Chapter 45
Dealing with a minion of the demon Nepas was, in practice, not much different from playing a rhythm game.
What was important was rhythm and precise, swift judgment.
If one was off by even a hair, a massive explosion would sweep the area, and that would lead to mission failure.
“Go on, try again.”
Reinhardt focused all his attention on his opponent.
The warlock, with both arms gone, looked at Reinhardt with pure animosity.
His body was nothing less than a living bomb.
If it had been a warlock of Agrio-s, he would have gone for the neck first, but when dealing with a scion of Nepas, he couldn’t do that.
“I said try something. Huh? You think such cheap tricks will work on me?”
The warlock was glaring at Reinhardt with bloodshot eyes.
A great anger was contained within them.
The ones who served Nepas were always like this.
They were always in a state of anger, always acted sensitively, and created numerous victims just because they were not in a good mood.
“You, what are you.”
“A knight.”
“In the end, aren’t you just a weak human!”
“You’re human too. Though you did wag your tail for a demon.”
“The world will soon be dyed in darkness! No matter how much things like you struggle, nothing will change!”
The warlock let out a scream that was close to a desperate struggle.
The momentum was so fierce that an ordinary person would have had their spirit drained just by facing him.
But Reinhardt was not an ordinary person.
“So, do something already. Darkness, my ass, what’s the point when you’re about to die? By then, you’ll already be shoved into hell.”
The emotion of anger was also familiar to Reinhardt.
Reinhardt, when faced with injustice, always became deeply enraged.
For some reason, he had recently become able to control it well, but emotions were always boiling within him.
Woooong-
At that moment, a strange sound was heard in his ear. Reinhardt immediately extended his sword.
One of the warlock’s legs was sent flying. Now, he couldn’t maintain his balance and collapsed with a thud, crawling on the ground.
“I told you it won’t work. Do you still not get reality? Isn’t it about time you surrendered obediently?”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I will never yield to the likes of you! Darkness is eternal and immortal! You all will one day kneel before it……”
“So noisy. Instead of flapping your gums, just finish what you were doing.”
Woooong-
The familiar sound was heard again.
Reinhardt swung his sword, and the last remaining leg was sent flying.
But this time, it didn’t stop there.
Reinhardt consecutively and surely took off the warlock’s head as well.
Fssst. Fssshhh…….
The warlock’s body turned red-hot, then soon turned black.
Thick smoke rose from it. It was smoke like one would see when water is poured on a well-burning bonfire.
“In such a pathetic way.”
Reinhardt reined in the thread of reason he had let go of.
The anger that had risen to the top of his head cooled down.
[You have tracked and executed evil.]
[The effect of ‘Justice’ has been enhanced by your Righteous choice.]
*Stat increase per stack +7
[You regain your composure.]
[The Fading Light significantly recovers its energy…….]
[‘Justice’ has been deactivated.]
A message he was now used to appeared before his eyes.
Thump.
The strength in Reinhardt’s legs gave out, and he collapsed. He ended up sitting on his butt on the pile of ashes, getting his clothes completely dirty.
“Bitdori.”
Reinhardt picked up Bitdori, which had been rolling in a corner of the street.
He brought the creature into his arms and slowly petted it.
“……Pit?”
Bitdori’s closed eyes opened.
The creature stared blankly at Reinhardt for a moment, then, as if it had come to its senses, it vigorously raised its right arm.
“Piiiiit!”
“Excited again. Excited again.”
It was clearly a reaction asking for praise, or saying it was in a good mood.
It also seemed as if it were cheering for Reinhardt, telling him he had worked hard.
“Pit! Pi-it! Pit! Pi-it!”
Bitdori, having soared up, was now practically dancing in mid-air.
It was clear that it was quite excited.
‘At least that’s one less thing to worry about.’
Spirits never get hurt or die.
The only damage they could take was being knocked out for a moment by a strong impact and then waking up.
He had expected it, but with this, he could finally be at ease.
“Hah, I’m drained.”
Reinhardt just lay down spread-eagled.
“Was the buff’s effect this significant……”
As the [Justice] buff was deactivated, his whole body felt languid and heavy.
The current Reinhardt was an ordinary human.
The fatigue that had accumulated from relentlessly catching criminals and finally fighting a warlock exploded all at once.
‘In any case, I’ve put out the urgent fire.’
In any case, Bitdori was safe, Irien was safe, the warlock was defeated, and.
‘Fermil will take care of the rest.’
Reinhardt’s thoughts went no further.
Succumbing to his heavy eyelids, Reinhardt let go of the thread of consciousness.
***
The Paganoa Knight, Fermil, was accustomed to dealing with people.
It didn’t change even if the other party was a high-ranking official.
To the extent that the mayor of a small city like Lockfort could be considered to be in the palm of Fermil’s hand.
“Our Paganoa has confronted demons for hundreds of years, Mr. Mayor. I say this to mean that a situation you should be concerned about will not occur.”
“If the esteemed knight says so, I have no choice but to believe you.”
“It is not a matter of trust. I can assert this. The warlock dealt with this time was a particularly weak one among the demon’s scions. A human who had received almost no attention from the demon, I mean.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course. The city of Lockfort, which you lead, Mr. Mayor, has moved away from the demon’s interests. Because they had no particular desire in this city.”
The mayor of Lockfort nodded, albeit with a reluctant expression.
“But didn’t you say that demons only move when there is something they want?”
It was a sharp point.
Demons were like living desires, and someone of the mayor’s standing would already be aware of such facts.
‘In this case, Irien was likely his objective.’
Fermil also knew that the mayor was right.
However, he denied it.
“Demons may be so, but warlocks are not. They are, after all, human.”
“I see. I understand. Since you say so, esteemed knight, I must believe you.”
“Additionally, Paganoa will dispatch personnel for investigation. They are people who will surely extinguish any remaining embers, so there is no reason for you to worry at all, Mr. Mayor.”
“I see. I feel reassured now.”
“I am a Knight of Paganoa, Mr. Mayor. My spear has pierced countless scions of demons so far. This time was just another one of them.”
At Fermil’s confident smile, the mayor of Lockfort finally let go of his worries and nodded vigorously.
“I will greet you again soon.”
Fermil concluded the meeting and left the City Hall.
There was no trace of a smile on his face as he walked down the stairs.
‘I must ask the professor to hurry.’
It was a response markedly different from the Fermil of the past.
Back then, he would have been busy inflating his achievements, trying to get a slightly larger reward, and enjoying the admiring expressions of people.
But the catalyst named Reinhardt had changed him.
‘Getting Irien out of Lockfort is the most urgent task.’
Because of this incident, the demon Nepas would have become interested in Irien.
But the Floran Imperial Academy was not a place that a mere minion of a demon could dare to approach.
If they could just move her, both the city of Lockfort and the little Irien would be safe.
“Is Reinhardt inside?”
Soon, Fermil returned to the inn where Reinhardt was resting.
If he had his way, he would have liked to have him lie down in a temple somewhere, but Reinhardt had adamantly refused, saying there was no need for that.
“Yes. He is inside.”
“You’re working hard.”
“Not at all. It’s not tiring at all.”
Dirk, who was standing guard in front of Reinhardt’s door, answered vigorously.
He had been enduring for nearly 24 hours without sleep.
It was out of the thought that Reinhardt should be able to rest deeply without being disturbed.
“I’m back now, so you should go and get some rest. I’ll call you when I leave again.”
“It’s alright. I……”
“The person you must protect is not only Sir Reinhardt.”
Only then did Dirk’s expression become as if he had realized something.
“I understand. I’ll go rest for a bit.”
“Explain it well to Irien, too. She might have to leave as early as tomorrow.”
“Luke and Hark said they talked to her well. Irien didn't seem too upset. Although she was sad she couldn't see us, it seemed her desire to learn magic was much greater.”
“That’s good news to hear. Reinhardt will probably be happy too.”
Fermil patted Dirk’s shoulder encouragingly.
Only after confirming that Dirk bowed and disappeared into Irien’s room did he open the door to where Reinhardt was resting and step inside.
“He’s really sleeping like the dead. I can’t tell if he’s alright or not.”
Fermil muttered with a troubled smile.
On the bed was Reinhardt, sleeping soundly without even a breath.
Even though 24 hours had already passed since he arrived at the inn, he showed no signs of waking up.
‘The mental toll must have been severe.’
Fermil had seen the traces of battle at the place where Reinhardt had collapsed.
Powerful explosions had occurred several times, and Reinhardt had dealt with them perfectly.
Fermil knew well how arduous that process was.
In order to protect the innocent, one had to keep all senses tense and sharp like a blade to respond.
“How on earth do you deal with them?”
Fermil, looking at Reinhardt, spoke without realizing it.
“We gained such strength only after long periods of training. Only after accumulating knowledge and experience did we become able to do as you do. But you……”
Even if he asked this, Reinhardt’s answer would likely be obvious.
It was just something that had to be done. It was just something he was able to do.
As a knight, he had only done what was natural.
Miya Luxpenber of Paganoa had said so as well.
That Reinhardt was proceeding correctly on his destined path.
That there was no need to try to recruit him into Paganoa.
“It’s not that I’m saying this for any other reason. It’s just that I find it marvelous……”
“……You’re noisy.”
“Reinhardt!”
Fermil’s eyes widened as he rushed to the bedside.
Reinhardt had woken up. He was looking at Fermil with his usual upright gaze.
“Are you alright? I was thinking of asking for help from a temple if you didn’t wake up by tomorrow.”
“There’s no problem. I was just tired. What about Irien?”
“She’s resting well in the room right next door.”
“You didn’t tell anyone else, did you?”
“Nobody knows. Not even the mayor of Lockfort. I gave a vague answer to the question of what the demon was after.”
Fermil had already seen through what Reinhardt wanted.
“……And I said that I was the one who executed the warlock. I thought that’s what you would want.”
“You did well.”
The corners of Reinhardt’s lips lifted slightly. At that, Fermil felt the same way he did when he received praise during his trainee days.
“It was worth trusting you with it. I rested well thanks to you.”
The words that followed brought an even greater satisfaction.
To the point that even if he were praised directly by the commander of the Paganoa Knights, he would not be happier than this.