Chapter 33

Episode 33

“I heard the Viscount’s youngest daughter is quite ill. I’d like Jericho to examine her. Could you take us to her?”

I phrased it as a request, not an order. I was using a combination of carrot and stick, and it was time for the carrot.

The sudden deployment of investigators was the stick. This request was the carrot.

If I kept using the stick, he might regain his composure.

I needed Nielsen to make a mistake. And he was a seasoned head steward. If he regained his composure, we might fall into a trap.

“If the Viscount is in critical condition, shouldn’t we ensure the well-being of his family? Don’t worry Jericho will do a better job this time.”

“…”

I even offered an indirect apology for Jericho’s supposedly inadequate examination of the Viscount.

Nielsen sighed and bowed his head.

“I’ll take you to the young lady. This way, please.”

We should have been searching for the altar, which was likely located in a secret chamber in the basement. I had deployed the investigators as a distraction.

Jericho glanced at me, but I just smiled.

We wouldn’t be worthy of the name ‘Lucius Inspection Unit’ if we couldn’t handle a minor change of plans.

The location where the first victim’s body had been found, according to the investigation records, was the most likely place to find the demon worship altar.

It was described as ‘an ancestral shrine’.

High-ranking families often had shrines dedicated to their ancestors. It was a symbol of their history and prestige.

If there was a demon worship altar, it would be the perfect place to conceal it. It would add a symbolic layer of meaning, suggesting that they were corrupting the souls of their ancestors.

When investigating a crime, it was crucial to think like the suspect.

Nielsen had been working for this family for a long time. He would likely choose a location that was both significant and discreet.

“Head Steward, I noticed some new decorations.”

Jericho couldn’t resist asking. Nielsen chuckled nervously.

“We brought out some of our stored items for our esteemed guests. Most of them were carved by the Viscount himself.”

“He makes furniture as well?”

“No, sir. We commission a craftsman in town.”

“Hmm, impressive.”

Jericho’s lighthearted remark eased the tension.

We continued walking.

The youngest daughter’s room was on the second floor. We climbed the grand staircase and entered the left corridor.

Even a Viscount’s daughter couldn’t escape the family’s fate.

*Creak*

The door creaked open, sending a shiver down my spine.

The room was shabby and neglected. The young lady lay on a stained bed, seemingly lifeless.

“This is Lady Ronia, the youngest daughter of House Cliff.”

“She looks terrible.”

Her skin was not only pale but also tinged with yellow. Was this what a naturally mummified body looked like?

Her bones protruded, as if her life force was being drained.

And I could sense the ‘demonic energy’.

‘Demonic Sense’ activated as I approached her. The faint aura I had sensed earlier was now palpable.

He couldn’t conceal it completely.

“Jericho, use your healing magic to replenish her strength.”

“Yes, Inspector! I’ll do my best!”

Jericho placed his hand on her chest, channeling his magical energy, just like he had done with Viscount Hamilton.

To an untrained eye, it looked like healing magic.

Skilled doctors often knew a bit of white magic.

But Jericho’s true talent lay elsewhere. He seamlessly cast a double spell, embedding a detection spell within the healing magic.

He was using ‘real magic’.

I hadn’t figured this out myself Jericho had informed me beforehand.

He was gradually revealing his true abilities.

Lady Ronia’s body glowed with a blue light, and color returned to her face.

“It seems to be working.”

“Impressive. Sir Jericho is quite skilled.”

“I told you, didn’t I? He’s a doctor who graduated from the Kalisto Academy with honors. And he’s in Lady Lucia’s good graces.”

Nielsen’s eyes narrowed. I could sense his killing intent. He had decided to eliminate us.

That was exactly what I wanted.

Demon worshippers usually had a true form. If we could force him to reveal it and defeat him, we would have undeniable evidence.

The lack of holy water and demonic protection gear was a concern, but I was no longer the inexperienced Inspector from our first mission.

I had the ‘Sword of Chaos’, which enhanced my potential.

The ‘Black Wind Bow’, which could fire multiple shots using aura.

The ‘Skin of Arachne’, which absorbed impacts.

And, although it was embarrassing to admit, I had the ‘BYC’ for enhanced physical performance.

And one more thing.

I had the ‘Mental Fortitude Potion’, which I never wanted to drink again.

Armed with these artifacts, I felt confident.

Selendis, who had reached a high level of skill, would be a valuable asset. And if we were lucky, we might even witness Jericho’s true power.

“Nielsen, could you bring us a clean spoon? I need to administer a potion.”

Nielsen gestured to a maid, who brought us a bowl and a spoon.

Jericho retrieved the Mental Fortitude Potion we had consumed earlier.

“This potion enhances mental fortitude. It’ll help her regain consciousness.”

“It must be a rare potion. Thank you on behalf of the Viscount.”

“It’s nothing. My mentor always said that illness doesn’t wait for a doctor.”

Jericho carefully administered the potion. There were no visible changes, but it would buy us some time before we confronted Nielsen.

“That’s all.”

The maid left with the bowl and spoon. Jericho glanced at me, and I addressed Nielsen.

“We need to discuss our next course of action. Please wait for us in the lobby.”

“Yes, sir.”

As soon as Nielsen left, Jericho made a hand gesture. His movements were fluid and graceful, like an orchestra conductor.

*『Enclave.』*

I felt a surge of magical energy as he uttered the activation word.

“What kind of magic is that?”

“It isolates this room from the outside world. It’ll be difficult for anyone to hear or sense us.”

“I’ve never heard of that spell.”

Jericho shrugged. It wasn’t important right now.

“I found a pentagram carved on the young lady’s heart. Nielsen must have temporarily suppressed the demonic energy. He’s planning to use her as a sacrifice when we leave. As you know, Inspector, it’s a common ritual. Stabbing a virgin’s heart filled with blood.”

He gritted his teeth, suggesting that he had a personal grudge against demons.

“The other victims were probably killed in a similar manner.”

“You saved her life, Jericho.”

“Me? Hahaha, no. It was your decision to change our plans, Inspector.”

“I wanted to give Nielsen time to think. I needed him to decide to eliminate us.”

“So you’ve decided to fight.”

I nodded.

“Don’t misunderstand me, Selendis. I’m not doing this because I’m afraid of Lord Hylix. I’m acting in the best interests of the Lady and the Inspection Unit.”

“I understand, Master.”

“You’re a true leader, Inspector. Don’t worry too much. I have experience fighting demonic beasts.”

“Have you fought demons as well?”

There was a fundamental difference between demonic beasts and demons.

Demonic beasts were monsters corrupted by demonic energy. But demons were pure evil, born in the demon realm. They were incredibly powerful.

Jericho smiled enigmatically and shrugged.

“Let’s go. We need to find the altar.”

“Lead the way.”

Jericho snapped his fingers, and the ‘Enclave’ spell dissipated. We left the room and went downstairs. Nielsen was waiting in the lobby, accompanied by several unfamiliar butlers.

“Did your meeting go well?”

“Yes. Our next destination is the location where the first victim died. You mentioned an altar.”

“…It’s not an altar. It’s an ancestral shrine.”

“Take us there.”

I had assumed he would lead us to the basement.

But he headed in the opposite direction.

We arrived at the top floor. It was a spacious room filled with ancestral tablets and portraits of the family’s most distinguished members.

It looked like an ordinary shrine.

But there was one item that seemed newer than the others: a marble table large enough to accommodate a human body.

My instincts screamed.

“Where was the servant’s body found?”

“Over there.”

Nielsen pointed to a corner of the room, not the marble table.

“You’re saying her body was found here, stabbed?”

“Yes, sir.”

I retrieved Jericho’s special potion from my pocket.

I poured half of it on the spot Nielsen had indicated.

*Sizzle*

“What are you doing? This is a sacred place, dedicated to the ancestors of House Cliff…”

“Are you defying the Lucius Inspection Unit?”

Nielsen fell silent. We watched as the floor changed color.

The potion reacted to bloodstains, similar to luminol. It didn’t produce a fluorescent glow, but it created a dark red stain wherever blood had been spilled.

And now, a dark red stain was spreading across the floor.

As expected, there wasn’t much blood.

“What’s that marble table used for?”

“We use it for prayers. We used to place candles on it, but we’ve removed them.”

“Candles. Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you, Inspector.”

I chuckled and walked towards the table. I poured the rest of the potion on it.

*Sizzle*

The reaction was more intense this time.

The entire surface of the table turned dark red.

“What are you doing? You’re desecrating our family shrine! Are you trying to insult the Church?”

Nielsen protested.

I tossed the empty vial aside and explained.

“This potion reveals bloodstains. No matter how thoroughly you clean it, it’ll turn red if there’s even a trace of blood. Which means this table wasn’t used for candles. It was used for human sacrifices. The blood of your victims, disguised as suicides, must have stained this altar.”

“…”

“You’re worried about insulting the Church? Call them if you want. You’ll be the one accused of heresy.”

*Hum*

The room plunged into darkness. A wave of demonic energy washed over us, as if we had been dragged into the abyss.

*『…You’re courting death, O’Brien Walker.』*

A raspy, menacing voice echoed through the darkness.

Red eyes gleamed in the shadows.