But no madman in the world would dare use Demorus’s name.
“Did the Ironblood Marquis send you?”
The Ironblood Marquis, Carnima Variat, was not one to impersonate.
For his end was inevitable destruction, not just for himself but for all involved.
“I wasn’t sent by him, but that’s not the important part, right?”
Swish.
Sein brought a dagger to Garcia’s throat.
“W-What do you want in return…? Oh, no, no! Whatever it may be, I’ll comply as you wish! If there’s a debt, I’ll clear it! Or, no, I’ll sponsor you!”
“Is that so?”
Sian’s satisfied smile.
But.
“You’re late.”
Swiftly.
Sian’s dagger sliced past Garcia’s neck.
“What a shame.”
He briefly regretted killing him so easily.
Garcia had been a nuisance at Irina’s walnut emporium for quite some time.
– You owe us.
If it had been a simple debt, he would have just paid up.
– I only borrowed a measly thousand gold!
It didn’t take long for a thousand gold to turn into thirty thousand.
A miraculous business.
– So? In the end, you’re the one who borrowed.
– That’s not it!
He hadn’t borrowed out of a desire to borrow.
Deception and fraud.
As a man entrenched in the underworld, Sian couldn’t condemn such things.
Thunk.
The opponent was unsatisfactory.
“You have to torment those who torment others.”
Isn’t tormenting someone already in hell something even demons wouldn’t do?
“Please make sure they never bother us again.”
Irina’s wish was granted.
“Well… the method might not sit well with you.”
There would be no evidence.
This dagger had been stolen from Garcia’s corpse.
Even if that weren’t the case, given Garcia’s propensity for lending with interest, there would likely be many enemies, making it hard to confirm it was his own doing.
A merchant’s death wouldn’t erase the debt.
So.
Thud.
The aftermath had to be taken care of thoroughly.
“You’re earlier than expected.”
Sian returned to Remi’s mansion.
“Take it.”
“What’s this money for?”
Handing a pouch of coins to Remi, Sian replied, “It’s for the walnut emporium in Porishe. Just pass it along there. Count Ipar Viscount will probably try to collect the debt.”
“Ipar? That obnoxious fellow?”
“Yeah. Make sure he keeps his hands off the walnut emporium.”
Debts would be passed on to Aipar.
He would have another merchant rob the walnut store.
Putting a hand in that mess might work, but then things would escalate too much.
So, he paid off the debt to Aipar with the money stolen from Garcia’s safe.
Then, they too would lose their grounds.
If they still meddled afterward, Remi would have to step in.
“Can you do it?”
When pressure from Demorus reaches Zone 2, they attract too much attention.
Not oneself, but Irne and Artel.
“If it’s Aipar….”
Snick.
Remi chuckled.
“I can. I made a new friend at the party. I’ll do that much for you, too, since it’s thanks to you. Debt?”
“Debt?”
“You said you’d have me. Money or power.”
Sein smirked.
“What’s the deal? It’s unusual to see you go this far.”
That’s why he didn’t want to reveal it.
Only to Remi, that was the best Sein could offer.
Sein pondered his words for a moment.
“I’m in debt. More than I thought.”
“…You?”
“So, take care of it. If you can help pay off my debt, I’ll consider your proposal positively.”
“Is that a promise?”
And a few days later, Sein briefly stopped by the walnut store before returning to Demorus.
The glances that greeted Sein upon his return from Zone 2 were somewhat piercing.
It was because of the news that Sein, who had scoffed at participating in the territory wars, had attended the central party.
It was rebellious.
Contradictory.
The looks and voices pointing fingers at Sein increased.
– Sein Demorus is not the kind to associate with Demorus.
Such evaluations.
– Especially not fit to be the heir.
It would be a fatal flaw in becoming the successor.
Aware of this, Sein had prepared a few countermeasures.
“Sein Demorus.”
However, at the aristocratic meeting that weighed merits and demerits, something unexpected unfolded.
“I heard you attended the party in Zone 2.”
Even though it was a mission, Tejera said so clearly.
“A mission…”
Sein tried to spit out the reasons and excuses he had thought of.
But.
“A letter came from the Iron Blood Duke.”
At Tejera’s following words, the atmosphere at the gathering froze.
“…!”
The Iron Blood Duke.
If there were three Dark Lords in the shadows, there were three Dukes under the sun.
The Iron Blood Duke, Carnima.
He was considered to be one of the three Dukes with power and influence that would never be overshadowed by Demorus.
“He was deeply impressed by you.”
Tejera’s gaze fell on Sein.
Commotion.
Those who had expected Sein to be reprimanded today were in a state of commotion.
What on earth had Sein done to receive a letter of admiration from the Iron Blood Duke?
“He promised to lift Demorus’ hands off you in the dealings he was having with the Iron Blood Duke.”
From Noble mtl dot com
“Insane.”
One of the attendants who couldn’t bear it any longer blurted out.
Fortunately, there was no retaliation from Tejera.
The recent events would not be considered out of the ordinary even if an attendant cursed in the gathering.
“Excellent.”
“…!”
At Tejera’s praise, everyone froze.
“For your significant merit, ask for what you desire.”
*
*
*
Sein, returning from the center, was no longer confined.
Proactively seeking missions, he roamed outside the family estate.
– A mission has been assigned.
Sein’s reputation built up until now, his work in the center.
– A mission…
– A mission has come in.
– It’s a designation.
Countless powers and factions on the continent began to seek out Sein Demorus.
Mission after mission.
It was a series of missions.
Yet, Sein had never once refused a mission, completing them all.
‘Arthel.’
Through complicated times, Sein had found his own answers.
And after meeting Arthel at the center, more things became clear to him.
Performing missions like a madman, Sein also started getting nicknames.
-Demorus the Unbeatable.
Demorus, where failure does not exist.
But that was a story on a grand scale; surely, both big and small failures existed.
Of course, in the end, Demorus was attached to Sein for carrying out missions with additional support and resources.
But the meaning of the unbeatable attached to Sein was different.
-Success rate 100%.
Never failing to complete any mission.
The method was ruthless and relentless, but the results were certain.
-Sein Demorus.
Some praised that name.
-Sein Demorus!
Others feared that name.
-Sein… Demorus.
Some revered that name.
At least now, in the dark alleys, there was no one who didn’t know Sein’s name.
It took a year for that to happen.
Just a year.
“Long time no see, Miss.”
Sein was a strong contender among the successors.
At Sein’s words, a beautiful woman on the opposite side frowned.
“Disgusting. What mask are you wearing today, Sein Demorus?”
Tampia Demorus.
One of the Demorus successors like Sein, and the woman whom Sein had taken the 3 Forces from was her, the one originally supported by the Demorus.
Hostile.
Sein muttered in response to Tampia’s words.
“Do you have to act like a lady? That’s…”
“Fine. That’s just how you are.”
Tampia gritted her teeth.
It was unclear when things had gone wrong.
Even receiving simultaneous support from Rasiel and Dante.
-It seems Alman and Rohan are blind.
They didn’t consider it anything special.
It was a habit that had formed from being born as the child of the Absolute, living with absolute power.
To see everything beneath their feet as just bugs or organs.
“What do you intend to do?”
Sein spoke to Tampia, holding a sword towards her.
Thirty Demolus stood behind Tampia.
In contrast, Sein was accompanied by only sixteen individuals.
“Shall we fight properly here and settle it?”
Sein said with a smirk on his lips.
“Or would you prefer to retreat quietly? For the record, I prefer the former.”
It was already too late when one realized how sharp Sein’s revealed fangs were.
“Well, make your choice.”
Sein’s fangs had already sunk deep into Tampia’s throat.
“Today…”
Distant.
It felt like a molar had shattered.
“Back off.”
Distant.
Tampia crunched on a molar.
“That bastard… He…”
Although he intended to spit out “bastard,” Tampia, who had been tormented endlessly, unknowingly changed the word.
– Son of a bitch? Your Grace!
– Little brat? Your Grace!
– Fucking brat? Your Grace!
It was maddening and infuriating.
Who would have thought the Demolus heir apparent would act so childishly?
But by being blatantly childish, all he would earn was unbridled rage, often rendering him speechless.
If that was the case, avoiding confrontation and ignoring it might be the way to go.
“Already… How many times is it now?”
Those supporting her lowered their heads at Tampia’s words.
Swish.
Fingers straightened, then folded one by one.
“Twice in Sector 4.”
Folded two fingers.
“Once in Sector 5.”
Another one, until one of Tampia’s hands was clenched into a fist.
Crash!
The table in front of her shattered into pieces.
“This marks the fifth time his mission has coincided with ours.”
That was why Tampia was truly furious.
Demolus did not discriminate when it came to missions.
If it was justifiable or had the right compensation, they would accept and handle anything.
In the process, there were instances where Demolus turned against their own kind.
“Do you think this is all a coincidence?”
When the time comes, it has been handled by one side stepping back, or making one side give up their mission, or reaching an agreement with each other.
-Is this the first time you’ve seen it this way?
At first, I thought it was a coincidence.
He was the escort, and she was the assassin.
Although gaining recent fame, ultimately a candidate.
-What will you do?
Sain said, telling her to choose one of the three.
There was nothing to say.
It was the first time Sain and Tampia had a violent clash.
The result was a complete defeat for Tampia.
“I will stop it!”
If not for the sacrifice of her subordinate, that day, Demorus’s successor candidate could have been three instead of four.
Even after facing each other, Tampia tried to reach an agreement.
-Why me?
Memories of calamity.
Grrrrr.
Now, she was certain.
That he was not just an ordinary candidate.
