Chapter 81. < 32. This Man, Not Easy (4) >
Lumian Calad's past life was stained with battles against demons.
He killed, killed, and killed again. He faced them all without distinction—whether lowly monsters or high-ranking demons.
He had taken down one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Realm and even dealt a fatal blow to the Demon King. There was likely no one in the world with more experience fighting demons than him.
'A high-ranking demon!'
Because of this, Lumian understood immediately the moment he felt the vibration.
Malice and hatred, combined with some unknown catalyst, opened a rift between dimensions. A being that should never have emerged revealed itself in the human world.
He immediately raised his aura.
*Wuuuuung*
*Paat*
In a split second, Lumian ascended to the second floor of the building and surveyed his surroundings.
The naked people inside the cage, and those outside who had been enjoying alcohol and drugs while watching them—all had lost consciousness and collapsed.
It was because their energy had been drained along with their negative emotions. It wasn't a major problem. Lumian nodded and turned his gaze toward Leyton Wino.
It seemed she was the cause of the summoning.
'Her skin has turned dark red... She's been contaminated with demonic energy for quite some time.'
Perhaps one of her ancestors had been influenced by demons, and it had been passed down genetically.
Either way, that wasn't what was important right now.
What Lumian needed to do now was quickly transport Leyton Wino to the Alya Order.
And then deal with the high-ranking demon that would soon reveal itself.
With a hardened expression, he looked up at the empty air.
*Saaaaaaa-*
*C-crack, crack!*
The negative energy that had existed in human hearts, and the mana in the atmosphere, swirled together like a vortex. As a result, the sound of glass breaking rang out, and a fissure formed in the air.
*Ch-ch-chang!*
Finally, a high-ranking demon burst through the dimensional wall.
Its entire body looked cold and sharp, as if carved from ice.
It laughed as if in good spirits.
"Khahahahaha, lowly...."
*Thoom-*
*Thuuud!*
"......Huh?"
But the high-ranking demon couldn't finish the words it wanted to say.
Lumian, who had flown straight up from kicking off the ground, had driven his fist into its abdomen.
Of course, it wasn't a simple punch. A completed aura was overlaid like a cone around his fist.
The high-ranking demon was instantly cleaved in two. With its upper and lower body separated, the creature collapsed like a bug and couldn't rise.
"A mere grunt acting all high and mighty."
Lumian spat out rough words.
The situation was already depressing enough, and now a demon had appeared, making his mood even worse. He clicked his tongue and walked toward Leyton Wino.
An ordinary person would have felt nauseous from the demonic energy she was emitting, but as a Sword Master, Lumian was unaffected.
He lowered his posture to examine her.
Fortunately, her condition wasn't too bad. A faint smile formed at the corner of Lumian's lips.
'It's not the worst-case scenario. If she undergoes a purification ritual at the Alya Order, she should return to normal.'
The problem was that the process would take several years, and the purification ritual was quite expensive, but it would be fine. Time was unavoidable, and as for money—she was a noble lady, so she could handle it.
Having thought this far, Lumian rose to his feet.
He would have liked to immediately carry Leyton and head to the Order, but it wasn't over yet.
He turned around and spoke to the high-ranking demon that had somehow already resurrected.
"No surprise attack?"
"Such things are for insignificant fellows like you. You greenhorn."
"Greenhorn?"
"Yes, greenhorn. You had some skill, I'll admit, but now it's over. Now that I've revealed my true form, no matter how much you struggle, it's useless. Heheheh."
The high-ranking demon let out a laugh.
It was an unpleasant voice. Nevertheless, Lumian didn't show his distaste.
He wore a relaxed smile and posed a question.
"You're full of confidence. Are you perhaps a demon noble?"
"You bastard! How dare you mock me!"
The high-ranking demon spoke in an angry voice. From its body, which had grown even larger than when it first appeared, thorns jutted out with a *cha-cha-chang!* sound.
Along with this, the temperature of the entire space dropped. With a voice mixing rage and confidence, it began its self-introduction.
"If I were to speak of this body, I am one who, among the countless demons of the Demon Realm, was recognized for my outstanding abilities and was inducted into the knight order of 'Archduke Karakus of the Demon Realm'......."
The creature's words flowed without hesitation. Despite being quite a long speech, it didn't stumble even once.
It seemed like the type to brag about itself often.
It especially emphasized being under the command of 'Archduke Karakus' and being a member of the 'Ice Hell Knight Order' several times.
It seemed to take immense pride in this.
"And thus, 3 years ago, at a gathering of all Ice Hell Knight Order members, my merits were once again recognized, and my fame spread throughout......"
"Stop."
Lumian said quietly.
In a normal situation, it would have been a voice small enough to be buried completely. It felt far from sufficient to interrupt the high-ranking demon who was intoxicated with its own words.
But the creature stopped speaking.
The reason was unclear.
That was why it felt even more unpleasant.
"How dare... a thing like you interrupt this body's words?"
"Hmm."
"A crime that even death cannot atone for. I shall personally teach you the demon realm's torture methods. This was taught to me by Knight Commander Jeriem, the right hand of Archduke Karakus...... By the way, directly to your body...... this and that......"
Lumian no longer listened to the high-ranking demon's words.
He had intended to listen to the end if possible, but he couldn't take it anymore. The creature talked too much.
The temperature of the building was dropping steadily. He had to eliminate it before the unconscious people suffered harm.
'I don't like these people, but lives are still precious......'
Lumian, who had been looking around, placed his hand on a table.
He picked up a knife used for cutting steak and stood before the high-ranking demon.
The creature was still talking without stopping. Listening again, it was insulting him.
"You insect-like bastard! How dare you do something else while this body is speak......"
"Hey."
Lumian interrupted its words again.
This time, it felt different. The high-ranking demon shut its mouth without even thinking that it felt unpleasant.
Lumian continued.
"Do you know who killed that great Archduke Karakus?"
"What? What are you suddenly......"
*Ziiiiiiiing!*
Before the ice demon could finish its answer.
An aura sword over 3 meters long shot up from the knife Lumian was holding. Naturally, it was a completed aura sword. The demon's expression froze at the killing intent even colder than ice.
Its body was the same. Feeling an enormous gap in power, it became like a stone statue and couldn't take any action.
It could only stare blankly at the blade of aura descending toward the crown of its head.
*Seu-geu-geu-geu-geok-!*
The aura was withdrawn. Lumian threw the dining knife at the ice demon.
Along with a *t-ing-* sound, the crack grew progressively deeper. Unlike the first time when it was separated into upper and lower body, the creature, now split vertically from head to groin, collapsed to the floor with a *thud*.
And then it turned to dust and disappeared.
*Thwap*
Lumian caught the creature's demon stone in his hand.
He considered saying the line he had thought of, but abandoned it, feeling somehow embarrassed.
It was his past self who had taken down Archduke Karakus.
The creature had been one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Realm.
Recalling that time, Lumian thought with a derisive smile.
'Not even an archduke, not even the archduke's right hand, just an ordinary knight order member, yet so full of bragging......'
It felt strange seeing a fellow who couldn't even present a business card at the Demon King's castle putting on all sorts of bluster.
'Of course, he wasn't weak.'
At the very least, its second form was stronger than an incubus.
An ordinary Expert probably wouldn't have been able to handle it.
Thinking that way, the current situation felt strange.
That a being of such strength was summoned with merely this level of malice.
He couldn't understand it.
'If the Demon King were still alive and demonic energy overflowed into the human realm, I might understand, but this is a peaceful era...... How can a high-ranking demon emerge so easily?'
Lumian's brow furrowed. Something didn't feel right.
But his thoughts couldn't continue any further.
Because the female knight of Rodia, Irene Curtis, appeared belatedly.
Lumian looked at her with an awkward smile.
"Hmm......."
"......."
"Even if I said the demon was weaker than expected...... you wouldn't believe me, right?"
"......Would you believe it if it were you?"
"No, I wouldn't."
"Haa...... this is, just what......"
Irene Curtis held her head with her hand. It was beyond absurd—accepting this situation was simply too difficult.
'Defeated two high-ranking demons...... in an instant?'
A boy who was barely 15 years old?
It was impossible.
It was literally an impossible feat, one that not even the cliché expression of "breaking common sense" could describe.
'The energy that the second demon was emitting was...... at a level I had never felt before.'
The reason Irene was late was because of that.
Facing a formidable enemy that even five knights of similar level to herself couldn't guarantee victory against—was jumping in like a moth to flame really the right decision?
No matter how much she coveted Lumian Calad's talent, wouldn't that be wrong? Rather than being fixated on an already too-late situation, wouldn't it be better to take the students and flee?
But before that dilemma could even end, the situation had concluded.
Literally in the blink of an eye.
'What should I do.'
Lumian, for his part, had his own complicated thoughts.
Until now, he hadn't been particularly averse to revealing his power.
Through this, receiving women's attention was secretly thrilling, and he figured there was no need to forcibly hide his strength when he hadn't done anything wrong.
However, after becoming a Sword Master, his thinking changed.
No matter what, showing his full current abilities felt somewhat repugnant, and the present situation was nothing if not burdensome.
"......."
"......."
Silence circulated between the two.
It seemed like they would stand there indefinitely unless something new happened.
Fortunately, the awkward situation didn't last long.
Because the students, including Teoro and Tania, came up afterward.
One fortunate thing was that they hadn't properly felt the resurrected demon's energy.
The gap was so large that they didn't perceive it at all, and Lumian noticed this to some extent and breathed a sigh of relief.
'Let's just gloss over it for now.'
"What is this, everyone is......"
"Leyton Wino? Is that Leyton? Her skin is......"
"Oh right. Leyton Wino, we need to get her to the Order quickly."
"What? The Order?"
"It looks like she's been cursed by a demon. She needs to undergo a purification ritual."
"A demon?"
Bumer asked with a surprised face.
Lumian nodded. He was feigning a relaxed expression.
"It's okay, the situation is over. The professor helped, so I was able to handle it easily."
"D-didn't you get hurt?"
Tania asked with a worried face.
No matter how strong Lumian was at the knight level, she couldn't help but worry when he said he had faced a demon she had only heard about in theory classes.
Lumian gave her a bright smile.
He also imbued a warm feeling through his aura image. It was his own way of being considerate.
"I'm fine. Anyway, if we delay any longer, problems could arise, so I need to go quickly. I'll see you later, senior."
"Alright. You're really okay?"
"Of course. Ah, Cal Krone. Sorry, but......"
"I know what you mean. Leave the aftermath to me. I'll hear the details from the professor."
"Thanks. I'll repay the debt."
With those words, Lumian left the place.
Before leaving, he gave Irene Curtis a subtle signal—a secret.
"Professor, let's say we were having a simple dinner with us and then rushed over after sensing the demonic energy...... later, I'll ask you to give simple testimony to the city's guard."
"Huh? Oh, sure. That's technically true."
Irene Curtis nodded.
She decided to appropriately hide what Lumian intended to hide. For now.
'......No one would believe it anyway even if I told them.'
Using her experience fighting demons in the past, she fabricated the situation appropriately.
Since Irene had a somewhat brazen side to her, lying wasn't difficult.
Of course, her expression being slightly stiff was unavoidable.
Thus, the eventful tailing came to a safe end.
***
"Phew!"
Returning to the professor's office, Irene Curtis let out a big sigh.
It felt like her body was being sucked into the soft sofa. Her fatigue was that enormous.
She hadn't moved her body particularly much, but what she saw and felt today was so overwhelming that it couldn't be helped.
She quietly murmured.
"Should I just sleep...... no...... I still need to do what needs to be done......"
*Aja!* Putting her mind to it, Irene Curtis opened a drawer and took out a report.
It was a report about Lumian.
Actually, she had considered sending it to headquarters yesterday, but she was really glad she didn't.
After glaring at the report for a while, she picked up a pen and crossed out several parts. It was to make corrections.
*Swish swish*
*Swish- swish- swish swish-*
"Ugh, no! Let's just write it again!"
It was futile. There wasn't just one or two things to correct.
When she had finished writing this, she had thought 'aren't these evaluations too generous?', but not anymore.
She closed her eyes and recalled what had happened earlier.
A shiver ran through her. The aftereffects still hadn't faded.
'I don't think he's someone I can judge with my own capabilities, but anyway......'
Irene eventually crumpled the report, then ignited her aura and burned it completely.
It was to write it completely anew.
She wrote down as much detail as possible about what she had seen, heard, and felt.
Compared to before, it was full of nothing but praise. So much so that it seemed like she was listing the setting of a novel's protagonist.
But there were no lies.
Even if she heard complaints like 'What is this, just a bunch of praise?', she couldn't help it. What could she do when Lumian was just that remarkable?
After reviewing it once, she finished writing the report, and the next day, she sent the mail to headquarters in Rodia.
Ten days later.
"Hmmm......."
The report came into the hands of the highest knight of the Queen's Kingdom of Rodia.
The Golden Dawn, Cynthier Ainsworth.