Chapter 47
Chapter 47
Episode 47.
The demonic energy that had shrouded the woman's eyes completely dissipated.
Her charred black eyeballs returned to those of an ordinary human.
She looked at Aiden. The rims of her eyes began turning red. Gazing down at her child, she wept silently.
The woman hadn't been blind from birth. It had been the cruel work of demonic energy.
Though wary of Aiden, she repeatedly expressed her gratitude and apologies.
Aiden slowly spoke.
"I only strike down heretics and demons. Convert to the Vacheksar faith. That is the name of the god who saved you."
As he spoke, Aiden picked up a stone from the ground.
Infusing it with divine power, he handed it to her.
A warmly glowing radiance. Her trembling eyes absorbed its warmth.
In her life, such brilliant light had never existed. Even the blood-soaked Eternal Night City she'd built paled before the noble shimmer of this divinity.
Aiden spoke in tranquil tones.
"Walk straight ahead and you'll find horses. Wait there for people dressed in white. Show them this stone, and they'll protect you. There's enough food in the backpack—eat your fill."
The woman clutched the stone tightly and stared at Aiden. Her gaze wavered.
Aiden asked, "What is your god's name?"
Hugging her baby to her chest, she hesitantly parted her lips.
"Va... Vache—"
"Vacheksar."
Aiden rose from his kneeling position.
Jud couldn't help but hesitate. Atonement achieved through words alone—without blood or suffering—wasn't recognized unless under special circumstances.
Aiden noticed Jud's hesitation.
"I vouch for this in my name."
Siron nodded.
"I bear witness."
After brief conflict, Jud swallowed his doubts. Slowly raising his arm, he traced the holy symbol.
"Vacheksar, your champion has burned away malice and delivered this lamb. Grant them your merciful blessing."
Siron also closed his eyes in prayer.
Aiden showed the woman which direction to go. Freed from the demonic curse, she was now liberated.
The departing woman bowed repeatedly until she disappeared from view. Once she was gone, Aiden turned his gaze toward the village.
Then he scanned the paladins.
"Exactly three days remain."
Three days later, students from the city's Arcane Academy would arrive at this Land of Screams. Their purpose: practical training in large-scale arcane arts. The paladins' operation would commence simultaneously.
Aiden retrieved a document from his coat.
"We arrived earlier than expected. Review your assigned roles and the overall plan once more."
The parchment Aiden unfolded contained meticulously recorded personal details—intelligence reports from their spies.
Garvue Antimola. A noble of the principality and student at the Arcane Academy.
His speech patterns, family, habits, behavior, hobbies, grades, preferences, relationships...
Everything was documented.
Though they'd studied during their fortnight-long carriage ride, perfectly mimicking him remained difficult.
While appearance and voice could be replicated through the bandages' power, these finer details required separate preparation.
The paladins also retrieved documents, leaning against the mound's slope—an elevated terrain ideal for concealment.
They skimmed the personal records and reviewed Aiden's revised operation plan.
Having prepared for this assassination for some time, they'd already thoroughly studied their assigned personas.
After prolonged review, Siron glanced at Aiden and cautiously spoke.
"Sir Aiden, no matter how I consider it, your separate escape route concerns me. It's inefficient."
Jud also looked at Aiden, seemingly agreeing with Siron.
Aiden replied, "As I said before, there's something I must verify. If necessary, you two depart first."
Siron shook his head.
"Impossible. For our order, losing you would be a loss even if the mission succeeds. Couldn't you just tell us plainly? What are you going to do?"
It concerned Kadak. He couldn't disclose it.
"Impossible. However, if things go well, we may save the villagers."
"But our mission is to eliminate the target..."
Aiden nodded.
"Which is why I scheduled it after the assassination. That remains the priority."
After brief contemplation, Siron said, "Couldn't we just move together with you? We'd only need minor adjustments to the post-assassination plan."
Originally, the paladins would escape by land while Aiden plunged into the sea.
There were reasons.
If his anticipated scenario occurred, all these villagers would be liberated.
But they lacked the ability to traverse the Giants' Forest and flee to the Empire alone.
They needed a guide. Since Aiden couldn't fulfill that role, it fell to the paladins—hence their land route.
Naturally, he hadn't informed them.
They despised heretics. Yet he judged that faced with desperate villagers, they wouldn't ignore them.
Though he wasn't certain. Even if giants devoured villagers, the paladins might turn a blind eye.
Aiden had steeled himself for such sacrifices—if it meant solving the fundamental issue of the "Screams."
But Bokbyung had been a nine-tailed fox.
Saya had unknowingly cleared the villagers' escape route by exterminating the giants' lineage.
Of course, the beast hadn't acted consciously.
It was merely serendipitous outcome. Regardless, the reason to send the paladins by land had vanished.
Aiden studied them.
"This mission diverges from the Archpriest's orders. Will you still follow?"
To the paladins, it sounded like a joke.
Their superior was Vacheksar's emissary. They could voice opinions, but ultimately had to obey.
Moreover, with the order's mission as priority, they had no reason to refuse.
Siron answered with puzzled expression.
"Well... of course we'd follow...?"
Jud and Gott also glanced at Aiden.
"We'll revise the escape route, Sir Aiden."
Aiden nodded.
"Proceed accordingly."
*Arcane Academy, Large-Scale Arcane Practical Training Day.
Garvue Antimola had been in exceptionally good spirits lately.
The demon "Sophon" had formed a direct contract with him.
Sophon was a high-ranking demon worshipped by House Antimola.
Not a supreme demon like "Gusian" revered by House Trapel, but Sophon's bestowed arcane arts were sufficiently advanced.
Sophon, vassal of Gusian—the Primordial Despair.
Having gained his patronage, Garvue's future seemed assured. His family hailed him as a prodigy.
Having even received House Antimola's arcane tome, he brimmed with anticipation to test new spells and excitement to enhance his skills through sacrifices.
The drawbridge connecting the artificial island to the Land of Screams.
Under the professors' supervision, students crossed.
Garvue's height and build surpassed all—comparable to Aiden's.
Thus, even dense crowds couldn't obstruct his view.
Walking in line, he observed the Land of Screams.
Serfs repeated meaningless labor. Their shrieks and wails carried across the desolate plains to the bridge.
A petite female student walking beside him asked:
"Garvue, what do you think? They're literally hauling stones? Looks exhausting."
Garvue exhaled and tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm, hard to say. Laying thin needles on the ground would be more effective. This just feels... mediocre. Nothing special."
The girl burst into laughter.
"Don't be stupid. They'd die instantly then. The point is maximizing despair extracted per serf."
Garvue struggled to agree.
"Quantity matters, sure. But third-circle and above depend on 'despair quality.'"
"Supply's the issue. Prioritizing quality would kill them too quickly—their reproduction can't keep up. Besides, not many arcanists even use third-circle spells."
Her argument held truth, but had flaws.
As Garvue prepared to counter, the professor commanded attention.
"Eyes here! Save chatter for later—focus now!"
Slowly scanning the students, the professor continued:
"For most here, this is your first time outside the city. I understand your excitement—some enthusiasm is fine. But no accidents. You're conducting individual training because I trust you. Don't disappoint me."
The students responded vigorously.
The professor added:
"Listen carefully. Aside from your assigned serf, don't touch others. They're pillars supporting our principality. Always respect and cherish them. Selfish behavior will incur penalties."
Groans arose among the students.
Garvue scowled.
"The professor's such a stickler. What's one serf? Seniors said they got two or three last year."
"Not his fault. Orders from above—what can we do?"
"Right, you're always correct."
Checking the time, the professor nodded.
"Alright then. Make these six hours count."
With metallic clanks, the gate barring passage lifted. Students proceeded orderly.
Waiting their turns, they gradually entered the Land of Screams.
Their disciplined advance reflected the principality's intellectuals. The professor smiled approvingly.
Upon stepping onto the rust-red earth, Garvue scanned his surroundings.
The most vigorous specimen would be his target.
A bent-backed old man tilling barren soil? No. A gaunt girl repeatedly building and dismantling stone piles? Too frail.
Frowning during his search, he spotted a man hauling dirt to fill the sea.
Decently sturdy—not bad.
Before anyone could intercept, Garvue dashed over, clamped shackles around the man's neck, and yanked hard.
Thud—the man collapsed. Despite screaming, he kept struggling to resume work.
Ignoring this, Garvue grabbed the chain and dragged him toward a makeshift training hut—converted from serf dwellings.
Their sole resting place during four-hour daily breaks was now a torture chamber.
Selecting a crumbling hut, Garvue heard something thud behind him.
Turning, he saw a man carrying an enormous boulder alone.
Tremendous stature, vibrant face, superhuman strength—truly impressive.
Garvue unshackled his initial target and kicked him away.
Then slowly approached the giant.
Their statures matched—a rarity for Garvue.
Grinning widely, he declared:
"You're the one."
Without hesitation, Garvue shackled the man's neck.
The tactile feedback when yanking him felt extraordinary. Kicking the hut door open, he shoved the man inside—before anyone could steal him.
Lately, he'd been feeling exceptionally lucky.
Contracting directly with Sophon, inheriting his house's arcane tome, and now obtaining premium sacrifice material.
Grinning, he slammed the door shut.
In the sealed space, only Garvue and Aiden remained.