The night before was a little uncomfortable. Clara finally showed her face. Dik left the house, but strangely he didn't come back. On the other hand, Alice was the most normal, so to speak, of the whole group.
I yawned as I looked at the ceiling of my room. The sun came in through the window that wasn't too far from my face. If I were an ordinary person, these days of waking up and feeling the sun coming through the window, providing a fresh and soft air, would be what I wanted in my past life. But this is a new life, although you can't live like the other world I come from.
Today's plans are few: prepare some things I'm not sure about, and then look for the devil. However, that forest doesn't feel normal; I have a very strange feeling, one I've never felt before.
It was strange just thinking about that forest. He'd give me the creeps just to see it.
I didn't know what it was or what caused this feeling.
"Spring"
The door rang. I quickly got out of bed, grabbed the mask and put it on. Then I got dressed and took my sword. Although this sword is not very strong and looks like a simple iron sword, it is more than obvious that it could be broken very easily. But I have a spare one that's always with me.
I came out of the room and Alice was in front of my eyes.
"It's time to go."
I nodded, and the two of us, together with Clara, left the house. On the other hand, Dik wasn't there. It was strange, but that was one of the things you can't trust anyone for. Not being able to sleep all night and still missing in the morning is an example of people you can't trust.
"It's definitely a scary person, but it's also someone I don't really care about."
It was a thought that came to me about Dik, but I couldn't come to such quick conclusions.
I didn't care if Dik disappeared, but if the two of them did, it would be different.
We came to a very different place than usual in this town: they were alleys decorated with vandalism all over the walls. There were even some drifters asleep everywhere; they looked dead rather than alive.
"What are we doing here?"
I was curious to know where we were and what we were doing in that place. They were just alleys, routes that didn't lead anywhere, but that was just a facade. He felt manna inside some facilities, also underground.
"We're here to buy equipment."
"Why?"
"The devil has certain unique abilities, so we must prepare ourselves with something to help us defend ourselves from his unique ability."
But knowing a person's unique ability, monster or any being that uses any ability, is that even possible? There could be a solution: to see the rate of abilities that Lord-rank demons usually have. That would be a possibility, although I am not 100% sure of hitting the unique ability, for some reason it is called unique ability.
"Here it is."
Alice spoke as she pressed the surface of the wall in front of us. Something began to tremble as the wall began to move, revealing stairs descending. It was the first thing I saw.
"Come on."
Alice's voice rang and we started to come down. We came to an area that looked like a market: a straight path with shops on the side. But instead of products like vegetables or vegetables, these stores were filled with swords, spears, armor, bows and arrows, a variety of weapons everywhere, even magical objects.
"Wizard sticks, space rings, magic bags... all these are magicians," I murmured. All the objects in front of me were exclusively for wizards.
This is... a black market. That's definitely it: a place where you sell, say, unique things.
But what exactly is Alice looking for in this place? Someone who seems like a very nice person usually comes to places like this. Although it is not a bad idea to look once in a while for a single object that could be of great help, who wouldn't come to such a place?
Alice suddenly stopped. I looked to his left and pointed at a necklace.
"This is a manna field."
"What is it?"
"That's enough. This necklace has the ability to create a manna field, and with it it is possible to seal the unique abilities of a demon of rank Lord."
Does it really work? But how is it used? It seems like a common, ordinary necklace, but when I closed my eyes, there was a spell on this necklace, one very different from the normal ones.
"We'il take this one."
Alicia took the necklace and took out ten gold coins.
"I'm sorry, but this costs twenty gold coins."
The man sitting behind the place where the objects were and other things spoke.
"W—but... I only have this."
"Sorry, the market is very expensive right now. I need money and I can't lower your price."
I didn't know if this necklace worked, but I pulled a dark brown cloth bag out of my pocket. I opened it and pulled out exactly ten more gold coins.
"Here, it's ten gold coins and next to the ten she has is twenty."
"..."
"Of course, you can take the necklace."
I grabbed the necklace, but when I looked at Alice and Clara, they were both very open-eyed.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"Then let's go. I'il pay you the ten gold coins at any time."
"No need..."
"I don't like debts."
I understand what he said, but I really don't care if I get the ten gold coins back. Although this is a lot of money, it's just a piece of gold to me.
***
— Change of scene.
Outside the village of Nortil, a large church of enormous dimensions looked like a cathedral. Something was different inside this church.
"Father Gabriel, we have found the devil."
The father was inclined to pray when a man in black clothes and a small white painting near the neck of his shirt entered.
"That's good news," Father Gabriel replied in simple words.
"Then what shall we do, Father?"
"Follow me. The sacrifice of those sinners will take place once we attract the devil."
Something was not normal in this place. Gabriel went downstairs to a basement, went through several passages and eventually came to a place that looked like a prison.
"Clank."
The chains were ringing everywhere.
"This..." whispered the man.
"It's the sacrifices. All are sinners who do not deserve God's grace. They will all be cleansed by sacrificing their souls."
"Father... But is this the right thing?"
"Of course. The devil will come for his sacrifices. These sinners will be sent to the dry forest."
"Tomorrow will be the day of judgment for these sinners."
The sound of the strings was still ringing. Finally, Father Gabriel walked in one direction, looked at a lever and lowered it.
"Sound deaf."
There was a sound, but it was strange. Although something resonated, nothing more than a small vibration happened.
"What's the matter, Father.
"Don't be afraid, this is the sign."
"All this... is by the grace of God, a world without sinners."
***
— Change of scene.
Perspective of Asher Frostblade.
We went back to the house where we were staying. We had to go back for some things, but when we did, Dik was waiting inside.
"Where were you?"
Alice was the first to speak. I looked at her; I was also curious.
" Mind your own business."
He answered without further ado, and Alice just looked at him, but looked away without saying anything else.
"What the fuck..."
I frowned at what happened.
Something was bothering me about this guy. Alice is a very good person, but this guy just tells her to shut up like that. It's something that bothered me too much. I'd like to hit him, but I didn't know if this guy was too strong or how strong.
This guy's just an asshole.
In the end, everyone picked up their stuff and left the village of Nortil. We went back to the field of cultivation, where the same farmer from the previous day was waiting for us.
We were looking for some important information this farmer was going to give us. That's why Alice hurried to the field of cultivation. In addition, the dry forest is very close to the field of cultivation and the traces of demonic manna led us to the dry forest.
"What's the information you have for us?" Alice spoke hastily when we arrived at the place.
The sun was beginning to hide; it took us a long time to get here.
"There are rumors that the demon is in the middle of the dry forest, but there is something else..."
"What is it?"
"It is difficult to know whether it is true or false, but they say that the holy church will make sacrifices. Father Gabriel and a champion will be present."
I thought, "S?" I thought.
Everyone kept quiet, but my mind was just saying the word "paladin." It's a church title, no doubt, but what exactly are they? I had heard this title from the knights in the castle training camp, but I never knew what they were or what their job was.
"I-the church, that's impossible. But why would a champion be present in something like this?"
"Don't worry, it's just rumours," said the farmer.
"That's true, but..."
"Fuck this. Let's kill those bastards and that's it," Dik interrupted at a very complicated time.
"Damn bastard, why don't you shut up!" Finally, Alice got out of control. I thought her temper was always controlled and uninterrupted, but that's what pissed her off.
I looked at Clara; she was surprised by Alice's expression of anger. So was I. Although I've only known her for less than a week, I could understand very well why she got so mad at this guy.
Anyone would. Dik's a fucking bastard who never stops talking nonsense. On this occasion, he interrupted at a time when it was not a good idea to talk or joke so easily.
"I sigh."
Silence has invaded us. Alice was breathing faster, and her breathing was very clear. I was thinking too much. Who wouldn't? A church sacrificing a demon, who in the world does that?
But why would a church do something like a sacrifice? I thought they were looking for good, not evil. Sacrifice people to a demon is like making a demonic pact. Was it power they were looking for or did they have something in mind to do that?
I could understand why Alice was so frustrated. Even Clara, who was the quietest and emotionless, was worried. I tried to hide it, but I could see it very well: a very worried face.
"Although I don't care if there are sacrifices, my only goal is to discover the whereabouts of the devil."
Honestly, I don't care about the rest. I just came to this place to get a knighthood, but everything's getting complicated. A so-called paladin and a church have interfered in my mission, and that bothers me.
I only came here for this mission, but why did it happen? It was a simple task: to find the demon manna master and end it. That was all, but now there are two more obstacles.
"It's strange, paladins are definitive enemies of demons. Then why are they helping with the sacrifices?" Encrid suddenly spoke.
"What the hell's a champion?"
"Child, I thought you knew something so simple. A champion is blessed with sacred power. They look like gentlemen, but much stronger. The sacred power they have is infinite, a power that allows them to use it as much as they want, but that only works if they fight an evil being."
An evil being... The darkness could be considered evil. I wasn't sure, but that could be the case.
But if he did, he'd have every champion in the world as his enemy. That would not be good, especially because they have the ability to use that sacred power infinitely against opponents of darkness such as demons, ghosts or spirits.
"That sounds ridiculous, but it's possible, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is. Before I had problems with the paddlers," Encrid mentioned.
It's a very difficult task, but if at some point that champion gets in my way, a fight at risk would be inevitable.
"I sigh."
I looked into the dry forest, pressed my fist and spoke out loud.
"If we're going to find the devil, we'd better go now. And if it's true about that church, then we'll see what we can think of."
Those were my words when the whole group moved and entered the dry forest...