Ch.274Chapter 274 – Contact with the Devil

Aegir, a demon serving the Evil God ‘Enceladus’.

He clicked his tongue as he saw the complete blockade around the Kingdom of Oberon.

What could they possibly be lacking that they refuse to accept Lord Enceladus’s grace?

If they would only accept his grace, they could secure a place for themselves and live happily in the new era when the world order is rebuilt.

However, Aegir did not harbor thoughts of sweeping away all those who failed to accept Enceladus.

Rather, he believed that he should spread Enceladus’s grace to those who had not yet accepted it.

To him, even the priests who served the gods of the Pantheon were merely lambs who had temporarily strayed onto the wrong path.

They would eventually have to return to Enceladus’s embrace.

That’s why he revealed himself directly at Oberon’s border.

He believed that if he showed himself and spread Enceladus’s grace, people would accept it.

“Behold, lost lambs. I have come to spread the truth to you.”

Aegir appeared at the outpost built near the border, putting on the most merciful voice and expression he could manage.

“A demon! A demon has appeared!”

“Emergency! Emergency! This is an emergency!”

But how could the border soldiers hear his voice when they saw his ferocious appearance?

Instead, they panicked at the news of a demon’s appearance, rang bells to alert others that a demon had appeared.

As the warning bells echoed in all directions, soldiers who had been resting armed themselves and lined up in formation on the ramparts built along the border.

They were the most elite troops carefully selected from among the forces of the countries bordering the Kingdom of Oberon.

But even though they were elite troops, was it because a demon had appeared?

The tension was evident on the soldiers’ faces.

How could they not be tense when a demon from legends had appeared?

This was the common thought shared by all troops stationed at the border.

“What’s happening?”

At that moment, the commander in charge of the border troops appeared.

His full plate armor and elaborate decorations clearly announced “I am the commander.”

“Count Fernandez! A demon has appeared!”

When a soldier called his name, the man called Count Fernandez turned his head to look at the soldier.

“Is that true?”

“Yes, sir. We heard bell signals from the outpost near the border. After analyzing the signals, we confirmed they’re sending the ‘demon appeared’ signal.”

“Hmm!”

When Count Fernandez heard the news of a demon’s appearance from the soldier, he felt his chest grow hot.

As a nobleman, why had he continuously trained his swordsmanship and strengthened his body?

Wasn’t it to defeat external threats to the nation’s peace and bring about tranquility?

Count Fernandez felt from deep within his heart that the time had finally come for his swordsmanship to shine.

“Guide me to it! The time has finally come for my sword to cut down the wicked!”

He shouted as he drew his beloved sword, ‘Devil Slayer.’

This sword, a family treasure said to be imbued with holy power to cut down evil, belonged to him as the current head of the family.

When Count Fernandez drew Devil Slayer, the soldiers began to cheer.

“Hurrah! Long live Count Fernandez!”

“With Devil Slayer, that demon will run away with its tail between its legs!”

This was because the soldiers knew well what kind of sword he was holding.

As Count Fernandez took the lead, the soldiers followed behind him.

The outpost was about an hour’s walk from the barracks where he had been.

Walking for an hour in full armor was quite strenuous, but Count Fernandez showed no signs of fatigue.

After about an hour, the forces led by Count Fernandez arrived at the outpost.

“We are honored by your presence, Count Fernandez!”

The commander of the outpost, who spotted Count Fernandez leading the way, rushed out and saluted him.

“Where is the demon! I shall defeat it with my sword and bring peace to our kingdom!”

Count Fernandez returned the salute and exuded an aura as if he was ready to strike down the demon immediately with Devil Slayer.

The commander of the outpost promptly guided him, overwhelmed by the imposing aura emanating from the swordsman who had reached the level of Sword Expert.

“Currently, the demon is just standing in front of the outpost, staring at us.”

“Hmph, don’t worry. I’ll eliminate that weak demon with my Devil Slayer.”

“It’s reassuring just to hear that, Count Fernandez.”

“Huh, of course it should be.”

Count Fernandez’s confidence swelled at the commander’s praise.

Standing on the rampart of the outpost, Count Fernandez finally faced Aegir.

‘Is that it? It looks truly ferocious.’

The moment he saw Aegir, Count Fernandez unconsciously swallowed.

The demon’s fierce appearance and bulging muscles looked as if they could destroy the outpost at any moment.

The thought “Can I win against that demon?” circled in his mind.

However, having boasted confidently about defeating the demon, he couldn’t back down now.

There was only one choice he could make.

“You wicked demon! How dare you appear here! This is our land! If you withdraw quietly, I’ll show mercy and spare your life.”

All he could do was desperately hope the opponent would retreat.

Though he appeared confident, his pupils were trembling slightly.

“Oh my. So you are the commander of these soldiers.”

Aegir showed an interested look and slowly approached the outpost.

As he walked toward the outpost, cold sweat began to form on Count Fernandez’s brow.

If he engaged in combat with the demon now, what would become of him?

Though he had reached the level of Sword Expert, he had never experienced real combat, making it difficult for him to make the right judgment in this situation.

All he could do was shout.

“You demon! Stop right there! Otherwise, I’ll cut you down with my sword!”

“How amusing. Do you think you can cut me with a sword?”

Aegir looked at Count Fernandez shouting at him and laughed heartily.

It was laughter born from his appreciation of Count Fernandez’s courage in not backing down despite seeing his ferocious appearance.

But Count Fernandez interpreted Aegir’s laughter differently.

‘That demon dares to laugh at me? I’ll make him taste bitterness!’

He thought Aegir was mocking him.

So Count Fernandez jumped down from the outpost’s rampart to confront Aegir.

Count Fernandez with a sword in hand.

And Aegir standing quietly before him.

The sight of a 180-centimeter adult man facing the 3-meter tall Aegir resembled a scene from a classic heroic tale of a knight confronting a demon.

“Count! You can do it!”

“Defeat that wicked demon and bring us peace!”

The soldiers were excited at the sight that seemed straight out of a legend, and Count Fernandez smiled.

‘Hehe, I see. This being exists for me! I shall defeat this demon here and become a hero!’

Count Fernandez pointed his sword at Aegir with a confident smile.

“I am Count Fernandez of the Kingdom of Ermenes! You wicked demon! Whatever your scheme in appearing on this land, I shall defeat you here today! And thus, the world will realize the powerlessness of the Evil God!”

“What?”

Aegir was taken aback when Count Fernandez mentioned the Evil God.

The powerlessness of the Evil God will be realized? What did that mean?

“Today, by defeating you here, the demon cult will fall! I am the Sword Saint of the Kingdom of Ermenes! The hero who will defeat the Evil God!”

Intoxicated with heroic delusions, Count Fernandez said words he shouldn’t have. His attempt to overcome fear had instead provoked his opponent.

“Haaah! Die—Kack!”

“How dare you speak His name so carelessly. He is not one to be defeated by the likes of you!”

Unable to contain his anger, Aegir struck Count Fernandez with his fist before the count could even swing his sword.

Count Fernandez was hit by Aegir’s fist and flew into the wall of the outpost.

“C-Count!”

As Count Fernandez, who could be considered a powerful individual, was neutralized with a single blow, the soldiers fell into despair.

How could they defeat someone with such strength that even a Sword Expert like Count Fernandez couldn’t react?

Yet, even in despair, salvation can be found.

“So here you are, minion of the Evil God.”

Eterna Lumio Sol, the Holy Maiden of the Solar Order, appeared leading the elite holy knights of the Solar Order.

“In the name of God, I shall judge you who threaten the peace of the world.”