I Only Talked About the Quest Content

7 – Episode 1. How a Rascal Regains Trust (7)

“I apologize, Lord Abel.”

After Clara emptied the basket and bowed courteously, her knees touching the ground, she apologized. It seemed reason returned with the alleviation of hunger.

I waved my hand, indicating that it was alright.

Normally, I could hold someone accountable for rudeness towards nobility, but being a cultured modern person, I decided to overlook it generously.

“More importantly.”

“If you come too close, there might be a smell.”

As I approached discreetly, she took a step back.

“It’s been fine since you entered.”

“….”

Her face turned red with embarrassment. I knew it was a rather indifferent remark, but I had no reason to treat Clara differently or make a spectacle out of it.

[Clara’s Survival Secured 1/1]

[Subjugation of Demon Worshipers 0/14]

The quest window, now succinctly summarized, showed one condition fulfilled. Now, all that remained was to eliminate all the demon worshipers and take her to the duke’s mansion.

“Can you hand me that nameplate for now?”

I pointed to the nameplate lying next to her. Clara hastily handed it to me, bowing her head.

“Ah, yes. I apologize for touching it with dirty hands. Oops! I’m sorry! I’ve inconvenienced Lord Abel by touching his hand with my dirty ones…”

“Enough with the apologies.”

I chuckled blandly and hung it around my neck.

“But really, are you not a witch?”

“Sure. No problem. I’ll prove it.”

Although I’ve never heard of an item called Magi Jungwhasoo, judging by its Chinese characters, it’s likely a tree that purifies magi.

It probably serves to purify her magi.

I don’t know who’s sending the quest, but unlike the original, the intention to make Clara live as a saint is clear.

“So, what should I do now?”

“You’re going to the duke’s mansion. If you stay here, demon worshippers might try to kidnap you.”

“Is it really okay, though? They won’t really harm me?”

I still find it suspicious.

I send a skeptical glance, slightly shrugging my shoulders.

This is better. Much better than the foolish saint who knows nothing but being generous without any thought, like in other works.

At least, I can firmly confront those with evil intentions.

“I told you. I’ll make you happy. I’ll give you everything you desire—a rich meal, clean clothes that make you feel good just by looking at them, and a warm bed so you won’t be cold anymore.”

“…Yes.”

She nods slightly.

This should be acceptable to some extent.

From now on, I have one thing to ask of her. The quest isn’t over yet.

“But before realizing that happiness, there’s one thing… I’d like to ask.”

“As expected…”

Clara’s expression darkens abruptly.

“Like you said, there’s no favor without any cost. That’s why I believe that demanding something in return will build more trust between us.”

“…… I see.”

I understand and agree with her opinion.

Perhaps it’s because she’s relieved of her hunger, she doesn’t scream or resist anymore. It’s much easier to have a conversation now that I can make rational judgments.

“So, what do you want from me?”

“I hope you can release your power for a moment if you leave this house. Not too much, just a little. Just enough for people nearby to witness.”

The followers of demons will show respect to knights. That’s because knights don’t usually visit the lower class areas unless there’s a problem.

First, I will show the demon worshippers who are observing us Clara’s infected mana. Like she’s a witch.

And then draw them in. In our favor.

It’s my prediction that there won’t be an immediate battle. They know they have no chance of winning if they fight the knights head-on.

They will probably try to gather their comrades and attack all at once.

“Can you do it?”

“T-That… are you asking me to do it? Even though you know what happened to me because of that?!”

“I know. They tried to kill you after seeing your power.”

It must have been a severe trauma. To the point where she actually wanted to die.

“But still, we have to do it.”

“What on earth do you want, Sir Abel?”

What do I want?

I want to live. I f*cking want to live.

I didn’t want to be dropped into this world and die without doing anything. But if I worded it like that, I would only be treated like a weirdo.

“I want to… save you.”

Her expression, which had been overshadowed, gradually changed to surprise.

The light shining through the cracks in the boards revealed vitality in her enlarged blue eyes.

“Even if you think I’ve already died once, I hope you can believe in me just this once. I will never disappoint you.”

“……”

Clara opened her mouth and then closed it. She repeated this several times. She seemed to know that she had to respond to my words, but she couldn’t figure out what to say.

Eventually.

“…I understand. I’ll trust you just this once.”

“Thank you.”

Now that I had received her answer, there was no need to stay here any longer.

“Let’s leave right away.”

I brushed off the dust and stood up. It was fortunate that there didn’t seem to be any special luggage to take care of.

“And since it could be dangerous, let’s cover our faces and bodies with my robe for now.”

As I took off the robe, I said. When I tried to drape it over her shoulders, she vigorously shook her head in refusal.

“No, I can’t. If I wear that, it’ll become dirty and all…”

“If it gets dirty, you can wash it. Just put it on.”

Partly forcing it, I wrapped the robe around her shoulders and fastened the buttons. I even pulled up the hood to ensure that her snow-white hair wouldn’t be exposed.

“The followers of the demons will know about you. It’s best to hide as much as possible.”

Come to think of it, why haven’t the followers of the demons been able to find Clara yet?

On the way to the slums, I observed the appearance of the city dwellers, but there was not a single person with white hair like her.

If rumors had spread in the village, there would surely have been talk about her appearance as well.

Especially if her hair is white, it would have stood out more…

Should I investigate this later?

“Let’s go, Clara.”

“…Yes.”

As if she was afraid to go outside, she took slow steps. I opened the door and waited for her to come out.

As she stepped barefoot on the dirt ground, she squinted her eyes in the sunlight. Adjusting her hood, she lowered her head and hid behind me.

“Is the conversation over?”

“Yes.”

As I opened the door and stepped out, Fors approached and asked.

“Oh, is the child a witch?”

“She’s mistaken for a witch, but… let’s just say she is, for now.”

“I don’t understand the meaning. Anyway, you must know that Lady Gaju’s order to kill is not just for demon worshippers.”

Fors glanced at Clara and said. Clara, meeting his gaze, cowered even more.

“Witches save lives. It’s something even Father has approved.”

“…Is that so?”

He, who had been looking at me suspiciously, seemed to be pondering with a troubled expression.

“We’ll confirm that later. So, what will you do now? There’s no sign of demon worshippers anywhere.”

“I plan to investigate from now on.”

I turned to Clara.

She hesitated, clasped her hands together, and tightly closed her eyes. Her posture seemed like she was praying to someone.

Before long, a black aura began to emanate from her shoulders like a thorny vine.

The knights who had been on guard turned hastily as if sensing something. Their mouths dropped open when they saw this side.

“What the heck?!”

“A black aura?!”

Even Porth, like the other knights, was astonished. Stepping back reflexively, he drew his sword.

“Abel! Are you really sure she’s not a witch?!”

Porth pointed his sword towards me, or more precisely, towards Clara behind me.

Clara, intimidated by his energy, erased the aura. She stuck close to me, doing her best to protect herself.

“I-I told you…! I tried not to do this because I thought this kind of reaction would happen…!”

“It’s okay.”

Yeah, it’s okay.

It seems like the quest is about to begin in earnest.

I glanced at the quest window briefly displayed next to me, witnessing its transformation.

[The quest window will temporarily expand.]

[Prepare to subjugate the demon worshippers who have infiltrated the Franc City.]

[The locations of the demon worshippers will be marked with coordinates.]

[Demon Worshipper Subjugation Count 0/14]

[Time remaining until subjugation begins: 08:01:51]

Instead of text, a map presumed to be of Franc City unfolded in the quest window, marking something with red dots. It seemed to indicate the locations of the demon worshippers.

Looking at the time remaining until the subjugation begins, it seems they plan to attack at dawn.

However, why are there fifteen points but only fourteen enemies to defeat? It must have some meaning…

I was pondering over this question while looking at the quest window.

“Sir Abel!”

Before I could find the answer to my confusion, his agitated voice pierced my ears. I calmly turned my head a few times before speaking.

“Forrest, please calm down. A veteran knight should not be flustered by such matters.”

“What are you…! We need to kill them right away! Before that woman summons the demons!!”

His thunderous shout echoed through the slums.

As expected, the slum dwellers, who were already on guard, started murmuring. The surroundings became noisy, as if there really was a witch.

“Forrest. The authority is currently in my hands.”

“This is an unreasonable command! How can you let the impure ones live! Even Lord Ga-ju wouldn’t want that!”

“There’s no time for arguing. They’re about to move.”

“They…?”

I pointed my hand towards a building in the distance. Maybe because it was the medieval era, the height of the building wasn’t that tall.

“They were watching us from there.”

“What…!”

The knights turned their heads at my words. Glancing at the quest window, I saw the coordinates of the person who had tried to deceive me were moving. The person who was on the other side also moved.

Were there only two people watching us?

It would be meaningless if we didn’t crush them all.

“Are you trying to lie in this situation?”

“Lie? Did you just accuse me of lying, Forrest?”

“…Yes.”

I took a step closer to Pors. Looking up at him, I warned him with my words.

“Pors, can you take responsibility for what you said? If later it turns out that your words were wrong and mine were right, what will you do then?”

“But… How could Abel even notice something that even other knights didn’t…?”

“Whether you believe me or not is up to Pors to decide, but I’m not foolish enough to lie unnecessarily in a situation like this.”

I confronted Pors boldly as I spoke, glancing briefly at the quest window.

“Huh…?”

The two points that started moving at my fingertips were heading towards a particularly clustered area. Are they trying to join the others?

As I silently stared at the quest window, I came up with a plan to turn the tables.

“Now, our business in the slums is finished. Let’s go back.”

“But we haven’t dealt with the demon worshippers yet. Going back…”

“Let’s go back. I have other plans.”

He wanted to argue with me but remained silent when he looked at the nameplate.

He may not like following my words, but he probably dislikes betraying his loyalty to Houston even more.

I did the right thing persuading Houston. If I had mindlessly rushed here, I would have had to confront Pors as well.

By the time knights and I were leaving the slums, I called out to Pors who was behind me.

“…Pors.”

“Yes?”

I twisted the corner of my mouth as I looked at him.

There’s no need to wait for the opponent to strike. It’s a preemptive victory.

* @ *

“Good grief!”

Phylas, affiliated with the Verall Order, chose to flee upon seeing Abel’s finger. No, he had no choice but to.

He knew that if the attention of the knights gathered, his life would be in danger.

Yet, he didn’t seem to have the means to rescue the witch surrounded by the knights without risking his life.

“Hey! Didn’t they call Abel Sirius an incompetent?!”

Phylas asked his colleague who was watching alongside him.

“Even if the others don’t know, it’s certain that Abel Sirius is incompetent.”

“Then how did he accurately pinpoint my position?”

“I… I don’t know either. How did he recognize us from that distance? It seemed like even the knights didn’t notice.”

It was incomprehensible.

Considering the considerable distance between them and Abel, it wasn’t easy for even a very perceptive person to read their movements.

Let alone Abel.

It was bewildering to witness the bizarre sight of the supposedly incompetent Abel, known throughout the empire, accurately pinpointing his location.

“Damn it. Anyway, now that he knows who the witch is, we have to inform the others.”

“Yeah. Since we’ve found the witch, this matter is over. Now we can subdue the ancient demons we’ve longed for.”

“Yes. Finally.”

They rushed forward, exhilarated at the thought of what the appearance of the demons in this world would be like, unaware of the future that awaited them.