Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Followers of the Forgotten God (1)
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At the same time, a storm was brewing in Galentana, the great city where demons had surged all the way to the front courtyard.
"...So, to sum it up, the 'central demon' has been subjugated, which means the incursion is effectively over, right?"
"That is correct..."
"And in the process, 'Agon’s Furious Horn' and the barbarian warriors he trained made a huge contribution?"
"...That's what happened."
"Hah..."
"Good grief..."
Sighs and laments erupted among the elderly men dressed in neat formal attire in a secretive space shrouded by blackout curtains. They were the senior councilors from Galentana University, commonly known as the 'University faction'.
The city had nearly been utterly destroyed by the demon incursion, so the news that someone had driven off the demons and ended it should have been cause for celebration. Yet not a trace of joy could be found on the councilors' faces, even if one scoured them with their eyes wide open.
It was unavoidable. The ones who had brought Agon’s Furious Horn's faction under the Galentana Senate were the up-and-coming councilors from Agon, derisively called the 'Agon faction', and they had staunchly opposed it. With the guard dogs raised by their political rivals saving the city, it was obvious how their standing in the Senate would fare going forward.
"Tch, what did I tell you? We should have left some room for compromise with those Agon faction bastards. But no, you wouldn't listen and just kept biting at each other to the death..."
"Hah, weren't you the one who said you couldn't stomach sharing a table with those Agon country bumpkins even at the council hall? And now you're trying to weasel out alone..."
"The real problem was letting those guys get sponsored by Agon's tycoons in the first place. Without the money, they'd just be loudmouth scarecrows..."
"Isn't the current Agon council liaison an alumnus of Councilor Valerío? What have you been doing while those Agon bastards were scheming over there?"
As always when a major issue arose, the councilors tore into each other and shoved blame around without restraint. But since they were all in the same boat, arguing over whose fault was greater was pointless.
"Enough of that. How about we move on to some constructive discussion? At this rate, it's not just our council seats at risk—we'll be purged by the Agon faction's hounds any day now."
A gaunt old man with a stern face made the proposal. He was Vittorio, a heavyweight in the University faction and once a leading candidate for the next council chair. The other councilors nodded silently and began racking their brains.
"...How about diverting attention to the Magic Tower? Those wizards half-assed their demon-slaying efforts, so we have plenty of grounds to condemn them..."
"Not a bad idea, but it's no real solution. We're not planning to go to full war with the actual Magic Tower, and once the momentum fades, the arrows will turn back on us."
"What if we turn public opinion against the barbarians? We could use underworld forces to stage a few riots involving them. Plant the idea in citizens' minds that they're violent and dangerous."
"Hmm... Fresh off reshaping perceptions from this incident, I'm not sure it'll work. If the Agon bastards catch wind we orchestrated it, we might face backlash..."
Various opinions flew back and forth, but no sharp ideas emerged. As the debate dragged on fruitlessly, someone spoke up resolutely.
"We need one too—a superhuman."
All eyes turned to him. The councilor continued in a firm tone.
"Senate troops or underworld gangs are meaningless now. Wasn't it Kivon? In that tiny village beyond the 7th Gate, nearly a hundred soldiers died catching just one demon? And who knows if they even succeeded—the demon's whereabouts are still unknown..."
"..."
"The Empire has its Holy Knights, the north has its relic soldiers, Vesta has its wizards, and Agon has its barbarian warriors. We need 'special powers' beyond the Senate troops—superhumans of our own."
"..."
No one in the room was unaware of that fact. Half seemed indifferent, while the other half figured it was at least worth considering.
"So what, do we know any superhumans lying around?"
"...No. But haven't you all heard the rumors about the 'Demon Slayer'? For one to pop up out of nowhere means there are still those unbound by any faction left in this land, no?"
The councilors fell silent, eyeing each other cautiously.
The 'Demon Slayer'. No one hadn't heard the rumors about the mercenary single-handedly butchering countless demons on the Golden Highway. Just days ago, he had been an even hotter topic than Agon’s Furious Horn.
But the feats sounded too outlandish and suspicious in various ways, so most University faction councilors had reserved judgment on how to handle him.
"Isn't he in cahoots with Agon’s Furious Horn? I heard he joined the subjugation force made up of his underlings..."
"Doubt it. Reports from the 9th Gate say he had no connection to that force. Seems he has some tie to the Delutana Senate instead."
"Delutana? Then hasn't he already been recruited there?"
"...Think carefully before you speak. If so, he'd be guarding Delutana— no reason to come here."
Various remarks were made, but none with real substance. In the end, unable to produce a clear plan, the councilors agreed to gather more info, sort their thoughts, and reconvene later before dispersing ambiguously.
All the other councilors left, but one remained. Vittorio, the elder councilor who had provided the space. He sat with his hands clasped, elbows on the table, deep in thought.
The silence was so profound it belied the earlier clamor.
"..."
He hadn't stayed alone for no reason. The withered old man like a dead tree glanced toward a dark corner of the dim room.
A guest he hadn't invited stood there.
"You didn't flee, so not eavesdropping... Didn't approach, so not assassination... What brings you to me?"
Yellow eyes gleamed in the darkness. The intruder approached to the councilor's front with shadowy, measured steps.
"I 'happened' to overhear you seeking those with special powers, Councilor Vittorio. I think I can help with that."
Vittorio glanced up. Cascading dark brown hair, gem-like sparkling eyes, and a subtle smile like a halo entered his view.
Strikingly beautiful, unforgettable. A face he'd encountered before at an exchange event with Galentana University.
"You... Aren't you a scholar from Galentana University? Your name was..."
"Ilenia. Not my real name, so call me whatever."
"...Right, Scholar Ilenia. I'm pleased to 'coincidentally' meet you again. But aren't you a bit young to dip into politics...?"
"No plans to. You councilors handle that well enough. I'm just here to help solve your problem, as I said."
Vittorio met the woman's eyes squarely.
Something was different from last time. A faint, inhuman unease lingered in those yellow pupils. The elder felt an inexplicable discomfort and curiosity as he asked.
"Not out of respect for a senior, I assume... What do you want?"
The woman raised a corner of her mouth, as if pleased by the direct talk. Leaning forward, she whispered intimately.
"The 'Demon Slayer's' death."
"..."
"And... the 'things' you've hidden away, Councilor."
Ting! Tingrrrrr...
A gleaming silver flash rolled in. Vittorio slowly picked it up. A silver coin with strange patterns instead of denomination or portrait.
He knew what it was. Something he'd secretly collected his whole life, anticipating it might one day be useful.
A holy relic of the followers of a forgotten god, exterminated long ago by the Church of Elga.
Vittorio stared at the woman again with trembling eyes.
"..."
"..."
A poison-coated blade that might strike its master had finally fallen at his feet.
On the road back from Soltana to the 9th Gate defense line.
Kadim stopped again at Silmont, the village strewn with old men's corpses.
"..."
The face he sought was gone. Paths had been cleared between furniture barricades, houses stood empty. Street corpses seemed partially cleared, suggesting others had passed through already.
Duncan scratched his head and asked.
"Looking for something, milord? It was just an empty ruin when I came through..."
"...No, let's go."
Kadim left the village, praying the old woman had regained her true form and been rescued.
The Golden Highway had regained peace. Roads remained a mess, but demons and monsters no longer appeared every few hundred paces. The central demon's annihilation had scattered the rest.
And even if one appeared, it would likely flee in terror at Duncan's cart.
Clunk, clunk, clunk—
"...Holding up, Duncan?"
"Huff, huff, of course, milord! After facing down Agon’s Furious Horn and winning, this is nothing! Huff, not, not tiring at all!"
"..."
Like a farmer proud of his bountiful harvest, Duncan pulled the cart with a beaming face. Each bump made the piled demon heads wobble chaotically. Kadim chuckled inwardly and occasionally pushed from behind.
After nearly four full days, they reached the defense camp. Duncan was half-delirious from exhaustion, yet a happy smile lingered. Kadim eyed him curiously—had this merchant always been so sturdy?
A commotion erupted at the camp.
"Halt, halt! What... No... Wh-what is this..."
"Wh-what's that? Aren't those... all demon heads?"
"By Remillion... He took down that many demons?"
"Ah, the 'Demon Slayer'... The 'Demon Slayer's back!"
Sentries on duty, soldiers prepping shifts, scouts returning, quartermasters sorting supplies, armor polishers, tent-dwellers—all Senate soldiers swarmed to gawk at the returning 'Demon Slayer' and his spoils. Every one with saucer eyes and gaping jaws like hippos.
Some were subjugation force veterans. They lit up at Kadim's sight and rushed over.
"C-Captain! Captain! You're safe!"
"Incredible! You took down even more demons after that!"
"What are you waiting for? Shout it! Glory to Atala! Glory to the captain who judged the great evil!"
"Glory to Atala! Glory to the captain who judged the great evil!"
A few awkwardly thumped their chests, mimicking Atalans.
"..."
Kadim stared at them like madmen, ignored them, and sought the guard captain.
Guard Captain Yulitan noticed the uproar and rushed out. Like the soldiers, he was dumbfounded. His pointing finger trembled at the heaped heads.
"You... took all those down alone?"
"Yeah, and this isn't even all of them."
"What do you mean, there's more?"
"About five greater demons. Hard to prove, though. They all reverted to lesser forms when the central one died."
Yulitan was speechless.
No hint of jest on Kadim's face. The head pile alone showed he wasn't one for empty boasts. Yulitan had thought surviving thanks to Agon’s Furious Horn was life's peak shock, yet days later came something greater...
Yulitan's shock was more practical than the soldiers'. He had to pay out the rewards. To the troubled captain, Kadim casually said.
"I won't demand pay for unprovable kills. But you need to settle for these proofs I've brought. That was the deal."
"..."
Yulitan recovered and hastily tallied.
35 hornless lesser demons, 24 horned mid-tier. Extra pay alone: 1.55 million Luden, plus 50k subjugation fee—total 1.6 million Luden.
His mind reeled. Nearly 20 years' salary. Enough for a fine city mansion—a colossal sum.
No gate kept that much on hand normally. Scraping senate reward budgets and emergency funds yielded 146k Luden.
Yulitan eyed nervously as he piled the pouches.
"Th-this is all we have budgeted... But it's still no small amount, so take this for now and..."
Bam!
Axe blade slammed down, nearly splitting the table. Coins spilled in a clatter.
Kadim nodded for him to continue. Yulitan shuddered, then kowtowed forehead-first.
Thud!
"I sincerely apologize! But this is truly all we can pay now! Instead, I'll issue a mission completion certificate so you can claim the full amount in Galentana! The operation was commissioned by their Senate—no fear of getting stiffed!"
"...Is that so? But if they delay or hassle payment, what then?"
"Uh, well..."
"Mind if I come back and crack your skull?"
"..."
Yulitan paled to a frozen toad, lips quivering without reply. Kadim sighed inwardly and asked Duncan.
"Duncan, how much extra time to go via Galentana to Agon?"
"Hmm... Probably four to five more days. Both north, but Galentana's slightly west, Agon east."
"..."
High demon hunts had already delayed them. Unavoidable detour to Agon now. More time grated, but...
Couldn't forgo such a fortune. Consecutive battles had ragged his gear, depleted supplies—time to resupply. A metropolis offered quality goods unlike hamlets passed.
"Plot a route via Galentana to Agon, Duncan. Fastest path, terrain be damned."
"Hup, yes, milord!"
Duncan unrolled maps, diligently planning. Yulitan, relieved as if revived, fussed to write the certificate.
Kadim doused that relief.
"No need. You're coming with us to Galentana."
"...Pardon?"
"Witness and evidence beat paper scraps. Easier to thump you if things go south."
Yulitan dropped his quill, soul drained from his face.