Chapter 47: Framed

The unbelievable sight of a person being slapped and sent flying dozens of meters.

The ‘first punch’ plan he had proposed was being executed exactly as planned, but Muno couldn’t smile watching the scene.

No, on the contrary, a cold sweat was running down his spine.

‘F*ck, what is this monster?’

Inside the first carriage of the investigation team, he could feel a presence harboring a terrifying demonic energy he had never experienced before.

A massive demonic energy, so great that it seemed capable of crushing the entire inner castle in an instant if it entered the gates, was condensed within a single being inside the carriage.

In the midst of that.

“If you come at us like this, we won’t tolerate it either!!”

Starting with the small man with a swollen left cheek who unleashed a murderous aura and drew a greatsword as tall as himself.

He could see four high-ranking knights, who were not as powerful but still exuded immense pressure, and a dozen or so escort knights also drawing their swords.

As if in response.

“How dare you insult me and Trian, and then draw your sword first?!”

Clang!

With Count Enoch Trian’s thunderous shout, the entire Trian Knightly Order gathered in front of the inner castle drew their swords simultaneously.

But even then, Muno’s whole body was stiff with the pressure of the immense demonic energy.

It was only after Rasmia, who was beside him, shook his shoulder that he came to his senses.

“Muno, what’s wrong? Don’t tell me…….”

“Yes, there is. There’s a monster in the first carriage…….”

“Really?”

“What do you mean, brother?”

Anan, the priest of the Earth Mother Goddess ‘Lu’ who had healed Klarm, asked with a frown.

“I told you beforehand, Priest-nim.”

Then Rasmia glared and answered for him in a small voice.

- Since the 5-Star knight was a Magic Knight, the magicians’ reach may have extended further into Aslan.

- If there’s a Magic Knight or a magician mixed in with the investigation team, and you uncover it, we can use it to pressure Aslan in return.

Count Enoch Trian, while accepting Muno’s reckless proposal to pick a fight first, had also devised another plan.

Of course, neither Muno nor the person who proposed the plan had high hopes for it.

If the magicians of the Demon Cult, that evil group, had any sense, they wouldn’t stick their hands into an already brewing fight.

Not unless they wanted to be dragged in by the hands and have their roots pulled out.

Of course, they had to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances.

The Count had paid a handsome price to summon a high priest and had him on standby next to Muno and Rasmia.

“……Are you telling me to believe that joke?”

But the old priest, Anan, only frowned at Rasmia’s words.

He couldn't accept the fact that Muno could sense demonic energy more sensitively than a Spirit Master like Rasmia or a priest like himself.

“You have to believe it, Priest-nim. Muno has already proven it several times.”

“No, no matter what…….”

Listening to their conversation, Muno could only feel his insides burn.

He could feel the presence of a truly terrifying demonic energy.

‘You can’t feel this? Really?’

He was once again reminded of the effectiveness of that technique, the veil or whatever it was called.

And on the other hand, he felt that the actions of the evil cult were strange.

‘They’re making a risky move by deploying a monster like that? Why?’

Judging by the scale of the demonic energy, the likes of which he had never felt before, that was at least a 5-Circle magician.

It was unlikely that high-level magicians of a level rare even in the Empire would be overflowing in a mere evil cult.

But for just.

‘To catch me alone? No, it can’t be. It shouldn’t be…….’

It could be seen as simply a way to increase the chaos.

But since Trian was already in conflict with Aslan, it would have been better not to send a magician for that purpose.

‘……Unless the organization is full of idiots, that should be the case.’

If that’s the case.

‘Is the target me after all? Does that make sense?’

He had been surprised when the magicians approached him, talking about being an experiment, but he hadn't thought much of it.

But if they were targeting him to this extent, there must be a reason.

If I were to force a guess and piece together the possibilities.

‘Could it be that my ability has already been revealed……?’

- If your ability becomes known, every magician in the world will try to hunt you down and kill you.

- To them, your very existence is blasphemy itself.

‘Then it would make sense. Damn it…….’

He had used his ability multiple times in every battle with the magicians.

But he had been confident that no one would know, as he had lied to his allies that it was an artifact…….

‘No, it’s too early to be certain. If I were the target, they wouldn’t have sent just one, no matter how much of a monster it is, it can’t be a Seven-Star class…….’

It was a demonic energy that was difficult to even objectively gauge, but compared to the Count’s aura, it seemed to be a notch below.

He tried to calm his confused mind by desperately engraving that fact.

“Calm down, Commander Evan.”

With a clear voice like rolling jade beads, a woman opened the carriage door and descended, drawing the attention of everyone present.

“Oh……!?”

“How can such a…….”

“My goodness, to think I’d see a beauty comparable to Lady Roanna again in my lifetime…….”

Exclamations of admiration erupted from both friend and foe.

That momentarily bewildered Muno.

Because absurd praises were pouring out at the appearance of a woman with a rounder face than the at-least-cute Roanna.

‘That’s……?’

It was even harder to adapt to than with Roanna, and still just as baffling.

Of course, there was a more important issue than that difference in perception.

“That woman is a magician. At least 5-Circle or higher.”

“What?”

At those words, Rasmia immediately responded and showed signs of caution.

“Brother, baseless accusations will only escalate the conflict between the two territories. Please restrain yourself.”

Priest Anan, whom the Count had prepared to assist, was instead openly criticizing Muno.

“Priest-nim, shut up.”

“……Pardon?”

As Anan’s mouth dropped open at the profanity he had never heard in his life.

Muno, whose eyes met with the woman presumed to be a magician, unknowingly swallowed hard.

‘……Will my ability work?’

Now that he had completed his second evolution, he was confident he could face the 4-Circle magician he had met before alone, but he had no feel for this one.

‘At least 5-Circle…….’

The small amount of magic that had ignored his ability when Moeno had exploded to his death suddenly weighed on his mind.

He had learned for certain then that the Demon Devourer’s ability had its limits.

The Demon Devourer was ringing alarm bells in his head, and a cold sweat ran down his spine once again.

But.

“You’re sure, Muno?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Her face is annoying anyway. This is perfect.”

Rasmia openly glared at the woman and began to draw up her mana.

The flow, invisible to the eyes of ordinary people, stimulated Muno’s eyes and senses.

“Lady Rasmia, don’t tell me?”

“Spirit Master, what are you trying to do……?”

“Muno, you do what you can too. Priest Anan, if you interfere, I will report you to the temple on suspicion of collaborating with a magician.”

“No, what is this…….”

Rasmia threw a murderous warning at Anan and really began to draw up her full power.

That sight decided Muno’s hesitant actions.

And.

“Who are you?”

“I am Kallin, an administrator of the Aslan Duchy.”

“This is not a place for a mere administrator to step forward…….”

“Even if a duel were to take place, as far as I know, a notary who does not belong to either family would be required.”

“Ha?”

The moment everyone’s attention was focused on Kallin’s bold remark that stopped the actions of the 6-Star knights.

Whoooosh.

With a very faint sound of wind, blades of wind poured down on her head.

The stealthy Wind Spirit Arts, which would be difficult for an ordinary person, no, even a mana-wielding Spirit Master, to see, was all too clear to Muno’s eyes.

‘Amazing.’

A magnificent sight, as if the wind that had soared into the sky from above Rasmia’s head had passed through the air hundreds of meters above, amplifying tens, hundreds of times before pouring down.

It was a spectacular sight, like a giant waterfall of wind blades, with tens of thousands of wind spirits responding and pouring out their power, falling on one person’s head.

It was incomparably stronger than the techniques she had used briefly when facing the 5-Star knight Collid.

And it was so stealthy that almost no trace could be seen from the moment it was activated until it poured down on the enemy’s head.

This was the true power of the 4-Class Spirit Master Rasmia, unleashed with determination.

But Muno’s eyes could confirm Kallin’s expression, who was smirking in the midst of it all.

And.

“Oh my!?”

The moment the woman looked up at the sky with a feigned surprised voice.

The Lightning Blade Sword, Evan, who had approached her, seemed to lift his head.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

Then he began to swing his greatsword, as big as his own body, like a thunderbolt.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa.

Crackle.

As if to prove his moniker, the Lightning Blade Sword, the man with a rather petite physique for a knight, swung his greatsword and shredded the space above Kallin’s head like a thunderbolt.

Simultaneously, the thunderbolt that came from his artifact, known as his beloved sword, the Thunder Sword , completely pulverized the blades of wind that Rasmia had poured out.

In the brief moment of the clash, a small black dagger flew in without a sound between the collision of the wind blades and the thunderbolt’s greatsword.

“Tricks……!”

Boom!

Evan’s Thunder Sword, which had shattered the wind blades, struck the black dagger as it was.

But in that instant, the dagger split into two, grazed past the greatsword, and immediately rushed towards Kallin.

Seeing that sight, Muno cheered inwardly.

‘It worked……!’

He hadn't expected to be able to kill that monster with this move from the start.

He had just thought that if he threatened her life to this extent, she would have no choice but to use magic in front of everyone.

But in that moment.

Kallin, whose eyes met Muno’s, was smiling, a smile that didn't fit the situation.

‘What is this?’

The moment a chilly feeling grazed his heart.

Muno’s black dagger soon dug into her body.

Puuuuk.

“Keo, keoheuk.”

Kallin, with holes pierced in her neck and heart, reached out her hand towards him with an expression of disbelief.

“Kkeu…….”

Thud.

With a truly pitiful expression, she collapsed on the spot, spewing blood.

In that instant, a silence fell over the noisy inner castle courtyard.

The gazes of everyone, friend and foe alike, turned to the fallen Kallin, then soon returned to Muno, whom she had last looked at.

‘F*ck……?’

How should I express this bewildered feeling?

“This is…….”

Even Rasmia, who was beside me, couldn't hide her bewilderment.

A shout rang out a beat too late.

“……Kallin!!?”

The Lightning Blade Sword, Evan Orgus, let out a scream-like shout and collapsed to his knees in front of the fallen Kallin’s body.

Vacant, unfocused eyes, tears streaming down.

Just as the ominous premonition that they might have been lovers grazed Muno’s mind.

“Kallin!! Kallin!! How dare you, how dare you, how dare you……!!!”

He, who had been trembling, finally stood up, holding Kallin’s body, and roared at Enoch Trian.

“Count, what is the meaning of this!? How dare you openly kill an envoy!?”

It was a rude remark that ignored the difference in status.

But in this situation, even Enoch Trian, known as the Bulwark of the North, couldn't help but be flustered.

And.

“I will take the lives of those two right now! Interfere, and it’s war! Count!”

Evan’s reddened eyes turned towards Muno.

“I’ll tear you to shreds!!”

His body, leaving Kallin’s corpse behind, disappeared from Muno’s sight in an instant.

And at almost the same time.

Boom-----!

Before Muno’s eyes, the Thunder Sword of the Lightning Blade Sword, Evan Orgus, and the Rock Wall Sword of Enoch Trian, known as the Bulwark of the North, clashed with a deafening roar.

* * *

In one corner, a silk bed; on the opposite side, a space with a separate toilet.

The ‘room’ Muno was guided to looked truly comfortable.

However.

Screeeech.

Clank.

The iron-barred door was firmly locked.

Clink.

“Do I really have to wear this?”

Except for the fact that the shackles on his hands and feet were connected to the wall by long chains.

“I’m sorry, but it’s the rules.”

“Just bear with it for a little while.”

Klarm spoke in a comforting tone from beside the guard, but the words didn't register.

“……What happened?”

“His Excellency is still pressing the issue of the investigation team’s rudeness. He’s trying to pass off the administrator’s death as an accident. In a normal case, it could be settled with compensation, but the situation is strange right now.”

“I can imagine.”

An old knight, an honorary vice-commander, was identified as a Magic Knight and killed in Trian.

And because of that, before the party sent from Aslan could even begin their investigation, an administrator was murdered this time.

It was a situation that couldn’t be easily smoothed over with the forced accusation that the investigation team had insulted the Count.

“But don’t worry. His Excellency never abandons his people. I hope you weren't offended by what he said? That was the best he could do in that situation…….”

“I’m aware of that much.”

“……Right. So just rest. No matter what, Aslan won't be able to do anything more to you inside this Trian.”

“Aslan isn’t the problem.”

“What?”

“The magician who disappeared. That woman will come after me.”

“Uh……?”

Seeing Klarm’s expression, as if he had just realized something, Muno could only give a bitter smile.

But Klarm was a knight of Trian, so it wasn’t unreasonable for him to focus on the crisis his family was facing.

“If it was simply for the chaos between Aslan and Trian, it would have been better not to come…….”

As he was about to state the obvious inference, his thoughts returned to the current reality.

“No, no, that’s not right. If they have the ability to create a situation like this…….”

He had to erase his initial assumption.

Then, was it really not aimed at me, but truly to maximize the chaos?

His mind started to get more complicated.

“No, since you identified the magician, the prediction that they will target you is not unfounded. I will make sufficient preparations.”

“Ah…….”

Only after hearing Klarm’s words did he feel certain again.

‘They came knowing that I can see through demonic energy. It’s certain.’

The corpse the female magician had left behind was completely identical, not just in clothes, but also in body shape and appearance.

If she had even gone so far as to create an identical face, it wasn’t something she had whipped up with magic in an instant.

‘It was prepared in advance.’

On the other hand, he had been overconfident in the ability of the Demon Devourer.

Even a monster of an incomprehensible level had prepared so thoroughly, while he had been careless, relying only on his ability.

In the end, that monster used magic to escape the scene without being detected by his senses at all.

And left a scapegoat corpse in its place, even framing him.

This much was certain.

She came knowing my ability.

“What is it?”

“……She will target me. For certain.”

“Yes. I said I understand. I will report to His Excellency and…….”

“Can we set a trap here? A trap that can catch a 5-Circle, no, a 6-Circle magician?”

“……What?”

“Ordinary defenses won't do. At the very least, that old man, no, His Excellency himself must act as the guard!”

“Crazy. Make some sense, you brat!”

Klarm, who had been friendly all along, suddenly contorted his face and shouted.

And only after hearing that shout did Muno flinch.

The expression of the guard next to Klarm, who was staring at him with a dazed look, was as if he were looking at a madman.

‘Hmph……. Damn it.’

He had made a reckless demand in his haste, but after blurting it out, he immediately realized how ridiculous it sounded.

“……Please assume that a high-level magician will infiltrate to capture me, and prepare as much as possible. I will also find my own way.”

“Ha…….”

Klarm, who sighed again, looked at Muno’s unwavering eyes, then bit his lip and gave a small nod.

“……Then for now, I’ll have Rasmia moved to the cell right next to you. And of course, security will be strengthened.”

“Yes. Please.”

“However, since this is a serious matter, I won't be able to come here often. So if you need anything, tell Ron here.”

Seeing the guard who immediately bowed his head, Muno could only nod heavily.

“……I understand.”

Fortunately, that minimal measure was implemented quickly.

Not long after Klarm left, Rasmia was placed in the cell facing his across the iron bars.

Additional guards besides the guard Ron and Jim were added, and at least two or more knights began to be stationed at the entrance.

And a day, then two days passed.

Just as Muno was thinking that his worries might have been excessive.

Something caught his senses.

‘Demonic energy!?’

The moment Muno’s eyes, which had been contemplating his own countermeasures, shot open.

“Hwaaam. Why am I so sleepy?”

“Stay awake. The shift change is still far……. Hwaaam. Aww. Me too……?”

“This is strange…….”

Thud.

Suddenly, the guards and knights began to collapse one after another as if falling asleep.

And.

“Magician!”

“As expected, leaving aside that shabby Spirit Master, for magic not to work on a mere knight. You really do have something, experiment. Right?”

Before Rasmia’s shout could even finish, a languid voice echoed from behind him.

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