Chapter 360
(360) Dispelling the curse
He mentioned a protected facility so I expected it to be a remote building in the suburbs . However, it turned out to be a large building in the Magic Street .
It seemed like it was remodeled from an old factory constructed to create magical tools .
There were guards posted at the entrance but after Suzuki showed them his Baron’s brooch, he had his identity checked, and after I was questioned, we were given a permit to enter the building .
The fact that the inspection was more detailed than at the airship dock showed how terrifying the frenzy curse was .
“What magic tool were they making?”
“I think they were making magic swords . ”
“Basically a Magic Blacksmith’s workshop?”
“Hahaha, no way . There are no Magic Blacksmiths in the world . Blacksmith, Alchemist, and Magician – only a person who has mastered all those jobs from varying fields can become one .
“The hurdle is certainly high . ”
It would be difficult without a growth cheat .
… In that case, since Kanon mastered the Magic Blacksmith job, is she actually quite a hard worker? She didn’t seem like one at all .
“Here they were experimenting on whether a sword can have unique abilities by embedding magic talismans made by Magic Journalist into the handle of a sword . ”
“A talisman on a sword . That’s interesting . ”
“Yeah, but apparently the change in performance was subtle . Although the effects were quite long-lasting, the talismans will be consumed and it didn’t sell very well even after including the collectors who bought them .
I see, so the effects were faint . Talismans were expensive too .
I tried asking about the effects out of curiosity and the effects were really subtle .
But that was still considered good .
If you used the Recovery Talisman, it would become a sword that would heal the opponent whenever you cut and deal damage to them . It may be useful for torture but it had no utility in combat .
The most meaningless usage would be to attach a Loudspeaker Talisman .
When clashing with swords affixed with the Loudspeaker Talisman, the sound of the swords clashing would be amplified and could make the match more impactful .
I headed toward the location where a person with the frenzy curse was held .
Held there was an ordinary-looking middle-aged man .
His job was Carpenter and there was a guard posted at the entrance and a guard within .
Such strict surveillance was more akin to imprisonment rather than protection .
“Who are you guys? Are you here to interrogate me again?”
“No, we’re here to help you . This person here is a Practitioner able to use Dispel . He will dispel the frenzy curse that was placed on you . ”
“Really!? Thank you so much . ”
“Please wait, it is not certain yet that I will be able to dispel it . ”
I told the middle-aged man that was about to cling to me .
I did learn Dispel but I had never tested its effects .
“Please do . I’ve been trapped in this kind of place and asked endless questions on ‘Have you met anybody suspicious recently?’ or ‘Name all your acquaintances . ’ and even ‘Is your wife from the anti-goddess faction?’ . ”
He was asked such questions?
He didn’t seem like he was put through torture but they were treating him like a criminal .
Of course, he would be angry if you doubt his family .
I sympathized with him .
I truly sympathized with him .
I looked at the man and chanted the spell .
“Dispel . ”
A faint light enveloped the man .
But there was no obvious change to be seen .
“That should do it (I think) . ”
After I said that, the guard brought a blue liquid and dropped it on the back of the man’s hand .
“That medicine solution would turn red when in contact with cursed people . ”
“Like looking for starch using iodine solution?”
“In simple terms, yes . ”
I guess they used that medicine solution to test for the presence of the curse .
I was wondering how they could find three affected people . It would be easy for the investigation with that method .
After confirming the presence or absence of the curse, the Magic Investigation Researcher would carry out a blood test . With Blood Appraisal and Hair Appraisal, they would be able to obtain a lot of information .
The solution on the back of the man’s hand did not change color even after Suzuki’s explanation .
“It is confirmed that the curse has been dispelled . You may return home . ”
“Oo … oooooh!”
The man was thrilled and held my hand .
“Thank you so much . You are my life savior . Truly, truly thank you . ”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to thank me . ”
I conducted the same dispelling in the other room and received thanks .
And after I left that room, an overweight man with fancy clothes called out to me .
“Good work, Suzuki-dono, Ichinojo-dono . The innocent people can go home safely now . Guhihihi . ”
They weren’t fine … the released people were treated quite terribly as criminals so they seemed to have accumulated quite a lot of anxiety .
The man laughed excitedly with an unpleasant face .
His laugh was like a toad .
“Thank you for your compliment (That man is an inspector who reports directly to the King so please do not butt heads with him . )”
Suzuki said and I nodded .
I secretly checked his job and it was Commoner .
But his level was not normal .
It was Lv99 .
I have seen plenty of Commoner job people since coming to this world but the highest level was around Lv10 . I’ve never seen anybody reach until Lv99 .
Why would he do so?
“You may return home . ”
The inspector said .
“But we have only finished treatment for two people . ”
I asked .
“There’s no need to treat the last person . ”
“Why?”
“You will know once you enter the room . It won’t be interesting to see though . ”
The inspector said and led me into the room with just us two .
It was a small room .
It seemed to have been used as storage and there were swords with talismans apparently made in the workshop placed there .
There was a small window in the room and we could see the neighboring room from there .
Unlike the ordinary rooms, that room was constructed with metal plating attached to the walls .
A man was acting as the interrogator and guard inside .
【Knight Lv35】
He was quite strong . And was a quasi-noble .
And turning to look at the person afflicted with the curse, I was at a loss for words .
“Wha … !”
It was a girl around 20 years of age .
There were black horns on her head and bat-like black wings on her back .
She was seated in a chair but I inadvertently turned my eyes away .
It was probably from a whip .
Her leg tendons were cut .
Her clothing was stained dark red with blood and her exposed skin was full of scratches . Her originally beautiful hair was now tattered and coated with blood .
“That’s terrible … why?”
“Kusunoki-kun … she is a devil race . ”
Suzuki told me .