Ragnarok has three protagonists.
Alicia, the niece of the King of Fists, was the most popular character due to her naturally bright personality, sociability, and constant smile.
Of course, her voluptuous figure and beautiful appearance also contributed to her popularity.
As if proving this, the girl smiling brightly before me was exceedingly beautiful.
Though not yet an adult and unable to show that voluptuous figure, that would come soon enough.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Lee Hyun from the Sage Tower. Nice to meet you, Alicia.”
“Yes! Nice to meet you~!”
Alicia waved cheerfully, then ran back to the King of Fists.
Lightly pulling her back, the King of Fists let out a small sigh.
It seems he didn’t like her friendly attitude toward someone she just met.
Well, that’s understandable.
It’s natural to worry about his lovely niece getting into unnecessary danger by being too friendly with just anyone.
“Let’s get to the point. Do you know what we requested?”
“Yes. I heard it was demon elimination.”
“That’s right. The demon we must catch is called Deleibano.”
“Deleibano…”
“You know of it?”
“Deleibano. A demon belonging to the Third Hierarchy, a subordinate of Deus, the Greater Demon of Violence and Evil. I heard that after the Greater Demon Diabolos was destroyed, Deus has been increasing his influence in the mortal realm to build his power in the demon world. It seems you’ve found one of them.”
“As expected of a Sage Tower agent. That’s right. Deleibano has possessed the body of Alicia’s close friend.”
The exorcism wouldn’t be too difficult if the demon wasn’t summoned but attached itself—that is, possessed someone.
After all, since the demon hasn’t manifested physically, we just need to sever the connection.
Of course, there would be combat, but… what’s to worry about with the King of Fists nearby?
“Can you perform the exorcism?”
“It won’t be difficult.”
“Hmm. That’s fortunate then. By the way, normally, such exorcisms are left to the church. Aren’t you curious why I requested the Sage Tower?”
“I know at least that the King of Fists is at odds with the church due to past fights with holy knights.”
“The Sage Tower truly knows everything.”
He smiled bitterly and shrugged while patting Alicia’s head.
Seeming to like that touch, Alicia giggled while keeping her green gaze fixed on me.
“Then let’s go right away.”
While going with them, I heard the circumstances.
The girl possessed by the demon was a noble girl named Riina Trevishu.
This ordinary girl with nothing special about her had picked up a jewel one day, and strange things began happening from then on.
“Strange things like…”
“Well. The usual signs of demon possession. Emitting strange energy or vomiting mysterious liquids. Insects gathering around… you know, things like that.”
“Ah.”
“Actually, I tried handling it myself, but the demon refused to leave the girl’s body. If only it would come out, I could finish it off…”
“Uncle! Uncle! So if this mister is here, can we save Riina?”
“That’s the idea?”
“Wow… Mister! You’re amazing!”
Alicia looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Finding that quite lovely, I smiled and wiggled my fingers at her.
“It’s nothing. But you seem quite close with Riina?”
“Yes! She’s my precious friend! So I’m worried…”
The King of Fists slightly furrowed his brow at Alicia’s dejected appearance.
He doesn’t seem to know how to comfort her at times like this.
Then, with my experience in child care, I should step in.
“Don’t worry. This mister and your uncle will definitely take care of that demon.”
“…Yes! Hehe. Thank you~”
Alicia brightly smiled and lightly held my hand.
According to the settings, Alicia learned martial arts from the King of Fists.
As if proving this, her pretty hands were slightly roughened from training.
“Are you learning martial arts?”
“Yes. I’m learning the Arang Fist.”
The Arang Fist is a strong martial art that subdues enemies in one strike through preemptive attacks.
Even in the game, it was Alicia’s initial skill, and in terms of pure damage, she possessed overwhelming power far surpassing the other two protagonists.
“How is it?”
“Mmm. It’s a bit difficult. There are parts I don’t understand.”
Well, that’s inevitable.
The Arang Fist is only half a martial art without the Wall Return Palm that should be learned alongside it.
Naturally, progress would be slow and understanding difficult when learning only the Arang Fist without it.
I glanced slightly at the King of Fists.
He must know this, but he just turned his head away, pretending not to know.
Does he intend not to help until she realizes what’s lacking herself?
What a terrifying person.
“Excuse me.”
While chatting with Alicia, we arrived at a small mansion.
It was a gloomy mansion.
As if proving a demon resided there, crows perched thickly on the roof, and insect corpses lay scattered around the mansion.
“There’s almost no sign of people. I’ll leave my sword here first.”
“Do so.”
When exorcising a demon possessing a person, it’s common practice to leave weapons like swords behind.
This is because the target might use telekinesis to steal weapons and cause harm or attempt self-harm.
Of course, people like me or the King of Fists could handle such things, but what if something unexpected happened?
I planted my sword deeply in the ground and headed toward the mansion.
“…Welcome…”
When we knocked, the door opened.
Following the guidance of frightened servants inside, we were greeted by a noble couple with haggard appearances.
“I’d like to meet your daughter first.”
Why waste time?
Let’s handle this right away.
The King of Fists seemed to agree with my opinion as he nodded, and we immediately followed their guidance to Riina’s room.
A stinging malice began soaking into our bodies as we approached the room.
“Alicia. Are you alright?”
“Yes!”
“King of Fists, do you intend to take Alicia in with us?”
“This too is experience.”
Then I have nothing to say.
Whatever happens, the King of Fists and I could certainly protect Alicia.
By the way, Alicia moved well during the demon elimination event in the game—was it because of this experience?
Smiling brightly without apparent fear, Alicia’s expression turned slightly sad when Riina’s room door appeared.
But that only lasted a moment.
“Uncle and mister will save Riina!”
“Thank you for believing in us. Then, we’re going in.”
When I opened the door, I wrinkled my nose at the sulfurous smell and poisonous energy that wafted out.
Inside was a girl with her arms and legs bound with cloth. As if proving she was possessed by a demon, evil energy seethed throughout her body.
“Kyahahahaha! You’ve come again! You fools! This wench’s body is already mine!”
A voice like grinding stones burst from the girl’s mouth.
Hearing this, I took holy water from my bag and brought it to the girl’s mouth.
“Have a drink first.”
“Mmph! Mmph! Uuuuugh!!”
When I grabbed her jaw and poured holy water into her mouth, pain-filled screams began echoing.
Watching me force-feed the holy water, Alicia tilted her head.
“Mister, is that okay?”
“Of course.”
This should get some kind of response.
Using the moment when the demon was dazed after drinking about 2 liters—one large bottle—of holy water carefully made by a high priest, I placed sacred objects on the girl’s body.
Though the girl twisted her body as if even that was painful, would I go easy on her because of that?
“As the Light is with us, we are blessed, and the Light within us follows the natural order…”
As I recited the prayer, black energy began rippling up from the girl’s body.
Unable to withstand the exorcism, it was starting to leave the body.
“Faster than expected.”
“The holy water is working well. It seems my sacred objects were useful.”
The artifacts and sacred objects in the Sage Tower are all among the highest tier even in the game.
With items that almost only cardinals in the church could handle, removing the possession of a lower demon like this is nothing.
“Here it comes.”
The black energy that left the girl’s body began gathering and taking form.
Three Devils appeared—demon-race monsters with black bat wings and two horns.
“I’ll leave those two to you.”
It would be a bit much for Alicia, who had only learned a bit of the Arang Fist to handle.
But with the King of Fists beside her, what problem could there be?
I’ll just catch one.
As the demon’s sharp claws turned toward me, I glanced aside.
Alicia’s gaze was fixed on me, perhaps worried.
“Mister! If it’s too hard, I’ll help!!”
Even without my sword, how could I lose to monsters like these?
I smiled at her, who seemed ready to help me, and then lightly clenched my fist.
Devils possess magic nullification skills.
Rather than uselessly trying magic and giving them a chance to counterattack when nullified, it is better to use another method.
“Kyaaaaa!!”
Using the back of my hand, I deflected the Devil’s attack that came with a roar.
Looking for openings while blocking the strong fist attacks.
I threw a single palm strike at the opening revealed in the second attack.
“Gweeeek!”
The Devil’s body bent with a strange scream.
After finishing my defense by knocking away the hand stretched out while enduring the pain, I turned my body and lightly struck the Devil’s face with my backhand.
Simultaneously, a double palm strike toward the spinning Devil.
Unable to withstand the consecutive attacks, the Devil tumbled across the floor into a corner of the room, and I slowly lowered my hands.
This was the most basic form of the gentle fist arts, symbolizing flexibility.
But the Wall Return Palm formed the foundation of all such arts.
“…Amazing!!”
An exclamation burst from Alicia, who had been watching me use the Wall Return Palm from start to finish.
Seemingly quite impressed by my attack, Alicia came up to me and said with a bright smile,
“Mister! Can you teach me that?!”
I should get permission from the King of Fists first.
But why was he just staring at me?