Chapter 108

The next day, Fernan and Aint entered the city hall together with the priests of the Cult of the Dragon God.

In the grand banquet hall of the city hall, a crowd awaited inspection.

Because Vienderk’s soldiers had tracked entry and exit records and brought in all the suspects, the previously mentioned five hundred people had now become nearly six hundred.

And they would surely continue increasing.

“We will now begin searching for corrupt magic. We ask for your active cooperation.”

Except for the cardinal, the other nine priests took out artifacts.

Fernan knew them well—artifacts capable of detecting corrupt magic embedded in mana.

The priests began inspecting people one by one from the edges.

Fernan, leaning on the railing of the second floor beside Aint, watched from above.

“What do you think? Do you sense anything?”

“Let me try.”

“All right.”

Aint began concentrating, while Fernan unconsciously stroked Wooden hanging from his neck, thinking about what was to come.

Then someone approached him.

“Greetings, young master Fernan.”

“Count Daniel? You’re here too?”

It was Daniel Kool, with his pale blond hair.

His territory had fertile lands that produced a large amount of rice and barley, as well as advanced distilleries that specialized in whisky and other liquors.

With those goods, he operated a prosperous trading company.

He was also a client of the Golden Turtle Trade’s distribution network.

“You look a bit different.”

“Do I? I’ve been expanding business a lot lately, and with so many concerns, I’ve lost a bit of weight.”

His face used to be slightly rounded; now he looked more normal. Maybe that was what made him seem different.

“I didn’t expect to see you detained here as well. But of course, with something involving the corrupt, no one’s exempt.”

His black eyes showed a trace of sympathy.

“I came up happy after securing a liquor supply contract for this continental conference, but I never imagined I’d run into this disaster.”

“That’s how big business works—it comes with big risks.”

“True. But for the corrupt to go as far as murdering nobles—how horrifying. I never thought I’d witness something like this in my lifetime.”

He let out a deep sigh.

“A thousand years of peace, and this had to happen in our era?”

It was exactly what Fernan thought.

For a thousand years, demons and corrupt had remained quiet, reduced to myth, to the point that many couldn’t even distinguish corrupt magic anymore.

And yet, now they had returned to invade the world and disrupt everything.

The more he thought about it, the more his anger boiled. He just wanted to make money in peace and control the world in his own way.

“And this young man?”

The count was staring at Aint, who was concentrating on detecting corrupt magic.

“He is Aint Armian.”

“Aint… Armian? As in, that Armian?”

“That’s right. He’s my junior.”

“Aint Armian here? Could it be…?”

“Yes, what you’re imagining.”

He was here to search for the corrupt alongside the Cult of the Dragon God.

“I remember reading that the power of Armian allows him to instinctively perceive corrupt magic. Is that true?”

“I’m not sure.”

“To witness it in person is an honor. Makes being detained worth it.”

“It’s nothing special.”

“Nothing special? They call him the natural enemy of demons!”

Daniel smiled with a strange gleam in his eyes.

“So right now, young Aint is searching for the corrupt? Can he detect corrupt magic from a distance?”

That peculiar glint in his eyes made Fernan uncomfortable, and he responded coolly.

“I don’t know. Like I said…”

At that moment, Aint opened his eyes.

“I found them.”

“Really?”

“Yes. At least now, I’m worthy of dancing on the stage you prepared for me, senior.”

“He really found a corrupt? Faster than the Cult of the Dragon God! Worthy of an Armian. How…?”

“Count Daniel, I’m sorry, but could you give us a moment in private?”

“…Ah, of course.”

The count smiled stiffly after a brief pause at the obvious dismissal.

“I got carried away. It’s the first time I’ve witnessed the power of an Armian—I hope you understand.”

“I do.”

“All right, young master. We’ll talk again later.”

The count descended.

“You really found them, Aint?”

“Yes.”

Fernan suppressed the excitement rising in him.

He had trusted that Aint could detect corrupt magic, but he hadn’t expected him to do it without direct contact or Gardner’s help.

A pleasant surprise.

“Before, I might not have sensed it. But now that I’ve leveled up, corrupt magic feels much clearer. Also, thanks to the itarium you gave me. I’m grateful.”

Excellent news—Aint had grown stronger, and he also felt more indebted to him.

“Who are they?”

“That one over there, and those two…”

Aint pointed to three people—one dressed like a farmer, the other two looking like merchants.

“Just those three?”

“For now, yes. But there could be others hiding better. What do we do, senior?”

“What else? If we’ve found them, we’re not letting them escape.”

The three were toward the center, while the priests were still checking from the edges.

It would take time for them to get there.

Fernan thought about moving ahead, but he couldn’t just barge in.

He couldn’t risk angering the Cult of the Dragon God by stealing the initiative.

He needed an agreement.

“Wait here.”

Fernan crossed to the opposite side of the balcony and approached Cardinal Gailand, who was observing from above.

“Aint just located the corrupt.”

“…Who?”

The cardinal’s face grew stern.

“I can’t just tell you outright.”

Fernan, on the other hand, remained calm.

“How about we make a deal? Like always.”

***

Aint recalled Fernan’s instructions and jumped down decisively. Instantly, all eyes in the hall turned toward him.

‘This… is kind of embarrassing.’

— Get used to it. Right now, it’s just a few hundred. Soon it’ll be tens of thousands, millions, hundreds of millions watching you.

‘Yes.’

Taking a deep breath, Aint calmly walked through the crowd.

“Who’s that?”

“What’s he doing here?”

“I think I’ve seen him before…”

People watched him warily, but no one stopped him.

The atmosphere was strange, and on top of that, the priests of the Cult of the Dragon God—who were in charge—weren’t doing anything.

Aint stopped.

“W-what’s going on?”

The man in front of him looked nervous.

‘How should I do this?’

— Action over words. It’s not enough to say you found them with Armian’s power. Show them why you’re called the natural enemy of demons.

— There’s no need to draw your sword or threaten. Make everyone clearly understand why the Armian bear that title.

Aint created a small sphere of luminous aura.

With just that, the man stepped back.

The sphere began to radiate a light that directly clashed with the corrupt magic.

“What is that… guh?”

The man’s face twisted in pain.

Before, Aint wouldn’t have been able to do something like this. But after learning Gardner’s true swordsmanship, consuming countless elixirs, and surviving multiple battles—even against demons—now he could.

For a corrupt of that level, just exposing them to the light was enough.

Like an insect burning when it gets too close to a flame.

“Hey, what are you doing…?! Wait… is his body… smoking?”

“Ghhh…!”

The man’s scream grew louder.

From his entire body, a dark and sinister smoke began to rise.

“…Corrupt magic?”

“Is that really corrupt magic?”

No one there was stupid.

They might never have seen corrupt magic in person, but they knew that energy could be nothing else.

“Then, if that light dispels corrupt magic, could he be…?”

“Could it be…?”

They immediately remembered which lineage was the natural enemy of corrupt magic.

“Kyaaaaahhh!”

The man couldn’t hold on any longer and tore off his mask.

A wave of energy swept across the surroundings, throwing people to the ground.

“It’s real, it’s corrupt magic!”

“There was a corrupt hiding among us!”

Covered in sinister energy, the corrupt raised his claws like a beast, leaving a black trail in the air as he lunged at Aint.

“Everyone, get back!”

“Stop right there, filthy corrupt!”

The priests stayed still, as agreed, but Vienderk’s knights did not.

They hastily drew their weapons.

But Aint was faster.

Clang!

His sword appeared in his hands, deflecting the claws.

The light of his aura shone brightly, revealing his presence to all.

Slash!

The corrupt’s body was immediately cut in two.

The corrupt magic surrounding him disintegrated quickly, like an insect incinerated in a bonfire.

“Gyaaaaaaahhh!”

In that instant, the corrupt’s body began to swell.

— Damn it, he’s going to blow himself up!

— If he explodes here, there’ll be too many casualties. You must contain it!

Aint raised his sword again, but then—

Rumble—

A dome of rock enclosed the corrupt.

Boom—!

The building shook, but suffered no damage.

“Pathetic.”

Fernan waved his hand calmly.

“Always the same routine. Don’t they know anything else besides self-detonation?”

Silence filled the hall.

All eyes were on Aint and the fallen corrupt.

And Fernan raised his voice.

“Aint Armian.”

The silence shattered.

It confirmed what everyone suspected—that the young man before them was a descendant of Armian.

“Do what you must.”

“Yes, senior.”

“Curse you all!”

“No, I don’t want to die!”

Other corrupt lunged at him.

Aint did not hesitate.

As he passed by Vienderk’s stunned knights, he recalled Fernan’s words:

“Make it as flashy and sacred as possible.”

“After a thousand years, the battle between Armian and the corrupt is happening again. For a light to appear now that surpasses them is no small thing.”

“Remember—it must be spectacular.”

Aint raised his sword and concentrated his aura.

‘I can’t use anything too powerful…’

If he did, he’d kill too many innocent people in the hall.

But there was one technique that, though harmless to those present, would be impactful enough.

— For the corrupt, it’ll be more than just a spectacle. You’ll see.

Ignoring Gardner’s sarcasm, Aint swung his sword.

Whoooosh!

The aura took shape.

A luminous bird with two pairs of wings and a single head.

It wasn’t large, didn’t emit a real roar, and had no great destructive power.

But it was enough.

“…Saint Bird.”

“A… a bird of light!”

The symbol of Armian had appeared before everyone.

Screeeech—!

“Gaaaahhh!”

“My power…! It’s fading!”

The corrupt screamed as the bird’s light corroded them.

When the Saint Bird finished its task and vanished, no one was running anymore.

Only a few bodies writhed on the floor, releasing black smoke.

‘Perfect.’

Aint had summoned the very symbol of Armian.

Maybe it was Gardner’s idea, but it was exactly what they needed.

Fernan smiled in satisfaction.

A quality product doesn’t need too much advertisement. This is enough.

The deal with the Cult of the Dragon God had paid off.

In return, he had to reveal the secret about Andromalius, but even that played in his favor.

After all, even if the future had changed, the demons would still end up being summoned.

Sooner or later, everyone would realize the problem went beyond the corrupt.

Fernan scanned the hall once more, and his smile widened.