4 – Episode 1. How the Loser Regains Trust (4)
* @ *
After carrying out Houston’s orders, Forse returned to the noble’s house. As soon as he arrived he went straight to Houston’s office and delivered the report.
“Your Grace, I’ve had a meeting with the man named Gibi.”
“Oh? How did it go?”
“Well…”
Houston sensed something unusual from Porce’s hesitant demeanor.
“Let’s hear it.”
Upon his prompting, Porce began to list the information he had received from Gibi.
“I’m not entirely sure we can trust everything Gibi says, but according to him… The serial killer on the loose is a member of the ‘Beral Sect’.”
“Beral?! Are you talking about those demon worshipers?!”
“Yes.”
If the Beatora Sect worshiped the gods of this world, then the Beral Sect was a group of demon worshipers. The objective of the Beral Sect, to manifest demons in this world, posed an unspeakable danger.
“I thought we had eradicated them all, but they’re still alive. Those damned…”
Two years ago, the current emperor of the empire, Frei Ilustun Perator, had completely arrested and executed people affiliated with the Beral Sect. After this incident, it was believed that the Beral Sect was practically wiped out. Yet, the fact that they were still alive and active was enough to infuriate Houston.
“It seems so.”
“But how did he come to know the serial killer is a demon worshipper?”
“He says he saw the murder take place by chance. He apparently saw a skull with horns symbol on the robes of the killer.”
The skull with horns symbol.
It was an unmistakable symbol of the Beral Sect.
“And he had this on him.”
Porce offered something wrapped in cloth to Houston.
“What’s this?”
As Houston unwrapped the cloth, a black bracelet engraved with skulls was revealed, causing him to clench his teeth.
“As you may know, Your Grace, it’s a bracelet that signifies one is an official believer of the Beral Sect. Gibi says he found it, tightly clutched in the hand of a corpse.”
“Damn it…”
Now that evidence had surfaced, there was hardly room for doubt.
“After the emperor’s massive execution order silenced those bastards, why are they suddenly making waves in our territory?”
“According to him, a ‘witch’ has taken refuge in a slum on the outskirts of the city of Frang.”
Upon hearing the story of the witch, Houston’s eyes widened.
As if the demon worshipper being the main perpetrator of the serial killings wasn’t enough, he was now informed that a witch was hiding in his territory. The news was nothing short of shocking.
“A witch…?”
A witch.
An entity bearing the sort opposite to a saint, playing a significant role in summoning demons.
“That’s right. It seems the objective of those worshipers is to find the witch and summon demons into this world.”
Bang!
Huston slammed his desk and stood up.
“Demons?! Dammit! Do you know about the Witch?!”
“I’m told even Jeevi isn’t aware of that.”
“What?”
“He said that if he knew, the demon worshipers would have kidnapped the witch a long time ago. ‘There are no secrets in the slums,’ he said.”
Huston maintained his rationality, barely, controlling his breathing with his eyes tightly closed.
“These scoundrels dare in my domain…!”
Huston clenched his fists. He felt his territory was being muddied, and it was impossible for him not to feel uncomfortable.
Part of him also felt empty.
He had not expected that the truth he so wanted to know would be revealed so easily.
“Porce, mobilize as many knights as possible to eliminate the demon worshippers and the witch hiding in the slums. If you are unsure about the witch, kill all the women in the slums.”
“Understood.”
“And. Command Dexter to bring Abel to the office.”
Dexter was the butler of the Sirius Duke House.
“Understood.”
Porce left the office immediately, making a characteristic clanking noise in his armor. Huston watched his back for a while before murmurring quietly.
“Abel… did you know from the beginning?”
* * *
[Franz City Serial Murder Case #2]
Category : Main (Sirius House, Clara)
Deadline : 5 hours
『You met Jeevi and found out that the serial killer is a demon worshiper. You also found out that there is a ‘witch’ in the slums.
The motive of the demon worshipers who committed the murder was for the ‘offering to summon the demons’ from the scripture of Beral.
They committed the act on baseless speculation that they could summon demons into this world by offering Belatra believers, who they consider heretics, as sacrifices.
However, in reality, not only is such a summoning method non-existent, but there isn’t even a witch in the slums. At least, not at the moment.
The identity of the witch in the slums is a newly awakened ‘Saint.’
However, the moment she awakened, she emitted not the holy power a saint would possess, but magic, which was witnessed by the people of Vermilion Village.
Seeing this, the villagers labeled her a witch related to the demon clan, and she inevitably had to be expelled from the village.
In truth, the child was just infected with magic.
Those originally infected with magic usually die within a few days, but being a saint with outstanding holy power, she was able to survive till now.
Thus, she ended up hiding in the slums of the city of Prang.
However, as the rumor spread beyond the village, the Berhal Sect also heard of the witch, and demon worshippers infiltrated the city of Prang to find the alleged witch.
This was the precursor to the serial killings.
You must save Clara, who people mistakenly believe to be a witch.
If you fail to do so, this child can become the true witch, one of the causes of world destruction. So stop the Order of Sirius from executing Clara by persuading Houston Sirius.
In persuading Houston, it would be better to come up with a ‘deal’ than to ask for trust. Just inform the present state of Clara to the demon worshippers.
Currently, Clara is located in a dilapidated hut in the deepest corner of the slums. Prepare bread and water, as she has been suffering from hunger for a long time.”
Reward : Magic Purification Tree, A slight trust from Houston Sirius.
In case of failure: Death.
“No….haaah….”
I sighed as I wiped my face.
“That’s right. She’s the villain. Villain…”
In the novel, when Clara, who fights against the protagonist princess and loses, had her backstory revealed in the third-person perspective.
It was the story of how Clara hid in the slums, eventually joining hands with the demon worshippers due to months of severe hunger and loneliness.
Thus, the saint turned into a witch, standing on the opposing side of the protagonist princess, and as the story progressed, Clara always met her death.
That’s the story of the original work.
But the quest mentioned to me.
She is not yet a witch.
From Noble mtl dot com
To put it another way, it meant that if it’s now, Clara could potentially become a saint instead of a witch and stand on the protagonist’s side.
“Why couldn’t I think about it. Knowing that this is within a novel….”
If she knew that this is within a novel, she should have first identified the time period and predicted the direction of progress.
Perhaps the reason I didn’t think of it completely was because I just wanted to avoid it. Right now, my mind was full of my own thoughts.
“What the hell is all this because of God.”
I should get moving right now, either way. If the grace period is 5 hours, then there’s a need to hurry.
It would take about 30 minutes to travel to the city of Prang by carriage. It should have been more than enough time to stop it if I could arrive in the slums within an hour.
I was ready to dress and leave at once. Until I heard a knock.
Knock, knock.
“Mr. Abel, it’s Dexter.”
“Come in.”
If memory serves, Dexter was the butler of the Sirius family. Although he wasn’t often mentioned in the novel, I remembered him.
A middle-aged man in a neat suit entered through the door.
Flecks of white in his hair hinted at his age.
“His Lordship has called for you, Mr. Abel.”
“For me?”
Of all times, now…?
No, this could very well be related to the quest.
The quest information indicated that the Sirius Knights were to execute Clara. And there was a note that the order was given by a Houston.
Instead of blindly running to stop the execution, it might be better to persuade Houston to revoke his order.
Afterall, the knights would likely follow Houston’s words over mine.
“I will go. Immediately.”
I spoke firmly, stepping forward.
* * *
“Your words were the truth. The character Jvira knew about the serial murder case.”
Houston threw these words at me as I entered the vast study.
It was difficult to interpret his slight attention as trust, but he seemed softer than when I saw him a few days ago.
“I see.”
“I want to ask you one thing.”
“What might that be?”
“Abel, how did you come across this information? You’re not involved with the demon cult, are you?”
An expected question.
Since I had suggested meeting someone from the slums out of the blue, his suspicion was only natural.
“If I had been involved, would I have brought it up to you, sir?”
“So, how did you get it?”
“People talk. Especially when they’re desperate for money in places like the slums.”
I spoke, shaping a circle with my thumb and forefinger.
He squinted his eyes as if trying to grasp my true intentions, observing me intently. The man who had been staring at my face let out a snort through his nose.
“…Now that I think about it, I’ve heard a few times that you’ve been sneaking out of the manor, slinking around the slums.”
Wow. This excuse actually worked. Thanks for having my back, Abel.
“Anyway, thanks to you, we’ve managed to get a lead on this matter. Today, by killing the demon worshipper, the serial killer, and the witch hiding in the slums, we will quell any disputes regarding the incomplete peace.”
He spoke with such extreme conviction that I hesitated even to attempt persuading him.
Knowing full well that I would face harsh pushback for saying the witch must be saved made it all the more agonizing. It was as if I was voluntarily walking into a beating from my boss.
…But still, it had to be done.
“Father.”
“What is it?”
“I fully support the killing of the serial killer, but not the witch.”
“What?”
“That person is not a witch.”
“On what basis do you make such a claim? If you can’t prove it, there’s no reason for me to listen to you.”
Houston pressured me fiercely, and although I involuntarily flinched, I did not look away from him.
If I had been possessed by Dionelle, would he have trusted me without questioning?
No, that’s irrelevant right now.
I was possessed by Abel, and I had the means to persuade him.
“There’s no need to prove it.”
“What?”
“That child’s mere existence is already valuable enough.”
Yes, it’s enough.
Houston didn’t need to believe my words.
Taking a deep breath, I spoke up.