78
catching cockroaches
‘A vampire…’
I muttered, shaking my numb hands.
The door opened and the abbot and the Parsi inquisitor came in, their faces hardened.
Knock knock.
Whether it was instinct or not, Lunggeup hid behind me. When I moved slightly to the side, Lunggeup followed right away.
“Oh my god, did you really swing that hammer?! What if the other person was an innocent victim….”
I pointed to the black blood on the guy’s chin. The abbot smirked and made a sour expression.
“You’re amazing. The black-blooded bastards are so clever in their methods that they can even deceive the color of their blood, and it’s not easy to tell them apart, but you’ve done it···.”
The Parsi was truly impressed.
‘That’s because you guys don’t have any moderation.’
They were the kind of people who didn’t even bother to interrogate the devil because they thought it was a sin to talk to him. If it weren’t for the abbot, all three would have been either drowned or burned at the stake.
“···Even if it’s dark, may the sun shine.”
The abbot knelt beside the corpse and recited a prayer. It was unusual for him to recite a prayer next to the devil, even though it was common to not approach him.
The Parsi inquisitor looked down at him with narrowed eyes.
“What is that black blood?”
“Ah… As I said earlier, it is an organization of blasphemous people active in the eastern part of the empire. Unlike the ‘Hoe’, anyone can join, so its quality is low, but because of that, its reproductive capacity is unparalleled. Originally, it did not openly operate because it was concerned about the ‘Hoe’s’ great darkness, but recently….”
Parsi answered my question as if he had been waiting for it.
To summarize, it seems like it’s a place where a bunch of different people gather, and they’ve started their activities in earnest since the group in charge, ‘Great Darkness’, disappeared.
“The fact that one of these has been seen means that the Cassadic surname has already been exposed. If we don’t take immediate action, it will grow to an unmanageable level.”
Parsi warned with a very serious face.
If you see one, it’s already in progress, and if you don’t suppress it early, it’s uncontrollable… This is completely…
‘It’s a cockroach, isn’t it?’
Although they were different in size and danger, their characteristics strangely fit together.
“What do you think the Parsi Inquisitor should do?”
“Yes? I am Farhan. That is very difficult. Normally, I would have them do a water test, a needle test, or reading the Bible. But since they are so numerous that they prey on the desires of the hungry, it is impossible to implement the above methods. That is why other places are also helplessly suffering.”
‘They don’t really have any special methods.’
When it comes to vampires, garlic comes to mind first, but these guys have no sense of taste and hate garlic because it smells, so it’s not easy to get. And I wondered if garlic would work on vampires.
“You said you were going to exploit the desires of the hungry?”
“Yes, that’s their characteristic. All the ‘black blood’ guys caught so far were of lower class than commoners. There were no rich people or nobles among them. I guess the reason why it happened so much in Castle Blant, where the tax rate was recently raised, is similar to that.”
‘Only targets commoners and below···.’
He nodded and repeated his thoughts.
“Then how about using potions as a way to differentiate?”
“The potion must be highly concentrated to affect the impure. If it is diluted, they cannot be detected.”
Parsi vaguely answered that the potion was a waste of money.
Here, as I saw earlier, there were less than twenty synagogues left, so there weren’t enough to use him.
‘Hmm···.’
Still, he turned his head slightly, wondering if the old monk who had been waiting for a long time knew something. He held back from asking questions as he saw the old monk glaring at the abbot with wary eyes.
“If you do the same thing as before···.”
Parsi trailed off as he looked at the hammer in my hand.
‘hmm···.’
I let out a small sigh as I gathered my thoughts.
“That would require a much larger space. It would have to be completely isolated. Because the moment word gets out, it’s clear that it won’t work.”
As I thought about it while answering, it wasn’t impossible.
Even though it takes a lot of work and is a hassle…
It would have been okay if the words hadn’t leaked out.
The essence of the method there is to make him feel a threat to his life and reveal his true colors, and there were many ways to make him feel that even without a hammer.
‘First, isolate them, then prevent the story from leaking out… and continue to pressure the remaining people, while slightly opening up the breathing room…’
It seemed like it would work out. Even if it didn’t work out as planned, I just had to swing the hammer 2000 times.
My thoughts continued on and on.
As various solutions emerged, the method was concretized.
Of course, it was possible because it was the Middle Ages, but unfortunately, it was the Middle Ages.
As Parsi said, even if there was a slight delay, the number would increase exponentially, so it was right to choose the most efficient and fastest method possible.
“It seems too dangerous. I think we should find another way…”
“No, I think it’ll be fine. Let’s start by isolating the two people trapped here.”
“······yes?”
Parsi’s eyes widened at my answer.
I looked at him and finished organizing my thoughts.
‘The most important thing is who you can trust.’
Since they said they would only target commoners and below, the heretic inquisitors and abbots would not have passed over them.
“Wait a minute! This is too dangerous! Even a slight misstep could result in an innocent victim being killed!!”
The abbot frowned and protested.
“I agree with you. It’s too dangerous. Even if there are innocent victims, they should be proven innocent through due process.”
I don’t know what the difference is between drowning someone and having their head crushed, but the due process seemed important to the Inquisitor.
It did look as dangerous as they said.
Of course, that’s just what it looks like.
It was quicker to show than to convince with words.
I lightly drew my sword and swung it.
Boo-. With a sound of the air being torn, my sword stopped at the tip of the abbot’s nose. I lightly scratched the abbot’s black head.
The abbot frowned.
However, he showed no sign of fear even though there was a sharp sword right in front of him.
“What is this now···.”
As the terrified Parsi Inquisitor drew his mace, I swung my sword again.
This time, I just lightly touched the abbot’s eyelid. The abbot was still looking at me with sunken eyes.
And next is the abbot’s disheveled bangs.
The longest part was slightly cut off.
The angry Parsi inquisitor only then stopped and looked at me with a shocked expression.
The sight was similar to my opponent’s face when I rolled 6’s in a row at the dice game.
I looked straight into the abbot’s eyes and put my sword away.
“Do you know how many times I swing my sword every morning?”
The abbot, who had been looking at me with deep, worried eyes, opened his mouth.
“At least two thousand times. All stopping at the same height.”
Only then did the abbot nod with a worried expression.
“There is no way I can make a mistake.”
Because I do it every day.
I swallowed the gossip.
The abbot closed his eyes slightly.
The Parsi inquisitor looked at me with awe.
The lungs are···.
‘What is he doing?’
Suddenly, a mace-wielding savage swung his sword at the Parsi Inquisitor.
Boohoo-.
widely.
It stopped exactly.
The problem is that it stops at a sharp point and I get slightly stabbed.
‘···!’
Parsi and Lunggyeop opened their eyes wide at the same time. Parsi grimaced as if in pain, and Lunggyeop hurriedly raised his hand to turn on the light.
“First, let’s discuss it with the lord.”
The abbot rose from his seat.
I followed the stern-faced abbot up the stairs.
In front of them were a heavily armed captain, several team leaders, and the rest of the crew.
It seemed like all the grass had been gathered together.
It was easy to take her around because she was quick-witted.
“Abbot of Brighton. Master Aaron.”
The captain, with his serious expression that did not match his manners, opened his mouth.
“The vampires are out. There might be more. And if we leave them alone, they’ll soon fill Castle Cassidyk.”
My words caused a small uproar among the leaders.
“Quiet-. How?”
Everyone shut their mouths at the captain’s shout.
“First of all… there are two people down below, and they can’t talk to anyone until the situation is over.”
He said while looking at the grass.
The grass nodded to him.
I made the grass drink the potion. The grass drank it without a word and even rinsed it in its mouth.
“Don’t trust anyone. Don’t let anyone talk to you.”
“Yes, sir.”
Poole nodded, pulling out his crossbow.
As I turned my head after the grass had settled, the captain was looking at me with a sullen face. Then I continued speaking.
“First, I will report to the lord. Those connected to the fruit vendor Deniran must be isolated, and we must also check if there are any strange individuals among the residents.”
“Everyone, spread out and investigate anyone who’s been acting strangely lately…”
The captain relayed what I said exactly. The platoon leaders moved before he could finish speaking. The captain stared at the back of their heads as if nothing had happened and finished speaking.
“We go to the lord.”
“yes.”
We headed to the inner castle with the abbot who was unusually reserved, the reaper waving his arms in the air, and the Parsi inquisitor stroking his hair.
Residents with very tense faces were sticking their heads out through the door.
‘It’s already spread everywhere.’
It was a place where rumors would spread in a day, but since the opponent was a devil, it seemed like it spread all over in an instant.
The residents went inside, closing the doors in a hurry.
As we headed to the inner sanctuary, we spoke to the abbot about our plans.
“Just looking at it, it seems like it might work.”
The abbot still looked uneasy, but the Parsi inquisitor kept nodding and adding his opinions.
By the time we reached the inner gate, we were able to make a rough plan.
I met Hannah in front of the inner gate.
Kanna, who was standing on an empty cart and maintaining her balance, waved at me. Hannah behind her caught Kanna and smiled softly.
“Aaron! Are you going to the hospital?”
“uh.”
“What’s going on?”
Hannah and Kanna’s gaze turned to the lungs next to me.
“The devil is out. Lock the door and stay inside.”
“Aaron!!”
Hannah screamed. Hannah, who screamed loudly, opened her eyes wide and covered her mouth, seeming even more surprised than she was.
“Me? I have to catch the devil.”
“How long ago did that happen···.”
Hannah seemed to be trying to control herself, but there was an irritability in her expression that she couldn’t hide. It didn’t seem to be directed at me.
“Honorary Monk Aaron.”
The abbot urged.
“Oh, these guys are just punks, so it’s okay. I just caught one and I’m on my way back. For now, go and lock the door.”
“Me too! Me!”
Next was Kanna. Kanna raised her hand and blew fire out of her hand. It was already hot, so I started sweating at the sudden fire show.
‘···What is fire?’
“What am I… You go and hide too. This is not a place for children.”
Let’s speak firmly. Kanna made a mysterious expression.
A feeling of relief, yet also somewhat dissatisfaction.
Kanna, who had been closing her mouth for a moment, nodded.
“Aaron! Be careful! It wasn’t that long ago that it happened!”
Hannah warned again.
I gave him a quick wave and quickly moved on.
I headed to Yeongju Castle under the guidance of the guard guarding the inner gate.
I couldn’t meet the lord right away.
A decent-looking man guided us into the reception room.
It was a damp and backward place to be called a reception hall, but since it was a castle built of stone to begin with, it was similar wherever you went.
‘It feels like I’m in a ventilated cave.’
I stood at the window and looked outside.
I saw soldiers running around diligently.
After a while, a maid came and took away the abbot, Parsi, and the squire.
‘First, let’s catch a few demons···.’
I gathered my thoughts while eating the cookies on the table.
‘They must be having a meeting by now.’
I hope it goes well…
He muttered, putting a cookie in his mouth.
***
“The devil has appeared again?”
Baron Fullfoot’s head was pounding.
“Yes. They are just swarms, not the great darkness of the past, but if left alone, the castle will surely be filled with unclean beings in no time.”
‘···Did you say Farhan?’
My throat got itchy for no reason because my opponent was an inquisitor.
The expressionless female inquisitor behind her kept fiddling with her mace, which was extremely annoying.
“Is there a solution?”
“···there is.”
The abbot answered briefly.
‘This seems like a dangerous method.’
Judging from the lack of explanation and the poor expressions on the faces of the class, it didn’t seem like a very good method.
“What is the method?”
The abbot looked troubled at Pulpouts’ question. When the Inquisitor Farhan tried to answer, he raised his hand to stop him.
“It’s a method devised by Honorable Aaron, and keeping it secret is key. However, its effectiveness is certain.”
The abbot of Brighton answered vaguely.
Fullfoot focused on the name ‘Aaron’.
‘···It’s that guy again.’
I heard that he came with me, but I didn’t call him inside in order to keep my distance from the man.
“That’s ridiculous! You should be asking for help from Fenerga, not him!”
Gerald objected, spittle flying from his mouth.
‘In opposition to Gerald.’
“As you know, Aaron is a trustworthy man. Please give him strength…”
Nova cut Geralt off and gave him a sneaky hint.
‘As Nova said.’
He was the man who had already saved Cassidy from danger several times. There was a lot of damage during that time, but he managed to save the castle. It was thanks to him that Pulpouts was still alive.
‘Aaron’s··· um···.’
Pulpouts pressed his temples and thought about the right words.
“How can a mere security guard be so arrogant and not even mention the method! He’s clearly doing whatever he wants!!”
To the angry knight Adela, Fullfoot came up with an appropriate sentence.
‘Aaron, do whatever you want.’
Pulpouts muttered softly and nodded.
After adding one sentence, I have a lot less to think about.
“Okay, so what’s the method?”
Pullputs sat back down and asked.
“For now···.”
The abbot began to explain slowly, looking as if he had eaten something greasy.
***
As I was searching through the leftover cookies, the door opened quietly.
I habitually raised my head and grabbed the sword handle.
“Found it!”
She was a bright-eyed young woman with a pure smile.
“Vivian.”
“It’s been a while! The surveillance has gotten a little tighter, hasn’t it?! That’s why I couldn’t come see you!”
Youngae sat opposite me, swaying her body as if she was dancing.
The surveillance was bound to intensify. The chaos that had been going on was aimed at that stubborn lady.
Young-ae’s bright smile overlapped with the miserable appearance of the Cassidy Castle.
‘He’s just a crazy guy, he’s not guilty.’
I relaxed my grip on the sword hilt as I thought to myself.
Even now, regardless of Young-ae, vampires were turning the castle upside down. It was an unavoidable sudden event in the Middle Ages.
“Hmm?! Your expression was a little scary just now!”
Yeong-ae opened her eyes wide and shook her head from side to side. I was slightly amazed by her beauty.
“Hahaha! You just made such an idiotic expression!”
‘Even if there is no crime, isn’t it okay to beat them a few times?’
I was momentarily troubled by Youngae’s big laugh.
“Anyway! It’s so frustrating these days! Everyone walks around with a stern look on their face! They don’t even joke around like they usually do! Is something going on outside?!”
‘How could you not know? Were you locked in a basement somewhere?’
After thinking about it for a moment, I shook my head. It was already over.
“Anyway! Just a moment!”
Yeong-ae jumped up from her seat and ran to the door, sticking her butt out and looking around outside. I sighed softly at her noisy and stupid actions and turned my gaze away.
Yeong-ae, who had checked outside, approached me stealthily like a thief and made a serious face.
“You mentioned it last time!”
Youngae nodded her head with a somewhat sinister smile.
“Are your breasts pretty?”
“Ah! Not that! A reward! A small, shiny thing!”
Yeong-ae laughed softly and searched through her bosom, took something out, and handed it to me. I unconsciously accepted it and examined the item.
‘ring?’
It was an unusual-looking ring. The combination of shiny gold and clear metal gave it a very luxurious look···.
‘Crazy… it’s a seal.’
For a moment, the small ring felt heavy and I came to my senses. It felt like I had ice water poured over my head.
I raised my head in surprise and saw Youngae standing right in front of me, looking up at me with her bright eyes.
For a moment, I almost lost my mind to those beautiful eyes that seemed to be studded with jewels, but I barely held on.
‘This crazy fucking head…’
I thought you were just going to pick up some jewels…
No, I said it half-jokingly from the beginning. It was my mistake to overlook the fact that Young-ae doesn’t have the intelligence to distinguish a joke.
‘Even so, you brought me the family seal so quickly.’
I was surprised that there was someone whose farming was worse than mine.
“This is something you can do to a foreigner without permission…”
Just then, I heard someone approaching.
“Ahh! If we get caught, we’ll be in big trouble!”
With those words, Yeong-ae moved quickly and disappeared outside the window. She did so quickly that there was no time to even put the seal back on.
I briefly considered throwing the seal out the window, then put it inside my armor. It felt like I was putting in a ball full of thorns, and it was stinging inside for no reason.
The door opened and Nova, the monk, and the abbot came in.
“I’ve heard the whole story. It’s not a bad plan. I think it’ll work.”
Nova approached me with a very serious expression on his face, contrary to the content.
“But you want to do it alone? Are you sure it’s okay?”
It was a different kind of worry than the one I had just had.
“Oh. It’s nothing. My arms are thick.”
“···Okay. That’s the best option.”
Nova nodded, poking my arm.
***
“Stand up straight!! Stop chatting!!”
Gelatus stood up straight, startled by the shout he heard from beside him.
I was nervous for no reason, my hands were sweaty, and my head was cold. It was fortunate that the weather was warm. Otherwise, I would have been caught a long time ago.
‘There’s a way? You said you could never tell.’
Gelatus’s nerves became tense at the sound he heard from the side. However, he forced himself to calm down by mumbling the words he had heard from above.
‘That’s a lie. He said there was no way to tell the difference. In fact, he just passed by the inquisitor who was right in front of him.’
As I was comforting myself like that, a carriage approached. It was definitely the carriage that had set off earlier with about twenty people on board, but there was no one inside.
The empty space seemed eerie.
This time it was Gelatus’ turn.
Gelatus exchanged glances with those around him.
A few people nodded slightly.
After checking on him, Gelatus crumpled into the carriage.
The weather was hot, and with so many people crammed into this small space, the smell of sweat and flesh… his appetite was piqued. He wanted to bite the nape of the neck of the guy next to him, but Gelatus held back.
The carriage was headed somewhere.
When I got off again, I was in front of a large building.
“Get down! Lower your head! Close your eyes!!”
At the shouts heard from everywhere, Gelatus lowered his head and followed the one in front. He kept whispering to himself, “It’s okay,” and controlled his impulses.
Eventually, I went into the basement where my mind naturally felt at ease.
In the basement, there were doors lined up on both sides.
‘Is this a prison…?’
I’m starting to feel a little impatient.
Those who had been in front entered the next room one by one.
Gelatus turned his head and looked inside and swallowed.
The room was red as if painted with blood, and there was a corpse there.
Gelatus’ fingers tingled in the clear crisis.
Gelatus was locked in the last room.
“Stay still.”
A familiar face tied him to a wooden plank.
A sense of uneasiness rose in him.
‘Did you say Dylan?’
He was a guy I knew. He was usually a rough guy who would cheat whenever he got the chance. He was a man full of greed. Anyone who saw him would think he was the devil.
“Hey Dylan.”
“Don’t make me talk.”
Clank. Both my hands were tied to thick iron bars. The heaviness of it made me feel impatient and my fangs almost popped out.
Gelatus forced himself to hold back and opened his mouth again.
‘That guy… wanted to beat Aaron, right? Even the captain’s match.’
“If there is any way to beat Aaron….”
Gelatus spoke in a very sweet voice, as if someone was whispering to him.
Gelatus was sure that the bastard would come over. It was only natural, since his greed was well-known and he had coveted the position of leader.
“Heeeeeeek! Aaron!”
As soon as Dylan heard the two letters Aaron, he started to tremble as if in a fit, screamed, and ran away.
Gelatus was so surprised by this that he was speechless.
Kkaaaak!
A scream that continues to be heard.
The strong smell of blood.
I was so dizzy that I had a hard time controlling myself.
A moment later the door creaked open.
The moment I saw the face of the person who came in, I couldn’t resist the impulse.
A face full of scars.
Emotionless eyes.
The guy approached without saying anything.
The steps were cold, without any emotion, like a stonemason approaching a stone.
Blood dripped from the hammer in his hand.
‘There is no way to tell the difference.’
Gelatus stared at Aaron standing right in front of him, pretending that nothing had gone wrong.
“Ah… Aaron! Don’t you know me! I’m Gelatus! I’m the devil! That can’t be possible!!”
There was no answer.
It was hard to suppress the fear that surged up in me when I saw this already ferocious guy tied up in a basement like this.
As if he didn’t hear Gelatus’s shout, the guy still raised his hammer high without answering, his eyes still emotionless.
As I watched the blood dripping from the hammer, many thoughts crossed my mind.
‘The guy who was caught first… did he betray you? Or are you planning to kill all the guys involved?’
Soon the hammer came closer and closer.
Had to choose.
Should I pull out my strength?
Or should I just stay still?
‘Aaron can’t do that. This is all a trick to get a confession. There’s no way to tell the difference.’
Gelatus glared and forced himself to endure it.
Contrary to his expectations, the hammer did not stop.
I guess I’ll stop around here.
As Gelatus passed the point he had thought of, his vision became filled with hammers.
It felt like the world was full of hammers.
My forehead was ticklish as if my head was going to burst at any moment.
And the hammer came right up to me.
This was the realm of unbearable instinct.
Gelatus drew out his strength as if he were closing his eyes when someone thrust a fist at him. No, his strength came out of nowhere in the face of a life-threatening threat.
If I had trained, I could probably endure it, but I would never have done something like that.
In an instant, blood flowed throughout my body.
My vision became red and my eyes dilated.
As the wisdom teeth grew longer, strength flowed out.
Kyaaaaahhhhh!!!
Gelatus took off his mask and expressed his anger.
However, the iron that bound his body was made of steel and did not move at all.
Talk.
The bastard’s hammer lightly tapped my forehead-.
A slight silence fell.
“lol···.”
Gelatus, who had his long molar pulled out, looked up at Aaron, who still had a blank expression, and smiled awkwardly. Then he put his molar back in, but…
Bam-.
‘This kid is funny.’
I looked at the lightly burst head and roughly wiped the black blood on my hand.
Then the door opened and Berman and Kel came in.
“Hey, did you catch another one?”
“okay.”
Kel looked at the body and joked naturally.
As I nodded, the guys wrapped the body in the cloth they had brought and carried it out.
“Good luck.”
“Yeah, and keep an eye out for the square. Isn’t that where the Inquisitor is?”
“Yes, they are all hidden.”
“If you miss it, you’ll be in big trouble.”
“Okay. Let me say that again.”
Berman bowed deeply and Kel playfully saluted as he left.
I moved into the next room without wiping the blood off my hands.
‘There’s more than I thought.’
I haven’t even swung it a hundred times yet, but I’m already tired.
***
The Farhan Inquisitor stared ahead with his eyes wide open.
There were many people gathered in the square.
The personnel stationed in their visible positions were shabby-equipped outer guards. They were an easy opponent for a demon to defeat.
They knew that they were safest and most dangerous when they were in a crowd. They would not reveal their identities easily.
Then a carriage approached.
The carriage door opened-.
Unlike before, the carriage was carrying the corpse of a demon covered in black blood.
An uproar arose among the crowd at the horrific sight.
Someone’s scream spread quickly through the surroundings like an infectious disease.
The square was instantly transformed into a chaos.
The outer guards brandished their weapons and subdued them. Several of them were kicked and rolled on the ground before the commotion died down.
Farhan turned his head to check his surroundings. Two knights, two inquisitors, and even Inquisitor Joanna, a group of people who did not fit in a castle in such a remote area.
“Shut up!! Next, you guys get on. Don’t worry! I have a demon identification method! Can’t you see that I’m only picking out demons?! It’ll be over soon, so everyone get on!”
The youngest of the guards, a small man, shouted and pointed to one side.
A heavy silence fell.
There was no one who moved rashly.
However, there were some guys who exchanged glances among them.
‘The fear and pressure of there being a devil’s way of identifying people, and the security being more lax than expected.’
Farhan felt the time had come and grabbed the handle of the mace.
“Everyone, get up! Let’s escape!”
The little devils were stirring.
The ones revealed were no match for the inquisitors and knights.
‘Aaron… what a scary man.’
Farhan leapt forward, his body shaking slightly.
However, before he arrived, Inquisitor Joanna Ethan swung her greatsword in a long stroke, emitting a strong white light.
Hideous, disfigured faces rose into the air.
Farhan then touched his head, which had been hit earlier, and let out a sigh.
***
Swallows thought for a moment and then picked up his pen.
‘I don’t want to get involved with those Gray Tower guys… but if it’s for the future of magic…’
Swallows, having made up his mind, slowly filled in the paper.
[To Hans of the Gray Tower. I am Swallows of the White Tower. I heard that you have been researching the one who is loved by mana. I am also conducting research on him, but this one who is loved by mana is really, really stupid. I am not joking or exaggerating, he is really stupid. It is a great loss to the world of magic for such an idiot to have such a huge amount of mana. I am currently looking for a way to transfer the mana of this idiot who is loved by mana to someone else… Oh, please do not misunderstand, it is not for me to receive it, but because there is a truly suitable person. Anyway, if you know how to transfer it…]
After finishing the letter, Swallows read it over again carefully, then realized that there were too few words like ‘idiot’, so he hurriedly added a few more.
