If she hadn't met or made a direct contract with a demon, there was a high probability that demonic energy was present in a specific location or had seeped in through contact with a specific object.
'If we discover the medium of demonic energy in Bella's activities, that would be best.'
Of course, it would be fine even if they didn't.
However, if they discovered something that injected demonic energy in her activities, it would be more certain when she was examined at the Dragon Faith Order.
"Just do as you're told."
Of course, there was no reason to explain this openly on the street where people were walking around.
"Is that what you call an explanation?"
"Please, Bella. Just this once."
"...Seriously, Luina. You and I need to have a talk after this is over."
"Anytime."
Grumbling, Bella entered the bookstore. The characteristic smell of paper permeated the air.
"Welcome."
The clerk greeted them with a bright smile, and Gerhard and Luina followed Bella, peering around various parts of the bookstore.
'Nothing special here either.'
But he mentally checked it. He wasn't particularly sensitive to mana, so it could simply be that he wasn't sensing it.
"You come here often. Have you finished reading the book I recommended last time?"
"Yes. It was quite interesting. Especially the ending of Adran and Hela left a strong impression."
"If you'd like, I can recommend other books as well."
"I'd love that."
After Gerhard had circled the bookstore once and came out, Bella was talking with the bookstore owner.
"Book recommendations?"
"Bella enjoys reading romance novels."
"A common hobby."
Gerhard's gaze, which had been on the back of Bella's head, shifted absently to the bookstore owner. He was an ordinary person with no particular peculiarities.
When their eyes met, the owner seemed slightly surprised, as if recognizing Gerhard, but soon he bowed his head.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Gerhard."
"You know me?"
"From a business perspective, I can't not know you, Mr. Gerhard. I also frequently receive goods from the Golden Turtle Company."
"So you're a customer."
"You came with your friends. Would you like me to recommend a book for you too, Mr. Gerhard?"
Gerhard shook his head. Since most decent books were already available in the company and his family, there was no need to buy them.
Or he could just go to the Academy library.
"That's a pity. There's a book I think you'd like."
"I'll look at it next time when there's an opportunity."
"Yes, please do visit again."
With the bookstore as the last stop, their tour of Bella's daily routine was complete.
"Follow me."
"This isn't the direction to the temple."
"It would be troublesome if your demonic energy was revealed openly when we went to the temple, wouldn't it?"
"Is it right to assume I'm infected with demonic energy from the start? I've never met a demon and my mind isn't strange."
After going around in circles, they arrived back at the original café.
"Why are we back here?"
"Follow me."
Specifically, it was the fifth floor of the café. There was a sealed room that Gerhard always used when meeting Luina.
"You've arrived, Brother."
There was already a guest in the sealed room.
"You're early."
"I always come running right away when you call, Brother."
"You must be excited at the thought of making money."
"With money, the Order can flourish more."
Everything according to the Dragon's will. Janice briefly pressed her palms together.
"But there's someone here I haven't seen before."
"Janice Biance?"
Bella and Janice recognized each other a beat late. Instead of introducing them to each other, Gerhard continued the conversation.
"Yes, instead of going to the temple, we'll verify through Janice. Janice, you brought it, right?"
"Of course. I guarantee there's nothing as certain as our Dragon Faith Order's items when it comes to searching for demonic energy or demons. We've been developing them steadily for a thousand years."
Demons had disappeared, but the Dragon Faith Order had always been prepared. This was due to the first pope's prophecy that demons would return someday.
"So it can sense all demonic energy? Even if there's just a tiny bit of demonic energy on the roadside?"
"Brother, do you have no conscience?"
Janice let out a hollow laugh.
"Unless it's adequately concentrated, it's impossible to find without contact or manipulation. At least with current magical technology."
"That's unfortunate."
If it could detect all surrounding demonic energy, they could find the source of where it seeped in.
"But did you really sense demonic energy? Why suddenly this...?"
"There's a person infected with demonic energy."
"Who is... Could it be this person?"
"Yes."
Janice tilted her head in disbelief.
"I don't feel anything."
"That's why I told you to bring that artifact."
"Did she really make a contract with a demon?"
"She didn't make a contract with a demon."
"Then why are you certain there's demonic energy?"
"That's exactly what I want to know."
Janice and Bella glared at Gerhard with identical expressions. Instead of answering, Gerhard folded his arms and nodded.
"We just need to try it and see."
"I don't mind since you're paying for the artifact, but this seems like an overreaction on your part, Brother."
Inside the wooden box that Janice took out from her bosom was a transparent crystal ball.
Countless tiny rune characters were inscribed on the surface of the clear orb.
"Since the person paying is telling me to do it, I will. You there...?"
"Call me Bella."
"Senior Bella Hoenne, I see. Feel free to speak comfortably. Could you hold the crystal ball with both hands?"
Bella placed both hands on the crystal ball. As Janice held the opposite side, the rune characters on the crystal ball began to emit light.
"Mana will seep in and observe your interior. Please don't resist."
"That's easy. Let's finish quickly and receive an apology."
Mana enveloped Bella's entire body, and she swallowed a groan at the unfamiliar sensation.
"...Can that reveal it?"
"Theoretically. If that can't reveal it, nothing can."
Aint Armian and Lord Gardner Alpenfassen might have other methods, but at least for now, that was the case.
"I shouldn't be saying this as the one who created this situation, but I truly hope nothing happens."
"We'll see."
With Gerhard's ambiguous answer, the mana that had explored Bella's entire body returned to the crystal ball.
At that moment.
Woong-
With a faint vibration, the previously transparent crystal ball slowly turned gray.
It wasn't very intense. It was so faint that one might overlook it without focused attention.
But what was important was that it had changed.
"..."
After staring at it for a moment, Janice made the sign of the cross and began to pray.
"Great Dragon God, today I send you one wicked evil being who dared to accept a demon by your side, please look down upon your servant."
"...What?"
"...Hmm?"
Whoosh, flames flickered in Janice's hand.
"Here comes one, Dragon God!"
———!
An explosion occurred.