Chapter 81: Display the talisman! Confused children.
Had he not witnessed it firsthand, he would have never believed that a feeble novice exorcist candidate like Oliver could accomplish such a feat!
What exactly were those two martial arts techniques?
Who had imparted them to him?
Was there someone involved in this scenario?
Was Mistress Ophelia wrong about his initial evaluation at his birth? Unlikely, but now he was even more curious about this child.
What was going on then…?
He couldn't resist probing him once more, only to yield the same results as before.
Barely any espera worth noting.
He shook his head and ushered the group of children towards the judges.
They would determine the course of action and wielded greater authority than him.
He was also keen to observe their reaction to Oliver, given that they all bore witness to his earlier actions in the forest.
With haste, he directed them to another area while the other guards escorted the children still within the forest.
Oliver spotted some chairs, and a few people were seated upon them.
These chairs were arranged on a raised platform or stage of sorts.
The judges sat with an air of authority, their eyes scanning the group of children with keen interest. They had details about each of them, a full-detailed profile.
The children congregated, the air was thick with tension as they took out their talismans.
Oliver glanced around, and suddenly, his gaze locked with the second brother's, who appeared to be casually scanning the surroundings.
The second brother, upon seeing Oliver, inexplicably felt a chill run down his spine, causing his hand to tremble…
Was he experiencing fear?
Swiftly, he averted his gaze, focusing straight ahead. Sweat began to form on his brow, bewildered by the sensation engulfing him. His mind recoiled from even glancing in Oliver's direction.
As he attempted to recall where he had encountered him before, a sharp pain seared through his head. Dizziness washed over him, dissuading any further contemplation.
Whatever the cause, whether instinctual or otherwise, it vehemently advised him to steer clear of Oliver at all costs.
Observing this reaction, Oliver felt a sense of satisfaction. This was the consequence one faced for crossing him.
"Approach! One by one! Place your talisman on the altar to unseal the demon. The judges will then assess it."
The first child approached, trembling slightly, and positioned his talisman on the altar.
He was among those who failed to exit the forest on time and thus was escorted out by guards.
The altar hummed to life as the talisman glowed.
A small, pathetic-looking demon corpse emerged out in front of the altar, eliciting a mixture of relief and disappointment from the audience.
The judges conferred briefly, their interest seemingly minimal.
Well, Oliver mused, it was challenging to pique their interest; these demons hardly warranted a glance from them.
Next was a confident girl, previously a favorite to win. Oliver had noticed her at the outset, surrounded by a retinue of followers.
It was evident her family lineage was exceptional, the vassal family enjoying a higher status than others.
She unsealed her talisman, revealing a fierce and imposing demon corpse.
The judges nodded approvingly, and she stepped back, a satisfied smile adorning her face.
After her was the kid who had brought his ancestor's sword with him, earlier at the beginning he was quite arrogant and confident but now he seemed more humbled and subdued.
Even his face was covered in dirt and his clothes were also torn from here and there.
It was apparent the demons he had underestimated had imparted a valuable lesson.
The demon he presented was mediocre at best.
Children came and went by. The process continued.
Finally, it was the second brother's turn. He unveiled his talisman before the audience.
"Look at that!"
"Isn't that a minor-level demon!?"
"As expected from the main lineage, they are born different." A boy could not help but shake his head, his demon was at best a 5 out of 10 rating.
"He's so handsome as well, I want to join under him…" A girl gushed, admiring his appearance.
The crowd buzzed with conversation.
"Not bad," one of the judges calmly remarked, jotting down notes.
Oliver also looked at the demon corpse, the demon had a bald head and wide teeth with a large belly. It was indeed a minor-level demon.
The rotations continued until finally, it was his turn!
"Hey, it's his turn…"
"Tch, did he even capture one?"
"Seems impossible. Maybe it's an empty talisman haha."
"Haha. It's a shame the main lineage's esteemed reputation might suffer due to him."
Finally his name was called. He stepped forward, his heart pounding slightly, it was the moment where his cover was going to get blown away.
He had been trying to hide his powers but unfortunately since that was no longer feasible, it was time to reveal it.
Although his cover had long been blown away considering they all were watching them, but it was still a different story doing it in front of so many people.
He calmly went up to the altar and slowly placed his talisman onto the circular platform.
Whirr…
A light shone as the audience waited for the spectacle, some were eagerly waiting for the drama that was going to unfold once Oliver revealed his pathetic talent.
The elders remained composed, their eyes betraying a knowingness. They were well aware of each child's accomplishments. The judging process merely served to establish a hierarchy among them.
They ought to discern their competition and select the appropriate figure to follow.
The cadaver of a robust and imposing demon gradually materialized before the crowd.
Silence blanketed the audience as they gawked at the demon in disbelief.
"Umm… hey, isn't this a minor-level demon?" someone finally spoke, their tone hesitant.
"A minor-level demon! He actually captured one!?"
"What!? How's this possible? I still can't feel any noticeable espera from him!?"
"What's going on!?"
Nadia calmly observed the situation from a distance, her eyes had a certain glint to them as she watched.