Ch.2525. Full Moon Festival (2)

[ Main Quest Updated! ]

[ Main Quest ]

[ A villain is trying to recruit you! ]

[ Navigate this situation wisely! ]

[ The faster you resolve this, the better your rewards! ]

[ Reward: You will receive benefits in the main scenario branch! ]

I look at the person before me as I see such a window appear.

Galdier Riverback, Marquis. Commonly known as “The Purifier.”

‘…Actually, this guy himself isn’t much.’

Just a puppet who moves according to instructions.

He’s nothing more than a somewhat clever underling. It’s not for nothing that he appears as a Chapter 1 boss with the impressive social status of a marquis.

Well, he is still a successful transporter and a businessman who runs a famous charitable foundation within the Empire.

His slogan is about giving opportunities to talented individuals who can’t fulfill their potential due to environmental constraints.

‘He certainly talks a good game.’

In reality, all that support he spreads around is just bait.

He’s building trust so people will listen to whatever he says—classic gaslighting.

Thanks to that, there are quite a few people who would die at his word.

Even the guys he’s brought with him look pretty strong.

They’re all probably willing to give their lives at a single word from Marquis Riverback.

I casually examine the tattoos engraved on their necks.

The emblem of the Cultist of the Demon group, Purifier.

‘One of the factions, was it?’

The main antagonists of the scenario are demons and the Cultists of the Demon who are influenced by them.

They basically hate humanity and peace, and consider spreading chaos and evil in the world as their lifelong aspiration. They have nothing better to do.

And among them, the Purifiers are particularly obsessed with the Tristan Dukedom.

The story that demon blood runs in the Tristan bloodline, that is.

They may not know everything, but they’ve at least grasped the outline that the revival of the “Grey Demon” is related to this bloodline.

Throwing a boulder at Elnore on the entrance train, infiltrating professional assassins into the school, setting off a bomb at the freshman welcome party to release monsters—all of these were their machinations.

“Lady Tristan, it’s been a while.”

So, I really want to applaud the sheer audacity of greeting Elnore so brazenly.

Elnore, whose expression had already hardened upon seeing Marquis Riverback as soon as we entered the restaurant, frowned even more deeply.

‘They were probably on bad terms originally.’

Marquis Riverback is one of the Tristan Dukedom’s main political opponents.

More precisely, he’s a puppet for the group operating behind the scenes.

“It has been a while, Marquis Riverback.”

“Yes. Have you been well?”

“If you’re going to speak nonsense, please step aside. This is a time when I least want to be disturbed by you.”

A frost-like coldness flowed from Elnore’s voice, but Marquis Riverback paid no mind and continued smiling as he gestured around him.

“I would like to respect your wishes, Lady, but I have business here.”

Then, as he snapped his fingers, several men standing near Marquis Riverback moved in unison.

They surrounded Elnore, quietly exuding pressure—creating an atmosphere that suggested she should follow their instructions if she didn’t want to get hurt.

“I’ll be borrowing this man for a moment, Lady.”

“Who do you think—”

I stop Elnore as her voice begins to rise.

Then I approach her and whisper something in her ear.

“…”

Seeing her eyes widen slightly after hearing it, I smile at her.

“It’s okay.”

“…Darwood? What you just—”

“It’ll be over soon. Won’t take long.”

“…”

Elnore mumbles something as she looks at my face, but I just wink at her instead.

Yeah. It really will be over soon.

After all.

It might already be over.

●

“You seem to be on good terms with Lady Tristan?”

Marquis Riverback said with a grin.

“Yes. Well.”

Darwood Campbell, sitting across from him, slightly frowned at those words as he opened the lid of his tray.

His attitude clearly showed that he intended to eat first.

Considering he’d been invited by someone whose intentions he didn’t know, and despite the hostile atmosphere that had been created, he didn’t seem to care at all—his nerves appeared to be quite thick.

‘…He seems completely useless.’

Marquis Riverback thought as he glared at the other man.

He had heard reports several times about a human who was strangely close to Lady Tristan, the Chosen Hero candidate and his target.

So he had somewhat expected there to be something special about him.

But the man directly before him was disappointingly unremarkable.

A complete embodiment of worthless talent, to the point of bewilderment.

‘But the Luminary…’

He swallowed dryly as he thought of his “master.”

The being called the Luminary by the Cultists of the Demon.

All demon worshippers, including the Purifiers, are ultimately just tools of that person.

Even his social status as a marquis and his position as a famous businessman in the Empire.

All of it came to him through a single word from the Luminary.

The Luminary’s influence, power, and malice had already seeped like poison into every corner of the continent, including the three hegemonic nations.

Compared to such a person, his position as a marquis was truly insignificant.

“…”

And that person had taken a liking to this unremarkable man before him.

He couldn’t understand why, but that fact was certainly clear.

His original instructions to approach the Chosen Hero candidate had been changed to approach this man instead, due to the Luminary’s influence.

“Do you know why I called you here, Mr. Darwood?”

So, for now, he would “recruit” this man as he had originally planned to do with the Chosen Hero candidate.

More precisely, he would threaten him into cooperating with them.

‘This works out well.’

Though he couldn’t understand what this man was thinking, he had brought Lady Tristan, their main target, to them of his own accord.

The current time was the Full Moon Festival. Security would be at its most lax due to the festive atmosphere.

‘Right here, I will bring down divine grace upon the world.’

Demonic energy responds most sensitively to chaos and fear, and if blood and death are spread widely during this festival, the demon sleeping in the Tristan bloodline will surely respond.

The Luminary himself had confirmed that their bloodline is related to demons.

And he had more than enough preparations in place. His few years of activity as Marquis Riverback existed solely for today.

‘The plan is perfect.’

It was for this that the Luminary personally granted him the position of marquis.

There were no gaps, and there would be even fewer mistakes.

“…”

As for this Darwood fellow, well.

If he doesn’t comply, threatening to kill him should work. Since he seems close to the Lady, that could be used as leverage too.

He looks like worthless trash anyway.

While Marquis Riverback was thinking this, Darwood, who had been chewing a piece of meat, looked at him with a blank stare.

“Pardon?”

“…”

At the voice that seemed so relaxed it almost appeared stupid, Marquis Riverback inwardly sighed.

Why had the Luminary ordered him to recruit such a man?

Suppressing the contempt that was about to break through his expression, he continued speaking.

“I asked if you know why you were invited here today.”

“Ah, that.”

Darwood Campbell’s voice remained relaxed.

“Aren’t you planning to make a fuss about reviving a demon?”

When those casual words came out, Marquis Riverback couldn’t help but hold his breath.

“…What?”

“The Full Moon Festival has weak security, so you’re targeting this time to kill many people. That way, demonic energy will strengthen, making it easier to revive a demon.”

It was as if he had read his mind directly.

“Since the Riverback Marquis family focuses on transportation, it’s easy to disguise items and bring them into the Golden Triangle, so you’re keeping monsters alive and disguising them as other cargo to ship them inside.”

His plan, which for security reasons hadn’t been shared even with the executives of the Cultists of the Demon except for the Luminary.

“Set bombs and detonate them all at once to release monsters everywhere. Deal with the standby knights by placing assassins.”

Was flowing out casually, as if he were commenting on how delicious tonight’s dinner was.

Darwood took another bite of meat and continued.

“The multiple assassination attempts on Lady Tristan and the monster commotion at the welcome party—success or failure doesn’t matter. The fact that monsters and assassins successfully caused chaos itself fulfills the basic conditions for utilizing them. You were testing that, weren’t you?”

He was accurately seeing through not just the plan, but even the actions he had taken so far and his intentions.

The plan he had thought perfect until just now.

The plan that only he and the Luminary knew, which had taken years to craft.

Was completely exposed in just a few seconds by the mouth of the man he had thought stupid until moments ago.

“It’s so obvious, really.”

Ah, this sauce is delicious.

Darwood Campbell said with a slight smile.

Still.

He looked as if his current meal was more important than “such things.”

Seeing this, Marquis Riverback unconsciously gripped the armrest of his chair tightly.

A large drop of sweat ran down from his forehead to his nose, but he had no time to pay attention to it.

“Who the hell are you?”

“Right. You’re actually the type who’s crude and fierce. Why pretend to be polite?”

Though he growled like that, the other man’s response came back with the same relaxed demeanor.

His tone suggested he had known about him for a long time.

“As for what I just rattled off, well, I’ve already taken care of it all.”

“…”

“The headmaster is quite fond of me. When I reported this, he even mobilized the knights personally.”

Hearing Darwood say this, Marquis Riverback gritted his teeth.

‘…I misjudged…!’

Although his purpose had been to raise them as Cultists of the Demon, his foresight in nurturing and sponsoring numerous talented individuals in the Empire was now sounding an alarm.

By some unknown method, this man had single-handedly seen through all his plans and completely dismantled them.

As casually as if he were taking a stroll.

A creaking sound escaped from between his teeth.

‘…What nonsense about him being stupid.’

This man is a monster.

Not the kind of monster like the Chosen Hero candidate or Lady Tristan who emits a visible aura, but in terms of danger, perhaps even more so.

Ordinary monsters are like brilliantly burning flames. They look impressive on the outside, they actually are impressive, and they always radiate pressure around them.

But this one.

Is like frozen steel.

You don’t know how cold it is until you touch it. It doesn’t look dangerous at all on the surface.

But the moment you carelessly touch it.

It tears your flesh. Mercilessly.

Now he somewhat understands why the Luminary took a liking to this guy.

‘Because he’s the same type as him…!’

Despite appearing completely harmless on the outside, he harbors the cunning of dozens of vipers inside.

That’s the impression this man gives off!

“…I admit it. You’re no ordinary person.”

Marquis Riverback said as he clutched his necklace.

“But you should know this one thing.”

He pressed the button underneath it. The same “signal” would have been transmitted to all those wearing identical necklaces.

“You don’t have everything in the palm of your hand.”

He said with a sinister smile.

As is common with strategists, all plans should be executed with insurance.

Even this guy couldn’t possibly prevent this.

●

-He’s probably making the same assumption.

That thought naturally comes to mind as I look at Marquis Riverback smiling triumphantly.

[ Skill: Fatal Charm has activated! ]

[ The villain is in awe of your cunning! ]

[ A reward has been added to the Gift tab! ]

“…”

Cunning? That’s a bit unfair.

Anyway.

“By now, my subordinates should be waiting downstairs to subdue Lady Tristan. They’re the elite of the elite, selected through the Purification House business.”

Marquis Riverback said, having somewhat regained his composure.

He must be talking about the guys who pressured Elnore and separated her from me earlier.

“Although the plan has been disrupted because of you, we can proceed again if we have her. They are all powerful individuals comparable to knights. Even Lady Tristan would be subdued.”

As he spoke, confidence continued to return to his face.

‘…No matter what, they’re probably not really knight-level.’

Knights are a superhuman race rumored to have blue blood flowing in their veins.

Nevertheless, if he claims they’re at that level, they must be strong enough for him to regain his confidence like this.

Yeah. Sorry to rain on your parade, but.

“Go ahead then.”

When I said that, Marquis Riverback’s expression was once again tinged with confusion.

“…What do you mean?”

“I said, go ahead.”

If there’s a reason why I deliberately brought Elnore to this place, it’s nothing special.

Despite being called the final boss or whatever, there haven’t really been many opportunities to properly see that majesty so far.

After all, she’s always been a person who suppresses her own madness due to mental constraints.

But, as far as I know.

‘…It’s actually better to let it out occasionally.’

Considering the setting, that’s more appropriate.

It’s not that there’s no way to completely remove it, and I plan to do it someday. But it’s impossible right now.

Until then, that’s the better approach.

That consideration played a large part in why I specifically brought her along.

Because they’re “Cultists of the Demon” who can unleash such things without any guilt.

“…”

And if she can unleash it without any restraint.

It will clearly show why this person is the final boss.

“It’s actually fortunate they’re so elite.”

In other words.

“They should be able to hold out until Elnore releases what’s been building up.”

It’s not that they’ve confined Elnore.

It’s that they’re confined with Elnore.

●