I'm a Immortal Tavernkeeper, But My S-Rank Daughter Doesn't Know That!

Victor settled into the chair indicated by Stavenger.

"How do I know about the demon?" began Victor, maintaining eye contact with Stavenger. "I heard about it from the hoteliers, Donan and Leebeth. They mentioned the fears of the population and the strange events that have been occurring lately. There are more supernatural monsters than usual, aren’t there?"

"I see. However, it must be understood that caution must be exercised when linking these events to the presence of a demon. I know Donan and Leebeth, good people and also very old in Agocester, but, as a hunter, you must understand that the opinions of the locals are skewed. In the minds of these older people of Agocester, there are still many beliefs and fears that have been relegated to the folklore of this village. The legend of the demon of Agocester is very famous throughout the region, the people who lived through that terror became merchants, peasants and hunters, and so the whole story spread. It’s normal for there to be this fear. But for now we believe it’s just an evil spirit, there’s no proof that it’s a demon."

"I understand your position, but don’t you think you should investigate thoroughly before ruling out this possibility?" argued Victor. "How can you be so sure that it’s not a demon? Who determined that it’s just an evil spirit?"

Stavenger took his feet off the table and put his hands together. "We don’t have any concrete evidence yet, but it’s believed that it’s more likely to be an evil spirit than a real demon, after all, they were extinct many years ago. Priest Eadric, the most respected authority on spiritual matters here in the region, was the one who did this analysis."

"Priest Eadric?" repeated Victor, thoughtfully. He didn’t know the priest personally, but he realized he was hearing that name more and more. "And what exactly did he base this analysis on?"

"On witness reports, patterns of behavior and manifestations that resemble ordinary spiritual activities rather than a demonic presence," explained Stavenger. "However, that doesn’t mean we’re ignoring the problem. An evil spirit still poses a significant danger to Agocester and that’s why there was a mission available to hunt it down, but it was already picked up in the morning."

Victor understood that Stavenger’s analysis should be impartial and realized that the Branch Master had only called him into his office to clarify the situation and avoid confusion.

"I see. Regardless of whether it’s a demon or an evil spirit, the threat needs to be dealt with and neutralized before it causes any more damage to the city and its population. Will there be a problem if I continue investigating?"

"Of course not, all help is welcome," agreed Stavenger, pleased with Victor’s practical approach. "However, if you wish to carry out research parallel to Priest Eadric’s, the Hunters’ Association is willing to support this investigation and also the possible mission, but we need more information and proof to act effectively, we can’t just set out on a mission to hunt a demon without first having proof of it."

"I understand," replied Victor, determined. "I will endeavor to gather more information and evidence about this threat."

Stavenger smiled, appreciating Victor’s proactive stance, which was to be expected from such an old hunter who was still active.

"I’m glad to hear that, Victor. I’m going to give you temporary authorization to access our resources and library, where you can find out more about supernatural creatures and spiritual events. I also recommend that you talk to Priest Eadric for more insight into what we’re dealing with."

"That will be very useful, thank you," said Victor, accepting the authorization provided by Stavenger. "By the way, where is Priest Eadric’s church?"

"Priest Eadric works in a small church outside Agocester, following a dirt road to the north and on top of a small hill. If you follow the signs correctly, you’ll have no trouble finding it."

After leaving Stavenger’s office, Victor crumpled up the permit he had received to use the library and threw it in a garbage can as soon as he left the Hunters’ Association. There was no reason for him to hole up in a library if all the knowledge about demons was already inside his head.

However, at least he got one useful piece of information: it was Priest Eadric who did the analysis. So Victor needed to talk to the priest to see what clues Eadric had found that proved it was an evil spirit.

Luckily, as Stavenger said, the way to the church was easy to find by following the signs.

The dirt road there was quiet, with tall trees on either side creating a natural tunnel. The wind blew gently, making the leaves of the trees dance to a soft melody.

Soon, Victor spotted Priest Eadric’s church at the top of the hill. It was a modest building, but imposing in its simplicity, a little larger than a chapel.

When he reached the church, Victor took a deep breath and knocked softly on the wooden door. A few moments later, the door opened, revealing Priest Eadric, a short man with thinning hair and a wise expression on his face.

"Good afternoon, my son," greeted the priest in a soft voice. "What can I do for you?"

Victor bowed respectfully before introducing himself. "Good evening, Priest. My name is Victor Shieldman and I’m a hunter. Can we have a quick chat?"

Priest Eadric nodded and gestured Victor into the church.

The interior of the church was simple, with a few wooden benches for the faithful to sit on and an altar adorned with sacred symbols. The smell of incense permeated the air, so the place had a serene and spiritual atmosphere. At the back of the church was a statue of the Goddess Aela, a beautiful woman with very long hair.

Seeing all this only through the gap in the door that Eadric, the hunter denied with his head. "Actually, I’d rather have this conversation out here."

Eadric was surprised by Victor’s decision, because it was very cold. Still, he didn’t argue and said:

"All right, just let me get my coat."

After the priest returned, they sat down on a wooden bench outside the church.

"I’d like to know more about the legend of the demon of Agocester. What can you tell me about it?" Victor asked.

Priest Eadric smiled slightly, as if remembering something from the past. "So, you’re the kind of hunter who loves legends. Very well, I’ll tell you. The legend of the demon of Agocester goes back to ancient times, when the town was still a small village. I didn’t live here yet, but it is said that the mighty Hero Elban imprisoned a demon in the depths of the Evergreen Forest."

Victor was already sick of hearing this story. "And you believe that the current threat could be related to this legend?"

Priest Eadric was surprised again and arched his eyebrows, seeing that this was what Victor had wanted to ask all along.

"It’s hard to say for sure, my son. Legends often mix with reality, creating a web of mysteries and interpretations. They say that evil is never completely eradicated, and if the demon has really only been sealed and not killed, it is possible that it will return, but there is no one getting sick and no strong traces of the presence of a demon in Agocester, such as the dreaded pools of miasma, so if you want to know my opinion, I believe it is just an evil spirit."

Eadric was very wise and intelligent, so he had already sensed that Victor was there to question his analysis, so he presented the arguments for his theory as quickly as possible.