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Linne Londebell

Her tragedy occurred when she was 16. 

It was an unusually quiet day. The usual sounds of birds chirping and servants bustling were absent. 

Linne noticed something was amiss when the butler, who always greeted her, was found collapsed at the entrance. 

“What in the world happened…”

The sight of the butler, cooling in a pool of blood, warned Linne of danger. 

“Foolish Derain. Didn’t think you’d gotten in too deep, did you?”

She approached the source of the faint voice with bated breath. 

Through the window, she saw a man in a black hood and her father on his knees, bleeding. 

‘Oh, father…!’

She wanted to scream and run to her father, but the ominous atmosphere instinctively made her cover her mouth. 

“I never liked you from the start. That parasitic brother of yours, too.”

As the man with the sword approached her father, Linne felt an irreversible event was about to unfold. 

‘What’s happening…’

Overcome with primal fear, Linne froze. 

Then, as if her father spotted Linne through the window, hope flickered in his eyes. 

Meeting Linne’s gaze, her father mouthed a message without alerting the assailant. 

‘Run away.’

It was clear what her father’s lips formed. 

“Ha, you should have never left the Dawn Society.”

Luckily, the assailant didn’t notice her father’s signal, mocking him with a sneer as he stood over him, raising his sword. 

‘No!’

A slicing sound. 

A thumping sound. 

Linne closed her eyes tightly and turned away. 

She wanted to scream and rush out, but knew it would be futile. 

Remembering her father’s last request, she quietly left the place unnoticed, just as she had come in. 

Her father’s face, as she left, looked strangely at peace. 

***

“Honey… Honey!”

“Brother, you can’t leave us like this…!”

On the day her father was placed in the coffin, Linne did not cry like the others. She couldn’t. 

Tears can wait until after revenge. 

‘Dawn Society…’

That name, bitterly cold. And,

‘The scar on the neck.’

The scar revealed when the assailant’s hood fluttered as he killed her father. Linne had seen it clearly. 

‘I need strength.’

Linne sought out the strongest in the Adratan Empire. 

Sword Saint Hayden Reich, to him,

“I want to take revenge. Teach me the sword.”

***

After a year of rigorous training with the Sword Saint and being admitted to the esteemed Bayer Academy,

-Linne, you’re amazing!

-Right, right! You seem to handle aura far better than an average knight, you know?

Her skills were unparalleled among her peers at the academy, known for its high standards. 

The sword hilt, once unfamiliar, had become second nature over time. Yet, she always felt lacking. 

Perhaps it was because she was surrounded by too strong individuals. 

Sword Saint, Julian, Dawn Society…

Typically, many knight aspirants would have held a sword before even turning ten. 

But her? She took up the sword for revenge at 16.

Compared to others, it was a start delayed by at least six years. 

– Linne will definitely be first in the practical exam, right?”

– 

– Without a doubt, of course!”

-She’s a genius, a real genius!”

– Yeah, a genius among geniuses!

However, contrary to her worries, those around her hailed her as a “genius.” 

It was not just talent, but unlike the others, it would be absurd if she, having been trained by the “Sword Saint” for a certain period, was weaker than those who had practiced conventional swordsmanship. 

Yet, she did not rest on her laurels but pushed herself even harder, clinging to the title of “genius.” 

‘I must be a genius.’ 

To reach the swordsman who killed her father, she had to be far superior to others. 

But…

“Miss Linne, you haven’t changed at all since then. At this rate, you are no different from the others.” 

Julian’s judgment was like a bolt from the blue. 

Linne looked up at Julian with a dazed expression. 

The despicable, sly-eyed man was looking at her intently, his usual smile hidden. 

“Sir Julian, what are you trying to say?” 

“Oh, my apologies. It was a slip of the tongue. My apologies, Miss Linne.” 

Julian shrugged nonchalantly, attempting to walk away as if nothing had happened. Linne, watching him, couldn’t let his outrageous statement go unchallenged. 

“Wasn’t the practical exam about handling aura? Didn’t I achieve the highest grade there?” 

Bringing up the results of the practical exam, which was initiated for the academy’s knight aspirants, Linne spoke up as if to argue. 

“Yes, you are of the ‘Le Meilleur’ grade, the highest. That’s an undeniable reality.” 

“If you truly believe that, could you please correct your earlier slip of the tongue?” 

Being the top of her class in the practical exam, she couldn’t accept Julian’s evaluation. 

She wanted to refute Julian, who seemed to dismiss her efforts. 

“Sigh…”

Julian sighed as if troubled. 

His unfamiliar demeanor aside, correction of the evaluation was a priority. 

“While the academy’s standards may deem it so, stepping outside those standards… you are indeed of ordinary level.” 

The problem was that the sly-eyed man had no intention of correcting his assessment of her. 

Under normal circumstances, such a comment could be brushed off as a joke. 

A man wrapped in distorted admiration and inferiority towards the “Sword Saint,” such remarks could be dismissed as mere provocation. 

But…

‘Why say that now?’

Through repeated encounters in the slums, at the dimly lit forge, and during special lectures at the academy, Linne had come to see Julian differently. 

The overwhelming difference in stature. 

Having experienced that, she had unconsciously acknowledged “Julian.” 

“Why?”

Therefore, she couldn’t simply dismiss the term “ordinary” as a mere slip of the tongue. 

“There must be a reason you think so. Please, tell me.” 

Julian, seeming resigned, finally answered. 

“When you resolved the mission in the slums and now. There’s no significant difference between then and now, Miss Linne.” 

“Is that the reason? A proper explanation…” 

“Your aura’s quality is certainly far superior compared to other students of the same level. But, Miss Linne. How long can you maintain it?” 

“That, that’s…” 

As Linne faltered, Julian smiled as usual. 

Unable to read his emotions, Linne found the sly-eyed Julian’s insincere smile even more unsettling, causing her gaze to tremble.

“Being unable to maintain aura for a long time is equivalent to being a third-rate swordsman. No matter how high-quality the aura is… if it’s useless in a prolonged battle, what good is it?”

Aura subtly emanated from his body.

“Miss Linne, your aura possesses tremendous power, but it’s inconsistent. You’re too inexperienced in distributing your aura evenly.”

Her own weakness, articulated by Julian as if he knew it all along.

“When we met on the train before, you suggested I carry a spare sword, right?”

“Yes.”

“I said I didn’t need to. Why do you think that is?”

Linne knew the answer but was too upset to easily speak up.

“Because I don’t destroy my sword with an imperfect aura like you do.”

Linne bit her lip at his straightforward tone, her lips reddening as if they might bleed.

“That’s why you’re ordinary.”

***

The academy grounds were bathed in red by the sunset. The twilight was truly beautiful, but it didn’t touch Linne’s heart.

The fact that she couldn’t refute Julian’s piercing words only deepened her gloom.

She knew it all along…

Even if she tried to deny it intellectually, deep down, she acknowledged the truth of his words.

Forced by this realization, Linne found herself sitting alone in the empty classroom, lost in thought.

‘I’ve felt the need to improve so acutely.’

Bitterness swirled on her tongue, and a throbbing anger wrapped around her.

It was an undeniably torturous feeling.

The negative thoughts that clung to her were hard to shake off.

‘The clumsiness of my aura control.’

She should have sought help from her master, but recently, he was too busy with some matters to be approached.

‘Can I fix this on my own?’

She shook her head to dispel such thoughts.

‘Even without my master’s guidance, I can find a way.’

With her fist clenched and a determined expression, Linne walked somewhere with purpose.

‘Father always said, if you want something, say it clearly… and if you’re wrong, just correct it.’

Linne was headed to the main building of the academy.

After finishing a conversation with Vice Principal Allom Chornie and catching Julian on his way out, she would speak to him once more.

‘As you said, my aura control is lacking, but! I will solve that problem within a month.’

A declaration.

It was meant to straighten out her wavering heart.

“Did you hear? A knight from the Crypart family murdered his comrade.”

“That knight from the Yoshua family? Former vice-captain of the ex-paladin squad.”

“Yeah.”

“It’s terrifying, how will they survive making an enemy of the Crypart family?”

As she walked, she heard the students’ gossip but paid no attention and moved forward.

Soon, the corridor leading to the main building came into view…

“…ugh.”

The bitter smell of blood tickled her nose.

She hastily turned her head to survey her surroundings and found, though faint, the sickening source of the smell.

‘Terrible burns’

The source of the smell was a man with half of his face covered in burn scars, making it difficult to identify him.

But it wasn’t just his appearance that caught her attention.

‘…Powerful.’

The aura of discipline emanating from his physique and his stride, indicating deep knowledge in swordsmanship, continuously stole Linne’s gaze.

Feeling someone’s gaze, the man with burn scars turned his head to meet Linne’s eyes.

A sinister smile.

‘Ah, that scar…’

The scar on the neck.

Seeing it, Linne felt as if she had been hit in the head with a hammer.

How could she forget?

Although she couldn’t see the assailant’s face at the time due to the black hood, she distinctly remembered the scar on the neck.

During her training and while investigating the incident with the Sword Saint, she had learned his name.

‘Alphas… Mayfield!’

With eyes blazing, Linne glared at Alphas. Her breathing became ragged with rising anger, and her body trembled.

Thump, thump.

The sound of her heart pounded in her ears. Linne took deep breaths to calm herself down.

Thump, thump.

It wouldn’t settle. Instead, only one thought filled her mind.

‘I have to kill him.’

Her eyes flickered with the flames of vengeance.

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⇒ The unique trait “Opened Eyes” has manifested.

“I am speaking right now, am I not?”

Crack. Crash!

Always walking with his eyes closed, when Julian opened his eyes, the aura emanating from his body cracked the floor of the audience chamber, and stone fragments scattered around.

A murderous intent mixed into each and every word.

An aura reminiscent of the harsh winter.

Up until now, Julian had shown arrogance or overwhelming power through his aura at the ‘Dawn Society,’ but he had never flaunted such raw murderous intent like this.

Even more, his sword began to be dyed with moonlight as if he had no intention of hiding his hostility.

Julian’s specialty, the ‘Moonlight Sword.’

As that beautiful blade was revealed to the world, moonlight seeped into the dark audience chamber,

“Hi, hiiiiiek…!”

‘Bishop’ Felkor, who had traumatic memories associated with that moonlight, shrank with a pale expression.

“Cough… cough.”

The one feeling the greatest pressure was Aiden. It seemed his breathing became difficult due to Julian’s murderous intent, and he began to cough violently.

‘Indeed… a monster is a monster.’

Elenoa, watching Julian’s form, clicked her tongue.

An overwhelming martial force that refuses to be followed.

Just facing the unfiltered fragments of power was enough to make Aiden’s breathing difficult.

“Oh, my, I seem to have gotten excited.”

Julian, thinking he had gone too far, began to retract his pervasive murderous intent with an awkward laugh.

It probably wasn’t out of concern for Aiden. While he does not uphold the authority of Tenellon, pretending for the sake of his objectives is a fact even she has noticed.

“Impressive.”

Tenellon, not minding the pretense, opened his mouth with a smile that could be sensed even behind a mask.

“With just the spirit from your aura, you have effortlessly overwhelmed the bishops and order members gathered here.”

Tenellon, who cherishes all bishops, showed particular trust in Julian.

‘…A Sword Saint despised, equal martial prowess of Hayden Reich .’

Similarly, having faced humiliation from the ‘Sword Saint’ and being a disciple who possesses his power.

It was an undeniably desirable situation.

To have him by his side, learning and using the keen sword of that great Sword Saint.

“Bishop Aiden.”

“Yes, Archbishop.”

“Is it true that you are producing imitations of the ‘Horn’ I created, as Bishop Julian mentioned?”

Somewhat intimidated by Tenellon’s gentle tone, Aiden briefly lowered his head.

Showing signs of nervousness, he soon lifted his head again after moistening his lips with his tongue.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Not good. To act unilaterally without even informing me.”

As expected.

Elenoa felt her suspicions were confirmed by Aiden’s anxious demeanor as he spoke.

“But I particularly don’t mind.”

Tenellon said in an indifferent tone, looking at Aiden.

“After all, what are they but inferior replicas compared to the horns I create? If such imitations can become a power against the imperial authority, then I see no issue.”

Tenellon’s willingness to tolerate the creation of replica horns by members of the order made Elenoa nod.

‘Would you also tolerate human experiments on civilians?’

Elenoa wanted to bring this up but felt it was futile. Proposing conventional ethics would likely only be ignored.

“He is conducting human experiments on civilians to perfect these imitations. Will you still turn a blind eye?”

Elenoa looked at Julian with slight surprise. Once again, he had voiced the concern she was supposed to raise.

“Subjects of the empire who follow its laws can also be seen as accomplices to the royal ideology. If utilizing them can strengthen the Dawn Society, what’s the problem?”

A sophistry, paradox, extreme selfishness.

Elenoa was quite startled by Tenellon’s values, which were different from the goals of the Dawn Society she had considered.

At the same time, she felt doubtful about Julian, who had brought up the topic of civilians.

He, who had joined the Dawn Society in pursuit of power.

He, who desired the ‘Horn’ more than anyone.

Was he really concerned about the civilians?

“I’m just worried that experiments with the imitations might backfire on our society.”

Of course, Elenoa knew that Julian’s concern likely stemmed more from self-preservation than compassion for civilians.

“As the number of artificial demons created with the horn increases, even if they are unaware of our involvement, attention towards the groups using them will also increase. No matter how skillfully Bishop Aiden operates, it’s impossible to completely avoid their information networks.”

“Um… That’s a valid point.”

“So, it might be best to refrain from experimenting on civilians. Bishop Aiden, huhu.”

Julian let out a brief laugh.

Initially, Aiden had been jesting and conversing with Julian, but that ease was no longer present.

“Bishop Julian, called ‘the laughing executioner,’ seems to be feeling sorrow for the death of a mere commoner.”

Sensing that the conversation could end unfavorably for him, Aiden, trying to turn the tables, provoked Julian with a scornful look.

“I’ve heard you cultivate orchids. From your perspective, are ordinary civilians worth less than those orchids?”

“Huhu, would that really be the case?”

“If that were not the case, you wouldn’t have blindly killed the citizens under the imperial command.”

Aiden mocked Julian with a spiteful tone, but Julian, unconcerned, briskly turned his head away. It was a clear stance of not responding to pointless provocations, but Elenoa noticed something definite.

Her hand trembled slightly as she answered.

Was it anger at Aiden’s provocation?

Or was it guilt over the massacre of civilians?

‘Surely… he wouldn’t be like that.’

Her speculation was off the mark for both possibilities.

The reason Julian’s fist trembled slightly was…

…Angelica.

The mention of ‘orchids’ by Aiden inadvertently brought back memories of ‘Angelica.’

***

“Damn it…”

Having escaped from the Gennel Monastery, Aiden boarded a carriage.

As the monastery grew smaller in the distance, Aiden’s heart, which had been pounding, settled down, but he was enveloped in discomfort.

Julian.

The relief of moving away from that monstrous person.

And the humiliation of having his experiments interfered with by him.

As these two incompatible emotions surged, Aiden could not hide his discomfort and cursed.

‘Tenellon’s mercy is appreciated, but it will make the experiments with the replica horns difficult going forward.’

The reason he risked joining the Dawn Society, which was under imperial scrutiny, was solely for his family’s long-cherished wish.

Being unable to proceed with the experiments needed to fulfill that wish for the time being, it was natural for him to feel anxious.

‘No. Creating an elixir using the demon’s horn is something that can wait for later.’

Haste tends to ruin tasks.

Aiden had to conduct human experiments no matter what, but considering today’s events, if Julian was watching, it seemed impossible.

‘Should I take a drastic measure?…’

Though I’m reluctant, it seems necessary.

With that thought, Aiden spoke to the coachman.

“Alphas Mayfield.”

At his call, the coachman pulled back his hood and looked at Aiden’s face.

“Can you withstand the pursuit of the Crypart family?”

“Yes, it’s manageable. It’s not the entire family, and those Joshua can mobilize are knights like myself, but there’s a difference in class.”

The coachman’s face, wearing a bitter smile, was smeared with blood.

“Then let me ask you one more thing. Do you still owe me a debt?”

Alphas nodded.

“This life was originally destined to be dew on the scaffold, but Sir Aiden saved me. This debt will not disappear.”

“Then that’s good.”

Satisfied with Alphas’s unhesitant response, Aiden smiled contentedly.

“Then bring me Julian’s head. By any means necessary.”

***

Thanks to the warning sent to Aiden at the Gennel Monastery, the mass production of the replica horns will be delayed.

It also means that the Sword Saint’s side and the ‘Empire’ catching the tail of the Dawn Society is a matter for the future, giving them some time.

‘The problem is not knowing what Aiden, who harbors resentment against me, might do.’

What could he possibly do?

The ‘mansion raid incident’ that occurred this time did not seem to be led by Aiden.

Though he is someone who wouldn’t hesitate to commit anti-human acts to fulfill his family’s ambitions.

‘He wouldn’t move recklessly after all that talk.’

But he’s a magician to the core.

It was unpredictable how he might act, but at least if he values his own life, he wouldn’t do anything to make an enemy of Julian.

***

Knock, knock.

“Did you call for me, Sir Julian?”

The next morning, as Razlot entered the office, I shifted my gaze to him.

“Come in.”

Greeting him with a light smile made a thin violet hue squirm above Razlot’s head.

In the past, I made efforts to alleviate such emotions, but now, instilling a degree of fear makes it easier to manage him, so I hardly cared.

“Your report on the Dawn Society member’s ambush was quite helpful. Please report immediately if anything happens in the future.”

“I understand, Sir Julian.”

Of course, constantly ‘whipping’ doesn’t help with efficiency. Sometimes, a ‘carrot’ is necessary too.

“Ah, Razlot, before you go, take this with you.”

“…Yes?”

Razlot, who was looking at me with a visibly tense expression, swallowed hard and reached for the document.

“What’s this?”

As he read, his gaze stopped at the bottom of the document, where the seal of Bayer Academy was prominently stamped.

“Isn’t this a recommendation letter for admission to Bayer Academy…?”

“Yes, it’s the admission recommendation letter I promised before.”

“…Promise?”

“Didn’t I say if you worked under me as a spy for the Dawn Society, I would help even the children from a lowly orphanage get admitted to Bayer Academy?”

It was a bit difficult for me to say the word ‘lowly,’ but in this case, ‘Julian’ would likely use such a tone.

Razlot began to examine the admission recommendation letter again.

‘”It’s not a forgery, right?” 

As befitting one of the continental hegemonic powers, the Adratan Empire, known for its wealth and military strength, is also a place with a fervent passion for education. 

In such an empire, the Bayer Academy, boasting the highest standard of education, always sees a flood of applicants at its gates. 

Even more so, since the students eligible to take the entrance exam are randomly selected, it’s common for even high nobility to fail to gain admission. 

Hence, Razlot’s doubt is natural. 

After all, even the four great families struggle to obtain a recommendation letter for admission to Bayer Academy. 

“How dare you suggest that I, Julian, would forge such a document?” 

I can say with certainty that this is not a forgery. 

It was obtained recently during a special lecture, a “Closed Eyes mission,” from Vice Principal Allom Chornie. 

“Ah, no…! How could I dare…” 

“Then it’s a relief. With this recommendation letter, the children from the orphanage you attended can also take the entrance exam.” 

Razlot, who had been quietly listening to me, raised his head to meet my gaze. 

The sly-looking Julian reflected in his anxious eyes seemed far from a good person, even if it all started from a place of good intentions. 

“It’s a face that I can’t seem to get used to, no matter how many times I see it.” 

“…Excuse me?” 

“No, just talking to myself.” 

With that, I got up from my seat and picked up my coat. 

The topic of our conversation, the Bayer Academy, had a practical exam scheduled for today, and I had to act as an instructor there. 

“Still, it ends today.” 

I headed towards the academy with a light feeling, yet my steps felt inexplicably heavy.

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“What in the world is going on, Master?”

Early in the morning.

The servants, having arrived for work, could not hide their astonishment at the sight of the mansion’s disarray.

Some of them, alternating their gaze between the state of the mansion and my appearance, began to whisper among themselves.

“When we first arrived, the mansion was in complete chaos,” they murmured.

“Right. The bloodstains were no joke.”

“Did you actually spend the night in this place?”

“Moreover, according to the head butler who arrived first, there were more than ten intruders… Did you handle them all by yourself?”

I looked back at the servants with a look of shock. Their eyes bore into me as if they were looking at a monster, but I paid them no mind.

Wasn’t I also scared of the intruders? Even now, recalling yesterday’s events causes my hands and feet to tremble.

The only reason I was able to maintain my composure was simply because of my mindset to perfectly act out ‘Julian’s’ physical presence.

Despite being faced with topics that would normally startle an ordinary person, such as blood and corpses, I acted indifferently because of this.

Today’s events were bound to spread rumors throughout the empire, despite any efforts to prevent them.

All I could do now was to further solidify my image as ‘the smiling executioner.’

“So, Master, how should we deal with this?”

“If it’s unnecessary, there’s no need to bother me with it…”

Upon the servant’s inquiry, I turned my head to see what she was holding.

A broken orchid pot with the name ‘Angelica’ on it.

Seeing its messy state, I couldn’t help but feel a sting in my nose.

“Just bury it in the yard…”

***

As expected, rumors of my repelling the mansion’s intruders spread like wildfire.

“That ‘smiling executioner.’ He killed all the intruders who broke into his mansion, didn’t he?”

“Who in their right mind would break into Julian’s mansion?”

The rumors quickly circulated among the nobility, who relish in gossip.

In an attempt to lighten the atmosphere of the noble society, filled with strife and conspiracy, or to gain an upper hand in conversations with others, the rumors grew more exaggerated.

“Lord Julian, the royal court is all abuzz because of your actions. I heard you annihilated an entire knight order…?”

The rumor inflated like a bubble, becoming astonishingly huge. Starting with a basis in truth, it eventually morphed into something resembling wild gossip.

“Annihilate a knight order…? Even I couldn’t achieve such a feat in a single day, could I, Sir Odwin?”

“Well, that would be the case, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes. It was merely a matter of dealing with some despicable intruders who had entered my mansion.”

Odwin let out a slight chuckle at my matter-of-fact tone.

“That incident… ‘merely’ seems like an understatement for something that’s far from ordinary, doesn’t it?”

“Is that so? To me, it feels like just another day.”

“How could that possibly be a part of anyone’s daily life…”

I agreed with her mumbling. A life where one is ambushed by enemies harboring grudges in the dead of night.

It seemed like a completely failed life.

I wanted to respond in kind to Director Odwin’s words, but I managed to hold back.

Instead, I just shrugged my shoulders with a confident attitude.

“Given what’s happened, how about taking a break from work for a while? Another member can handle the practical training instructor position at Bayer Academy…”

“No, it’s alright.”

Odwin tilted her head slightly at my refusal.

“I’m not so frail that I need to stop working just because of something like this.”

While I did have a strong desire to take a break and let things pass, it didn’t seem likely that ‘Julian’ would take a break from work over such an incident.

‘Besides, if I pass the academy work to another member, I might get drafted for the victory celebration.’

Regardless, my desire not to encounter ‘the Sword Saint’ was still as strong as ever.

“Well, it’s your body, you know best. Alright, I’ll contact the academy.”

After receiving Odwin’s confirmation, I briefly greeted her and left the director’s office.

This concluded the external report on the ‘Julian assault incident.’

What remained was tying up loose ends regarding ‘the replicas.’

‘I can’t just leave this be.’

The ‘replicas’ that Joshua had found and the ‘Bishops’ who attempted to attack me are deeply connected to the Dawn Society.

In that sense, I cannot overlook the Dawn Society’s executives who ignored this situation.

‘Damn it! I don’t want to do anything!’

Yet, ‘this world’ whispered to ‘Julian’ not to overlook such incidents.

***

“Bishop Elenoa, it’s been a while.”

“Oh my! Isn’t that Bishop Aiden? What brings you to the Gennel Monastery?”

Elenoa greeted with a smile, but her smile was laden with blatant thorns.

Bishops, entering the Dawn Society for their own interests, saw others of the same rank as competitors.

“Is there any other reason to visit the Gennel Monastery? To see Arch Bishop, Sir Tenellon, of course.”

Aiden’s seemingly friendly smile was long understood by Elenoa to conceal cunning.

“Aiden de Donassien.”

A direct descendant of one of the empire’s four major magical families, the Donassien family, and mentioned as the next head of the family. He is also someone who emphasizes competence above all in his quest to create the ‘Elixir,’ the Philosopher’s Stone, which is the family’s greatest desire, leading him to advocate for extreme pureblood ideologies.

“Is that so? But what to do? It seems I was the first to secure an appointment with the Arch Bishop.”

“Ha, then there’s nothing to be done but wait in the audience room.”

Continuing to smile affably, Aiden and Elenoa headed to the audience room where the Arch Bishop was staying.

‘Wait a moment.’

Elenoa sneakily turned her head to glance at Aiden’s face.

Her reason for coming to the Gennel Monastery was to discuss the replicas of horns floating around the slums and the empire, known as ‘replicas.’

Though inferior to the horns produced directly by Tenellon, filled with impurities, these were still capable of ‘demonization.’

‘It’s impossible to create such replicas without the original.’

The one producing these ‘replicas’ is likely a member of the Dawn Society with access to the ‘horns,’ probably a bishop.

And while it’s just a suspicion, Aiden in front of her is one of those ‘candidates.’

‘The horns made by the Arch Bishop are similar in nature to Aiden’s ‘Elixir.’

If that’s the case, Aiden is conducting human experiments on civilians, unrelated to his organization, in order to complete the true ‘Elixir.’

‘Hmm… No, let’s not be too certain yet. I don’t have any evidence. If what he’s doing is true, then it’s a matter of simply reporting it to the Arch Bishop.’

But then again.

Would the current Arch Bishop of the Dawn Society, Tenellon, truly be appalled by the ‘replica horns’ situation and seek to punish the responsible party?

Perhaps he himself had ordered another bishop to produce the ‘replica horns.’

For the downfall of the empire.

To deal with the hated Sword Saint, ‘Hayden Reich,’ as quickly as possible.

‘If Tenellon is involved, then bringing up this topic here would do me no good.’

As she was lost in thought, Elenoa, having arrived at the audience chamber, decided as she looked at Tenellon.

“Have you been well, Arch Bishop?”

“Yes, Bishop Elenoa. I’ve heard you have something you wish to tell me.”

“No, it seems I was mistaken about the information. My apolog…?”

Crash!

In the midst of her sentence, the door to the audience chamber was violently opened, and a man entered.

With a restrained but noble posture and a confident stride.

A man with half-closed eyes that made it impossible to read his expression, Julian.

“Bishop Julian! Oh, there are already other bishops here…!”

A member of the clergy, in panic, tried to stop Julian, but he quickly drew his sword from its sheath and pointed it at the clergyman.

“Hiik…!”

As Julian drew his sword, the audience chamber was filled with a tense atmosphere.

Drawing a weapon in the room where the Arch Bishop resides is an act that could justly be considered sacrilege.

Yet, no one dared to approach Julian, possibly due to the overwhelming aura he exuded.

“Bishop Julian, what is your intention?”

With a deadly atmosphere.

Tenellon spoke with a voice laced with displeasure.

Julian looked intently at him, wearing his mask, for a few seconds.

Then, putting away his sword, Julian rummaged through his belongings and threw something onto the floor.

Clatter!

It was a ‘horn’ he had acquired from his attacker, William.

“Respected Arch Bishop. Are you aware that inferior replicas of horns, which only you can craft, are circulating within the empire?”

‘Oh? That was supposed to be my line.’

Julian voiced the concern that Elenoa was supposed to have.

***

As the clergy’s attention focused on me in unison, I felt it was too late to turn back.

‘I’ve done it.’

Though I had only drawn my weapon on a common member of the clergy, drawing a weapon in the audience chamber itself is an act against the Arch Bishop’s authority.

Because of this, the audience chamber felt as if it was on the brink of combat, not odd if a fight were to break out any moment, with a palpable murderous intent directed at me.

But what’s done is done, isn’t it?

For me, who cannot overlook the current situation, this was a necessary step.

“The inferior replicas of the horns…”

Hearing my words, Tenellon didn’t act rashly but looked at me intently.

“Hmm.”

As Tenellon hummed thoughtfully, pondering, another bishop suddenly interjected into the conversation.

“Bishop Julian.”

A middle-aged man with a gentlemanly air, Aiden de Donassien, spoke.

“Before we ascertain the truth or falsehood of your words, the dishonorable conduct of drawing a weapon in the audience chamber, Bishop, is something that can indeed be questioned.”

As our gazes met, Aiden slightly smiled with his eyes.

Aiden spoke with a natural ease, attempting to demonstrate his composure and confidence, yet he could not hide the ‘fear’ lurking behind his demeanor.

“I am aware that you are favored by the Arch Bishop, but your action of drawing a sword upon entering the audience chamber unannounced is… isn’t it the act of a rogue?”

Despite the purple miasma rising above his head, Aiden continued steadfastly, certain that I would not dare to wield my sword in the audience chamber.

“Haha, how amusing.”

At my scoffing, Aiden showed a slightly uncomfortable expression.

“What is so funny?”

“Isn’t it amusing? Bishop Aiden, who has caused unrest within the Dawn Society with the counterfeit horns, is the one saying such things.”

I glanced briefly at the horn I had thrown, then shifted my gaze back to Aiden, who then nervously shifted his eyes and cleared his throat.

“What, what are you talking about? I know nothing of…”

“It is commendable to fulfill the desires of one’s family.”

I continued, letting a faint smile play across my lips.

“Desire is a splendid driving force that energizes this ‘Dawn Society.'”

“Cough.”

“But! If because of that desire, we are exposed above the surface…?”

I trailed off intentionally, examining Aiden’s face. Despite clearly exhibiting a color of ‘fear,’ he nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders as if it were nothing.

“Bishop Julian, I fail to understand. What does the Donassien family’s long-standing wish have to do with the counterfeit horns you mentioned?”

Is he pretending not to know now?

Aiden’s evasive response began to make my head heat up.

‘Producing ‘replica horns’ haphazardly will eventually catch the attention of the Sword Saint or the royal family!’

Whether you die in the process is of no concern to me, but if the Dawn Society’s true nature is exposed…

‘The whole world will know I’m associated with the Dawn Society!’

Even if I’m known as ‘the smiling executioner,’ turning the empire against me leaves no room for survival.

Expect me to condone such a situation? Absolutely not.

“The Philosopher’s Stone, the Elixir of Life, the mythological artifact the Donassien family aspires to create, I am well aware of it. And the demon horns that the Arch Bishop creates…”

“Thank you for acknowledging our family’s aspiration,” Aiden cut in.

“Sir Aiden, what I’m trying to say is…”

“Still, I fail to see your point. Why you would proceed in such a manner…”

⇒ The unique trait “Opened Eyes” has manifested.

“I am speaking right now, am I not?”

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In ‘Let’s Kill the Demon Lord,’ the sacred artifact known as the ‘Demon God’s Horn,’ crafted through the power of the ‘Demonization,’ grants the user immense strength but comes with deadly side effects.

‘Demonization’

By embracing the residual will of the demon god Barbatos, the user loses their sense of self and becomes a demon, driven solely by instinct.

“Arghhh… AAAAAHHH!”

Crack, crunch.

The transformation was truly grotesque. The user’s body twisted and swelled with the sound of bones and muscles contorting, while a purple, viscous substance oozed from every orifice.

The pained screams gradually turned bestial, and the creature’s eyes filled with nothing but murderous intent.

“What the…!?”

Joshua recoiled in horror at the sight.

“Alphas… you insane bastard! You said it would grant me the power of a demon, not turn me into one!”

“Ah, so that horn was brought by you, then?”

I remarked lightly, watching Joshua claim ownership of the ‘horn.’

Only the Dawn Society knew how to use the ‘horn,’ so I had assumed it was brought by the wizard, presumably a member.

“That… Alphas, Alphas…”

Joshua’s mutterings, however, gave me a rough idea of how he had come into possession of the ‘horn.’

Alphas Mayhand.

A member of the Dawn Society who harbored particular animosity towards Julian.

While the exact nature of Joshua’s relationship with Alphas was unclear, it seemed they had some sort of connection.

‘Fortunately, the horn is not genuine, but a replica.’

Similar to the demon we dealt with in the slums, it’s likely related to the ‘demonic phenomena’ Elenoa had inquired about.

Naturally, a replica cannot mimic half the efficacy of a horn crafted from Demonization, being a low-quality product that, at best, produces power at a third of the original’s capacity due to impurities.

“Kekek, Krrr… Aaaack!”

Even if the wizard turned into a third-rate demon, a healthy Joshua could have managed. However, given his exhaustion, this was no easy opponent.

Joshua, now facing the demonized wizard, was visibly terrified.

The constriction of fear.

Sensing Joshua’s dread, the demon turned its gaze toward him.

“I, if I win, I can live. I can live.”

Even as a flawed replica, the moment of transformation did not result in total demonization. It seemed the remnants of consciousness dictated its actions momentarily.

“Hiiiek!”

The raw, unrefined malice now directed at him twisted Joshua’s face even further.

“Julian…! I, I was wrong! Please, take down that demon!”

“There’s still one of you left, isn’t there?”

“You, you’re a member of the Crypart family! You should protect me!”

The irony of someone who had belittled me as a distant relative and ambushed me in my own home now begging me to eliminate the demon was palpable.

As Joshua pleaded with Julian in terror, the demon took step by step towards him, its eyes, devoid of any trace of humanity, fixed on Joshua.

“I live, I live.”

With a leap, the demon, repeating the same thought over and over, closed the distance to Joshua instantly. The injury on its shoulder, sliced open by Joshua’s sword, seemed healed in the process of turning into a demon, allowing it to swing its right arm without hindrance.

“Ah, ahhhh!”

Joshua, who had not neglected his training, instinctively raised his sword to block the demon’s attack, but…

“No, no!”

Clang!

His strength failing, the impact caused him to lose grip on his sword. The sword fell behind him, and turning to retrieve it would mean facing the demon’s swift strike — a certain death.

“Haha, if you don’t put in the effort, you might actually die.”

Observing the deranged demon and then me, Joshua’s face fell.

“Y-Julian… brother, please…”

Brother? Ridiculous flattery from someone who had ranted about my inferior lineage at the wedding.

Grunt… Grunt…

The demon, fully absorbing the horn’s demonic energy, emitted animalistic noises rather than human sounds.

Observing Joshua, who had completely lost the will to fight, the demon then turned its gaze towards me.

‘A demon remains a demon, after all.’

The last vestiges of humanity gone, the wizard fully transformed into a demon stirred something within me.

The instinct of a demon hunter that Julian possesses. The disgust boiling up from deep within turned into a killing intent, which the demon sensed.

‘Detestable creature.’

To despise demons so deeply yet covet their power was the duality of the ‘Julian’ character. I drew my sword, infused with moonlight.

The demon, sensing my killing intent, charged at me with ferocious speed. It was similar to the lesser demons I had encountered, but to me, who had mastered the ‘Moonlight Sword,’ it seemed painfully slow.

“A bug crawling up to me.”

How dare it show me malice.

Angered that the demon dared to exhibit hostility towards me, I sliced its leg with my moonlight-imbued sword. Despite its thick body that had repelled Joshua’s sword, it was effortlessly cut through by my mana-charged blade, causing the demon to tumble forward.

Scream!

“Yeeek!”

The bizarre cry of Joshua filled the air as the demon’s purple blood sprayed in all directions. Ignoring Joshua’s horrified gaze, I swung my sword again at the demon’s shoulder.

Scream!

Whoosh-

In that moment, my innate trait as a ‘Born Swordsman’ sent a warning signal. Sensing danger, I stepped back, and the demon’s massive hand swiped through the air where I had just been.

“Hmm.”

Despite having its leg cut, the demon stood up unfazed, prompting me to scrutinize it closely.

Certainly, I had cleanly sliced the demon’s leg with the ‘Moonlight Sword,’ and now… the wound was bubbling? It was regenerating?

‘A demon with regenerative abilities.’

According to the game’s lore, a demon’s pre-transformation abilities are typically heightened, but in some cases, if the remaining consciousness is strong, those abilities can manifest in the demon’s powers.

The demonized William, perhaps driven by his fear of Julian and a strong desire to live, had gained regenerative capabilities.

“How am I supposed to kill that…!”

While Joshua panicked, I realized this actually simplified matters. The demon had been a mage, capable of high-level magic as a fourth-tier wizard. Typically, demonization could result in a demon with troublesome abilities, but if it was merely ‘regeneration,’ it was manageable.

Thanks to my ‘Insight’ trait, its core was clearly visible.

Even demons with regenerative powers aren’t immortal. Like a human’s ‘heart,’ demons have a ‘core.’

‘Seeing is believing.’

With that thought, I enhanced my physical abilities with mana and charged at the demon.

Growl!

Seeing me approach, the demon swung its right arm in a fierce attack, but I raised my sword from below in a diagonal slash in rhythm with its movement.

Slash!

The mana-charged sword easily cut through the demon’s arm, spraying thick blood and obscuring my vision.

Ignoring the demon’s scream, it lunged at me again with its remaining arm, but its patterns were already imprinted in my mind.

“Such futile resistance.”

“To dare attack me, a ‘Demon Hunter,’ truly befits ‘trash.'”

Almost instinctively, Julian’s typical sneer slipped out, causing me disdain as I spun and slashed with my sword again, this time aiming for the left arm.

Scream!

Ignoring the demon’s cry, I stabbed towards the demon’s head, targeting the core as indicated by my ‘Insight’ trait. The demon, sensing the imminent threat to its core, tried to regenerate its severed arms to block my sword, but…

“Perish, vermin.”

My sword, surrounded by a soft moonlight, pierced the demon’s regenerating arms faster and struck its core.

“I am the ‘Demon Hunter,’ Julian. Heh.”

Gurgle, croak.

The demon’s noises ceased as it lost its strength, its madness-filled eyes losing focus before it collapsed lifelessly.

‘Perish, vermin?’ What kind of line is that?

Shaking off the habitually uttered phrase with annoyance, I turned to Joshua.

“It’s impossible…”

Witnessing the scene, Joshua was utterly stunned. I looked at him with a clear smile, flicking the thick blood off my sword near him.

Considering he had attempted to ambush me at night, severe punishment would have been justified. Yet, Joshua was soon to hold a significant share of the Crypart family’s wealth.

‘It might be wise to put a leash on him early.’

Given the audacity alone, it seemed necessary.

“Please, have a seat.”

I offered Joshua a chair with a smile brighter than any I had worn before. For some reason, the thickest purple haze I had ever seen was swirling above his head.

“Yes, yes! Brother!”

—

“Replica horns, huh…”

After settling down the chaos, I muttered to myself while placing the horn taken from the demon into the case. I never expected to encounter a ‘replica’ in the capital at this time, although the original story did include the Dawn Society’s reach extending into the capital, causing various problems due to these ‘replicas’.

“It’s too early.”

This was supposed to happen after Linne Londebell, the prized pupil of the Sword Saint, graduated from the academy, mainly because her vengeance was closely linked to the creator of these ‘replicas’.

Consequently, the story involving these ‘replicas’ revolved around her.

‘Not being a player now, it seems I won’t be deeply involved with her…?’

But encountering ‘replicas’ in the capital still feels premature.

I moved to the window, where the full moon in the sky came into view.

“If things had gone as planned, stopping the development of these replica horns would have been the job of the ‘Black Knight.'”

The Black Knight, a key figure in the game who hid his identity behind a black mask and clandestinely thwarted the Dawn Society’s efforts with his formidable power. His true identity was the player’s avatar and protagonist, the Sword Saint ‘Hayden Reich’, leading a double life.

‘If the ‘Black Knight’ had already made his appearance, the introduction of the replica horns wouldn’t have been this sudden, and there should have been at least some rumors.’

How can the capital remain so silent?

The story’s progression dictates that the ‘Black Knight’ begins to make a name for himself after thwarting Bishop ‘Pintel’s attempt to collect a ‘soulstone.’

‘That’s why I clearly remember Pintel’s name.’

The story’s branching point indeed involves stopping Bishop Pintel.

‘It’s too quiet.’

Has the ‘Black Knight’ not yet appeared?

‘That would be problematic.’

From my perspective, wanting to prevent the resurrection of the Demon God and dismantle the Dawn Society, the ‘Black Knight’ is an unseen ally. If he’s not active…

‘No, that can’t be.’

I shook my head, dismissing the thought. ‘Hayden Reich’ wouldn’t ignore the people’s peril, independent of the story’s progression. My trust in ‘Hayden Reich’ stems from his character as the protagonist.

‘Anyway, what’s important now is…’

Shaking off my thoughts, I shifted my gaze back to the case containing the demon’s horn.

“It seems a demonstration is needed.”

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