## Chapter 437 – Those Devilish Bastards
It’s a bit concerning.
Even though imps are occasionally seen in the forest, I’ve never heard of them appearing in large numbers. And if the population of those wickedly ugly monsters has increased, there must be a reason.
I briefly recalled the appearance of the imps.
They look like grotesque infants whose bodies have been swollen to three times their size by demonic power. Their arms and legs are abnormally long and thin compared to their bodies, making them even more horrifying, and they move on all fours.
They even have horns on their foreheads.
Their skin is black, and they always have their eyes closed, which feels so blasphemous. Some individuals even seemed to have small wings on their backs.
Anyway, they’re truly unpleasant-looking sons of bitches.
They literally look like twisted demons.
That’s why there are rumors that they came from hell or the demon realm. Of course, no one knows the truth. Some even believe that they are the souls of aborted children, cursed and corrupted into imps.
Of course, to me, they’re just small monsters that donate horns, which are useful magical ingredients.
“So, did anything happen because of those imps?”
“Not really. It’s just that this phenomenon has appeared. Well, when something like this happens, the adventurers are usually the first to spread rumors, right? Even if it’s nothing, it can be exaggerated.”
Adventurers are usually loud-mouthed and full of bluster, so even trivial matters tend to be exaggerated into rumors.
“This is delicious.”
Copson diligently emptied his glass while chewing on jerky. As I slowly sipped my drink, he added.
“Ah, but it does seem that imps have been appearing more frequently lately.”
“I haven’t seen any, though.”
Recently, I haven’t seen any imps while working in other villages. It feels like it’s been a while since I saw one at all.
If they were appearing in large numbers, I would have expected to find at least one, given my job involves traveling around, but it was strange.
“Hmm, I think I’ve seen them several times nearby. Well, you might not have seen them… No, that’s not it. Have you been out towards the east gate? They seem to be seen a lot in that area. That’s where I saw them too.”
“Ah, I haven’t been to the east gate recently.”
Isvante has one large gate in each of the four cardinal directions. I haven’t been traveling east recently. By the way, if you go straight east, you’ll reach Krasheim. If you go north, you’ll reach the Barony of Dodens.
“Anyway, can I have another drink?”
“Go ahead.”
It might be a good idea to take a day to check out the rumors.
I smell something wickedly profitable.
Like the mansion, and the imps. A skilled adventurer is one who can sniff out money well. Of course, they also have to be good at sniffing out danger, but anyway.
Should I do a little investigating?
“By the way, where is that old mansion you mentioned?”
“I heard it’s about three days into the forest from the east gate. I don’t know the exact location, so don’t ask me. If I knew, I would have already gone.”
This is also east?
Could the imps and the mansion be connected somehow?
Of course, I can’t know for sure.
“Kuh, this beer tastes great. Anyway, the story about the mansion seems to have been spread by some guys who got lost in the forest and returned. I guess they’re preparing to go back there.”
“Well, the guys who know the way probably already went.”
As Copson said, if some guys got lost in the forest, discovered the mansion, and returned to the city, they would definitely gather people and go back there.
The rumor probably spread during the process of gathering people.
“That’s likely. Actually, this is a somewhat unreliable story.”
“Hehehe, yeah. Well, that’s probably the case.”
I finished my meal and drinks with Copson and then went outside. Since I’ve been earning money, my alcohol tolerance seems to have increased, and Copson said he could get home on his own, waving goodbye to me.
“Heh heh heh… It was nice seeing you after a long time. Take care.”
“You too. Ah, but are you coming to the guild tomorrow?”
“Probably… Ugh, my head is spinning… Anyway, take care.”
He doesn’t look too good.
I hope he’s okay.
On the way home, I thought about the imps and the mansion.
Honestly, the mansion seems like a baseless rumor, but the imps are worth investigating. There must be a reason why those wicked monsters have suddenly increased in number.
Decisively, it hasn’t been accurately determined whether these imp bastards lay eggs or give birth to live young.
The reason why they’re said to be similar to spirits is precisely this.
The ecology of monsters like kobolds, goblins, and orcs has been revealed to some extent. It would be stranger if it hadn’t been, since adventurers are rummaging through the forests every day. There are also mages who study these things.
Nevertheless, the imps remain a mystery.
Like the eels that hold the secrets of the deep sea, they are full of mysteries. These inhumanly slippery, grotesque nightmare fish have lives so secretive that their ecology has not yet been clearly revealed.
—Heretics.
While thinking about the imps, I recalled that keyword.
Imps look inherently evil. And I had found imps before when I went to the Ossuary following the traces of heretics.
Anything related to those heretic bastards is 100% profitable.
And the fact that it happened near the city makes it even more suspicious.
Besides, those guys have infiltrated this city of Isvante twice already, haven’t they? They had infiltrated the underground waterways and the slums. Of course, they were all crushed before my blade.
I suspect that they are still hiding in the shadows, moving to accomplish their unknown goals.
They’re the kind of guys who have the organizational power to infiltrate priests into a large city like this.
They must be constantly plotting something somewhere.
I even encountered them once recently in the Misty Plains. What purpose are those bastards working so hard for… The question only deepens… Oh, oh! Oooooh…! Imperialists, believers in the Nazis! We must seize the wealth they have hidden and cut off their funding…!
Thinking that far, it became clear.
These imp bastards must be related to the heretics in some way.
If so, I have to investigate no matter what.
Investigator Kim Kat doesn’t leave the seeds of evil alone.
—Creak.
Thinking such thoughts, I returned home.
“Blackie, you’re home early? Did you find a job?”
“No, I met Copson. I heard an interesting story.”
“An interesting story?”
Winia was sitting on the sofa, diligently studying a magic book. Interested in what I said, she closed the book and crossed her legs.
I immediately explained the story I had heard from Copson.
It’s not a job with a reward, and I have to investigate it myself, and the reward is unclear, but it’s worth doing.
“That doesn’t sound like a very profitable story. It seems more beneficial to just take a guild request during that time. You don’t know exactly what to do, and the purpose is unclear. And imps? Do you really have to catch those chumps? Blackie, I don’t think so.”
As expected, Winia, who values efficiency, showed a cold reaction.
“That’s true. Still, it might be good to investigate if there’s something suspicious. The one who preempts this kind of thing monopolizes it. An adventurer has to know how to seize opportunities.”
“It’s not good. You can’t monopolize anything if there’s nothing there. Don’t do that kind of thing and just rest properly at home and play with my boobs.”
“No way!!! Winiaaa!!!”
Anyway, Winia doesn’t seem to want to go.
I immediately took off my coat and tried to lie down with my head on Winia’s lap, but she pushed my head away.
“Ah, not now. I’m a little busy right now. Can’t you see I’m studying?”
“Leheeeng.”
Then Claudia came down the stairs.
“Kat… where are you going?”
“Oh, Claudia, you’re awake?”
“…Sleepy, I want to sleep again. Let’s sleep together.”
Then she grabbed my hand and started going back up the stairs.
As expected, Claudia sleeps a lot. So I lay down on the bed, and Claudia snuggled into my arms. I’m not particularly sleepy, but let’s just lie down and rest like this.
“What was the story about?”
“It’s nothing much, but I heard that imps have appeared nearby, so I want to investigate. But Winia seems a bit skeptical.”
“Hmm… It’s not a guild job? But if Kat wants to do it, it’s better to do it… Have a good trip.”
“Hehehe, yeah.”
First, Copson said he was thinking of coming to the guild in the morning tomorrow, so I should bring up the idea of investigating together.
I already suspect that the imps and the heretics are somehow related.
* * *
The next day, I finally decided to go investigate.
“Hmm… I won’t stop you if you really want to go… Augh, I don’t want to send you, but it’s not dangerous, so I’ll allow it. Have a good trip.”
“Kat, you have to come home early?”
“Of course I’ll come home early. What’s the problem?”
It seems that Winia has entered a crucial part of the magic she was studying yesterday and wants to concentrate for a few days, and Claudia has become interested in cooking and will practice it today. She seems to have become interested after seeing the meals Risha prepares.
And Karin and Risha don’t know much about the adventurer ecosystem in the first place, so they seem to think that my going to investigate is just a normal adventurer job.
“This is 100% related to the heretics.”
“Don’t talk about heretics. I’m suddenly getting anxious because you keep talking nonsense… Haa, it’s okay since you’re just going to look around near the city for a while. Investigate as much as you want and come home early.”
“Don’t worry too much. I’ll come home early.”
So I headed to the adventurer’s guild.
Winia didn’t believe it, but I couldn’t get the thought of the heretics out of my head. For reference, Risha doesn’t know much about this imp situation, but if it’s true, she said it would be interesting and asked me to investigate.
What Risha asks me to do is something I have to do.
My condition is already at its best. My equipment is also perfect, and I’ve finished preparing for departure. I’m thinking of taking Copson or some other suitable guy with me and investigating the imps today.
—Thud, thud.
As I arrived at the guild and was about to go inside, something familiar standing in front of the building caught my eye. Red hair, and a blue nun’s habit.
That doesn’t mean much.
「Elise」
“—El!”
As soon as I confirmed Elise’s face, I couldn’t suppress the urge that burst out and tried to shout like a thunderbolt. However, the sound didn’t come out.
—Tu-uhp!
That’s because Elise was already covering my mouth. A small hand covered in a pure white glove blocked my mouth and cut off the shout.
Elise!!!!
“Hehe, it’s already too late, Saint.”
“U, uuh…!”
Elise, whom I met after a very long time, was wearing a confident smile while blocking my mouth.
“I knew this would happen, so I was waiting in advance. Since I found you first, the Saint will never be able to shout. I’m really glad I waited outside, hehehe.”
Damn it! No way!
Then how am I supposed to express this joy…!
“E, Eliseeet…! What are you doing! Take your hand away quickly…! Keuhk!”
“I’ll release you if you promise not to shout!”
I pleaded, but Elise didn’t take her hand away from my mouth. Is this even possible! How can she do this to me!!!
“Keuhk…! It hurts, it hurts…!
“I won’t even look at you if you cry! The Saint always shouts! Now promise, promise me! That you won’t shout!”
“Heukeeuuhk…! Heuk! I won’t…”
“Won’t!”
“Shout… I won’t…!”
“Good! That’s it!”
But you’re the one shouting!
