Episode 14: Snake Hunt (4)
The soldiers of the Order moved swiftly.
Sebastian and Cedric Walker were quickly subdued, their bodies bound with ropes. They seemed less like they were complying with the paladin’s orders and more like they had given up, overwhelmed by despair.
“You’re really going to arrest me?”
But Robert was different.
With a swift kick, Robert sent the halberd lying on the ground into the air and caught it deftly.
“You think I’ll just let you take me without a fight?”
“Resist, and you’ll die.”
“Even if I don’t resist, you’ll kill me! Do you think I don’t know how ruthless your Order is?”
Robert summoned his magical power, enveloping the halberd in a fierce aura.
“If it comes to this, I’ll take you down and make my escape!”
He charged at the paladin, raising the halberd high.
The paladin’s eyes narrowed, and he clenched his fist, his body enveloped in a blue flame. Strangely, the robe he wore did not burn, merely fluttering as if caught in a strong wind.
“You fool!”
Robert swung the halberd down, but the paladin was faster, his fist striking first. The sound of air splitting echoed in their ears as the paladin vanished, reappearing right in front of Robert.
With the momentum of his speed, the paladin’s flame-wreathed fist slammed into Robert’s breastplate.
“Ugh!”
The breastplate crumpled and shattered, sending Robert flying backward, blood spewing from his mouth.
‘Foolish.’
Paladins undergo a lifetime of harsh training under the guise of faith, tackling dangerous missions in the name of divine trials. Their strength is on a different level from ordinary knights.
‘And this woman… she’s a disciple of the Azure Flame.’
The Azure Flame Brigandine, one of the Order’s most powerful figures, was renowned for vanquishing countless heretics, including many infamous across the continent.
‘A formidable martial artist.’
In a past life, Damian had faced the Azure Flame. It had been a grueling battle, lasting over half a day before he claimed victory.
“Damian Haxen.”
Damian’s thoughts were interrupted by the paladin’s voice. He looked up to meet her gaze.
“Your actions in eliminating the leaders of Yuran are commendable.”
“I only did what was necessary.”
“You used the Order for your own purposes, but we won’t hold it against you.”
Damian shrugged.
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
“You called the Order to cover up your attack on the Black Serpent, didn’t you?”
Despite having just arrived, she seemed to know everything that had transpired. Damian had a hunch about why the Order had been delayed.
‘They must have been watching me from afar.’
They had been observing to determine if Damian could be trusted before intervening. It was a sly move, but understandable. The Order had always been wary of dark mages infiltrating their ranks.
“I appreciate your understanding. That Agito scum not only cursed my lands but also insulted my family.”
The paladin’s eyes widened slightly at Damian’s words.
“So I wanted to deal with the Black Serpent myself.”
“Given those circumstances, we can’t hold you accountable.”
Contrary to popular belief, the Order was quite flexible, except when it came to heresy, which drove them to extremes.
“We’ll ensure the bounty on Agito’s head is paid promptly.”
“How much is it?”
“One hundred gold.”
A hundred gold was a fortune, enough to buy a small castle. But Damian wasn’t interested in the money.
“Could I receive something other than the bounty?”
“What do you have in mind?”
Finally, the moment Damian had been waiting for arrived.
“I’d like one of the mana cultivation techniques the Order has confiscated.”
“I don’t understand.”
The paladin shook her head.
“Someone capable of wiping out the Black Serpent alone… needs a mana cultivation technique?”
She tilted her head in disbelief.
“I’ve only learned the most basic mana cultivation techniques.”
The technique Damian practiced was one he had learned from his mercenary captain. It was rudimentary, slow to accumulate mana, and lacked any special properties.
“I was looking for a more advanced technique, and this seemed like a good opportunity.”
With Damian’s talent, he could have modified the basic technique into something more advanced. But from his experience, having a ‘reference’ led to better results than starting from scratch.
“I heard the Order has some safe mana cultivation techniques among the items confiscated from heretics. I’d like to receive one of those.”
Mana cultivation techniques were not only expensive but also hard to come by, rarely appearing even in black market auctions. With this newfound connection to the Order, Damian intended to seize the opportunity.
“You reached this level with just a basic technique?”
The paladin looked incredulous. Damian extended his wrist, inviting her to verify for herself.
The paladin grasped his wrist, channeling divine power to probe his body. After a moment, her eyes widened in surprise.
“It’s true…”
“Do you believe me now?”
The paladin crossed her arms, deep in thought. Damian waited patiently for her response.
“There’s a better way than just receiving a mana cultivation technique.”
“Is there?”
In response to Damian’s question, the paladin spoke.
“Have you ever considered becoming a paladin?”
“No, I haven’t.”
Damian’s response was firm, causing the paladin’s eyes to widen slightly.
“Wh-why not?”
Her stammering suggested she was quite taken aback.
“Being a paladin is a glorious position, blessed by the divine to vanquish evil.”
Unfortunately, Damian had never felt even an ounce of faith in his life. More importantly, there was a crucial reason he refused to become a paladin.
‘Paladins are just the Order’s hunting dogs.’
Becoming a paladin meant submitting to the Order’s authority. Refusal would lead to excommunication and a trial by the church.
“Please reconsider. With your skills, even my master would take an interest in you.”
The idea of attracting the attention of the ‘Azure Flame,’ one of the Order’s top figures, might have thrilled others, but not Damian.
“I haven’t yet understood the love of the divine. For now, I wish to travel the world and practice the teachings of the divine.”
He couldn’t outright reject the offer, so he decided to deflect it diplomatically.
“Such a holy sentiment… I feel enlightened.”
To his surprise, his impromptu response seemed to resonate with the paladin, who looked at him with a gaze that was almost overwhelming.
“But if you ever change your mind, please visit the Order. I will personally welcome you.”
“Understood.”
Damian knew he would never seek out the Order to become a paladin.
“As you requested, we’ll provide a mana cultivation technique instead of the bounty.”
The paladin readily agreed to Damian’s request. As a disciple of the Azure Flame, she had the authority to grant such a favor.
“However, there’s one condition. The Order will send people to investigate Agito’s traces. Please accommodate them at the Haxen estate.”
“I will.”
Damian agreed without hesitation. It wasn’t a request he could refuse. The Order was relentless in their pursuit of heretics, and refusal might arouse suspicion.
“Thank you for your cooperation.”
The paladin drew two lines in the air with her fingers, a gesture of the Order’s greeting.
“By the way, we haven’t introduced ourselves. My name is Agnes, first disciple of the Azure Flame.”
First disciple. It referred to the initial students taken under one’s wing. In his past life, all of the Azure Flame’s disciples had made names for themselves. But Agnes was not among them.
‘Did she get killed by dark mages before she could make a name for herself?’
Even Damian didn’t know everything about the future.
“Agnes, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Damian mimicked the Order’s greeting as he spoke.
“By the way, may I finish my business here?”
“Of course. What business do you mean?”
Damian approached Cedric Walker, who was bound tightly with ropes. As Damian drew near, Cedric glared at him, spitting out his words.
“What the hell do you want, you bastard… Ugh!”
Without warning, Damian drove his foot into Cedric’s stomach. Cedric doubled over, retching on the ground.
“Soft as a pig, aren’t you?”
“You crazy son of a… Ugh!”
Damian continued to stomp on Cedric Walker, targeting areas that would cause pain but not life-threatening injuries. It wouldn’t do for Cedric to die here; he needed to be taken by the Order to face even greater suffering.
“Phew, I feel better now.”
Damian only stopped once Cedric had passed out, turning to Agnes with a satisfied expression.
“Now you can take him away.”
Agnes nodded, still looking a bit taken aback.
Demian returned to the estate that very night.
By the time he arrived, the sun had already set.
Yet, the entrance to the estate was brightly lit.
“Demian!”
His family was waiting for him, torches in hand.
“Where on earth have you been at such a dangerous time?”
Viscount Haxen scolded him the moment he saw him.
But despite his harsh words, his eyes were filled with concern.
“Why are you out here in this cold weather?”
“Does the weather matter right now? You haven’t gotten into trouble again, have you?”
“I just went for a walk to get some fresh air.”
Viscount Haxen looked skeptical.
His mother gave his father a light smack on the back.
“What did I tell you? I said Demian wouldn’t do anything reckless.”
“Hmm… you were right.”
Viscount Haxen let out a sigh of relief.
“Demian, I know it might feel stifling at your age, but you need to stay on the estate for a while. There are too many people who hold grudges against you.”
His father spoke with a face full of worry.
“The Black Serpent, the Marquess of Lionbloom… if you’re not careful, who knows what might happen.”
“Father.”
“I know you’re incredibly skilled. But… the world is unpredictable.”
His father gripped Demian’s hand tightly.
“Take the Black Serpent, for instance. Those kinds of people don’t play by the rules. Who’s to say they won’t track your usual routes and shoot a poisoned arrow?”
Demian nodded slowly.
“You’re right, Father.”
“Do you understand what I’m saying?”
A bright smile appeared on Viscount Haxen’s face.
“I was already thinking the same, so I took some preemptive measures.”
But his father’s expression darkened again at Demian’s next words.
“W-what? Preemptive measures?”
“Soon, the name Black Serpent will be nothing but a memory.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You can get the details from Victor.”
Victor’s eyes widened at the sudden mention of his name.
“Well, I’m tired, so I’ll be heading in.”
Demian released his father’s hand and started running down the path.
“De-Demian? Demian!”
Viscount Haxen tried to stop him, but it was no use. Demian was already far away.
“Oh, right.”
He turned back and shouted.
“Soon, someone from the Order will come by, but don’t be alarmed. They’re just here to investigate traces of dark magic.”
The words left Viscount Haxen in a daze.
“What? The Order? Why are they coming? And what’s this about dark magic?”
Demian was already gone, leaving no chance to answer those questions.
Viscount Haxen turned to Victor, his gaze so intense that Victor flinched.
“Victor… you need to explain everything that happened today, without leaving anything out!”
Demian caused the trouble, but it was Victor who had to deal with the aftermath.
Victor shed a tear inside.