IBWMD 85

~Chapter 85~

“Monster or Human?”

Tap tap tap tap.

As I sprinted across the rooftops, I felt a strong sense of déjà vu.

‘Feels like when I was chasing Tan over the roofs.’

Of course, this time was very different.

Back then, I had been wearing heels and a corset. Now I was in loose, comfortable clothes.

So catching up was a lot easier now…

“Kyaaah!”

Rustle rustle rustle!

“…Is it really a monster?”

The silhouette was running on all fours—just like in a horror movie. I stared, stunned.

It was fast too, which made it even more confusing.

‘Now I get why those weird rumors started.’

With something like that wandering the streets at night, it would be stranger not to have rumors about monsters in the slums.

Then another thought hit me—this must never reach the temple.

Wait, no. Zeon already saw it.

Then before the temple catches this thing, we need to get to it first.

I’d have to convince (or “gently threaten”) Zeon to help me.

Feeling a little more urgent, I gave up aiming with my musket while running and instead gripped it like a club.

‘If I shoot, it’ll make too much noise.’

So, beating it with my hands would have to do.

I picked up my pace.

Soon, I saw the silhouette dashing just below me.

“Kyaak! Kyaaaak!”

As it noticed me, it screamed again—and now I started to feel a tingling sensation too.

‘Let’s lead it to a dead-end alley.’

From my higher vantage point, I could see the streets clearly. It wasn’t hard to guide it where I wanted.

Like herding a rabbit, I chased it until it ran into a blocked alley.

“Kyaak?!”

The creature skidded to a stop when it saw the wall.

Whoosh.

I leaped down from above, like an exorcist in an action movie.

Smack!

A very physical exorcism.

“Kyaaaak! KyaaAAAGH!”

The thing I hit with my musket rolled around like it’d just been sprayed with bug killer.

“Kii… kiak… ugh… ugh…”

Then it started groaning—human-like groaning.

‘Groaning? That sounds… human.’

I raised the musket again, ready to hit—then stopped.

The clouds parted, and the moonlight revealed the figure.

“…Elaine!”

Zeon came running up, panting and holding a giant mace.

‘Where the heck did he find that thing?’

He was charging in like he was going to do a physical exorcism of his own—

“Stop!”

“Huh?!”

Thud!

I tripped him and caught him just in time before he face-planted.

“Ugh!”

‘My poor back. This guy is part gorilla, part bear, part pig… holy knight?’

‘Now you’re carrying another man, too?’

Will you shut up already?!

“Elaine, what are you doing?”

“Move. You’re heavy!”

While I struggled to shove him off, Karl’s annoying voice still echoed in my head.

I pushed Zeon aside and turned back to the creature on the ground.

“Zeon, let me ask you one thing.”

“Huh? What is it?”

“That thing on the ground… does it look like a monster to you?”

“…What?”

Zeon looked down—then dropped his mace with a heavy clunk.

Frozen, he couldn’t say anything.

I slowly walked toward the fallen figure.

“Ugh… ugh… urgh…”

“Hey. Can you hear me?”

It was a person.

They were curled up on the ground, dressed in ragged clothes—probably a slum dweller.

Despite the seriousness, a chill of recognition crept up my spine.

‘I’ve seen this before.’

Just like the assassin who attacked me.

They weren’t vomiting black gunk or completely black-skinned like the assassin had been.

But their skin was discolored in patches, and the way they mimicked monster sounds was eerily similar.

It felt like the assassin had been in an advanced stage—and this person was in an early one.

Excitement surged in my chest.

‘This might be connected.’

It could even lead to something that might help Karl.

And maybe reveal who’s behind all of this.

“Zeon. Do you still have a lot of holy power left?”

“Huh? Why?”

Without explaining, I shoved the still-dazed Zeon toward the person.

“Try purifying them.”

Holy power works against monster corruption—so it might help.

‘I could try myself…’

But I hesitated.

My holy power was weak. I’d already failed once—when I tried to purify Karl.

I couldn’t stand the thought of failing again.

“B-but…”

Zeon hesitated too, clearly unsure.

But I knew exactly what he was worried about.

“Don’t start thinking they were cursed because they sinned.”

“…”

“Even if they did sin—it’s the temple’s job to help them, not punish them.”

“But…”

“When did the temple become a place for condemning sinners instead of saving them?”

Thinking about the skewer vendor and his possible trial made my expression darken.

“Did you forget the teachings about love and redemption?”

“…No. I remember.”

Zeon finally nodded and approached the person.

I followed behind, still deep in thought.

‘How did this person end up like this?’

And what about the assassin?

‘Wait… didn’t he say something?’

I strained to remember—my head still fuzzy from the emotional storm over Karl.

That assassin had said…

“The antidote… I need the antidote… from him…”

“Damn it… I have to go back… I’m sorry… please don’t kill me…”

‘He said he needed to go back… for the antidote.’

And the only place for him to go back to would be the Assassin’s Guild.

Which meant maybe they did something to him.

Like giving him something disguised as a poison pill.

Maybe someone above the guild leader was involved.

‘The underworld boss…’

The moment that thought came up, so did the drugged cigarettes he had spread around.

‘Is this connected too?’

Just like he tried to destroy the army using those, maybe now he’s trying to destroy the Grand Duchy with something else?

What if he’s spreading something that turns people into monsters?

‘Am I jumping to conclusions?’

Still… I had a gut feeling.

‘There must be someone backing him. Someone powerful.’

This was too big for just a local gang leader.

‘But who is it?’

I didn’t have a clue yet.

The pieces were there, but I couldn’t connect them all.

‘I feel like I’m close… but still not quite there.’

Just as I was about to get a headache from thinking—

“Ugh… ugh!”

The person on the ground gasped and moaned.

Zeon had finished purifying them—and the person seemed to be coming to.

Zeon muttered, still surprised:

“…They really were human.”

“Of course. Then why’d you purify them if you weren’t sure?”

“Because I trust you…”

“Don’t get all sentimental now. Do you have enough power left to use healing magic?”

“W-who are you people?!”

The slum dweller shouted in fear, ready to run.

I gave him a reassuring smile.

Can’t exactly beat up a panicked civilian.

“Patient, are you alright? You’ve been asleep for 30 years—”

“R-really?!”

He collapsed back down, dazed.

Zeon looked at me like I was a con artist standing outside the temple.