Chapter 18 – The Demon Researcher

There was a man at the front. His hood was wrapped tightly, so only his two black eyes were visible. When Ed killed the assassin in the dark, he shattered in an instant, so Ed didn’t know what color his eyes were. To the east of the kingdom of Travia was the Bashan, a tribe of assassins in the desert country of Kurenai. Only the real deals have shown up, too. Those who came out as the descendants of the demon died in the hands of the free knight Pendrigan and hinted at their existence. The assassin clans in the Kurenai kingdom abandoned the kingdom and wanted to revive the clan even when the leader became a subordinate of the demon. Fifteen years ago, their people died in Pendrigan’s hand, but this time, they understood how things worked. A brown-skinned man with black eyes asked Ed with a dagger he pulled out.

“You’re the demon hunter, Ed, right?” ‘Is my name known to Kurenai?’

Ed’s murmuring slightly shook the man’s eyes. It was noticeable that they were embarrassed to identify themselves. But he quickly came to his senses and asked.

“I heard you killed Denesh.” “Denesh? He didn’t give me a full name, but he looked the same as you guys. He was wrapped up in heavy clothing like you.”

At the end of Ed’s word, Ed drew an arrow from the Infinite barrel. Ed’s level has risen, and he has grown greatly through training. The arrow flew to the left and went straight for the man who spoke to him. Unlike before, he was able to shoot up to seven shots in one breath. The man tried to hurriedly block them with his dagger, but it was not good enough. At least, he tried to stop the arrows with the protective gear on his arm, but Ed’s arrow was strong. In order to bounce from something as thin as a forearm protector, he had to be able to bounce at the exact speed. Six people fall down with arrows pierced through their arms. The one who blocked with a dagger was lucky, though.

“Kill him!”

Six were knocked down in one breath, so there were 24 left. Their daggers flew everywhere. Ed read the flying daggers and kicked the floor and back tumbled. When his head faced the ground, Ed turned his back and spread his legs wide. As if they were weaving, non-aqueous daggers passed by Ed. As soon as Ed landed on the ground, he knelt and fired his arrows once again. Those who had pulled their dagger from the back again failed to react properly and were hit by Ed’s arrows. In the meantime, the lucky man blocked the arrow from flying with the dagger he was holding, but six more fell down. Twelve assassins collapsed in just two breaths and their faces hardened. No one gave an order, but they rushed at the same time and fired their daggers. Ed moved to the right and jumped back to use his horse as a shield. As their distance got closer, there were no people who could block him by chance. Again, seven less, and Ed’s horse was hit with a dagger and lifted his foreleg.

Hrrrrrrrrr!

As Ed moved away from the horse, he turned and fired arrows again at the enemies seen between the horse’s legs. While four more fell, Ed, rushed from the right and stepped back to the place where the fallen were shot by his arrow. The skill to narrow the distance and maintain his position. Not only did he practice archery, but he also practiced these things in his spare time, so everyone was standing in front of Ed now. Ed snorted and fired the arrow again. Among those who rushed, the only one who did not fall was the one who talked to him earlier. Whether he was lucky or the most talented, he blocked another arrow. Ed fired an arrow while running into him. Joy was in the eyes of the assassin. His dagger spreads deadly poison just by brushing. When he rushed up, he thought there was a match. All the top assassins who came with him died, but he thought his revenge was considered successful. Ed’s body seemed to shake slightly at that time, and his dagger flew past him and to the back. He never thought Ed could avoid all his daggers this close. One arrow stuck between the assassin’s eyes. The assassin, whose head was bent back and his body turned around in the air, fell to the floor. Ed looked down at the fallen assassin and fired a few more arrows. Although they collapsed, arrows were shot into the heads of those who lay face down and saw the opportunity, and they died without moving. It was not difficult to identify survivors because Ed knew all those who did not have experience were alive. Ed sighed as he looked at the dead assassins.

“I guess I’ll have to walk.”

He was not particularly attached to the horse, but the dagger had already poisoned him and made his mouth foamy. When dealing with assassins, you should be especially careful of poison. His physical strength status is quite high, so he thinks he can withstand a moderate poison, but there was no reason to be hit. As soon as he saw the dagger flying in at the end, he could tell that he can avoid all of it. As expected, he was able to avoid all of them and finish off his embarrassed opponents. In addition, his level rose after killing all the assassins who pretended to be dead. They have given experience as much as the lesser demons. But unlike the lower demons, humans were easier to kill. It’s no wonder that the level goes up since he has dealt with 30 of them at the same time. Ed’s agility raised a level. He became stronger and began to pack. First of all, he recovered the money from the assassins. They didn’t have much. He emptied everything, but there were only about three gold coins.

“They were poor scums.”

Since he didn’t use poison, he threw the bodies roughly in the forest next to him and took the bag that was hanging on the saddle. He headed back to the Kingdom of Travia.

It was comfortable riding a horse, but it had stamina that was not easily worn out. And it’s been a long time since he has walked along this road. It was good to hear birds singing because the forest was spread out from side to side of the boulevard, and walking where the scent of grass was refreshing in itself. Ed, who was moving, stepped aside as soon as he heard the sound of horseshoe and wheel of a wagon. He thought about getting a carriage for a moment, but this world was a place where he could never let his guard down. This is a place where you can’t find any good faith in people. So he didn’t expect much. Just stepping aside and walked. The wagon ran past him. He waved his hands to shake off the dust. At that time, the carriage that was running in the lead stopped for a while. A double-headed carriage pulled by two horses stopped, and a man rose from the horse’s saddle. He’s wearing a traveler’s cape-like himself, but Ed can tell by the look of it. The cape is wrapped all over his body, but he was wearing armor inside. He looked at Ed and asked.

“On your way to the Kingdom of Travia?” “That’s true, but ··.” “Then get in the wagon. We’re on our way to Matte City, so I’ll give you a ride.”

In this world, where good faith is not found, this favor was a little shocking. But soon, he replied with a smile.

“Then I’ll owe you one.”

He would have been careful in the past, but now he’s strong enough to deal with his opponent, so he decided to accept the offer. As he tried to climb up to the horse’s saddle, the man laughed and said.

“Get into the wagon. Someone inside asked me to stop for you.”

Ed gave a light nod and opened the carriage door. Inside was an old man with a cane next to him. An old man with white hair and one-eyed glasses. An old man with a thick booklet on his lap, he glanced at Ed as he typed.

“Sit down.”

Ed sat across from the old man and looked at him. Brown eyes and wrinkled face. This old man was also in Ed’s memory. Thane, a demon researcher from the Kingdom of Dalia who helped the main character, Fendrigan, in the Demon Age 1. He was a man of considerable knowledge of the demon, and he had more wrinkles over the course of 16 years. And that book on his lap. It was a book that described every demon that exists. It is a book that contains research on demons over generations.

“Thank you.” “I just meet a compatriot, so don’t mind.”

Ed looked quietly at Thane. After studying the demon all his life, he was a favorite of Pendrigan. Having been his advisor, he was probably comfortable in the royal capital by now. Then why did he come to the kingdom of Dalia? At that time, Thane slowly covered the demon’s concubine and looked at Ed over his one-eyed glasses. His brown eyes, seen over his sparkling one-eyed glasses, were very deep. His eyes gazed all over Ed. Above all, Thane is highly knowledgeable, and his advice is great because he is different from ordinary people. But it wasn’t simple to take that look away. The eyes of Thane, who had dug only one thing all his life, had the insight to dig into the bottom of his opponent.

“As expected, my guess was right.” “What do you mean?”

Thane looked carefully at Ed and tilted his head.

“You’re about 29? 30?”

At what Thane said, Ed wondered what he was saying, and then he hardened his face. The number of demons he killed was 29. But it was not known yet that the men who were captured in the kingdom of Dalia. Moreover, it took more than a year to catch that much. But how did he know that? Thane nodded as if he had realized something.

“One was a demon subordinate.”

A demon follower that was possessed by a demon. But the demon’s subordinates are those who gave their souls to the demon and gained the power of the demon.

“If it’s this confusing, I guess you’re not an ordinary demon slayer.”

Thane muttered to himself and smiled warmly around his mouth. It was a smile that bloomed from a strict-looking impression, so Ed quickly remembered his grandfather’s face living in the countryside. It was as if he were looking at his grandfather.

“That’s a lot of catching. Do you have a grudge against the demons?”

Ed had forgotten how much he hates demons and why he’s trying to kill them.