LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 56
In Ragnarok, there are three main characters. Among them, Arisha, the King of Rights’ niece, is bright and sociable, always wearing a smile, making her the most popular character among the protagonists.
Of course, her ba-boom body and stunning appearance probably played a role in her popularity too.
Proving that point, the girl smiling at me right now was extremely beautiful.
Though she’s not yet an adult and hasn’t revealed her bam-bam figure, that will surely happen soon.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Lee Hyun from the Tower of Sages. Hello, Arisha.”
“Yay! Nice to meet you~!”
With a radiant smile and a wave, Arisha ran back to the King of Rights.
The King lightly tugged her back and let out a small sigh.
It seemed he wasn’t fond of her overly friendly demeanor toward a stranger.
Honestly, who wouldn’t worry if such a lovely niece were to act so sweetly with just anyone?
“Let’s get to business. Do you know what you were requested for?”
“Yes, I heard it was to take care of a demon.”
“That’s right. The demon we need to capture is called Delrebano.”
“Delrebano…”
“Do you know him?”
“Delrebano, a demon of the third hierarchy, a minion of the evil archdemon Deus. I heard that after the archdemon Diabolos was annihilated, Deus has been increasing his influence in the human world to strengthen his power. Looks like you’ve found one of them.”
“Indeed, a Tower of Sages agent. Delrebano has possessed a body of one of Arisha’s close friends.”
If the demon didn’t summon itself but rather possessed her, then exorcising it wouldn’t be too hard. After all, it hadn’t shown a tangible form, so all we had to do was cut the connection.
Of course, there would be a fight in the process… but with the King of Rights beside me, what was there to worry about?
“Can you do the exorcism?”
“It won’t be difficult.”
“Well, that’s a relief. By the way, it’s usually the church that handles exorcisms. Do you wonder why I requested the Tower of Sages instead?”
“I know you have grievances with the church due to your past battles with the paladins.”
“The Tower of Sages really knows everything.”
With a bitter smile, he shrugged and patted Arisha’s head.
Perhaps she liked that touch because Arisha let a giggle escape, yet she never took her green gaze off me.
“Then let’s go right away.”
As we made our way, I heard the details.
The girl possessed by the demon was a noble named Lina Trevish.
A normal girl, nothing special, happened to pick up a gem one day, and strange things began to happen since then.
“Strange things?”
“Well, things typical of a possessed person. Seeping a sinister aura, or spitting out strange liquids. Bugs coming near… you know, things like that.”
“Ah, I see.”
“I tried to handle things myself, but that demon just wouldn’t leave the girl’s body. If only I could get it to detach, it would be over…”
“Uncle! Uncle! So if this mister is here, he can save Lina?”
“That’s the idea?”
“Wow… Mister! You’re amazing!”
Arisha sparkled at me with her eyes.
Such a cute sight made me smile and wave my hand.
“Not a big deal. So you seem quite close to Lina?”
“Yep! She’s my precious friend! That’s why I’m worried…”
Seeing Arisha’s sulky face made the King frown slightly, looking unsure how to cheer her up.
In that case, I, with my experience in babysitting so far, should step in.
“Don’t worry. That demon will be dealt with by your uncle and me.”
“…yes! Hehe, thank you~.”
With a bright smile, Arisha lightly took my hand.
Arisha learned martial arts from the King.
Her hands, pretty yet slightly roughened by training, proved that.
“Are you learning martial arts?”
“Yup! I’m studying the Arang Technique.”
The Arang Technique is a martial art that overcomes foes with proactive strikes.
Even in the game, Arisha had immense power when learning this skill compared to the other two protagonists.
“Is it going well?”
“Uh-huh. It’s a bit tough. There are parts I don’t understand.”
Well, that’s understandable.
The Arang Technique is incomplete without the wall-return technique, which should’ve been learned alongside it.
It makes sense she couldn’t grasp it well while only learning the Arang Technique.
I glanced subtly at the King.
He couldn’t possibly not know this. But he just pretended not to and turned his head away.
Is he waiting for her to realize her shortcomings before helping her? What a scary person.
“Excuse me.”
While chatting with Arisha, we arrived at a small mansion.
It looked eerie.
To prove that a demon resided there, crows were perched on the roof, and the ground was littered with insect corpses.
“There’s barely any sign of people. I’ll leave my sword here.”
“Sure.”
When exorcising a demon possessing a person, it’s common to leave weapons like swords behind.
The demon might use telekinesis to snatch weapons and harm us or even try to injure itself.
Of course, for someone like me or the King, that wouldn’t be a worry, but there’s always a possibility.
I firmly embedded my sword in the ground and ventured into the mansion.
“…Welcome…”
As I knocked on the door, it opened.
Guided by the frightened servants, we entered to find a worn-out noble couple who greeted us.
“I’d like to meet your daughter first.”
No need to waste time.
Let’s take care of this immediately.
The King nodded, agreeing with my sentiment, and we were soon led to Lina’s room.
As we neared the room, a sharp malevolence began to prick my skin.
“Arisha, are you okay?”
“Yep!”
“King, do you plan to take Arisha in with you?”
“It’s a part of her experience.”
If that’s the case, I have nothing to say.
No matter what happens, me and the King would protect Arisha.
By the way, perhaps the reason Arisha moved well during the demon-extermination event in the game was due to experiences like this?
Arisha, who had been smiling brightly, slightly frowned when she caught sight of Lina’s door.
But that frown was just momentary.
“Because Uncle and Mister will save Lina!”
“Thank you for believing in us. Let’s go in.”
I opened the door, and as I did, the swoosh of sulfur and poison tickled my nose.
Inside, a girl was bound by fabric, arms and legs tied — displaying signs of demonic possession with malevolence roiling around her.
“Ahahaha! You’re here again, foolish fools! This girl’s body is already mine!”
A voice that sounded like grinding stone erupted from the girl’s mouth.
Hearing this, I took a vial of holy water from my bag and brought it to the girl’s lips.
“Here, have a sip.”
“Ugh! Ugh! Uuuuu!!”
As I forced holy water into her mouth, screams of pain suddenly rang out.
While Arisha, watching me, tilted her head.
“Mister, is that really okay?”
“Of course.”
This should elicit some kind of reaction.
The demon, having guzzled down an entire two liters of high-quality holy water made with care by a high priest, showed a slight hint of weakness, enabling me to place a relic atop her body.
The girl twisted in pain just from that, but I wasn’t about to ease up.
“May the light be with you, and blessed be those who follow the light within us…”
As I recited the prayer, black energy began to ripple and rise from the girl’s body.
Unable to withstand the exorcism, the demon started to detach from her.
“Faster than I thought.”
“The holy water is good. I also brought a nice relic.”
Artifacts and relics in the Tower of Sages rank among the very top in the game.
Asking the church for assistance would result in items that even a cardinal could handle, so removing a lesser demon’s possession should be a piece of cake.
“It’s coming.”
The black energy, detached from the girl’s body, began to coalesce and took form.
It revealed itself as three devilish monsters with bat wings and horns — Devils.
“I’ll leave the two to you.”
Arisha, only slightly mastering the Arang Technique, would find it a bit daunting.
But with the King of Rights alongside, what could go wrong?
I decided to take down one.
As the demon’s sharp claws aimed at me, I subtly averted my gaze.
Worrying about me, Arisha’s eyes were glued to me.
“Mister! If it gets tough, I’ll help you!!”
Even without a sword, would I really fall to that kind of monster?
Flashing a smile, I lightly clenched my fist.
The Devils possessed a skill that nullified magic.
Better to avoid using spells that could be negated and provide them an opening.
“KYAAAAAHHH!!”
With a roar, the Devil charged, but I deflected its attack with the back of my hand.
As I blocked its powerful onslaught, I searched for an opening.
On the second attack, I spotted a gap and unleashed a strike.
“KWEKKEEEEK!”
With a bizarre scream, the Devil’s body twisted.
Enduring the pain, I deflected its outstretched hand, finishing my defense. I turned swiftly, slapping the Devil’s face lightly with the back of my hand.
Simultaneously, I followed up with a spinning double-handed strike.
–PEEEW!
The Devil collapsed, rolling across the floor and crashing into a corner of the room as I slowly lowered my hands.
This was the most fundamental of martial arts, representing softness — Wall Return.
“…Incredible!!”
Watching my technique from start to finish, Arisha let out an astonished exclamation.
It seemed my performance had impressed her, as she approached me with a bright smile.
“Mister! Can you teach me that?!”
I felt like I should first seek the King’s permission, who was staring at me wide-eyed.