Chapter 28

“…What nonsense are you spouting now? A demon, seriously?”

Bella wore a look of utter disbelief.

“Fernan!”

Even Luina was stunned by the sudden declaration. But Fernan remained calm.

“Luina, leave it all to me.”

“…You’re saying you can tell just by looking at her?”

“I’ve found definitive proof.”

“Really?”

“What the hell are you two talking about?!”

“Bella Hoenne.”

Fernan’s voice dropped in tone.

“I know it’s shocking. A demon, demonic energy… It sounds completely absurd.”

As if thinking, ‘Do you even hear what you’re saying?’, Bella’s gaze grew sharper.

“But you must trust me completely.”

“That doesn’t make any sense…”

“If you can’t trust me, then trust your friend, Luina Bercheff. Has she ever hurt you or lied to you for no reason?”

“…No, but…”

A demon?

Bella began to wonder if her good friend had fallen under the influence of Fernan’s poisonous tongue and was now spouting nonsense.

Honestly, that seemed the most likely explanation.

“No.”

“What?”

“I haven’t brainwashed Luina.”

“…And how would you know that?”

“Come on, Bella. Do you really think I’m that easy to manipulate?”

“Well, no… but saying I’ve got a demon in my head? How can you say that so casually? That’s insane. Only a lunatic would say something like that.”

Even though demons hadn’t appeared in a thousand years, they were still terrifying figures. Monsters who had nearly destroyed the continent. Cursed beings warned against by the First Emperor.

Though their names barely survived in records and the remaining judges were mostly symbolic, their continued existence was proof that the danger persisted.

“I’m saying it because I truly believe there’s a demon in your head.”

“You’re both clearly insane. There’s no other explanation.”

“We’ll see who’s crazy once we get to the temple.”

“The temple? Why the temple now…?”

“The mages at the temple are the most sensitive to demonic energy.”

There wasn’t some holy force opposing demonic energy like in novels or plays.

But the Dragon Cult had long held irreconcilable conflicts with demons over magical supremacy and had once been among the most fervent in exterminating them.

That policy continued even now, and they’d developed artifacts and spells specifically designed to detect demons. If Fernan had to choose someone best at this, he’d pick the Dragon Cult without hesitation.

“If they find demonic energy in your body, then we’ll be right. And if they don’t, then you’ll be right.”

In that case, I’ll formally apologize. Fernan made that clear.

“In the name of Fernan Pellenberg.”

“…You don’t look like someone who plans to bow very low.”

“I haven’t made a mistake yet.”

“…”

“Bella, just once.”

“Luina…”

Bella honestly couldn’t make sense of any of this. It was all so sudden, so ridiculous.

She’d never seen a demon, and now she was being told she had a pact with one.

‘What if this is a demon’s trick?’

Maybe she was actually asleep in bed, and this was all a nightmare caused by a demon.

Without thinking, Bella pinched her cheek.

“No, not a dream.”

“…Weirdly precise.”

Rubbing her sore cheek, she asked:

“And what if I do have demonic energy?”

“We’ll purify it. There’s no other method. I won’t hand you over to the inquisitors, but we do need to investigate your movements.”

“My movements?”

“We need to find out how the demonic energy got in so we can take action.”

“Didn’t you already investigate?”

“Shh, Luina. Right now, the best thing you can do is stay quiet.”

“…Understood.”

‘Since when are those two so close?’

Bella let out a dry laugh as she watched them talk like some comedy duo. Even though the topic was serious, she couldn’t take it seriously.

After all, how could one believe demons and demonic energy would just resurface out of nowhere after a thousand years?

“…Fine. Let’s go. I have nothing to hide. But if they find nothing, you’ll owe Luina an apology too.”

“To Luina?”

“Of course. You dragged her into your madness with your bizarre ideas.”

“It may sound harsh, but if that’s what you want, fine.”

Rrrrck. Bella roughly pushed her chair back and stood up.

“Well, shall we go then? Since you want to so badly, let’s go already.”

“Wait a moment.”

“What now?”

Fernan pointed at the half-full cups.

“If we’re going, we might as well finish these. This coffee’s made from the finest beans from Mount Argond.”

Slurp. He sipped it slowly, savoring the flavor.

***

“Was that really real?”

Fernan and Luina walked a little behind, keeping some distance from Bella.

“It was. You saw it right, and your friend is tainted with demonic energy. Although it’s very faint, so she won’t lose her mind like Valoshi did.”

Still, the traces of demonic energy remained. Unlike Valoshi, who had expelled it all at once, in Bella it had been building up slowly.

“If that’s true… then Bella…”

“That won’t happen. She didn’t sign a direct pact with a demon, she was just unknowingly infected. That’s why we’re going to the Cult and not the judges, as a precaution.”

With the Dragon Cult’s apostles, there was room for negotiation. With the inquisitors, there wasn’t.

They existed solely to exterminate demons. Having been dormant for centuries, their existence had become almost symbolic. And to regain power, they’d do anything.

They’d even fabricated false demon cases in the past. If Bella were taken to them and they detected demonic energy, they’d undoubtedly execute her on the spot.

That would inevitably damage Fernan’s relationship with Luina—and likely drag Aint down too.

From Fernan’s perspective, that was the last thing he wanted.

‘Bella must live. She must live, uncover the demonic energy, and become evidence.’

For Luina, for the affection Fernan needed from her, and for the entire continent.

“…Thanks.”

“There’s nothing to thank me for.”

“Stop whispering, you two. Are we really doing this?”

Bella stopped abruptly, arms crossed and visibly annoyed.

“Weren’t we going to the temple? Why are we heading everywhere but there?”

If she hadn’t had direct contact with a demon or signed any contract, it was most likely that she had been infected through a contaminated object or by being in a specific place.

‘If we can track down the contamination source in her activities, that would be ideal.’

Of course, it wasn’t absolutely necessary.

But if they found something in her history that could’ve been the cause, the diagnosis at the temple would carry much more weight.

“Just do as we say.”

There was no need to explain something so sensitive in the middle of the street, surrounded by people.

“That’s all you have to say?”

“Please, Bella. Just this once.”

“…Luina, seriously. When this is over, you and I are going to have a talk.”

“Anytime.”

Bella grumbled as she entered the bookstore. The characteristic scent of old paper filled the air.

“Welcome.”

A clerk greeted them with a smile, and Fernan and Luina wandered through the store with her.

‘Nothing unusual here.’

Even so, Fernan made a mental note of it. He wasn’t especially sensitive to mana, so he might’ve missed something subtle.

“She comes often, doesn’t she? Did she finish the book I recommended last time?”

“Yes, I really enjoyed it. The ending between Adran and Hella was especially touching.”

“If you’d like, I can recommend another.”

“I’d love that.”

As Fernan finished browsing the store, he saw Bella chatting with the shopkeeper.

“A book recommendation?”

“Bella likes romance novels.”

“A fairly common pastime.”

As Fernan absentmindedly watched the back of Bella’s head, his gaze drifted toward the bookstore owner. He looked completely ordinary, with no distinguishing features.

When their eyes met, the man seemed to recognize him and showed a hint of surprise, then quickly bowed.

“A pleasure to meet you, Lord Fernan.”

“You know me?”

“In my line of work, it’s impossible not to. Besides, I often receive goods from the Golden Turtle Guild.”

“So you’re a client.”

“And today you came with friends. Would you like me to recommend a book as well?”

Fernan shook his head. He already owned almost every worthwhile book, either through the guild or his family.

And if not, he could always visit the academy library.

“A shame. There’s one I think you’d like.”

“I’ll take a look another time.”

“Please, visit us again.”

With that, Bella’s daily routine inspection was complete.

“Follow me.”

“But this isn’t the direction to the temple?”

“What if your demonic energy flares up suddenly at the temple?”

“Why are you acting like I’m definitely infected? I haven’t met any demons and I’m not crazy!”

Winding around, they returned to the same café as before.

“Again?”

“Follow me.”

More precisely, to the building’s fifth floor. There was the private room Fernan often used when meeting with Luina.

“He’s here, sir.”

A guest was waiting.

“Always so prompt.”

“When you call, I come immediately.”

“You’re just excited about the money.”

“Without money, the cult can’t thrive.”

Everything is the will of the Dragon. Jace pressed his palms together devoutly.

“But… I see you’ve brought someone new.”

“Jace Vynes, right?”

Bella and Jace recognized each other a moment later. Fernan didn’t bother with formal introductions.

“Alright, instead of going to the temple, we’ll use Jace to verify it. Did you bring what I asked for?”

“Of course. I assure you, there’s nothing better than the Dragon Cult’s artifacts for detecting demonic energy. We’ve been refining them for a thousand years.”

Even though demons had vanished, the cult had never stopped preparing, motivated by the prophecy of the first high priest.

“So they can detect all demonic energy? Even faint traces out on the street?”

“Sir… do you have a conscience?”

Jace gave a dry laugh.

“Unless it’s a very dense presence, detecting it without direct contact or prior setup is impossible. At least with current magic.”

“What a shame.”

If they could detect all ambient energy, they might be able to find the exact contamination source.

“But did you really sense demonic energy? Why the sudden rush…?”

“There’s someone infected.”

“Who…? Don’t tell me it’s her?”

“Yes.”

Jace tilted his head in disbelief.

“I don’t sense anything at all.”

“That’s why I asked you to bring the artifact.”

“And you’re sure she didn’t make a contract with a demon?”

“No, she didn’t.”

“Then why are you so sure she has demonic energy?”

“That’s exactly what I want to find out.”

Jace and Bella stared at Fernan with identical skeptical expressions. He just crossed his arms and nodded.

“Let’s test it and see.”

“If you’re paying for the artifact, I have no problem… but honestly, I think you’re overreacting.”

Jace took out a small wooden box. Inside was a clear crystal sphere etched with tiny runes.

“I’m only doing this because you asked. Miss, your name?”

“Call me Bella.”

“Ah, Bella Hoenne. Feel free to speak casually. Please place both hands on the sphere.”

Bella placed her hands on the crystal. When Jace held the other side, the runes began to glow.

“Mana will flow inside and observe your body. Don’t resist.”

“Easy. Let’s finish this so you can apologize.”

Mana wrapped around Bella’s entire body. At the strange sensation, she stifled a soft gasp.

“…Can that artifact really reveal the truth?”

“In theory, yes. If it can’t, nothing else can.”

Maybe Aint Armian or Gardner Alfenparsen had other methods, but for now, this was the best tool available.

“Not that I want to say much, but I hope nothing happens.”

“Who knows.”

With Fernan’s vague reply, the mana that had traveled through Bella’s body returned to the crystal.

At that moment…

Wooooooong—

The sphere, previously clear, slowly began to tint gray.

It wasn’t a strong color. So faint it could easily be missed if not paying attention.

But what mattered was that it had changed.

“…”

Jace observed it silently for a moment, then drew a sacred symbol and began to pray.

“Oh, Great Divine Dragon, today I offer you a cursed creature who dared accept a demon into her being. Have mercy on your servant.”

“…What?”

“…Huh?”

FWOOOSH, a flame burst from Jace’s hand.

“One is coming, God Dragon!”

BOOM!!!

An explosion erupted.