Chapter 366: Chapter 366

Caron’s threat that if I asked for more money, it would become my ferry fee.

I quickly tucked the money pouch into my chest.

Was it because of the weight? My upper body naturally dipped forward.

Even though it had gone into a Pocket Dimension, it still created the illusion of weight.

The weight of 50 gold.

“You gave such generous support, isn’t a reaction of this level the least I could do?”

I quickly straightened my posture.

“Haa… How did I end up with someone …”

Caron let out a deep sigh and rubbed the space between his brows. Watching him, I fell into thought.

‘This is an unexpected gain.’

Fifty gold for running my mouth a bit.

And better yet, it’s not just a one-time thing—I could keep using this.

Selling my information and getting rewarded for it? There’s no better business model than creating something from nothing.

‘I have to be careful.’

I’d happily sold information about the Dark Beast Squad, but if Caron finds out, “Ta-da~ I was actually part of the Dark Beast Squad the whole time!”

I didn’t even want to imagine what would happen after that.

“Anyway, your jokes are always too much. Can’t you tone it down a little?” The most update n0vels are published on Nov3lFɪre.ɴet

“Keke, I approach every task with sincerity.”

“That’s exactly what makes it feel like a joke. Whatever. A good beating might fix that someday. By then, you’ll be a proper rat.”

I had no idea what he was talking about. I was pretty sure I’d declined the rat job quest.

‘…It must be a misunderstanding.’

It had to be. No way my beautiful and happy game life would turn into a filthy, blood-covered rat life.

“We’re done with the Dark Beast Squad. Let’s move on to the next issue.”

“You mean the matter of who made a contract with a Demon?”

Was this level of deduction now a given? He didn’t even bother to pretend to be surprised.

Caron looked at me with eyes that asked if I knew who the culprit was.

I shrugged and answered.

“I have no idea. I was 100% sure it was Baron Kelven.”

“So that’s what you thought too…”

Caron’s eyes filled with disappointment.

The truth is, Baron Kelven really is the culprit in this episode.

‘There’s just a little trick to it.’

If I revealed that trick here, the case would be solved easily, and Caron’s trust in me would deepen.

But I had no intention of revealing that trick now.

Not only would it alter the story I knew.

‘I wouldn’t be able to monopolize the reward, would I?’

Each episode’s boss drops the best reward. Handing that over to Caron?

There’s nothing dumber than that.

“Is it true he passed the Inquisition?”

“It is. Victoria holds the authority of the ‘Inquisition’. I thought it was lucky… but it ended up being a curse instead.”

One of the powers bestowed by the goddess: ‘Inquisition’.

A skill that can instantly expose the existence of ‘evil’.

But it couldn’t be used just anytime.

“If overused recklessly, you could end up losing that power entirely.”

As powerful as it is, it has clear limits.

And sometimes, people get reported by those they performed an Inquisition on, claiming it hurt their feelings, so one had to be cautious when using it.

It was also the reason why Victoria had only warned me with the Inquisition and hadn’t executed it.

“Keke, to think that ended up proving Baron Kelven’s innocence. Ironic, isn’t it?”

“Indeed. After he was cleared, he made such a fuss… I knocked him out because it annoyed me.”

Normally, people don’t just throw a punch, do they?

Well, maybe that was normal for someone like Caron.

“It’s too early to jump to conclusions. There have been a few cases of people avoiding the Inquisition.”

“I know. That’s why I’m still keeping him locked up. A person who’s made a pact with a Demon will show a rejection reaction if they don’t keep consuming souls.”

The symptoms that occur when a Demon contractor doesn’t consume souls.

It starts with irritability, headaches, fever, vomiting, and pain like being stabbed with a knife—and can escalate to body parts falling off or rotting.

Eventually, the whole body melts and the person dies.

“That’s why those who make pacts with Demons can’t help but keep craving souls.”

“Pitiful fools. Even knowing that, they fall for the Demons’ schemes.”

“They can go no more than ten days without consuming a soul… And since they failed to kill Dolores, it should be about time the rejection reaction starts kicking in.”

“The problem is, he hasn’t shown any signs of rejection so far. We’ll need to watch a bit longer, but Baron Kelven likely isn’t the culprit.”

Caron’s tone had a hint of irritation, but he didn’t seem anxious.

Having seized control of the village, he could handle things even if something happened.

“We either catch him when he can’t endure it anymore and bursts out, or deduce it before that. Compared to the days when we were pressed for time, this feels like paradise.”

“We were lucky. Lowell and Rodelin did a great job.”

“Keke, why are you leaving out the Dark Beast Squad? They also played a part in saving Miss Dolores.”

A sharp sting hit the crown of my head.

To think he flicked me with an invisible speed. That takes some skill.

“Keke, I’ll go back to the beginning. I need to retrace everything step by step. There’s usually something you miss in situations .”

“A wise decision. If you discover anything, report it immediately. And…”

One who has made a contract with a Demon. The Dark Beast Squad.

“Both are dangerous individuals. Especially, be even more cautious of the Dark Beast Squad.”

Caron smacked me on the head again.

Even worrying is considered insolent. At this rate, ‘me’ and ‘insolent’ might as well be synonyms.

“The Dark Beast Squad… It’s been a while since someone made my blood boil . I will find them.”

With those chilling words, Caron disappeared.

No need to worry. There’s no way I’d ever end up fighting Caron.

I survived Caron’s kidnapping(?) safely.

I headed straight back to Dolores’s house.

There, a full-blown speech was underway. The speaker was the leader of the Trash Sprout Defense Squad.

“Let me present new information to you all!”

Adel stood atop a large barrel. Papers fluttered from his hands.

They were the Dark Beast Squad wanted posters Rodelin had been distributing.

“They’re said to be utterly vicious fiends. Our goal is to gather intel on them and deliver it to Annwood Academy!”

“As expected of our leader! He’s on a whole different scale!”

“S-Scale? What’s that? Is it something you eat?”

Scale, huh… There’s a great way to explain that.

Just as I was about to explain it to Acela, someone yanked me away.

“I’m just asking, but… you weren’t about to say, ‘Keke, the bigger and more beautiful, the better,’ were you?”

Oh, how did she know? Did she learn telepathy or something while I wasn’t looking?

“Keke, exactly right.”

“Good thing I stopped you. Don’t go feeding weird explanations to kids!”

Luna grabbed my neck and shook me vigorously.

I don’t understand what I did wrong.

Scale. A word that refers to the magnitude or scope of something.

And really, bigger and more beautiful is always better. No matter how I look at it, there was nothing wrong with my explanation.

“We should’ve known something was off when you sent us ahead. I didn’t think you’d do that kind of thing in front of Lady Lowell.”

Luna whispered with a red face.

Only then did I realize the current situation.

The incident where Snake Mask pulled down his pants and insulted Lowell.

Apparently, the story had reached Luna’s ears.

“Keke, it’s a misunderstanding. I did no such thing.”

“Shut up! Starting today, you’re under special supervision! I won’t let you out of my sight for a single moment!”

Luna hooked her arm through mine and squeezed tightly.

An arm lock so close, it could only be seen between lovers.

Some girls sneaking glances our way whispered to each other and disappeared down an alley.

Hmm, is it just my imagination, or is an even scarier rumor than being a pervert starting to spread?

“The Demon and the Dark Beast Squad! We’re going to catch both!”

Was it because she was worried about the kids? Or maybe she wanted to protect us?

Dolores stepped forward.

“Guys, these people aren’t bad, okay?”

“Then why are people chasing them?”

“Um… because they’re mentally unwell adults playing hero games?”

Dolores, what are you saying? Just call us some mysterious shady organization instead.

Dolores snatched the wanted poster from Adel’s hand.

She looked at the poster and let out a sigh.

“Hoo… So in the end, the wrong information got out.”

“Yes. It seems like they really want to capture these people. I wanted to change my statement, but then they brought my mom, and…”

So that’s what happened. No wonder the testimony felt off earlier.

Dolores looked at the wanted poster again. Then suddenly, she cupped her cheeks and blushed.

“He’s forceful, but there’s also a delicate side. Is that what they call maturity? And he even came to rescue me earlier… He might be a little cool.”

I had no idea what she was saying, but one thing was clear—she wasn’t in her right mind either.

Let’s just get the intel and go. Today’s another busy day.

“Have you remembered any new information, by chance?”

“Hmm. I think I already said everything I know… Ah! Now that I think about it!”

Dolores clapped her hands like she’d just remembered something.

“Bickerd said something.”

“He said the person looked exactly the same as before, but inside, they seemed completely different.”

I had no idea who he was talking about or what it meant.

But I couldn’t help being shocked.

Because it was deeply tied to Baron Kelven’s ‘trick.’

“That’s a cryptic statement.”

“S-Sounds creepy. M-Maybe it’s a ghost? M-Maybe the people he killed have become v-vengeful spirits ahhhhhh!”

Rezé began trembling violently.

So even people in this world are scared of ghosts.

Unlike Demons, ghosts don’t actually exist in this world.

“If you need help, just say so! We’ll help you out specially!”

The kids struck their signature pose and saw us off.

Maybe that pose looked especially cute. Luna let out a soft laugh.

“All right! So what should we do now?”

More boring intel gathering, of course.

The room where Pjol was being held.

Sitting in a chair reading a book, Pjol closed it.

The fact that he was imprisoned, that he had failed to carry out his lord’s orders properly, and that he hadn’t stopped his lord to the very end.

All of it was pathetic—utterly pathetic.

Pjol looked around. Though he was under confinement, the room was furnished with all the basic necessities for daily life.

He just wasn’t allowed to leave without permission—everything else was permitted.

‘I wonder if Bickerd and Redington are all right…’

Thinking of his comrades who were probably being interrogated without proper food or sleep made him feel even more pitiful.

If only he had been on duty yesterday. If only he had been the one captured—it would have been better.

Unable to bear the frustration, Pjol began to pace around the room.

Someone knocked, and then the small hatch at the bottom of the door opened. A large pot appeared.

With the lid on, he couldn’t see inside, but the savory smell suggested it was food.

‘I already finished my meal earlier… What is this?’

A massive pot, just the size of the opening.

Someone unknown was grunting while trying to push it inside.

He didn’t know who it was, but one thing was clear—they walked the same path as him.

Not just the wounds on their hands, but the calluses showed it clearly.

If there was something unusual, it was that the person seemed young, judging by their skin.

And clearly not flexible, either. Shoving it in with brute force through that tight gap said as much.

As Pjol accepted the pot, the hand flinched and quickly withdrew through the hatch.

When Pjol opened the lid, steam billowed out.

Inside, it was full of meat.

Judging by the temperature, it must have been rushed over right after cooking.

“Please eat it before it gets cold.”

“I’ve already had my meal. This wasn’t authorized, was it?”

Though there was a door between them, the person’s flustered reaction was obvious.

It wasn’t poisoned. This was genuine ‘kindness.’

He didn’t know why someone would offer him kindness—but as for who was on the other side of the door.

“Is it you, Daike? One of Prince Teron’s men.”

Daike, standing just beyond the door.

He froze stiff without realizing it.

Tired of seeing Ads? Then please support me on ! Any tier of subscription will make it so you won’t get any ads!

If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at /InsanityTheGame

Join my Discord! .gg/BWaP3AHHpt