## Chapter 486 – Killing Demons
As expected, one must live by building trust and connections.
If I were just a penniless adventurer, I would have dismissed this tip as unreliable information, listened politely, and then shown them the door.
Even the fanatics obsessed with eliminating demons have some sense. They can distinguish between trustworthy people and those who aren’t. No one believes a fool.
“Thank you for believing me!”
“It’s only natural.”
I grabbed the pastor’s hands and shook them vigorously, expressing my gratitude. A smile graced his face.
Good.
If the paladins are deployed, there’s nothing to worry about.
They are true saints who endure murderous training and physical and mental torment to protect the world’s peace by defeating demons and heretics.
They might seem a bit off, but few are as genuinely devout and strong as they are. Religious warriors like them are stronger than those who fight for money.
Things are working out well.
As long as I’m with the church, the strength of the demons doesn’t matter.
If there are demons strong enough to push back the paladins, that’s a huge problem. It would only increase the value of my information and the reward.
Of course, just confirming the existence of a fixed gate would also warrant a significant reward.
My only concern is that Hildegard might be lying through her teeth, and there’s nothing there… If that happens, I’ll lose the church’s trust.
But it’s a risk worth taking.
“However, I hope you understand that we cannot deploy a large number of troops. We are currently short on manpower, and I cannot spare many troops on my own.”
“No, it’s alright! Thank you so much! There’s nothing more honorable than the church helping us!”
“I’m glad to hear that… Then let’s decide on the size and departure time of the search party.”
We discussed the organization of the search party.
They couldn’t spare many people.
Demons were being discovered more often than expected, and with casualties occurring, they couldn’t just pull troops away. Still, they would do their best.
The number of people in the search party wasn’t that important.
Given the situation, a small search party would be fine.
In the end, we decided to meet at the church at dawn in three days and depart. The pastor explained that it would take about that long to report, get approval, and organize the troops according to the schedule.
He asked that I lead the way, but for safety, I should follow the instructions of the paladin in charge. Of course, I would. They’re the experts here.
“Then I’ll see you in three days!”
“Take good care of yourself.”
After finalizing the agreement, I left the church.
Good.
Very good.
If things go as planned, I’ll not only get a reward but also build even greater trust. Maybe everyone in the church will become favorable to me.
“Hehehe.”
It’s a kind of gamble.
If things go well, I might even forgive Hildegard’s treachery.
With those thoughts, I returned home and told my wives about it.
“They’re organizing a search party. We’re leaving in three days. We might make a lot of money.”
“Three days… Blackie, are you sure it’ll be okay?”
“Trust the paladins. The goal is just a simple search. If there’s a gate or any trace of demons, it’s a worthwhile venture.”
“Well, if it’s the paladins, it should be fine…”
Winia tends to worry a lot. I’m worried too, but I’ve seen the paladins’ abilities with my own eyes, so I have to trust them. I trust my eyes and judgment.
“Katt, what should we do for three days then?”
“Hehehe, Claudia. What do you want to do?”
“Are you asking me that? Katt, you’re so mischievous.”
Since it’s three days, we can prepare for the expedition at our leisure.
* * *
“Oh! Welcome! It’s been a while!”
I prepared from dawn and headed to the church with Claudia and Winia, where a group of religious people who had already finished their preparations greeted me.
From what I could see, there were five paladins, three priests, and one nun. The search party consisted of nine people in total.
It was only a squad-sized force, but their combat power was sure to overwhelm any bastards. They were like an all-purpose special forces unit with monstrous stamina and strength, and even capable of using all kinds of divine skills and healing.
Above all, the paladins were wearing proper armor that gleamed with a brass color.
The paladins, protecting their bodies with blessed iron plates, were practically human tanks.
My trust in them welled up.
“Your speech during the last holy war was truly amazing!”
“Hehehe, did you participate in the holy war? So, we were comrades. Nice to meet you, brother! How have you been?”
“Of course, we’re comrades! I’ve been doing very well, brother!”
The senior paladin Barkerel, who represented the search party, was a young man in his mid-30s with a gentle face. Of course, he only looked young, and he might be older.
Karin was in her 30s but looked like she was in her late teens.
Divinity or mana has the ability to slow down aging and maintain health. Anyway, he showed me great favor and arranged a brief introduction time.
“Nice to meet you. I am the priest, Ilian.”
“Paladin Deirat. Pleased to meet you, Saint.”
“I am Rainy, a nun serving Verde. Leave the healing to me.”
Everyone in the search party seemed like kind and good people. I shook hands with them, smiling. I felt goodness and a sacred aura emanating from their fingertips.
“Hehehe, it’s truly an honor to have the members of the Brass Celestial Angels helping us. I am Katt.”
Anyway, the atmosphere of the search party was great. They showed me trust and shouted slogans, saying they would eliminate the source of the demons.
“Then I’ll ask you to guide us, brother.”
In that atmosphere, the search party departed.
I immediately took out the map and consulted with the senior paladin Barkerel. Since he was the leader of the search party, even if I was guiding the way, I had to follow his instructions to avoid discord. We weren’t moving on our own, so we had to follow the leader’s words.
“This is the map where I marked the locations while searching. I felt an extremely intense evil aura around this circled area. I hope nothing happens… but we can’t just ignore it in this crisis.”
He nodded as he examined the map with me.
“Of course, we can’t just ignore it. We need to confirm this for sure… To be honest, even I’m hoping that nothing happens.”
“Weren’t you hoping to eliminate the demons?”
“Of course, there’s nothing more important than eliminating evil beings to balance the scales. But it’s better if dangerous things don’t happen if possible.”
I thought he would want there to be demons, but surprisingly, that wasn’t the case. Yeah. That’s how a true good person would think.
I discussed this and that with him before we moved.
“To volunteer to guide us when you could have just reported it… You’re a rare righteous person these days. We would have organized a search party even if you had just reported it.”
He seemed to feel great favor in my volunteering to lead the way.
“This demon situation is everyone’s problem. It’s only natural for me to lend a hand.”
“Indeed… I see. I trust you. Don’t worry about the demons. We’ll eliminate them all if they appear!”
“I’ll also lend a hand if demons appear!”
“That’s a good fighting spirit! However, I also have a duty to protect you. When fighting, don’t stray too far and always stick close to fight together. I wouldn’t be able to face the pastor if you got hurt.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The journey was smooth.
The location Hildegard marked was about a little over a day’s journey from the city. Of course, that’s how long it would take if we went as fast as possible.
Finding the way wasn’t difficult.
I was quite familiar with the area near Isvant, so I could find my way accurately with just a map.
And I don’t know if Hildegard was being considerate, but she properly marked the route along a path that people could walk on. She didn’t mark it as a straight line through the mountains just because she could fly, so it was very easy to follow the path.
“Hmm, the path seems to be right.”
Winia also assessed.
“That succubus… can’t we see her?”
“It’s better not to see her if possible.”
Claudia whispered to me.
She seemed to want to see Hildegard in person. But that bitch is so cautious that she’s unlikely to show herself in front of Claudia.
“Stop!”
Then, Barkerel shouted from a little behind. We immediately ran behind the paladins and prepared for battle.
We agreed to form a line like this when Barkerel gave the signal. Following the command is essential for a smooth search. We’re not moving on our own, so we have to do as the person in charge says.
“Brother! What’s wrong!”
Could it be that the demon bastards have already appeared?
“Wait… Brothers! I feel an evil aura!”
Barkerel, who had drawn his sword, shouted loudly.
We had to travel for another day to reach the destination, but demons were already lurking in this area. It wouldn’t be strange if they appeared anywhere.
ㅡGrrrrr…!
A black figure flickered in the distance.
ㅡWhee!
As our gazes focused on it, a monster presumed to be a demon quickly flew away. It seemed to be running away because it knew it couldn’t win. Even demons fear paladins.
“Deirat! Dodalkan! Pursue! I only sense one! Don’t overdo it, and if you think you’ll lose it or can’t handle it with just the two of you, return immediately!”
“Understood!”
“Understood!”
It was truly an immediate response.
As soon as the order was given, two paladins shot out, ㅡWhoosh. A brass-colored light flashed. The bodies of the paladins, enhanced with divinity, were like human tanks, and their momentum was like cannonballs.
“Uooooooo!!!!”
Is that about the same speed as when I use Heavenly Demon Advent Steps?
The paladins quickly caught up to the demon.
“Verde forever!!!!!!”
The shouts of the paladins, raising their hammers, echoed. It was a terrifying cry. They were true good people, but an uncontrollable impulse lurked within them. Inhuman violence towards evil beings was the only way they could release their madness.
“Now we pursue too! Keep up with my speed!”
As expected of a paladin who had rolled around in battle, his response was very quick. The paladins, priests, and nuns quickly moved, keeping pace with Barkerel’s speed while forming a formation. We followed behind them. Our role was only as guides. There was no need or opportunity to step in for such a small matter, let alone a big fight.
ㅡKweeeeeeeck!!!!
As we followed the search party, the situation ended.
“Verde forever!!!”
“Eliminate the demons!!!!”
In fact, the demon’s fate was as good as sealed the moment two paladins were deployed. I can win against a demon in a 1:1 fight, so two paladins are more than enough.
“Krahaaack…! Filthy humans!!! Servants of vulgar gods!!! Let me go!!”
The demon, completely subdued by the two paladins, roared.
“Shut up, demon!”
It was a Lesser Demon that looked like a chimpanzee and a human were fused and demonically arranged. It was sprawled out with its limbs shattered, spitting out black blood.
“Good! You captured it alive!”
ㅡClap clap clap!
Barkerel clapped and praised the paladins.
“Then the execution… Ah. Now that I think about it, our brother told us something good last time. The regulations regarding captured demons have changed since then. I’ll show you that.”
“Huh? Show me what?”
“It’ll be quite a sight. It’s a regulation that we were able to change thanks to you.”
Barkerel tapped my shoulder with crazed eyes. It seemed that the combat rules had been changed because of my speech about making heretic stew last time. Did they create some special execution method?
ㅡShwing!
ㅡShwing!
Instantly, the priests, nuns, and paladins of the search party all drew daggers from their waists. It was the same type of dagger I had received. It seemed to be a basic church supply.
“Begin the execution!”
At Barkerel’s signal, those who had drawn their daggers began stabbing the Lesser Demon’s body like madmen.
ㅡThwack!
ㅡThwack!
ㅡThwack!
“Kiheeeeeeeeeeeck!!!!”
Even if nine people stabbed it only once, that would be a total of nine stabs. And it doesn’t even take a second for a trained person to stab three times.
That crazy pirate roulette game lasted for almost a minute.
What is this?
