The Successor of the Saint Does Not Fight - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Undoubtedly, He’s the Culprit

In this pass, it seems that people frequently disappear.

A total of 35 merchant carriages of trading merchants went missing.

Individuals like traveling merchants, over 100 of them, went missing as well. In any of these cases, no bodies or belongings have been found.

It’s said to be disappearances like being spirited away by the gods.

After repeated attacks, this time the church has finally set out to defeat the demon living in the pass—the White Wolf.

“See! Basically, there’s currently no evidence pointing to this wolf as the culprit!”

For the first time, I opened the mission request form.

Given that it’s simply about going to the scene and defeating the demon, I initially believed there was no necessity to delve into the background of the incident.

However, the circumstances have changed.

If the allegations against this demon turn out to be false, there would be no reason to engage in a battle here.

Essentially, I could make it back home without having to fight.

However, I—still trembling—turned my gaze back to the figure of the White Wolf.

A form that could be described as grotesque: poisonous, bright red eyes, and fangs extended in a conspicuous manner, appearing as nothing more than instruments designed solely for killing.

(Well, there’s no evidence, but this guy is definitely the killer, right…)

I pretended to listen as a means to buy time, yet my intuition remained steadfastly certain.

If there’s a death right next to a demon, it’s undoubtedly that demon’s doing. Just as if a bloodied knife lies next to a bloodied person, there’s no need to suspect another weapon.

And so, the White Wolf approached me. A lukewarm breath blew over, causing my entire body to shiver in disgust.

“You…”

“Eek!”

I’m going to be eaten. It’s over. I’m going to die.

“Are you really an exorcist?”

“Heh?”

I unintentionally let out a dumbfounded reply.

“For you exorcists, we’re nothing more than pests. And you, the daughter inheriting the blood of a death god, should find it quite simple to erase me right here.”

I wish it was that easy, that’s why I’m still grappling with it, I muttered to myself.

If I had the saintly power like my mother, the Holy Saint, I wouldn’t waste time hearing a demon’s defense.

I’d defeat it in a heartbeat. But, of course, I can’t say such thoughts in front of this beast, so… I placed a hand on my chest, trying to sound as confident as possible, subtly suggesting that I could resort to force if necessary.

“My power isn’t meant to oppress innocent beings, even if they are demons.”

“I could definitely do it right away, you know?”

I let that kind of bluff seep through. The White Wolf stared at me, appraisingly.

“…Hmph, a naive little girl.”

“W-Whatever you say. This is my belief.”

“Then let me ask you. You said you would prove my innocence, but what will you do in the meantime? Will you let a creature like me wander unchecked?”

“Ah,” I involuntarily made a sound.

That’s right. I initially came up with an excuse for an investigation and planned to leave this place, but it’s not acceptable to let such a man-eating monster roam freely.

“Miss Meril, maybe it’s best to just purify it right here? I admire your compassion, even towards demons, but… if this monster attacks someone during the re-investigation, the consequences will be irreparable.”

One of the underlings whispered to me.

Even without being told, I wish I could do that, but I can’t. That’s the dilemma.

“Taking a life without investigating anything is also an irreversible action.”

Trying to ignore my headache, I considered how to handle this situation.

Then, a sudden recollection prompted me to gaze at the silver ring on my right ring finger.

This wasn’t just any ring; it belonged to my saintly mother, and I inherited it as a talisman.

Nonchalantly, I took off the ring and held it up above my head.

“Recognize this ring, everyone? I’ll merge my mother’s power embedded in it with my own to throw up a temporary barrier and contain this demon. Is that okay?”

Cheers of excitement echoed from the underlings.

“The combined might of Lady Saint and Lady Meril should be able to do that!”

“Creating a barrier to seal a demon is usually quite challenging, but… if that’s the case!”

Great, they’re falling for it.

No one seems to have caught on, but my heart is racing like a bell on speed.

Truth be told, I never bothered with any legit exorcism training.

I got my qualifications because of my mother’s connections, I don’t have the skills to create a proper barrier.

But that’s fine. I don’t need the real deal.

All I need is to create something that looks like a ‘barrier to confine demons’ for a short time, and assert to the underlings that “the seal was complete,” and we get ready to head down the mountain for more investigation.

If the makeshift barrier fails and the demon attacks someone later, that’s not my fault.

It’s the fault of the influential people in the church who issued the license because of connections.
Luckily, my mother, being a saint, possessed an enormous ability to craft an incredibly potent barrier with just a chalk line.

Using the power stored in the ring, which absorbed that ability, I should be able to create a makeshift barrier… hopefully.

“Um, is that okay with you, Mr. Wolf?”

“Even if I refuse here, you’ll just kill me, won’t you?”

“Well… yes, sorry.”

It was a bit of a gamble, but things worked out.

I sketched a circle around the wolf using branches, placed the ring on top, and voila!

A transparent dome-shaped barrier popped up.

The saint’s power really is something else.

“Now, let’s head down the mountain for today!”

Naturally, my excitement was building up.

I am somehow managing to navigate through the biggest crisis in my life.

All that’s left is to quickly contact my family, reach out to my mother for help and let her take care of exorcizing this demon.

As I walked away, I sneaked a glance back at the White Wolf.

The eerie demon remained still within the barrier.

Yet, its gaze is fixed directly on me. Shivering, I swiftly avert my eyes and begin my descent down the mountain.

No matter how fast I walked, the intense sensation of its penetrating gaze lingering on my back didn’t seem to easily fade away.