## Chapter 524 – A Useful Fellow
Hildegard, in an utterly even tone, revealed information that groups borrowing the power of demons were gathering in this city, plotting something suspicious.
Even if Audville wasn’t exactly a logistics hub, a considerable amount of goods moved through it every day. Naturally, coming and going was convenient. With such a large floating population, it wouldn’t be strange for anyone to drift in from anywhere.
Moreover, the city was overflowing with laborers.
“A place overflowing with human desires is practically a haven for demons. Especially if it’s a place where those dissatisfied with their own circumstances gather.”
But just because there were plenty of laborers didn’t mean they had any rights. Did they have the right to vote? Did they have anything?
In this era, being a lower-class laborer was a very difficult and arduous occupation.
In other words, it was no different from low-level adventurers who occasionally died off. It was the bottom of the barrel. Whether a lower-class laborer or a low-level adventurer, there was practically no difference since they lived hand to mouth.
It was just a matter of working inside or outside.
These people usually harbored dissatisfaction with their circumstances and were a reserve force of villains ready to commit crimes at any opportunity. That’s just my experience. When I was a nobody, I clashed a lot with lower-class laborers and F-rank adventurers in the city, so I know.
That’s just the ecosystem of utter trash.
Since they were those kinds of guys, their desires were also overflowing, making them easy targets for demons. There were plenty of idiots who would fall for absurd temptations. Even in modern Earth, there are truckloads of people who ruin their lives over some shitty thing, so why wouldn’t it be the same here?
“Hehehe, the movements of demons are so predictable.”
Whether they were heretics or simply guys borrowing the power of demons would require more detailed investigation. I couldn’t know for sure at this point.
However, what was certain was that groups trying to get ahead by using the power of demons were holding gatherings targeting lower-class laborers.
Hildegard said that she had attended such secret gatherings several times during her investigation. Those gathered at the meetings were all existences that propped up the bottom rungs of the city.
“Ahem, ahem.”
Hildegard cleared her throat and struck a pose as if giving a speech, imitating something like a cult leader.
“You who have worked the hardest to prosper this city are no different from heroes of the city. But look at your circumstances. How much money do you have in your pockets right now? Do you have money to live on tomorrow? You make the sacrifices and efforts, but the ones who hold the money are the city’s elites who have never carried a single load.”
What?
“They were saying things like, ‘Now is the time for us laborers to unite and change these unfair circumstances!’ Humans are really good at talking, aren’t they?”
“What, is this some kind of demon proletarian revolution?”
Come to think of it, maybe Marx came to this world and became a demon?
I understood the situation.
Humans are inherently weak to this kind of temptation. If demons were determined to reel them in by dangling the bait of success and power, they would have no choice but to get caught.
Originally, poor people were weak to these kinds of temptations.
I understand that laborers have it hard, but what can you do when this is the world we live in?
If those guys borrowed the power of demons, then I would just have to smash them according to the Saintess of Kadia’s mission. If I took out the ringleaders, these gatherings would naturally disappear.
“That makes sense.”
Winia nodded after hearing Hildegard’s story.
“But aren’t you a demon too? Even if you want to help, are you selling out your own kind? That’s pretty suspicious.”
Winia asked a natural question.
I thought the same thing.
“As I already told Kat, it’s beneficial for me if demons die.”
“Beneficial? Explain it, Darkie.”
“Come here.”
I gave Winia a brief explanation of the hellish ecosystem that Hildegard had explained to me. Demons have little sense of kinship. It’s beneficial when other demons die.
“Really? That makes sense too.”
“Right? They’re just demons after all.”
Anyway, I had grasped the situation.
If I raided the meeting place following that guy’s guidance, I could secure evidence. If this matter was resolved, it would be beneficial to me, but in the end, Hildegard would also benefit.
It was a win-win relationship.
“That bastard! In the end, you’re planning to use me again!”
“Kat, what do you mean by ‘use’? That’s too much. Wouldn’t you also benefit from resolving this situation? Just think of my benefit as a kind of labor fee.”
As expected, that year was a demon to the bone.
She was driving other demons to their deaths for her own safety and benefit. That was a good thing for me. A relationship where we use each other. She seemed like a decent business partner after all.
“Now that it’s become easier to come to the human world, there are so many demons trying to achieve their ambitions that they couldn’t before. All those dumbasses should just die so it’ll be easier for me to live. Life in Pandemonium is exhausting, you know?”
“Yeah, it’s something I have to do anyway. If there are demons, I’ll just kill them all.”
“Ohoho, that’s Kat for you.”
Now that I knew the background, it was time to get moving in earnest. Even so, if I solved it too quickly, the Saintess might find it strange, so I should spend some time wandering around and verifying Hildegard’s information.
“Alright, Hildegard. Then let’s go find those guys. But do you know the meeting place? You said you’ve been there a few times, but they don’t always meet in the same place, do they?”
Originally, these guys changed their meeting place from time to time.
“You’re right. Hehehe, as expected, Kat, you seem to have a really sharp mind. You’re so manly, and you’re even smart, so this Hildegard can’t keep her wits about her!”
That guy said with a beaming smile.
“Stop flattering me. Where is it? Can you find it?”
“It’s simple. Even if the meeting place changes, it’s not a problem for me. I have some simple hypnotic magic, and if I just detect the aura of a demon, pinpointing the location is a piece of cake.”
“Wow, that’s cheating.”
Hildegard’s ability was really convenient.
Because she was a demon, she could sense the aura of other demons. Then finding the location was easy, and even getting evidence was simple. She could even extract information or do simple manipulation with hypnotic magic, so it was really suitable for terrorism.
For demons, the most terrifying thing was a traitorous member of their own kind.
“How is it, Kat? Does it seem like it’ll be helpful?”
“Yeah, it’s a great story. Thanks.”
“Kyaa! I got praised! I’m so happy! Just, just a moment. I’m going to go… Ah, I have to hold it in here. Hehehe!”
Hildegard, who was excited all by herself, rubbed both of her cheeks and shouted. What a crazy bitch!
“Darkie, what is that…”
“She’s a really bizarre one.”
Winia looked at Hildegard with suspicious eyes. Soon, the real guy said to Winia.
“Lady Winia. Please don’t be too wary. I only have good intentions.”
“…It’s natural to be wary. Even if it’s a plausible story, I can’t trust you.”
“Of course, but my life is forfeit the moment I displease Claudie, right? Since my lifeline is tied to her, there’s no reason for me to do anything foolish.”
Hildegard seemed to have grasped Claudie’s level just by looking at her. Honestly, if Claudie set her mind to it, there was no way she could escape no matter what she did.
“Her attitude is pretty good, isn’t it?”
Claudie said while looking at Hildegard.
“Of course. They’re Kat’s wives. It’s only natural for me to try to make a good impression on the mistresses of the person who will be my master.”
“Oh my, is she already thinking that far ahead?”
“I’m always thinking about it.”
“What if I said you were presumptuous?”
“I’ll be quiet.”
“Hehehe, alright, do that.”
Claudie seemed to be quite amused. No, I believe she couldn’t possibly like her. Claudie was looking for an opportunity to give me a chance to spread more offspring, but honestly, a succubus is a bit much.
Hildegard said that succubi can very rarely become pregnant, and their offspring are fixed as succubi.
I can’t stand the thought of my daughter being a succubus.
“Anyway, it seems like we can start our activities in earnest after the sun goes down. It’s time for humans to work now.”
Come to think of it, the gathering would be held after the sun went down. There was the reason that they were doing it secretly, but also because the people attending the gathering had to get off work.
“Then come back at night.”
“Huh?! Let’s talk a little more! Are you really only going to talk about work!”
“Winia is uncomfortable.”
“…You think about your wives a lot. Then I guess I can’t interfere yet. I’ll come back at night.”
Hildegard turned around and opened the door and left.
“Kat, have a good rest.”
“Uh… yeah. You rest too.”
Hildegard left, and we were the only ones left in the room. Well, what was there to do until night?
We could eat or sleep.
“Seriously, what is that succubus… Ah, it’s annoying. Darkie, come here.”
“Is our Winia Queen annoyed?”
“Wouldn’t I be? Come here and fondle my breasts. I’m so annoyed I could die.”
“Will it make you feel better if I fondle them?”
“Yeah.”
In the end, we spent the afternoon leisurely having sex focused on foreplay and then took a nap. Since I was going out to work at night, it was better to get some sleep. Claudie and Winia, who had reached a messy climax, closed their eyes with very comfortable faces.
* * *
Night fell.
Hildegard came back, and we, who had already finished preparing, put on our hoods and followed her out.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t properly equip ourselves with gear. If we wore armor to investigate and infiltrate the gathering, it would be too obvious. We had to wear clothes that we had bought appropriately. Winia and Claudie also wore clothes like waitresses and put on hoods over them.
“Fortunately, it seems like there’s a gathering today too. Hmm… I can feel the aura of the demon guys.”
As soon as the sun went down, the streets instantly darkened.
Only the streetlights and the lights of the shops illuminated the world. There were no stars today, and the moonlight was a bit dim. Even so, people were moving here and there. Most of them were men going into bars or gambling dens. It was probably time to get off work.
We moved following Hildegard.
She skillfully guided us.
“Hey, but what about your aura? Can’t those guys notice you?”
Hildegard could sense the aura of demons. But if that was the case, wouldn’t other demons be able to sense her? She turned her head at my question and said with a smile.
“Hehehe, don’t worry. I’m thorough in my work. I wouldn’t leave any dangerous factors in a job I’m doing with Kat, would I? I’m definitely hiding my aura. And the demons here are lower in rank than me, right? There’s not much to worry about.”
“Is that so?”
It seemed like she was hiding her aura.
I couldn’t know for sure whether it was true or not, but since I was relying on her right now, I had no choice but to go along with it. Well, in the first place, even if demons attacked, they wouldn’t be a match for me.
“Even if they did detect my aura, there’s a high probability they wouldn’t think much of it. Those guys are so busy sucking up to humans right now that they don’t pay much attention to other demons. There’s no need for demons to fight each other when there are so many humans. It’s better for those idiots to die.”
“This bastard…”
She was thinking pretty straight.
Originally, if you have an enemy, it’s best to kill them when they’re most off guard. Her ideology was somewhat to my liking.
“Haa… More than that, Kat.”
“What.”
“You’re giving off too much of a sexy scent right now…”
“What did you say?”
That guy said in a heated tone with hearts in his eyes.
“Did you have a good time with your wives? But your lust is still intact. Hehehe… Really… Such an irresistible man… Ahh.”
It seemed like that guy could even tell that I had sex. Of course, as she said, I didn’t have enough time to properly satisfy my lust.
“Stop talking nonsense and guide us, you bastard. Are you going to keep saying that kind of stuff?”
“Aah, I’m sorry. Anyway, this way.”
She guided us towards the outskirts of the city. I saw that there was a small canal. Did they整備 the existing waterway while building the city? It was a logistics city after all. Even just having a canal made transportation easier.
“Is it a warehouse?”
“Yes. It seems like it.”
The place we arrived at was a place lined with warehouses.
It seemed like a warehouse district, and it was true that there was no better place to hold a gathering than a place like this.
