The Demon Goes to Work Today As Well - Chapter 173

Chapter 173: A Hopeless Fight (2)

Meanwhile, the Saintess and the Hero were preparing to welcome the candidate Heroes outside the castle gate.

“Have you installed the ‘Demonic Energy Meter’ and the ‘Lie Detector’?”

“Yes, I have.”

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“Just in case, please double-check if you have installed them properly.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Starting with the installation of ‘Artifacts’ to filter out the subordinates.

“Have you finished installing the Demonic Energy Detection Magic Circle as well?”

“Yes, I have installed it.”

“Please double-check it again as even one mistake in the pattern is not allowed.”

“I will check it.”

Just in case, they finished installing an additional ‘Magic Circle.’

“Are the enchanted cannons and holy water shells all prepared?”

“Yes, they are prepared.”

“Have the cannons installed at the castle gate.”

“Yes, we will install them.”
T h i s w a s c o p i e d f ro m k i ngm t l .org

In addition, they installed a large number of cannons at the castle gate in preparation for a possible surprise attack.

As they finished their preparations considering all variables.
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“Whew, now I feel a bit relieved.”

The castle gate had been transformed to look almost like a fortress.

“Even if they deceive our eyes, they won’t be able to deceive the Artifacts and the Magic Circle, right?”

The Saintess showed strong confidence that she wouldn’t be fooled this time, no matter what tricks the demons used.

Since they had brought the treasures stored in the vault, they wouldn’t be able to avoid being caught, no matter what tricks they used.

“It seems like even if their leader hides their identity with determination, they will inevitably be discovered.”

The Hero, seemingly sharing the same thought, smiled with satisfaction while looking at the installed Artifacts and the Magic Circle.

“Now that the preparations are almost done, shall we sit down and rest until the candidate Heroes arrive?”
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“Sounds good.”

Since it was still a long time before the candidate Heroes would arrive, the Hero decided to take a short break as the Saintess suggested.

As they were resting while sitting on chairs and looking at the clear sky.

“The clear sky is beautiful.”

“Indeed. I hope we can continue to see a clear sky like this.”

They could only feel the joy of having found peace.

“I realized once again how precious peace is.”

“Now that we know the value of peace, let’s work together to find it again.”

As they were enjoying their break for a while.

“Hero-nim, how many subordinates do you think there will be among the candidate Heroes?”

The Saintess asked a question about the subordinates.

“Considering the things they’ve done so far, I expect at least half of them to be subordinates.”

“…That many?”

“Yes, that’s how many there will be, and even more.”

At the Hero’s answer, the Saintess fell into thought for a moment, then.

“Then, there are 5,000 people remaining… Considering that they have to be selected by Raphael-nim and then chosen, the number will decrease significantly.”

She expressed concern about the decreasing number of people being chosen.

“Therefore, we have to pray that there are many talented individuals.”

“I hope many talented people have come.”

Although they were delaying the invasion with an offensive response, it was only a temporary measure, and they desperately needed talented Heroes.

“I would be happy if even 100 people were chosen as Heroes.”

“With that number, we would be able to protect the Holy Empire and even send support to other countries.”

As the Saintess and the Hero were discussing how they would manage things depending on the number of people chosen.

“Hmm?”

The Hero lifted his head and.

“They’re coming now.”

He pointed to a spot, informing her that the candidate Heroes were coming.

“They’re coming?”

As the Saintess also lifted her head.

Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud, thud―

They could see people presumed to be candidate Heroes walking from beyond the horizon.

“Shall we prepare to welcome them?”

“Let’s.”

The two stood up and began their final preparations to welcome the candidate Heroes.

“Everyone, the candidate Heroes are coming. There may be subordinates of the invaders among them, so do not let your guard down.”

“””Understood!”””

At the Saintess’s words, the Paladins and Priests nodded with determined expressions.

“Activate everything we have prepared.”

“””Yes, we will activate them.”””

By the time they finished preparing to filter out the subordinates by activating various Artifacts and Magic Circles.

“We have arrived with the candidate Heroes.”

The Paladin who had been on the mission approached the castle gate and reported.

“This is the list of candidate Heroes…”

The Paladin then took out a parchment from his pocket and tried to hand it to the Saintess, but.

“I apologize, but we will proceed with the inspection and search first, and then I will receive the report.”

There were no exceptions, and the Paladin also went through the inspection and search process.

After undergoing a brief questioning and inspection, the Paladin.

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“There are no issues.”

Only after receiving the result of no issues could he hand the parchment to the Saintess.

“I apologize if you felt offended. It’s because of the current situation.”

As the Saintess apologized to the Paladin with an apologetic expression.

“No problem. It’s a situation where the enemy is rampant, so we need to check thoroughly.”

The Paladin waved his hand, saying it was alright.

“Thank you.”

The Saintess expressed her gratitude for his understanding and unfolded the received parchment.

“The names and birthplaces are properly recorded.”

As she examined the parchment, she saw that the information of the candidate Heroes was recorded in detail.

“Were there any individuals with unclear identities?”

Feeling puzzled that there were only people with guaranteed identities, she asked the Paladin, and he.

“Even if they possessed talent, we did not even offer the proposal to those with unclear identities.”

He replied that they had excluded them for safety reasons.

“That was the reason. I understand.”

The Saintess nodded in understanding and.

“Please allow me some time to check.”

“Yes, I understand.”

They spent about two hours checking the information of the candidate Heroes written on the parchment.

“A total of ten thousand. They have all arrived safely.”

After confirming that there were no issues, the Saintess.

“Please come here one by one.”

She called the candidate Heroes one by one and proceeded with the inspection and search.

Woooong.

Those who showed no reaction were made to wait separately on the side, and.

Beep—!

Those who were caught by the Artifacts or Magic.

Slash—!

Were immediately eliminated on the spot regardless of the reason.

“…Kill them?”

“Is that even something they should do?”

“Just because they were caught by the Artifacts and the Magic Circle…?”

At that sight, the candidate Heroes were bewildered and began to stir.

“The person who was killed just now was a subordinate of the invaders, so you don’t need to worry about it.”
T h is w a s c op i e d f r o m k i n g mt l. o r g

The Saintess briefly explained the reason for the killing.

“No, what nonsense.”

“He’s my friend from my hometown, and there’s no way that’s true!”

“I saw him use Mana with my own eyes just now!”

“Aren’t Demon Servants unable to use Mana?”

The colleagues who had been with him vehemently argued, saying that he was not a subordinate.

“Please calm down…”

The Saintess showed embarrassment and tried to appease the candidate Heroes, but.

“Explain properly!”

“Bring evidence that he’s a subordinate!”

“Otherwise, I won’t let you get away with this!”

Unfortunately, she couldn’t calm them down with words.

As the atmosphere gradually worsened.

“From now on, anyone who defends the dead will be considered a subordinate and will be killed.”

The Saintess eventually gave up on persuasion and resorted to coercion against the candidate Heroes.

“This kind of woman is a Saintess…?”

“…Is this really the Holy Empire?”

“They’re crazy.”

“There’s no need to become a Hero if they’re going to treat us like this.”

The candidate Heroes felt absurd and tried to give up on becoming Heroes, but.

“If you do not comply with the inspection and search, you will be considered a subordinate and will be killed.”

She threatened to kill them if they didn’t obey.
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“Are these bastards kidding me!!!”

A large man, unable to stand it any longer, drew his greatsword and tried to approach the Saintess, but at that moment.

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“Please put your sword away. Otherwise, you will be considered a subordinate and will be killed.”

The Hero approached and warned the large man.

“They’re threatening to kill us at every turn. Is this how the Holy Empire, which governs good, treats people?”

The large man scoffed and criticized their wrongdoings.

“…Please understand that there may be subordinates among you.”

The Hero, knowing that this situation wasn’t desirable, tried to ask for understanding as politely as possible.

“What if I don’t want to?”

“Then we have no choice but to kill you.”

At the threat of death, the large man made a tired expression and.

“Sigh, it’s my fault for naively following the words that I could become a Hero. I’ve completely lost the desire to become a Hero, so I’ll be on my way.”

He turned his back and tried to leave the line.

Grab―

No, he tried to leave, but.

“Stop.”

The Hero grabbed his arm, preventing him from leaving.

“…What are you doing?”

“I won’t stop you from leaving, but please undergo the inspection and search before you go.”

At the Hero’s words, the large man’s tired expression turned into anger.

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From the perspective of the Holy Empire, which had to filter out the subordinates, it was an unavoidable action, but.

For the candidate Heroes who hadn’t been properly informed, it felt unfair to be suddenly killed just because they couldn’t pass.

“I don’t think you have the right to force that on me.”

The large man, who had given up on becoming a Hero, refused to undergo the inspection and search, but.

“If you don’t, we will consider you a subordinate and kill you.”

The Hero just kept repeating the same words.

“Bullshit.”

The large man, thinking that talking wouldn’t work anymore, shook off the Hero’s arm and continued walking.

“I clearly warned you. Come back right now.”

Shing―

As the Hero drew his sword and warned him.

“Screw you.”

The large man just raised his middle finger and continued walking.

“This is your last chance. If you don’t come back now, we will consider you a subordinate and kill you.”

“Get lost.”

And when the last warning was over.

Slash―

The Hero swung his sword at the large man without hesitation.

“?!”

The large man, whose neck was severed.

“Gah!”

Collapsed to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut and died instantly.

“””…”””

The candidate Heroes, who hadn’t expected him to actually kill, looked at the Hero with disbelief on their faces.

“Please cooperate with the guidance.”

The Hero warned the candidate Heroes with an indifferent expression and.

“Proceed with the inspection.”

Thi s w a s co p i ed f r o m ki n g m tl .o r g
He placed the killed body on the Artifact and ordered the Priest to inspect it.

“Ah, yes!”

The Priest nodded and activated the Artifact, but.

Woooong.

Even after 10 minutes, there was no reaction from the Artifact.

As it was revealed that the large man wasn’t a subordinate.

“””…”””

The candidate Heroes glared at the Hero with resentment in their eyes.

“He was such a hearty and good man.”

“We had decided to follow him as our elder brother.”

“Damn it…”

And the resentment in their eyes soon turned into contempt.

It was as if they were looking at the invaders.

The Hero didn’t have the courage to meet the gazes of the candidate Heroes, so he had no choice but to avoid them.