm that, according to the setting, contained a demon.

"..."

I reflexively rejected the hand as if throwing it off. I was already someone who disliked sudden physical contact, and it was also a reaction that considered my concept.

More importantly, it was my right hand! It was the hand possessed by a demon! That was absolutely a no-go.

"Don't."

Looking at the pale-faced Inquisitor, I showed a sharp reaction. Making it look like contempt, but with a slightly stronger tinge of self-hatred. Making sure fear was mixed in beneath the anger directed at her.

"Ever touch me so carelessly."

Wow, that was perfect. I was always getting ahead of myself, but couldn't I just be an actor? Ah, right, I didn't have the face for it.

"I-I'm sorry."

Clenching my right fist tightly, I turned my body away.

"Where are you going?"

This time, it was the Archmage holding me back. It was a very easy question.

"I'm going, to kill the demon."

Today's night and dreams would be very long.