Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Flashy Eloquence

Where is the upper-rank demon race—.

There was a small stir at the guy’s statement.

Devilian waved his hand to quiet the surroundings. Subsequently he raised the corners of his mouth and asked.

“Upper-rank demon race—. I do not know where you heard the story.”

“Ah, was it too urgent? Then······. Hmm, what you waited for me is as expected because of His Grace the Grand Duke’s letter.”

When the guy put his hand in his bosom, the knights on both sides drew their swords. Clang—. A sharp sound was heard, but the guy did not even move an eye.

“It is His Grace the Grand Duke’s letter. You guys are too on edge.”

The guy clicked his tongue while looking at the sword aimed at his neck.

The guy’s words were correct. What waited for the guy was to confirm the Grand Duke’s order the guy received.

“Correct. I heard you received the Grand Duke’s order—.”

“Ahem, it is His Grace the Grand Duke. Where do you dare call him Grand Duke?”

At the trivial word-tail catching Devilian squinted his eyes. The vice-captain stared at Devilian. That gaze seemed to ask. Are you going to leave that—.

Devilian shook his head.

The banquet hall was full with this side’s personnel. Chosen knights and mages, preparations were perfect.

There was no need to get angry because a guy who would die soon was acting up. There was no reason to be urgent either—.

“Yes, His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“Hmm, correct. I will let it pass only this time. Be careful from next time.”

Devilian slightly chewed his lips. The skill of scratching people’s nerves was considerable.

“Come, I will convey His Grace the Grand Duke’s order! Everyone bow your heads. Hmm, you are not bowing. Well I am not that strict either.”

Cough cough, the guy cleared his throat.

“I told you to block the demon race, yet you damn guys who stuck to the demon race instead—! Ah, there is an emphasis mark on ‘damn’.”

The guy bent his index and middle fingers and straightened them.

The atmosphere became cold in an instant.

‘A real crazy guy.’

Devilian purely admired.

“If you want to be forgiven pull out your tongue and die.”

“This guy—!”

“Why are you getting angry at me. I only read.”

When the vice-captain stood up abruptly, the guy exaggeratedly raised both hands. The vice-captain’s face fully distorted.

“Because it is a childish provocation of a guy who will die soon so calm down. Isn’t it a good day.”

At Devilian’s words the vice-captain exhaled hot breath and sat again.

“There is one thing I am curious about.”

Devilian asked while looking at the man. The man turned his finger as if telling to ask.

“There was a story that you caught a magic beast with magic.”

Devilian asked what he was curious about.

Other mages inhaled breath. Catching a magic beast with magic—. What kind of insubordination is that.

“Hmm, what kind of magic beast are you talking about?”

At the man’s answer Devilian squinted his eyes.

That meant the caught magic beast was not one.

‘Tsk—. Is it boasting.’

“Magic beasts are not particularly difficult guys. The problem is the demon race. Do you know that the blood of the demon race contains dense concentration mana?”

It was a famous story even in the Black Magic Society. It was not for nothing that they revered the demon race as a blessed existence.

It was an interesting story. Devilian nodded. Other mages also slightly tilted their bodies.

“Yes, because dense concentration mana flows in the blood ordinary magic does not work. Because mana flows from low concentration places to high.”

The mages nodded at the same time. There was a subtle power that made one concentrate in the man’s voice.

“So to use magic on the demon race one has to compress mana to the maximum. Certainly the demon race is the natural enemy of mages.”

“Is it that you really caught the demon race?”

Some mage asked as if unable to believe. At that the man nodded.

“Concentration is the key. One has to do mana compression.”

“Mana compression?”

“Surely do you not even know mana compression?”

At the man’s question it became quiet for a moment.

“Oh, my god.”

Clear contempt rose on the man’s face. At that Devilian furrowed his eyes and answered.

“Why compress mana. We have mana stone staffs.”

At Devilian’s words all the mages nodded. The man exhaled a deep sigh and shook his head.

“Well that is why you are in the North. I understand.”

At the man’s teasing the mages’ faces furrowed.

Devilian could not hold back and stood up abruptly.

“This guy exceeds the topic because I am letting it pass!”

Devilian’s staff aimed at the man. Other mages also held their staffs. The knights drew their swords. The atmosphere sharpened in an instant.

The man had no sign of being intimidated at all. Rather he clicked his tongue larger.

“Boasting as a mage without even knowing mana compression is more not knowing the topic.”

The man rebuked while pointing at the mages with his finger.

“Mana compression would only be needed for you who did not receive the choice.”

Then, a mage close to the guy rolled up the forearm.

The evidence of choice, the magic circle the First Mage left was clearly engraved.

The man grabbed the mage’s forearm. It was the appearance of not caring about the sword aimed at his neck. Rather the sword slightly retreated.

“Is it the magic circle the First Mage left. Certainly interesting.”

Knowing the First Mage. Devilian squinted his eyes. He realized the identity of the sense of déjà vu.

“You recruited the crow.”

“Similar. Will you turn the arm a bit? Because it is not seen well.”

“Stop! It was strange from when you appeared alone in the meeting hall. You were just a crazy guy.”

“Hmm, there is one thing I am curious about.”

In the fierce atmosphere the guy raised his hand.

To the end—.

‘No, one must not get involved.’

Getting angry in this kind of situation was rather being wrapped by the guy.

Devilian nodded while forcibly pressing the annoyance.

“What?”

“Normally if one comes alone like this and boasts doesn’t one suspect there is something?”

At the guy’s question Devilian laughed.

Something—.

Looking at the leisure there could be some scheme.

However—.

“What can you do?”

Devilian asked while looking around.

Chosen knights exceeded ten, and mages holding staffs were eight.

What can the guy do here.

“Hmm, with this flashy eloquence—.”

Flashy eloquence—?

At the bizarre answer Devilian squinted his eyes.

Soon the sense of déjà vu became clear.

“One can bind you guys.”

The man flicked his finger.

Noise that had not been heard until now entered.

The sound of weapons clashing, someone’s scream, shout sounds—.

Then, someone entered while roughly breaking the door.

“Knight— Gilbert!”

It was a knight with a messy appearance but clear eyes. That knight swung the sword.

The knights aiming swords at Galahad urgently stepped back.

Beyond the broken door a messy corridor was seen. Soldiers and knights were mixed and exchanging swords.

A boy holding the sword reverse cut a soldier from top to bottom. A scream burst and red blood sprayed long. Another soldier stabbed the sword at the boy.

Then—.

“These bastard guys.”

The staff smashed the soldier’s head. The elderly man entered while spinning the red staff.

It was the 7th Battalion Captain locked in the basement of the Black Magic Society. How on earth······.

‘Crow this bastard—.’

“Devilian! Didn’t you say you handled the captain!”

“This bastard guy—. Handling?”

“Damn! This is different from the promise!”

The vice-captain shouted while avoiding the elderly man’s eyes.

In an instant the room became a mess.

People stood behind the guy.

A boy, a woman wearing maid clothes, an elderly man holding a staff, a knight wearing a stupid helmet, a soldier holding a shield, even a knight. It was a diverse composition to the extent of being curious how one gathered them.

‘Came alone and talked to drag time—. Thoroughly blocking noise by scattering mana? Is it a possible matter?’

Devilian purely admired.

It was an action that exceeded the level of being bold.

Not even half a day had passed since the guy arrived.

In the meantime he rescued the 7th Battalion Captain and entered directly and even dragged time. To think he managed to make the situation like this—.

Amazing to the extent of being curious how.

“Stoooop—!”

At Devilian’s shout everyone stopped.

“Excellent.”

“I am originally a bit excellent.”

“Yes, amazing. I acknowledge.”

However—.

“Do you think I believed the crow?”

Devilian fully raised the corners of his mouth.

“Thank you, for doing our work instead.”

He laughed while looking at the red blood stuck on their bodies. It was not only Devilian. Others also laughed.

The knights drew their swords. Ash color gradually spread. Ominous aura widened the area. The number of chosen knights stronger than ordinary knights exceeded ten.

Including Devilian cadres were two, usable mages were eight. All were those who received the choice.

On top of that—.

Suddenly a cool feeling was felt. The evidence of choice engraved on the wrist reacted.

A translucent barrier floated in front of Devilian. The ice awl blocked by that scattered. Cold fragments tickled the cheek.

“This cowardly······.”

Devilian shouted while squinting his eyes.

“Regrettable.”

At the guy licking his lips Devilian pounded the ground with the staff.

Kwaaaaaang!!

The ceiling roughly collapsed.

A huge tentacle that broke the ceiling struck down at the guys.

The elderly man flowed it with the staff containing aura. As the tentacle collided the wall behind was miserably broken. The tentacle did not stop and struck down again.

The moment the knight wearing the stupid helmet tried to step forward, the guy named Gilbert stepped forward.

The place where the guys were collapsed pushed by the tentacle.

Cool night air that entered through the collapsed gap swept Devilian’s face.

“Would it be with only an upper-rank demon race level at the launch ceremony?”

The place where the guys were had collapsed.

Devilian stood at that end and looked down.

He expected what expression that arrogant guy would make.

The guy was held by the knight wearing the stupid helmet—.

Looking up—.

‘······Laughing?’

He was laughing.

At that smile Devilian felt a subtle coolness.

****

“Preparations were more than thought.”

Galahad looked up and clicked his tongue.

Six huge tentacles were moving around the castle. The size and power of each one was bloody.

Then, the stupid helmet approached closely. Blue pupils were seen beyond. It seemed confirming if Galahad was okay.

“It’s fine, will you put me down?”

Nod.

Adrianne gently put Galahad down.

“It is similar to then. It is the feeling of forcibly raising a basically upper-rank magic beast.”

Gilbert said while furrowing his brow.

It seemed talking about the demonkin-beast seen at Palho’s time. Certainly a similar feeling.

“Ah, if one releases that kind of thing aren’t the guys also dangerous?”

At Gilbert’s monologue Galahad squinted his eyes.

Certainly it was not the feeling of being controlled. Yet the tentacles headed this side not the guys. Exactly as if the guys were not seen—.

‘Ah, it seems that called choice.’

It seemed related to the magic circle of the guy called First Mage.

Then, ash color fireballs flew from far away. Even roughly looking it exceeded ten, yet the momentum was unusual.

It was not the kind of thing a fake mage relying on a staff would scatter.

‘This—.’

Galahad squinted his eyes and flicked his hand. A spark was shot quickly.

The spark accurately aimed at the center of the fireball, but rather the spark disappeared.

‘The mana concentration is high?’

Galahad compressed mana and flicked again.

Only then the fireball scattered, yet that speed was slow. He reverse calculated the concentration with the scattering speed.

‘The mana concentration is quite high. On top of that the casting speed is short. Why?’

Galahad pondered and flicked his finger consecutively. Unlike before because one had to compress time was insufficient.

“Explosive Fireball!!”

Gwen’s fireball directly hit the last fireball. Gwen’s magic did not erase the fireball, but changed the direction. The ash color fireball fell behind.

Ash fully spread and the land shook.

‘Not good.’

Galahad opened the lid of the water bottle.

“These guys are coming down!”

Then, the elderly man shouted. Knights containing ash color jumped down, yet that speed was considerable.

“Knight— Gilbert—!”

Gilbert introduced himself and stepped forward. The elderly man swung the staff and followed him. Damien moved.

‘Not easy.’

Demonkin-beast exceeding upper-rank and demon race knights, even mages armed with staffs and the magic circle the First Mage left—.

That power was considerable.

There was a reason the guys acted leisurely.

The situation was not good.

But—.

Adrianne knocked her own helmet.

‘This side has Adrianne.’

Galahad raised his head.

The huge tentacles were ominously nodding.

“Can one handle that?”

Nod.

“If this place is the Magic Realm?”

Adrianne was silent.

“Hmm, support forces will be needed.”

Galahad muttered while looking up at the sky full of dark clouds.

Wouldn’t it have arrived by this point.

The stupid helmet shook.

“There is such a thing. Come, let’s go.”

****

‘What kind of guy is he doing on earth?’

Devilian’s eyes fully furrowed.

This side was using a staff with upper-rank mana stones embedded and even the magic circle the First Mage left.

He had confidence in winning against any mage.

Until meeting the guy—.

The guy was destroying their magic with only flicking his finger.

It was a situation one could not believe if not seen directly.

‘It was not for nothing that the Society Head was wary.’

However, that was only that.

“Unfold the Sanctuary.”

Devilian gestured behind. Society members moved busily.

Beyond the broken wall a huge magic circle was drawn. It was a magic circle one put heart into. Mana stones were piled like a mountain on the magic circle.

It was the mana stones the Black Magic Society gathered until now. Even that value how much. One could not even price it.

He stuck a huge staff into the magic circle. The magic circle made a bizarre sound and emitted light.

Then—.

“U········· uaaaaak! Please save!”

The guy beside the magic circle did not avoid and was sucked in.

‘Stupid guy.’

Devilian muttered a curse and stepped back.

The mana stones changed into ash. A dirty and acrid smell filled the room and then roughly spread.

It was the heritage the First Mage left. The mana stones that changed into dust fluttered and scattered like ash.

Ash inflated the area in an instant.

Devilian covered his mouth and nose.

The ash that started spreading became denser while sucking blood.

Soon all around was full of ash.

It was the Sanctuary.

···············!

The magic beast roughly howled. Joy was full.

At the power contained in that voice Devilian trembled his body.

Even knowing it was the same side the presence was so huge it was fearful.

There was no choice. It was a highest-rank magic beast. What would happen if such a magic beast entered the Sanctuary.

The guy was now a disaster that could not be stopped.

Devilian urgently examined the forearm. The engraved magic circle was dyed red and blazed.

‘Operating properly.’

Ash color strengthened. Chosen knights howled like magic beasts.

The opponent’s existence was erased from Devilian’s head.

Since the Sanctuary activated there was no possibility the guys would win at all.

Even if that Adrianne came—.

“With this a new era began.”

This was only the start.

Devilian looked around with hot eyes. Other Society members were staring at Devilian with eyes full of emotion. Hot tears flowed in their eyes.

Devilian nodded while looking at each one of them.

Then, he suddenly felt something strange.

The number matched exactly.

‘······Clearly one was sucked in earlier?’

Devilian examined again.

As expected the number was the same.

‘No?’

At the very last—.

“This discovered.”

The guy was laughing brightly.

Really brightly as if there was a very happy matter—.

“It is a gaze of how did you come.”

The guy raised the corners of his mouth and rolled up the sleeve.

There—.

“I also prepared one.”

The seal of choice was clearly embedded.

‘······Prepared?’

Devilian’s thoughts stopped.

****

···············!!

At the terrible scream Tom sat as is.

The huge tentacle roughly undulated as if expressing joy.

In the dense fog breath was blocked—. Uncontrollable fear rose from deep inside.

There was no strength even to move a finger.

What use would that be anyway.

That huge despair is howling—.

The densely spread ash was swept by the huge despair and fluttered.

The castle broke. The land overturned. The earth shook roughly.

That was not an existence one could resist.

Then—.

A white light flashed.

There was one advancing toward the huge despair while splitting the dense ash.

It was the North’s hero Adrianne.

‘Ah—.’

How can one advance like that.

Clank—. An unpleasant sound was heard from the side.

What had been a knight, something that now became a magic beast was approaching Tom.

While revealing hostility full of ash color—.

Tom blankly looked at that.

Not even one finger moved.

The magic beast looked at Tom and gaped its mouth—.

Between that the knight’s face was seen. It was looking at Tom and drooling full.

When it approached right in front—.

“A yard—.”

A thick voice as if a beast was howling was heard.

Then, the approaching guy suddenly disappeared.

Creak, a small sound was all.

The magic beast that lost strength collapsed as is.

“It will be a feast like that guy said.”

The Grand Duke advanced while putting a tentacle one did not know when he pulled out into his mouth and chewing.