Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Snake Hunt (4)
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The church soldiers moved in.
Sebastian and Cedric Walker offered no real resistance and were soon bound with ropes.
It seemed less like obedience to the Holy Knight’s command and more like they had given up in a daze.
“……You’re going to arrest me?”
But Robert was different.
Robert kicked up the halberd lying on the ground with his toe.
He snatched it out of the air.
“You think I’m going to come quietly?”
“Resist, and you die.”
“I’ll die anyway! You think I don’t know how vicious your church is!”
Robert drew up his mana. Aura enveloped the halberd.
“Now that it’s come to this, I’ll cut you down right here and make my escape!”
Robert charged at the Holy Knight, raising the halberd high.
The Holy Knight’s eyes narrowed.
She clenched her fist and assumed a stance. Blue flames engulfed her body.
Miraculously, the robe worn by the Holy Knight did not burn.
It merely fluttered as if caught in a fierce wind.
“You bastard!”
Robert swung the halberd down.
A half-beat faster, the Holy Knight thrust her fist forward.
The air exploded, ringing in their eardrums.
The Holy Knight’s body vanished, reappearing right in front of Robert’s face.
She unleashed her fist with all that momentum.
The flame-wreathed fist smashed into his breastplate.
“Gah!”
The breastplate crumpled and shattered.
Robert spewed blood as he flew backward.
‘Foolish.’
Holy Knights underwent harsh training their entire lives under the madness of faith.
That wasn’t enough—they had to complete all sorts of dangerous missions under the pretext of divine trials.
The strength they achieved was on a different level from ordinary formal knights.
‘And this woman…… She’s Blue Flame’s disciple.’
Blue Flame Brigandin.
One of the five great saints considered the church’s top forces, famous for crushing countless heretics.
Among them were several continental criminals.
‘A tremendously powerful fist fighter.’
In his previous life, Demian had fought Blue Flame as well. A worthy adversary befitting her reputation.
It had taken over half a day of clashing before he claimed victory.
“Demian Haksen.”
The Holy Knight’s voice snapped Demian from his thoughts.
Demian looked up at her.
“The merit of executing Yulan’s executive is immeasurable.”
“I only did what was necessary.”
“You used the church for your own purposes, but we won’t hold it against you.”
Demian shrugged.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You called in the church to cover up your attack on the Black Snake, didn’t you?”
She understood the situation perfectly despite just arriving.
Demian now had some idea why the church had been late.
‘She watched me from afar.’
To confirm whether she could trust Demian, she had observed before intervening.
A sinister move, but understandable in a way.
Black mages had always been desperate to plant spies in the church.
“I’d appreciate your understanding. That Agito fellow not only cursed our territory but insulted my family.”
At Demian’s words, the Holy Knight’s eyes widened slightly.
“So I wanted to deal with the Black Snake myself.”
“With circumstances like that, we can’t punish you further.”
Contrary to public perception, the church was quite flexible.
Except when it came to heretics, which made their eyes roll back in fury.
“We’ll pay Agito’s bounty promptly.”
“How much?”
“One hundred gold.”
One hundred gold was an enormous sum, enough to buy a small castle.
But Demian wasn’t particularly interested in the reward money.
“Could I take it in goods instead of coin?”
“That’s possible. What do you want?”
The moment he had been waiting for arrived.
Demian gave his prepared answer.
“I’d like one of the church’s mana cultivation methods.”
* * *
“I can’t understand it.”
The Holy Knight nodded slowly.
“A powerhouse who massacred the Black Snake alone…… needs a mana cultivation method?”
She kept tilting her head in disbelief.
“I’ve only learned a basic mana cultivation method.
The one Demian was currently practicing had been taught by his mercenary captain.
It was the most rudimentary of basics, slow at accumulating mana and offering no special effects.
“I was looking into higher-level ones when this opportunity arose, so I’m asking.”
Of course, with Demian’s talent, he could rework this basic method into something superior.
But from experience, having ‘reference material’ yielded far better results than starting from scratch.
“I’ve heard the church has mana cultivation methods among items confiscated from heretics. I’d like one confirmed safe.”
Mana cultivation methods were not only incredibly expensive but hard to obtain.
They rarely appeared even at black market auctions.
With this rare connection to the church, he intended to acquire one.
“……You reached this level with a basic cultivation method?”
The Holy Knight looked incredulous.
Demian extended his wrist to her. Check for yourself if you don’t believe it.
She grasped his wrist and sent holy power flowing in.
It scanned Demian’s body.
A moment later, her eyes widened in circles.
“It’s true……”
“Do you believe me now?”
She crossed her arms, deep in thought. Demian waited silently for her response.
“There’s a better option than giving you a mana cultivation method.”
“There is?”
At Demian’s question, the Holy Knight replied.
“Are you not interested in becoming a Holy Knight?”
* * *
“No.”
Demian cut her off flatly. Her eyes widened slightly at his words.
“Wh-why not?”
She was even stuttering, so the shock must have been considerable.
“Holy Knights are the most glorious position, receiving the grace of God to smite the wicked.”
Unfortunately, Demian had never possessed even 1g of faith in his life.
More importantly, there was a key reason he refused to become a Holy Knight.
‘Holy Knights are just the church’s hunting dogs.’
They gained the obligation to obey the church.
Refuse, and they’d be excommunicated and put on trial.
“Please reconsider. With your skills, even my master would take interest.”
To draw the attention of ‘Blue Flame,’ one of the church’s five great saints.
Anyone else might have been honored beyond measure, but not Demian.
“I still don’t understand God’s love. For now, I want to wander the world and practice His teachings.”
He couldn’t say it outright, so he brushed it off vaguely.
“……Such holy words. It’s like my ears have been cleansed.”
To his surprise, his offhand excuse hit the mark perfectly.
The Holy Knight gazed at Demian with an intensely burdensome look.
“But if you change your mind, come to the church anytime. I’ll greet you personally.”
“Understood.”
Demian would never visit the church to become a Holy Knight.
“As requested, we’ll provide a mana cultivation method instead of the bounty.”
She readily granted his request.
As Blue Flame’s disciple, she had the authority for that much.
“But one condition. The church will dispatch investigators to examine Agito’s traces. Please accommodate them at Viscount Haksen’s estate.”
“Certainly.”
Demian agreed without hesitation. It wasn’t a request he could refuse anyway.
The church were madmen who’d do anything to eliminate heretics.
Refusing might invite unnecessary suspicion.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
The Holy Knight drew two lines in the air with two fingers. The church’s greeting.
“By the way, we haven’t introduced ourselves. I’m Agnes, first disciple of Blue Flame.”
First disciple.
Meaning the very first one she had taken.
In his previous life, Blue Flame’s disciples had all made names for themselves.
But Agnes wasn’t among them.
‘Killed by black mages before she could make a name?’
Demian didn’t know the future completely.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Agnes.”
Demian mimicked the church greeting.
“Oh, may I finish my business?”
“As you wish. What business do you mean?”
Demian approached Cedric Walker. His hands were tightly bound with rope.
As Demian neared, Cedric sullenly lifted only his head.
“Why’s this dog bastard coming closer…… Gah!”
Demian suddenly drove his foot into Cedric’s gut.
Cedric retched and collapsed face-down.
“Piggish bastard, all soft and squishy.”
“Y-you crazy…… Ack!”
Demian trampled Cedric relentlessly.
He targeted spots that hurt badly but weren’t lethal.
Killing Cedric here would be problematic. He needed to be dragged to the church for greater suffering.
“Phew, now I feel a bit better.”
Demian stopped only after Cedric passed out.
With a refreshed expression, he turned to Agnes.
“Take him away now.”
Agnes nodded, looking flustered.
* * *
Demian returned to the territory right after.
By the time he arrived, the sun had set.
Yet the territory entrance was brightly lit.
“Demian!”
His family waited, holding torches.
“What were you doing out at a dangerous time like this!”
Viscount Haksen scolded him the moment he saw him.
But his eyes were filled with worry, belying his words.
“It’s cold out—why are you here?”
“Is the weather the issue now! You didn’t cause more trouble, did you?”
“Just went for a stroll to get some air.”
Viscount Haksen looked skeptical.
His wife smacked his back.
“What did I say? Demian wouldn’t do that!”
“Mm…… You were right.”
Viscount Haksen sighed in relief.
“Demian, it might feel stifling at your young age, but stay in the territory for a while. You’ve made more than one or two enemies.”
Soon, his father spoke with a worried face.
“The Black Snake, the Ryanbloom Marquis family…… Let your guard down, and who knows what might happen.”
“Father.”
“I know your skills are impressive. But…… this world is unpredictable.”
His father gripped Demian’s hand tightly.
“Even the Black Snake—they don’t play fair. Who knows if they’ve scouted your usual paths and will shoot poison arrows?”
Demian nodded slowly.
“You’re right, Father.”
“You understand?”
A bright smile lit Viscount Haksen’s face.
“I was thinking the same, so I struck first on my way back.”
But his next words darkened it again.
“……Wh-what? Str-str-struck first?”
“The name Black Snake will be gone soon.”
“Wh-what are you talking about?”
“Ask Victor for details.”
Suddenly named, Victor’s eyes went wide.
“I’m tired, so I’ll head in.”
Demian released his father’s hand and ran down the main road.
“D-Demian? Demian!”
Viscount Haksen tried to grab him, but it was futile. Demian was already far away.
“Oh, right.”
He turned back and shouted.
“Church people will come soon—don’t be scared. They’re just investigating black mage traces.”
Viscount Haksen’s mind went blank.
“What? Church? Why the church? And what’s this about black mages?”
Demian, already gone, wouldn’t answer.
Viscount Haksen turned to Victor. His glare was so fierce Victor flinched.
“Victor…… Explain everything that happened today, without missing a single detail!”
Demian caused the trouble, but Victor did the suffering.
Victor shed invisible tears inside.