Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Snake Hunt (3)
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Demian roamed the city, smashing every single Black Snake branch to pieces.
The gang members resisted fiercely, but not a single one could stop him.
Now, only the headquarters in the city center remained.
"These punk-ass thugs set up their headquarters right in the heart of the city? Talk about good luck."
Demian headed toward the Black Snake headquarters.
The city streets were unusually deserted and quiet today.
It was because all the merchants had fled due to the commotion Demian had caused.
"Hm?"
He was just crossing the city square.
Suddenly, soldiers poured out from alleys all around.
The soldiers surrounded Demian and aimed their spears at him.
They had stayed put while he destroyed the branches, but now they were on the move.
There was only one thing that could mean.
"We have an honored guest."
Two men approached from the opposite side, escorted by the soldiers.
One was older and gaunt, the other young but so obese he was an eyesore.
"I am Sebastian Baker, Governor of Landwalk City!"
The goateed man bellowed.
But his shrill voice carried no authority whatsoever.
"You dare turn Landwalk City upside down! Drop your weapon and surrender immediately!"
Demian half-listened to the governor and dismissed it.
He had no interest in who the governor was.
His attention was on the fat man beside him.
"You're Cedric Walker?"
He'd never seen the man in person, but the gang members had described him as extremely obese.
More importantly, his eyes brimmed with killing intent that no ordinary person could possess.
Cedric Walker said nothing in response to Demian's question.
Instead, he pointed accusingly and yelled at the governor.
"Governor, did you see that? This vicious bastard isn't just ignoring you—he's outright defying you. You must behead him right now to uphold your dignity."
"Just as President Cedric says! How dare he insult me, the city governor! I absolutely cannot forgive this!"
It seemed Cedric Walker had no intention of speaking to Demian.
"You're going to kill me? You don't look like you have the chops."
Demian said, glancing at the soldiers.
There had to be at least a hundred of them.
But they were nothing more than ordinary folk who hadn't even learned proper swordsmanship, let alone mana cultivation methods.
He wouldn't fear a thousand of them, let alone a hundred.
"Y-You, you insolent wretch! What makes you act so brazen? Do you even realize the massive blunder you've made?"
The governor shouted furiously.
"Not only did you target the life of President Cedric Walker, the renowned upright businessman, but you also assaulted his businesses and slaughtered dozens of innocent employees! This is an unforgivable crime!"
Demian couldn't help but scoff.
It was laughable that the Black Snake boss, who in the future committed every heinous crime imaginable, was being portrayed as an upright businessman.
"Beg for forgiveness at once!"
"There's no crime to beg for."
"You shameless—!"
It was true that Demian had turned the city upside down today.
But those he killed weren't innocent citizens—they were Black Snake gang members.
He had disrupted the city, but hadn't touched a single ordinary citizen.
"I tried to reason with you as a young man, but you won't listen! Don't blame me for this!"
Demian gripped his sword hilt, thinking the fight was about to start.
But the soldiers didn't charge—they just stood there. As Demian puzzled over their behavior,
Killing intent surged from behind.
He whipped around.
The soldiers parted down the middle. A burly man emerged from between them.
"I was wondering who was causing all this trouble."
The closer the man got, the stronger the killing intent grew.
The dense malice battered Demian's skin like a fierce downpour.
"It's just a green kid."
Their eyes met. In that instant, Demian realized it.
What realm this man stood in. And how strong he was.
"Kid, I'm Robert, the Guardian Knight of this city."
A true knight.
A monster had appeared.
* * *
These days, the word "knight" evoked Aura for everyone.
But not everyone who could use Aura was a knight.
Those who could manifest Aura were quasi-knights.
Only those who could wield it freely were recognized as true knights.
Manifesting it and wielding it.
To ordinary eyes, the gap between the two didn't seem that wide.
But in reality, it was a wall few could cross.
Countless people reached quasi-knight and despaired, unable to become true knights.
"To think the city's Guardian Knight would step in personally."
Demian couldn't take a true knight lightly.
As a Death Knight, he could have easily beaten even a Swordmaster, let alone a true knight.
But the current Demian hadn't recovered his past strength so soon after regressing.
"Makes me want to run, huh?"
Robert gave Demian a puzzled look at his words.
"What a weirdo. Your words say one thing, but your eyes show no fear."
He couldn't underestimate him, but the outcome wouldn't change.
It would just be a bit trickier.
"Are you bold or just stupid?"
"Confident."
"So, stupid it is."
Robert raised the halberd slung over his shoulder.
In that moment, his presence exploded outward.
The air over the entire square grew heavy and oppressive.
"Stay right there. I'll hammer into your ignorant skull exactly what kind of existence I am."
Robert stepped forward. The pressure intensified with every step.
But Demian made no move to face him.
"Too scared to even run?"
Robert said gleefully. But Demian wasn't even looking at him.
Instead, he scanned the surroundings as if waiting for someone.
"Where the hell is Victor? Why hasn't he shown up yet?"
"Have you lost your mind?"
As Robert scowled and asked,
Someone leaped across distant rooftops.
The black shadow neared the square and kicked off a building hard.
It soared over the soldiers' heads and landed in front of Demian.
"Urgh?"
Robert glared at the intruder with a scowl.
But the black robe hid their identity.
"You've got backup!"
Robert swung his halberd at the figure in black.
The Aura-clad halberd struck. The figure raised their forearm to block.
A resounding clang erupted.
Shockingly, the figure in black neither sliced apart nor went flying.
Instead, the halberd bounced back.
"You blocked my attack?"
Robert muttered in disbelief.
Then, the figure kicked off the ground.
They shot forward, thrusting a punch.
A drum-like boom rang out, and the massive body went flying backward.
Robert righted himself in midair and landed.
He glared murderously at the figure.
"Who are you? Reveal yourself!"
The figure pulled back the hood covering their head.
Incredibly, it was a woman.
Even with her hair cropped extremely short, her stunning beauty made her gender unmistakable.
But what shocked people even more was something else.
Her hair, eyebrows, and even her irises were all pure white.
Robert muttered in a daze at the sight.
"......A Holy Knight?"
Holy Knights received not mana, but the power of the gods.
As a side effect, the pigmentation throughout their bodies gradually faded until it turned pure white.
The woman's white hair and eyes were the mark of a Holy Knight.
"Guardian Knight Robert, lower your spear. If not, I'll consider you an enemy."
Robert's eyebrow twitched.
True knights were treated as honored guests wherever they went.
Yet here was a Holy Knight ordering him around like a subordinate—it was infuriating.
"......Damn it."
But Robert obediently let go of his halberd.
Defying a Holy Knight's authority was tantamount to opposing the Church.
Next, the woman turned to Demian and asked.
"Demian Haksen, correct?"
Demian nodded at the question.
"Yes, I'm Demian Haksen."
"I came rushing after your servant's message. I received the evidence."
Demian smiled. Victor had handled it well, fortunately.
"The Church will intervene from here on."
The Holy Knight looked around.
"If you're busy, we can postpone."
Unlike with Robert, she spoke kindly to Demian.
But he shook his head.
"I can't interfere with the Church's affairs. Do as you wish."
"Thank you."
The Holy Knight placed a hand over her heart in gratitude.
Then, she pulled a large glass orb from her bosom and smashed it on the ground.
The orb shattered, and a light shot into the sky.
It burst like fireworks.
"W-What is that?"
"The sky's covered in light!"
The watching soldiers trembled in terror.
Soon, another army appeared in the square.
They all wore white armor and carried shields and maces.
The city soldiers cried out in horror at the sight.
"It's the Execution Squad! The Church's Execution Squad is here!"
"N-No way! Why would the Church come to our city...!"
The Church's forces only emerged to exterminate heretics and demons.
They were zealots who would burn their own souls to purge heretics.
"But what's that?"
"There's some shady guy mixed in."
Amid the Execution Squad was a scruffy-looking man.
He waved both arms at Demian and shouted.
"Young master! Young masteeeer! Victor has arrived!"
Victor broke from the ranks and came scurrying over.
"Looks like you handled what I asked properly."
"Of course! This Victor may not know much or be skilled at anything, but errands? That's my specialty!"
Victor proudly thumped his chest.
Demian burst out laughing. What a ridiculous guy.
"Listen up, soldiers and citizens!"
Then, the Holy Knight raised her voice.
"Landwalk City is currently suspected of colluding with wanted black mages!"
The soldiers' faces turned ashen at her words.
The Holy Church was infamous for showing no mercy to black mages.
They would arrest and torture royalty if necessary.
"While we investigate those involved, the Church will take over city management! If you wish to prove your innocence, actively participate in the Church's activities."
The soldiers swallowed hard but didn't object.
It was a hundred times better to cooperate fully than risk being branded a heretic.
But not everyone thought like the soldiers.
"What nonsense is this!"
City Governor Sebastian reacted vehemently.
"Landwalk City has been granted autonomy by the kingdom! You're saying the Church will manage the city right in front of me, the governor? How absurd!"
"Purging filthy heretics is the will of the gods. The Church's authority surpasses that of the kingdom."
The governor's protests fell on deaf ears.
The Church, which imprisoned even royalty, had no reason to fear a mere city governor.
"How dare you say such things! I will formally protest to the Church—"
"Above all, you are a prime suspect. We cannot entrust the city to someone who may have collaborated with black mages."
"W-What? Why would I collude with black mages!"
The Holy Knight pointed at Cedric Walker.
"That man hid black mages and provided support."
Cedric Walker's jaw dropped.
"P-President Cedric! Is that true?"
"N-No! Why would I hide and support black mages? It's a frame job!"
The Holy Knight pulled a notebook from her bosom and held it up.
"This notebook lists all the items you procured for black mages and their sources."
"N-No. I never aided any black mages!"
"That will come to light in the investigation."
The Holy Knight gave no quarter to Cedric's defense.
"Governor Sebastian Baker, you mobilized soldiers to protect a black mage collaborator. You are not free from suspicion either."
She pointed next at Robert.
"Guardian Knight Robert, same for you. You took up arms to protect Cedric Walker—this cannot be overlooked."
Robert's face paled.
"Soldiers, arrest those two immediately."