When I opened my eyes again, I saw a familiar ceiling.
“Home—!”
[You are loud, you fool.]
I knew I was overreacting.
But I could not help it.
Even until the moment I closed my eyes, I had been a little worried.
Who knew?
‘There might be another demon?’
Perhaps the Necromancer who had summoned the demons would show up late and cause a mess.
But seeing that I had returned safely, that did not seem to be the case.
“What happened?”
Ancestor was fundamentally bound to the shield, but if he wished, he could move within a certain radius.
It seemed perfect for intelligence gathering.
‘Apparently, though, blocking this sort of spirit movement is not difficult, so it is awkward to use in practice.’
But our territory was an exception.
It did not even have such basic defenses.
Thanks to that, perhaps, Ancestor knew what had happened while I was unconscious.
[First, I will tell you about the survivors of House Merlin. There are two in total—the two we saw are all of them.]
“Then those two…”
[Fortunately, they are unharmed.]
“Whew.”
We had prevented a war.
But wait.
“What about the other soldiers? Milo and Herben…”
[They are safe as well.]
Apparently, the demon had been in such a hurry that it broke through them and headed straight into the cave.
[It likely intended to consume a Demon Core and regain its strength.]
“Is that possible?”
[Only for certain individuals.]
Hm, so it had really been that strong.
Then again, strength like that would have been stranger coming from a small fry.
[And Ren, the territory’s mage, identified the demons.]
Oh, knowledgeable Ren.
“What were they?”
[The first liquid monster was a doppelganger. Its original body is similar to a slime’s, but it can steal the form of someone whose wavelength matches its own.]
“Damn.”
So it had been a doppelganger.
[According to Ren, they are a race that does not rarely cross over into the Middle Realm.]
“What about the sword-wielding one?”
[It was a member of the Shadow Clan.]
“Not the sword?”
[Well, it was rather skilled with a blade, but that was only a supplementary means. Its true power comes from its shadow.]
“Damn.”
A chill ran down my spine.
It was that strong with just swordsmanship, and that was only a supplementary means?
What would have happened if it had fully recovered its strength?
Would that not have been a disaster?
Still, I had a question.
“But, um… I thought that a member of the Shadow Clan would have easily killed a doppelganger and consumed its Demon Core before we got there. Why did it not?”
Had they been unaware of each other’s existence?
…That was what I thought, but apparently not.
[Ren’s investigation found a summoning magic circle. Naturally, one used to summon demons.]
How utterly vile!
But the intention embedded in that summoning magic circle was even more vile.
‘The summoned individuals… were bound by restrictions?’
What restriction?
Non-aggression.
‘A restriction preventing beings that passed through the same summoning magic circle from harming one another.’
It was truly chilling.
Why?
Because someone had been diligently summoning demons into our territory to make it into a demon den.
“Who would do such a thing…”
What a despicable bastard.
What grudge did they have against our territory?!
I wanted to rush out immediately, capture that Necromancer, and beat him senseless. But unfortunately, that was impossible.
Because—
[As you suspected, that laboratory was the one used by your teacher candidate.]
“Ah.”
So it had been.
There could not be many bastards capable of doing something so vile.
Then here was the problem.
“Th-Then why did the magic circles activate after that bastard died? Both the fog magic circle and the summoning magic circle.”
Had Ren and Vilheim failed to dispose of them properly?
…No.
[It seems someone entered the masterless laboratory and completed the magic circles. We do not know whether that person shared the dead Necromancer’s purpose, but one thing is certain.]
What was certain?
[That person wants chaos in the world.]
Seven times.
That was the number of demon sightings in the territories around here.
***
Seven times.
It could be a large or small number depending on what it was attached to. But when attached to “demon sightings,” it was an extremely large number.
After all—
‘They say the word “demon” itself had not been mentioned in this area for nearly a hundred years?’
There was one fortunate thing, at least.
The damage was not particularly severe.
[Our territory eliminated the demons before they could truly act, and the demons in the other territories were not especially powerful individuals.]
Of course, one could not be sure.
A powerful individual that had not been discovered yet could be hiding somewhere.
‘That is fucking terrifying.’
Goosebumps rose along my spine.
There might be another monster like that one!
But something else was even more terrifying.
[If my guess is right, there was likely a helper who informed the Shadow Clan about the doppelganger’s death.]
“What? Why would someone do that…”
[Who knows… Perhaps they thought it would be an easy way to restore the Shadow Clan’s strength. Though it is strange that they did not show themselves even after the battle ended.]
“Hm.”
So we really had almost died.
But wait.
This situation was not good.
“Then are we not in danger?”
[Why?]
“Because we have the Demon Cores now. Both the doppelganger’s and the Shadow Clan’s. You did take them, right…?”
[I did, you fool.]
Whew, that was a relief.
I let out a sigh of relief at hearing that we had taken the spoils, but I kept worrying.
Because the danger I had in mind came from the Demon Cores.
‘The demons cannot kill one another because of the restriction, but it seems they can absorb the Demon Cores of demons that are already dead.’
Which meant demons seeking to regain their strength could come after us at any time!
Then what should we do?
‘I do not want to throw them away.’
Was there no way to get rid of them quickly?
“Hm.”
As I continued to think, Ancestor answered.
[It seems they can be purified.]
“Purified?”
[Once purified, they become magical materials more useful than mana stones.]
Unlike a mana stone, which was consumed after a single use like coal, a purified Demon Core could store and use mana repeatedly, like a rechargeable item.
My eyes lit up.
‘It is basically a power bank?’
I did not expect much from the doppelganger’s Demon Core, but the Shadow Clan’s core seemed worth looking forward to…
Then a sense of foreboding suddenly passed through me.
“Do we… have to ask the Order to do that?”
[Hm, indeed, my descendant. You are clever.]
“And we have to make a donation to have it purified?”
[You got that exactly right as well.]
“And it will not be cheap, naturally?”
[Perhaps because you take after me, your powers of deduction are truly genius.]
“Fuck.”
[Fuck?]
“I meant the people at the temple.”
Why were those who served the gods so obsessed with money?
I was not just talking about the time they had made Viscount Hadion swear an oath.
This time, we had several dealings with the temple over the mana stone mine development, and those bastards had squeezed considerable sums out of us every time in the name of donations.
It was like they were armed robbers.
‘No, at least I could go find an armed robber and smash his head in.’
But one could not lay a hand on robbers armed with faith.
Why?
The moment you did, fanatics would come rushing at you, crying out about martyrdom.
Then what should I do?
“Perhaps we should just keep them…”
[Ah, you do not need to worry about that.]
“Pardon? Why not?”
[Hm, he has arrived at just the right time.]
Ancestor looked toward the door as he spoke.
Just as he said, a presence soon stirred outside.
Who was it?
John, my personal attendant?
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
When I answered the knock, John entered with a startled expression.
“Young Master! You are awake!”
“Ah, yes.”
Had he knocked even though he knew I was unconscious?
John really was polite.
But behind him stood an unfamiliar face.
“Who is the person behind you?”
“Ah, my apologies. Th-This person is…”
Before John could say anything more, the man stepped forward.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Young Master Ktun. I am Priest James Miller of the Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours.”
The Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours…?
[Do you not know it? Well, it is not a very widespread religion, so that is understandable. It is an Order that worships the Goddess of Rivers and Flowers.]
That did not help me much.
I did not know what the Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours was, nor who the Goddess of Rivers and Flowers was.
Still, I pushed aside my awkwardness and greeted him.
“Ah, yes… It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Ktun Palaon. But what brings a priest here…?”
“Ah, it seems you do not know much about our Order. We wander without a fixed abode to destroy evil in the world. This time, we came because demons had appeared in this area.”
[For your information, each priest of the Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours is an exceptional demon hunter.]
“Oh, you are remarkable people.”
They wandered without a fixed home to hunt demons!
I did not know what the Goddess of Rivers and Flowers was like, but she sounded wonderful.
And through the conversation that followed, I learned why this demon hunter had come to see me.
‘He came to check on my condition?’
And for free.
Were there really such good people in the world?
“Thank you so much. How can you be so kind…!”
“Haha, not at all. You awoke before I could do anything, so that is too much praise.”
“This must all be thanks to the Goddess’s protection. Thank you.”
I sincerely meant it.
But my gratitude did not end there.
“Haha, now that you are awake, I can finally ask you. This is actually the main reason I came.”
“Yes, please just tell me whatever it is.”
At that moment, I thought that if this priest asked me to lend him a hand in hunting demons, I would gladly accompany him for about a month.
But this kind and gentle priest remained kind and gentle to the very end.
“I heard you acquired the Demon Cores of a doppelganger and a member of the Shadow Clan. However, Demon Cores can bring great disaster if mishandled. So… would it be all right if I purified them for you?”
“Huh. Is there any compensation I must offer?”
“There is none.”
He said he would purify the Demon Cores.
For free!
I closed my eyes and thought for a moment.
Then I asked.
“Priest, are you perhaps an angel sent down from heaven?”
“Haha, do I look that way to you?”
“Yes.”
“Haha, no. Where could there be someone as sinful as me… But if I truly appear that way to you, it must be because you possess a kind heart, Young Master. Thank you. Thanks to you, this sinner has become an angel.”
Ah, Ancestor. From today onward, I will devote myself to the Society of the Twelve Zodiac Hours.
“Then, shall we go now that we have spoken of it?”
“Huh, are you sure? I heard you have been bedridden for quite some time.”
“Priest, I cannot tolerate the fact that impure remnants called Demon Cores exist in this world. Even now, my anger is rising to the top of my head.”
[Please stop talking nonsense.]
What do you mean, nonsense?
From today onward, I am a Holy Necromancer.
I will walk the path of virtue.
“Haha, in that case, please remain here. I will bring the Demon Cores.”
“Oh, you really do not have to.”
Brother James laid me back on the bed with a kindly smile and left.
How much time had passed?
“I have brought them. Then I will begin the purification at once.”
“Ahhh!”
The moment the two impure gems came into contact with Brother James’s hands, they crumbled away and emitted a dazzling light.
And that was not all.
“A Demon Core can hold not only mana but also Divine Power. Would you like me to fill it with my Divine Power?”
“Please!”
“Then I will do the smaller one first. The larger one will likely take several days.”
James filled the smaller Demon Core—the doppelganger’s—with Divine Power and handed it to me.
And the moment I received it—
‘Huh?’
An inspiration emerged.
The same kind of inspiration I had when I first realized Golgol, Bone Armor, Tiktak, and Bone Chain.
…Could the path of a Holy Necromancer truly be opening before me?