Chapter 208 : Chapter 208
"Who is this? What brings the great envoy of Iron here?"
It was fully expected that Teron Grond, the representative of the Northern King's inspection team, would react like this.
However.
"I thought you went into hiding after causing trouble in Agma, but what schemes have you been plotting inside our Empire?"
The hostile momentum of the troops surrounding the group while accusing them falsely exceeded expectations.
"For a strong person from another country to stir up the inside of the Empire in times like these. You will have to prove your tracks clearly, Black Knight."
The arrogant Teron also created crackling electricity in his hand with a fierce glare.
'Hmm.......'
Muno rolled his eyes inside his helmet, scanning the hundred or so elite troops of the Northern King surrounding them.
What caught his eye was an old magician emitting a stronger demonic energy than Teron, who was a 5-Circle magician.
'A 6-Circle magician......? There seems to be a Magic Knight serving him too.'
Including three 5-Star-level knights comparable to that Magic Knight, it was certainly a formidable force.
A force upgraded from when he met them in Legnas.
'Did they reinforce in the meantime? Well, the Evil cult must be tough.'
On top of that.
'They must be sensitive since they came through battles. Their killing intent is also high.......'
However, having already clashed with stronger forces with his bare body from Iron, he felt no pressure from this level of force.
"Sssip......."
Rather, his eyes shone sharply as he looked at the 6-Circle magician who seemed like he would immediately help him cross the wall if he absorbed his demonic energy right now.
"......Tsk."
The magician who met his gaze flinched, but Muno turned his eyes and took a step closer to Teron.
'This is not the time.'
THUMP.
"We were in the middle of chasing the remnants of the Evil cult. We parted ways with Inspector Victon Ares a while ago, and I received a suggestion to join the inspection team. You can verify it immediately."
He lightly knelt on one knee and bowed his head.
He thought showing at least this much courtesy would avoid conflict, but Teron was not easy.
"You ask me to believe you with just those words?"
"If it is hard to believe, please put me in the vanguard. I will properly show you results."
"Ho-oh......?"
Only then did Teron's fierce expression soften a little.
"......You will become a consumable yourself?"
"We came to the Empire to root out the Evil cult. Standing at the vanguard of the subjugation line is also an honor for me."
And also finding a stepping stone for growth.
"Hmm......."
The moment Teron started flicking his mustache again, Muno's gaze, which instinctively turned back, met the 6-Circle magician.
Seeing the old magician flinch at that, killing intent and desire began to rise slightly in his chest again.
- Grrr.
Now that he fully recognized the harm magicians caused to the world even in his head, it was difficult to endure with a pest and prey emitting dense demonic energy right in front of him.
However.
'Not now. There will be other prey.'
Muno soothed the Demon Devourer in his head and smiled again.
"Of course, I don't mind if Sir Teron takes all the credit accumulated from the subjugation. My interest lies only in the Evil cultists themselves."
"......It would be the credit of our inspection team, not mine."
"Yes, it is the credit of the inspection team."
Did he like those words?
"Good. I allow you to join. But set up your camp a bit away, and I will attach a supervisor."
"Agreed."
Teron added a superfluous condition, but it was acceptable enough.
* * *
TAP TAP TAP.
"......He is an ominous person, Commander."
At the old magician's words, Teron frowned.
"What do you mean, Lord Roson?"
"The Black Knight. That young knight is not afraid of us at all."
"......It must be the vigor of youth."
Teron dismissed the old magician's concern, but Roson shook his head again.
"A young knight not yet eighteen is already making a name for himself in the northern part of the continent. Just looking at the rumors about what happened in Legnas, he is at least a 5-Star knight. He is an incomprehensible monster. Moreover, the energy of the old Spirit Master with him is also unusual."
At those words, Teron scoffed inwardly.
'Old man, always worrying.......'
A 5-Star knight at a young age? So what?
No matter what, as long as he is a knight, he can't even reach the toes of a great magician.
Compared to magicians who handle the providence of the world, those who only handle the body are just fools who are ignorantly strong.
It is enough to use them appropriately under the direction of a great magician.
"......He could become a source of trouble for our Empire later. It would be better to find an opportunity to kill him during the Karyan subjugation."
This old man was worrying about ridiculous things.
Do great high-ranking magicians become narrow-minded like this when they get old?
'If I'm going to age uglily like this without crossing the wall.......'
He even thought it would be better to die early like other high-ranking magicians.
'Isn't it the greatness of us magicians to tune providence in exchange for lifespan, old man.'
Of course, he wouldn't die like that, nor would he age uglily like this old man.
Even while thinking so, Teron forced a smile.
"He will be that helpful to our work right now, Lord Roson."
Anyway, this narrow-minded old man was one of the retainers most trusted by his lord, the Northern King.
He had no choice but to appease him with a humble attitude.
"The mission I received is to sweep away those filthy criminals in this north. In the process, he will be 'consumed' on his own."
For him who didn't believe the absurd rumors from the Kingdom of Iron or the exaggerated hearsay of Legnas, Black Knight Muno Drasen was just a tool of that level.
However.
"Then I will directly report to the King and receive permission, Commander."
The ugly old magician's worry continued endlessly.
"......Well, do as you please."
To think he cares so needlessly about a trivial knight.
Teron scoffed thinking so.
Until three days later, when he saw Muno's battle in Karyan with his own eyes.
* * *
"Make way! It is the inspection team of the Northern Royal Family!!"
THUD THUD THUD.
The path connecting the northern part of the Empire to the central part.
A group of horsemen galloped through the North Gate of the giant city Karyan, the center of inland trade.
"Kyaaaah!"
"W-What is it!"
"Move!"
The castle gate, which was always open for merchants and citizens, was turned upside down by the sudden commotion, but no one could interfere.
THUD THUD.
The horse galloping at the lead, and the crest of a red bird soaring above the flames extending from it blocked the approaching guards.
If there was something unusual, it was that a black knight running on two feet, not riding a horse, was at the very front of the procession.
That knight showed the composure to even look around while running faster than a horse sprinting at full speed.
Buildings more splendid than any city seen so far and overflowing magical power.
There were many buildings over 10 stories high around the main road, summoning memories of his past life, but such terrain was not important right now.
People.
'As expected, they seem unprepared.......'
The appearance of surprised citizens, and the guards even more surprised than them.
- It is the branch of the Evil cult with the largest scale identified so far.
- That the largest city heading from the north to the center has been encroached upon by them is a shame to our Royal Family.
- In the process of capturing Viscount James Karcheck, anyone who resists will be subjugated entirely as a warning to others.
The long speech Teron Grond gave before entering was rendered meaningless by the completely defenseless appearances.
It was also proof that the Northern Royal Family was properly controlling information, but from the perspective of remembering other city's Evil cultists who noticed early and fled, it was a very awkward appearance.
'Did Exlam really abandon the Evil cult?'
What on earth does the guy really want?
What is the relationship with the Imperial Royal Family?
All sorts of questions encroached on his head again, but he shook his head and brushed them off.
'First, the prey in front of me.'
It didn't feel certain yet, but a guy controlling a city of this size wouldn't be just an ordinary 5-Circle magician.
"Lauel!"
"Yes!"
At the shout he yelled as soon as the inner castle wall came into view, Lauel, who was following closely behind, leaped towards the nearby buildings.
Looking back briefly, he saw Imadi waving his hand from the back of the inspection team as if telling him not to worry.
'Please restrain yourself.'
'I know.'
A conversation exchanged only with eyes.
It was enough for him and Lauel to run wild in this subjugation.
Since there were also troops from the inspection team, he thought it was better to keep Imadi as a trump card.
'It's best if Sir Imadi doesn't have to use his strength at all.'
And that thought.
"Make way! It is the inspection team of the Northern Royal Family!!"
"W-Wait a moment!!"
"Smash it! Black Knight!"
As soon as Teron shouted as if giving him an order, it led to action.
'Heh.......'
CREAAAK.
The inner castle gate starting to close upon seeing the inspection team charging.
But that soon meant.
'It means they have a lot to hide. We found the right place.'
CRUNCH.
'Acceleration.'
BOOM.
Muno burst the ground as it was and shot forward like an arrow.
His body, which had easily exceeded the weight of tons after completing five evolutions, received tremendous speed and rammed into the closing iron gate of the inner castle.
BAAAAANG--------!!
CRUNCH.
A huge iron gate crumpled into a shape as if almost torn, with a dent the size of a person, and opened as if bounced inward.
RUMBLE.
"Aaaagh!"
"C-Crazy!"
"Kuegh."
HISS.
Among the troops rolling inside the inner castle wall, some moved their bodies as if struggling, and some were looking at him with dazed eyes.
He could feel even the inspection team following behind flinching intact.
Ignoring all those gazes, Muno, the Demon Devourer, scanned for the largest piece of demonic energy located inside the inner castle.
And.
'Inside.'
BOOM.
The moment he found the target, he began to rush into the inner castle again, ignoring the fallen ones.
"B-Block him!"
"Those who block are traitors!!!"
RUMBLE.
CRASH.
Ignoring completely the commotion happening behind him a step late.
Running only for the target.
"Who are you!"
"Block him!"
Hmph.
The majority of small fries rushing in couldn't stop his steps even for a moment.
CLATTER.
BOOM.
"How dare you!"
WHOOSH.
CRASH!
Magic flying in while he was jumping over was absorbed as is.
"Where do you think......!"
THWACK.
"......Cough!"
Knights who could block his path for a moment fell with their necks or hearts pierced by blue arrows flown from somewhere.
And as a result, what came into Muno's eyes was.
"W-What! You are......!?"
A 6-Circle magician raising demonic energy with a pale face.
'Found you......!'
Viscount James Karcheck.
The ruler of Karyan, and one presumed to be one of the elders of the Evil cult.
And.
'......My prey.'
CLATTER.
Towards the high-ranking magician who could no longer be a fear, the chains of the Demon Devourer extended without hesitation.