Ch.301Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

# How to Defeat a Demon

There are two main methods for defeating demons.

The first is to drive out demons possessing humans through solemn exorcism rituals. The second is to use force—represented by faith, magic, and mysticism—to push demons back into hell.

We had decided to use the former method to defeat the demon active in the northern region.

However, the situation has changed.

“Solemn exorcism rituals won’t be enough to resolve this crisis.”

Solemn exorcism is a method where multiple exorcist priests invest time and effort to defeat a demon.

The problem lies precisely in that time requirement.

“The Imperial Military wants to resolve this situation as quickly as possible. The Inquisition and the old guard also believe we need to use more aggressive methods to prevent additional casualties.”

“Just get to the point.”

“We need to hunt down the demon.”

The Church’s Saint said.

“Hunting a demon is essentially a military operation comparable to a holy war. It’s expensive and causes significant damage. That’s why if you search through the Church’s historical records, you’ll rarely find cases where actual demon hunts were carried out unless the demon caused exceptionally serious trouble.”

The situation had already reached a point of no return. The Church had ordered Veronica to hunt the demon, and the Empire had accepted this decision.

That just shows how serious the situation is.

“Do you have a plan?”

“Hmm.”

Veronica smoothly traced her jawline and responded with a slight smile.

“Of course I do.”

## Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Mage in History

While the Military Command and the Inquisition oversee the demon hunt operation, we are the core of the mission.

In military terms, we’re essentially the main attack force.

Particularly, Lucia, along with Veronica, was the only one with experience facing a demon, so the task of directly confronting the demon naturally fell to Lucia.

“My sister may be a bit naive in some ways, but her skills are undeniable. Her lack of experience is a weakness, but that’s something the Major and I can easily cover for.”

“Please elaborate.”

“We need to prepare. I’ll get a weapon for Lucia. Major, please obtain the items listed here.”

I made a few phone calls to my contacts to procure the items Veronica mentioned.

Viktor, an orc businessman and former Imperial Army Warrant Officer; Hormoz, a dark elf caravan leader from the Palm Tree Trading Company; Dmitriev, the social affairs editor at a news agency based in the Magic Tower; and others.

Normally, importing cargo to the northern region would have been difficult, but the security in the unsettled north was full of holes.

Turning illegal activities legal was easy. It was a synergy created by the combination of lax checkpoints, a few bribes, and subtle loopholes in laws and regulations.

“I’ve obtained most items: sacred relics from the Church stored by the Kien Empire Archaeological Society, high-grade potions from the Ivory Tower, alchemical amber, high-purity mana stone byproducts, leaves from the World Tree across the sea…”

“What about the eternal snow from Mount Paraanga?”

“That’s impossible to get right now. The Mount Paraanga area has fallen to rebels. Instead, I brought water left over after a nymph washed her hands. You said that could be substituted, right?”

“Yes. That should be sufficient.”

All these items will be provided to Lucia and Francesca.

I don’t know their exact purpose, but it’s clear they’re necessary for capturing the demon.

“What about the weapon you mentioned for Lucia?”

“It arrived by ship today.”

“Good. Let’s move on.”

*

Once a ship catches the current, it never stops. The same was true for the international community.

The international cooperation to capture the demon gained momentum as time passed.

Military Governor Mikhail accelerated preparations for the hunt. After consulting with relevant organizations like the Inquisition, the Imperial Magic Department, and the Magic Tower, he deployed troops in areas where the demon was likely to appear.

Veronica was in a similar situation. Having received orders from the Pope to lead the hunting party, she used her authority to establish an information network. Inquisitors followed the Saint’s instructions and installed talismans in every city in the north.

Notably, the most talismans were installed in the northern metropolis where the last battle took place, which is now under lockdown.

Finally, the Magic Tower.

As one of the three pillars of the hunt alongside the Empire and the Church, the Magic Tower was also cooperating diligently in its own way.

And in the basement of the Grand Cathedral, there was a mage doing her utmost to prepare for the coming battle.

-Bubble, bubble.

The sound of boiling liquid permeated the basement.

Flames licked the cauldron greedily like cunning snakes darting their tongues.

An unknown solution bubbled in the massive cauldron. Occasionally, rising bubbles popped with a distinct sound, and a heavy scent stimulated the senses.

I descended into the basement, which saw few visitors despite the busy activity in the Grand Cathedral, and knocked on the wide-open door as I greeted her.

“How are the preparations coming along?”

“…”

Francesca slowly raised her head.

After lighting a fire under the alchemical cauldron, she was sitting on a chair. Leather was spread beneath her feet.

She stepped on the edge of the leather with her shoe and pulled it taut, then rubbed a dulled blade back and forth—the posture of a blade-wielder sharpening her knife.

However, the strange characters engraved on the blade indicated that this was no ordinary knife.

Francesca, who had been maintaining the runic blade, straightened her hunched back and corrected her posture.

“Yes, Major. Everything is proceeding without any issues.”

When she snapped her fingers, a clear resonance emanated from the cauldron.

“I’ve been making potions for combat.”

“Are these newly developed items?”

“These are the same potions I used when we were attacked by the corpse spider. The main ingredient in the cauldron right now is the venom of the red arrowhead frog.”

Three years as an intelligence officer makes one’s head grow thick. As soon as I heard the name of the ingredient in the cauldron, information about the poison naturally came to mind.

“A frog that inhabits the great forest. Famous for its extreme toxicity—even mages can be in mortal danger if exposed to it—due to centuries of exposure to high concentrations of magical energy.”

“I didn’t know you were also knowledgeable about poisons, Major.”

“It’s from the region with the World Tree, isn’t it? I read reports written by the military fighting elves there.”

The poison of the red arrowhead frog is notorious for overwhelming even skilled mages.

It has the characteristic of producing lethal effects the moment magical energy enters the body, making it more deadly to those with high magical compatibility. That’s why it’s often used in assassination operations targeting mages.

Yet despite handling this mage-killing poison, Francesca’s face remained perfectly serene.

After setting down the runic blade neatly, she peered into the boiling cauldron, then calmly put on protective gloves and added several ingredients to the potion.

I stood with my arms crossed, quietly observing Francesca as she prepared the potion.

“Will that potion be enough to capture the demon?”

“If you’re asking about the possibility, I’d say it’s fifty-fifty.”

With both hands on the cauldron, she spoke with an impassive expression.

“Most of the potions I use follow the standard formulas established by the Magic Tower and Ivory Tower, but this type of potion is far from standard.”

Francesca looked at me with serious eyes.

“Many of the Alchemy School’s formulas have only been established recently. The lineage of alchemy that had been passed down since ancient times was broken during witch hunts, inquisitions, and independence wars. Combat potion formulas, in particular, have been largely lost.”

“…”

“The fortunate thing is that the potion I’m making now is based on a formula left behind by one of the few remaining archmages.”

“So it’s highly reliable?”

The alchemist nodded.

Indeed, her potions are far more effective than ordinary ones. Just look at how they dissolved the carapace of a giant spider that could withstand tank shells.

I quickly acknowledged this.

Stepping away from the cauldron, Francesca casually threw off her jacket. The waistcoat beneath revealed her body’s contours without filter.

After hanging her jacket on the chair, Francesca walked to a desk lined with potion bottles.

“How are Saint Lucia and the Hero doing?”

“They’re preparing for battle, just like you.”

With my hands in my pockets, I updated her on the two.

“Lucia is inspecting the weapons sent by the Church. She’s also helping Saint Veronica.”

The Inquisition had sent weapons for Lucia to use. The diplomatic pouch contained various equipment used by active Inquisitors and exorcist priests.

“There were many interesting items, though I didn’t get a good look. Camilla is practicing magic with the Empire’s battle mages.”

“Ah, I know about that. The Hero came to see me as well.”

Francesca, who had been examining the potions, suddenly tilted her head.

“But wasn’t the Hero supposed to stay out of this matter?”

A pair of purple eyes rolled toward me. Meeting her gaze, I answered in my usual voice.

“It’s just personal training.”

Then I shrugged and added:

“Of course, if needed, she’ll fight alongside us.”

All preparations for the hunting operation are complete.

We’ve developed operation plans with experts from the Empire, the Church, and the Magic Tower, and refined them through dozens of simulations to address potential issues.

The most ideal scenario is that the demon is alive in the underground of the collapse site. If the demon-binding formation and barriers function properly, we can pour firepower on it while it’s immobilized and kill it outright. Or we can rush in and take its head.

To this end, Veronica has done her best to command the Inquisition, and so have I. I’ve helped Lucia and Francesca, and even Camilla, who concerns me the most, to prepare thoroughly.

All that remains is the actual battle.

That is, the confrontation with the demon.

“I won’t hold anyone back. I can at least protect myself.”

Francesca playfully remarked with a curved smile.

“You’re rougher with women than I expected. Not much of a gentleman, are you?”

“Let’s stop the jokes.”

“Fair enough. Since you’re here, would you like a healing potion? The ones I made this time have quite good recovery properties.”

“I’d appreciate it, but I’d rather ask how your work is progressing.”

Turning her gaze, Francesca began to discuss the Magic Tower’s situation as if it were nothing significant.

“The final inspection of the sealing barriers, totems, and rune stones has been completed successfully. I’ve been informed that the flow of magical energy and the arrangement of circuits are perfect. As long as magical energy is steadily supplied, they will function without issues for the next week.”

The Magic Tower’s barrier, which supports the Church’s demon-binding formation, has been stably completed.

After carefully analyzing the papers obtained through Dmitriev and on-site inspection reports, it was concluded that the output and structure are very stable, with a significantly low possibility of defects occurring.

“A week, huh. For a large-scale complex magic formation that was hastily constructed, it’s remarkably stable.”

“It’s a formula that experts have put their heart and soul into creating.”

“Is Martinez the final inspector?”

“Yes, Lord Martinez personally verified it. Even now, he’s regularly visiting the site for inspections. The lord is working hard. He had agreed to rebuild most of the sewers in the north—who could have known they would collapse like that?”

“That’s life, I suppose. By the way, medical support and combat preparations seem to be going well.”

Currently, the Magic Tower’s responsibilities in the north are medical care and combat.

Although the Church has sent healing priests for support, there were simply too many patients at the site.

Fortunately, the situation improved when the Magic Tower provided advanced medical equipment and pharmaceuticals incorporating excellent magical engineering technology. Oracle provided a significant portion of the equipment, medicines, and treatment costs for patient care and rehabilitation free of charge.

Notably, it was Francesca who secured this support.

“Thanks to you, our burden has been lightened. The Military Command was grateful.”

“There’s no need to thank me. Oracle didn’t decide to provide free support out of pure goodwill.”

Of course, this was merely the Magic Tower’s response to a fire at their doorstep. The culprit who caused trouble in the conflict zone was a necromancer.

The Imperial Ministry of Defense was already heated due to the conflict.

Fearing that the enraged military might once again roll tanks in front of the Magic Tower, Oracle quickly made the first move before the military could take action.

“Every action has its price.”

Francesca plainly assessed the Magic Tower’s situation. There was a slightly sarcastic nuance in her tone.

I nodded in agreement.

“What’s good is good.”

In any case, it’s beneficial for me.

*

Insomnia is one of the occupational hazards that inevitably comes with receiving a salary.

When you work for a company that calls you at all hours, you often find yourself losing sleep.

Your chest feels heavy as if a stone is sitting on it, and even with a soft pillow, your alert mind shows no signs of settling down.

Perhaps that’s why I seem to have drunk quite a lot.

But tonight, even alcohol appears to be of no use.

In the single bedroom provided at the Grand Cathedral, I went out to the terrace wearing just a shirt.

“…”

The north wind in December was quite fierce. Even the intoxication flowing through my veins couldn’t withstand the cold wind that penetrated to the bone.

Looking at my watch, I saw it was already 23:18. The moment when yesterday, which was today, was passing away.

Tomorrow is December 31st.

The last day of the year and precisely the day predicted by the demon with those black eyes.

Sitting on the terrace with a beer bottle, looking up at the night sky, I sighed deeply and eventually lowered my gaze.

“What are you doing?”

Startled by the sudden voice, I turned around and met Camilla’s blue eyes directly. Peeking her head through the slightly open door, she smiled broadly and opened the terrace door completely.

“Just taking a short break.”

“In the middle of the night, drinking beer alone?”

She was pointing at the beer bottle. Slightly embarrassed at being caught moping in the night air, I put down the bottle I was holding and sniffled.

Camilla approached with small steps and plopped down beside me.

“Are you worried about something?”

“Is there anyone in this world without worries?”

I tried to joke, but it didn’t work at all. Camilla, leaning back on her arms and staring at me, smiled slightly with the corners of her mouth twitching.

“That’s true. No one in this world lives without worries and with complete peace of mind.”

She turned her gaze to look up at the dark night sky. Free from light pollution due to the blackout, the northern region boasted the clearest starlight of any area on the continent.

“Is it because of the demon?”

I lowered my gaze silently at her direct question that caught me off guard.

Though I didn’t answer, that seemed to be enough of a response.

“Oh my!”

Camilla sighed as if frustrated and threw her head back.

“You worry too much. Why do you worry so much?”

Her attitude was so confident as she asked with an exasperated tone. I was momentarily speechless at how casually she asked such a question. I asked her:

“Aren’t you worried, Camilla?”

“Me? Hmm…”

Camilla, humming thoughtfully, blinked her protruding eyelashes and fell into deep thought.

“Worried… Of course I’m worried! I’m human too!”

See? She’s worried herself, yet she’s questioning others. As I clicked my tongue and was about to bring the beer bottle to my lips, Camilla began speaking as if to say, “I’m not finished yet, so listen.”

“But what changes when you worry?”

Her red hair shifted to one side. As Camilla tilted her head, her hair swayed from side to side.

“We’ve prepared thoroughly and taken all possible precautions. All that’s left is the actual battle. Just sitting and worrying won’t change anything. What remains is for the dedication, effort, and time we’ve invested to speak for themselves through results.”

“…”

“Isn’t that enough?”

With a bright smile, Camilla playfully nudged my thigh with her raised knee.

“Don’t worry too much. Maybe for company work it’s different, but right now, you’re not fighting alone.”

Then she hopped up from her seat, dusted off her backside, and said:

“It’s cold, so let’s go inside. Don’t catch a cold and suffer.”

Camilla disappeared through the terrace door with her quick steps.

I watched her retreating figure and then swallowed the remaining beer.

*

The late-night foolishness ended shortly after Camilla left. Returning to my room, I adjusted the light and sat at the desk to inspect my equipment.

These were items I had brought in with the approval of the Military Command after consultation with the Imperial Ministry of Defense.

Body armor and helmet blessed by Veronica herself. Personal firearms consecrated with holy water. The pistol I’ve carried since entering the Empire. Various small accessories. And protective clothing and gas masks that were so damn heavy I never wanted to wear them again.

Before going to sleep, I tried on the equipment.

I adjusted the body armor to fit my body perfectly and tightened the helmet chin strap to secure it as firmly as possible. I checked the position of the ammunition clips filled with live rounds multiple times, so there was no worry about fumbling for ammo clips like in my rookie days when combat broke out.

After putting on a backpack bulging with batteries, spare ammunition, and other essentials, I paced around the room briefly to check for any discomfort.

“…Tsk.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve been away from the field for over 30 years. It definitely felt a bit awkward somewhere.

When was the last time I wore military gear? Eastern Europe? The Middle East? Or was it Africa, where I served at the end? Definitely not Latin America—I went there early in my career.

As I was pacing around the room in military gear like a madman in the middle of the night, my mobile phone on the desk began to ring loudly. It was my work phone, created when I was appointed as a diplomat.

A call from the Military Command?

I opened the phone to check the number on the screen, and my guess was correct. The work phone displayed the number of Senior Interpreter Officer Lyudmila.

“Yes, Senior Officer Lyudmila. What’s the matter? Calling so early in the morning.”

-“Emergency.”

At that moment, my head felt numb as if struck by a hammer, and cold sweat ran down my spine.

Senior Officer Lyudmila didn’t say much.

-“Please come to headquarters immediately.”