Chapter 45

The Demon Hunting Method Of The Regressed Inquisitor 45

My ■■■ (4)

Kurud was standing right in the middle of the path leading to the aqueduct.

Of course, the aqueduct is where all the city’s waterways converge. It would be right to patrol around the aqueduct periodically, but there was no need for that.

“I hoped it wouldn’t be.”

He had already roughly guessed who would come.

And that was probably the same for Rost as well. It was a situation that could be said to be urgent.

If the ＜Eroding One＞ could move based on the time the kid was murdered, it had to move immediately.

But Rost stopped by the merchant guild to purchase various necessary supplies.

With Kurud in tow.

The meaning of that could not be missed.

“Old Anne.”

“Oh dear, have I been caught?”

When Rost talked about the ＜Eroding One＞ earlier, he revealed that he had already told Anne.

It’s quite important information.

No matter how bad the relationship is, it’s the kind of information that should be shared.

Yet Anne did not tell Kurud about that information. Anne, who was siding with him.

“Since when? Since when did you betray this city? I thought of you as someone close to a parent, if not a parent…”

“Of course. Because I acted that way.”

Made it that way.

Sharing food with him, providing him with a job.

Supporting him, celebrating with him.

All of that was just actions to make him think that way.

“Then, didn’t you know I would act like this?”

“I knew. You grew up to be a righteous and responsible child.”

“Why did you do it? If you knew I could stand in your way like this, you shouldn’t have done it.”

“If I had intended to make you a slave, I would have done so.”

“……”

“You needed education. It was a shame to let that brilliant talent go to waste. That’s all there was to it.”

Anne does not like this city enough to say she wants to protect it.

But at the same time, she has no ill feelings towards it either.

She raised Kurud not to scheme something, but simply because she wanted to.

Therefore, her kindness was never false.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden…?”

Thus, Kurud could not understand. How could she so easily abandon the city they had spent over a decade together in?

Could she easily abandon a city filled with memories of over a decade?

“Everything changes according to the situation. I wasn’t pleased with this situation at first either…”

Anne looked up at the sky.

The rain-filled sky, heavy with dark clouds, was familiar and even endearing.

But now, it was time to end it.

“Because He wishes it, I simply follow.”

“Him…?”

“Yes, just as you feel grateful to me, I also have someone I feel that way towards. Someone I am grateful to the point of giving my life.”

“Did that ‘He’ say he wants to see this city destroyed?”

“Who knows. Maybe everything I’m saying now is a lie. Maybe I truly wanted to save this city, who can tell.”

“This is not the time for wordplay. Anne, speak clearly.”

“Well then…”

Anne took out a book from her bosom. The book seemed to open on its own and poured out colorful lights.

“It means to step aside.”

Crash!

With a clear sound, something around Anne shattered.

Kurud froze in the posture of thrusting his spear. He had already prepared for the moment she took out the strange book.

But it seemed he was already too late by the time she took out the book.

“A scroll?”

A type of magical tool that anyone could use.

Scrolls are expensive.

Even those who can create them are few in number, and even if they do, they can only contain magic two circles lower than their own level.

Therefore, the existing scrolls can contain a maximum of 5 to 6 circle magic.

Even Duke Foris, the Archmage, can only contain 5 circle magic, and there is only one person on this vast continent who can contain higher-level magic.

Therefore, items beyond that are rare artifacts made in the previous generation.

They are already special in power and efficiency, and their rarity is exceptional.

“To bind such things into a book…?”

How much money would that have cost? No matter how much Anne is one of the masters of the Merchant Guild, she cannot have such items laid out.

“Then, would you fight a kid who has reached the level of a master with your bare hands?”

Boom!

This time, it was a massive explosion.

A 5-circle level magic. In other words, it is a special product created by a magician of at least 7 circles.

“Ugh!”

No matter how much one has reached the level of a master, it is difficult to fully block such large-scale bombardment magic that unfolds without casting time.

Kurud retreated helplessly.

“The level of a master is truly amazing. After all, the Empire is also focusing its efforts on creating knights at the master level.”

The recorded spells pour out from the book Anne is holding.

In a situation where items that must have cost astronomical amounts of money are being used like water, Kurud could not help but break into a cold sweat.

“Even 5-circle magic is blocked so easily, so it’s not wrong.”

Anne, holding the book in one hand, this time pulled out a gun.

She is a merchant. She can get such weapons as much as she wants.

Bang! Bang!

The accuracy is terrible, but she has the scroll book. The gun has done its job just by being used for deterrence.

“But you see, that’s because it’s cheaper.”

No matter how powerful a country is, most of what commoners can do is work their bodies.

If feeding, housing, and teaching them how to wield a sword can raise them to the level of a master, it’s a profitable business.

“That also means this.”

Shhh!

The book emits light.

The scrolls activate simultaneously, coloring the surroundings with various lights.

“It means there are more expensive and convenient ways like this.”

Kurud is the master of the Hunter’s Guild. Everyone in the city knows the truth about his exceptional skills.

Why would someone come alone to face such an existence?

“Kid, I know you.”

Anne quietly spoke as she looked at Kurud, who was shaking like a ship adrift in a magical storm.

“To a merchant, knowledge is a weapon, and gold is power.”

And she possessed both. Therefore, she could easily gain the upper hand against Kurud.

No, it was even easier than when she came to kill Lilia.

The level of the monster she was facing was different.

“You are righteous and kind-hearted. You have an attachment to the city. I can assure you that you have grown well, and the result of my support is not bad at all.”

Anne was sincere.

At least, she had no ill feelings about supporting Kurud. She genuinely believed that having more good people in the world was a good thing.

“But where would a merchant find a more willing opponent than a fool?”

She was not a good person.

She wanted more good people in the world.

“I wanted to boast about how wonderful you have become to him…”

She, who was once an orphan, had risen to become the master of the Merchant’s Guild.

There was someone who taught her how to live and how to think.

For him, Anne would gladly die. If he wished for it, she would do it, no matter how suspicious it seemed.

Her mentor had never once asked for such a thing.

Even when she brought expensive and rare items, he returned them several times, never showing jealousy or greed.

Because he was such a person, Anne could do anything.

“This is my reason, Kurud.”

That was the reason for her life.

An indiscriminate bombardment, as if she didn’t even want to look at his face.

Kurud, who was on the defensive, unable to counterattack or even resist. The outcome seemed obvious.

But in that one-sided situation.

Bang!

With the sound of a gunshot, a bright beam of light, Claire Ryan’s sniper shot, pierced Anne’s unguarded shoulder.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

*     *      *

Four bullets embedded in her limbs. They did not have much effect.

Just as I couldn’t completely block the aura, the divine power was the same, but it was a hastily made bullet of divine power.

It couldn’t produce great power.

“Ugh…”

The four bullets were certainly lodged in, but the wounds were not large.

The caliber and bullet marks are different.

Even if not completely, it partially deflected the divine power. In the end, it means that it can be avoided unless it contains a certain level of power.

Moreover, the most miserable thing is…

“It’s really annoying to the point of disgust.”

Even if you pierce the limbs and penetrate the vital points, it doesn’t stop.

Regeneration is always something I feel, but it’s truly horrifying.

“How dare you… How dare you to me…”

“Well, I don’t know why you’re so dazed about how special you are.”

Bang!

Did the mockery go too far? Its power is stronger than before.

Even just brushing against my fingers, it tore my flesh, and that wasn’t even its full power. It’s truly horrifyingly unreasonable.

Clang!

It’s a big attack gap.

But I can’t counterattack. It’s impossible to pour bullets into the gap like before.

When I come to my senses, the attack is already right in front of me.

If I somehow deal with it, the same thing happens again.

It feels like I’m teetering on a tightrope between life and death.

I’m the one who provoked it. I’m the one who made it pour out all its emotions.

Being exhausted means that the emotions are also somewhat faded.

“Hehehe…”

The attack that had been driving me suddenly stopped.

It’s creepy.

There was no reason for it. It couldn’t not know how regrettable it is to stop attacking in this situation.

Then there was a reason for it.

To save me? To have a conversation? That can’t be.

“Now it seems I don’t even need to do anything, huh?”

“What? Ugh…”

Suddenly, I fell to my knees.

My vision blurred.

My legs gave out. Only then could I look back at myself.

I could see it just by lowering my head.

The pure white priest’s robe stained with blackened blood. It was obvious where that blood was coming from.

“It’s a pity I couldn’t make you like that with my own hands.”

Black blood poured incessantly from my mouth.

My eyes were shedding bloody tears.

The blood that flowed like that pooled under the mask and dripped down.

Without realizing it, the ‘erosion’ was taking my soul away.

Though his physical strength was formidable, I had intended to be cautious of the poison.

But I didn’t expect this.

“Your body is already tainted with ‘erosion’, didn’t you ever think that getting close to me itself was a problem?”

Just being close to a similar existence increased the influence of ‘erosion’.

Exponentially, at that.

The poison that easily swallowed the secret antidote from the Spirine family given by Linea was now trying to swallow me.

“You asked me to tell you why I resent you.”

Lilia approached me.

Her steps were leisurely.

Even though I knew she was getting closer, I couldn’t react.

“You can hear that in hell.”

I knew the chances of winning were low. Nevertheless, it was something I had to do. As the saintess said, the goal was to become a sandbag or remain an insurmountable adversary, but it seemed that was impossible for me.

I did my best. I didn’t think this was something that could be unconditionally successful depending on my mindset.

“Are you resentful? What could you be resentful about? What makes you tremble like that?”

“…It was a close call.”

“Hahaha! You crazy b*stard! I like that you keep bluffing until the end.”

He grabbed my collar and lifted me up.

My vision was already blurred, so I couldn’t see what kind of expression he was making. Titan wouldn’t think of barging in as he initially promised.

Just as he said.

The end. This is my end.

“If you had survived, we could have had that ‘conversation’ you so desired. What a pity, isn’t it? Heehee!”

I wasn’t angry at his mocking words. Rather…

“Keep that promise.”

I made a deal.

I could think that way.

Have I become somewhat more positive in various ways?

I thought I couldn’t even move a finger, but I grabbed the arm of the guy holding my collar.

“I don’t like clingy men.”

“A brat like you talking about men.”

“Heehee!”

A moment of buoyancy.

It was a split second before I realized he had let go of my collar.

Bang!

The impact felt on my face.

Splash!

And the cool sensation of water.

I sank as if being sucked into the sewer.

* * *

Drip.

I heard the sound of water.

Not the raindrops I always heard since coming to Rubia, but the sound of water droplets falling from the ceiling.

I thought I might be dead, but then I felt like it was a dream.

As always. When my weak self was struggling and exhausted, she would give me advice in my dreams.

But when I opened my eyes, what I saw was not the saint in a warm garden tilting a teacup.

“Nice to meet you.”

It was the appearance of a very fragile-looking boy with light purple hair.

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

For some reason, I knew.

This fragile-looking boy, wrapped in bandages all over his body, was the one.

“＜The Eroding One＞.”

The one who made my body like this.

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