Reincarnated Devil's Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~ - Chapter 84

Reincarnated Devil’s Strongest Hero Training Plan ~The baby he picked up has grown up so well that his father is confused~

Chapter 84   Rumors of a certain informant

Some time had passed since Mermel received her box of choco marshmallows, and while Ars and his group continued their journey, gaining new companions along the way, the scene shifts to the capital of the Calamiera Church.

Saintess Isha Grace de Calamiera was tirelessly working on reforms to correct the corruption in her church, aiming to create a country where her friend Hades Lucifer would be able to visit with a smile.

“Ugh! Why does our country have so many problems? There’s the case of the viscount who went too far with human supremacy and got involved in trafficking demi-humans, the corrupt merchant tied to the marquis who’s smuggling illegal plants… And then, there are reports of campfire flames rising night after night at some church…”

“This is very suspicious,” Isha muttered as she glanced over the documents in front of her. Her luxurious private room was filled with various documents, ranging from evidence of noble misconduct to unverified reports suggesting potential wrongdoing.

As both a princess of this nation and a genuine saint, Isha had many fans and countless supporters willing to serve as her hands and feet. Consequently, she wielded considerable power. At just thirteen years old, not yet an adult, she had more influence than her status as a princess would suggest. This allowed her to investigate the corruption within the Chruch and determine future policies based on the gathered information.

Thus, the power was concentrated in her hands, enabling her to conduct thorough investigations into the country’s corruption and make decisions based on a wealth of information.

“That being said, in the matter of the marquis, the crime lies solely with the merchant. Without evidence, we can’t punish a high-ranking noble. It’s frustrating…”

Despite this, it was impossible to uncover all those who were acting in secrecy. There were always places beyond her reach or sight, leaving her feeling powerless.

Seeing Saintess Isha tirelessly at work every day, her bodyguard, the young knight Ein, who was standing nearby, spoke up.

“Milady, I understand how you feel, but you should rest. You haven’t had a proper sleep in the past three days. Moreover, your fourteenth birthday and coming-of-age ceremony are soon. This is an important time.”

Ein, who had already reached eighteen and risen to the position of vice-captain in the Saintess’s Royal Guard, was concerned. He couldn’t afford to let anything happen to the princess of the Church as she approached adulthood.

However, despite his logical reasoning, this headstrong and rapidly-moving saintess refused to listen. She shook her head, determined to follow her own convictions.

“No. If I keep finding excuses not to act, nothing will ever get done. I’ve decided to correct this country in my own way.”

Isha took a deep breath and continued.

“Recently, I’ve heard strange rumors in this capital. There’s talk of a mysterious informant who seems to know everything, even things the people of the town shouldn’t be aware of…”

From Isha’s investigations, it appeared that her maid had heard these rumors while shopping in the town, the castle’s head chef had heard them from a supplier, and even the history teacher had encountered the same stories in a bookstore.

There was certainly something to these rumors. The idea that such a person might exist seemed convincing enough to warrant further investigation.

“Apparently, this informant lives alone in a rundown shack on the outskirts of the capital, wearing a black hood and a creepy mask, and calls himself a mid-level merchant named Chukyu. It’s worth checking out.”

Whether he was an informant or a merchant was irrelevant; with the location pinpointed, they could quickly verify the truth. Accompanied by Ein, the renowned Sword Saint and royal guard, he could ensure her safety without any issues.

Though it was outside the city walls in the rural areas of Calamiera, it was still part of the capital. A short journey like this was manageable, even factoring in the need for some free time.

The next day, Isha and Ein managed to carve out some time from their busy schedules. They navigated through the bustling and well-maintained streets of the capital and headed beyond the city walls, reaching their destination as planned.

Their destination was a particularly poor area in the rural outskirts, not quite a slum but still with a noticeable sense of poverty. Some houses had missing roofs, creating a rather bleak atmosphere.

Amidst this scene stood a single wooden shack, noticeably different from the stone buildings around it. Though not luxurious, the shack was newly built with fresh materials. It intuitively felt like the rumored hideout of the mysterious informant.

“Hello there!”

“Milady, that’s inappropriate.”

“It’s fine. If we’re not assertive, this so-called all-knowing informant might not take us seriously. We have to be bold! If Ars were here, he wouldn’t hesitate…”

Whether her argument was convincing or not, Isha burst through the door energetically, invoking Ars’s name for added determination.

“Welcome, welcome. What a lively customer. What information or goods are you seeking today? I’ll give you a good deal. Hehehe…”

The calm voice that greeted them belonged to a figure matching the rumors—a person in a black hood and a mask adorned with bizarre patterns. This was indeed Chukyu, the self-proclaimed mid-level merchant.

◇

“All right, spill all the information you have, Chukyu!”

“Well, well, look at this lively young lady.”

Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Holy Maiden.

I’m Chukyu, the mid-level merchant—or rather, Kakyu, the low-rank demon.

Hmm.

It’s always satisfying when things go according to plan.

Sure, I was pretty confident it would work out—probably an eighty to ninety percent chance of success. But still, whether the person actually shows up is entirely up to them, so it wasn’t guaranteed.

I tried various tactics to lure the Holy Maiden here—posing as a supplier delivering food to the castle, mingling with the townsfolk, even slipping messages between the pages of books at the bookstore. It seems they worked out quite well.

I’m not here just because I want to see the Holy Maiden’s efforts in cleaning up the corruption in the kingdom. But if she’s seeking a breakthrough or a clue in this situation, then I thought I’d offer a little assistance.

The existence of this Chukyu was prepared solely for that purpose.

The protagonists of the story to right the wrongs in the kingdom are, of course, Miss Holy Maiden EIha and Sword Saint Ein.

I’m just a low-rank demon, better suited to quietly lending a helping hand from the shadows.

In fact, that’s exactly what I should be doing.