The Demon Hunting Method of the Regressed Inquisitor

Pinocchio (3)

The future city of Nidavellir is divided into two zones: the outskirts and the center.

“Oh! Geppetto, are you going in again? You’re really something. While others are still researching the technology of the outskirts, you’re already familiar with the inside.”

“No, I haven’t mastered all the technologies of the outskirts yet.”

“Haha, excessive humility can be deceitful. By the way… who are they?”

“They are adventurers who will help with this expedition. Their skills… well, I believe what you see is what you get.”

“…I see.”

The city guards didn’t even ask to check the adventurers’ licenses due to Titan’s overwhelming presence.

It’s really convenient at times like this.

We, mere beginners, appear to be seasoned warriors.

Here, since Geppetto, the lord, is personally leading, there wouldn’t have been any noise, but other territories might be different.

I hope Titan continues to maintain his intimidating appearance.

Don’t try to be friendly and soften your face.

“Follow me. It’s fine for now, but the deeper we go, the more dangerous it gets, so try to avoid combat as much as possible.”

“Understood.”

I don’t intend to face trials head-on either.

The goal is to bring Pinocchio and Geppetto face to face.

What happens after that is their problem to solve. Of course, we have to consider the possibility of things going wrong… In that case, we’ll run with all our might.

This expedition includes me, Titan, and Linea, excluding Geppetto.

Originally, I planned to leave Linea behind, but…

“I’ve received my own combat training. I’m a noble, after all. It’s not strange for a noble to receive combat training. I’m a noble. So, I won’t be a burden.”

Unlike her usual attempts to hide her strength, she made a passionate approach, so I decided to bring her along.

As Linea said, she won’t be a burden.

In terms of physical ability, she’s stronger than me.

Of course, she might be lacking compared to Titan, but in terms of agility and senses, she might surpass Titan.

Even just playing the role of a scout… No, just paying attention to Geppetto gives me some leeway.

Although Titan’s combat sense is extraordinary, it’s not good to make him handle everything alone.

“Hey, what’s that? Is it an enemy? Or can we ignore it?”

Just in time, Linea points to a mechanical device that has just turned the corner of the alley.

Unlike the toys wandering around the outskirts, it was gigantic.

Even a simple body slam could injure an ordinary person.

“That’s a cleaning machine. It roams around sweeping up gears and parts lying on the floor.”

“Then we can ignore it.”

“No.”

While Linea smiled brightly, I realized its value.

There is a reason for the technological gap between the inside and outside of Nidavellir.

The “Future Painter,” who is constantly developing and self-evolving, pushes out what is no longer needed to the outside.

The craftsmen here pick up what they need from that waste.

It’s said that things made with absurd technology are now useless and discarded, but there’s no way they’d leave it alone.

“The craftsmen in the outskirts still can’t make parts, right?”

“…That’s right.”

Geppetto said.

He said that while they can make gears, it’s still difficult to move on to precise parts.

That means…

“Then isn’t that practically a treasure trove?”

“That’s true, but, why bother…?”

It’s not ‘why bother.’

Anyway, these guys and those guys are nobles and lords who don’t know the value of money.

“Titan, break it. Don’t completely destroy it, just break its arms and legs.”

“Why should I do that?”

“If you capture that thing, the quality and quantity of the food on your table will double for a while.”

“A clear reason.”

Titan’s appetite matches his appearance.

Although Linea has a lot of funds right now, I can’t borrow from her.

Our meals are often solved by selling the loot we get from hunting grounds.

For now, we are staying at Geppetto’s mansion, but that too is temporary.

Titan, having realized the importance of food once again during the carriage journey, couldn’t help but be proactive.

Ping!

Titan threw the dagger first.

The swift and stealthy dagger flew towards the joint of the cleaning machine, but it bounced off with a metallic sound.

“Gasp!”

Without panicking, Titan immediately threw the spear strapped to his back, this time piercing the joint.

Skillfully, he pierced both the front and hind legs of the quadrupedal machine simultaneously.

Bang!

The machine, restricted in its movements, fell to the ground, and Titan, as if to ensure its destruction, smashed the part presumed to be its head.

“It’s not much of an opponent, but it’s tougher than I thought.”

Crunch!

Despite his words, Titan proceeded to break the remaining joints by hand.

With this, the cleaning machine fell silent in its place, guarding its internal treasures.

“Let’s hang it in a nearby corner. We can’t carry it around right now.”

“Okay.”

Titan threw the cleaning machine into an alley. Meticulously, he chose an alley narrow enough to prevent another cleaning machine from approaching.

“So, how do you feel?”

“It’s best to avoid confrontation if possible.”

“Yes, let’s act that way.”

For Titan, it’s easier to let him experience things directly than to explain with a hundred words. If he experiences and feels something himself, he will naturally be cautious even if I don’t say anything.

It reminds us that what we are facing is a trial.

An objective indicator.

For Titan, that’s important.

“Black Fox. If anyone appears in the future, report it immediately.”

“My name is Linea…”

“Yes, that’s right. Black Fox.”

Titan never calls Linea by her name. He draws a line in his own way.

We’ll resolve this gradually.

Once again, we delved into the center of Nidavellir.

“Beyond the 7m alley, there is a small mechanical device. Will you evade it? Or break through it?”

At Linea’s question, the group’s gaze turns to Geppetto.

The overall judgment is left to him. Initially, the basic judgment is to avoid combat.

Combat is only initiated when there is a reason to do so.

“We have no choice but to break through. We’ve already circled all the alleys, so now we have no choice but to break through, right?”

Indeed.

They tried to avoid combat as much as possible by circling around, but they couldn’t reach the center by avoiding it any longer.

As soon as the conclusion was reached, Titan moved swiftly and passed through the alley.

“It’s a combat entity, Lost!”

Following Titan, who moved a beat later, I entered the alley with a determined response.

The first thing I saw was the muzzle of a gun.

And around it, there was skin and grotesque muscles, and a magazine hanging like hair.

A clumsy imitation.

An existence that merely intertwined the characteristics of a living creature.

But it’s dangerous.

Judging by the shape of the magazine, it seems to be a ferocious mechanical device that fires bullets in rapid succession.

Fortunately, since Titan had already passed through the alley, its head was turned in the direction Titan had gone.

Before its head turned back this way.

I approached the mechanical device at full speed, keeping my body as low as possible.

A dangerous combat entity equipped with a weapon called a machine gun.

According to Geppetto, the danger of a machine gun lies in its ability to fire bullets in rapid succession, unlike a regular gun.

Ziiing──

Its head turns towards me. As soon as its empty eyes catch sight of me, they turn red.

Click.

Along with the sound of the gun being loaded, the magazine that had been hanging like hair moved slightly inward.

At this rate, the timing would be a bit late.

I drew my sword and thrust it towards the joint where the muzzle was attached.

Crash!

A red substance spread like blood. But it was slightly different from real blood. The smell of oil and metal was strong enough to be overwhelming.

For a moment, I felt a sense of discomfort, as if I had stabbed a child’s neck.

“Sniff!”

I realized the attack was shallow.

I intended to pierce through, but it was blocked by solid muscles.

It seems true that the deeper it goes, the more durable the machine becomes.

But it did get stuck.

For now, that should be enough.

Tat-tat-tat-tat!

I twist the sword and turn the direction of the muzzle, which started spewing fire, towards the sky.

At the same time, I bend my arm as if pulling the extended hand, using the recoil to approach the machine.

I entered the perfect range.

Immediately, I draw the prepared dagger and stab it into the part of the machine where several magazines, hanging like hair, are attached to the body.

It’s heavy. Even though I stabbed with all my might despite the short run-up, it doesn’t budge at all.

Click! Click!

The muzzle, which had been spewing fire continuously, stops completely, only making the sound of reloading as if the bullets couldn’t enter.

Several parts that look like the machine’s hands sprout out, and one of them pulls out the jammed magazine and grabs another one.

“Titan!”

Immediately, Titan, who had passed through the alley, runs towards me, dragging a hammer on his shoulder.

“Huff!”

Bang!

Titan’s hammer completely smashes the part of the machine where the muzzle is attached, which looks like a head.

Just like before, a liquid that looks like blood spurts out, and flesh and machine parts scatter through it.

It’s an utterly unpleasant sight.

But unless it’s completely destroyed like this, I can’t be at ease.

At this point, Titan is the only means to destroy the machine.

I could also use holy magic and other techniques, but if I respond to each one like that, I won’t be able to endure the crucial moment.

So, I’ve been relying on Titan’s brute strength to destroy the machines.

It’s a tiresome opponent. Even though it’s just a guard wandering around, I can’t let my guard down.

“Phew… Huff!”

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Titan’s muscles swell for a moment, then he immediately pounds his immense strength into the machine’s remains.

Blood, flesh, and metal splatter.

When I encountered a similar entity before, I smashed its head as if dealing with an ordinary creature, but it swung its limbs and attacked.

It was a sight more horrifying than any undead.

After a brief explosion sound.

When it became quiet, I asked the Titan, who was standing still.

“Is it over?”

“Yes.”

Fortunately, this time too, we took down the mechanical device without any damage.

Swiftly and decisively.

This was because Linea’s senses were superior to Titan’s.

If she hadn’t properly played her role as a scout, we would have learned the hard way.

Titan also has keen senses, but it’s impossible to match the size of a stationary opponent.

Thanks to Linea’s good hearing, she calculated the number and approximate size through the interlocking gears.

As expected of a doctor, she’s smart.

“Lost.”

Titan, who had completely shattered the machine to ensure it couldn’t move, spoke quietly.

“…No. Let’s go for now.”

“Just say it. Whether it’s certain or not, if you keep it in your head, it might cause trouble later.”

“…Got it.”

I know that those who speak in such a roundabout way cause trouble.

Information should always be shared.

Even if it’s not certain, there’s no harm in keeping it open as a possibility.

“Was it called Pinocchio? The master of this trial.”

“Yes.”

“Did it say it wanted to become human?”

“That’s right.”

“Even looking like this?”

Titan pointed at the shattered mechanical device again.

A clumsy imitation. It’s so crude that it’s questionable to even call it a creature, let alone a human.

“The deeper we go, the more it will resemble a living being.”

We haven’t even come halfway yet.

And if you think about Pinocchio’s ultimate goal being to become human, it means it’s not yet complete.

It has to be crude.

“That’s not what I’m asking.”

“……”

“Look.”

Titan points to the wreckage of the broken machinery.

Some parts were smashed beyond recognition, while others still retained a recognizable shape.

And what Titan pointed to was one of those. A vicious blade reminiscent of a shark’s teeth.

“I saw it just before it broke.”

Titan squinted at the blade.

“This thing tried to cut me. No, to be precise, it tried to tear me apart.”

“A chilling assumption.”

“Lost. Does it take this much force to become human?”

At Titan’s words, I also examined the shape of the blade closely.

“Of course, the stronger the means to protect oneself, the better. But Lost. Does this weapon look like a means of self-defense to you?”

“……No, it doesn’t.”

Just by looking at the shape of the weapon.

With this shape, its cutting power would inevitably be reduced.

Then why is it shaped like this?

Could it be that it was made for another purpose, not as a weapon?

If used as a saw, it wouldn’t be useless. Although there isn’t a single blade of grass left inside here…

It’s not unreasonable to think there was in the past.

But Titan said that weapon was swung at him.

Regardless of its intended purpose, it was used as a weapon.

Unlike Pinocchio, a machine without a heart. This makes me doubt as well.

“This is not for self-defense, but a weapon to inflict pain on others.”

Is Pinocchio’s goal really to become human?

“Clearly, ‘malice’.”