Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 054
Chapter Title: Rohan's Visit
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"What the hell."
The garden of Rasiel, where he had returned.
"Why's the atmosphere like this?"
He realized a strange silence and tension hung over the entire Rasiel.
Scratch.
Sein scratched his head.
"Was I that important of a figure?"
The only incident that had occurred was his own detention in the Borfeo underground. Could that be the reason?
"Both Ballack and Rasiel are pretty touched by it."
But that was all they said.
"......"
Sein could feel that the tension permeating Rasiel wasn't due to him.
There was something else, something different.
"What happened?"
Since Ballack was the last to leave Rasiel, Sein directed the question at him.
"Nothing out of the ordinary until I left."
Ballack seemed unaware of the details as well.
"No way...."
The Contra incident?
That was a major screw-up, and if they made an issue of it, it could blow up big.
'The Immortals aren't that incompetent.'
What the hell could it be?
"Well, no point brooding over it alone."
Now that he was back at Rasiel, there were things to do.
"That guy will tell me."
Reporting his return to Rasiel's master, Alman.
On the way to Alman.
"......"
Rasiel's members stood guard, utterly tense.
If they were on good terms, he might've asked, but Sein was the odd one out even in Rasiel.
Asking might just stir up unnecessary trouble.
"Something definitely happened."
The eerie tension was starting to affect even Sein and Ballack.
And finally, they reached their destination.
"The master's inside, right?"
Sein asked one of the members guarding the master's room.
"I'm here to report back from vacation."
Even as Sein spoke flippantly, the member showed no particular expression.
Normally, he'd show displeasure—that would be par for the course—but clearly, something else had him preoccupied.
"A guest is here."
And with that, he caught a fragment of the truth behind the tension.
"Come back later."
"A guest? Who the hell—"
A guest that Rasiel's member addressed with respect.
There weren't many who warranted that.
'The main family?'
Someone from Demorus?
Or maybe....
Sein was deep in thought, trying to guess the guest's identity.
Creak.
The door to the master's room slowly began to open.
"......"
Sein's eyes darkened.
Gulp.
Ballack beside him swallowed nervously as well.
The opposite of Alman, who resembled more a scholar or politician than a warrior.
A true warrior, a fighter.
His very appearance evoked that image.
The countless scars on his face made one wonder what kind of life had carved them there.
"You must be that Sein punk."
The man addressed Sein.
"Yeah, that's me. And you are?"
"Cheeky bastard."
His personality matched, without a doubt.
Unlike Alman, who sized up opponents and pondered strategies, this man voiced his displeasure outright.
"Alman pins his hopes on a punk like this?"
He also referred to Rasiel's master, Alman, so casually.
"If he's worth it, then sure. Stop meddling in family affairs and get out of the way, will ya?"
"You punk."
As the man grimaced and began to draw on his energy—
"Cut the nonsense and step aside, Rohan."
Rohan.
"......!"
Ballack knew that name.
No, Sein did too.
'This guy's....'
Demorus intel.
Information on the current world, all compiled and etched into Sein's mind.
The name Rohan.
'Rohan Demorus.'
Under Demorus, the three major organizations called guilds.
Alongside Rasiel, another of the three greats....
"Whoa, a big shot."
The guild master of Dante.
"Sein Demorus, you'd better drop the attitude. Rohan here isn't as merciful as I am."
A voice came from inside.
"Got it! Uncle!"
Unlike his usual self, Sein replied brightly and brushed past Rohan.
In that instant, their shoulders bumped.
"......"
Rohan paused for a moment.
"So he does have some skill."
Muttering to himself in a voice no one else could hear, Rohan walked past.
Inside the master's room, Sein entered.
"......"
Facing him was Alman, looking utterly dumbfounded.
"Un...cle?"
"Blood's thicker than water, right?"
Alman wore an incredulous expression.
"Heh heh heh."
He let out a small chuckle.
"As expected of Sein Demorus—you're an entertaining one. Right, here to report your return? Rest well?"
"Thanks to you."
"I figured."
A smile undoubtedly spread across Alman's face.
But it felt scarier than anything Sein had ever seen from him.
"Sein Demorus, this is the last time."
"......"
"That vacation in Contra was your final chance."
Rasiel's intelligence network was not to be underestimated.
*
*
*
-Don't even think you'll get another opportunity. You've already gone beyond a candidate's authority.
Alman, who had left Sein alone until now.
He issued a stern warning.
"Whatever."
Muttering that, Sein found the candidates gathered before him.
"Anything to report while I was gone, tell Ballack. From now on, mission reports go to Ballack or...."
Thud.
Cecil was here with them today.
"Tell this little one."
"What...?"
The candidates' faces twisted.
Candidates bound by magical contracts to forced loyalty.
They had no choice but to follow Sein, but their dissatisfaction was minimal.
Sein's skills were proven, acknowledged by every candidate.
But not Ballack or Cecil.
Especially not Cecil.
"...Sein, this feels off."
They were owners of the Demorus name, after all.
They weren't thrilled about reporting to a girl whose origins they didn't even know, as if she were Sein.
"Oh, don't get the wrong idea. If you say do it, we'll do it. But we do have our pride...."
Having dealt with Sein all this time, the candidates took a step back.
"Nah."
Sein said, stroking his chin.
"It's a reasonable demand."
"I-Is it?"
"As long as it doesn't hurt your pride, right?"
"......?"
The candidates sensed something off.
But it was too late.
"You five, take on Ballack."
"......!"
"And you five...."
Grin.
"Take on this little one."
"?!?"
Silence descended.
Ballack, maybe.
He was a candidate, after all.
It stung their pride that five had to gang up on him, but the candidates did respect Ballack's skills quite a bit.
But Cecil....
"If this little one loses, I'll void your contracts."
""""......!""""
The candidates' eyes widened at Sein's words.
"But if the little one wins...."
Grin.
"Your contracts get strengthened. Deal?"
"Deal."
*
*
*
"How did he get this strong so fast...."
The candidates who faced Ballack couldn't hide their shock.
They knew Ballack's skills were top-tier among candidates, but they hadn't expected him to beat five.
The other candidates had trained relentlessly, spurred by Sein, and gained real combat experience from missions, so they were confident too.
But Ballack's transformation was dramatic, to say the least.
"Done?"
Ballack spoke in a heavy voice.
He looked just like a black knight guarding his liege, Sein.
"...We forfeit."
The power gap was all too clear.
They had no choice but to admit it.
However.
"What the fuck is that?"
The real shock was elsewhere.
Clang clang clang!
Sparks flew endlessly.
"U-Ugh...!"
The candidates were pushed back helplessly, stunned.
Boom!
Cecil spun, her sword one with her body—two candidates flew back in a single strike.
"Ugh, cough."
All they could do was groan.
The two who flew back fainted on the spot.
Three remained.
"......"
They couldn't comprehend this situation at all.
Not even Demorus blood—she was just some kid Sein had picked up somewhere.
The candidates had figured she was a mere servant or Sein's twisted hobby.
"F-Fucking insane...."
They were wrong.
Cecil was even better than Ballack.
In pure technique, in mana control.
Boom!
On par with Sein himself.
'It has to be that way.'
Sein watched the scene with one corner of his mouth curled up, as if it were only natural.
He hadn't brought Cecil along for nothing.
"Saints and saintesses boast overwhelming power from the start."
Players had restrictions, but NPCs were different.
They started with massive privileges.
'The saintess's stigmata, the saint's halo.'
They were inherited.
And only one could exist per generation.
Simple reason.
"Previous saints and saintesses pass everything to the next."
Power, knowledge—everything.
Sein was the same.
Boom!
He had Cecil with him and passed much to her.
The difference?
"I don't have any penalties."
He was a saint, yet not a saint.
What was passed on and depleted could be refilled.
It was what Gallo had already given him once.
Swish.
Cecil spun her sword and sheathed it.
Crunch.
Somehow she'd pulled out a snack and bit into it.
"Anyone got complaints?"
The five fallen candidates.
Their state was far worse than those who faced Ballack.
"......"
No answer came.
"What the hell is she...?"
"What do you mean? A little lady. Right, Cecil?"
Nod.
Sein stood up.
"From now on, pointless reports go to these two. And handle strengthening your magic contracts yourselves."
"...Damn it."
It was Sein saying it, so they'd find a way somehow.
The candidates gave up in the end.
"So, anyone know why Dante's guild master is here?"
That was the reason for gathering the candidates today.
At that moment.
"I'll tell you that."
Finally, the one who knew the answer appeared.