WE TRIED TLS

Is It Bad That the Main Character’s a Roleplayer

Chapter 188 | If I Can Remain Here (4)

Deathbringer stifled his irritation as he sat on the roof of the Temple.

The fact that he’d just been rolling around the Temple while the Inquisitor and Berserk went to help out the Demon Knight didn’t sit quite right with him.

Had he known this would happen, he would’ve just gone along with them.

Deathbringer swallowed his discomfort over that irreversible decision once again.

It was still frustrating, though.

“Inquisitor Daniel, are you heading home?”

“Ah… Yes.”

However, the most irritating thing wasn’t himself, but the person responsible for this.

Hearing a familiar name, Deathbringer slowly sat up. A burn scar covered half of that gray-haired person’s face.

It was the guy from earlier.

“I’m sure your family will be happy. It’s been a while since you’ve last gone back, right?”

“…I hope that’s the case.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Of course, he had no intention of harming the man. It had already been resolved, after all, and it had been a situation that—he silently apologized to the Demon Knight—was bound to happen.

Did the Demon Knight get hurt? Or were there casualties among the innocent civilians?

Neither had happened, so Deathbringer couldn’t bring himself to harm that inquisitor. As much as he disliked the man, he wouldn’t dare do anything.

Doing so would go against all his beliefs and break the oath he’d made before Emmitte’s grave.

“…It’s been a while since I last wanted someone just to mess up.”

Still, out of spite, he couldn’t just leave the guy alone, either. He was torn.

Plenty of people in the past had indirectly refused to acknowledge the Demon Knight, but this guy was the first to do so directly.

“Then I could just slap him over the head.”

Was that all? He’d promised the iron wall that he would never back down, but the multiple rejections to hear him out were honestly wearing him down.

He wasn’t thinking of giving up, but he was just so stressed out. To the point of feeling like he couldn’t just let a chance to vent his frustration escape so easily.

So he prayed.

He prayed that damn hardhead would give him some sort of reason to step in. He didn’t want anyone to get hurt either, so at least something small that would let him trip the guy up.

“Danny, you’re here?”

“Daniel! How long has it been?”

“Haha… It’s been a whil—”

“Brother! A two-handed sword! I heard a two-handed sword is better than a one-handed one!”

“Ah, Schutz, it’s been a while, huh? What was that about a two-handed sword…?”

“Ah, today, an adventurer showed Schutz his sword. And that sword happened to be longer than yours, so…”

“…An adventurer using a long sword?”

“Brother! A two-handed sword, you hear?!”

It was a somewhat unreasonable wish.

Wanting to vent on someone who was only strict on Demons and their worshipers but was so very kind to his family wasn’t justifiable.

“Hmm. It was a lot longer than yours… About this much, maybe?”

“That’s… unusual. Those types of swords are quite hard to use, so adventurers typically don’t wield them.”

“Is that so?”

“Brother, a two-handed sword!”

“He must have been a highly skilled adventurer then.”

“Well, he did look quite unusual. He had two-colored hair, and the clothes he was wearing…”

“Yeah, yeah. I only saw him for a moment, but… he really did seem interesting…”

“Aunt, Uncle, hold on a second. What color… was his hair again…?”

“Huh? I said it was two-colored, didn’t I?”

“…What colors?”

“Hmm. One side was black, and the other light gray.”

“…That damn Demon!”

But it seemed he hadn’t completely wasted his time.

Even Deathbringer hadn’t expected this outcome.

* * *

“How dare he, how dare he!”

“…Danny?”

“How dare he touch my family!”

Daniel’s eyes turned red with rising anger. The back of his head seemed to throb.

“Wait, Danny. Why are you…!”

“Daniel?”

“Aunt, Uncle, stay here with Schutz! And no matter what, absolutely do not open the door for anyone until I return! Especially not for that two-tone-haired adventurer!”

Well, he could hardly believe it, but it had only been a few hours since he’d resolved himself to believe.

He’d let go of his anger and contempt because the others insisted he wasn’t a Demon, and the Hero surely wouldn’t ally with a Demon. He’d fought so hard to let go of his prejudice and narrow-mindedness.

And how was he rewarded? With a slap over the head. And in the form of meddling with his family, no less?

Unforgivable.

This was absolutely unforgivable.

As he thought, Demons couldn’t be trusted.

Daniel surrendered to his rising anger and turned around. Clang. The worn armor he had yet to take off rattled noisily.

“Brother, where are you going?”

“Daniel!”

“Brother??”

Of course, his family was extremely confused by his sudden actions, but it couldn’t be helped. Right now, he didn’t have any time to explain the situation to them.

It wasn’t like he didn’t want to spend time with his family, but he just couldn’t waste a single second to hunt that wretched Demon.

Clang, clang.

But unfortunately, his steps were soon brought to a halt.

“Where are you going?”

“…?”

Someone was blocking his path.

“Step aside. I have somewhere I need to be.”

Feeling no Demonic Energy from the person before him, Daniel instinctively responded as such.

The stranger was standing with his back to the sun, cloaking his body and attire in shadows, which was probably why he’d mistaken them for an ordinary citizen.

“That’s why I’m asking you. Where are you going?”

However, he soon realized the question wasn’t being asked out of curiosity.

And their attire, covered in shadows, also made him reconsider his opinion. That dark green cloak woven from nettles seemed perfectly designed to conceal things.

The same went for their boots, which appeared to have been laden with something, and the weapon, hidden in the sleeve of the raised arm adjusting their collar. These all pointed to the same thing.

“…You.”

This person wasn’t an ordinary civilian.

Perhaps not even a simple adventurer.

The moment Daniel reached that conclusion, he widened his stance and placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.

While rare, this kind of ambush wasn’t completely unheard of, so he didn’t hesitate.

“Identify yourself. Who are you to question me like this?”

Could they be someone with a grudge against him? Someone from the back alleys who simply despised those of the Temple? An assassin hired by the kin of some vicious criminal he’d executed? Or… the most obvious answer, a Demon Worshiper?

“You saw me earlier. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten?”

His spiraling thoughts were abruptly cut off.

He’d seen them earlier? When? He’d spent most of his afternoon in the confessional, so the only possibility was the morning.

“At the Temple.”

The Temple. Upon hearing that word, Daniel’s mind started working quickly. But even then, had he ever seen someone dressed in such dark clothes inside the Temple…? Ah.

“…The Hero’s Companion.”

“What an atrocious memory you have. I’m surprised you can track anything down with that potato of a brain.”

“I admit it’s my fault for not recognizing you promptly, but I believe I have every right to ask why you, the Hero’s Companion, are here and why you’re blocking my path.”

His sarcastic tone was quite annoying, but Daniel held back and showed him courtesy.

After all, the Hero must’ve had a reason for keeping someone like him so close. Even if he seemed suspicious. Even if he seemed strangely hostile toward him.

As long as he was the Hero’s Companion.

As long as he was someone the Hero had chosen…

But could he really be trusted?

“If you can’t answer, you don’t have to. But in that case, just step aside. I have urgent matters to attend to.”

While he’d been in the confessional, the being whom the bishop had assured him wasn't a Demon had sought out his family.

As if to mock him. Or to threaten him.

Was this the result of his trust and faith?

And was the person before him any different? He was clearly someone who lived in the shadows, and although he was a Companion of the Hero, he likely associated with that Demon.

“So, where are you going?”

“I said, step aside.”

“Are all you inquisitors like this? So stubborn.”

“If you don't move or even explain yourself…”

“At least that iron wall has the will to learn about things she doesn’t know about.”

“Then I will force my way through you.”

Perhaps his thoughts could be seen as sacrilegious. Perhaps he’d misunderstood the person before him entirely.

However, Daniel chose to reject the possibility of being wrong. He couldn’t risk losing his family again.

Anything that harbored Demonic Energy and all those who defended them deserved to die.

* * *

WE TRIED TLS

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* * *

“Are you actually trying to oppress a civilian right now?”

“I clearly gave you a warning.”

He pressed forward resolutely. Of course, he hadn’t drawn his weapon first, just to be on the safe side.

So long as the other person didn’t attack first, he wouldn’t either.

“Mister Knight isn’t a Demon.”

But the moment he was about to pass by the other person, he gave a remark that lit a fuse in Daniel.

“What do you know!”

“Well. A lot more than you. I’ve known Mister for far longer, after all.”

Snap!

In that instant, his opponent blocked his path again with agile movements.

Did the man know he would retaliate if attacked? His opponent didn’t even touch him.

“Get out of my way. I have to go kill that Demon!”

“Not happening. As long as you’re hell-bent on going after Mister Knight, I will never get out of your way.”

“I told you to move!”

“Bleeeeh.”

That piece of trash…!

Daniel twisted his body, trying to force himself past. He still hadn’t raised his weapon. It crossed his mind that his opponent might want him to draw his weapon first.

“I can’t do that though.”

However, whenever he moved, the other person would match his steps perfectly. His reaction speed was so fast that slipping past him seemed almost impossible.

“Out of my way!”

“I already told you I wouldn’t, right?”

“Move!”

“Ah, why not try hitting me, huh?”

“You insufferable little troublemaker…!”

Using proper force to get his way would only give his opponent an excuse to retaliate, but trying to somehow move past him seemed futile.

All of this made Daniel even angrier.

“Hah. Is everyone in the Temple taught the same insults? The iron wall uses the same ones.”

“This is your last chance—get out of my way this instant! If you don’t, I’ll classify you as a heretic!”

In the end, he had no choice but to play his final card. The other person’s expression turned cold as ice at that remark.

“Me, a heretic?”

“If defending a Demon doesn’t make you a heretic, what does?!”

“Wow. You sure have a talent for twisting the truth to make yourself sound in the right.”

“This is your last chance. Cease defending that Demon and step aside.”

“And it seems you’ve even built a solid wall over your perfectly good ears, huh?”

The person’s hand disappeared beneath his cape.

“Also, could you stop calling Mister a Demon?”

“So you choose to face punishment…”

“Mister doesn’t need you also calling him a Demon. He’s already beating himself up enough as is.”

The cape shook slightly.

Here it came. Daniel raised his arms instinctively, or maybe as a learned reflex. In such situations, stones or daggers would usually fly at him.

Swish!

But what came flying wasn’t a dagger.

『Sometimes it’s not a blade, but sand or… ash, or even worse, poison dust. So, rolling away might be better than just covering your face.』

Just as his senior’s advice flashed through his mind, a cloud of white powder covered his eyes and nose.

“Cough, cough!”

Despite having shielded his face with his forearm, he ended up coughing nonstop. He rolled to the side, rapidly blinking his eyes in case the substance was poisonous.

Tears welled up, a physiological reaction to gradually clear his vision. Fortunately, it seemed like the powder wasn’t poisonous.

“Choke on that.”

Also, the first thing he saw when his vision cleared was his opponent flipping him off. He was also slowly backing away, expecting a blow would soon come his way.

A vein bulged on Daniel’s neck.

“In the name of God, I shall commence the execution!”

He briefly chanted the declaration that inquisitors used to commence a heresy trial. Only then did his opponent decide to run away.

Daniel, having shaken off the lingering effects of the white powder, immediately gave chase.

“Stop right there, you scum!”

“Would you stop if you were me?”

He felt like this guy would keep running his mouth even if he were drowning.

Daniel tried to regain his composure after hearing those goading remarks, putting more strength into his legs. Strengthening his body with Divine Power, he somehow managed to keep up with that person’s speed.

Tap, tap, tap, tap.

Clink, clink, clink.

Two sets of footsteps echoed through the streets, hidden by the night’s darkness.

“Stop!”

“I told you I won’t, didn’t I?”

“You damn Demon Worshiper…!”

“You serious? I’m not a damn Demon Worshiper! Are you trying to make me mad?”

“If you’re not, what do you think you’re doing right now?!”

As the person scurried into an alley, Daniel turned to follow. He’d also drawn his sword, keeping it before him defensively.

Swish!

“—! —!!”

As something dark crossed his vision, another cloud of white powder followed. “Cough, cough.” Judging by its distinctive ashy smell, it was probably just powdered ash. It wasn’t poisonous, fortunately, just really annoying.

Whizz, thud.

“You… don’t even know what Demons truly are!”

“Hah, I’d wager I’ve seen more Demons than you’ll ever see in a lifetime.”

Daniel swung his arm to clear the air and twisted his body. His opponent, who’d just jumped over him using a wall to propel himself forward, landed back on the street, still talking to him in such an aggravating manner.

“If you know what they are, just why are you doing this?!”

“It’s because I know. Did it never cross your mind that that’s why, you idiot?”

“…!”

“The Demon Knight isn’t a Demon, absolutely not.”

“You’ve been bewitched by that Demon!”

“Hah, if I’m bewitched, then you’ve been blinded by your damn beliefs.”

However, what enraged Daniel even more was the firmness with which he spoke.

If that person truly wasn’t a Demon Worshiper, then what he displayed might just be his loyalty and trust toward a companion.

Trust born from complete ignorance about the true nature of Demons. It made him fall for the Demon’s silver tongue, leaving him utterly blind to the betrayal lurking in the shadows!

“You don’t understand. You’ve no idea what Demons are capable of!”

As he thought, all Demons must die. Every last one of those corrupted beings who couldn’t help but betray even that unshakable faith. None of them must live.

“And you know what you don’t understand? How a person can shine so brilliantly, even when tainted by a Demon.”

“That’s all a lie! That light is nothing but an illusion!”

“Hah. If that were the case, there’s no way I wouldn’t know.”

“You just don’t understand Demons!”

“And you don’t understand people!”

They all needed to die.

“You have no idea what kind of person Mister is, how much he’s endured, and what kind of determination it takes for him to continue standing on this land!”

The Demons who’d killed his parents and all the seniors who’d guided him.

“You don’t understand him, who despises Demons so much that he even turns his blade on himself, treating himself as evil, yet keeps standing to kill all those Demons, not even caring about his own life!”

They had to die.

“You truly don’t—!”

“My parents died because they answered a child’s cry for help.”

Perhaps because his emotions finally reached a breaking point, an eerie calm settled over him.

Daniel opened his mouth again, his mind clear.

“They died because they followed a child calling out, ‘Help me. Please help me.’”

He could vividly remember the day he went out for his first field training to become a full-fledged inquisitor and, at the same time, the day his parents died.

“Who could’ve imagined a high-ranking Demon would be in a place so far from the frontlines, where it’s much more common to stumble across some bandits.”

『A child? Did anyone hear a child’s voice just now?』

『We’re in the middle of a forest, though…?』

『Listen carefully. Over there…』

『Is it really…?』

『Just in case… Danny, you stay here. Carl, stay with Danny.』

『Understood.』

“You… don’t understand Demons. I’m not talking about low-level Demons like Goblins, Gnolls, or Zombies, but real Demons. You can’t even fathom how far those beings can go.”

『…Can’t I come with you?』

『No. We’ll be back soon, okay…?』

『Hey, Danny, are you already disobeying orders? Don’t try to pull the family card now.』

『Exactly. We make these decisions for a reason, so just wait patiently, okay?』

『…Okay.』

“Demons are cruel, cunning, and abominable.”

『…A-an explosion?』

『…That’s the direction Mom and Dad went.』

『This isn’t good. Danny, hide somewhere nearby! I’ll check on what’s happening!』

『No! I want to go too! Let me go with you!』

『No! You stay here and hide!』

『…But!』

『This is an official order from a formal inquisitor to a trainee! There’s no “but”!』

“Demons, without exception, are worse than you could ever imagine!”

『Aargh!』

『Uwaaaargh!』

『D-damn it… Run away, Dan—…!』

“The only solution is to kill all of them.”

『Run away, huh… So, there’s one more?!』

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