NOVEL NEXT
Chapter 16
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Demon God’s male Disciple]
[Quality Checker – Kawaii]
Chapter 16: Warning (2)
“Isn’t it a bit suspicious?”
A young investigator asked a senior colleague while examining the excavation site.
The senior investigator, rummaging through the debris scattered around the site, replied,
“What? The sudden sound of something munching on grass?”
“No, not that. It’s about Akitora. He’s an executive of Yulan who has thwarted the pursuit of the Holy Church multiple times.”
Yulan wasn’t an ordinary group of dark mages.
Their size was small, but each individual’s skills were remarkably high.
To the extent that all the Paladins dispatched by the Church fell in their trap during the hunts.
“Of course, Akitora belongs to the cursed faction, so his combat prowess is relatively weak.”
Compared to those skilled in commanding undead or those who strengthen themselves for battle through fervent practices, the curse faction lacked direct combat abilities.
“But still, does it make sense for a high-ranking dark mage like Akitora to lose his life to a countryside noble?”
However, it was a relative statement.
Even knights of regular status found it challenging to kill a curse sorcerer as skilled as Akitora head-on.
“Maybe that man, Damien Haksen… could be Yulan’s spy? It’s possible he disguised someone else’s body as Akitora and handed it over to the Church.”
The senior investigator nodded in agreement with the junior’s suspicion.
“I’ve had similar thoughts.”
“So, I’m not the only one who finds this strange!”
“But what can we do? Lady Agnes hasn’t said a word about it.”
Agnes was a respected Paladin who had eliminated countless heretics until now.
The young investigator couldn’t believe that Agnes would just overlook something even the investigators doubted.
But Agnes didn’t harbor even the slightest suspicion about Damien Haksen.
“Nevertheless, wouldn’t it be wise to make a suggestion?”
“Finish the investigation first and then voice your concerns. Focus on the work for now…”
“Damien Haksen is not a spy.”
Suddenly, a voice from behind startled both investigators.
Agnes was looking at the two of them with her usual impassive expression.
“I understand your doubts, but Damien Haksen is not that kind of man.”
At Agnes’s words, the two investigators blinked in surprise.
“But-but how could he possibly have killed Akitora in the first place?”
Summoning courage, the young investigator asked.
Without hesitation, Agnes replied.
“Didn’t you already hear how he killed him?”
“Yes? Ah! Yes we did hear it.”
Suddenly, the young investigator recalled Damien Haksen’s words.
“Roughly dodged and then struck at the neck to kill.”
A deep sense of bewilderment appeared on the young investigator’s face.
“Oh, no, so that means he really… just dodged his attacks and killed him?”
Agnes nodded.
“When that servant brought Akitora’s severed head, I didn’t immediately intervene. I observed Damien.”
In truth, Agnes had already been suspicious of Damien.
It didn’t make sense for a figure like Akitora to die so easily.
The situation was unavoidably suspicious.
“Truly… he was a skilled person to the point of astonishment.”
And upon witnessing Damien Haksen’s fighting prowess, all her doubts were dispelled.
“Facing dozens of opponents simultaneously, yet he didn’t sustain a single injury. Instead, he overwhelmed all of them.”
Agnes still couldn’t forget.
Damien Haksen evaded attacks coming from all directions by the smallest margin and surpassed his enemies.
Every move was meticulously calculated.
It felt almost unreal, as if watching a meticulously orchestrated play.
“The most astonishing thing was… the fact that he deflected magic using a sword.”
At first, the two investigators didn’t grasp the meaning of her words.
“One of the members of the Black Serpent gang used a magical tool to shoot a fireball. Damien Haksen wielded his sword and redirected the trajectory of that fireball.”
Only after hearing Agnes’s explanation did they begin to understand.
No, in truth, they still couldn’t comprehend it this time either.
“Is that… even possible?”
People struggle to even block an approaching sword right in front of them.
In such a scenario, deflecting magic? It was an unbelievable tale.
“It is possible. I’ve heard that the Empire’s Swordmaster ‘Gyumsung’ can withstand any attack, even magic.”
The jaws of the two investigators dropped.
In other words, it meant a feat achievable only by a master-level expert.
“If, if that’s true, then Damien Haksen…”
“He’s an extraordinary expert, an unparalleled genius. There’s no way such an individual would merely serve as a spy. Just using him as a combat agent alone would cause significant damage to the Church.”
Agnes spoke with an infinitely serious expression.
“Surely the reason you came here personally was because of that man, isn’t it?”
“The reason I followed all of you is because of Yulan.”
Agnes cut in sharply.
There was no one in the sect who didn’t know that Agnes harbored deep animosity towards Yulan.
“But I also have something to deal with regarding that man. I would prefer to take him to my mentor as soon as possible. If other Great Elders find out about him, it will cause significant trouble.”
In the Church, Cheongyeom Brigandin held a position not inferior to a monarch of a country.
And among Cheongyeom’s disciples, Agnes was the most outstanding figure.
Such a person was pouring out praises for someone without a hint of conceit.
“So, now, please set aside your suspicions about him and focus on the investigation.”
In response to those words, the investigators could only nod in agreement.
Four hours passed before the investigation concluded.
Regrettably, due to the aftermath of the battle, everything had turned to rubble, leaving little information to gauge.
“Thank you all for your hard work.”
Despite this, Agnes rallied the investigators without a hint of disappointment.
It was when Agnes and the investigators emerged from the site.
As soon as they stepped outside, they witnessed an unusual sight.
“Huh?”
“What’s that?”
The air was swirling.
In accordance with the air, the leaves around them also started vibrating.
At the center of it all was Damien Haksen.
He sat on a rock, with his eyes closed.
Each time he breathed, the flow of air alternated between rapid and slow.
“What’s that?”
“Incredible, isn’t it?”
The investigators watched in amazement at the peculiar scene.
As ordinary individuals, they couldn’t comprehend what was happening.
“…Divine.”
Only Agnes recognized the unfathomable nature of what Damien Haksen was currently engaged in.
He was gathering and absorbing all the dispersed magical energies around him, subjugating them to himself.
“What am I witnessing?”
Agnes was well aware of the Absorption Technique she handed over to Damien Haksen.
Understanding its significant value, she passed it on to him.
The Unleashed Sword of Domination itself wasn’t particularly remarkable.
However, the Supreme Absorption Technique was different. It was an extraordinary skill that anyone would envy.
“To master the Supreme Absorption Technique during the investigation…”
The Supreme Absorption Technique involved gathering and absorbing the surrounding mana, significantly speeding up the process of accumulating magic compared to other techniques.
Once mastering it, one could go beyond merely absorbing nearby magic and begin to dominate it.
[Note- This technique increases the range and speed of absorbing mana and also helps in using it efficiently]
What Damien Haksen was currently doing was precisely that.
He used the Supreme Absorption Technique to control and absorb the surrounding magical energy.
“Huff…”
Damien halted his breathing.
Simultaneously, the flow of air ceased abruptly.
“Have you finished your investigation?”
Damien asked Agnes and the investigators.
Agnes nodded with a blank expression.
“Sir Damien… have you… achieved something?”
“Yes, I had a bit of fun.”
Damien smirked.
Even he seemed satisfied with his accomplishment.
“It’s already evening. Let’s hurry back. Father has prepared dinner…”
Suddenly, Damien’s expression hardened.
He turned his gaze in the direction of his domain.
“The vultures have arrived.”
At the unexpected harsh words, Agnes was slightly surprised. Damien Haksen bowed his head to her and said,
“An urgent matter has arisen. I must go ahead. Take your time coming.”
Without waiting for a response, he stamped the ground.
Before Agnes could catch him, Damien Haksen turned into a speck and vanished.
His speed left Agnes astonished once again.
“Is he moving with the help of magic?”
Using magic could amplify physical abilities.
Damien Haksen’s ability to move at superhuman speed was all thanks to magic.
“But Damien didn’t possess such magic.”
In the Landwalk City, Agnes had infused divine power into Damien Haksen’s body to inspect his internals.
At that time, the amount of magic Damien Haksen had was extremely feeble.
With such a small amount of magic, he couldn’t have moved so quickly.
“Is it because of the Supreme Absorption Technique? No, even with the extreme mastery of the technique, it’s impossible to accumulate as much magic in such a short time.”
Even if Damien had reached the peak of the Supreme Absorption Technique, he could only accumulate magic for barely 3 to 4 hours.
Yet, Damien Haksen’s movements were much faster than an average knight.
“Could it be… precise manipulation of magic to this extent?”
The more precisely magic was manipulated, the greater its efficiency and wastage of magic also decreases accordingly.
Swordmaster Gyumsung, renowned for deriving double the efficiency from the same amount of magic, was considered a genius among geniuses.
In Agnes’s eyes, Damien’s efficiency wasn’t merely at double the level.
“Where does this man’s limit lie?”
Confronted with talent that seemed limitless, Agnes felt a shiver run down her spine.
The realm of the Haksen household.
Three men appeared on the path leading to it.
All three were clad in full-body armor, riding high quality horses.
One could easily tell that they were not of ordinary status.
“Ah, finally arrived.”
One knight stretched as he spoke.
Exhaustion had accumulated over the past two days of forced marches.
“Ugh, Alpheus. What’s that smell? It’s really foul.”
Another knight remarked with a grimace.
In response, Alpheus, the knight who had stretched, scoffed mockingly.
“Lavender, you city bumpkin, that’s the scent of cow dung. It’s a noble smell, so sniff it in deeply.”
“Cow dung smell? Ugh.”
The knight called Lavender started brushing his armor with his hand.
Seeing this, Alpheus burst into laughter.
“You fool. Do you think the smell will vanish like that?”
“Damn, don’t you have any perfume or something? If you do, give me some. What if this smell sticks to me!”
While the two knights chatted away, another knight who had stayed quiet spoke briefly.
“Quiet.”
At the softly spoken words, Alpheus and Lavender immediately fell silent.
The knight who silenced the two stared silently at Haksen’s estate.
“Is that the Haksen estate?”
“Yes, Sir Gerrick.”
Alpheus, despite his casual manner, spoke in a grave tone that made it seem like he was lying. It was inevitable. Unlike Alpheus and Lavender, who were just junior knights, the man before them was a fully-fledged knight. Furthermore, he was skilled enough to receive a mission directly from marquis Ryan Bloom.
“We finally meet. That rascal who dared defy Lord Ewin and besmirched Lord Ryan bloom’s reputation.”
A viscous aura exuded from Gerrick’s eyes.
Alpheus and Lavender swallowed hard. They felt overwhelmed by Gerrick’s imposing presence.
“Alpheus, what was the task that our lord assigned to us?”
“Yes! We were ordered to arrest Damien Haksen and bring him back to the manor!”
“Capturing that trash won’t be difficult… But that alone is not enough.”
Gerrick’s aura grew a bit denser.
“Not just Damien Haksen, but the entire Haksen household must pay the price. Don’t you think that’s only fair?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Absolutely!”
The two knights quickly replied.
Gerrick was loyal but known for his rough temperament. There had been an occasion when he had whipped the residents of an estate for not showing proper respect to the Lord’s flag.
Given Gerrick’s temperament, they had to agree, even if they didn’t think so. Otherwise, they might be the first ones to face the consequences before the Haksen household.
“Let’s go.”
The three knights headed towards the Haksen household. At the entrance, they found a steward sweeping.
“Hey.”
Lavender spoke to the steward.
The servant paused his sweeping and looked up.
“Oh!”
The servant exclaimed, startled. Lavender, in turn, was also surprised.
“What-what brings the knights to our estate?”
The servant trembled as he asked.
The steward trembled as he asked.
The steward’s submissive attitude made Lavender feel a faint sense of superiority.
“I’m here to meet Damien Haksen. Tell him to come out right away.”
Lavender spoke louder.
Upon hearing this, the steward’s eyes widened.
“Why are you looking for our master?”
“You don’t need to know that much. Just relay my message to Damien Haksen.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
The steward frowned at Lavender’s words.
“What did you just say?”
“You called for our master without revealing who you are. I cannot do it.”
The steward nervously stammered.
“If you wish to see our master, please state where you are from and your name. Then I’ll pass on your message to him.”
Ugh.
Lavender let out a sarcastic laugh and glanced at Gerrick.
As if eager to trample the Haksen household, Lavender had caught a perfect opportunity.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m Victor.”
“Okay then, Victor.”
Lavender approached Victor. Sensing an odd atmosphere, Victor stepped back.
“Why, why are you coming closer… ugh!”
Lavender struck Victor’s abdomen with a gauntlet-clad fist.
Victor doubled over, retching.
“W-Why are you doing this… Ugh!”
This time, a blow landed on Victor’s head, sending him sprawling on the ground.
“If I tell you to do something, you’d better do it, instead of whining around!”
Lavender raised his foot and pressed down on Victor, who attempted to cower but to no avail.
Against the disciplined physique of a knight, the body of an ordinary person was exceedingly feeble.
“What’s going on?”
“Victor! What happened?”
The stewards inside the mansion rushed out in a flurry.
However, upon seeing the knights, they froze in place.
“Get, get the master! Bring the master out!”
One maid hurriedly scurried back into the mansion.
Shortly after, Damien Haksen and his family emerged.
“We cannot continue like this!”
After hearing the commotion from Haksen Manor, the knights ceased their violence, but Victor was already covered in blood.
“At last, you’ve come out.”
Upon seeing Victor’s state, Viscount Paul Haksen erupted in fury.
“What is this! Knights assaulting a civilian like this!”
“It’s nothing compared to what your son did to young master Erwin Ryan bloom.”
At the mention of the name Ryan bloom, Paul Haksenr’s face stiffened.
“Paul Haksen, the Lord wants Damien Haksen. If you surrender him peacefully, there won’t be harm to your estate.”
“Damien? You’ve come for Damien?”
“That’s right. Shouldn’t you face the consequences for insulting Lord Ewin?”
Haksen Master’s eyes trembled. Biting his lip, he said, “I cannot hand over my son!”
Unsurprisingly, Gerrick showed no particular reaction.
“Are you sure you won’t regret this?”
“Of course not!”
“In that case, we have no choice. Bring it all down.”
At Gerrick’s command, Lavender and Olphis drew their swords, and blue smoke rose around the crimson blades.
“Oh, oh no! Are you really planning to kill someone?”
The Viscount shouted in horror.
Gerrick spoke calmly, “I won\t kill anyone instead, I\ll demolish everything here.”
Even the black rocks enveloped by aura were sliced as easily as water. When combined with the knights’ enhanced physical abilities, such a dreadful weapon would turn this small estate into ruins in no time.
Gerrick’s words weren’t mere bluff or exaggeration.
“What are you waiting for? Let’s get started.”
“Yes!”
Lavender and Alpheus moved as they received Gerric\s orders , starting to break down nearby doors and walls.
The Viscount panicked, shouting at the knights.
“S-Stop!”
However, the two knights paid no heed to his words and continued to break the walls.
“These guys! Why aren’t they stopping!”
As the Viscount rushed toward the knights…
“Did you lunatics lose your minds?”
A third voice made Gerrick and the two knights turn around.
Tufts of brown hair that seemed slightly burnt with eerily ominous eyes.
“Didn’t he tell you to stop?”
Damien Haksen was approaching the three knights.
[PR/N- mana is the energy present in the nature, while magic and aura are the ways by which you utilize that energy or rather mana, however mana sometimes can also be used in its raw form as used by Damien here and as used by Erwin when he sparred with Damien in the Haksen Household, but it is still referred to as magic I also don’t know why, I change it where it is of utmost importance so tell me if you guys want me to change it everywhere where you think ‘mana’ should have been used instead of ‘magic’]
[Translator – Kie]
[Proofreader – Demon God’s male Disciple]
[Quality Checker – Kawaii]