Chapter 8-2 – Is That Just My Afterimage?

“So, where did you send Emily?”

“...”

“Don’t try to outsmart me. You've already been caught trying to escape several times, haven't you? If you keep this up, you'll end up like your friend.”

To emphasize my point, I kicked Kyle's knee with the tip of my foot. It hadn't even been ten minutes since I had him kneeling on the bare floor as punishment, yet he had already tried to escape three times. His shifty eyes were suspicious, so I tested my luck, and it seemed I had hit the mark. Logan, still writhing on the floor from an earlier blow, showed no signs of getting up. I wanted to make him suffer the same fate, but I held back, fearing I might not be able to control my strength.

“I'll ask you one last time. Where did you hide Emily?”

“...It's already too late.”

“What did you say? Speak up. I can't hear you when you mumble.”

“I said it’s already too late. If you wanted to save her, you should have moved faster.”

“Since when does a kidnapper give lectures?”

The moment our eyes met, Kyle quickly averted his gaze and raised his arms stiffly. He probably thought I wouldn't hit him if he did that.

“...Emily has already been handed over as a sacrifice. She'll be used in the ritual tonight as one of many sacrifices.”

This bastard, a mere kidnapper, had the nerve to talk down to me about moving faster. As he continued to speak, I smacked his head to shut him up.

“From now on, your answers will determine whether you live or die. So, you'd better be careful with your words.”

Kyle's immediate silence was the right choice. I was dead serious.

“Did you kill Emily?”

“No! Never! I don’t kill. I just find suitable sacrifices and hand them over.”

“So, she's still alive?”

“Yes! When I handed her over, she was just unconscious, not dead... They won't kill her before the ritual. They need her alive.”

“When is this ritual supposed to happen?”

“I don’t know the exact time, but I heard it’s this evening.”

Under the threat of losing his life, Kyle answered diligently. As I straightened my back, I looked him in the eye. He was so scared, sneaking glances at me, that I doubted he had the guts to lie. I turned my head to look at the clock tower standing in the middle of the village. It was around 1 AM, so there was still time.

“Where did you take Emily?”

“Behind the parish building, there’s a place where they keep the sacrifices. It’s connected to the ritual site by a short passage. There’s a big door... The sacrifices enter alive and leave dead. Emily went in through that door, so when she comes out…”

“How many guards are there?”

Kyle shut his mouth as if he couldn’t reveal that detail. I smacked him a few more times until he came to his senses.

“There are about a dozen guards, including those who patrol and guard the door.”

“They change shifts, right?”

“At 6 PM. Half of the guards leave their posts.”

“Good. Now, lead me there.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear me? Get up.”

I had planned to use shadow stealth to follow the kidnappers and sneak Emily out, but now I had to change tactics.

“Are you serious? You're going there yourself?”

“Logan should be fine if we leave him here, right? He’s still knocked out.”

Kyle looked like he couldn't believe his ears. His confused gaze annoyed me, so I kicked him again, and his raised arms drooped.

While he was hesitantly getting up, I accessed the skill menu and activated ‘Footprint Tracking.’

‘Footprint Tracking’ shows the path taken by a target through their footprints. From the end of the alley to where Kyle was standing, a faint trail of footprints appeared. This skill can display movements up to 12 hours ago, so there should be footprints leading to the parish where Emily was handed over. This way, I could verify if Kyle was leading me correctly. I couldn’t trust a kidnapper’s word completely.

And since we were heading into the den of demon worshippers, I needed some backup. There was only one person to call in this situation. It had been a while since I used ‘Lieutenant Summon.’

“Sister! Did you call for me?”

“Rosie. Thanks for coming so quickly. I have a favor to ask.”

Not long after I used the summon, Rosie appeared before me. Although she was on the opposite side of the village, she arrived sooner than expected. Kazimir had repeatedly warned me never to associate with that little demon again, but that was when they had a bad relationship. When she’s an ally, there are few as reliable.

Look at her, running towards me with eyes sparkling like stars. She’s so adorable that I would have hugged her if the situation weren’t so dire.

“Yes, sister. Shall I kill that man?”

Rosie tilted her head, avoiding Kyle, who was kneeling before me. Sensing something was off, Kyle flinched and took a step back. Even a demon worshipper must find meeting a real demon scary.

“No, Rosie. I need a different favor today.”

“But his soul is very filthy. Torturers love souls like his. They’re fun to torment. I want a taste before he goes to hell…”

Rosie licked her lips, her fingers twitching eagerly. It was the first time I realized that her starry eyes could look so menacing.

“Next time, okay? Today, can you do me a favor? I’ll buy you some strawberry juice.”

“Yes, anything for you, sister!”

As expected, Rosie agreed without hesitation, but her starry eyes continued to gleam with a certain hunger. It seemed she was determined to find an opportunity to taste Kyle. Maybe I should leave Kyle’s fate in Rosie’s hands? She’s definitely more ruthless than I am.

“Rosie, I’m sorry, but I have somewhere I need to go. Depending on the situation, it might get a bit dangerous. Could you stay nearby and come quickly if I call for you?”

“Of course! I can go with you right now if you’d like.”

“Unfortunately, you can’t come with me this time. I need to sneak in pretending to be a sacrifice, and they value children as higher sacrifices. If you come along, you might be put in danger before we find Emily... and I don’t want that.”

“Understood. I won’t disobey your orders.”

“Thank you for always helping with these difficult tasks, Rosie.”

I gently patted Rosie’s head as she nodded brightly, and I gave her the promised strawberry juice. I arranged a room at the inn for her to rest until I called. The long rifle slung over her narrow shoulders caught my eye. It was so long it almost touched the ground. She must have acquired that impressive rifle through a shootout a few hours ago. I could see why she’d want to keep such a magnificent weapon, even if it meant a bit of chaos.

“...”

After escorting Rosie to her room, Kyle emerged from the shadows. His lips trembled as if he had many questions. But I had no intention of engaging in a casual chat with Emily’s kidnapper, so I gestured for him to lead the way.

“Continue guiding me.”

“Promise you’ll let me and Logan go if I do.”

Typical for someone specialized in kidnapping, he attached conditions to every action. I wanted to deal with him immediately, but finding Emily was my priority. Rosie would handle him later anyway.

When I nodded, Kyle sighed in relief and resumed guiding me.

The cold night air, the moon obscured by clouds, the sound of insects chirping.

The scenery was the same as the peaceful night I spent with Adrian not long ago, yet Emily was now in mortal danger, captured by demon worshippers.

“So, Kyle, why did you choose Emily? When someone goes missing from the mansion, all the servants come under suspicion.”

“It wasn’t specifically her. She just happened to be there when I needed someone. She was easy to lure out since she didn’t know how to be suspicious. It took some effort, but... Ugh, please don’t hit me.”

I raised my hand unconsciously, and Kyle cowered, covering his head with his arms. I wondered how someone so cowardly could live as a kidnapper.

“And, you know as well as I do. Even the guards wouldn’t dare meddle with the Paltsgraf family without the Count’s approval. No investigation would proceed without his consent.”

“Why go to such lengths to kidnap people? The Paltsgraf family isn’t stingy with wages unless you get robbed.”

“It’s not about money. It’s about salvation.”

Kyle answered as we followed the winding path toward the demon worshippers’ lair.

“They say you can be saved by offering sacrifices, even if you’ve committed grave sins that would send you to hell. Satan will save you from hell. Who wouldn’t seize the chance to avoid punishment by using someone else’s life?”

Why would demons or Satan save people? Adrian, for instance, only cared about playing with me. Kazimir focused on Avril and the orphanage, and Rosie was all about her guns. Changing the venue to hell wouldn’t likely alter their interests. Maybe if they had a large botanical garden, they’d care more.

“So, what great sin did you commit?”

“It’s nothing too grand. I killed my father when I was young.”

“...”

“He used to beat my mother mercilessly, so I stabbed him. I didn’t think he’d die so easily. I’ll probably go to hell, be tortured until my soul burns. My mother was a devout believer, so I know this well. All gods’ teachings say the same thing.”

“...”

“But maybe, just maybe, if I keep doing this... I might be saved from hell. If I can make at least one demon happy with the sacrifices I offer, they might save me.”

His voice and expression became hazy as if he were lost in a dream. So, he continued to kidnap and kill to atone for the grave sin of patricide. A rational person would recognize the absurdity of this idea, but it seemed pointless to try to reason with someone who had already lost their sanity. 

Probably, most demon worshippers were trapped in similar beliefs. They were willing to sacrifice other lives to cleanse their own sins.

“It’s over there. Don’t blame me once you go inside.”

“...”

When I followed Kyle’s direction, I saw a temple shrouded in darkness. Unlike the grand and majestic ruined Aurora Temple, this one was small and unassuming, yet it retained the sacredness and ancient aura typical of a worship site. It felt oddly familiar; it was the very temple that had recently been featured in the newspaper for its continuous charity and volunteer work.

To think that demon worshippers were hiding there was unbelievable. I was tempted to beat him up a bit more for possibly lying, but footprints leading in and out of the temple were unmistakably evident.

“They only move to the purest places. The cleaner it is, the easier it is to hide the filth. That’s why even with all the guards out, they haven’t found us. If they’re lucky enough to find a clue, we’ve already moved on.”

I understood now why the demon worshippers hadn’t been caught. Even if someone figured it out, tampering with a temple would be difficult. Anyone who tried to expose the truth from within would probably be cut off for blasphemy. It was a situation that required a conservative approach.

“Hey, hurry up and tie me up and send me in there.”

“You promise to let me go if I do this?”

Kyle checked again as he wrapped the prepared rope around my wrists. I would let him go now, but the reaper would visit him later. When I nodded, he seemed overjoyed and finished tying my wrists. It appeared to be a solid binding, but I could easily slip my hands in and out. With his years of experience as a kidnapper, he was quite skilled at tying ropes.

By the way, the guards said they had no leads on the demon worshippers, yet I found them in just a few hours. Maybe I had a knack for this. Should I consider becoming a detective? Despite the chaos of the world, a government job didn’t sound too bad.

Thanks to Kyle, I easily infiltrated the prison where the sacrifices were kept. He was trusted enough that I passed without any need for name or identity verification.

After descending a dark, dank corridor, I reached a humid basement. Only a few stone steps down, and the air was already filled with a musty stench, reminiscent of long-rotted filth. As I descended the last step, the cold early morning air was replaced by the stifling underground atmosphere.

"You have entered Dungeon Zone 2 of the Demon Worshippers’ Hideout."

"Healing and equipment repair are not possible within the dungeon."

Dungeon Zone 2 of the demon worshippers’ hideout. This was the waiting room for sacrifices, so Zone 1, where the actual ritual took place, must be elsewhere.

Despite being called a sacrifice holding area, it was essentially a basement with a few large iron cages, similar to those used for large animals in a circus—hardly suitable for humans. There were no proper toilets, just overflowing with filth and vomit, and the children’s cries echoed eerily against the stone walls.

As I stood, trembling with fear and pretending to survey my surroundings, a guard approached and grabbed my arm.

“Excuse me. Can I choose where to go?”

“...”

Feigning a misstep, I staggered, buying myself some time.

"Eden(Evil) feels an affinity for you."

As expected, the power of infamy. The guard hesitated at my request but then gripped my arm even tighter, pulling me along. His sense of duty as a guard outweighed any affinity or goodwill he might have felt. A pity.

Unfortunately, I was tossed into the most secluded cage like a piece of trash. I had hoped to search for Emily while pretending to choose a cage, but I failed. Regretfully, I surveyed the cage I was in and glanced at the others. The other sacrifices, who had arrived before me, were all crouched or sprawled in various states of misery.

Emily... Are you here?

Desperately, I searched for her among the huddled figures, but I couldn’t find a single trace of her. I craned my neck and adjusted my angle to check the distant cages, but she was nowhere to be seen. If only I could ask the other sacrifices. They were asleep, and I didn’t want to wake them. I decided to wait until morning.

I crouched down and waited for time to pass. Despite having been up all night and engaging in physical combat, thinking about the fear Emily must be feeling kept me wide awake.

Additionally, the iron bars of the cage extended to the floor, making it extremely uncomfortable to sit. There was no separate toilet; any waste fell through the bars. It was disgusting. How anyone could sleep here was beyond me.

“Eat.”

As morning arrived, the guard opened the cell door and threw in some plank-like items. If the other captives hadn’t leapt up and crammed them into their mouths like ravenous beasts, I wouldn't have recognized it as food.

I should eat too. I need strength to rescue Emily. I picked up the last remaining piece and slowly nibbled on it. The texture was like hardened bread, with a strange taste reminiscent of animal feed. I regretted not having a proper meal before this. I missed Adrian’s gourmet feasts. Still, even this rough sustenance silenced the grumbling in my stomach.

Thanks to breakfast time, everyone in the cell was now awake. I needed to ask if anyone knew about Emily.

“Excuse me, did anyone see a girl my age? She would have arrived last night, wearing a navy dress with white frills. Her name is Emily.”

“…”

“Have you seen her? She has long, braided reddish-brown hair, dark green eyes, and a pretty face.”

“…”

Despite my detailed description of Emily, everyone remained silent and avoided my gaze. Could they not speak? Or were they too frightened by my notoriety? While everyone else lowered their heads and averted their eyes, one person continued to watch me.

“I saw that girl. She was taken to a sacred place to be used as a prime sacrifice.”

The woman’s cheeks were sunken as if she hadn’t eaten for days. Her cracked lips were covered in dried blood.

“A prime… sacrifice?”

“She has the qualities of a worthy sacrifice. You should recognize the honor in that.”

Qualities of a worthy sacrifice? Emily might be kind and pretty, but there was no need for her to excel in such a grim field. Initially, I thought dealing with two servants would be enough, but the difficulty level kept increasing, making me feel like crying. If she were only in this area, I could have used my infamy to charm a couple of guards and escape.

“We will soon be saved. You should all conduct yourselves properly and offer prayers. We will be offered to Satan in the most beautiful state.”

“Offer our blood as wine and our skin as garments. Then Satan will save us.”

The captives, who had refused to speak when I asked about Emily, now chanted a prayer in unison. Astonishingly, as this prayer echoed through the cell, it was taken up like a round by captives in the other cells as well. Knowing the fate that awaited them here, their compliance suggested they had entered willingly.

Wow… seeing fanatics up close for the first time.

“You should consider it an honor to be here. Only the blood of the living can save the dead sacrifices. When our blood touches them, they too will be offered as living sacrifices.”

What nonsense... Their eyes were completely deranged. It was clear I had walked into a very bad situation.

“When our souls depart, these sinful bodies remain. The skin will be flayed and sewn into a victory mantle for Satan. Wearing this mantle, Satan will gather the strength to rescue us from the lava of Hell.”

What kind of savage would do such a thing to living flesh…? Is skin meant to be used that way, you lunatics? As I stood there stunned, they began chanting "Laudate Satan" in unison, their dazed voices blending into a hymn.

“Let go of me, damn it!”

「An enemy is approaching.」

I was scratching my goosebump-covered arm when a roar, reminiscent of a lion's, tore through the singing and reverberated in the basement. Voices grumbled about the sacrilege of disturbing the sacred prayer room, but even those were drowned out.

A large man, engaged in a scuffle, was being dragged down the stairs. I recognized him. Seeing him bound in chains left me speechless. How did he get here?

“Damn it, let go! If you don’t let go, I’ll rip your fingers off!”

With a vicious curse, he headbutted the guards holding his arms, sending them sprawling. As he staggered, several more guards wrestled with him. After a lengthy struggle, he was eventually dragged and thrown into my cell by five guards. Of all places, it had to be my cell.

“Damn it, these damned fanatics. I’ll grind them into a paste.”

“...Do you need help, Inspector?”

I sighed and asked the thrashing Harrison, who was bound and struggling on the floor. He stopped flailing and lifted his head. His bloodshot eyes were filled with a madness that could rival that of the demon worshippers.

“Well, fancy seeing a familiar face here.”

“I’m not so pleased. Why are you here, Inspector?”

“Isn’t it obvious? Now, help me up.”

“Yes, sir. It’s always a pleasure to see how kind and gentlemanly you are.”

“Hurry up and help me up!”

Despite my sarcasm, Harrison twisted and writhed in an effort to stand. Though the age difference justified his informal speech, his constant shouting and rudeness were over the top. I considered breaking the stick of the law he represented out of sheer frustration.

Grumbling internally, I stretched my leg to support his back. I intended to help him up, but he started cursing me out for not doing it properly. As I pulled my leg away, his half-lifted body collapsed back onto the floor, shaking the bars.

“Damn it, do you want to die?”

He glared at me with bloodshot eyes, grinding his teeth. If his arms were free, he looked ready to strangle me. I nonchalantly shook my leg.

“Sorry, I didn’t realize weak legs were a capital offense. Are you going to arrest me once we’re out of here?”

“We’ll see about that when we get out! Now, stop talking and help me up!”

“Sorry, Inspector, but all your shouting has left my ears ringing, and I can’t muster the strength in my legs.”

“Fine. I won’t curse or shout anymore. Just get me up from this filthy floor.”

“You’re the one who rolled in here. Why are you snapping at me? You should’ve been gentler with the guards. No need to get beaten up and roll around in filth.”

“Am I supposed to bow to those fanatics as an inspector?”

“Well, when you put it that way, it does make sense.”

If the people's police had to grovel to fanatics, it wouldn't inspire much confidence. This time, when I supported his back with my leg, he managed to get up more easily. His dry, piercing gaze scanned me up and down.

“So, why are you here? Weren’t you with the Count?”

“Why do you ask? I got dragged here for the same reason as you, I suppose.”

“How can you compare yourself to me? I came here to investigate based on a whistleblower’s tip. A tip from a servant of the Paltsgraf family. Did you send them?”

“Seems you met Dolores. I did send her, but I didn’t want you to come alone. Are the other officers on their way? You didn’t come alone to investigate a group of fanatics, did you?”

“……I did.”

“What?”

“I came alone. The whistleblower only talked to me, and no one else knows. So, no one else is coming.”

“Why? Why did you come alone? What confidence do you have? Are you going to fight all of them by yourself?”

In my shock, my whisper turned rough. I also came alone to sneak Emily out, but Harrison came to investigate the whole group. Despite having enough evidence and witnesses to wield public power, he had jumped in unprepared. It was both astonishing and foolish. As I gaped in disbelief, Harrison turned his head slightly, seemingly embarrassed.

“It was a mistake to lose my gun. If I hadn’t, I could have killed them all.”

“You came to kill, not to arrest?”

“They kidnap children, rip their bellies open, and offer their skins. What more needs to be said? They don’t deserve legal judgment. They need to die. Even if they’re caught, they won’t be properly punished.”

“But you came to kill and got caught yourself.”

“Yeah. They need to die. People can’t be fixed. No matter how many you lock up, more killers will come. Someone has to break this chain. This is justice. Justice is… mine to deliver.”

His voice, which started off directed at me, gradually turned into a mumble, almost inaudible. 

Is he really talking about justice after getting caught trying to kill criminals? I had thought of him as a righteous detective, but given the situation, he seemed anything but a typical cop. Someone who should arrest criminals in the name of law came here to kill them? His zero arrest record made sense now if he’d been killing them all along.

“Hey, servant. How do you plan to escape? Tell me.”

Harrison scooted closer to me and whispered. Why was he suddenly trying to be friendly? I frowned and moved back, but he whispered urgently.

“You must have a plan if you’re so calm. Tell me. You’re not planning to escape alone, are you?”

“Well, I might not have a plan. If you came alone, what could a mere servant like me do?”

“Damn it, just tell me. Now.”

Considering we had the same enemy, should I see him as an ally? After a moment of hesitation, he twisted his lips into a grin.

“Oh, you’re exercising your right to remain silent? Fine. I’ll make you talk. I’ll show you how long I can last interrogating a suspect.”

“……I don’t want to see that. I don’t have any grand plans. Just this.”

Taking advantage of the moment when the other sacrifices and guards weren’t looking, I quickly showed him my free hands and then hid them behind my back again. With my wrists loosely tied, I could easily slip them out. Harrison looked briefly surprised before mouthing, “Your wrists are free, huh?” and nodded towards his shoulder, indicating he wanted me to untie him too.

“No. Yours were tied by a guard. They need a key to be opened.”

“Damn it.”

“The guards switch shifts at 6 PM. You know what that means, right?”

When the guards left to switch shifts, there would be plenty of opportunities to escape. The security was lax enough that if I had free hands, I could easily get out. Harrison would have an easier time escaping than me, as I had to find Emily. If he escaped first and brought back reinforcements, it would be a huge help.

“You know quite a lot for a ‘mere servant.’”

“Don’t try to drag me into this. I’m only here to save a friend. Unfortunately, she seems to be in another area.”

“Another area? Oh, I see a passage over there. Does it lead to another area?”

Harrison pointed with his eyes to a passageway on the opposite side of the entrance. I had noticed it immediately upon arrival. The faint light and occasional voices suggested it was the entrance to the first dungeon area.

“Probably. This seems like a waiting room, and the actual ritual takes place over there.”

“Ha, what a joke. They throw us into this filthy pit while the fanatics pray in the next room?”

Harrison muttered in a hoarse voice, then laughed bitterly. Suddenly, his face contorted with rage, and he started thrashing about, kicking the bars. His strength was so great that the large iron bars shook, startling the sacrifices who had been asleep with their heads between their knees.

Given his intense anger towards criminals and his strong sense of justice, getting caught must have been a huge blow to his pride. I had hoped he would follow my lead, but he seemed too busy dealing with his emotions. It might be better to exclude him from my plans.

He should have brought a few more helpers.

“Damn it, I don’t know why I came to this place.”

The inspector’s grumbling never stopped. It was annoying as I tried to gather information from the guards’ conversations and the occasional sounds from the passageway. He picked fights with passing guards and spat on one’s foot when given food. Eventually, a guard opened the cage, and Harrison headbutted him into unconsciousness.

Even though several guards were beating him one-sidedly, Harrison’s ferocity didn’t wane. He had been struck on the head multiple times, causing blood to stream down and his lips to split, yet he still kicked at the guards, sending them sprawling.

“I’ve never seen such a madman in my life,” one guard muttered.

“Ptooey!” Harrison spat in response.

Despite being spat on, the guard turned away, clearly unwilling to deal with Harrison any further.

Back in the cell, Harrison didn’t relent. He hurled vicious curses at the guards, who now only glanced at him warily and kept their distance. It was clear that they all thought dealing with him was more trouble than it was worth.

Eventually, even Harrison seemed to lose his energy and slumped down, but his presence still felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode at any moment. I scooted away from him, trying to distance myself from what felt like impending disaster.

“Aaah, damn it. I can’t take this any longer. Hey, servant. Take me to where your friend is,” Harrison suddenly demanded.

“What?”

“Look! Look at this, you lunatics! Bring your cult leader to me right now! Or take me to him!”

And within hours, he completely snapped.

Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam! He began kicking the cell bars furiously, causing the other prisoners to scream and tremble in fear. The guards, who should have been controlling him, didn’t dare approach, intimidated by his outburst. Harrison even started bashing his head against the bars.

“Are you ignoring me? Fine, let’s see if you can still ignore me after this!”

Bam! Bam! Bam! With inhuman strength, he kept smashing his head, causing blood to flow from his forehead. No one dared to approach him, now raging like a feral bear.

Oh my God, has he completely lost it?

“Even though I’m captured in this miserable state, I am still Inspector Harrison Richmond! I’ve captured hundreds of scumbags like you! Do you think I came here without any backup plan? Think again! Just try to ignore me now!”

Only a lunatic can defeat another lunatic, and here, there was no one as mad as Harrison. The guards hesitated, nudging each other to handle the situation. Finally, a reluctant guard stepped forward and asked from several paces away.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I have nothing to say to a minion like you. Take me to your leader. If you don’t, the police will swarm in here, and your leader will be ruined. Or should I break these bars? Do you think I can’t?”

“……”

“All I want is a simple report. Tell your leader that Inspector Harrison Richmond wants to meet him. Refuse, and when the police tear this place apart, you’ll regret it.”

His eyes shone fiercely in the darkness, making even me, who knew he came alone, momentarily believe his bluff. I glanced at the guard, who seemed to be weighing his options. Harrison’s status made it hard to dismiss him outright.

After a moment of hesitation, the guard turned and said, “Wait here.”

The sound of his measured footsteps echoed on the cold stone floor as he headed toward the passage Harrison and I had discussed. It seemed the two areas were indeed connected.

“Come out. He’s willing to spare a moment for you,” the guard said upon returning and opened the cell door.

I watched Harrison crawl toward the door, feeling a mixture of relief and anxiety. I had no idea how he managed to bluff his way out, but I hoped it would work.

“Take her too. She’s my companion,” Harrison added, pointing to me.

“You, come out,” the guard ordered, motioning for me to follow.

Oh no, this is not what I had hoped for.

“Me? Why? I don’t know him. We’ve never met before.”

“It’s better if you come out on your own.”

“I’m coming out. See? I’m very compliant, unlike him,” I said, crawling out of the cell as humbly as possible.

As I walked down the passageway behind the guard, Harrison glanced back at me, his eyes smugly saying, “See, I told you I’d get us to the first area.” I wanted to pluck out his beard out of frustration.

Why do I have a bad feeling that my plan is about to fall apart?

「You have entered the Dungeon of the Demon Worshipers, First Area.」

「Healing and equipment repairs are not possible inside the dungeon.」

Following the guard through the dark passage, we eventually reached the first area of the dungeon. It was larger and darker than the second area, illuminated only by candles along the walls. The air was colder and more chilling, making me shiver.

The first thing I noticed was the bloodstained altar. The black marble was meticulously cleaned, but reddish stains showed where many sacrifices had been placed. Numerous wooden barrels, their purpose unclear, were stacked precariously on both sides of the altar. The spacious hall had a red carpet laid out for worshipers to kneel and pray.

Human skins hung along the walls. Corpses of sacrifices were piled up. The surgical table’s purpose was obvious. Just seeing all this made the sharp smell of blood fill my nose, making me gag.

Underneath the mound of sacrifices was a cage. Emily! I almost screamed.

She lay there with a pale face and closed eyes, but she didn’t seem physically harmed. Since our bond hadn’t been severed, she was likely just unconscious. Thank goodness. I felt a wave of relief and tears pricked my eyes.

I had been worried sick the entire time, fearing I was too late or that she had been horribly mistreated. A flood of terrible thoughts had overwhelmed me. But now that I knew she was safe, all that was left was to get out safely.

“Is your friend over there? Or is it one of those skins on the wall?” Harrison asked, his tone as sharp as ever.

I ignored Harrison's mocking whisper and scanned the altar. Beneath a massive red cross, there was a throne engraved with the Pentagram. A black snake coiled around the throne as if guarding it. A demonic statue with a goat’s head and black leather wings sat on the throne. The numerous skulls piled around the chair were unsettling.

“Hey, about those skulls... they couldn't be...?”

“I just noticed them too. The goat’s head is definitely a statue, but the skulls aren’t. Those are real human skulls and bones.”

“......”

“There must be over three thousand. It's way more than we anticipated. These fanatics are insane.”

I heard a grinding sound as someone nearby clenched their teeth. Hearing about it had felt like listening to a movie plot, but seeing it with my own eyes was pure madness. Killing so many people for salvation from a possibly nonexistent demon.

Wow, if I had come here just to find Adrian’s lunch, it would’ve been a jackpot. Successfully gathering sacrifices from these cultists would’ve been easy. Such a pity.

“You’d better hurry and get your friend out of here. If you’d stayed in that cell, you’d have become one of those skulls.”

“......”

“By the way, it’s really hard to meet the cult leader. When is he coming? Should I turn that altar into a mess to make him rush out?”

“You talk big, but can’t even stand up by yourself. Aren’t you scared, Inspector? I find this place terrifying...”

“If you’re scared of things like this, how do you plan to be an inspector? I thought you were bold when you defied me, but now I see you’re just a coward.”

Harrison openly mocked me, but I couldn’t straighten my hunched shoulders. Facing people would have been better. The eerie silence, the organ music echoing in a space decorated with skulls, bones, and human skins, made my knees weak. It was like the moment right before a killer or ghost appears in a horror movie. Ugh, I wish I could just have a one-on-one PvP with the cult leader and get out of here.

「A hostile entity is approaching.」

How long had I spent trembling in fear? Finally, I heard footsteps descending the stairs, and the system sent a hostile alert.

What... a hostile entity?

I was momentarily confused. The alert only appears when encountering a hostile entity for the first time, so it wasn’t because of Harrison. Does this mean one of the demon worshipers coming down is hostile? There are only two left; either one would be shocking.

“......”

I couldn’t close my mouth as I stared at the worshipers entering. Six of them, all clad in black robes from head to toe, approached with clear footsteps echoing in the basement.

Even Harrison, who had been constantly complaining, fell silent. Despite his fearless behavior towards the guards and sacrifices, he was visibly tense now.

The man at the front stopped at a distance and looked at us. Unfortunately, I recognized who he was. Among the two remaining hostile entities, only one could be this tall.

The Count...

The Count was a demon worshiper.

“I heard there was a commotion, so I came to see. It seems we’re all familiar faces here.”

The Count pushed back his hood, revealing his face. Short, slicked-back brown hair, thin-rimmed monocle, deep wrinkles on his forehead, and eyes that shone with a harsh, strong light. Even after confirming his identity, I found it hard to believe.

Wow, this is unbelievable. The Count is actually a demon worshiper? Despite his wife being such a devout believer?

“I suspected you, Count. It was strange how the people you sponsored disappeared like ghosts. I couldn’t investigate properly because everyone hushed it up. I thought there was something, but I didn’t expect it to be full-fledged religious activity. Are you the cult leader?”

As I stood stunned, Harrison continued to babble away.

“Cult leader? I am merely a humble believer. A devout follower who believes in and dedicates himself to the great one.”

“Ridiculous. Offering living people as sacrifices and burning children alive to please a demon is just personal faith?”

“Haha, deep faith is hard for ordinary people to understand. If you wish, I can personally lead you to the king of demons. Given your lifetime of righteousness, Satan will be most delighted.”

“Insane. Completely insane.”

For once, I had to agree vehemently with Harrison. I felt sorry for thinking he was just hanging around the mansion to cause trouble.

The Count had always seemed suspicious. Watching from his room whenever Harrison appeared, excessively oppressing his wife, and showing no interest in his son. It had been hard to add him as an ally, and he quickly became an enemy. All these thoughts flashed through my mind, making my head spin.

[ hey there, sorry for disturbing your reading! I'm just here to make sure you are reading this from my website (https://tlbyviridescent.blogspot.com/p/surviving-as-maid-in-horror-game.html) and not somewhere else where it got reposted without my permission... that's it! ]

“It’s convenient timing. Both this servant and you have been irritating me. It’s annoying seeing you loiter around the estate every chance you get.”

“So, what’s your plan? Are you going to sacrifice us too? For a demon that may not even exist? Pffft, ha! It’s hilarious. The esteemed Count of Pfalz, praised for his charity, is actually a demon worshiper who has been using his beneficiaries as sacrifices.”

“Watch your words. The demon does exist. His arrival is delayed only because a suitable sanctuary hasn’t been prepared.”

I felt like I had been insulted in every possible way, but the part that triggered his anger was unexpectedly about the demon.

“It’s ridiculous. Do you have any proof? Proof that this demon actually exists?”

I felt like I was pushing too far, but I couldn’t stop my mouth from running.

“Satan has appeared on Earth multiple times. There are many who can testify and plenty of solid evidence.”

“Evidence...?”

“Look at the things hanging on the walls. We, who are still humble, cannot read the contents due to our lack of faith, but they are undoubtedly the teachings and prophecies left for us by Satan, foretelling his imminent descent.”

Harrison couldn’t hold back his laughter, making the overly immersed cultist even more furious. I had noticed the frames lining the walls, but I had dismissed them as religious decorations. Curious, I glanced at them, and indeed, they contained strange symbols etched on old parchment. The characters seemed to exude a bizarre magical energy, making it plausible for anyone to believe they were left by a demon.

But Adrian wouldn’t deliberately leave anything for humans. The more I looked, the stranger it felt. Suddenly, a description appeared over the ornate frames:

「Memo (Small)

A note Satan left behind after diligently learning how to grow plants from a human gardener.」

A note on how to grow plants... left behind by Satan?

「Translation complete.」

「Water every ten days, being careful to wet the soil without touching the leaves. Since the tree was grown in the wild, airflow is important.」

It was seriously a note on how to grow plants. Thinking about how this note had been preserved in an expensive frame and regarded as a demonic revelation was both absurd and laughable. They believed it to be a prophecy. A teaching left by a demon.

Don’t laugh. This is serious. The Count is serious about this...

“These are characters unknown to this world. Although our faith is insufficient to interpret them, Satan will directly impart his teachings upon his descent.”

“Pfft...”

“Fine. I don’t care how fanatics like you choose to believe. Now that my curiosity is satisfied, how about letting me go? There are still many criminals out there that need catching, and I’m not ready to die yet.”

“That...”

“Sure, it would be hard to just let me go. So, let’s negotiate. Spare my life, and I’ll help you from the inside. How does that sound?”

“Unfortunately, that’s not a viable negotiation. I have plenty of people inside who can help me and can buy as many as I need.”

“Hmm, how about this then? Right now, I’m the only one among the officers who suspects and is investigating you. Because of your great reputation. If I disappear, won’t suspicion fall on you immediately? Think about it. The disappearance of an officer is on a completely different level than that of one of your beneficiaries. Even if you have allies inside the police, it could still cause quite a bit of trouble.”

“......”

“Instead, if you spare me, I’ll keep everything I learned here a secret and stop investigating you. I’ll even cooperate with you from the inside. If any accusations come up against you, I’ll inform you right away.”

I doubted he would accept such a proposal when he could kill me quietly here, but surprisingly, it seemed to be working. The prospect of an alliance between these two bitter adversaries was forming. It was unexpected for Harrison, who had seemed ready to burn all the cultists, to make such an offer, but the Count’s reaction was even more puzzling.

As I pondered how things had come to this, I remembered something I had seen long ago.

Enemies can form alliances...

“I will remember you, Inspector Harrison.”

「Enemies have formed an alliance.」

Clank, clank. As soon as the words were spoken, a guard approached and unlocked the shackles binding Harrison. It wasn’t just because of the game’s rules, but this alliance alone was a shocking turn of events. The Count, who had been so hostile, suddenly forming an alliance?

“What about the servant?”

The Count’s cold, dry gaze briefly landed on me.

“No, I’ll leave the servant to you. After all, he works in your mansion.”

“Hey! Who do you think got us here in the first place?”

“Don’t look at me with such resentment. I said I’d take you to your friend, not let you go. It looks like we won’t be seeing each other again. Servant.”

Harrison rotated his now free arms and clicked his tongue. I was so stunned I couldn’t close my mouth. What a bastard...

“Well, I’ll be off now, Count. I’ll visit you often in the future.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

“Oh, and you might want to check that servant’s wrist. Considering he knows the guards' shift changes, he could be troublesome if left unchecked.”

Why do forebodings never turn out to be wrong? With the unexpected alliance between the Count and Inspector, an even more harrowing path to hell unfolded before me.

The Count gave me a dry look after hearing Harrison’s parting words. One of the cultists standing behind approached briskly to check my wrist. Damn that Harrison. Looks like I’ll have to help him in the future.

If I get tied up, rescuing Emily will be over before it even starts. I shook my wrist and quickly stood up. Without even having time to think about how to attack, I pushed away the cultist who had come too close.

Crash! The cultist was swept away as if caught in an invisible storm and flew off into the distance. Seeing him fall with a loud crash, the other cultists looked bewildered.

The strength option on my evasive dress is the best.

“What are you standing around for? Catch her!”

「You evaded.」

「You evaded.」

「You evaded.」

「You evaded.」

「Lilian (Evil) feels a sense of affinity towards you.」

「Lucas (Evil) feels a sense of affinity towards you.」

「Anthony (Evil) feels a sense of affinity towards you.」

Several cultists lunged at me, but none managed to catch me. When evasion didn’t activate, I shoved them away during their hesitation, spurred by my notorious reputation. Good, if I keep this up, I might be able to escape.

“...Annoying servant.”

At that moment, someone grabbed me firmly, leaving only an afterimage of my frantic evasions. They twisted my arm with a strong grip, attempting to break it without hesitation.

“Even if we tie your wrists again, it would be troublesome if you keep playing tricks.”

I met his ice-cold gaze briefly before the surprising strength sent me crashing to the ground. The impact was so shocking that I lost my senses for a moment, and my right hand was pinned under a shoe.

“Ah... Agh.”

Snap.

It hurt. The immense pressure made me cry out involuntarily. My shoulder shrank from the pain, and I heard the sound of bones breaking. The feeling of my hand bones shattering was chilling.

As the pressure increased, my vision went dark. It felt like my lungs were being pierced, and I momentarily forgot to breathe. It was like my stomach was being punched repeatedly, causing me to gasp for air.

If this keeps up... it’s over. Fighting through the pain, I managed to throw a punch with my other hand. With a thud, the pressure on my hand disappeared. It felt like resurfacing after being submerged underwater, and I could breathe again.

“So frivolous.”

As my blurred vision cleared, I saw the Count, who had been pushed far back. Considering he managed to grab me despite my high evasion rate, his accuracy must be high, but his evasion rate must be low. Fortunately, but still... it hurts like hell.

My nerves were still alive despite the broken bone, making my shoulder tremble. Holding back tears from the pain, I forced myself to stand. White text floated before my eyes.

「Healing is not possible inside the dungeon.」

If only I could pay for immediate healing like last time. It hurts, but I’ll have to endure until I get out of this dungeon. As I warily stepped back from the Count, unfortunately, cultists began pouring in from both entrances.

Estimating roughly, 50, 100. No, around 200. More kept coming until there were about 300, 400... Damn, there were too many for me to handle alone. Although countless notifications of evil entities feeling an affinity for me flashed by too quickly to read, I knew it might make them hesitate but wouldn’t stop their attacks.

“What are you doing? Catch her!”

At the urgent command, the black-clad cultists moved quickly. They assumed I couldn’t resist much with a broken wrist, approaching faster than before.

But they forgot one thing. Although my right hand was broken, my legs were still free.

I kicked a wooden barrel I had scouted earlier. The barrels, piled precariously to the ceiling, began collapsing with the slightest force. As they rolled and spilled, some cultists got crushed, hit on the head, or stumbled and got trampled while trying to avoid them. The slippery feel indicated that the barrels were filled with oil.

I quickly ran to the other side and kicked another set of barrels. With loud crashes, the oil burst out, soaking some cultists and the floor. Skulls stacked behind a Satan statue toppled and rolled all over the floor. It was chaos.

“Get out of the way!”

“Aagh! My hand!”

Cultists who had fled to the other side got caught under the barrels, pushing each other and gathering in the center. Soaked in oil, they got entangled, turning everything into a mess.

I hadn’t planned to escalate the fight this much, but Harrison ruined everything. I thought he was a dedicated officer despite being my enemy, but it turns out he only fights for justice when his safety and life are guaranteed.

「Jack (Evil) feels a sense of affinity towards you.」

「You evaded.」

Seizing the chaos, I tried to run to Emily, but an attack came immediately. As I retreated, I clenched my fist unconsciously, making my shattered right hand throb with pain.

This isn't working. At this rate, there will be no end. I didn't want to call on Rosie, but I might have to summon all my subordinates to wipe them out. Even without fighting skills, I can avoid and use affinity to dodge appropriately. I just need to protect Emily and escape.

Gritting my teeth, I glared at the villains surrounding and closing in on me. There was no other choice.

I had to kill them all.

「Main Quest - The Massacre Begins.」

The moment I made up my mind, a shrill screech of red text scraped across my vision. It was as if it were carved by my torn flesh. Each letter was grotesque and ghastly.

A massacre? I never wanted this. Just because I thought of defeating them all to save Emily, does it mean I have to commit a massacre now?

This is what terrified me about the system. It felt like someone unseen was peering into my mind, waiting to push me into the abyss at the slightest provocation with its innocently brutal nature.

I thought I was moving independently in the game, but it was all a delusion. Every time, I get dragged into the game scenario as if there were a leash around my neck.

「Kill more than 300 people.」

「Party play is supported for this mission.」

「Form an alliance with someone nearby.」

Ah, I am truly scared of this game.

The 'Alliance' menu was newly added as a tab in the quest window on the left. It was terrifying, but I couldn't afford to be distracted. If it’s an alliance, then Rosie... I need to call Rosie. I hastily opened the 'Call Subordinate' menu and pressed 'Call' next to Rosie's name.

「Subordinate 'Rosie' has been called.」

『Rosie: ✧(´✪▽✪`)✧ Running to Hilda’s call... lv.10 (MAX)』

「You evaded.」

Barely after pressing the request, a dark shadow lunged at me. Dodging the numerous hands reaching out with the item buff, I checked the status window again.

『Rosie: Σ(´✪▽✪`〣) Detecting a suspicious aura and halting... lv.10 (MAX)』

「You evaded.」

『Rosie: ((((´✪▽✪`))));;;;; Unable to move due to fear of someone... lv.10 (MAX)』

「You evaded.」

「You evaded.」

「There is one person nearby who can be designated as an ally.」

「If a new ally is not designated within 5 seconds, one will be assigned automatically.」

「5」

「4」

「3」

「2」

「1」

「Adrian has been designated as your ally.」

Adrian?

I had no time to be surprised at Rosie's sudden behavior. I couldn't believe my eyes. Why is Adrian's name here? Adrian is far away right now. Could this be another bug? If Adrian is designated as my ally, does that mean Rosie can't be? I need to escape from here!

"Hilda."

I wanted to tear my hair out in frustration, but suddenly, everything went quiet. The only clear thing was the voice calling me. It was light like a tap on the water’s surface but carried a deep resonance.

I forgot about fighting and turned toward the voice. The cultists, who had been tangled up and covered in oil, stood up one by one and made a path. It seemed less like they moved on their own and more like they were bewitched and stepped back.

Someone was walking through the path formed like the parting of the sea. The gatekeeper I saw at the temple entrance was swaying like a puppet with white eyes rolled back. It seemed they were used as a guide to lead the way here.

"...Adrian?"

It was a whisper close to a breath. But Adrian was looking at me precisely despite the crowd, and as if an invisible hand was sweeping away obstacles, the cultists fell back. The guide collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Light filled Adrian's eyes.

“Ah, Hilda. Why didn't you wear that dress in front of me?”

He beamed brightly as if sunlight had broken through, then his expression turned into disappointment. His sighs left me bewildered.

“Young Master, how did you...?”

“Your hand is broken. Who did this to you, hm?”

“It’s not time for you to return yet...”

“Who dared to harm such a precious hand, one I barely get to hold?”

I thought I was dreaming until he walked up to me and gently took my hand along the wide-open path. But the warmth was real. This wasn’t a dream.

"Does it hurt a lot, Hilda?"

Adrian's eyes swept over not only my broken hand but also the minor injuries I'd inevitably sustained. His lips curled into a smile.

I might have thought it was a beautiful smile if it weren't for the sinister aura twisting his black pupils.

"I'm sorry. I should have come sooner."

Noticing my fixed gaze, Adrian lowered his eyelids. His long eyelashes concealed his eyes, but the murderous aura that leaked out surrounded us like sharp ice walls. The tension was so thick that it felt like everything would shatter if someone so much as breathed.

"That thing led me to you."

A shimmering butterfly flew up from behind him and disappeared. It must have been one of the butterflies I'd seen in the garden before, which had attached itself to me. Adrian lightly kissed my fingertips, oblivious to the Count's piercing gaze from the back. The pain that had seemed to shatter my hand every second vanished as if it had never been there.

"Young Master, it's dangerous here."

I muttered stupidly, still unable to grasp the situation, and Adrian lifted his head slightly to smile.

"Thank you for worrying about me even in this situation. But you don't need to. I was looking for this place anyway."

"You know where we are...?"

"A sanctuary. A place prepared to welcome me."

"Adrian, what are you doing here? How did you know to come?"

The Count's deep voice trembled with confusion. Holding my now-healed hand, Adrian turned to face his father. The Count froze, his pupils dilated and trembling.

Though I couldn't see his expression, I could feel a dark and ferocious energy emanating from Adrian. It was so terrifying that even my shoulders tensed.

"I don't know how long you plan to feign ignorance, Count of Pfalzgraf. Although I only recently regained my power and memories, you should not have forgotten. It was you who summoned me into this body."

"What are you talking about...?"

"Father Satan, I offer this weak human body."

The voice that came from Adrian's mouth was none other than the Count's. His face contorted with shock, a chilling laughter escaping Adrian's lips. His jaw kept moving.

"Father Satan, I offer this weak human body. Devoted followers long for your great rule, so please respond. Lord of Hell, King of Hell. You who are the first and the last, the beginning and the end, I offer you blood and flesh. Demon, devil, awaken in the endless night and achieve glory."

"How... how do you know that...?"

"The power wielding the sword of evil awakens the apocalypse, and the kingdom of angels crumbles before you. Salvation, glory, all powers belonging to God, shine the light to lead the dead. Praise Satan, worship Satan. Great Satan, descend."

"…"

"Don't think I was drawn here by your foolish prayer. It was merely a coincidence of timing."

This time, it was Adrian's complete voice. While the Count was frozen, Adrian led me to a chair in front of the altar. He stopped in front of a chair marked with the Pentagram, tilting his head as if wondering why such a thing existed.

Suddenly, cracks spread across the majestic statue of the demon. With a thud, the idol representing the god was hurled away, causing the cultists to gasp in terror.

"Sit here and rest, Hilda. I won't make you wait long."

He whispered gently, placing me in the spot where the idol had been. He, however, perched arrogantly on the armrest, looking down at the humans with disdain. It was surprising that he had ended everything with just a few gestures of his hand.

"Lord Satan, is it true? Have you descended into my son's body? Have you answered this humble follower's plea?"

The Count collapsed to his knees, as if his strength had left him. Following his lead, all the cultists knelt and bowed their heads. Draped in black robes, they prostrated themselves one by one, resembling a black wave receding.

The Count's hands, resting on the ground, trembled violently. Awe, reverence, worship as if facing a living god... and a thread of desperate hope.

"No, that's not it. You didn't summon me into this body, Count."

But what rained down on him was a cold cruelty intertwined with frost. An icy chill. A white smile spread across Adrian's lips like a snowstorm.

"It was your son who drew me here. His tiny soul shattered itself to accept me instead of his mother. This was before 'Adrian' was even born."

"Lord Satan, are you saying you have been with us from the beginning? Then Adrian..."

"Foolish Adrian. He can no longer go anywhere. His soul shattered so thoroughly that it can't even be called a soul anymore. Though I've left him be for a long time since he delighted in saving his mother, he remains young and immature."

"…"

"You, who couldn't recognize the demon even after its birth, kept attempting rituals to summon the demon every night. All sorts of filthy thoughts and evil spirits clung to your wife, and as she clung to God more desperately, she crumbled faster. She would complain to her husband about the terrible nightmares she had every night. Never knowing that her husband was using her as a sacrifice to summon a demon."

"…"

"A foolish husband, a foolish wife, a foolish son. Isn't that right, Hilda?"

Adrian asked gently, caressing my previously broken right hand. I couldn't nod. His tone was cold, but his blue eyes flickered with sadness.

"Count, you were waiting for death without even recognizing this demon-possessed body. If your wife hadn’t intervened, you would have sacrificed him long ago. Your wife, with her protective nature and faith, must have annoyed you. So, you blamed her, calling her delusional until she broke down alone."

"......"

"Your wife, with her deep faith, would have been sensitive to her own changes. She must have been terrified and puzzled as to why she dreamt of a demon visiting her every night, completely unaware of her husband's actions."

"......"

"You've killed so many, Count."

Adrian's indifferent blue eyes scanned the numerous victims displayed on the wall.

"But I'm particularly displeased that you harmed those I supported. I do cherish artists, but I never meant for you to slaughter and offer them as sacrifices."

"You misunderstand, I just..."

"Don't try to make excuses. I just confirmed that none of them ever set foot in the academy. You lured them with the promise of patronage and then kidnapped and murdered them. It would have been convenient to pin the blame on a sickly heir who could die at any moment."

"I'm sorry. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have done it. I can assure you of that."

"No, actually, that's not the main issue. The problem is that you touched someone you shouldn't have."

As his voice darkened, the Count's hands, resting on the floor, flinched. Although the Count still seemed uncertain, I knew who he was referring to. Adrian lifted my hand and kissed my fingertips again, speaking in an unbearably sweet voice.

"Hilda, thinking about how scared you must have been here breaks my heart. Who did this to your hand? Tell me quickly."

"......"

"You can just point. I'll return the pain and suffering you felt tenfold."

It was a deadly undertone that didn't match his usual gentle manner. I tried hard not to glance toward the Count. If it were Adrian, it wouldn't just end with breaking his entire body. But he is his father, right? Even though the Count is a man who deserves to die by our standards, would Adrian feel the same? Would the one who shattered his own soul to save his mother be okay watching his father die?

Adrian, watching my confusion, suddenly smiled brightly.

"It was the Count, wasn't it? I understand."

"What? No..."

"Hilda, it seems we can now understand each other just by looking into each other's eyes. I'm so happy."

His lips brushed my fingertips lightly. It wasn't that our minds were in sync; Adrian was just exceptionally perceptive. How did he know without me even glancing at the Count?

"Great one, forgive me for not recognizing you earlier. I will serve you with all my heart from now on. Please grant me your permission."

The Count, having finished his own calculations, bowed his head even lower, pledging his loyalty. Adrian's gaze shifted slowly and stickily away. His eyes turned into those of a snake eyeing its prey in an instant.

"Serve me? You?"

"Yes. I believe there is a reason Satan responded to my call and descended to this world, especially to the Pfalzgraf family."

"Ah, yes. You did have a persistent wish, didn't you?"

"Are you... granting it?"

A wish? I had a bad feeling and glanced back slightly. Adrian's smile was as unreadable as ever. But I knew from experience that he always wore that serene smile before taking extreme actions.

"Yes, I should grant it. To repay you for summoning me here."

"Can I trust that promise?"

"But, unfortunately, since I descended into this weak body, I am still incomplete. If I could regain my strength, fulfilling your wish would be easy. It's a pity. Although with a bit of help, I could regain my strength..."

"Anything! Just tell me. There are plenty of sacrifices prepared beyond that wall. Just give the order, and I'll present them immediately."

"Not enough."

"What?"

"Those breathing behind that wall are far from enough. I want them all, Count. Every single one of those bowing here."

"......"

"So, can you offer them all to me?"

For the first time, the Count fell silent. His voice was loud enough for the cultists bowing to the ground to hear, causing them to exchange glances and murmur slightly. They seemed to hesitate at the idea of offering their own lives, feeling their previous sacrifices were in vain. Although the worshippers were uneasy, Adrian remained calm.

"Hesitating? I'm disappointed. I didn't expect your resolve to do anything was this weak."

"......"

"You turned out to be more human than I thought, Count. I assumed you'd stop at nothing to revive your family."

"I'll offer them."

The Count suddenly clenched his fist, making some sort of resolution.

"I will offer them, Satan. They are also your devout followers. They would never refuse the opportunity to prove their faith."

"......"

"However, Satan, if you take all their lives, please declare that you will fulfill my wish first."

The Count’s face, which had been touching the ground, slowly lifted. His eyes, dark and thick, were nothing like Adrian’s. A manic gleam clouded his eyes, which shone with unilateral reverence and worship, turning into expectation and then blind demand... His eyes glowed with a demonic light, which was terrifying.

"......Are you saying you’ll kill us all?"

It felt like my ears had popped after climbing a high mountain. I looked at the followers again, as if waking from a dream. More than 400 followers were bowing their heads and curling their backs, making them look like a mass of pebbles.

They began to raise their heads one by one.

"Are you saying we'll be sacrificed this time?"

"All of us will die?"

"You promised salvation if we offered sacrifices! You didn’t say we had to give our own lives!"

"If we offer our lives, the bishop's wish will be granted?"

"How is that salvation? It’s just a senseless death."

"Were we deceived?"

"We've been tricked, utterly deceived."

Their murmurs, which started as whispers, soon turned into uneasy voices and then into an enraged uproar. The shallow ripple of disturbance spread like a stone thrown into a calm lake. Who would willingly offer their life just because they were told to? Their reaction was natural.

If they go mad and rush at us... I started to feel uneasy and looked up at Adrian.

"Count, it seems your followers are quite angry. Is this the extent of your faith?"

"No, this is a clear misunderstanding. Only those with deep faith can enter here, so they would gladly offer their lives for the Great One."

"Suddenly asking us to offer our lives? Bishop, we need an explanation!"

"What about the promise to save our dead children and punish the criminals?"

"You said we could be saved if we brought sacrifices! You said we could cleanse our sins!"

Angry shouts shot up like spears from all directions. Among the followers, some were remarkably ready to offer their lives, grateful for such an honorable opportunity, but most stood up with furious faces. It seemed the Count's provocation had hit its mark. Shouldn’t we escape before this escalates further?

"Bishop, we need an explanation!"

One very angry follower finally marched up to the altar. With his hood off, his face was fully visible. Oil stains on his robe dripped onto the floor.

"I didn't offer my mother for this... Aaargh!"

The man, who had approached the Count boldly, was suddenly engulfed in flames. A small spark followed the oil on his robe, igniting it in an instant and spreading to his entire body. The horrific scream echoed through the basement, brightening the dim interior. It was hellfire that would never extinguish.

「Assist kill acknowledged.」

「Enemy defeated. (1/300)」

As the follower died like he was dancing, red letters appeared again, like blood dripping down. The sight of the screen tearing apart made me gasp. The low laughter that had been continuing stopped abruptly.

"My god is indeed a coward."

The smile, so kind and unfamiliar.

"Hilda, could you wait upstairs for a moment? This time, it really will be just a moment."

A gentle hand covered my eyes. The look he directed at the followers was terrifyingly cold, but the warmth I felt was affectionate. Just covering my eyes silenced the noise. It was as if a curtain had been drawn over my sight, making it dark, then bright again. When I opened my eyes, a peaceful scene greeted me, so tranquil it seemed unbelievable that a massacre was happening inside.

Soft wind, grass wet with dew filling my hands, the cool night air. The entrance to the shrine was quiet and serene, contrasting sharply with the slaughter inside.

Adrian must have sent me up...

As I looked around, I saw someone lying behind me, and I snapped back to my senses.

"Emily!"

I quickly crawled over to Emily. Her face was pale and she had a few scratches, but she didn’t seem seriously injured. Thank goodness. I brushed the sweaty hair stuck to her forehead aside and let out a deep sigh of relief. She seemed to stir as if sensing my presence, so I used my 'Deep Sleep' skill to make sure she stayed unconscious. I didn't want her to wake up in the middle of this chaos.

I suddenly wondered how much Adrian knew when he came here. Not only had he sent me up quickly, but he had also taken care of Emily.

"Will he be alright on his own..."

Those people seemed more insane than usual.

As I worried and looked back at the entrance to the shrine, red letters continued to appear, mocking my concerns.

「Assist kill acknowledged.」

「Enemy defeated. (12/300)」

「Assist kill acknowledged.」

「Enemy defeated. (18/300)」

With no one left to scrutinize his actions, Adrian could act more freely.

Wiping away his picturesque smile, Adrian turned his gaze from the blackened ashes. His gaze moved from one follower to another, like he was marking them, spreading fear like an epidemic. He would kill them all. It was an instinctive feeling, but no one was brave enough to stand up after seeing people turn to ashes in an instant.

"Great One, please calm your anger and fulfill your original intent. Their true faith will only be realized if Satan himself takes their lives."

Rueiri's voice, now a faithful servant, filled the prayer room.

"Count, you would offer anything for your wish, wouldn't you? Not just your wife and son, but also the followers who believed in you."

His voice was chilling. Rueiri bowed his head even lower, pressured by the murderous intent.

"If you regret not taking my wife's life, I can bring her now and offer her. She's practically a corpse anyway, so just give the order."

"You can offer your wife again?"

"Now that her womb is empty, there won't be any more hindrances."

Rueiri misunderstood Adrian's sarcasm as he desperately tried to prove his loyalty. He seemed to think that it was only natural for the Great One to be angry at being placed in the frail body of his son.

So, you have no remorse. You blame your wife for not fully accepting Satan and resent your son. You never intended to reflect on your actions. You must have calculated that if you had completely descended by absorbing your wife’s life force, you wouldn't have wasted time waiting.

I have encountered countless corrupted souls, but rarely one like Rueiri.

"Oh Satan! Please, allow me to preserve my life here. I can offer my family too! If I go home now, I can bring them here immediately!"

"I have already sacrificed my family and neighbors. I seek salvation!"

"Oh deity who has come to save the world!"

The congregation, misinterpreting the silence, began shouting one after another. Rueiri was not alone. This place was overflowing with people who had sacrificed their family, friends, and neighbors.

Adrian couldn't help but laugh. He didn't need any justification to kill people, but Hilda might. Just by a rough estimate, there seemed to be more sacrifices here than he had originally wanted. This was perfect. If they presented themselves like this, he would have plenty of excuses for the massacre once it was over. Each of them was providing a perfect justification for him.

"Fine, I will save you."

It was amusing. They were more than willing to sacrifice others while desperately clinging to their own lives.

Adrian, immensely satisfied, summoned fire. Bright red flames danced, splitting the congregation in half. It spread quickly through the oil that was carelessly spilled on the floor. Seeing the flames spreading across the large hall, a few panicked people accidentally set their robes on fire.

"Aaaah! The fire, it won't go out!"

"Get some water, quickly!"

"Oh my god, oh my god!"

"Stay away from me, aaah!"

The flames of hell never extinguish. Water, wind, earth—nothing can put them out unless the summoner wills it. These flames burn souls rather than bodies, making them a convenient tool for tormenting or destroying sinners in hell.

Without much effort, Adrian had already killed more than twenty people. Those initially caught in the flames grabbed onto others in a desperate plea for help, spreading the fire further. Even those who managed to hide in corners had no escape. As more people died, Adrian's power surged, and he summoned even more intense flames.

Aaaah… Aaahhh…

The screams of the dying overlapped, forming a macabre symphony. Initially mild as candle flames, the fire grew into shapes of bars, rose like waves, cascaded like waterfalls, and raged like a blizzard.

In the darkness, the flickering flames resembled numerous phoenixes flapping their wings simultaneously. Amidst the black smoke, the curses of the dying echoed.

"The deity will be angered… the deity! Oh, deity!"

"Now you call upon a deity."

Until now, they had been crying for the demon's salvation, and now it was the deity.

"Sorry, but the deity does not listen to your grievances or sense of injustice. And even if they did, no deity would stand against me."

The wave of flames rolled over gently and slowly, sweeping away the souls with a torrent of screams and black ash.

Adrian stood alone in the inferno, laughing. He could feel his power returning. The once empty vessel was finally starting to fill. Initially, it had dripped in slowly, just enough to wet the bottom, but now it was more than half full.

As more followers died, the vessel filled faster. The prolonged torment that had ruled his body began to dissolve like melting snow, and the forgotten strength returned warmly. Just as a wound heals and new flesh grows, his soul was rejuvenating.

The vessel tipped over, unable to contain the force that poured in like a torrent of bullets. Even when tipped, the force kept coming, beyond his control. It was a power that could not be contained within any vessel.

Filling a human body with the true power of Satan was akin to burdening a child with a mountain or placing a massive warship on a tightrope. The immense power flooded in, nearly crushing Adrian's fragile human body, forcing him to close his eyes and focus on mastering the power.

A vast, sacred, and sinister force overwhelmed him. Some powers tore at his insides violently, some drowned his consciousness like the depths of the ocean, while others seeped in gently or repeatedly tore at his flesh. It took some time to calm and absorb these rampaging powers like wild beasts.

When he opened his eyes again, he could see all manner of things invisible to humans. The sight of the burnt followers being dragged to hell, the holy beast guarding the temple leaving, angels trembling behind clouds, and even the god enraged by the temple's defilement.

Hilda's presence, which had felt faint while he was on the surface, became more distinct. He could clearly sense Hilda's worried gestures, her hands brushing the grass, the texture of her palm, her soft murmurs, the sound of her hair being brushed back, and even the tiny gust of wind created by her blinking eyelashes.

Ah, his broken right hand had just moved. It was infuriating that after reuniting after three days, he had to meet her with a broken hand.

"…Satan, now… will you grant my wish?"

"Yes. You, Rueiri."

Rueiri was still bowing with his forehead to the ground. His voice trembled slightly, perhaps due to the sight of over 400 followers perishing in the flames before him. Adrian slowly rose. Even amid the collapsing inferno, the sound of his steps toward Rueiri was clear.

"You promised. You vowed. You declared that if I offered them all… Ugh."

His feet lifted off the ground as his collar was seized. Struggling to breathe, Rueiri looked down at his son. His features resembled Priscilla's perfectly, but the eyes were different. They were indifferent, observing from an unfathomable height, with a profound depth that seemed unshakeable no matter how many times struck.

"You promised…"

Rueiri whispered with utmost desperation. Initially, he had bowed down, overwhelmed by the mere existence of a demon. It was closer to bowing to his own fear. But now, with the absorption of the followers' life forces, the presence had become weightier. It descended like a massive dawn light that colored the sky.

Rueiri wondered if he had ever felt so overwhelmed by anyone in his life. He couldn't even think of escaping. Instinctively, he knew Adrian could crush him like an ant with a mere flick of his finger. Rueiri could only wait for his fate.

"Believing in a demon's promise is only cute when Hilda does it."

"Ugh, ah…"

"If you do it, it just makes you an idiot."

A black hole opened beneath Rueiri's feet. As he dared to look down, he was horrified. The sight of evil spirits writhing and reaching out from the fiery pit of hell was terrifying. Goosebumps rose from his toes to his waist.

He let out an undignified whimper that he had never made in his life.

"Adrian, Adrian! Can you hear me? Please don't let go. Don't let go. You're listening, right? Yes?"

If he fell there, it would be the end. That thought alone made him cling to Adrian's arm with desperate fingers.

"Show me the mercy that saved your mother. Save me. Do with your mother as you please, whether you offer her or keep her as she is. Just don't let me fall there. Don't drop me."

"…"

Rueil noticed a hesitation in Adrian with the unique insight that time had gifted him. It was a fleeting moment, but when he mentioned Priscilla, Adrian froze for a brief second. This was it. Rueil's eyes widened. He remembered that Adrian had once said his young son had turned to dust. Any fragment, no matter how small, was enough. If he could cling to that shard, he might be able to survive.

“Your mother actually loves me. She went mad because I didn't accept that love. If you help me a little, I can bring your mother back to her senses. Hmm? I can even make her accept you as her son. Just give me a little time. I’ll make it so she holds you in her arms, calling your name.”

“...”

“Isn't that a happy thought? I'm sure you've wished for it too. Let's return to the mansion together. We'll bury this incident and live happily, the three of us.”

Rueil's expressionless face gave away nothing, but he grasped at any words that might sway Adrian. He clung desperately to the fragment of his son, even as it bled in his hand. He conjured up any scene reminiscent of a harmonious and happy family, as if from a fairy tale.

“Your tongue is quite cunning, Count. You almost convinced me.”

Rueil thought he had succeeded. Until Adrian's briefly blurred eyes sharpened once more with a fierce glint.

“Ugh, Aaaah… Aaah!”

As Adrian released his grip on Rueil's collar, a black hole swallowed Rueil's body. Before he was completely consumed, Adrian grabbed his hair and pulled him back. Returned to the surface, Rueil's teeth chattered uncontrollably. It was only natural. His flesh had melted away, unable to withstand the temperature of hell.

“Is the air of hell fresh? You'll be breathing it for a thousand more years.”

Adrian asked, addressing the blackened skull.

Rueil responded with the sound of his teeth chattering: click, clack, click...

“All sinners are punished there. Those who harm their spouse and children are given the punishment of melting bones; those who harm innocent young souls are torn limb from limb. You will receive the punishment of melting bones while being torn apart for thousands of years.”

Click, clack, click...

“The demons will covet your arms, legs, eyes, and soul. They'll make very tempting offers to take them, but it's best not to make deals. Neither God nor demons can save humans.”

Click, clack.

“Goodbye, Father.”

Adrian offered a somewhat courteous farewell and released his grip again, sending the dangling skull plummeting back into hell. The gates of hell greedily swallowed him and closed with satisfaction. A soul that couldn't even face death was the most rare and delicious of all.

After dealing with the last remaining human, Adrian extinguished the flames. He then slightly rewound the time of the space, restoring it to before the fire had been summoned. The chapel was now so clean that no one would suspect hundreds had just burned to death. A neat eradication of evidence, indeed.

“...What’s this?”

Adrian's eyes fell upon a resplendent frame as he contentedly surveyed the interior. The script was unfamiliar but the handwriting was recognizably old. It was a memo he had lost long ago, now enshrined as if it were a sacred text. Finding an unexpected object in an unexpected place made his expression contort.

Why is that here? He had searched all of hell looking for it. He had even accused the spirits of stealing it, believing they coveted the landscaping knowledge he had acquired on earth. He never thought it would have been left here.

He considered taking it with him but decided against it. Upon a quick read, he realized it was now all knowledge he already possessed. Apparently, he had unknowingly continued to develop over time. Adrian felt a surge of pride.

As he leisurely climbed the stairs, he briefly sensed the surface. Hilda was waiting exactly where he had left her, without moving a step. He had found a new waffle shop on his way here, so taking her there would surely make her happy. The thought of piling waffles high for her brought him joy, and he began to ponder how to act the same as before now that he had regained all his power. Hilda was easily frightened. She had only recently started allowing him close, and he couldn’t risk scaring her away again.

First, he decided he should continue pretending to suffer from physical pain and illness. Hilda, compassionate and caring, would not stray far from someone in pain. He didn't want to lose the fantastic opportunity to receive food from her.

Everything would be fine now. Everything would go well.

As long as he could remove the external force that lingered near Hilda, there was nothing to worry about. He would live happily with her, in a happiness so strong and eternal that Lilith’s curse could never interfere.

Just imagining the happiness made him happy. The anxiety that had boiled within him recently began to settle as he meticulously planned their future. He would provide for her without any lack and surround her only with things she liked. He would blindfold and deafen her to any oddities.

No one else would be needed in the paradise he created. Just as he was happy with only her, she would be happy too. Even if she wasn't, he would make it so.

When he finally reached the surface, he felt an irrational surge of anger upon seeing Hilda tending to her friend.

Why don't your eyes exist solely for me? Whenever she turned her attention elsewhere, he sometimes felt a violent urge to destroy the world. More than once, he seriously contemplated extinguishing all the light in the world.

He had long wanted to get rid of the girl named Emily. He had even restrained himself from secretly burning her, displaying uncharacteristic patience for a demon. She had said she would be sad if someone around her died or disappeared, leaving him no choice. If she spent less time looking at him because she was mourning, where would he find compensation?

He didn’t like it when she cried for others either. When she had come back crying, saying she had met a criminal with a tragic story while looking for his lunch box, he felt both puzzled and mesmerized by the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Should I collect those tears and turn them into jewels? Yes, that’s a good idea. I should capture them in diamonds. He had kept the handkerchief with which he had wiped her tears, planning to find a jeweler, but Hilda had taken it away to wash it, saying it was dirty. He had been devastated to see the handkerchief hanging on the clothesline upon returning from selecting a jeweler.

Since then, she hadn't cried again, so he had even asked her to cry for him once. But she had avoided him for three days after that. Crying for ruffians is fine, but crying to make jewels is crazy... he couldn’t understand.

Anyway, it was best to hide the fact that he had regained all his power for now. It would be too unfamiliar for humans in many ways.

“Mister.”

Hilda turned as he approached, sensing his presence. She sometimes reverted to the old title, even though she usually called him by name. It seemed she couldn't get used to it. They had plenty of time to gradually change it.

As he was about to approach her with his usual smile, he froze. The moment he saw her, all the happy fantasies he had just been entertaining evaporated from his mind.

“Hilda, why are you….”

“Pardon?”

“Why are you…?”

Hilda tilted her head, looking puzzled at his dazed question. She seemed unaware, but the black smoke surrounding her was noticeably thicker than before. The force trying to take her away felt even stronger.

I have to get rid of that.

Adrian, as if possessed, knelt in front of Hilda and reached out. He grabbed the smoke around her elbow and tried to tear it away with all his might. It seemed to fall away slightly at first. But as it moved a certain distance, it snapped back like a rubber band and clung to her side again.

His happy delusion that everything would be fine now began to crack.

This… this can't be happening.

As he panicked, the wind held its breath, and the flow of air ceased. All his expectations shattered, but he tried to remain calm.

It was surely because he had only just regained his power. If he concentrated and controlled it more, he could tear it away. With trembling hands, he grasped the smoke again.

He tried to infuse it with his power and tear it off, but the black smoke slid through his hands and reattached itself to Hilda, mocking him. Grasp, release, grasp again, and release. Adrian suddenly felt overwhelmed. A sense of crisis, as if being swept away by a torrent, overtook him.

No, I can't just watch her disappear.

But no matter how desperate or anxious he was, it was impossible to detach that thing from Hilda.

It wasn’t a matter of power. Even if he could invade to some extent, he couldn’t fundamentally remove it. It was an external force whose origin and direction were unknown.

Feelings of powerlessness, desperation, crisis, and vigilance... emotions he had never felt before surged uncontrollably. Oh…ugh. He struggled to breathe. Every bit of his flesh felt like it was being pierced by needles.

Hilda. If you disappear.

If you disappear, I...

His thoughts stopped.

He had gone mad.

i really want to say thank you for all the support i've received until now, that's really heart-warming and motivating me even more to translate... thank you 

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