Volume 6 Chapter 102 Demon Certification
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Excuse me for coming so early. Oh? Were you just sleeping beside him?” Floria asked with a teasing lilt in her voice.
”Can you tell just by looking? As expected of Master Floria,” I replied, forcing a smile.
Miss Floria and Shea-Shea barged into the bedroom while it was still dark. Judging by their timing, it should have been an emergency—but both of them were grinning as they looked at Yakou, who was peacefully sleeping beside me. Honestly, these two are something else.
Come to think of it, I was sleeping next to Yakou. It’s definitely awkward to be seen like this by Shea-Shea and the others, but if I get flustered now, it feels like I’ll have lost. I forced myself to remain calm as I slipped out of bed. Thankfully, my pajamas weren’t disheveled. I think I managed to pull off a cool look… though I’m sure Miss Floria saw right through me.
”So, what is it? It must be bad news; I’ve got this strange feeling in my chest,” I said, my voice low with unease.
Lately, everything seemed to tie back to the gods somehow. I didn’t want to dismiss this sensation as just intuition—it might be disrespectful—so I chose my words carefully. Staying silent would’ve been the safest bet… but that wasn’t an option.
”Here,” Floria said, handing me a single sheet of A4 copy paper.
It was formatted in the style of the Great Temple. The message was brief and unmistakable: Pakkyamara was being recognized as a demon.
”Ah, Mr. Raoh must’ve done something again. But why copy paper?” I asked, frowning at the document.
”Because the paper from this world tends to jam in the printer. We’re using precious copy paper instead,” Floria explained matter-of-factly. “That man seems to have tried to take advantage of the priests of the Great Temple.”
”He made a move on Ms. Marsha?!” I blurted out in disbelief.
That lecherous fool! What on earth is he doing?!
”Since the Great Temple monopolizes the brōtḥel business—” Shea-Shea began.
(T/N: In this setting, the Great Temple controls the legal sex work industry, which may cause confusion for outsiders.)
”—many people from other worlds mistakenly think of the priests as prostitutes.”
”Well, I mean… he’s been here for quite a while, hasn’t he? Has he really not figured that out after living in this world for nearly ten years?” I asked.
Honestly, I wouldn’t have known either if Miss Floria hadn’t told me. It’s not exactly the kind of thing that comes up in casual conversation… but still, did he really not know?
”Summoned heroes often get a pass from the Great Temple, so they can do as they please,” Floria said, folding her arms. “Or perhaps he fell into a trap? The recognition as a demon is happening unusually fast. Normally, it takes several days just to convene the recognition meeting…”
A setup? A honey trap meant for Mr. Raoh, not me? I really didn’t want to believe Ms. Marsha would do something like that…
”Regardless, I want accurate information. Let’s call them in right away,” I said.
”Well,” Shea-Shea said with a sigh, “the priests already departed through the main gate in the middle of the night. Not long after, that man stole a small boat and fled. It seems he lied to the dock guards, saying it was a secret mission.”
If he went down the canal, he’s probably in another country by now. He’s quick on his feet… or maybe just really good at fleeing. Has he been planning this escape all along?
”That guy was an ungrateful scoundrel. Should we go catch him?” Yakou asked as she stirred awake, voice still groggy.
So she was pretending to sleep and listening in this whole time.
”Try not to kill him if you can,” I said.
”Understood. It’s troublesome for a hero to return from death,” Yakou replied with a smirk.
With that, her presence simply vanished. No smoke, no flash—she just disappeared. Honestly, it’s irritating to admit she’s better at stealth than me.
”I wonder if that kid will be okay…” I murmured.
”Mr. Raoh… no, if Pakkyamaraou is innocent, he wouldn’t have resisted, would he?” Floria said softly.
I want to believe in his innocence. But the truth is, he’s hopelessly careless when it comes to women. It’s entirely possible that he drunkenly invited Ms. Marsha over without thinking. In fact, it’s probably more likely than not that he’s guilty.
…Huh? Is this what it feels like to be netorare?
(T/N: Netorare is a genre of media involving romantic betrayal, often implying emotional or sexual cheating.)
”If they were here, we could’ve married them off and settled the matter,” Shea-Shea muttered.
But is that really okay? Forcing a marriage on a sex offender just to save face… it seems too cruel. Then again, in other worlds, there are cultures where abduction marriages are accepted. Maybe it’s just a matter of differing values.
”Now that Ms. Marsha has fled to the Great Temple, we have no choice but to respond in a straightforward manner, right? We’ll have to rely on the Cardinal?” Floria said.
Ugh. I really don’t want to owe that man anything… but I guess that’s what a trump card is for.
Speak of the devil—just then, a messenger rushed in and announced the Cardinal’s arrival.
* * *
”My, my! You truly do not understand your own worth at all!!” the usually foul-mouthed Cardinal scolded me—though oddly, with a touch of reverence. It was throwing me off.
Was he putting on a show because Miss Floria and the others were watching? No… it didn’t feel like that kind of atmosphere.
”To think that Donovan and Miss Floria are with you—what a situation. Well, if you didn’t know about the Totoana Empire’s crushing defeat, I suppose it’s understandable.”
I had just heard from Yakou that we were losing. But “crushing defeat”? Isn’t that a bit exaggerated? As someone who knows the scale of tragedy in world wars, I think so. Battles in the Middle Ages had far fewer casualties—there were no weapons of mass destruction, after all.
”Even if we say we are losing consecutively, it seems the human casualties are minimal?” I asked, trying to clarify.
”Several top-class heroes have been slain. Moreover, this time the Demon King can return from death. That means he has the protection of an evil god.”
”Oh, that story.” I nodded. “The human side can return from death too, so the conditions are even. The fact that the heroes were continuously killed until the resurrection point’s temple was occupied… that’s a tactical blunder of the Totoana army.”
I made a show of confidence—best not to let them underestimate our country’s intelligence capabilities.
”If you know that much… No, if the summoned hero as a trump card is unreliable, then we have nothing but despair. And then, the savior who performs the works of the gods appears. Everyone’s expectations continue to rise.”
At the mention of “savior,” Shea-Shea hurriedly scribbled something down. She looked like a capable bureaucrat, but I could tell—the sparkle in her eyes said she’d just thought of a new novel idea.
I see. So in times of trouble, my stock has been rising rapidly at the Great Temple. That explains why Ms. Marsha is involved. It wasn’t a honey trap—it was an offering.
It seemed even the Cardinal had misunderstood various things… but where should I begin explaining? No, is there even a need to explain? What would happen if I let them continue with the wrong impression? Increasing our country’s influence is a benefit. The downside? Being elevated as a savior and forced to fight the Demon King.
”Since we’re going to be forced to fight the Demon King anyway,” I said, “wouldn’t it be better to take the initiative rather than just follow orders? The responsibility is heavy, though!”
”This is something we need to discuss with everyone,” the Cardinal replied evenly.
”Is that the reason you sent a new priest, I wonder?” I asked, squinting.
”That was something those pitiful fools did on their own. Unfortunately, the Grand Temple is not united on this matter.”
”Then, Your Grace, you will not engage in such antics in the future?”
Miss Floria was subtly gathering evidence to thwart the honey trap. A sweet trap prepared by the Cardinal… it’s a little disappointing, honestly. But if I start thinking like that, Ms. Nina will hate me. Even without that, all the women in my household are rather perceptive.
Also, having more beautiful women around would be a normal kind of problem. I’d prefer capable civil officials. Military officials… well, they’re in high demand everywhere right now.
”By the way, Your Grace? You are aware of the talk about the demon designation, correct?” I asked, steering the topic.
”Yes, regarding that matter, it seems a priest from the Bacchus Temple received a divine revelation last night.”
The conversation had taken a completely different turn. Yet, I couldn’t shake a growing feeling of unease.
Bacchus is the god of wine and gambling. I wonder if there’s any connection to the Bacchus from Earth mythology? (T/N: Bacchus is the Roman god of wine; often associated with revelry.)
There are an unusually large number of wine gods in this world. In our country’s breweries, there are shrines dedicated to dozens of them.
”As you know,” the Cardinal continued, “in recent years, Bacchus has been widely worshipped more as the god of gambling, and he has been gathering excellent young priests.”
Receiving a divine revelation is quite an achievement—Donovan was the last one, if I recall correctly.
In reality, many priests probably dream of the gods, but forget upon waking. Is it due to a lack of faith? There are too many priests who don’t even believe in the gods.
Ah, wait. I might have received that divine revelation too, just a little, in my dreams.
Recalling a forgotten dream is tough. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could record it with Editor Skill?
”Hero Pakkya-whatever has sullied the sacred gamble with dishonesty and angered Bacchus.”
”Oh, right, that was it.”
The Cardinal’s words triggered a chain reaction in my memory. That guy… he deliberately made a bet in Bacchus’s name.
He bet that if he won a drinking contest, he would take Ms. Marsha’s virtue… Honestly, what a fool.
He won the bet by using his Hero cheat skill to nullify alcohol. But in doing so, he incurred the god’s wrath.
The divine punishment he received was a terrible curse—any wine near Mr. Raoh would rot.
If he fled to protect our country’s wine, well… there might be some grounds for leniency.
”Whether a hero or not, he has incurred the wrath of the gods. I believe it is reasonable to designate him as an enemy of humanity, don’t you think?” the Cardinal said solemnly.
”That is true, but…” I hesitated. “That man has already received divine punishment. Is further demon designation necessary? He will never be able to drink again, and moreover, he’ll be turned away just for getting close to human settlements. Isn’t that a punishment worse than death for him?”
”Indeed, that may be the case. Additionally, a man who is a womanizer will become impotent, so there can be no greater punishment than this. It will serve as a good example. Truly, you are the Savior.”
Ah, right. There was another curse, wasn’t there?
A curse that rendered him impotent. Bacchus’s divine punishment is quietly terrifying. If Mr. Raoh were deprived of alcohol and women, what would even be left?
Ah, and there was another divine punishment. I might’ve remembered the full dream now. My luck in gambling must have turned to absolute disaster.
Forbidden from alcohol, women, and gambling. Huh? For him, could this actually be a good medicine? Maybe a chance to reform?
The fact that he escaped down the canal likely means he intends to join the Professors. If there’s alcohol there, though, he’ll be kicked out immediately.
”I see, so the punishment comes with salvation as a set,” I mused. “Bacchus’s divine punishment is rooted in a merciful thought, huh?”
”To be noticed to that extent—as expected of the Savior,” the Cardinal said, utterly sycophantic.
Even knowing he was flattering me, it still felt good. This might become an addiction if I got used to it.
It’s one thing to be seduced by a stunning beauty, but to think a smooth-talking old man would be the one to get me.
In a position of heavy responsibility, stress piles up with every decision made. The words of a sycophant can be a balm.
I used to laugh at nobles who considered flattery an important skill, snorting at the very idea. But if I think of it as a kind of healing role, maybe it’s not something to mock so easily.
Similar things can be done with deceitful skills. Once peace is restored… should I try it a little myself?
* * *
”Leave the matter of being recognized as a demon to me,” I said flatly. “Right now, the issue is the Demon King. He seems to be an excellent strategist, and if things continue as they are, humanity will be defeated. We need a Savior to rally us.”
No, seriously, being looked at with that kind of fervor is troubling.
”What about elevating the young Conqueror?” someone suggested. “He seems to possess high charisma, and surely many summoned Heroes are gathering around him, right?”
”That person has a poor relationship with the Hero Management Bureau,” another countered. “Moreover, it seems he’s plotting to use this opportunity to gain independence from the Larse Empire… perhaps even rebellion. He’d likely oppose any depletion of his own forces.”
He’s surprisingly composed for his age. Honestly, I can’t help but worry they’re sizing me up as the more manageable option.
* * *
In the Great Temple… The Hero Management Bureau… The Conqueror’s army… the strength of the Larse Empire… the scattered remnants of the Totoana Empire… and the military might of the smaller nations and private noble forces. Maybe the Adventurer Guild and the Mercenary Guild could lend a hand, too? Oh, and races like the centaurs might be willing to cooperate. Considering logistics, the support of the Merchant Guild is also crucial.
If everyone were to unite, our combined military strength would likely surpass that of the Demon King. But of course, they’re not the kind of people who can easily cooperate. Honestly, getting them to work together might be more impossible than defeating the Demon King himself.
That’s probably why they want to elevate me as the Savior. But that’s not going to work.
The cardinal doesn’t truly understand the gods in the first place.
Not all gods are allies of humanity. Actually, to be blunt, the arrival of the Demon King is just a form of entertainment for them—a pastime.
If humanity bands together and grows stronger, I get the feeling the Demon King will receive a power boost in response. It’s like a balancing mechanic, a built-in back-and-forth system.
Back in the day, when there was only one Hero, the Demon King had a small, tight-knit army to match. But now? They went overboard and summoned thousands of Heroes, and look at the mess we’re in.
Sure, I think the script is ultimately written for humanity to win, but it’s not a guaranteed outcome. If the gods suddenly want a story where the Demonfolk are the protagonists, then yeah—an upset could definitely happen.
In the end, it’s not about victory. It’s about putting on a show the gods can enjoy.
Thinking about it like that, the current chaos among the various factions might just be the seasoning added to spice things up.
The Totoana Empire has become something of a punchline. There’ve been casualties. It might be entertaining for the spectators, but for the performers…
Well, humans cheer while gladiators kill each other in the arena, so who are we to criticize the gods?
The truly delicious role is that of the reinforcements who arrive dramatically in the final fifteen minutes. Isn’t that the ideal Savior role? Even if they win in the end, they’ll have been beaten to hell until then. Tragic elements are a must, so heroines or close friends probably have to be sacrificed. Ms. Nina seems terribly unfortunate… I’m genuinely worried about her.
Maybe turning the whole thing into a comedy would prevent tragedy? People don’t die in gag manga, after all. The gods just want to pass time—the outcome of the performance itself doesn’t matter.
But objectively speaking, I have zero talent for comedy. I don’t have the confidence to pull off a farce before the gods. Just imagining myself as an unfunny comedian is… painful. Too painful.
No. There’s no need to force laughter. That’s right—I’ll stick to my strengths and go with a sumo match.
”At this stage, there’s still not enough sense of crisis. I can’t see a future where the various factions join hands,” I said calmly.
”Indeed, that’s true,” the cardinal replied, nodding. “But if we were to show them the works of the gods…”
”The gods are not a spectacle.”
”Then should we just wait until a crisis looms before us? Many innocent people will be trampled.”
I think the cardinal’s true nature is that of a villain—a cold-hearted man. Yet he keeps talking about the lives and deaths of the people. He reminds me more of a rice farmer worrying about crop yields than a true humanitarian.
”Is it not possible to hold negotiations with the Demon King?” someone else asked.
”It’s futile. Reason does not apply to them.”
”Therefore,” I said, “instead of discussion, we will challenge them to a contest.”
The cardinal fell into deep thought. He probably thinks I’m going to challenge the Demon King to a one-on-one duel using divine power.
Of course, that’s not it. If I staged something like that now, the gods wouldn’t offer their help. Early setbacks are more exciting to them.
No, I need to attack with only my own power—something that exceeds the gods’ expectations.
In my area of expertise.
Which means…
A cooking competition.
A taste battle with the Demon King!
(T/N: Taste battles, or “ajimi shoubu,” are a common trope in Japanese media where cooking is treated like a high-stakes duel.)
Notes:
• Miss Floria – Elegant, silver-haired noblewoman in her 40s, referred to as an ‘older sister’. Judge of the Supreme Court and Baroness. Former tutor of Princess Auroora. Initially stern but warms up, showing a playful side. Close with Ms. Nina (Princess Auroora’s doll copy), treating her like a sister. Trustworthy and explains legal matters clearly.
• Shea-Shea – Mauro’s daughter. Hurt by Alexander. Became an eager fiancée after advice from protagonist.
• Yakou – A newly created kunoichi spirit with high specs from Mubiel. She pledges loyalty to the Narrator as her ‘Lord Shogun’ and seeks to punish villains.
• Pakkyamara – An infamous, scheming, but somewhat incompetent senior adventurer known for meddling with hero summoning rituals; often gets beaten up as a result. The one who want japanese food.
• Raoh – Pakkyamara. An infamous, scheming, but somewhat incompetent senior adventurer known for meddling with hero summoning rituals; often gets beaten up as a result. The one who want japanese food.
• Marsha – a second-rank priestess in the Hero’s Temple, tasked with handling the protagonist’s ‘job change’ as the summoned hero. She is described as a beautiful woman with long brunette hair, gray eyes, and a gentle demeanor. Her role includes guiding the hero and addressing his concerns about his new life in the other world.
• Donovan – Head Priest of the Great Temple. He has a newfound respect for the MC, referring to them as a ‘Saint.’ His actions suggest he is highly organized and influential within his organization.
• Ms. Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
• Nina – Doll Princess (Auroora 217), renamed by the protagonist. Beautiful blonde, ~168 cm, slim waist. Wears adventurer attire. Made from artificial parts and wooden limbs, resembling a princess. Knowledgeable, can read, write, and use basic healing magic. Reliable partner, often saves the protagonist with her skills.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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