Trying to fix my erratic update schedule lol. Also trying to get into the rankings. Send me stones and join my discord: discord.gg/QRSjC6pNF4
Enjoy this chapter.
200 stones for extra chapter.
—
"Interesting. So you are telling me both Lugner and Bernard were slaughtered?"
A female voice echoed across the chamber, cold and resonant.
The throne room was vast, the marble floor polished to a mirror's sheen. Purple banners embroidered with demonic sigils swayed gently, as if stirred by a wind that did not exist. At the center of it all sat a woman with purplish-pink hair flowing down her back, her expression composed.
"Pathetic demons, were they not?" a cloaked figure replied cheerfully.
"You are a human. Fragile and short-lived. Do not insult them," the demon woman replied. Her tone did not rise, yet the pressure in the room grew heavier.
"Ehh? They lost to humans, the inferior species," the cloaked figure teased. He lifted his arms as if celebrating. "So by definition, does that not make them even weaker than humans?"
The chamber's air dropped a few degrees.
Aura flicked her hair aside and stared at him down. "You have been getting a little too confident, have you not, human." Her narrowed eyes glimmered faintly with a murderous hue.
"Woah woah, calm down, Aura. No need to get violent," he said, patting his chest as if to steady his own heartbeat.
"I am merely curious how your goons managed to get defeated," he continued, raising one hand. "You even taught Bernard a little magic."
Aura did not answer. She rose from her throne slowly, each step echoing like a warning. When she stopped before him, she looked down with an unreadable expression.
"Be quiet, weakling, before I behead you," she said, turning away.
The cloaked man sighed dramatically. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed."
"Oh, shut up. If you have nothing useful to tell me, then leave," Aura snapped, walking toward the archway behind her throne.
"Nothing too special," the cloaked man said casually. "Just thought you might want to know that the killer of Bernard defeated a Dragon."
"Nothing of importance," she said, continuing onward. "If you can get close to him, that would be better. I need more than a name and a rumor. I need to see his mana and his powers myself."
"Alright then," the cloaked man replied, his tone as playful as ever.
Aura tilted her head slightly, her voice carrying a hint of warning. "Also… I hate when you use that red eye on me."
A knight instantly appeared beside her, his longsword pressed against the cloaked figure's neck. He was one of Aura's most loyal constructs.
"Right, right, right. I will not do it again," the cloaked man said, still smiling. "But I also hate when your minions pull things like this."
The knight exploded into dust and gore, scattered across the floor like splinters of broken stone.
Aura did not even flinch.
"See you later, drama queen," the cloaked figure said, waving casually.
Aura scoffed quietly, but he was already gone.
The cloaked figure appeared silently before a modest inn, the same district where Bernard had been slaughtered. A faint trace of mana lingered in the air, like the afterimage of a scream. He studied the inn sign for a moment before knocking.
The door creaked open to reveal a grumpy, bald innkeeper. His eyes held the dull fatigue of someone who had seen too many adventurers, too many drunks, and too many problems for one lifetime.
"Mel's Inn at your service. How many nights," the innkeeper said in a flat, uninspired tone.
The cloaked man clapped lightly, as if greeting a stage performance. "Excellent customer service. You did not even bother to say hello." His voice was filled with artificial praise.
The innkeeper glared, unimpressed.
He cleared his throat dramatically. "Hello there, traveler. We are happy for you to choose our establishment while staying in this town. Prices are extra low and rooms are the best service. How many nights will you be staying here." His delivery was dripping with sarcasm, each word delivered with the grace of a man who had long stopped caring.
The cloaked figure clasped his hands together. "Woah, even better than before. Five stars for that innkeeper. Keep up the good work. Though we might need to work on the tone." He nodded as if giving professional coaching.
"Alright, you got a good laugh. What is it that you want?" the innkeeper asked, returning to his original deadpan expression.
"Three nights. Prices are extra cheap, right?" the cloaked figure said, stepping toward the counter.
"Four gold coins, but for five nights it is five gold coins," the innkeeper replied, tapping a ledger.
"Ah. A bargain crafted by the goddess herself. Tempting." The cloaked man paused thoughtfully. "I only want three nights, but you can keep the change."
He placed five gold coins on the counter. The innkeeper snatched them immediately, he quickly checked if they were real before putting them inside the cash register.
Satisfied, the innkeeper retrieved a key from behind him. He slammed it lightly on the counter.
"Room sixty-four."
The cloaked figure took the key.
"Perfect. I think I will enjoy my stay."
With that, he stepped away, the faintest trace of crimson light flickering deep beneath his hood as he walked toward the back hall. The innkeeper felt a chill but dismissed it as lack of sleep.
The door to room sixty-four clicked shut moments later.
Inside, the cloaked man sat on the edge of the bed without removing his hood. He exhaled slowly.
"So Bernard died here. And the one who killed him… is in this very inn," he said.
A faint smile crept across his hidden face."I suppose I should greet him properly."
"Ahh, there is sixty-three," he murmured.
He kicked the door down. The frame splintered, the door slamming against the floorboards.
Inside stood Julian.
He had been practicing magic, a circle of blue mana still hovering around his hand. The moment he turned, surprise flickered across his face.
The cloaked figure stared for a moment, then let out a low breath.
"Well… hello there. You are certainly not Satoru Gojo."