Chapter 236 - Full of Agony (9)

When I hadn't known any way to get home, I hadn't particularly cared about being used as just another pawn to keep the demon imprisoned. The same went for being executed. There was no way out anyway; whatever happened to my future was fine.

["The demon isn't the only thing within your body. There is the demon, the soul that made a contract with it to suppress it, and you. In total..."]

But the instant I heard those words, every one of those resigned thoughts went flying.

"You were here."

Amazingly, it seemed the things that had brought me here had been close by all along. More precisely, they'd apparently been with me.

"You were here. Here... all this time..."

Then why hadn't they answered until now? Why? They must have seen all my agony and suffering. Why?

"I misspoke. That... what I just said..."

I gave a faint laugh at the Great Sage's words. Calling it a slip of the tongue now? There was no way I'd let it go.

"If I do as you say..."

I jerked my head up and spoke. Surging emotions sent heat rushing to my head, but I forced them down somehow. The more agitated I was, the more I needed to think coolly.

"Will I really be able to go home?"

I pressed against my burning eyes, lowered my hand, and quietly asked the question. In the end, he'd waited for my answer rather than telling them in advance because he feared the Temple would be inflexible. Would people like that really let me go home?

"... I don't want to do that."

Of course, I could be wrong. They might step forward to help. All the more so considering that my traveling companions would take my side.

"I don't want to."

But, but...

"I'm sick and tired of being at the mercy of other people's circumstances."

My companions' priority was defeating Satan. How could I possibly come before that? They'd say they'd help, but along the way they'd surely dart here and there, doing everything under the sun. They were the Hero's party. They had to save this entire world, not just me!

The same went for trusting that the Order would help me wholeheartedly. No matter how I thought about it, I couldn't see relying on that flimsy possibility ending well for me. Honestly, I felt they would tell me to keep helping defeat Satan now that things had come to this, or treat me as someone who should stay quietly locked away because a rampaging demon would be inconvenient.

"I've done enough. Now I want to leave."

So no. I couldn't stand it anymore. The possibility of being restrained, the fucking Priests who regarded me with suspicion, the sickening divine power they radiated, the looks of civilians who misunderstood me, all the hardships and trials that would toss me about! No, every single day I would have to spend in this world!

I hated it all! I didn't want to endure any more! I'd only kept holding on because I couldn't turn a blind eye. I didn't want to keep enduring now that a way out had appeared! There was a limit to how much I could lose out of consideration for others. I didn't want to throw away my chance to reclaim my own life!

"... Yes. Of course."

And so I stared straight at the Great Sage, whose hand was gripping my forearm. Whether because of my gaze or something else, he slowly withdrew it.

"I shouldn't stand in your way."

Watching him, I slowly withdrew the hand supporting his back as well. Lying flat on the ground, he raised a hand. Magical energy gathered.

SNAP

"Ghaaack."

Had my hand instinctively gone to my sword hilt at the movement of magical energy? The gathered energy shot toward the surrounding guards, not me. I was bewildered.

"It's the backlash from... casting a sleep spell. Cough. No need to worry..."

The explanation that followed was just as bewildering. Looking at the Great Sage, who had gone out of his way to help me despite the trouble it might cause him later, I briefly caught my breath.

"For your devotion, my thanks."

... Even so, I wasn't going to stay.

"Make it home."

"... I will."

After settling the Great Sage comfortably, I searched my inventory for a blanket. I felt bad leaving an elderly man on the ground, and considering what he'd done for me, I wanted to do at least this much. It would be my last act of kindness here.

"Would you let me speak in your defense?"

... A trace of myself that I hoped would be my last, if possible.

"No... Please don't."

I smiled sorrowfully at the man who was looking out for me to the very end. Defending me after my escape might cause people to misunderstand him, too. Even so, he was asking for my sake?

"Why?"

"... I'm not sure."

But even if people learned that I was a soul from another world, nothing would change. That revelation wouldn't erase the fact that I'd fled, putting this world's safety second under the pretext of going home. Few people would sympathize with my feelings and take them into account when judging my guilt.

"Anyway, I really should go now."

Besides, if I failed to find a way back, I'd ultimately have to die with the demon. I didn't want people pitying me as some poor outsider then. ... I didn't want to see certain youngsters shed tears upon learning of my innocence, as they surely would.

I rose with a wan smile. Ah. I wouldn't see these people again now. No, perhaps we might meet again? If I failed, I'd come back to them in the end. With those thoughts, I walked across the land where the light had faded.

For the record, I'd given up on Frederick. My prison had been on the outskirts, perhaps because of the danger I posed, but the horses weren't there. And there was no real need to risk being discovered to fetch him. If I reinforced my body with magical energy, I couldn't run quite as far or as fast as a horse, but I could manage something close.

In other words, there was little to gain for the risk. I stepped out onto the plain alone.

"... Still no intention of answering me, I suppose?"

There was one other thing I couldn't let go of. I spoke to the two beings who had dragged me here, whose presence within me was now confirmed. Naturally, there was no reply. A bitter smile rose to my face.

"Right. Of course you wouldn't answer now. If you were going to, you'd have done it long ago..."

But could they really keep hiding until the very end? I glanced at the bundle of papers I'd stored in my inventory.

"Fine. Let's do this. If I dig through every last bit of the past, I'll find some clues about you."

Having left everything behind and stepped onto the plain, I kicked off the earth and began to run.

"Let's see who wins."

There was only one destination.

Home.

* * *

... Evening of May 5, 861. First sighted at the Shuburken branch of the Adventurer's Guild. Obtained adventurer credentials.

Appearance cannot be verified, as no one present, including the receptionist, paid particular attention. Activities within the city aside from the visit to the guild branch are unknown. (Recorded September 12, 862)

- Night of May 9, 861. Sighted submitting the heads of Margarita and Schweiger, fugitives with bounties posted by the Shuburken guild branch.

According to the receptionist, the subject looked like an ordinary adventurer in shabby leather armor and a cloak. Of a race other than the Shaggi; presumed male. No one remembers hair or eye color. Weapon used: longsword.

Activities in town aside from the visit to the guild branch are unknown. (Recorded September 12, 862)

- Night of May 20, 861. Sighted submitting the heads of Till, Bruhl, and Florian, fugitives with bounties posted by the Brisden guild branch.

According to the receptionist, the subject asked about criminals or demons after the submission.

Activities in town aside from the visit to the guild branch are unknown. Confirmed to have left as soon as the gates opened the next morning. (Recorded September 12, 862)

- All followers accompanying the respective fugitives are missing. Presumed killed. (Recorded September 12, 862)

(Passage omitted)

- Night of July 13, 861. Sighted submitting the head of Kaladan, a fugitive with a bounty posted by the Hirsenzig guild branch.

According to the receptionist, the subject asked about criminals or demons after the submission.

Activities in town aside from the visit to the guild branch are unknown. Confirmed to have left as soon as the gates opened the next morning. (Recorded September 12, 862)

- All followers led by Kaladan are missing. Presumed killed. (Recorded September 12, 862)

(Passage omitted)

- Daytime, April 13, 862. Sighted during the Brusada collapse disaster in Manhafelt. Below is the branch manager's account at the time.

⌈Dozens of demons appeared immediately after Brusada Hill began to collapse. Evacuation was delayed, and as people were being slaughtered near the gates, an unidentified, highly skilled individual appeared.

With every swing of the individual's sword, demons such as ogres, minotaurs, and three-eyed hounds fell dead. It took only approximately five minutes to kill all the dozens of demons. (However, the corpses of every demon slain vanished as though evaporating, making exact identification and numbers impossible. Testimony from the time confirms the presence of ogres, minotaurs, and three-eyed hounds.)

After slaying all the demons, the individual headed toward the collapsed Brusada Hill. Reportedly ignored knights and soldiers calling out to stop, and crossed the hill.

The individual has not been sighted again as of this writing. I believe an investigation into this person is necessary.

Below are the individual's appearance and distinguishing traits.

*Leather armor. Hooded cloak. Longsword.

*Every sword swing released black energy that billowed like fire. The possibility of the subject being a Mage should also be reconsidered.

*Highly likely to be of the Middle race, given the absence of fur on the hands and lower face and the lack of visible ears protruding from the hood. Cannot be certain.

*Hair color, eye color, sex, voice, and so on are unknown. No one verified them because the hood was pulled low and the situation was extremely chaotic. No one conversed with the individual, either.

*Presumed to possess a magical storage item, based on testimony that the slain demons' bodies vanished in an instant.

*No record confirms entry into Manhafelt. Probably entered the city secretly, or joined the battle outside the city when it broke out... (Remainder omitted)⌋

Following the Manhafelt branch manager's recommendation, we have decided to collect and organize information believed to concern this individual. (Recorded April 30, 862)

(Passage omitted)

- All collected material has been organized. However, no amount of investigation has uncovered sightings prior to May 5, 861. Further investigation appears pointless.

Future information will also be distributed to all branches and updated regularly. (Recorded September 12, 862)

- The lack of a name makes documentation difficult.

I therefore propose assigning a designation, even if only temporarily. (Recorded September 13, 862)

- Approved. In consideration of the subject's activities thus far, the proposed designation is "Ruin, the Walker of Ruins." All subsequent documents are to refer to the subject as Ruin. (Recorded September 15, 862)

(Passage omitted)

- Night of October 15, 862. Ruin sighted at the Klebeh guild branch. According to the receptionist, the subject asked about criminals or demons after making a submission. Other activities within the city are unknown. Confirmed to have left as soon as the gates opened the next morning. (Recorded October 23, 862)

- Daytime, October 17, 862. Ruin sighted at the Klebeh guild branch. Submitted something to the branch. The contents of the submission have not been verified.

Ruin left the city immediately afterward. (Recorded October 23, 862)

- It has come to light that the Blue Kerchief Bandits, a group plaguing several cities including Klebeh, Pereyachuk, and Mukask, were killed to the last man.

However, considering that the news began spreading after Ruin visited the Manhafelt guild branch, and that the Lord began making inquiries about the subject when the news spread, Ruin is presumed responsible for eliminating the Blue Kerchief Bandits. (Addendum by the Klebeh branch manager, October 27, 862)

- Although the Blue Kerchief Bandits reportedly numbered two hundred, only a few dozen bodies were found. It is unknown whether the figure of two hundred was exaggerated or whether the remaining bodies were staged. I believe an investigation is necessary. (Addendum by the Pereyachuk branch manager, November 7, 862)

- Following the Pereyachuk branch manager's recommendation, we have decided to conduct a joint investigation. (Addendum by the Klebeh branch manager, November 15, 862)

- The joint investigation confirmed that the Blue Kerchief Bandits did number close to two hundred, and that all but the few dozen remaining corpses had indeed vanished.

Given that Ruin possesses a storage item, the subject is presumed to have taken them. The reason, however, is unknown. An investigation is necessary. (Addendum by the Pereyachuk branch manager, December 5, 862)

- In many of the criminal groups previously eliminated by Ruin, no bodies of the followers were found, only the leaders' severed heads. I believe this connection warrants investigation. (Addendum by the Manhafelt branch manager, December 17, 862)

- Investigation approved. (Addendum, December 30, 862)

- Night of November 9, 862. Ruin sighted at the Bogotia guild branch. According to the receptionist, the subject asked about criminals or demons after making a submission.

Other activities are unknown. Confirmed to have left as soon as the gates opened the next morning. (Recorded November 14, 862)

- Night of November 14, 862. Sighted submitting the heads of several fugitives with bounties posted by the Bogotia guild branch.

Other activities are unknown. Confirmed to have left as soon as the gates opened the next morning. (Recorded November 15, 862)

- The fugitives' followers remain missing. (Addendum, December 2, 862)

(Passage omitted)

- December 9, 863. Ruin's involvement in the bloodshed at Rineiru confirmed. Ruin killed all forty Norda warriors who had come down to plunder, and collected all their bodies.

The intended use of the bodies is unknown. (Recorded December 10, 863)

- December 14, 863. A Cyclops appeared between Rineiru and Nikadumala. A merchant caravan passing nearby was nearly harmed, but an individual presumed to be Ruin intervened, reportedly slaying the Cyclops with a single stroke and departing with its corpse.

Below are details of the individual's appearance established through their testimony.

*Unkempt long hair. Color could not be verified because the incident occurred at night. (Recorded December 23, 863)

- In light of this evidence, I believe several incidents in which demons appeared but suddenly vanished before extermination orders could be issued warrant closer investigation. Their similarity to Ruin's travel route suggests a strong likelihood that Ruin eliminated them. (Addendum by the Mukask branch manager, January 12, 864)

- Following the Nikadumala branch manager's recommendation, we have decided to investigate the matter. (Addendum, January 29, 864)

- Night of January 4, 864. Ruin sighted at the Nikadumala guild branch. According to the receptionist, the subject asked about criminals or demons after making a submission.

Other activities are unknown. Confirmed to have left as soon as the gates opened the next morning. (Recorded January 10, 864)

(Passage omitted)

- May 5, 864. The Osla Knight Academy announced that it would bestow the honor of "Knight" upon Ruin. (Recorded May 5, 864)

(Passage omitted)

- Daytime, June 10, 864. At the Marnis guild branch, Ruin requested that the subject's registered name be changed to Demon Knight.

Subsequently stayed at an inn in Marnis. Below are additional details of the individual's appearance and distinguishing traits discovered in the process.

*Hair is different colors on either side of the crown. One side is ash-gray, the other pitch-black.

*An eyepatch covering the right eye. (Recorded June 10, 864)

- Night of June 17, 864. Ruin sighted submitting the heads of several fugitives with bounties posted by the Marnis guild branch. (Recorded June 17, 864)

- Night of June 24, 864. Ruin sighted submitting the heads of several fugitives with bounties posted by the Marnis guild branch. (Recorded June 25, 864)

- June 27, 864. The Adventurer's Guild approved the request after lengthy deliberation.

All subsequent documents are to refer to the subject as Demon Knight rather than Ruin. (Recorded June 27, 864)

(Passage omitted)

- February 1, 865. Demon Knight sighted at the Pasariel guild branch. According to the receptionist, the subject asked about criminals or demons after making a submission.

Below are changes in the individual's appearance and distinguishing traits discovered in the process.

*No longer wearing leather armor; now dressed in a light shirt. Still wears a cloak.

*A Zweihander has been added alongside the longsword. (Recorded February 2, 865)

(Passage omitted)

- April 8, 865. Demon Knight sighted at the Renant guild branch. According to the receptionist, the subject asked about criminals or demons after making a submission.

Below are changes in the individual's appearance and distinguishing traits discovered in the process.

*No longer wearing a cloak; now dressed in a shirt and coat. (Recorded April 10, 865)

(Passage omitted)

- May 5, 866. Demon Knight sighted at the Tatara guild branch...

(Passage omitted)

... This concludes the record of the Demon Knight's activities.

Below are questions and conjectures concerning the Demon Knight.

1. The Demon Knight is presumed to have received knight training.

However, given that no one of similar appearance has graduated from a Knight Academy in the last twenty years, it is highly likely that the subject is not a graduate.

The swordsmanship used suggests a strong possibility of attendance at Chechebator or Munmunt. However, numerous modifications also leave a strong possibility that this is not the case.

2. The ash-gray portion of the subject's hair suggests a likely origin in the east.

3. A list of demons presumed to have been slain by the Demon Knight...

(Passage omitted)

... Finally, the subject has been subtly different since May 5, '66. Cause unknown... or so it says, but this has to do with your memory, doesn't it?

Well, some people who didn't know about that did look at your absurd fighting prowess and wonder whether you might have made a contract with a demon. Oh, for the record, that opinion completely died out once you started traveling with the Hero, so don't worry.

Oh, and the separately enclosed documents are materials the information guild hasn't classified as relating to you, but that I added on my own initiative.

They include several unsolved cases whose perpetrators were never identified, such as the massacre of Inquisitors near Dorfmain, as well as rumors like a notorious idler in Bemurhen claiming to have seen a boy wreathed in black flames.

For the record, I enclosed those because they contain imagery similar to the power you use... but please don't misunderstand. I don't believe you're the person behind those incidents or rumors.

I only added them because you paid me so much. Really.

So please don't accuse me of insulting you the next time we meet. I'd be even happier if you used my services again.

That's all, then. :)

* * *

"Daniel."

"..."

"Daniel!"

"... Ah, sir."

"I know hearing that the demon of black flames has been sighted must leave you with a lot on your mind, but focus. We're on our way to help people, not hunt a demon."

"... Yes. I know."

"Good. Let's keep moving, then. It's true we're the farthest away of all the cities asked to send aid, but that doesn't mean we have to arrive last, does it?"

"No, sir...!"

"The rest of you, keep it up too!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Yes!"

Is It a Problem If the Protagonist Is a Roleplay Fanatic? (Serial)

Author │ Hae Inseol

Publisher │ Kim Juhyeong

Published by │ Jple Media Co., Ltd.

Marketing │ Han Jaehyeok

Address │ Suite 1101, 11th Floor, Ace Techno Tower 8, 11 Digital-ro 33-gil, Guro-gu, Seoul (Guro-dong)

Email │ [email protected]

Website │ http://blog.naver.com/jayplemedia1

ⓒHae Inseol 2022

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