Chapter 115
Perhaps it was due to the heavy casualties. The composure seen on the first day was gone, replaced by the sight of people, looking like defeated soldiers worn out by fatigue and pain, warily scanning their surroundings.
Ignoring them, I walked past and headed towards where Mikhail Archbishop had been.
As I moved, I found Archbishop Mikhail nearby, searching the area with numerous Holy Knights and Inquisitors.
*It seems he's acting like this because of the bombs I threw earlier.*
I merely offered a light greeting out of welcome, so why is he overreacting like this? Shaking my head, thinking I didn't understand, I hid myself in the Shadow and watched them.
*What should I do then?*
I pondered whether to kill Mikhail Archbishop or kidnap him alive. Just as I was considering which would be the better option, Mikhail Archbishop seemed to decide that searching here was pointless, as he turned and headed somewhere else.
*It looks like he's about to leave.*
Even though the Final Boss of the Banquet Hall had been dealt with, he wouldn't be able to leave immediately, as the Banquet Hall was a mess because of the rifts. Fundamentally, the Banquet Hall was a place for socializing, and the reason for attending was for interaction, so it was highly probable he would speak with the Imperial Faction before departing.
*So, even if it's bothersome, I have no choice but to watch a bit longer.*
Thinking I should wait for a better opportunity, I watched the back of Mikhail Archbishop's head.
*
As expected, Archbishop Mikhail headed inside to meet and speak with a High-ranking Official from the Imperial Faction. If I had my way, I would have followed Mikhail inside. But it would have been too risky to follow him openly, so I reluctantly waited nearby with my arms crossed for the Archbishop to come out.
As the silence continued and there was nothing else to do, several questions suddenly crossed my mind.
*By the way, why is the Imperial Family directly hosting this banquet?*
Ostensibly, there were various plausible reasons. For example, they put forward pretexts like promoting Imperial Family unity or taking direct responsibility for something happening near the Imperial Family. But to see only those pretexts as the truth was excessively exclusive, leaving me feeling a bit suspicious.
*It's not like they made it exclusive because the rewards were good, nor is it because they could gain something. So why would the Imperial Family claim ownership and then invite only a select few to proceed with it?*
It's certain they're hiding something... After a moment of thought, I recalled the “Door to the Demon Realm” I'd found upstairs and fell into thought.
*Could it be related to this?*
...Perhaps. Just as I was thinking there was no other explanation, I saw Mikhail Archbishop emerge. Seeing him come out earlier than expected, I smiled, deciding it was time to finish off Mikhail Archbishop.
* * *
It was the slum in the outlying area outside the Imperial Family. I didn't know why Mikhail had come here, but it wasn't a big issue then, so I pulled out my mace and was about to approach. Mikhail suddenly turned around and began speaking to the empty air.
"Come out."
It seems he's telling me to come out, expecting me to have followed him. However, judging by his speaking to the empty air without looking directly at me... his actions seemed like a gamble. An amusing idea came to mind at his words, so I subtly pulled back and deliberately pretended not to know.
"..."
As I watched him, Mikhail Archbishop, munching on the snacks I'd brought and showing a displeased expression, repeated his command to come out. From the softness of his voice, he seemed to have lost confidence.
As I watched and observed, Mikhail Archbishop, perhaps thinking it was no use, turned his gaze and began to move forward.
*This is quite amusing.*
Thinking it was fun to tease him, I watched him for a moment before deciding to answer Mikhail Archbishop's earnest call. I grabbed my Shadow Mace and quickly advanced.
"...!"
Even though he had been continuously attacked by me, Mikhail Archbishop was also a considerably skilled individual, so he immediately noticed me approaching and quickly turned around. But while I bound his body with Shadow and restricted his movements with Shadow Thorn, he couldn't escape my attack.
*First, a light Origin Explosion.*
I decided to use a Mana Explosion, created by combining my power as a High-grade Expert with the power of Daisy, who had ascended to a High-grade Spirit. After pouring in mana, I detonated it strongly on Mikhail Archbishop's head.
*KWA-AAAAANG!* The moment the mana exploded, a brilliant white light burst forth, burning everything around it and evaporating it simultaneously.
Just as I was feeling quite satisfied, and was seeing the unbelievably powerful force, Mikhail Archbishop, with his entire body aflame, began screaming and reaching out to me.
"Kuaaaah! Aaaah!"
I couldn't understand what he was saying, but one thing was certain: he was probably cursing me. As I watched him, just as I was about to deliver a follow-up attack with Shadow Thorn to finish him off for good, immense divine power spread everywhere, and Mikhail Archbishop began attempting to escape using an artifact.
*It looks like he's trying to escape the same way he did last time.*
I let him get away last time, but I didn't want to miss him this time. I forcibly pulled Mikhail Archbishop's body with Shadow and slammed him onto the ground. The moment he hit the ground, Mikhail spat blood, writhing and trembling violently.
I stepped on his chest with my foot, looking down at him, and fell into thought for a moment.
*So what should I do? Take him as a hostage, or kill him?*
Both were not bad options. Thinking it would be better to take him as a hostage, as he had more potential uses, I grabbed his head and tried to pull him into the Shadow.
*CRUNCH.*
From Mikhail Archbishop's body came a sound of something crushing.
*What is it?*
Along with that, immense divine power strangely shimmered, creating a huge ripple. It began twisting Mikhail Archbishop's body, transforming it into a grotesque form. It was an excessively gruesome sight. Just as I was thinking that anyone without a strong stomach would surely vomit, a Monster with intense demonic energy began to form inside Mikhail Archbishop's body, using Mikhail's body as material.
*...Demonkind?*
A great sense of bewilderment arose because a completely unexpected being had suddenly appeared. But I couldn't just stand by. I grabbed the rapidly forming Demonkind by the neck.
*CRASH! KWAANG! KWA-AAANG!* I slammed it hard onto the ground, to the point where “crushing it completely” would be an accurate description.
"Kuek, Kieeeek!"
A grotesque cry, impossible for a Human to make, echoed as the Demonkind tried to escape from me. But after binding its limbs with Shadow Thorn and continuously slamming its head, it eventually quieted down and went limp. Looking at the Demonkind, I let out a sigh of relief, thinking it had been a close call.
*That could have been incredibly troublesome.*
Though it was an Outlying Area, if Mikhail had transformed into Demonkind and started causing a ruckus, it was highly likely the Imperial Faction would come here. Thinking it was fortunate I had finished it before that, I stuffed what used to be Mikhail into the Shadow and quickly escaped through the Shadow.
The moment I pushed my way into the Shadow World, Shiren greeted me.
"Damian."
It seemed she had rushed here, reacting to the demonic energy emanating from what used to be Mikhail Archbishop. I showed Shiren the Mikhail lump and spoke.
"This is Demonkind, right?"
"Yeah."
At her answer, I felt my mind race, and I continued stomping on them as I thought.
*Does it not matter what kind of person someone is when they become Demonkind?*
Just as I was thinking that even a Hero or a Pope could become Demonkind, Daisy on my shoulder peeked her head out and set the lump ablaze with Sun's Fire. It was already dead, so I was a bit puzzled as to why she suddenly set it on fire.
At my question, Daisy puffed out her chest as if to say “trust me”. Soon, the lump completely incinerated, turning into a single Black Orb, and she pointed at the Mikhail lump, smiling triumphantly.
"Mwehehe."
Thinking she had learned a strange laugh, I stroked Daisy's head and picked her up.
*So this is how it's made.*
Smiling contentedly at the unexpected gain, I held it and looked at it, the Essence of Power, from which immense power could be felt. Somehow, I had a hunch that if I consumed it, I could reach Highest-grade Expert.
As I was thinking that, just as I was about to put it in my mouth to absorb, Liana approached me from nearby with Ruen and spoke.
"You returned faster than expected?"
"Damian!"
Just as I was about to wave and greet the two who welcomed me, a 'bet' I had made with Liana came to mind.
*She said if I became a Highest-grade Expert, she would call me Brother Damian instead of Lord Damian.*
The moment that thought came to mind, I immediately absorbed the Essence of Power, and pondered how best to tease Liana to make the teasing legendary.