The Great Demon Holmes

Chapter 21: Contractors

Contractors... humans capable of establishing a connection with the Abyss.

Due to the Empire's incomplete research on this connection, there isn't a detailed classification system in place. However, based solely on the strength of their abilities, contractors can be roughly divided into four stages.

The first stage is the most common one, with the majority of newly recognized contractors falling into this category. They make up 80% of all contractors. At this stage, their abilities allow them to open small rifts connecting to hell and summon their contracted demons.

In the second stage, which accounts for 15% of all contractors, a contractor has established a symbiotic relationship of sorts with their demon. At this point, contractors gain some of the abilities of their demons. For example, the old priest could slightly manipulate people's thoughts through eye contact, while the steward Balder possessed immense physical strength. Additionally, if either the contractor or the demon is injured, it affects the other as well.

Most second-stage contractors become members of the clergy within the church since their combat prowess surpasses that of ordinary humans.

As for the third stage contractors, they make up only 5% of the total. These contractors possess similar abilities to second-stage ones; they can summon demons and wield abilities originating from the Abyss. The key difference is that they can summon "large demons," and the strength of their symbiotic bond far surpasses that of second-stage contractors.

Take the deceased Steward Balder as an example. If he had reached the third stage, his contracted demon would likely have evolved to a height of over ten meters. A single charge could easily demolish half a street, and his physical strength would be enough to withstand the assaults of the entire Order of the Holy Knights for several hours without fighting back.

Fortunately, due to the Holy Light's envelopment by the church, large void fissures cannot open within the Empire's borders. Moreover, the demons controlled by third-stage contractors are also under the church's control. Otherwise, several large demons together could probably destroy an entire city.

The aforementioned three stages of contractors encompass the entire population of contractors.

As for the fourth stage, it was only established approximately 35 years ago.

That was during the chaotic era of the second demonic invasion, where war and slaughter became the world's main theme, and human survival reached the brink of collapse.

And then... that person descended like the god of death.

Dante Alighieri, the honorable sir...

A pauper who emerged from the slums, bearing a rare surname, an eccentric name, and radiating brilliance and countless honors. Standing alone before the gates of hell, he slaughtered tens of thousands of demons, stepped into another world, and returned to the human realm after one year and seven months. With the willpower of a mortal, he confronted the most terrifying Abyssal deity and killed it, ending the five-year-long demonic invasion war. He became the empire's hero and was worshipped as a divine general by humanity.

His deeds have been recorded in textbooks across all schools for decades. Although he has long since shed the weighty power armor and retired to his hometown, he still receives the highest respect from the entire empire.

He is the only contractor to have reached the fourth stage.

However, his radiance was so blinding that no organization dares to research the extent of his powers, not even the church. And he himself seems uninterested in revealing the details.

This has led to a lack of knowledge regarding the true strength of fourth-stage contractors.

...

Sherlock had heard a bit about these four stages of classification, having read many books.

Upon hearing the old priest's suggestion, he was first taken aback, then surprised, and finally filled with a hint of hesitation.

To become a contractor...

As a member of this world, Sherlock certainly wouldn't resist becoming one, no matter how unconventional he may be. But his desire for this transformation had nothing to do with power, authority, or social status.

It was driven by his curiosity... his thirst for knowledge.

Sherlock was a detective, and exploring unknown territories held great allure for him. As a mortal, he naturally wondered what it would feel like to be a contractor.

He was aware that the church had long possessed the means to turn an ordinary person into a contractor. However, that was a gift reserved only for the most devout believers. As a "second-rate joker" who had been deceived about his faith, he felt unworthy...

The old priest seemed to discern Sherlock's thoughts and smiled, "You need not worry too much. You saved the lives of two clergy members and numerous brave knights of the Order, and your displayed abilities have earned my admiration and approval... You deserve this blessing."

His words were sincere, but Sherlock still wore a skeptical expression.

After a dozen seconds, the elder priest appeared somewhat embarrassed. He glanced at the tent's entrance, ensuring no guards were passing by, and finally spoke in a hushed voice, "You saved Catherine, and her family's standing within the church... is quite high."

"High?"

"Yes, much higher than you could imagine. But I can't go into detail. In any case, it's just a matter of conducting a contractor initiation ceremony. It truly isn't anything significant. If you were a member of the church, you might even be promoted several ranks."

"Um..."

This revelation truly caught Sherlock off guard. He hadn't expected the offense he caused to extend beyond a mere judgmental nun. There was a higher status behind it all. For a moment, he didn't know whether this was good news or not.

As for the Elder Priest, seeing Sherlock's lack of response, he started to grow anxious. He took the initiative and abruptly interjected, "So, have you ever had any strange dreams?"

"Dreams? What kind of dreams?!"

Finally, after an entire day, the detective, Sherlock Holmes, exhibited genuine surprise, just like an ordinary person would.

An extra chapter today, if you are liking this novel and think my translation quality is good, please leave a comment. If we reach 20 comments on this post (only 20 comments written by 20 individuals) i will post 10 chapters.

If we get 5 reviews, (needs to be written not only vote), i will post another 5 chapters.

Lets all achieve it by Wednesday.

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