Chapter 14
[Trantor – Kie]
[Proofreader – Demon God’s male Disciple]
[Quality Checker – Kawaii]
Chapter 14: Hunting the Serpent (4)
The soldiers of the Church started to move as soon as they received the orders.
Sebastian and Cedric were tied up without even putting up a decent resistance. They seemed more resigned than obedient to the pdin’smand, as if they had given up on everything.
“…You’re going to capture me?”
However, Robert was different.
Robert kicked his Halbert which was on the ground, with his foot, and grabbed it
“Do you think I’ll be caught so easily?”
“If you resist, you’ll die.”
“I’ll die even if I don’t resist! Did you not know how vile the church is?”
Robert summoned his magic. Aura enveloped Halbert.
“Since it’se to this, I’ll strike you down here and flee!”
Robert charged toward the pdin, simultaneously lifting the Halbert higher.
The pdin’s pupils narrowed.
She clenched her fist and adjusted her stance. A blue me engulfed the pdin’s body.
Strangely, the robe the pdin was wearing did not catch fire.
It fluttered as if a strong wind was blowing.
“You!”
Robert struck down Halbert.
But the pdin was faster, unleashing a punch.
The sound of the air exploding pierced their eardrums.
The pdin’s body disappeared and reappeared right in front of Robert.
At that same speed, she threw a punch at him.
The fiery fist engulfed the breastte, striking hard.
“Urgh!”
The breastte crumpled and shattered into pieces.
Robert vomited blood as he was thrown backward.
‘How foolish.’
Under the madness of fanaticism, a pdin undergoes rigorous training throughout their life. Not only that, they must fulfill various perilous missions under the guise of divine trials.
The strength cultivated by a pdin in this manner is vastly different from that of an ordinary knight.
‘By the way, this woman… was a disciple of Cheongyeom.’
Cheongyeom Bridgendin.
Among the Five Great Elders who were considered to be at the very apex within the church she was renowned for striking down numerous heretics, including several continentally recognized Dark mages.
‘She was an incredibly powerful martial artist.’
In a previous life, Damien had fought against Cheongyeom. A formidable opponent worthy of her fame.
It took over half a day of struggle before achieving victory.
“Damien Hasken.”
Damien’s thoughts were shattered by the pdin’s voice.
He raised his head to look at the pdin.
“Your merit in eliminating the Yn’s executive ismendable beyond measure.”
“I merely did what was expected.”
“Though you utilized the Church for your own purposes, I won’t hold you ountable for any wrongdoing.”
Damien shrugged.
“I’m not sure what you’re implying.”
“Didn’t you summon the Church to cover up the attack on the ck Serpent?”
She was keenly aware of the situation reverting to the topic just arrived.
He felt she might have a clue as to why she arrivedte at the assembly.
“It seems like you’ve been watching me from afar.”
It was an intrusive move, yet, in a way, understandable.
Dark mages have long been adept at nting spies within the Church.
“Thank you for understanding. That scoundrel, Akitora, not only cursed our territory but also dishonored my family.”
The pdin’s pupils slightly widened at Damien’s words.
“So, I wanted to eradicate the ck Serpent with my own hands.”
“If that’s the case, then I can’t me you any further.”
Contrary to public perception, the Church was quite flexible.
However, when it came to matters involving heresy, they would be extremely vignt.
“We’ll ensure the bounty on Akitora’s head is paid promptly.”
“How much can I receive?”
“Around a hundred gold.”
Hundred gold was a staggering amount that could buy a small castle in a country side easily.
But Damien had little interest in the money.
“Could I receive goods instead of the gold?”
“It’s possible, what do you desire?”
Finally, the awaited moment arrived.
Damien revealed the prepared answer.
“I wish to receive one of the Church’s Mana Absorption Techniques.”
“I don’t understand.”
The pdin shook his head.
“A skilled individual like you who is capable of exterminating the ck Serpent gang alone… and yet, you need Mana Absorption Techniques?”
The pdin chuckled incessantly.
“I’ve only mastered the basic Mana absorption Techniques. What Damien is currently practicing was taught to him by amander during his mercenary days. It’s the most rudimentary form of Mana Absorption, slow in umting magical power, with no special effects.”
“I was looking into acquiring an even more advanced Mana absorption Techniques when an opportunity arose, so I’m making this request.”
Of course, given Damien’s talent, he could enhance these basic Mana Absorption Techniques to create more advanced ones. However, based on Damien’s experience, having ‘reference materials’ yielded far superior results than starting from scratch.
“I’ve heard among the items seized from heretics by the Church, there are many Mana absorption Techniques. I wish to obtain those confirmed to be safe.”
However, Mana absorption Techniques are not only extremely costly but also challenging to acquire. They rarely appear even in the ck market and, when they do, it’s through asional auctions.
Finally connected with the Church, Damien contemted acquiring the Mana Absorption Techniques.
“…You’ve reached this level just with basic techniques?”
The pdin was surprised beyond belief.
Damien extended his wrist to the pdin, indicating a request for a direct inspection if he couldn’t believe it.
The pdin grabbed Damien’s wrist and channeled sacred power.
The sacred power scanned Damien’s body.
After a moment, the pdin, wide-eyed, uttered,
“It’s true…”
“Now, will you believe me?”
The pdin crossed his arms, lost in thought. Damien patiently awaited the pdin’s response.
“There’s a better way than receiving the Mana Absorption Techniques.”
“Is that so?”
Upon Damien’s query, the pdin spoke.
“Are you not interested in bing a pdin?”
“No, I’m not.”
Damien stated bluntly. The pdin’s pupils slightly widened at his words.
“W-Why not?”
Judging from his stumbling speech, it seemed quite shocking.
“Bing a pdin is the most honorable position, blessed by the grace of the gods, to purge evil.”
Unfortunately, Damien had never possessed even an ounce of faith in his life. Moreover, there was a significant reason why Damien refused to be a pdin.
“A pdin is just a hound for the Church.”
A pdin incurs an obligation to obey the Church. Refusing it results in emunication and being handed over for religious trials.
“Reconsider once more. With your skill, even my master would take an interest.”
To garner the attention of ‘Cheongyeom,’ one of the Five Great Elders of the Church.
If it were someone else, they might have felt honored, but not Damien.
“I have yet to understand the love of the gods. Right now, I want to travel the world and practice the teachings of the divine.”
Unable to outright state it, Damien decided to divert the conversation appropriately.
“…Such sacred words. They’re truly enlightening to my ears.”
Despite the somewhat fabricated words, they seemed to resonate with the pdin.
The pdin looked at Damien with a rather burdened expression.
“But if your thoughts change, please visit the Church anytime. I’ll personally wee you.”
“Understood.”
Perhaps Damien’s visit to the Church to be a pdin would never happen.
“As requested, instead of the bounty, we’ll provide you with the Mana Absorption Techniques.”
The pdin readily granted Damien’s request.
If she was a disciple of Cheongyeom, her power to amodate such a request was more than sufficient.
“However, there is one condition. We’ll dispatch people from the Church to investigate Akitora’s traces. I hope you’ll receive them as assistants at Hasken Manor.”
“Understood.”
Damien spoke without a moment’s hesitation. Truthfully, it wasn’t a request he could refuse.
The Chrch’s members would do anything to eradicate heretics.
He couldn’t risk unnecessary suspicion by rejecting their offer.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
The pdin drew two lines in the air with two fingers—an etiquette of the Church.
“By the way, we haven’t exchanged formalities. My name is Agnes, a direct disciple of Cheongyeom.”
Direct disciple.
It referred to those brought in first as disciples.
In his past life, Cheongyeom’s disciples were widely known.
However, the name Agnes was not among them.
‘Was she assassinated before she could make her name known to others by the dark mages?’
Being Damien didn’t mean knowing everything about the future.
“Agnes, it’s an honor to meet you.”
Imitating the Church’s etiquette, Damien replied.
“Anyway, can I finish my task now?”
“As you wish. But what task are you referring to?”
Damien approached Cedric Walker. Cedric’s hands were tightly bound.
As Damien neared, Cedric merely turned his head, speaking gruffly.
“Why is this bastard approaching me… ugh!”
Suddenly, Damien thrust his foot into Cedric Walker’s abdomen.
Cedric retched and copsed to the floor.
“Soft like a piglet.”
“This crazed… urgh!”
Damien continued to stomp on Cedric.
He targeted areas causing intense pain but not risking his life.
If Cedric were to die here, it would cause trouble. He would face more torment within the Church.
“Phew, I feel a bit better now.”
Damien halted the assault only after Cedric fainted.
With a refreshed expression, he turned to Agnes.
“Shall we take him now?”
Agnes nodded, looking bewildered.
That way, Damien returned to the estate.
By the time he arrived, the sun had already set.
However, the entrance to the estate was lively.
“Damien!”
His family members were waiting for him, holding torches.
“Where on earth have you been at such a dangerous time!”
Paul Hasken scolded Damien as soon as he saw him.
But despite his words, his eyes were filled with worry.
“Why are you out in this cold weather?”
“Is the weather important right now? You didn’t get into trouble again, did you?”
“I just went out to get some some fresh air and a walk.”
Hasken had a face of suspicion.
His mother gave a p on Paul’s head despite his words.
“What did I tell you? I said Damien wouldn’t do that again.”
“Uh… You were right.”
Paul Hasken let out a relieved sigh.
“Damien, you might be frustrated because children y outside at your young age, However you stay in the estate for a while. There are more than just one or two people who have a grudge against you.”
Soon, his father spoke with a face full of concern.
“With the ck Serpent gang and Marquise of Ryan Bloom at your neck… Don’t let your guard down; who knows what might happen.”
His father tightly held Damien’s hand.
“Even with just ck Serpent, those guys don’t know any limits. Who knows if they might prepare poisoned arrows for the roads you frequently travel?”
Damien nodded slowly.
“Father is right.”
“Do you understand my point?”
A bright smile appeared on Hasken’s lips.
“Yes, I thought the same, so I took precautions beforeing back.”
However, his expression darkened again after listening at his words.
“W-what? Pr-precautions?”
“You’ll soon hear about the disappearance of the name ck Serpent.”
“W-what are you talking about?”
“For more details, ask Victor.”
At the mention of the name, Victor’s eyes widened.
“Well then, I’m a bit tired, so I’ll go in now.”
Damien released his hand from his father’s grip and began running down the street.
“D-Damien? Damien!”
Viscount Paul Hasken tried to grab Damien, but it was futile. Damien was already far away.
“Oh, right.”
He turned back and shouted.
“People from the Holy Church mighte soon; don’t be scared. They’re just here to investigate the traces of the dark mages.”
Hasken’s mind went nk at these words.
“W-what? The Holy Church? Why would the Churche here? And what about the dark mages?”
Damien was already gone, unable to answer that question.
Paul Hasken turned to Victor. His gaze was so fierce that Victor trembled.
“Victor… You’ll have to exin everything that happened today without missing a single detail!”
The ident was caused by Damien, but Victor was the one enduring the suffering.
Victor shed a few tears silently.
[Trantor – Kie]
[Proofreader – Demon God’s male Disciple]
[Quality Checker – Kawaii]