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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Secret to Blackmailing Demons
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Beitasser's cathedral stood on the Holy Pantheon Avenue in the heart of Gloridein City. The city's forces hovered impotently outside, forbidden from entering the grounds.
"So, what's the deal? Heretic or inquisitor?"
"Doesn't seem like much difference..."
"Shh! You wanna die?"
The soldiers had cordoned off the Holy Pantheon Avenue. Each parish had officially declared "silence until central forces arrive" and sealed their gates.
Invading temples under seal could provoke grave issues under religious law, international law, and kingdom law alike. Thus, Gloridein's mayor could only wait.
*
The cathedral's prayer room was dimly lit by candlelight. Fernandez limped wearily through the sanctuary door, his eyes heavy with fatigue.
"Halt, brother."
"Whoa, resting in a place like this? I was about to tear the city apart looking for you."
"Hahaha."
Zephys sensed the lingering aura of a flying demon on Fernandez. Yet his eyes and actions showed no sign of corruption. Zephys finally relaxed his expression.
"You named the operation perfectly. Whose idea was it?"
"Mine. How was the real sewer cleaning?"
"Fun."
Seeing a demon after so long, and dungeon crawling after so long—they were fond memories in their own way.
The moment one faces a demon, some lose their sense of self.
The moment one confronts a demon, some gain nightmares for life.
The moment one touches a demon, some proclaim themselves hell's minions.
But to Fernandez, demons were like wicked friends. Long-time, rotten acquaintances. Not affection, but familiarity to that degree.
"What did you see?"
"I beheaded some Cult of Demdrizad bishop. And the demon they worshipped too."
"Demidraco?"
"The real deal. Four heads."
"You felled it?"
"Nope?"
Zephys swallowed hard. If Fernandez hadn't killed it, the Religiosa Demonica's mission wasn't over. He gripped his sword and rose.
"I brought it back."
Fernandez drew a green blade fragment wrapped in a rosary from his bosom. He carefully placed it on the wooden desk. Sizzle—the wood began to rot with a hiss.
"How?"
"Macto Supelaudo."
"...Fine. Won't ask how. What do you plan with it?"
"To fully understand the enemy is to completely destroy it, right?"
Fernandez grinned and tapped the blade fragment.
"I'm going to experiment."
"The Librarium Maledictum will grow richer. Excellent."
Gloridein's Demidraco was destroyed, all involved dead. Hunting hidden remnants wasn't Religiosa Demonica's job. Religiosa Heretica and Religiosa Enmagicka would be dispatched.
Gloridein would now submit to Beitasser Church influence. The mayor and city officials would face "heretic judgments" and be purged.
Thus, Religiosa Demonica's mission was done. Inquisitors always deployed to the fiercest fronts. No reason to linger now that tension eased.
*
[Operation Report: Sewer Cleaning]
Operation Area: Gloridein City Slave Market
Operation Summary: Root out heretical church supplying slaves; track, rescue, local dispatched inquisitors. Purge demon-suspected area. Handle involved parties and witnesses.
Operation Progress:
1) Destruction and annihilation of cult group [Cult of Demdrizad]
2) Killing of large demon specimen [Demidraco]
3) Killing of demon worshipper Baylor Sebastian, Patrol Captain
4) Heretic judgment on city administration; Religiosa Heretica support requested.
Operation Task Force Team:
1) Religiosa Demonica, Zephys Shiradast – Return
2) Religiosa Demonica, Fernandez Cerned – Return
3) Religiosa Heretica, Laurence Debchini – Presumed dead/missing
We shall burn demons, heretics, witches.
Operation Leader: Religiosa Demonica Zephys Shiradast.
*
The spirit messenger Zephys summoned flew out the window clutching the report in its beak. Fernandez grew intrigued by the magic tech without mana residue.
"Can I learn that too?"
"Not personal tech."
Zephys produced a small thurible. A tiny beaded rosary for the wrist.
"Issue to Task Force alphas. You'll get one soon, from the looks."
A relic for semi-permanent magic without mana. Fernandez licked his lips. Wanted to dissect it. But priorities first.
'Know what I love most about being an inquisitor, Feizashi?'
-What?
'Experimenting on demons.'
Fernandez giggled, wrapping the blade in rosary. Feizashi laughed along. The blade fragment quivered.
*
Inquisition Keep. Dragonsting Fortress. St. Bartholomew Monastery. Not [No Entry Except Authorized], but [Unauthorized Entry = Heretic]—a deep, dark sanctum.
A fortress in the gloomiest valley of the Dragonspine Mountains. Cradle of cold, modern urban inquisitors.
-Whooosh!
"Again! You can do it!"
"Glooooryyy!!"
-Whoooosh!
Here, Religiosa Demonica swung deadlifts with glee! Fernandez passed them, great wooden sword over shoulder.
"Ah, brother, no morning hymn?"
"Appointment with Heretica brother."
"Oh, diligent. Sword training?"
Fabiano tossed his barbell, dusting hands as he stood. It sank into the dirt.
"Yeah. Might as well learn properly now."
"Example to us brothers!"
"Macto."
"Macto Supelaudo."
Fernandez bowed to Fabiano and slipped away. The Religiosa Demonica sanctuary's [Combat Hymn Hall] felt like mental corruption.
'I won't end up like that...'
Fernandez had trained under Heretica Allen for a fortnight.
*
Allen was a Grade 2 inquisitor. Meaning he'd risen enough to skip newbie training duties.
But orders were orders. Teach newbies? Fine... Allen scowled, recalling Zephys's request.
Lately, he had worries.
-Boom!
'That Demonica Fernandez' first mission: demon subjugation—no, capture. Huge feat.
Some guys like that pop up. Zephys, Marco, Beorn. Born to smash demons and heretics.
This kid even hogged all church attention. First sainthood in 30 years since 'Saint Fernandez' sealed the pantheon.
"Good. Much better."
Allen nodded, arms crossed. Power distribution even, offense springy. No clue why two-handed greatsword obsession.
"Two-handed greatswords aren't brute force weapons, Brother Fernandez. Demand higher finesse than longsword. Watch."
Allen grabbed Fernandez's wooden sword, spun it quick. Top to bottom, smooth arc. Unhesitant, trajectory now horizontal glide.
"See wrist shift. Cross-grip, rotate—greatsword doesn't kill with strength; deflects attacks, uses length and spin for counters."
"Thanks for the lesson, brother."
Fernandez wiped sweat-soaked brow, took sword back. Swung at air again.
"There, less tension! Loosen shoulders more, drop 'em!"
Allen tapped shoulder with thin rod, correcting. Fine timber indeed.
Fernandez was eager student, insightful swordsman.
-Never thought I'd learn swordplay.
'You have before.'
Mage basics near martial arts. Magic battles: seal foe's spells first. If counters possible, dagger throws or stabs were mage dueling.
Fernandez had wandered as Wildcast half-life.
Boy's body or not, survival skills endured.
Just lacked systematic teaching. This life, miss nothing. Fernandez vowed, swinging. Swordplay, anything learnable.
Before his past life's hand, humanity doomed anyway. He just punctuated fall. To avert? No rest.
"Brother Fernandez. Ready."
An Enmagicka inquisitor approached. Fernandez smiled.
Puzzle time.
*
Inquisition depths: spot ringed by heavy wards and blessings.
(1) Relic Hall
(2) Sealed Sanctuary
(3) Key-Sword Sanctuary
Fernandez, geared in protections, prepared entry to Sealed Sanctuary. Demonica-stored demon relics, sealed demon arms gathered here.
Entry needs two+ Grade 2 Enmagicka. Fernandez beamed.
"Remember: no stigmata or demon seal on first mission? Your rank couldn't enter."
"No worries. With fine priests like you? Safe."
"Demons eat mental flab. No complacency."
Veteran Enmagickas, battle-hardened, dreaded it still. They crossed selves, anointed oil on Fernandez's brow, jaw, shoulders.
"Lord loosens chains with you. Be saved."
"Macto Supelaudo."
Fernandez nodded; they crossed again, opened door.
-Creeeak...
Rusted hinges yielded. Sulfur wind gusted, snuffing torches.
[Shaaace···X'iaaaa..···SSarKia···.Xia···]
Pure evil on hear. Fernandez raised thurible, grinning. Enmagickas hesitated; he entered.
"True Demonica..."
"Bold as that."
Stigmata on Fernandez's back glowed. Demon aura neared; spirit factors in blood spasmed. Veins swelled, heat surged.
'Whoa, whoa. Calm.'
Fernandez steadied, strode to Tetragalan's sealed blade. Sacraments-shrouded, it jerked spotting him.
"Angry, demon?"
[···.]
Fernandez drew tongs, holy water.
"Always wondered."
Carefully tonged blade.
"Demons are spirits, right? Yet at some point, materialize. Feel pain, pleasure too."
Dealing demons: tricky. Blackmailing? Near impossible. Show hell's taste? Or promise heaven?
As mage scholar, Fernandez held sure trump against demons.
"Demon blood: mana-spirit shards. Means body more spirit phenomenon than physical. So how projects physical force?"
[Crave knowledge? Foolish inquisitor. Can you bear... ?]
Fernandez smirked, dripped holy water. Blade's demon writhed in agony.
"How feel pain? Nerves in demon flesh? Sensory organs for spirits?"
Dripped drop by drop.
"Assume demons midway spirit-physical. Trigger shaping spirit to form: manifestation process. Reverse? Dismantle maybe."
[What... want...]
Tetragalan polite now. Sealed arms hushed.
They tensed, listening. No normal inquisitor. Truly... madman.
"Personally curious. Interchange spirit-flesh? Decompose flesh before 6th realm return, snap bonds... Process thrilling."
Tetragalan wanted to scream. Madman wants vivisect soul for demon flesh experiments.
Looked up, saw earnest. Great hell marshal can't fade like this. No 6th realm? Existence erased.
[Want... speak wants...]
"Why Gloridein?"
[What...?]
"Inquisition walk 3 days—not far. Ballsy summon there? You egged. Why?"
Past life: Demdrizad succeeds post-Gloridein fail. His Ashen Twilight Society dealings post-Fairn conquest.
Tetragalan silent. Fernandez shrugged, dunked blade in holy water vial.
[St-stop! Stop!! Br-bronze! Deal Bronze Scales!]
"Bronze Scales?"
"Yes! Control slave hub, tie inquisitors brief... Collapse kingdom at once!"
"Used Gloridein to distract us?"
"Yes! Meanwhile seize Fairn Kingdom instantly!"
Fernandez pondered. Tangled info. Past: Gloridein not fallen to Demdrizad; Fairn not by Bronze Scales.
Bronze Scales... Dale Pertas's cult. Walker Plague et al., wrecked civilizations.
Active 20+ years later. Means Fairn plan fails.
But ignore? Waste. Strong cult; [Bronze Throne] relic priceless.
Fernandez lifted blade, whispered.
"Fine. Where meet Dale Pertas?"
[You... demon...]
Tetragalan corroded weakly in water. Fernandez laughed.
"Demon calls me demon. Compliment."
Sealed demons prayed madman leave fast.
*