## Chapter 438 – Those Devilish Bastards
In the end, Elise’s fierce defense prevented me from uttering even a single shout.
I should have been prepared from the start, but I genuinely didn’t expect Elise to show up, so I was caught off guard.
From now on, I should always be on guard.
No, seeing Elise and not being able to act like that felt like having my internal organs twisted. It was one of the joys of my life.
“I am both pleased and troubled by your ever-enthusiastic greetings.”
“I’m the one who’s troubled, really.”
“If you pretend to say that and then try to shout again, I will confiscate that scream pouch of yours.”
“ㅡHukk!”
That won’t do.
Anyway, seeing Elise made me feel an extraordinary sense of joy.
Wasn’t she my true Divine-Friend? But her appearance like this probably meant that something wicked was involved in this imp situation?
“Yeah, Elise. Anyway, I’m really glad to see you. You know my heart, right? I’m supposed to shout and make a fuss because I’m so happy, but I’m not doing it because you told me not to.”
“Of course, I know. And I am also very happy to see you.”
I extended my arm with a resolute will.
“There’s no need to express it in such a noisy manner.”
“ㅡYour heart is already conveyed, is that it?”
Elise also extended her arm, forming a cross.
“Exactly.”
There was no shouting in performing that process, but it was enough to convey our mutual joy and happiness. That kind of emotion was transmitted from our touching arms.
“For justice, to eradicate all evil that has come into this world.”
“To serve endlessly and bring forth paradise.”
“This Kim Kat will gladly throw himself into it.”
“We will crush all the evil forces we encounter.”
“Divine.”
“Friend.”
ㅡPaaat!
The emotions welling up inside me were not just joy and happiness.
Encountering Elise, a true religious figure of this era, also caused a similar sense of justice and duty to smolder within me.
The doctrines of the Radiant Star Crusader Order have something in common with the true doctrines of Fusion Confucianism.
This was that resonance.
“Hehehe, so Elise. What brings you here today?”
“I was just about to tell you about that. As the Saint, who is sensitive to evil deeds, already knows, I have been assigned the task of investigating the mass imp outbreak and have been dispatched to Isvant once again.”
As expected, something wicked was involved in this incident. That’s why the Radiant Star Crusader Order, having caught the scent, sent Elise.
“I see… I was just about to do something similar!”
“As expected, the Saint was also preparing!”
Elise’s eyes sparkled as she put her hands together. Her eyes were truly radiant.
Of course, I couldn’t just let something like this pass.
“Who am I! I am Kim Kat! I am someone who can never tolerate the atrocities of the heretical sects trying to invade the human world!”
“Oh, how pious!!! That is exactly it! As expected, the Saint is truly righteous! Your unwavering appearance is truly devout!!”
“Yeah! That’s right! Anyway, did you have breakfast?”
“I have not!”
I immediately grabbed Elise and went into a nearby restaurant.
I had to hear the story anyway.
I was originally going to talk to Copson, but now that Elise had appeared, I didn’t care anymore.
If I moved with Elise, I could not only make progress in the investigation and crush evil beings, but also increase the probability of obtaining valuable treasures.
Wienia said it wouldn’t be profitable, but there’s nothing more profitable than establishing justice. The belongings and body parts of evil beings sell for a high price.
As soon as we entered the restaurant, I ordered a meat-based menu that would fill us up and got down to business.
“Elise. Does the church have any predicted causes for this imp incident? They must have something, since they recognized the problem and sent you.”
“Exactly. Your ability to organize events is truly outstanding. But before I tell you, I think I should ask you one question. Does the Saint know what kind of monster an imp is?”
Elise asked me about imps.
I’ve seen them and killed them many times, but I don’t know exactly what they are.
“Just a monster. An evil one, too… Some say they came from hell or the demon realm. Unfortunately, I don’t know much. That’s all I know.”
“That would be the common view. But our order prides itself on having determined the origin of these imps to some extent.”
As expected of a professional order, they were constantly researching evil monsters.
“Explain.”
Knowing the enemy allows you to kill more of them.
That kind of rational thought seems to be passed down.
“However, it is not confirmed. This is only what our order is directly researching and determining, so you should not accept it as definite information.”
“So it’s not 100% accurate?”
“That’s right.”
“Well, it’s still being researched, so of course it wouldn’t be.”
Adding that it wasn’t 100% certain since it was being researched by the order, Elise began to explain about imps.
“…Imps are beings that came from hell.”
“Wh, what! Hell, you say!”
Hell!
Since gods exist in this world, there are also demons. In the end, it seems that heaven, paradise, and hell also exist… but I don’t know for sure.
Where do humans go after death?
Some say they go to the side of the god they believe in, while others say they are annihilated. There are those who claim reincarnation, but since resurrection is impossible, the truth cannot be known.
The view of religious people was the former.
Going to the side of the god they believe in is the common idea in this world where polytheism has triumphed.
Of course, there is also the saying that those who commit sins against the doctrine go to hell, but I am not a religious person, so I cannot say anything about this part.
“First of all, as the Saint also knows, the hells that have been identified so far. That is, this refers to Pandemonium and Hell, which are officially recognized by the seventeen religions in the Holy Kingdom and are commonly dealt with, and also Abyss and Infernal.”
I don’t know what this gibberish means, but Elise began to explain.
“Our order speculates that imps are beings that have flowed in from a hell called Pandemonium.”
“Th, that’s right. I thought those bastards looked evil enough to be from there.”
“Perhaps it is due to the influence of your devout thoughts that you are able to see through the core so quickly. It is truly amazing.”
I didn’t really understand what she was saying, so I just agreed, but Elise misunderstood me terribly. I don’t know much about otherworld religions, gods, or hells. It’s too difficult.
All I know is Fusion Confucianism.
“Imps are small demon species that come from Pandemonium, but they are such insignificant creatures that they are too weak to be called demons, so they are not actually included in the demon species.”
So they’re just weaklings.
But how can such weaklings cross over from hell to this world?
“What abilities do those guys have that allow them to come to the real world from hell?”
“It has not been accurately determined, but we speculate that they cross over in large numbers when a gate connecting Pandemonium and reality opens.”
“Gate!”
“In fact, the order has records of such appearances being observed, so it can be considered a fact.”
I was surprised and shouted.
So demons were crossing over through gates!
The reason why the world was overflowing with evil was precisely that. Demons were constantly invading and sowing the seeds of evil!
Shocked, I clutched my head and demanded an explanation, and the food I had ordered came out.
We ate while continuing the conversation.
“This is a terrible story, but such gates themselves appear sporadically around the world.”
“Th, that can’t be!”
“There are cases where evil demon summoners open them directly, cases where they open naturally, and, above all, cases where demons open the gates themselves, so invasions from the outside world are constantly taking place.”
What we believe is not the only reality.
I was about to have a seizure due to the immense shock, but I calmed down after hearing Elise’s additional explanation.
“But rest assured. Each order is always sending expeditions to exterminate these demons.”
“Shibal, that’s a relief. But can they win?”
No matter how strong the paladins or holy knights are, they are still mortal humans with clear limitations.
They cannot easily win against demons.
“Of course they can win. If they had lost, the history of mankind would have ended when the Idol War broke out. The demons that cross over in that way cannot use all of their original power, so they can be sufficiently exterminated.”
“Th, that’s right. I didn’t know that… It’s really amazing.”
In other words, even if demons invade, they are weakened, and the holy knights of the ubiquitous religions are slaughtering them every time they appear.
The fact that this world has not yet become hell was thanks to the uncompromising service and dedication of religious people who might be considered a little psycho.
In fact, since they have the goal of world peace, they might seem a little abnormal.
Let’s give them our thanks.
“Turning the story around, the fact that imps have appeared in large numbers.”
“Perhaps a gate leading to hell has appeared, is that the story?”
“I cannot say it is the answer, but our order suspects it.”
When I took the words, Elise took a sip of water with a serious expression.
To summarize, the fact that imps have appeared in large numbers means that there is a possibility that a gate connecting hell, called Pandemonium, and reality has appeared.
Therefore, the Radiant Star Crusader Order, based on its own judgment, gave Elise the task of investigating in order to uncover the truth.
If Elise collects proper information and determines that a gate has not opened, it will simply end as a happening, but if it turns out that a gate has actually opened, they are planning to send a subjugation force as is.
Elise really has a lot to do.
No, but if they were going to have her investigate something like that, it would be better to attach a few more proper serial killers… I mean, proper crusaders to the investigation.
Is this also part of the paladin training I mentioned last time?
“Elise. You came here to get my help in investigating this, right?”
“Exactly.”
“Don’t worry! For the sake of the peace of this world, I will roll up my sleeves and help! Let’s work together to uncover the truth! I can never allow those demon bastards to appear in this neighborhood!”
If I help Elise with her investigation, there’s a 100% chance that some crumbs will fall.
A demon gate sounds a little dangerous, but if Elise thinks it’s okay, there’s no problem.
Above all, with Elise and me, escaping from any dangerous situation is no problem.
“Oh, oh! Such a brilliant resolution! Thank you so much, Saint! I had no doubt that the Saint would help me!”
“I also had no doubt that you, Elise, would throw yourself into this kind of work.”
ㅡSpring!
After finishing our meal, we got up and went outside.
It was still only morning.
Let’s start the investigation right away.
“But I’ve seen imps scurrying around even on normal days. Is that also because a gate has opened?”
“Those are probably imps that appeared before. Since they come out in large numbers, they blend into the natural environment and live on each time.”
“Hmm… Is that so.”
They appear from somewhere, and then they spread out here and there as they please. I immediately headed towards the east gate with Elise.
