HPV 41

Stay calm. I have to listen to this like it’s nothing.

I already know this information from the game—why am I suddenly so nervous?

“If the host is separated while they still have the strength to resist the demon, it’s relatively peaceful. But once the demon fully consumes the host, it becomes uncontrollable.

From that point on, the host is called a ‘demon seed.’”

“Ah, that’s like a really nasty insult. The kind you throw at the absolute worst people,”

Paronai chimed in with a voice both innocent and serious, alternating with Yurichen’s cold, merciless tone, pressing down on me.

“When the demon takes over the seed’s body, everyone nearby becomes contaminated and falls into a frenzy. Can you imagine someone who was laughing and chatting with you just a moment ago suddenly picking up a knife and stabbing you over and over?”

“I’d rather not imagine it,”

Paronai grimaced and shuddered.

I lowered my head and looked at my right palm.

Could I also lose myself completely?

“If the priests and soldiers manage to suppress the chaos and purify the demon seed, then the final step is to capture the summoner—the one who conducted the ritual. There is no mercy for them. Immediate execution. Sometimes, the summoner is the demon seed themselves; sometimes, they’re not.”

“And if they’re not?”

“There have been cases where someone cursed another to destroy them.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Penzey, lazily smiling with his eyes half-closed.

Paronai asked what we should do, his two fists clenched tight with tension and resolve.

Even the holy sword strapped to his back seemed to hum softly, responding to his energy.

“Patrol the territory? Gather information among the citizens? Manage the temple while the priests are out? Gatekeeping?”

Yurichen opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again.

Instead of looking annoyed, he gave Paronai a gentle glance.

“Paronai, please train your swordsmanship in the backyard of this house. Penzey, if possible, sleep deeply for about three days. The rest of you, rest as well.”

“Yuri, isn’t it weird that only I’m getting special treatment?”

“Oh, it’s to prepare for the final battle, right? Until when?”

“Until the demon is defeated and we leave this city.”

Paronai looked puzzled.

Penzey seemed to raise an objection halfway through, but Yurichen ignored him and only addressed the hero.

“This matter is the responsibility of me and the other priests. Your role is simply to allow me the time to conduct my work at the temple.”

“But I’m the hero, you know?”

“This is exactly why priests are respected and receive donations—to act at times like this.”

Blunt as ever.

Paronai murmured in surprise.

He genuinely looked disappointed.

He had heard countless lectures about the Demon War at the academy.

It scared him, yes, but it also ignited his fighting spirit.

He must have wanted to contribute to this mission.

“I was going to say, this time, I really could kill one,” he said.

“It doesn’t suit you. Don’t bother,” Yurichen replied.

Paronai laughed awkwardly, a mixture of emotions flickering across his face.

Yurichen watched his smile with softened eyes before looking away.

Eventually, though, the situation would escalate, and contrary to Yurichen’s words, the hero’s party would end up rushing to the scene.

“I have to go to the temple now. If you have any questions, ask them quickly. If not—Riarun, please make sure no one strays from the house.”

He asked if we had questions, but then didn’t even give us time to ask any before moving to leave.

I reached out and grabbed the hem of his robe.

“Do you have a question?”

When the high priest’s gaze poured down on me, I instinctively shrank back.

But being afraid wouldn’t solve my problem.

I had been prepared for this even before entering this city.

The day after tomorrow, when Yurichen and the other priests would be purifying the captured demon through a cleansing ritual, I had to throw myself into that scene.

If I entered the ritual’s area, the demon clinging to me would be forcefully torn away, like cutting off a tumor.

This was the so-called ‘piggybacking’ plan.

No matter how I thought about it, this was my only chance.

It was already a purification site for demons—I’d just sneak in and get purified too.

Pretend there were two demons all along.

Still, no matter how careful I was, the priests would notice my existence.

So, I had to ask.

“What happens when a demon’s host is captured?”

If Yurichen finds out my secret, what will happen to me?

I had tried to find out in advance, but there wasn’t much explanation in the game.

There was only so much I could learn on my own, especially being someone who had been persecuted.

Dark, heavy matters like this weren’t found in the storybooks of the village.

Yurichen seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then spoke openly, as if thinking there was no point hiding it now.

“They can never return to normal life. They live under temple supervision for the rest of their lives. If they held a title, it’s stripped away, and all their property is confiscated. They’re allowed to see their family only once a year. It’s explicitly stated in the kingdom’s laws.”

I was a fool.

I carried a demon inside me in a world like this and hadn’t even realized the gravity of it.

I was trash among trash, and if my secret were exposed, I wouldn’t even be allowed to set foot on this land.

“Considering the state of mind of those who have returned to normal, some say it’s a harsh law. But ever since the Demon War, no one has dared to change it. The entire continent condemns them.”

The temple, which I had believed to be a refuge, would imprison me again.

This time, I wouldn’t even be allowed outside, constantly watched by priests.

“Once a human succumbs to a demon’s temptation, they can never be saved again. Even if it wasn’t their fault.”

I could feel the deep hatred in his voice.

—

The solemn footsteps of those cloaked in white robes filled the pristine, polished floors of the temple.

They disguised themselves and scoured the streets, sparing no effort to hunt the demon.

Yurichen carved out a brief moment to return to the lodging.

As he passed through the door at a brisk pace, he noticed a head of platinum hair crouched by the outer wall, knees drawn to their chin.

Yurichen slowed.

He naturally came to a stop in front of Riarun.

“Many priests are searching, but we have yet to locate the demon.”

Riarun quietly lifted his head to look at him.

Just by meeting those unusually calm, dry eyes, Yurichen felt a vague sense of unease.

Still, if he heard this news, Riarun would surely brighten up.

“Which means this is probably the least busy time. I’ve arranged with High Priest Daamil for you to have a tour of the temple this evening. Would you like to go?”

“No. I don’t need a tour.”

The completely unexpected reply left Yurichen momentarily speechless.

“Don’t tell me… you’ve changed your mind about becoming a priest?”

When Riarun didn’t answer right away, Yurichen grew visibly anxious.

He was about to ask again when a reply came.

“It’s not that. I’m just… tired and want to rest.”

Just as he said, the youth crouched at Yurichen’s feet truly looked exhausted, for reasons unknown.

He didn’t even notice how their conversation now felt like Yurichen was clinging to him.

“……Understood. Then go inside and rest.”

Yurichen went inside the house to discuss something with Penzey.

But Riarun didn’t move.

His head dropped again, making himself even smaller, resting his chin back on his knees.

A man, hidden in a shadowy corner near the wall, had overheard their entire conversation.

After Yurichen disappeared, he spoke up.

“Why didn’t you go see the temple?”

Humans didn’t care when demons infected monsters. They only cared when it spread to humans. Monsters were slaughtered en masse, and demons perished with their dead hosts.

Banwes understood his place perfectly.

Even if a demon possessed him, would humans help him?

They’d just chop his head off.

But Riarun still had the privilege of human laws.

If he went to the temple, he could be purified.

He didn’t really need Banwes’s help after all.

That fact needled at Banwes, making him pick a fight without even realizing it.

“You’re going to the temple anyway.”

“I can’t.”

Banwes didn’t understand.

He didn’t even try—only got angrier.

He thought: You didn’t need my help in the first place, so why act all conflicted now? What are you scheming, saying things like that?

“You were the one who said you’d go. Can’t even keep your own word? If you go to the temple, it saves me the trouble. But fine—I’ll leave before you do.”

“Do whatever you want. Just go!”

The man’s words were abruptly cut off.

Riarun shot to his feet, shouting so sharply it was like a dam bursting.

“I’ll handle everything myself…!”

Tears clung to his lashes as he muttered, worn out.

Banwes caught sight of it and frowned, like he’d been pricked with a needle.

Riarun spun around and slammed the door behind him.

Bzhan, who had been perched in a tree, leapt down.

He stared at the closed door for a long, shocked moment before slowly turning his gaze toward Banwes.

Banwes, having nothing else to do, glared right back.