“Haa, really! I told you there’s no use running away. You’re just wasting time.”
“How did you get here already! The guards couldn’t possibly all be…”
“That’s why I said let’s settle this amongst ourselves. I’ve shown an unsightly scene to the noble lord.”
The one at the front of the group playfully bowed to Rowy and Van. The guide sucked in an empty breath at that leisurely appearance.
‘No matter what, I never thought the guards couldn’t lay a finger on them….’
Cold sweat poured down the guide’s back.
‘Who on earth are they? Does this make sense?’
What more needs to be said about the skills of the Veloa Trading Company’s guards, counted among the continent’s top three trading companies? The guide was greatly flustered by something he’d never experienced before. Then he slowly, quietly moved behind Van. He’d sought out the safest-looking place. A single guard knight attached to a wealthy noble—he must be very strong. …He’d better be, please.
‘…But why is this person so immature?’
Meanwhile, Rowy was continuously pushing Van’s back, who was blocking the door, saying he wanted to see outside too.
“Please, Master. It’s dangerous, so stay behind me.”
“I want to see too.”
“Co-come this way. Leave it to the knight!”
The guide pulled Rowy away. However, Rowy kept sticking his head out fearlessly. The horrified guide kept pulling Rowy back inside.
“Ugh, really annoying.”
Eventually, Rowy was dragged back by the guide’s strong hands. Van, who glimpsed this, drew his sword. The group of unknowns was now almost right in front of them.
“If you come any closer, I’ll cut you down.”
Van raised his sword in warning.
“Whoa, scary.”
The one leading the group at the front playfully raised his hands.
“Don’t worry, Sir Knight. We have no intention of touching the noble lord either. Just hand over that guide. The one who knows the Holy Sword’s location.”
“Eek.”
At the words pointing to him, the guide recoiled in horror. In that gap, Rowy, who had escaped from the guide’s hands, quickly popped out from behind Van again.
“I’m the one who bought the Holy Sword though.”
“…Please just stay still.”
Van pushed Rowy back again. Even so, Van didn’t take his eyes off the man before him.
‘They’re after the Holy Sword, but why?’
The Holy Sword was of course the Elysion Order’s most important holy relic, but that didn’t mean it had great objective value.
Though it had the grand modifier of being a ‘sword bestowed by God,’ in the end, it belonged to a small religious order.
A sword made by an imperial craftsman would be far more valuable than a holy relic of an unknown god.
It didn’t make sense that they’d infiltrated the auction house yet were only looking for the Holy Sword while leaving other precious things alone. Even Van, the Holy Sword’s owner, had readily given it up in place of a debt.
‘Of course, someone did buy it for five billion…’
…Who would do such a thing besides someone like Rowy?
‘What on earth do they intend to do with the Holy Sword?’
Anyway, the Holy Sword was a sword that couldn’t be properly used by anyone but Van. It was a completely incomprehensible situation.
“Now, we don’t have time. Hurry up and hand over that guy. You’re not thinking of facing us alone, are you?”
Along with the man’s words, to make matters worse, another group in black robes appeared from the opposite side. The man’s voice became even more triumphant.
“What can Sir Knight do alone? Hm? Are you going to face all these people by yourself?”
‘Face them alone…’
At those words, Van carefully observed the group in black robes. And came to a conclusion.
‘I can face them alone just fine.’
To Van, who had trained his entire life for battle against demons, no matter how many humans like these came, they were no match.
‘Though I’ve never fought humans before, so it won’t be easy to hold back…’
What would Van, who had clashed bare-handed even with demons, fear from humans? However… the colt in his arms was the problem. Van looked down at Rowy clinging to his arm. Rowy was still observing the group with sparkling eyes and an interested gaze.
‘If I tell this person to hide somewhere in a corner, will he listen?’
“……”
…No affirmative answer comes to mind immediately. However, there were too many enemies to keep him by his side while fighting. Van had never once fought while protecting someone. If by any chance Rowy got caught up in it and got hurt.
‘Absolutely not.’
Something like the Holy Sword was nothing compared to Rowy. Elion would surely understand if it was to protect a person.
‘Of course, the trading company will return the five billion Cen, right?’
Van, who had considered even the quite practical matter, made his decision. To give up the Holy Sword.
“…I just need to hand over the Holy Sword?”
It was a priority to just give them what they wanted and get Rowy out of this dangerous situation. However,
“I don’t want to.”
The objection came from Rowy.
‘…I knew it.’
Van sighed and tried to persuade Rowy.
“No, Master. It’s dangerous, so let’s retreat for now…”
“I don’t want to.”
…Of course, it didn’t work at all. Van squeezed his eyes shut at the firm answer. This is maddening.
“Geez, I said we don’t have time? If the knights come, things will get bigger, so let’s resolve this quickly before that. We don’t want anyone getting hurt either.”
The man urged. Van looked at the guide.
“…Where is the Holy Sword? Let’s hand it over and get out for now.”
“No!”
…This time it’s the guide’s objection. In the end, Van furrowed his brow.
Of course, the guide had a desperate reason unlike Rowy.
“If we let them take the merchandise like this, they might spare me, but the trading company will try to kill me!”
The Veloa Trading Company, which sold only expensive items to nobles, was owned by the Imperial Count Levien family, and to them, the life of a commoner employee wasn’t very important. Moreover, if it was an item sold for five billion, even more so. Just the penalty fees alone would be how much…. The guide turned pale calculating the amount.
“No! Absolutely not!”
The panicked guide rushed to the window.
‘I’d rather jump!’
If I’m lucky, I might break a leg and survive, but if the Holy Sword is taken, I’ll definitely die! The guide, firmly resolved, grabbed the window.
“Ugh! Why won’t it open!”
…But unfortunately, the window was locked.
“Haa…”
In a word, it was chaos. Van, who now had two reckless people to protect, raised his sword again with a half-enlightened expression.
“Then I’ll break through a path first, so take responsibility and get Master out.”
“Yes!”
“I don’t want to.”
The answers came simultaneously.
Naturally ignoring one side’s opinion, Van pushed Rowy toward the guide.
“…Hoo.”
Van’s momentum, having decided to send the two out, changed in an instant. The sharp sword tip pointed at the man before him.
‘I will definitely get them out safely.’
Van’s body, which had never once been afraid even before demons, trembled shallowly for the first time. Nevertheless, the sword tip of the swordsman who had transcended his limits didn’t even quiver. A faint tension flowed through the corridor.
“I won’t attack if you quietly step aside.”
However, the man before him remained composed even with a sword pointed at him.
“Scary. But Sir Knight, it’s not me who’ll be your opponent, it’s that guy.”
“What?”
Van asked. However, the man didn’t answer. He just snapped his fingers. At the same time, a figure revealed itself from the end of the corridor. Seeing this, Van’s eyes gradually widened.
‘That’s…’
A large build, iron chains wrapped around the neck and wrists that clinked with each step. And above all, a mask made from goat bones covering the face.
‘Why on earth is that here…’
Van’s face hardened seriously at the all-too-familiar appearance.
“Th-that’s him! Everyone collapsed when just that big one approached!”
The guide, who had stuck right behind Van’s back again along with Rowy, shouted.
“What, it looks like a ghost too, so creepy I could die!”
“Ghost?”
At the interesting word, Rowy stuck his head out from behind Van and looked outside. Van, horrified, hugged Rowy tightly.
“That’s dangerous.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“That’s…”
To Van, that all-too-familiar thing was,
‘How is a demon here…’
It was the sudden appearance of a demon.
* * *
‘A vessel, but I definitely killed all the vessels.’
Vessel. Literally, one who offered their own body as a vessel to summon a demon. A demon that settled in a human body had incomparably weak power compared to its true form, but for that very reason, it was dangerous. Demons mixed among humans would cause unimaginable things. Van re-gripped his sword while being extremely vigilant.
‘I definitely wiped out all the demon summoners, but how long has it been for them to appear again…’
When the archdemon Mammon died, all demon summoners greatly lost their power. The summoners whose demons that had lent them power disappeared were no match for the Holy Knights. In Elion’s name, numerous demon summoners were subjected to divine punishment. However, evil, as it always had, approached again, having grown in size in an instant.
“……”
Van finally realized why they were after the Holy Sword. It was actually a simple answer. Those who need the Holy Sword are either those who want to kill demons… or only those who don’t wish for the death of demons.
