That Great Demon Was Me!

And this guy actually dared make him drink something like that!

Without another word, Lin En instantly rolled up his nonexistent sleeves, snorted a puff of steam through his nose (▼ヘ▼#), and made to go pick a fight with him.

Hana Ye immediately jumped in front of Lin En, crying out (〃＞皿＜).

"Wait! Wait a second!!"

We're all on the same side! Don't fight! You can't start fighting!!

Jones froze, then immediately realized what was happening. Looking somewhat embarrassed, he said:

"Sorry! My apologies. You suddenly said something like that, so I thought you really had something to do with that great demon... It was a misunderstanding! This is part of our duties, after all. How about this..."

As he spoke.

He smiled and pulled a mithril flintlock pistol from inside his coat. After spinning it with a flourish, he offered it grip-first.

Along with it, he handed over a small card.

"If you can still walk around outside under the Red Moon, you must be quite a capable professional yourself. It's yours. Keep it for protection."

"And if you're interested in joining our Exorcist Squad, feel free to come find me once this incident is over. I believe someone pure in both body and mind is sure to become a noble exorcist!"

Hana Ye froze.

Then her eyes immediately widened.

"This is..."

The gun's panel also appeared before Lin En's eyes.

[Mithril Flintlock Pistol (Modified)]

[Quality]: Fine

[Traits]: Automatically applies the [Holy Flame] effect to bullets. This enchantment is permanent.

[Range]: 200 meters

[Description]: A standard-issue firearm supplied by the Exorcist Association. Together with the Mithril Crossbow, it forms the Exorcist Squad's equipment arsenal and has a degree of effectiveness against evil spirits and grotesqueries.

The little gold card handed over with the gun drew Hana Ye's attention even more.

[Exorcist Credential]: A credential of trust issued by the Exorcist Association.

"Huh?!"

Hana Ye instantly went (ΩДΩ).

"Th-this... This is a qualification credential?! Are you kidding me? You only just met him, and you're giving him something like this?! Don't you have to take an exam at your headquarters to get one?!"

Of course she had seen one before. Her older sister had one.

And this was what qualified someone to become an official exorcist.

In plain language.

It was proof of an official position, a credential for joining the Exorcist Squad that required passing rounds of selection and examinations.

The corners of Jones's mouth lifted slightly as he said:

"Normally, yes. But I'm the captain, so I have the authority to recommend someone. More importantly... my judgment of people is never wrong."

"How else do you think your sister joined my Exorcist Squad?"

After all, scouting new talent was another fine quality a captain needed.

And more importantly.

Others might not have noticed anything, but judging by the enormous flames that had erupted from him after drinking the potion-if anyone from the Church saw that, Jones wouldn't stand a chance.

Heh heh heh-

He wasn't about to let another institution snatch away any promising talent.

"Is it worth money?"

Lin En asked (▼ヘ▼#).

Jones froze.

Hana Ye bounced twice o(≧口≦)o and said:

"Idiot!! Of course it is!! A gun like that would fetch at least two hundred coins on the black market! And that credential would sell for at least five hundred to someone who makes fake documents! It's got an embossed seal!"

"..."

A brief, deathly silence fell over their surroundings.

A few seconds later.

Lin En instantly reached out in a friendly manner and shook Jones's hand, saying (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧:

"There's no need to be so polite! Honestly! It's just a misunderstanding. Misunderstand me all you like! Why apologize? Cooperating with your work is exactly what good citizens like us should do! And gifts? You're practically insulting a good citizen's truth, kindness, and beauty! Don't worry. I absolutely won't accept a gift like this!"

"Hana Ye, take it!"

"Okay!"

"..."

Jones stiffened.

He suddenly felt that what he had done might not have been very wise.

So, could I still take them back?

He really didn't want to see these things circulating on the black market...

Half an hour later.

Escorted by two exorcists Jones had assigned to them, they skirted Gear Street and eventually stopped before an enormous castle.

After seeing the two exorcists off.

Lin En spun his Flintlock Pistol (*￣︶￣) and said:

"That guy was surprisingly nice. I only just got here, and I've already scored a wife and a piece of equipment for free. Isn't my luck a little too good today?"

He spun it with a flourish.

And accidentally touched the safety.

Bang-

A bullet instantly discharged into his forehead.

[Ding! Your happiness +1]

(oﾟ▽ﾟ)o

Ah! Getting shot actually felt strangely enjoyable!

It was pretty damn useless as a weapon, but for another sort of activity, it felt every bit as good as certain vibrating divine artifacts!

Hana Ye stared blankly at him shooting himself for fun, her Sanity plummeting, and said:

"Um... can you tell me the truth? You... you really have nothing to do with that great demon Mr. Jones and the others mentioned... right?"

Because she had heard him say earlier.

The place he had originally meant to visit was [154 Gear Street].

He had only ended up on Mistveil Street by accident because he got lost.

Then did that mean...

"Oh, that."

Lin En casually closed one eye and peered down the gun barrel with the other.

"At first, I didn't think so. But after I saw the picture he gave me, I was sure. Yep, I'm probably the one they're looking for."

After all, what ordinary person was that big?!

Ahahahaha!

Hana Ye's hair instantly stood on end.

[Ding! Hana Ye's Sanity -30]

"Y-you're joking, right?!!"

Utterly horrified (ΩДΩ), she scrambled back over ten meters.

"So you... you're the ultra-ancient great demon they were talking about?!"

No way!

Lin En shrugged and spread his hands ╮(╯▽╰)╭.

"Who knows? Maybe I caused a bit too much of a stir when I arrived. As for this great demon business, I don't even know what a great demon is ヽ(￣▽￣)ﾉ. If they want to catch one, let them! What the hell does that have to do with me?"

He was only here to experience life anyway. Even if they really caught him, it wouldn't matter. He could just switch bodies and cross over again.

There was no need for all that anxiety.

Hana Ye trembled and whimpered in fear, tears threatening to spill (இ﹏இ`).

"Th-then you won't eat me, will you?"

Lin En walked over and hoisted her up, saying with his eyes closed:

"After you have the baby!"

Hana Ye: "!!!!"

A few minutes later, Lin En had already followed the main road to the enormous old castle several dozen meters away.

He looked up, gazing at the towering castle, and said in astonishment:

"Holy crap, Cauliflower, this is your house? Seriously? Isn't your place a little too damn big??"

"Your family actually has a castle??"

Hana Ye dangled in his grip with all four limbs off the ground o(╥﹏╥)o, her little hands clasped together, and said:

"Of course. I'm the eldest daughter of the [Yuzhi] family... I told you ages ago... I wouldn't stiff you on the gold coins... You were the one who didn't believe me... Boo-hoo..."

But that wasn't the important part!!

The important part was that she had sold herself.

And apparently, she had sold herself to something that might be a great demon...

Would she ever be able to buy herself back?

Several book titles instantly surfaced in her mind.

"The Hundredth Day of a Little Girl's Captivity by a Tentacle Monster"

"The Human Girl Sold to a Demon King and Forced to Have His Babies"

"Hana Ye's Gradual Breakdown in a Dark Little Room"

Waaah!

(˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )っ

It felt like she was already starting to break down...

Lin En said (ー`´ー):

"Quit crying, idiot! All right, I've brought you home. Contract fulfilled. You're officially my wife now. From now on, only I get to divorce you. Got it?"

Still dangling with all four limbs off the ground o(╥﹏╥)o, Hana Ye said:

"What? Other people brought us back! All you did was walk a little..."

If she had known there were so many exorcists outside, she wouldn't have asked him to escort her. Now look what had happened-she had lost herself in the bargain.

Hana Ye looked up with tear-filled eyes and said:

"Um... then could I ask you for a favor? Hana Ye will be your little wife, but you... you can't eat Hana Ye's family anymore, okay?"

Lin En immediately said (*￣︶￣):

"Of course I won't. Who eats their in-laws? I'm not some devil, after all."

As he spoke, Lin En started toward the castle.

But just then.

Gurgle, gurgle (an unusual sound)-

He stopped in an instant.

Under the scarlet moonlight, the breeze rustled through the weeds.

He slowly glanced to the side, and at almost the same moment, dozens of pairs of eyes snapped open all over his body, all staring in the same direction beyond the castle.

Hana Ye's hair instantly stood on end in fright (ΩДΩ). "Wh-what is it?"

Lin En said nothing.

The area behind and to the side of the castle was reflected in his eyes.

The darkness was thick and deep.

"What's over there?"

Hana Ye froze. "I-it's our family cemetery. Wh-why? Is... is there a monster?"

The wind gradually died down.

Lin En closed his eyes.

"Nothing. Maybe I imagined it. But just now, I kept feeling as though something-took a look at me. Heh heh heh-"