〈Unknown Threat (3)〉
That day was also an ordinary day.
I woke up early in the morning, had a meal with my loved ones, and went to school at the elementary education facility built within the ‘commercial employee residential area’.
“Aaron good morning~!”
“oh! Is Aaron here? Did you hear the news? This time at Michamp Street….”
“You came early today again. “He is also a very diligent student.”
Aaron was a very popular person there.
Not only to the children being educated together, but also to the instructors hired as teachers.
In fact, that was also natural.
This facility was created and operated by the Hubert Foundation from top to bottom, and most of the parents of the children attending this facility were employees of the Hubert Company.
‘And I am the younger brother of the secretary, who is the closest person to the owner of the store.’
Although he was a secretary in words, in reality he was no different from a second-in-command.
The owner of the store had that much trust and authority.
A faint bitter smile appeared on his lips.
I shrugged my shoulders at the fact that I was being treated like this thanks to my great older sister, but I also felt a lot of pressure.
Didn’t he live a life no different from the lower class before coming here?
‘Even when I think about it now, it doesn’t feel real at all. ‘I live like this.’
Now, no one can replace Hubert’s position in the commercial world.
It is natural that it has grown to be ranked first not only in the commercial districts near Tarak but also in the Tulk Kingdom and on the entire continent.
Not only was he wealthy, but he also had great political power, so much so that not only the Aonia Counts, where Tarak was located, but also the Tulk royal family could not treat him carelessly, so there was no need to say more.
‘I heard that people actually like it because it provides many more benefits than that.’
Based on this, Hubert Company established a foundation and began investing heavily in Tarak.
Numerous facilities, including the educational facility Aaron attends, have been built, and public institutions have also been able to work more comfortably than before thanks to the support of the foundation.
At the same time, the economy was growing day by day and public security was stable enough to allow people to walk around in the middle of the night, so the entire city was directly benefiting from Hubert Company.
In such a situation, it was no wonder that Aaron was treated so harshly.
Especially since there were even rumors going around that he might be Sanghoeju’s brother-in-law.
‘It doesn’t really feel like it. If the other person is an old man, I agree, but… what will my sister think?’
In fact, he already knew.
That Hubert, the store owner, was the ‘uncle’ who saved them.
At first, I didn’t realize it because it was something I couldn’t even imagine, but as I watched the attitude of my older sister who had been with me my whole life, I couldn’t help but realize it naturally.
Because he, too, had to develop his wits in order to survive in an extreme environment.
‘Maybe it’s magic or something.’
Isn’t it true that you go through all sorts of things when running a business?
It wasn’t that unusual for the owner of a very large merchant, roughly the size of Hubert’s, to disguise his identity for safety reasons.
“I’m home.”
“Oppaaaa!”
“100 million!”
When Aaron returned home from school with his friends, little Inyoung came into his arms and punched him with all his might.
A lively girl who appears to be about six or seven years old.
It was his younger cousin Rafi.
“I’m going to grandma’s house. Let’s go together!”
“…I have to do my homework first.”
“hurry! quickly! Grandma made meat cookies! I told you to bring your brother too. “I’m worried that you look weak!”
“No, I’m not that weak…”
But in the end, at his younger brother’s urging, he had no choice but to sigh and walk outside again.
He, who was in charge of taking care of Rafi while his uncle and his wife and older sister were at work, could not refuse this little child’s request.
“Cluck… I came at the perfect time. “The cookies have just been baked, so sit there and wait.”
“yes!”
“I’ll prepare something to drink.”
“Okay then.”
The two headed to the house of an elderly shaman who lived next door.
Although this old woman with a face full of tattoos looked scary on the outside, she was a friendly neighbor who the family had become friends with from the very beginning when they moved to this city.
In particular, the distance is so close that Rafi, who visits here from time to time, considers her like his own grandmother.
“thank you for this food.”
“Mumble, mumble—Halmoni Myr!”
“Heulheul… I made a lot of them, so I’ll pack them up when I go.”
“thank you!”
Raffy’s words, muttered while stuffing cookies into her mouth, brought smiles to the faces of the old woman and Aaron.
A peaceful daily life.
Peaceful days.
Outside, it was noisy with talk of the war with the Immortal King and all that, but in Tarak… the neighborhood they were in was extremely peaceful, as if even that noise had been avoided.
Even if a big war breaks out, this place will be safe.
This space, which is protected and managed by many people, including my uncle and sister, will become an absolute fence.
Amidst such unfounded beliefs, a day like any other day passed by.
and-.
Knock—
“Excuse me.”
A sudden knock came and a stranger’s voice was heard.
A soft voice that cannot be hidden even by a polite tone of voice.
It was late, so Aaron, who was standing at the front door with Rafi in a hurry to go home, carefully opened the door.
“Who are you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. “There’s someone I’m urgently looking for.”
What was visible through the crack in the door was a young boy.
At most, he’s probably Aaron’s age?
In some ways, a child who looked younger than him was smiling brightly at the door.
“…I think I can help you if you tell me the name of the person you are looking for.”
However, an honorific word naturally came out of Aaron’s mouth.
It wasn’t really my intention.
It was just something that came out instinctively without even being aware of it.
“Ah… I don’t know your name.”
The other person trailed off and looked at them with narrowed eyes.
A cool look that licks your entire body in an instant, like a snake.
Saa—
At the same time, goosebumps appeared all over Aaron’s body and tension rose.
My saliva dried up and cold sweat began to flow.
Before he knew it, Rafi was hiding behind him and trembling. Fear and ominousness of unknown origin began to bind them.
“…Well, this time, it’s a disaster again. “There’s no doubt we’ve gotten closer…”
The boy in front of him muttered in an annoyed tone, but Aaron couldn’t even say a word.
Even though I knew that the emotions contained in those words were not directed at me, I was so overwhelmed by them that I could not speak.
“Aaron? Rafi? “Why aren’t you leaving yet?”
At that time, an old woman who had finished cleaning up in the kitchen found them standing at the entrance and approached them.
Her eyes naturally turn to the boy standing in front of the door.
Right after that.
Huh,
a wind rose in the room.
And before we knew it, Aaron’s stiff body began to relax little by little.
“uh?”
When I came to my senses, I found myself sitting blankly with my back against the wall far away from the entrance, holding Rafi in my arms.
Looking at the back of the grandmother standing in front of him.
“Hmm? How did know?”
The cold voice of a stranger is heard again.
But the old witch doctor did not answer.
Because I didn’t have time to say a word right now.
“…Ah, I never thought there would be a great sorcerer in a place like this. This is difficult. “I don’t want to cause a fuss.”
The unidentified boy seemed worried.
How should I resolve the current situation?
Of course, it was clear that no matter how the decision was made, it would not be good for others.
However, just before that conclusion was reached, the situation changed again.
“grandma! Are Aaron and Rafi here? “I’m sorry the kids didn’t come home until late…?”
The moment Aaron heard his beloved older sister’s voice, which was very familiar to him.
“…found.”
The corner of the boy’s mouth was torn as he looked at him.
Sharp fangs visible from the wide open mouth.
A pair of animal-like eyes that were starting to turn bright red.
Immediately after facing him, Aaron’s mind went blank for a moment.
My vision wavered here and there, and tinnitus rang in my ears.
Facing a fear that I could not control, the trauma that had been buried deep rose to the surface.
“Diana! “Take Aaron and Rafi…!”
“under! I think I’ll miss it…”
“Grandma…!”
A loud noise flowed into his ears and he felt someone moving his body, but he was unable to think as he was exposed to hostile magical power.
If the old witch doctor hadn’t planned it out in advance, there would have been permanent mental damage.
Still, perhaps thanks to that, I began to come back to my senses little by little and was able to briefly perceive the situation.
“no!”
With a cry similar to that of an older sister, the grandmother who was holding Rafi in her arms collapsed, vomiting blood.
He couldn’t understand why it happened, but he quickly ran over and hugged the two people.
“Haha! Annoying things cause trouble. Still, with this…”
Then, lumps of light that appeared at an unknown time began to scatter colorful brilliance.
A beautifully twinkling halo of light.
At the same time, a warm energy spread and Aaron’s mind became a little clearer.
“…government ordinance? No, you’re a high elf? “Why are you here…”
A little confusion was evident in the boy’s voice.
But that only lasts for a moment.
He soon regained his composure and chased away the sudden intruder.
‘Sister…’
In a space where only dusk fell everywhere.
The boy, holding the old woman and girl in his arms, looked blankly into the distance.
There, his only older sister was lying motionless on the floor.
‘how… how should…!’
My head is stiff and doesn’t work well.
But even in that situation, I could understand the current situation.
Even a woman who suddenly steps in and blocks the boy won’t be able to hold out for long.
The feeling of despair that I thought I had forgotten now slowly raised its head.
At the same time, the faces of the most dependable people in the world appeared in his mind.
The naive and serious look when we first met at a time when despair was a daily occurrence.
A cold and charismatic figure who showed up when Rafi and the grocery store were in crisis and solved all the problems.
Lastly, the delicate and intelligent person who provided various considerations to help them settle down in this city.
I know it’s shameless since he’s only received help so far, but right now, the only person on Aaron’s mind is him.
Aaron cried out internally, chewing his lips because his tongue couldn’t move well.
Even though I know that it won’t reach the other person.
‘mister-!’
But then.
A miracle no one could have predicted occurred.
Damn—!
As if answering his call, the sky cracked.
Kwaaaaang—!
The world collapsed.
At the same time, the twilight that covered the entire area quickly faded into the light of dawn.
“uh…?”
Aaron lifted his head in a daze.
The scene of that moment was deeply embedded in his mind.
An angel with wings of light spread wide has descended on earth.
***
Temiran McClair, a boy in his early teens, stands at the center of the chaotic scene.
Heinrich twitched his eyebrows when he saw Diana lying unconscious behind him.
‘Okay, now that I think about it, there’s something that bothers me a little.’
Until now, I thought that what Saint Riesta sensed was naturally Hella.
The timing and location of the observation were too perfectly aligned to consider other possibilities.
‘But…’
At the time, when I didn’t know much about the demon world, I thought it was just that, but now I know for sure.
At the time, Hella, who had only recently been created, was only a special high-ranking demon race and could not be considered a complete demon king.
Thanks to his natural bloodline, he was able to be born as a transcendental entity right away, but he lacked the necessary elements to be called a true demon king.
In fact, wasn’t it some time after moving to the Demon World that you came under the attention of the Demon God?
Considering the changes that occurred after defeating Duke Goeran and absorbing Abnormal, there was nothing more to say.
“Whoa! It’s frustrating that nothing is going right. This shitty situation can’t be a coincidence… This is why you have to tread carefully from the beginning. “You’re losing track of things like this because you’re losing out on the power game of your superiors, right?”
This became even more clear when I saw the young boy’s irreverent attitude.
The object of the saint’s observation was Temiran from the beginning.
Looking at the exquisiteness of that period, it seems that the appearance of Hela, a half-demon king, was some kind of trigger.
‘…Yes, unlike me, who is only a saint in appearance, Riesta is a real saint. A messenger who conveys the will of the Lord to the world. And we came here to Tarak following the words of the saint.’
In other words, this situation was all guided by the Lord.
As I thought about it that way, there was one more thing that occurred to me.
At that time, Riesta clearly added that she felt ‘closer to a demon follower than an undead’.
Not a devil, but a devil follower.
According to what he said, Temiran… Heinrich
quickly gathered his thoughts and opened his mouth softly towards the boy with a stern expression.
“Temiran McClair. What’s happening in the demon world right now. Were you involved in that too? So that the Demon Dragon Duke can summon the monster of the abyss?”
“…what? Do you even know that? “How on earth does the main church know about the circumstances of the Demon World?”
“The eyes of the Lord are everywhere. Even the Demon World is no exception.”
“You’re crazy. Were your fanatics originally this capable?”
Temiran scratched the back of his head roughly and grumbled with an annoyed expression.
It seemed like he had no intention of hiding it now.
Well, looking at the timing when the monsters of the abyss began to appear in the demon world, they probably knew that it would be useless to try to ignore them.
“Tsk, does this mean that the name and color is the god’s dog? I thought he was a brat because he just got beaten up here and there by the Immortal King. “There was a reason why that cautious and thorough senior failed.”
“You are mistaken. We never just accept things. Thanks to this, humanity is moving away from that threat little by little even at this very moment.”
“Your confidence is amazing.”
Seniors probably refer to revolutionaries who were former apostles.
I had some guesses since finding out that he was involved in Temiran’s disappearance, but it seems that the revolutionary was trying to prepare his successor first before starting work in earnest.
‘I don’t know why he was chosen.’
It was unfortunate for the parties involved.
Not only was he kidnapped and turned into a vampire because he was born with unknown qualities, but he was also imprisoned for twenty years and brainwashed.
“…The god you worship is also very diligent. If you commit a sin and are thrown into the abyss, you will spend your time quietly reflecting. “In the meantime, he was reaching out in all directions and pulling out bloody tears from many people.”
“right? i think so too. If you’re going to do it, do you do it right? What happens if you go through all the hardships for no reason? “Anyway, that guy needs to work harder on himself before trying to manipulate others.”
The answer is somehow out of focus.
Heinrich looked at him with narrowed eyes, but the boy’s face still showed only annoyance.
Actually, it was even more strange that he was sane since he must have been kidnapped and brainwashed ever since he was a child.
“Surrender meekly. If you calmly tell me everything you know, I will spare your life. “Your mother is still waiting for you.”
“…Kick mother…”
Heinrich warned, holding out a holy sword engulfed in a brilliant lightsaber.
No matter what, the opponent is a vampire.
No matter how much he was an apostle chosen by God, his compatibility with the saint who held the holy sword was no different from the worst.
If you fight him head-on, he will eventually be reduced to ashes, and even if you try to run away, it will not be easy to outrun him who has “Great Blessing: Wings of Radiance” and “Blessing: Leap.”
He knows that too, so he must have been making threats like that since a while ago.
‘…As expected, the person holding the hostage is tricky. I wish I had noticed it sooner.’
Heinrich wasn’t just talking about it for no reason.
I had been looking for an opportunity to use his hand several times since before, but each time he was threatening Diana, who was unconscious behind him.
The moment he shows even the slightest hint, he will probably move right away.
No matter how great he was, he didn’t have the confidence to save Diana and kill him alone in this distance.
‘Yes, Heinrich.’
Heinrich, a saint who used divine power, was the polar opposite of a vampire.
However, there were also beings in the world who were the opposite of vampires in a different sense.
For example…
the king of vampires who is awakening his divinity through the karma of preying on his own kind.