Chapter 23 - Irreversible (2)

I glanced at the Archmage. It was because I couldn't understand a single thing the Inquisitor was saying.

However, the Archmage had a serious expression for a completely different reason—one that suggested he wouldn't be explaining things to me anytime soon. I ground my teeth and rubbed my face.

"... Do not make me realize anew that you have a talent for wasting words."

"You have returned to normal!"

'Seriously, what is she talking about?'

With the hand not rubbing my face, I stroked my stinging solar plexus.

Honestly, all my sense of crisis had vanished because of her. By my concept, I should have gotten angry, but it was to the point where I couldn't even muster the anger.

'It's seriously baffling.'

"... Um, does it hurt a lot?"

'Is that even a question...'

No, whatever. They say a stronger pain masks a weaker one, and thanks to the stinging in my solar plexus, my anxiety had lessened quite a bit.

And in my opinion, that was a much better outcome.

After all, wouldn't it be much better for my mental health to do something—anything—to pass the time rather than being consumed by the fear of... not being able to log out and doing nothing at all?

"I apologize."

I shot Kimchi Dumpling a complicated glare, then collected my wits to find something to do. As it happened, I had a quest.

Of course, I didn't know if this was truly the right choice... but standing still wouldn't change anything. It wasn't like I could just stand around doing nothing until my nutrient supply ran out anyway.

If nothing else, doing a quest would at least make the time pass quickly.

"Are we going?"

"What exactly is the purpose of that tongue of yours?"

"Let's go!"

The Inquisitor brightly followed behind me. The Archmage still wore a serious face.

On top of that, whatever conversation they had while I briefly tuned out the surrounding noise, the guards also subtly followed us. Although it was only a few of them, having guards tag along was virtually the same as having public authority back us up.

"Demon Knight."

I moved my legs quickly while checking my slowly recovering HP window. The Archmage, who was barely keeping up with my stride, finally opened his mouth.

"Are you truly alright?"

'What's up with this old man now? I was just trying to log out, so what in the world are they all misunderstanding?'

'At this rate, if I do manage to log out, won't they come up with some lore that I've been consumed by the demon in the meantime?'

"Is there really no problem at all?"

'Whatever, I need to give an answer for now... I can't exactly talk about logging out here, so I guess I have to use their misunderstanding to my advantage.'

'Then how should I react in a situation like this? What would someone who is sensitive, irritable, and has their trauma triggered say?'

"Do not mind me."

I gripped my right arm tightly. The Archmage's expression stiffened even more. The Inquisitor was much the same.

However, while Kimchi Dumpling's eyes sparkled with what you could call hope or perhaps trust, the Archmage's gaze was closer to assuming that I was going to collapse.

'The difference in the NPCs' personalities is expressed damn well.'

"How could I not mind you? Rather..."

"I told you... not to mind me...!"

Similar to the time when the Inquisitor tried to grab my right arm, I put forth a hostile reaction.

I only picked out emotions that resembled back then. Self-loathing, fear, and anger.

"... Your job is to kill demons, and my job is also to kill demons."

'Puhaha. This is fun.'

"Does that include yourself?"

'Still, to suddenly hit me with a line like that is a bit much.'

'It was a reaction I expected and induced, but I didn't think he'd come at me this directly.'

"Natural—"

"What are you talking about, Sir Archmage? There is no way the Demon Knight would become a demon."

'...?'

"I believe in the Demon Knight. I trust your steadfast reason and resolute mental strength. I am certain that you are someone who will never succumb to the demon."

'Uh, sure. I'm a player, so there's absolutely no way I'd succumb. But what do you even know about me to declare your belief like that?'

"Therefore, you may waver. I will wait for you. I will endure it and hold out. Until you wake up."

'... Seriously, what is up with her? What did I even do to make her build up all this trust on her own? Why are you secretly building inner intimacy with me, seriously? Even if it's the story, isn't this too much?'

'Seriously, what is this??'

"... It seems the one-eyed freak was not me, but you."

'I'm going crazy. I don't know anymore. This isn't my fault. It's the game company's fault. It's your fault for coding her affinity settings weirdly just to forcefully stick a story character to me!'

"Uh, both of my eyes are perfectly fine."

"... Inquisitor, the 'one-eyed freak' he speaks of does not literally mean someone blind in one eye."

"Hah, is that so?"

'... And meanwhile, she's!!'

"Ah, please give some warning before you run!"

"... Have you no thought of being considerate to an old man?"

'I don't know, you Kimchi Dumpling! I need to go to the Temple and unleash all this pent-up violence! This is all this damn game's fault!'

* * *

The Inquisitor quietly watched the back of the man who surged ahead, looking as though he couldn't leave the corrupted ones in this world for even a moment longer.

In truth, she couldn't fully understand the Demon Knight's words about things "not working" or "logging out."

She had simply read the undeniable fear in his pale face, his trembling lips, and his pupils that were cracked like shattered glass.

But what could possibly terrify someone as robust as the Demon Knight? How many things out there could strike fear into a mighty knight capable of slaying even a dragon?

To her mind, there was only one thing. The entity residing in his arm, capable of consuming the Demon Knight at any given moment. The demon in his right arm.

But regrettably, there was nothing she could do about it. She lacked the ability to perform Purification on the demon encroaching upon the Demon Knight's arm, the strength to assist the knight's soul as it battled the demon, or even the eloquence to cheer him on.

All she had was the martial prowess she had built up as a Heresy Inquisitor, the unmerited crest of a hero, her divine power, and finally, the time she'd had to recognize the steadfastness of the man known as the Demon Knight.

Thus, she decided to believe.

["Why don't you try saying that to the victims."]

Though his powers were fierce and his attitude foul, she chose not to doubt the man who dedicated himself more nobly than anyone else.

["Do you only catch demons when someone hands you the information?"]

She decided to trust the man who was more like a hero than the chosen hero herself.

["Demons... all deserve to die...!"]

Knowing that he would never submit to evil, she chose to place her faith in him.

Fortunately, even if the Demon Knight were to be consumed by the demon, she possessed the martial prowess to endure and hold out until he regained his senses.

["You had better watch your mouth when looking back at your own hair."]

... Because he had first granted her the opportunity to improve, she too could strive to become someone who offered such opportunities to others.

Even if she was still severely lacking.

* * *

「Somon: Temple」

*DOONG. * We arrived at the Temple to the sound of a ringing bell. Was it because it was daytime? More Priests peeked their heads out than when we arrived at night.

Of course, there were some among them who mistook me for a demon. Though the Priests who recognized my face took care of it before they could even shout at me.

「❖ Ominous Omen

∎ Find the traitors who colluded with the Demon Contractors」

'But now, how do I root out the traitors who colluded?'

"Have you arrived, Proxy..."

Just as I was agonizing over the method, the Inquisitor slammed her mace onto the ground. *THUD. * A heavy resonance echoed across the entrance of the Temple.

There was not a trace of the absentmindedness she had shown on the way here on her face. Once it was time to work, she was a truly thorough Heresy Inquisitor.

"Gather everyone affiliated with this Temple to the chapel."

"Excuse me?"

"This is an order given as a Heresy Inquisitor. I will not permit any absences for any reason. You are to bring every single person without exception."

"W-What do you..."

"Sir Archmage, please cast a barrier over the chapel."

"Yes. Leave it to me."

"I leave it in your hands."

*'... Now that I look at it, it seems this quest will progress on its own even if I don't do anything.' * I fumbled with the hilt of my longsword.

'If there is anything for me to do here, it would probably be catching those who try to run away or resist.'

'For example, that guy over there rolling his eyes and trying to slip away.'

"It seems you lack the ability to comprehend language."

"W-What are you saying..."

"Or perhaps, do you not even possess enough faith to keep from doubting God's choice?"

'I can't tell if this guy is a real traitor or if he's just going to spread the news to people he knows.'

'But somehow, I have a bad feeling about him.'

I looked down at the Priest while letting out the most chilling voice possible. Voice acting didn't require much immersion, and since my face was designed to look cold from the start, scaring him was extremely easy.

"Thank you for your help, Demon Knight."

"Do not speak of gratitude. I did not help you; I merely intended to catch a corrupted one."

'Oh, another one is trying to slip away in the meantime. Gotcha, you little rat.'

"Why would they let something like that..."

"He harbors a demon..."

Perhaps finding it somewhat offensive that someone harboring a demon's power was monitoring and restricting them, the Priests' eyes grew hostile, but I didn't care. *'Even according to my concept, you guys are all corrupted ones, you hear me?' *

"I believe I told you to go inside."

"...!"

'It's a bit of a shame I don't have any surveillance skills. Would raising my detection help a bit... Ah, right. Skills. I leveled up, didn't I.'

'But even if I invest more points in the detection tree, the range only goes from 20 meters to 30 meters. It might be better to build up the tracking-related tree so I can chase down those who run away.'

'Honestly, the best option would be 'Lie Detection' in the negotiation tree, but that's impossible to pick up right now due to a lack of skill points.'

'Hmm. There are surprisingly a lot of useful things in the life skills, you know? As for attack skills, Breaker and Ground Crash are enough for now... Right. The Stinger bug. There was that too.'

'Hah. This game has a weirdly high amount of bugs. The most infuriating bug is obviously the log-out one, though...'

I freely expressed my aching headache by narrowing my brows. The fact that I could contort my face into a scowl as much as I wanted without breaking character was quite to my liking.

"Is everyone gathered?"

Anyway, after a long while, the chapel was full. Of course, there were a few who tried to run away in the middle of it, and there was also the task of searching for those who were working and hadn't heard the news.

If it hadn't been for the city guards that the Inquisitor brought in, and who even came as backup later, it would have taken even more time.

"There are about seven people we are currently looking for since we couldn't reach them, but everyone else is present."

"Good."

Standing in front of the divine statue in the chapel, the Inquisitor slowly let out a breath and immediately slammed her shield onto the ground.

*FLASH. * Her wide-open green eyes harbored a red madness that starkly contrasted with their vivid azure hue.

"From this moment on, I commence the trial by the authority of a Heresy Inquisitor."

'... I get why the Thief was so terrified of the heresy interrogation. They could be extremely vicious when hunting demons, but Heresy Inquisitors truly lost their minds when faced with the corrupted.'

"Every one of you shall have your sins tested, and those who are without sin shall be set free..."

'It's a good thing this is a world where divine power exists and an enemy known as demons clearly exists. If it weren't...'

'Wow. This game would have been terrifying. Well, games like that have their own kind of fun when you play them, though.'

"Those unholy ones who dared to commit wicked deeds while masquerading as servants of God will face rightful judgment."

"W-What...!"

"Silence!"

The Temple erupted into a commotion at the declaration of the heresy trial, but it soon fell dead silent.

"Heresy Inquisitors affiliated with this Temple, step forward first. You had better not think of sneaking out of here."

At her call, the Heresy Inquisitors stepped forward one by one. Just like Kimchi Dumpling, they all gave off an impression of being slightly devoid of humanity. Basically, they looked like they would be terrible at socializing.

"... Half of the ones mobilized for the interrogation."

However, the Archmage recognized some of them. He must have familiarized himself with their faces during the interrogation at dawn.

And that meant that perhaps, they could be the corrupted ones.

「❖ Ominous Omen

∎ Find the traitors who colluded with the Demon Contractors

∎ Subdue/Eliminate the traitors 0 / ??」

I swept my hand over the hilt of my sword while looking at the newly added task in the quest window. And then, I drew it. The Archmage glanced at my action but didn't stop me. He merely began reciting a spell in advance.

"Demonstrate the power of God, and prove your devotion."

And the moment the Inquisitor spat out those words.

"Damn it!"

Every single one of the people the Archmage had pointed out lunged at her.

"Are you revealing your true colors! You unholy ones!"

SLASH!

My sword blade cut down two of them, and the attacks of the remaining two were bound by the Archmage's chains. *CRUNCH! * The Inquisitor's mace caving in one of their heads happened almost at the exact same time.

"Aaaagh!"

"Gasp!"

"W-What the!"

Screams and blood flowed across the chapel, but the divine statue remained silent. On the contrary, the Inquisitor's divine power grew even stronger, making it look as if light was flowing out from her very body.

"Catch them!"

And half a step late, the Heresy Inquisitors who hadn't lunged at the Inquisitor stepped forward. Their maces fell upon the corrupted ones. In an instant, the remaining guy's limbs were crushed.

A faint trace of divine power was flowing through their maces.

"Everyone, silence."

DRIP.

The Inquisitor, whose bright red hair hung down like a veil, whispered. Even though it was a low voice, it was bizarrely clear, causing everyone to press their lips tightly shut.

"The heresy trial will continue. Until the innocence of everyone has been proven."

'But at this point, what should I say? For a brief moment, I found myself wondering what exactly the game was trying to show me with this specific situation.'

'What, the daily life of fanatics? The progression of a religious trial in a fantasy setting?'

'That kind of stuff is fine. No matter what events occur in a game, as long as they don't intentionally promote discrimination, hatred, or historical distortion, I can usually enjoy them.'

'The only thing I want to point out is: why aren't they giving the initiative in these events to the player? I'm the one playing the game, so why is an NPC taking the lead role and dragging me along?'

'If they were going to include an event like this, they should have put it in when the player chose the Priest class. I would have enjoyed it way more if they did.'

'That one aspect is rather disappointing.'

KNOCK, KNOCK.

Just then, the sound of knocking came from the closed chapel doors. The guard stationed at the door pressed his ear against it, then quickly slipped it open.

"Yo, milord. I'm here."

'...?'

'But Thief, why are you coming in here?'

"I told you I'd repay my debt of gratitude, didn't I?"

'And what's with the rope he's holding in his hands...?'

"The seven who were trying to run away from the Temple. I brought them all here, so what do you think? Do you really not need them?"

'... Is this for real? The one Demon Contractor I handed over just to maintain my concept has multiplied into seven traitors and returned.'

"... No. I have a need for them now."

"Right?"

I glared at the runaways who were strung together on the rope like fish on a line.

「❖ Ominous Omen

∎ Find the traitors who colluded with the Demon Contractors