The Demon Hunting Method of the Regressed Inquisitor

Agee Foris (4)

In the end, Agee Foris decided to release Rost.

However, it was the first time he had released someone like that, even though he often imprisoned people at will, so there were voices of doubt within the family.

“Master, is it really okay to release him like that?”

“Huh?”

And there aren’t many who can ask him directly.

Even the successor of Age Poris couldn’t do that. However, there was one person who was allowed to.

“Oh, my granddaughter. What are you so curious about?”

Siris Poris.

The youngest of the family.

Age Poris smiled brightly as if he had thrown away all his previous dignity.

No matter how monstrous he was, he was just an ordinary grandfather who melted at his granddaughter’s antics.

“That person. Right there! That person over there!”

Siris pointed to a man who looked to be about the same age as her, walking in the garden outside the window. It was Rost.

“Have you figured out his identity? Are you sure there’s no problem?”

“No, that’s not it. I still haven’t figured out the identity that cunning fellow is hiding.”

“What? Then why…”

Age Poris chuckled at his innocent granddaughter.

“Well, let’s think about it this way. If you went to the kitchen and found flour, eggs, and an oven, what dish would you think of?”

“Uh… bread?”

“Most people would. But I’m a twisted person, so I think of something else rather than bread.”

Ingredients neatly packaged for easy guessing.

If it were someone else, they would have devoured it, but he was different.

“You have to check the source of the ingredients first. There could be poison mixed in.”

“Oh!”

“So you have to discard what needs to be discarded and only take what is necessary.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but I don’t see how it relates to the current situation.”

“Then what if the ingredients in front of you were precious? If they laid out hard-to-get ingredients and told you to make an obvious dish?”

“…You’d still be careful because there could be poison, right?”

“Yes, you have to be careful. With such valuable ingredients, even checking for poison could be considered rude.”

It’s not that he trusts Rost 100%.

But the value of the ingredients he presented was too high.

It’s suspicious, but he’s a priest. If a priest had to hide something even while selling out the pope, it’s best not to get involved.

The chances of getting caught up in a troublesome matter are high. That’s quite bothersome. Anyway, if it’s related to the church, it’s almost certainly related to demons.

So Age Poris has only one thing to judge.

“So we need to know the person who sent the ingredients, not the ingredients themselves. If we know what kind of person he is, we can figure out if he’s someone who would send me poison.”

The identity of the Lost is not important.

What matters is figuring out what he intends to do. Whether it will harm us, benefit us, or be of no consequence.

“So, what are you going to do?”

“We need to prepare our own dish.”

Age Foris looked out the window. Although it was a short stay, Lost was allowed to wander around the mansion’s garden, and he could see him there.

“We have our ingredients ready here too, so let’s see if he can touch the dish that will be completed.”

And there was someone blatantly following Lost.

Lost probably knew as well.

So, while pretending to take a walk that didn’t suit him, he was luring the person to a secluded place.

And when he confirmed who the person was, how would he react?

“The reason for the attack on Baron Ryan’s mansion has come out, and there is also a circumstance that Burke Ryan might have been a demon. Although he didn’t move directly, there was even the presence of an inquisitor pulling the strings from behind.”

Look.

Already, the ingredients are gathered to the point where you can almost see what will be made.

“Will you hide it? Will you deny it? Or will you admit it and apologize?”

The smile that had been on Age Foris’s lips due to the conversation with his granddaughter began to harden.

“Even if the completed dish is obviously poisoned, can he be confident that he won’t overturn the table?”

Age Foris did not hide the details of this incident from Claire.

Even if it was a confidential matter and could be his own disgrace, wasn’t she the person involved? So he simply scattered information about Lost.

It’s something he doesn’t like.

It’s unacceptable to hide from a girl who has lost everything who she should resent.

Even if it means turning the entire pantheon into enemies, he won’t retract.

“If he is truly innocent, he will have to swallow it.”

Age Foris is the lord who governs the Foris Duchy.

Even if he is a noble from another family, if he doesn’t stand by the girl who belongs to his territory, who will stand by her?

“If not, I will personally cut off his head.”

He was always prepared.

Prepared to turn the world into an enemy for what he believes in.

* * *

He never intended to avoid it in the first place.

The thought of hiding what he did to Claire Ryan.

“Hello.”

I finally got a good look at the face of the girl who had been following me.

I knew who she was. I had no intention of avoiding the conversation. That’s why I brought her to a secluded place.

She might not want anyone to see her crying.

This is my way of being considerate.

But…

“Do you know who I am?”

“……”

It seemed that I was the one who wasn’t fully prepared.

The Claire I knew was a confident and strong knight, almost perfect.

But the girl in front of me was different. This was before I first met her, during her most fragile and difficult time.

“My name is Claire Ryan. I have a question for you, Mr. Lost. Is that okay?”

But her eyes were different.

When we met at the Ryan Baron’s mansion, her eyes were empty and void of any emotion. But now, they were filled with a clear determination.

“……Alright, Claire Ryan. Ask whatever you want.”

“I heard that you planned this attack, is that true?”

“No.”

“Then did you lead it?”

“Yes.”

Claire took a deep breath.

It was as if she was preparing herself.

“Where were you during the attack on the mansion?”

“Nearby. Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know. You’d have to search every alley, and with your stamina, it would be difficult.”

Even though my answer was vague, Claire just nodded.

“I heard that you are an inquisitor. Is that true?”

“Normally, I shouldn’t reveal this, but… yes, it’s true.”

“……”

There was no reason to deny it.

Claire already knew everything. That eccentric old man must have run his mouth.

“Let me ask you one thing in return.”

“Yes?”

I already know what the next question will be. It will just be a predictable question with a predictable answer.

So, I’ll skip it boldly.

“Did you know that your brother became a demon?”

When someone becomes a demon, their eyes turn red. They say they can control it to some extent, but they can’t be conscious of it every day.

If he could do that, he would have been able to hide it well in front of me.

But Burke showed his red eyes easily in front of the light of the holy power. That is proof that he is not good at hiding the fact that he is a demon.

His family wouldn’t have cared.

They were the family he hated so much that he didn’t even want to face them.

But what about someone he could truly call family? Yes, someone he was willing to risk his life for?

“……”

Claire didn’t say anything. She didn’t blame him for it.

Questions are meant to get answers, but you don’t always have to hear them. There are many ways to get answers without words.

Yes, she knew it too.

There was no way she, who was closer to him than anyone else, didn’t know.

“……Was there no other way?”

“No, there was. There was a way to lock him up in a dungeon where no one would come. In some cases, it’s more cruel than death.”

That’s not a solution, it’s practically giving up. Even if he didn’t want to die, there was nothing the temple could do for him.

It’s just putting him away in a deep place, hoping for an uncertain future.

“You had a chance too.”

“……”

“You had a chance to end your family’s life with your own hands.”

People know what the end of a demon is like. If there is no priest around, they will keep attacking until they die.

The stronger the demon, the longer they live, the more so.

When he had just become a demon, he wasn’t much different from a human. Claire had a chance to stop Burke when he started down the wrong path.

She knew it but turned a blind eye.

“Claire Ryan, this is Burke Ryan’s last will. I decided to honor it, and now it’s your choice.”

“What… What is his last will?”

“He said he was sorry for being a bad brother. He also asked me to make sure you could live.”

“Is that why?”

“`

“……”

“So, are you trying to corner me with such harsh words?”

Claire Ryan was astute.

Yes, that’s right. I am trying to give her a reason to live.

The reason she wasn’t afraid of death when she met Age Foris was because she had no reason to live.

Therefore, it’s not a bad thing that she comes to me like this, with eyes full of hatred.

“You could entrust yourself to the church and become a priest without knowing anything.”

I can support her to that extent.

The church wouldn’t turn its back on Claire. Even if I just leave money for her, they would do their best.

I have enough money for that. The money my master left me is sufficient.

“The other option is to follow me. Drag that frail body and learn by my side, facing your enemy from the closest distance.”

For revenge, it’s better to be as close as possible.

I am willing to wait until she acts that way.

But I don’t think she will seek revenge.

Even before the regression, she never took revenge or caused me any harm, even if she disliked me.

She has a firm sense of justice that can discern right from wrong.

“What will you do?”

So, she needs to experience the world a little more. Only then can she find a happy life.

* * *

Age Foris was listening to the conversation between Lost and Claire.

There is no place in this mansion where he cannot see.

That’s the power of a 7th-circle archmage who can control space.

It’s like a fortress of the mind that ensures no one can betray him.

“Cunning b*stard.”

Lost didn’t hide it. Rather, he revealed it himself.

He is confident. He believes that what he did was right, even if it means being resented.

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He judged that it was the right thing to do. Moreover, he even provided an opportunity for revenge.

Of course, it means he is confident he won’t die. After all, such a frail child cannot defeat Lost, who has trained both body and mind.

“Still.”

But who knows what might happen later.

“`

The risk that Claire might accumulate power and knowledge and target him.

He carries that risk with him.

The reason for such actions is obvious.

“It’s not to the extent of killing.”

It’s as if Rost is saying he will protect Claire. He will take responsibility for the family of the person he killed.

It’s infuriating, but he’s saying he’ll take responsibility for his actions.

In that case, Age Foris has no reason to step in. At least, he won’t kill him over this matter.

“Duke, you have a visitor.”

“Yes, I can feel it.”

Age Foris withdrew his gaze from the window.

It feels as if a bug is crawling on his body.

It’s someone he knows.

How could he not? He’s been his political rival since his youth.

The only rival of Age Foris, aside from the Emperor of the Empire.

“Send those guys away. I’m expecting an important guest. If they catch his eye, they might become a nuisance.”

Another duke of the Empire.

Walsres Hope appeared.