Playing the Perfect Fox-Eyed Villain Chapter 17

Episode 17. Linne Rondbell (3)

A splendid imperial capital reminiscent of a city that never sleeps.

If you turn your steps to the east of the center, there is a huge slum not far away.

The reason why this slum came into being was, to cut a long story short, because the Adratan Empire annexed other countries by 'force' rather than 'agreement'.

Excessive war of conquest.

Although most of the victories were won, this was the place where the people who had suffered the loss in the process and were unable to adapt to the culture and system of the empire after the war gathered as they left the center of the empire.

Perhaps, this social structure will not change while the current emperor is on the throne.

With that thought in mind, I looked at the sign right next to me that said Road 034A.

'Is this it?'

This is the road where reports of demon infestation were received.

After reading the sign, I took out the map I had received from a man named 'Baden'.

Don't they say that where there is no tiger, the fox is king?

The slums are areas where the royal family has little involvement.

A man named 'Bayden' was part of a criminal organization that ruled the slums.

They knew most of what happened in this slum. Of course, they also seemed to have a vague idea of what happened on this 034A road.

The map also briefly lists incidents and accidents that occurred in this area.

“How did you know?”

As I was briefly looking over the map and checking out the places I had noticed before coming here, Linne, who was following me, spoke to me.

“What are you talking about?”

“There are other people hiding in that house.”

There was doubt in Linne's emerald eyes, but at the same time, a reluctance to ask anything.

“Are you curious?”

“Yes, please teach me.”

She nodded surprisingly honestly.

Linne Rondbell.

She believes that everyone has something to learn from.

Even though Yurian is notorious, his skills are truly top-notch.

She, who prioritizes 'phenomena' over 'people', asked to learn from Yurian, whom she hates so much.

I didn't hate that attitude.

Of course, it would be better if there were no hostility.

“It’s mana detection.”

“Mana… sense?”

“All life, all things, all phenomena, all things in the universe are infused with mana. And mana is bound to react greatly to other mana.”

“Mana… reacts to other mana.”

“Before entering the house, I used two of the 38 ‘Main Blood Vessels’ to send gentle mana flowing around. That’s how I was able to confirm where my opponent was hiding.”

“Like the bat’s ultrasound?”

I nodded to Linne's words.

“That kind of method is possible…….”

As I watched her muttering to herself, I laughed inwardly.

In fact, this method is mainly used by 'wizards' rather than 'Yurien'.

Since I was somewhat familiar with the setting of <Let's Kill the Demon King Now>, I knew that I could sense my surroundings using this method.

'I didn't know it would be this easy.'

Perhaps it is possible because Yurian has so much mana that it is overflowing.

Originally, knights used their unique intuition or the sounds of people to identify the location of hidden enemies, but now I am not a perfect 'Yurien'. So I have to make it possible in this way.

“But you asked the man about his living conditions, not the accident that happened on Route 034A?”

As if her curiosity wasn't over yet, Linne opened her mouth again.

His gaze was directed towards the 'map' I was holding.

“We’re not here to investigate who lives on Route 034A, but whether or not a demon has appeared here.”

“Of course it’s for that.”

“……For that?”

When I smile, she frowns instead.

“How much do you know about <Demonization>?”

“……Who do you think is a fool? Isn’t that the phenomenon where, when the thoughts left behind by the demon Barbatos parasitize a non-human creature, that person becomes a ‘demon’?”

“Who said that humans cannot become <demonized>?”

“Because that’s the social norm. I’ve never seen anything like that before.”

“It will be difficult to see. It will be a very rare case.”

Linne kept her mouth shut.

I continue speaking.

“Even though it’s a slum, it’s a place adjacent to the Imperial City where resonance stones are painted. It’s impossible for demons to arise naturally in such a place. Small animals would have a hard time growing due to their small size.”

As he continued speaking, Linne's expression hardened.

“What are you trying to say? Are you saying that according to your words, there is no natural generation or parasitic generation? Because there are no beings in the slums that can become hosts for demons?”

“No way. Aren’t these the hosts lying around here?”

Linne looked around and confusion filled her eyes.

“What that means is, Sir Yurian, there is currently a human in this area undergoing <Demonization>. Is that what you want to say?”

"yes."

“That’s ridiculous!”

Looking at Linnaeus's loud denial, it seems that the fact that humans are also targets of <demonization> has not yet been revealed at this time.

“Humans do not become <demonized>. You said that it is a social norm, but that is just an ‘unfounded expectation’ that it would be good if it were so.”

“……Let’s say that’s true. Then what does that have to do with housing conditions?”

It was a bit annoying to have to explain everything one by one, but it was definitely necessary to explain the facts that had not yet been revealed.

“Humans who have started to undergo <Demonization> will experience high fever. The houses that have been given fever reducers by the organization that controls this road, the ‘Six Fingers’, are written on this map.”

Flutter.

I shook the map in my hand.

“There are three places to visit in a week. You just have to look around these places. It’s something you can do in a day.”

Linne's face, full of complaints, is followed by the question, 'What if not?'

“If not, we will act separately from the next day as Miss Linne wishes.”

She is truly a troublesome lady.

***

There was no income from the first and second houses.

On the way to the third house, Linne opened her mouth with a somewhat pleasant nuance.

“This is the last one.”

There were many implications there.

Just a little while ago, he must have been proud of himself for saying that his words that humans cannot be the target of <Demonization> were true.

But as I said before, all living things can be subject to <Demonization>.

Humans just have less potential compared to other creatures.

“There it is.”

Linne glanced at the map and pointed to a house in the distance.

On the outside it looks like an ordinary house.

But as I got closer, the smell of incense grew stronger and I frowned.

Lanterns lighting up the shabby mansion.

The fuel being consumed was not refined oil, but something unidentified. A strange smell was emanating from it.

“It smells bad…….”

Linne also frowned.

Leaving her behind, I knocked on the door of the 'last house'.

“Is there anyone?”

There was no answer from inside.

Just as I was about to knock on the door one more time.

Squeak──!

The door slowly opened with a wooden creaking sound, as if it had not been maintained for a long time.

“Who, who?”

What came out was an old woman with white hair.

Judging from the horns, the demonic mucus, and the fact that it clearly retained its rationality, it was clear that it had nothing to do with <Demonization>.

however.

'horror.'

The <color of negativity> revealed above the old woman's head was familiar. The somewhat anxious look in her eyes and the stammering tone of her speech were a bonus.

Plus, there's a faint unpleasant smell wafting from inside the house.

This is not a 'scented' smell.

It's the smell I've smelled a lot during the previous 'Resonance Stone Escort Mission'.

The smell of blood mixed with the demon's scent.

──Jiying.

My eyes felt bloodshot and stinging, and the tip of my nose felt tingly.

The fighting instinct that had been dormant within 'Yurien' began to boil over.

It was the same feeling I had when I encountered the two-horned demon before.

'there is.'

There's definitely a demon in here.

It was the moment when the 'suspicion of demon presence' written in the order became certain.

I tried my best to suppress my boiling emotions.

“I come from the Imperial Agency, ‘Closed Eyes.’ We would like to search your house. Would you cooperate?”

“A, closed eyes……?”

The old woman had a look of bewilderment in her eyes.

And soon it turned to hostility.

“Everyone, get out now! I mean get out of my house now!”

An old woman slamming the door shut.

I stuck my foot through the crack in the door to prevent it from closing. Then, I pulled hard on the handle and the door opened with incredible ease.

'The family consists of one old man and his young son.'

An ordinary person undergoing <Demonization> would not be able to resist the impulses sent by the residual thoughts of the demon.

If it weren't for the old woman in front of me, I would be suspicious of my currently invisible son.

“Ugh…….”

As the door opened fully, the foul smell of blood inside hit me like a storm.

Linne sighed and covered her nose with her hand, wondering if she had taken over.

At this point, it's already certain that there's a 'demon' in the house.

Furthermore, one more fact could be inferred.

This old woman allowed demons to eat humans. Or──.

'… … I fed humans to demons.'

There were two utensils and two bowls on the table. That was so strange.

Two family members. Among them, if the son is undergoing <Demonization>, he will not be able to eat a proper meal.

So what do the two knives and forks on the table mean?

'That's terrible.'

I walked towards the source of the smell.

The innermost door of the house, with a lock on it.

“Oh, my son is just crazy! He just acts wild sometimes, he’s normal!”

“Sir Yurian! Instead of just going in, explain the whole story……!”

“Is it necessary to explain the whole story in this situation?”

“Still, this is too coercive!”

“No. On the contrary, it is fundamental.”

“We didn’t come here to punish, we came here to receive reports and investigate! At the very least, we should at least give an explanation…!”

“Look at that table.”

Linne turned her head and looked at the table.

“Two utensils, one of which has never been touched by food, while the other is neatly empty.”

“You said earlier that there are two family members in this house…….”

“If someone can eat a proper meal, you don’t lock them in a locked room.”

Linne kept her mouth shut, unable to refute the claim.

“You invited your neighbors over for dinner, gave them medicine, and fed it to the ‘demon’ in that locked room.”

"……no way."

Linne looked incredulous and embarrassed as she approached the old woman, who was in a hurry to the locked door.

I quickly searched through my pockets and took out the key, opening the lock.

“Run away, son! Get out quickly……!”

Kwajik──!

In an instant, a vicious mouth stretched out through the open door and bit off the old woman's head.

Linne is speechless at the cruel sight.

Meanwhile, my head was rational.

Just like when I fought the two-horned demon before, the instincts of the character 'Yurian' allowed me to remain calm in this situation.

A demon that devoured the corpse of an old woman as if possessed by a spirit. A horn was slowly growing on its head.

“Demon!”

Linne quickly drew his sword from its scabbard.

After confirming that there was only one horn, she kicked the ground and swung her sword.

At a glance, the body was stiff.

You must be confused by the sudden appearance of the demon.

Kyaak──!

“Ugh…….”

The demon's arm, swinging wildly, ended up hitting Linne.

At the same time, looking at the sword's 'aura' becoming blurry, one problem with the character 'Rinne Rondobelle' came to mind.

'More mana blood than other people.'

She has to deal with mana in her own way, not in a way that is known to the world, but the current Linne doesn't seem to have noticed that.

There are many problems in many ways.

If we leave it like this, it's only a matter of time before Linne falls victim to a demon.

'There are many reasons, but this is Yurian's mission.'

If there are casualties during a mission, especially if it's a 'disciple of the Sword Master', people's attention will be drawn to it.

It's a headache for me.

There should never be any suspicious interest in me, who has to play the perfect 'Yurien'!

Kiaaaa …

As the demon lunged at Linne again, I stomped the ground and kicked the thing in the head.

With a terrible roar, the guy was slammed into the wall.

Not dead yet.

Because I could feel the presence of people beyond the rising dust.

“I don’t need any help……!”

“You say it’s not necessary? It’s work, isn’t it?”

He turned his back on her muttering, drew his sword, and aimed it at the demon.

In the midst of all this, one worry suddenly surfaced.

'… … Did Linnaeus at this time ever see the <Moonlight Sword> in person?'

Currently, <Moonlight Sword> is not as perfect as Yurian's.

If Linne knew of the power that Yurian possessed, and saw my imperfect <Moonlight Sword> in that situation… … .

'This only serves to reinforce the rumors of amnesia… … .'

While I was pondering, the demon that had been pinned against the wall jumped out towards me.

I had no choice but to cut him down without using the <Moonlight Sword>.

Of course, the guy's body wasn't cut down as coolly as it was when he was a two-horned demon.

The demon's body was as hard as metal, and to cut it, you had to use 'mana'.

Kwaaaaak──!

However, Yurian, or more precisely 'I', was able to cut it without using Aura.

The newly acquired <Insight> trait allowed me to target weak points to the point where I could cut without using mana.

By placing the blade on the sword path, you can continue to inflict minor wounds, although not fatal ones.

“Words, nonsense… without even coming.”

Behind her, Linne muttered to herself in a flustered tone.

I was also extremely embarrassed.

You're cutting down a demon's body without even an aura.

After repeating several times without using 'Aura', the demon's body became like a rag.

Kiek, kieeeek──!

The cry of a demon steeped in fear.

The guy who was crying with a voice that was like a desperate scream soon fell to the ground.

He died from excessive bleeding.

“If you had used the Moonlight Sword, it would have ended in one go. Why didn’t you use it?”

“Because that’s more fun.”

“…….”

A crazy, cross-eyed villain.

When I think back to the lines he uttered, I realize once again what a crazy guy he was.