Chapter 108
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: A Radiant Entrance
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The next day, Pernyan and Aint entered the city hall with the priests of the Dragon God Cult.
Inside the city hall's vast grand banquet hall, countless people were waiting to be examined.
Perhaps because the Vienderk soldiers had tracked down and brought in more people based on entry records, the initial five hundred had swelled to nearly six hundred.
And it would likely keep growing.
“We will now begin the search for Magi. We ask for your full cooperation.”
The nine priests, excluding the Cardinal, simultaneously took out their artifacts.
To Pernyan, they were all too familiar—artifacts designed to detect Magi dwelling within mana.
The priests began their inspections one by one, starting from the outer edges.
Pernyan, alongside Aint, leaned against the railing on the second floor of the hall, looking down.
“What do you think? Can you sense any Magi?”
“I'll try to find them.”
“Go ahead.”
As Aint began to concentrate, Pernyan quietly stroked the Wooden around his neck, contemplating what was to come.
Just then, someone approached him.
“Greetings, Young Master Pernyan.”
“Count Daniel Kohl? You’re here as well, Count?”
The man with lustrous blond hair was Count Daniel Kohl.
His domain’s fertile land yielded a high output of rice and barley, and he had developed a distillery industry, making various liquors, including whiskey, his specialty products.
And he was a wealthy noble who operated a merchant guild using those specialty goods.
He was also a client who utilized the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild's distribution network.
“But you seem a bit different.”
“Do I? I've been expanding my business significantly lately, and with so much to worry about, I've lost some weight.”
His face, which had been slightly plump before, now looked more ordinary. His aura had changed a bit too, but that seemed to be due to the change in his features.
“I never expected to find you detained here as well, Young Master. Then again, when it comes to Vile Breeds, I suppose no one is exempt.”
A look of sympathy filled the Count's dark eyes.
“I was delighted to come here to supply liquor for the Continental Academic Conference, but I never imagined I'd end up in such a predicament.”
“Doesn't making a great deal of money always come with its own risks?”
“That's true. But for Vile Breeds to be assassinating nobles... How dreadful. I never thought I'd see such a thing in my lifetime.”
*Huu*, he sighed.
“They've been quiet for a thousand years. Why did this have to happen while I'm alive?”
That was precisely what Pernyan was thinking.
A thousand years had passed. During that time, the demons, the Vile Breeds, had been quiet.
Their presence had faded to the point of nonexistence, becoming mere legend, and most humans didn't even know Magi for what it was.
So why, of all times, in the era Pernyan was living in, were they invading the world again, refusing to leave him in peace?
The more he thought about it, the more it infuriated him. All he wanted was to quietly make money and pull the world's strings.
“And who might this be?”
The Count's gaze fell on Aint, who was searching for Magi. Deep in concentration, Aint didn't notice his stare.
“Ah, this is Aint Armian.”
“Aint… Armian, you say? The one I know of…?”
“That's right. He's my junior.”
“Why is Aint Armian here… Don't tell me?”
“Yes, it’s just as you suspect.”
To hunt for Vile Breeds alongside the Dragon God Cult.
“I believe I've read in texts that the power of Armian can instinctively detect Magi. Is that true?”
“I'm not sure. I don't know that much myself.”
“To think I would get to see the power of Armian. This is quite an honor. It almost makes being held here worthwhile.”
“There's nothing particularly special about it.”
“How can you say there's nothing special about the one called the archenemy of demons?”
Count Daniel offered a faint smile.
“So, is Young Master Aint tracking down Vile Breeds right now? Can he sense Magi even from a distance?”
Pernyan replied curtly to the man’s unusually sparkling eyes.
“I’m not sure. As I said, I…”
Just then, Aint opened his eyes.
“I’ve found them.”
“Really?”
“Yes, thankfully, it seems I’ve earned the right to dance on the stage you’ve set, Sunbaenim.”
“Oh, you’ve really found the Vile Breeds? So much faster than the Dragon God Cult… truly the work of an Armian. How…”
“Count Daniel. I’m terribly sorry, but may we have a moment to ourselves?”
“…Ah, of course.”
The Count, momentarily silenced by the blatant dismissal, forced a smile.
“I got a little too excited. It must be because this is my first time seeing the power of Armian. Please understand.”
“I understand.”
“Yes, Young Master. I’ll see you later, then.”
The Count descended to the floor below.
“Aint, did you really find them?”
“Yes.”
Pernyan tried to suppress the rising excitement.
He had thought Aint would be able to find even the most well-hidden Magi, but he hadn't expected it to be possible without direct contact or Gardner.
It was a surprise, but a pleasant one.
“I wouldn't have been able to sense them before, but perhaps because my skills have improved, the Magi feels much clearer. It’s also thanks to the Itarium you gave me. Thank you.”
That was good news. Both that Aint had grown stronger, and that Aint felt a little more indebted to him.
“Who is it?”
“That person there, and that one over…”
Aint pointed out a total of three people. One was dressed as an ordinary farmer, while the other two were merchants.
“Is that all of them?”
“For now, yes, but there might be others who are better at hiding. What should we do, Sunbaenim?”
“What do you mean, what should we do? We can't just leave them be after finding them.”
The three Aint had pointed out were relatively close to the center, while the priests were still inspecting the outer edges.
It would take some time for the priests to reach those three.
Pernyan wanted to strike first, but acting rashly wasn't the right move.
He couldn't afford to upstage the Dragon God Cult in an operation they were leading and earn their ire.
Therefore, an amicable agreement was needed.
“Wait here.”
Pernyan approached Cardinal Gaillan, who was looking down from the opposite side of the second floor.
“Aint has found the Vile Breeds.”
“…Who are they?”
The Cardinal’s face hardened.
“I can't just tell you…”
In contrast, Pernyan’s expression was calm.
“How about it? Care to make a deal with me? Just like always.”
* * *
“We have an agreement. Take them all down. Do it in a way that makes it unmistakably clear to everyone that those vermin are Vile Breeds.”
*Thud-*
Recalling Pernyan’s instructions, Aint leaped down with grim determination. In an instant, every eye in the hall was on him.
‘This is kind of embarrassing.’
- Get used to it. This is only a few hundred. In the future, hundreds of thousands, millions, tens of millions will be watching you.
‘Yes.’
Taking a deep breath, Aint walked through the crowd as nonchalantly as possible.
“What? Who’s that?”
“What’s he doing?”
“He looks familiar.”
People were wary of Aint but didn't try to stop him.
There was a strange atmosphere, and the priests of the Dragon God Cult, who were leading the current proceedings, remained still.
In the midst of it, Aint stopped walking.
“W-what is it?”
The man standing before him was slightly flustered.
‘What would be the best way to do this?’
- Actions speak louder than words. In times like this, it's best to just show them.
- Rather than just saying you found them with the power of Armian, if you annihilate the Vile Breeds with your own power, they'll have no choice but to believe.
Pernyan had said the same. To show them in a way everyone would understand.
- No need to draw your sword, no need to threaten them.
- Make everyone understand exactly why the Armians are called the natural enemies of demons.
Aint materialized his aura, forming a small sphere.
At that alone, the man in front of him flinched.
Then, the sphere began to glow, emitting a power that was inherently antithetical to Magi.
“What is that… *Keuk*?”
The man's face contorted.
The Aint of the past could never have imagined this, but the Aint of today was different.
He had met Gardner and learned true esoteric swordsmanship, consumed numerous elixirs, and even defeated a demon through countless real battles.
A Vile Breed of this level was no match for him; simply bathing it in his light was enough.
Like insects dying just by getting too close to a bonfire.
“Hey, what do you think you’re… huh?”
“H-he’s smoking…?”
“*Kuaaargh*…!”
The man's screams grew louder.
Ominous smoke poured from his entire body. The people who had been about to question Aint could only swallow their words at the sight.
“…Magi?”
“Is that really Magi?”
The people gathered here were not fools.
Though they had never seen Magi in person, they knew that in this situation, there was no other explanation for the ominous smoke.
“Wait a minute, then that power that’s destroying the Magi is…”
“Could it be?”
And that immediately brought to mind the power of a certain family, one that was the absolute antithesis of Magi.
And at that moment.
“Kuaaaaaargh!”
Unable to bear it any longer, the man threw off his disguise. A tremendous force swept through the area, and the sudden shockwave sent people tumbling to the floor.
And they understood more clearly.
“It’s real Magi!”
“A Vile Breed was hiding among us!”
Covered in foul Magi, the man bared his claws like a beast. They left black scars in the air as they shot toward Aint.
“Everyone, get back!”
“Stop, you filthy Vile Breed!”
The priests of the Dragon God Cult, who had already made an agreement, stood still, but the Vienderk knights stationed around the hall did not.
They urgently drew their weapons and charged, but Aint was a step faster.
*Kagagak-*
A sword, now in his hand, effortlessly deflected the claws.
A brilliant aura of light erupted, asserting its presence before everyone.
*Swish-*
The Vile Breed's body was instantly split in half. Like an insect that had strayed too close to a bonfire, the Magi enveloping it began to rapidly evaporate.
“Kuaaaaaaaargh!”
Immediately after, the Vile Breed's body began to swell.
- Dammit, it's self-destructing!
- If it blows up here, the damage will be immense! I have to stop it!
Aint urgently raised his sword to strike again.
At that moment.
*Kugugugu-*
A dome of rock enveloped the Vile Breed.
—!
The building shook for a moment, but that was all. There was no damage.
“Pathetic.”
Pernyan casually dusted off his hands.
“Why is their pattern always the same?”
Is self-destruction all they know how to do?
Those dull-witted Vile Breeds.
A quiet stillness fell. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on Aint and the Vile Breed he had dispatched.
And then Pernyan.
“Aint Armian.”
He broke the silence, letting everyone know.
That what they were thinking was correct.
That the person before them was a scion of Armian.
“Do your duty.”
“Yes, Sunbaenim.”
“Damn it all!”
“No! I can’t die!”
The other Vile Breeds desperately ran.
But Aint didn't let them escape. He passed the Vienderk knights, who were flustered by the sudden turn of events, and recalled his conversation with Pernyan.
“Deal with them as flamboyantly, as sacredly as possible.”
“This is the first official confrontation between a Vile Breed and an Armian in a thousand years. At a time when Vile Breeds are beginning to run rampant, the appearance of a light that overwhelms them is no small matter.”
“Remember. It must be spectacular.”
He raised his sword and condensed his aura.
‘I can’t use anything too powerful.’
Doing so would kill or injure most of the people in the banquet hall. But there was a technique that was, as Pernyan had said, merely spectacular.
- Though for the Vile Breeds, it won't feel merely spectacular.
As Gardner's sneer flashed through his mind.
Aint swung his sword.
The tangible aura that stretched out was shaped into a single form.
A bird of light with two pairs of wings and a single head.
It wasn't very large. It didn't roar like a real creature, and it was merely a shaped form with no real destructive power.
But that was enough.
“…A Saint Bird.”
“A-a bird of light…!”
Through the symbol of the Armian family, Aint's arrival was clearly imprinted on everyone present.
────!
“Kuaaaaaack…!”
“My power…! My power is…!”
Because the mere rays of light emanating from the bird were fatal to the Vile Breeds.
When the Saint Bird had fulfilled its duty and vanished.
There were no more fugitives. Only vermin writhing on the floor, emitting black smoke from their bodies.
‘Perfect.’
To have an Armian appear and conjure their symbol, the Saint Bird. Was that Gardner’s advice?
The corners of Pernyan's mouth curled up.
‘When the product is this good, there's no need for complex marketing. This is enough.’
The negotiation with the Dragon God Cult had been worth it.
‘In exchange, I agreed to tell them the secret about Andromalius, but that’s actually to my advantage as well.’
Even if things proceeded according to the Prophecy Book, the demon would still be summoned, and the world would realize the problem was more than just Vile Breeds.
Something that was supposed to be revealed had been delayed because Pernyan changed the future, so it had to be revealed eventually anyway.
‘It's a breach of my promise to the Chancellor, but…’
The agreement was to delay the announcement to prevent excessive chaos, not to keep it a secret forever.
Checking the scene once more, the corners of Pernyan's mouth curled up.