(19) The slums

Asking the coach a few more questions, Nicokel understood the current circumstances. 

'The city gates and fortress have been heavily guarded since yesterday. That means the demonic summoner is still within the city...However, even after a whole night of intensive investigation, he has not been caught.' 

The chances of a comrade helping this demonic summoner were low. 

A city with branches of the church wasn't a place where demonic summoners could hide for long. 

'There have been instances where the holy empire, the main headquarters of the church, sent forces for investigation too. I'm pretty sure they won't move just because of a single demonic summoner. If the heretic inquisitor comes, they will find him easily.'

Taking a deep breath, Nicokel ordered the coach beside him: "Move towards the slums. We will catch the demonic summoner before them." 

"....Are you sure, Young master Nicokel? The merit of..."

"The slums." 

"Understood." 

The coach changed the direction of the carriage with hesitation appearing on his face.

'If there is any sign of there being a group of this demonic summoned, I will have no choice but to retreat immediately. Only two apprentice knights won't be enough if there were a whole group.' 

The surveillance group before the carriage moved aside, seeing the symbol of the Verskein family on it. 

"That's...young master Nicokel, right?" One of the natives pointed at Nicokel, sitting with the coach. 

"Don't point your finger at him...! Don't you know how he usually is? You might get executed..."

The native who pointed Nicokel quickly retracted his hand in fright. 

In the past, Nicokel was someone who was plagued with an inferiority complex. He always easily got offended by disrespectful acts. 

Nicokel ignored the gossip around him and continued thinking to himself. 

What was the best place the demonic summoner might be hidden?

It was either the slum or sewers. 

With his appearance exposed, he could not be in any crowded area. 

Hiding his appearance using a robe or a mask, would be idiotic and impossible at this point. Any suspicious specimen would be arrested immediately with no mercy. 

"The church is quite ruthless whenever it comes to demons or undead..." 

"It seems you are aware of their past actions too, Young Master Nicokel." 

Nicokel maintained the solemn atmosphere around him: "Yeah. I read some books...a whole kingdom was uprooted because of some demon's existence. The holy empire had sent only a small group of the elites for that feat too..." 

The vicious rumor of the holy church was spread across the continent. 

If an inquisitor visited you, it would only lead to misfortune. 

"Haha...I hope they won't ever visit this city..." the coach could only wish softly.

The carriage moved through the streets skillfully, reaching its destination in a few minutes. 

The coachman didn't want to go hunt this demonic summoner in his heart. However he didn't have any choice either, the head butler had ordered him to take care of Nicokel. Hence Nicokel had temporarily gained the authority to order him around. 

'I just hope that nothing serious happens...' The coach earnestly thought to himself. 

As the carriage stopped before the long alleyway, the two knights got off the carriage and stood beside Nicokel. While sitting in the carriage, the two knights felt nothing but uncomfortable and worried the whole time. 

What kind of knight sits in the comfy seat within the carriage, while their superior sits along with the coach? 

"You both go up to the ceiling and look around the whole slum for any suspicious person. Don't be careless and hide your presence just in case. Come back and report to me after you find him. Return after ten minutes whether you find him or not." 

"Understood." 

Both the knights soared into the air with a simple force of their legs. 

The coach walked beside Nicokel and stared at the slum alleyway silently. A long array of old fragile houses entered his sight, the street was very desolate too. 

"...Why do you think the demonic summoner is in the slums?" 

Nicokel answered back folding his hands: "The summoner who has signed a contract with the demons gets a portion of their mana turned into demonic energy, yeah?" Nicokel motioned with his eyes to the coach for confirmation. 

In the end, all of Nicokel's knowledge did come from storybooks after all. 

"...Yes." The coach nodded his head, going along with Nicokel's question. 

"Hence, the priests can identify them by pouring their holy element mana into others' bodies. By now, almost all the citizens of this city must have been investigated. The slum is the only place they shouldn't have visited yet." 

The coach who was carefully hearing Nicokel's explanation exclaimed in understanding. At the same time, he couldn't help but take glances at Nicokel who explained everything nonchalantly. 

"Well, it wouldn't be long before they would start searching the slums too. They aren't idiots, after all, the priest should be done looking through all the citizens by today." 

Nicokel looked back toward the alley, He saw both the knights returning in unison. It had not even been three minutes yet. 

"We found him, Young master." 

They reported with a serious face. 

As it turned out, the demonic summoner was an idiot, who didn't even know to hide his tracks. 

'From their report, he appears to be quite young too. He could find a somewhat good place to hide but didn't have the experience to hide his tracks. However, they still found him quite fast...' 

Looking at Nicokel's expression as he gazed at them, the older knight respectfully said: "I am a scout, young master Nicokel." 

Nicokel nodded his head in understanding.

The older knight appears to be already reaching his thirties. But he was still in the gaseous stage of his understanding of mana, it could only mean that he had reached his limit. 

Actually, Nicokel sent a secret thumbs-up to the older knight. He knew his shortcoming and limit, hence moved to the scout squad. Nicokel liked people who could make such rational decisions, they would visibly perform better than others in crisis. 

'The reason for one's objective might be fueled by emotions. But keeping a calm mind while carrying out the said task is called a rational mind.' 

Nicokel turned to the coach, "Stay near the carriage, we will be back in a minute."