Chapter 368: The Event(1)
Chapter 368: The Event(1)
Before the atrocities of the demon worshippers were fully revealed, they had remained tightly hidden in the shadows, meticulously concealing their identities.
While the exact origins of their existence remain unknown, many scholars speculate that they were active even before the Demon War. If they hadn't existed, the Demon War might never have broken out in the first place. In that sense, they were a group that boasted a long and storied history.
Furthermore, as three thousand years passed and interest in demons gradually waned, the space for demon worshippers to operate expanded, allowing their influence to grow. They extended their reach across the entire underworld, dealing in what were known as the Four Major Black Market Items: drugs, human trafficking, weapons, and monster byproducts.
They possessed formidable financial power, and their connections often included the wealthy, the nobility, and even members of the clergy. Much like the Fallen Cardinal incident that had recently caused an uproar in Savior, it was no exaggeration to say that the reach of the demon worshippers extended across the entire world.
Had the Xenon Biography not exposed their existence, a Second Demon War would have surely erupted, plunging the world into even greater chaos than before. Conversely, this meant that the influence of the demon worshippers was beyond imagination. Despite their reach, they had managed to leave almost no traces behind.
However, that no longer mattered. Ever since the Fallen Cardinal in Savior received "Divine Punishment," a full-scale war had been underway. At the same time, they had been targeting Isaac, the source of all their troubles, but even that was proving difficult.
Thus, the demon worshippers chose a different path. If they couldn't strike at the head, they would neutralize him by cutting off his limbs. Whether he was a prophet as rumored or simply lucky didn't matter; they would start by cutting off the supply of the Xenon Biography at its source.
The printing press in the Duchy of Bellua was their first target.
"This place is completely trashed."
"Tell me about it."
A man and a woman stood before the half-destroyed building, conversing.
The man had skin handsomely tanned from living under the biting sun. The prominent muscles and scars on his exposed arms were striking. The woman, sporting a short haircut, also bore a deep scar on her cheek—proof that she, too, had seen her share of hardship.
Both were reasonably good-looking, and they shared one common feature: the pendant hanging from their necks. A gold pendant glinted in the sunlight, identifying them as adventurers.
"They said a demon worshipper committed a suicide terrorism attack, right? I wonder what measures they'll take now."
The woman crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on the building currently under reconstruction. Her voice carried a hint of anxiety. The man nodded in agreement; her concern was perfectly understandable.
After all, the building being rebuilt was a printing press. Specifically, it was a facility Musk had established at great expense solely for the printing of the Xenon Biography. It had been completely leveled by the demon worshipper's suicide bombing, resulting in the deaths of two employees and serious injuries to three others.
"Maybe the state will provide support, like they do for the Mint? Or the Order might dispatch Paladins."
"Would that be enough? I heard there are demons among the worshippers; they could just bombard the place with magic from a distance. Besides, they suspect this suicide bombing wasn't a group effort but the act of a lone individual."
The man nodded as the woman made a valid point. The demon worshippers were an evil organization with influence spanning the globe. Naturally, their structure was composed of point-cells; unless one was a high-ranking official like a Fallen Cardinal, most were mere grunts.
Savior had declared a full-scale Holy War, but an organization that had left no trace for over a thousand years wouldn't be caught so easily. The fact that no one would have even known they existed if not for the Xenon Biography proved just how meticulous they were.
"And this is just the beginning. Mark my words, printing presses all over the world will start falling. The Duchy of Bellua was a mandatory target because of its geographical location."
"You know, you're surprisingly smart sometimes."
"You're just the stupid one. Anyone who reads the newspaper could figure this much out."
After sharply putting the man down, the woman glanced at him as he sheepishly scratched his head, then offered a backhanded compliment.
"Well, I suppose it's that personality of yours that got you what you wanted."
"What do you mean?"
"You know, that."
The woman spoke indirectly, as if the item in question was difficult to mention openly. She even glanced around cautiously, just in case. The man didn't understand at first, but seeing her reaction, it finally clicked.
"Ah. The autograph? You mean the one I got from Xenon?"
"Shh! Shh! Keep it down! What if someone hears you?"
The woman, flustered by the man's blunt answer, pressed her index finger to her lips.
Indeed, this man was the one who had managed to break through the security cordon to get an autograph when Isaac returned to the Academy. It had been a life-threatening situation; had Isaac not reacted, the man's life could have ended right then and there. Fortunately, he walked away with the autograph, and his career as an adventurer remained intact, allowing him to enjoy a comfortable life.
"So what? Let them try to take it. I'll just beat 'em all up."
"Phew... Do you have any idea how much trouble we've been through because of that?"
The woman shook her head, the memory alone making her dizzy. In fact, after the rumors spread, many had targeted the man's signed copy. Being nearly pickpocketed while walking down the street was a daily occurrence, and the most dangerous times were when they tried to relax at an inn after a long day. Some nobodies had even picked fights just to try and steal it openly.
If the man hadn't been exceptionally skilled, the signed copy would have vanished long ago.
I can't even suggest selling it at an auction...
The woman sighed inwardly again as she watched the man looking smug. To be honest, she was incredibly envious. She was a die-hard fan of the Xenon Biography herself.
However, she couldn't bring herself to betray him. Considering how valuable that autograph was, doing such a thing would be subhuman. If it were put up for auction, wealthy merchants and nobles who heard the rumors would swarm like ants. Of course, the man had no intention of doing so. Not only would it be disrespectful to Xenon (Isaac), but even if it were sold, it would undoubtedly trigger a bloodbath. He was preventing that in advance.
"Let's head back to the guild for now. Staying here won't get us any commissions."
"Right."
The two stopped staring at the rebuilding printing press and turned back toward the guild. The Adventurer's Guild they belonged to was established in the capitals and major cities of every nation.
The Duchy of Bellua was no exception. In particular, Bellua was a country where various requests, including merchant escorts, poured in. Naturally, the influence of the adventurer and mercenary guilds was significant, and many people passed through them.
Buzz— Buzz—
"Huh? What's that?"
"There's a huge crowd."
On their way back to the guild, a scene caught their attention. An abnormally large crowd had gathered in one spot. Since they frequently visited the Duchy of Bellua, they knew exactly what was there.
It was the site of a large public notice board, directly managed by the state so that everyone could see it. It was where official documents from the government or the Order were posted for public viewing. A massive throng of people now packed the space in front of that board.
"Is something going on?"
"Looks like an official notice was posted. Let's go check it out."
The woman, who was usually sensitive to current affairs, led the man toward the notice board. Because of the crowd, they had to watch from a distance, but she carried something for just such an occasion.
It was a bit expensive, but nothing was more useful. She pulled an item from her backpack. It was none other than a pair of binoculars. Usually used by the military or in theaters, they were notoriously expensive due to the difficulty of manufacturing them. However, considering their utility, she always kept them on hand.
"Roy. Give me a lift."
"Up you go."
The man, Roy, hoisted the woman onto his shoulders without hesitation. Satisfied with the suddenly elevated view, she pressed the binoculars to her eyes.
"Let's see..."
"Hmm..."
While the woman examined the notice through her binoculars, Roy looked around. Usually, when the state posted a notice, people gathered. Most of the time it was about taxes, so even commoners paid close attention.
But the number of people gathered now was far too high. Usually, people took a look and moved on, but the fact that they were lingering like this suggested something extraordinary was happening. Despite being in his twenties, his wealth of experience led him to that conclusion.
"...Huh?"
In the meantime, the woman seemed to have finished reading the notice. Her reaction was one of utter shock. She repeatedly pulled the binoculars away and put them back, checking several times to see if she had read correctly.
"Wow... This man is really going all out."
"What does it say?"
The woman, Anne, didn't answer Roy's question immediately and climbed down. After tucking the binoculars back into her bag, she told him about the notice she had just confirmed.
"I'll have to look into the details, but it seems Xenon is quite angry about this incident. He might actually wipe out the demon worshippers for good."
"I'm asking what it says. You know I hate being kept in suspense."
"So impatient. It's not a notice from the Duchy of Bellua. It's a letter from Xenon."
"A letter?"
Roy blinked at the answer. A letter from Xenon posted on the public notice board? At first, it was hard to grasp, but considering his influence, it made perfect sense. However, the content was what mattered most. It had to be significant to cause such a stir.
As Roy's expression grew serious, Anne nodded and shared the details.
"Yeah. It looks like the news reached Xenon's ears. He seems to have made up his mind."
"Which means..."
"I'll have to check with the Order or the guild for the specifics, but apparently, depending on how many demon worshippers one subjugates, there will be an opportunity for a private audience with Xenon. He said he wants to express his gratitude personally."
"A-A private audience? I didn't hear that wrong, did I?"
Roy asked again, making a fuss at the mention of a private meeting with Xenon. Even getting close to him required risking one's life, but a private audience?
Anne nodded, knowing it was a story hard to believe. Her heart, like Roy's, began to throb. While she wasn't as reckless as Roy, she was just as much a die-hard fan of the Xenon Biography. In fact, her connection with Roy had started because of the series. They had been friends since Volume 1, long before the Xenon Biography became a global phenomenon.
"You didn't hear wrong. He's giving a chance for a private audience to the person who contributes the most to the subjugation of demon worshippers. Of course, they can ask for something else if they don't want the meeting. The state and the Order will likely provide support as well."
"T-Then, right now...!"
"Wait a second. Xenon wants to ensure there are no innocent casualties. He even said that if even a single innocent person is sacrificed, the whole thing is off, so we need to be careful—"
It was just as Anne was trying to calm Roy down. From the notice board, where the atmosphere was growing increasingly heated, a shout erupted that no one could ignore.
"Who do you think is going to be scared by this crap?!"
"Huh?"
"What's that?"
Riiiiip!!
Someone violently tore down the copy of Xenon's letter from the notice board. Everyone was stunned by the sudden outburst, but the shout that followed drove everyone to the same action.
"For the Father of All Things! We shall never fall!"
"What's with this guy?!"
"It's a demon worshipper!"
"Kill him! Catch that bastard first!"
The scene instantly turned into a chaotic brawl. A swarm of people pounced on the man suspected of being a demon worshipper.
Watching this, Anne realized that the incident had truly begun. It would likely blow through the world like a typhoon. Realistically speaking, a private audience with Xenon would be difficult to achieve, but simply providing the motivation to hunt demon worshippers was a massive feat.
"It's really starting. Let's leave that aside for now and get the details... Where did he go?"
Just as she was about to suggest they think things through, Anne realized Roy had vanished. Panicked, she scanned her surroundings. And what she saw was...
"Move! I'm taking this bastard in!"
"Who the hell are you?! Can't you see I subdued him first?!"
"Where's your conscience, you thief!!"
It was Roy, shoving others aside in a desperate attempt to drag the demon worshipper away himself.
"..."
Unable to bring herself to admit he was her companion, Anne covered her face with one hand.