Chapter 29

Episode 29

“This is desolate. And this is supposed to be a Viscount’s town?”

Jericho remarked, his voice laced with disappointment. We were walking towards the castle, observing our surroundings.

This territory was known for its treacherous terrain and abundance of monsters. As a result, the soldiers here were generally better trained than those in other territories.

But the patrolling soldiers we encountered looked weary and malnourished. They paled in comparison to the guards at the Duke’s castle.

They seemed like empty shells.

I suddenly felt concerned for the merchant leader.

Would he be able to find competent mercenaries in this place?

“I understand why you were suspicious of the ebony wood, Master. The situation is worse than I reported. This isn’t the time for them to be stockpiling luxury goods.”

“We can’t be sure yet. But it’s good to have a working theory.”

“Dark magic… I’m excited to think we might encounter something I’ve only read about in books.”

“You sound like you’re hoping for it.”

“Hahaha, not necessarily. But it would be a good opportunity for the Inspection Unit to grow. We could establish a connection with the Church.”

We continued walking. The Viscount’s castle finally came into view.

It was just as desolate as the town. It was crumbling and neglected, devoid of any grandeur despite its imposing size.

“I visited this place once before, during an academy monster subjugation project. It wasn’t this bad back then… Hmm?”

Jericho, who had been muttering to himself, stopped abruptly.

I stopped as well.

Not because of Jericho, but because of a strange sensation. My mind went blank, and the static noise I had experienced before returned.

But this time, it was different.

‘This is…’

The fragmented words coalesced into a coherent message.

*— Demonic energy detected.*

*— ‘Demonic Sense’ skill acquired.*

*— You can now sense demonic energy and have increased resistance to it.*

Was this what I had felt yesterday?

It was my first system message since possessing this body. Any web novel reader would recognize it.

Technically, it wasn’t a status window.

I couldn’t summon it at will, and it wasn’t visually displayed.

It was a divine revelation, a voice booming in my head.

I was stunned.

Then, a wave of relief washed over me. I had finally received a system message.

‘Did my increased reputation from the Inspection Unit activities trigger this?’

It was a likely scenario. Reputation points were a common feature in games.

Perhaps the system had always been there, and I had simply been unaware of it.

But my joy was short-lived.

The system message had revealed something else, something far more disturbing than a new skill.

Demonic energy.

‘My deductions were just the tip of the iceberg.’

‘Demonic Sense’ seemed to be a passive skill, activated automatically. I could sense a faint aura emanating from the Viscount’s castle.

I wouldn’t know how the skill worked until I encountered the source of the energy.

‘It’s not dark magic it’s demonic energy. What a delightful mission Oracle, or rather, Lord Hylix, has given us.’

This mission wasn’t just a test.

It was also a way for them to get rid of something they didn’t want to handle themselves.

‘Well, I suppose that’s what it takes to be the eldest son of the Duke.’

Perhaps they, like us, had mistakenly believed it was just dark magic. But this was beyond their control.

It was a troublesome mission, regardless of the cause.

“Jericho, did you forget something at the inn?”

He snapped out of his daze, startled.

“N-no, Master. Nothing at all. Ahem! Hmm!”

“That’s not the face of someone who forgot nothing.”

“I’m telling you, it’s nothing!”

He was avoiding my gaze.

I understood.

Dark magic was a branch of magic. Any mage with knowledge and experience could identify it.

But demonic energy was different.

It was a primal force, recognized only by those who had encountered demons or demonic beasts.

If Jericho had sensed the demonic energy, it meant he was not only a skilled mage but also someone who had faced demons or demonic beasts.

That was why he was hesitant to tell me the truth.

His official identity was a doctor, a graduate of the academy with honors.

“Everyone, over here.”

We stepped off the road and entered the forest, seeking privacy. I channeled my aura, scanning for potential eavesdroppers.

“Master, is something wrong?”

Selendis placed her hand on her sword hilt. I raised my hands, calming her down.

“The situation has changed. We need to share some information before we meet the Viscount. I believe Jericho sensed it as well.”

“…”

Judging by her reaction, Selendis hadn’t sensed the demonic energy.

The world of ‘Queen Maker’, like most fantasy games, had its own lore regarding demons and the demon realm.

How did I know this, despite never playing the game?

It was simple.

House Kalisto was renowned for its swordsmanship and its powerful knights, but its library was also highly regarded for its academic value.

Any family with a long and illustrious history would have a vast collection of books.

I had spent countless hours in the Kalisto library during my time as an assistant, reading about the history and lore of this world.

I had an excellent memory, so I had no trouble understanding the world-building.

And besides, it was based on a game, so it was relatively straightforward.

According to official records, this world had been separated from the demon realm for thousands of years.

In ancient times, humans had interacted with demons. But a sudden invasion had devastated the human world. They had barely managed to repel the demons, driving them back to their realm.

Since then, even mentioning demons was considered heresy.

The fear of demons had faded over time, but the Church remained vigilant. Being accused of heresy was a serious matter.

Jericho’s reaction was understandable, given this context.

Dark magic and demonic energy were on completely different levels.

“It seems I was wrong. The people of House Cliff aren’t addicted to dark magic. And it’s definitely not forbidden magic.”

“What do you mean, Master? We haven’t even started the investigation.”

“It’s something far more serious. And I’m not the only one who sensed it. Jericho did as well.”

Selendis witnessed Jericho flinch. Her expression turned serious.

“I sensed a faint demonic aura emanating from the castle. Traces of demons. They call it ‘demonic energy’, right?”

“…Demonic energy?”

“Yes. I don’t know why, but it’s definitely there. Jericho, stop being silent. Say something. I won’t ask about your identity.”

“…”

Jericho hesitated, then sighed.

“Yes, Master. I sensed it as well. It was definitely demonic energy. I’m certain.”

“Jericho, have you ever fought demons?”

“Selendis, stop. I said I wouldn’t ask about his identity.”

Selendis lowered her head, obeying my command. Jericho licked his lips.

“I’ve encountered demonic beasts before. That’s how I recognize demonic energy. It was quite dangerous.”

There was a fundamental difference between demonic beasts and monsters.

The key distinction was the presence of demonic energy. Monsters became demonic beasts when they were corrupted by demonic energy.

Demonic beasts were far more ferocious and dangerous than ordinary monsters. And they were incredibly rare.

Jericho had used vague language, but the fact that he had participated in a subjugation force suggested that he was a highly skilled mage.

But that was a conversation for another time.

“We don’t know what we’ll encounter inside the castle. Be on your guard.”

“I wish I had brought some demonic protection gear.”

“I wish we had sent for an Inquisitor.”

“That’s true. Master, are you sure you want to proceed with the investigation?”

I didn’t hesitate.

“We have our orders from the Lady. We have to complete this mission. We might be playing into the eldest son’s hands, but I’m sure the Lady has a plan. Let’s focus on that.”

“Yes, Master!”

“As you command, Master.”

I reassured them, then we rode towards the castle.

“Jericho, any tips on avoiding demonic corruption?”

“The most effective method is to wear demonic protection gear coated in holy water. It’s expensive, but it works. But for now, the best defense is a strong mind. You need an iron will, immune to temptation.”

“Selendis and I are fine in that regard. But I’m worried about you, Jericho.”

“Don’t worry, Master. I have magic, so I have some resistance. I just need to stay focused and ignore the voices in my head.”

We reached the main gate, and soldiers armed with spears blocked our path. They looked healthier than the town guards, perhaps because they worked at the castle.

The demonic aura intensified. It was stronger than when I had received the system message.

What were they hiding?

“State your business.”

“I am O’Brien Walker of the Lucius Inspection Unit. We’re here to conduct an investigation. Take us to your lord.”

I presented the warrant, bearing the Kalisto family crest and Lady Lucia’s signature. The soldiers inspected it and opened the gate.

“Welcome, members of the Inspection Unit. You must be tired from your journey. I am Nielsen, the head steward.”

A distinguished middle-aged man wearing a monocle greeted us at the entrance.

I felt a sense of unease, but I couldn’t pinpoint the cause.

“We received a letter from the main castle. We were instructed to treat you with the utmost respect.”

“We’re not here for a vacation. We’re here to investigate the unfortunate events that have occurred.”

“The Viscount is waiting for you. Please, follow me.”

The castle was dilapidated compared to Baron Gerard’s. The paintings were covered in cobwebs, and the weapons were rusted.

It was the perfect setting for a ghost story.

We followed the stained carpet to the Viscount’s office.

Hamilton, the Viscount of Cliff.

He was pale and frail, lacking the presence of a lord. If it weren’t for his crown, I would have mistaken him for a servant.

His eyes were sunken, and he looked drained. It was likely due to a combination of malnutrition and demonic influence.

“Welcome, Inspector. I apologize for not greeting you at the gate. I’m not feeling well… Cough, cough! Ugh… If you had sent word ahead, I would have sent someone to escort you.”

An idea struck me.