Chapter 29
“Is that the group that terrorized the Grand Temple?”
People murmured as they saw the inverted crosses embroidered on the black priest robes. Fear and dread were etched on everyone’s faces.
‘Since their successful attack on the Grand Temple, their influence has grown.’
Even those who had previously dismissed them as a meaningless, insignificant group had started seeing the Gwangmyeongdan as dangerous radicals after the terror incident.
The stiff atmosphere seemed to please them, their faces wearing deep satisfaction.
“Ugh, how annoying. Of all times, we have to run into them…”
Forget fear. Just thinking about how close they had come to getting crushed by those bastards made my teeth grind.
“This is bad. All the guards are outside…”
“What are they doing? The guards can’t get inside…!”
Looking out the window, I saw exactly what they said — the guards were drawing their swords and pounding on the doors.
“They used magic to lock the doors.”
Following Herace’s finger, I saw something glittering.
“They came prepared.”
‘Damn, this no-weapons zone is actually a weakness.’
A few months ago, a petty quarrel among nobles had escalated into a bloody fight involving guards wielding swords.
Since then, this café had banned armed guards from entering.
Seeing how this is unfolding, it was clear they were exploiting that rule.
“Damn it, those blasted fanatics. Are they planning another terror attack? Or are they going to take us hostage to threaten us?”
“Terror? Brother, we simply came to share good news, so it’s disappointing you say that.”
The man who seemed to be their leader spread his arms wide and shouted.
“Deny God, worship the devil! Soon, our great Father will awaken! To destroy this rotten world and open a new era! He will come to save us, the poor and suffering!”
His eyes gleamed with a madness that made it clear he truly believed it.
‘What a lunatic.’
I rested my chin on my hand and watched, then poked Herace’s arm.
“Heren, when did you have such a bastard?”
“Yeah. We’re not even married. Where did a kid like that pop out from?”
“I thought you’d kill him on the spot, but you’re just letting him be?”
“I will. I want to see how far he runs his mouth first.”
Judging by that crooked smile, it was obvious that the more nonsense he spouted, the more pain awaited him in the future.
But the Gwangmyeongdan, clueless about their fate, kept babbling nonstop.
“How sad our Father will be when he sees this world. Ugly! Dirty! He will shed tears and rage!”
“Heren, are you crying?”
“If I can’t kill that bastard, I might cry out of frustration.”
I shouldn’t have laughed, but Herace’s sharp reaction made my lips twitch uncontrollably.
“We must calm Father’s wrath!”
No sooner had he finished speaking than the followers beside him opened their pouches wide.
“So, brothers and sisters, please donate for Father.”
In other words, they wanted money.
‘Donation, my foot. They came to collect.’
After spouting their nonsense with such care, the cultists began to extort money in earnest.
They slammed fists on tables and overturned snacks, threatening people to open their wallets.
Plates shattered, teacups flew, and occasionally people got knocked down. Screams echoed all around.
There was no mess like this mess.
‘With Herace’s strength, these pathetic bastards would be taken down quickly…’
But was it right to use power in front of these crazed fools?
They probably wouldn’t recognize Herace anyway, but I still felt uneasy.
‘Let’s just wait for the noble guards or the security squad to break in.’
When would they get through the door? I glanced outside, and then—
‘No way…’
Among the people stomping their feet worriedly outside, a woman passed by whose hair was red.
Plus, that physique over 180cm tall, and the scar at the corner of her mouth.
‘Could it be, Mago?’
Her appearance and build were strikingly similar.
“Heren, that person…”
I urgently tugged at Herace’s arm, but at that moment, a piercing scream rent the air.
“Ahhh! No! Our son…!”
“Mom! Waaah!”
“Oh my god! What do we do? They took the child hostage!”
The leader seemed to have given up pretending to be civilized and drew a sword.
“Don’t move! If anyone tries to move, I’ll kill him!”
A cultist holding a small knife threatened the child, about ten years old, as a hostage.
‘If I leave here now, that child will…’
Before the child was taken hostage, I might have acted, but now I couldn’t move recklessly.
Biting my lip anxiously, I looked outside and suddenly clung to the window in shock.
‘Gone!’
In the brief moment I looked away, Mago had disappeared.
“Quiet! Everyone shut up and put your money in quietly!”
Those worried the child might be harmed quickly emptied their pockets.
No money? Then rings. No rings? Earrings. Or necklaces.
They ripped valuables from the nobles with precision.
[These guys are pretty good.]
Well, no kidding. Who wouldn’t laugh at this chaotic mess, half thinking it was demonic?
“…I won’t stand for this.”
In a low voice, I muttered and grabbed Ban’s head.
[S-Siena?]
“Si-si?”
I jumped to my feet and strode toward the cultists.
They all stopped and looked at me with uneasy eyes.
“What? Didn’t I tell you to behave until your turn?”
I raised my hand toward the approaching thug, threateningly.
Like calming a raging bear.
“Could you not come any closer? If I see anything ugly, my eyesight deteriorates.”
“Wh-what…?”
“How pitiful. Your face looks about to fall off.”
“…Kuh.”
I heard laughter. Of course, it was Herace.
“Don’t laugh!”
“Oh, you’re quite angry. I understand. I’ve been getting angrier too — maybe because I’m not feeling well. You… must be angry all day long.”
My eyes full of sympathy made one cultist’s face flush red.
“So, is that face incurable?”
“You—damned woman! Do you think I won’t kill you just because you’re a noble?!”
The furious cultist threw the child aside.
Now’s my chance! I threw Ban at the cultist charging at me.
Ban flew like a baseball and latched onto the cultist’s face.
[Ban, you can use your illusion magic, right? Ask!]
[Can I do as I please?]
[Of course.]
[Great!]
Excited, Ban opened his mouth wide.
Despite his cute face, his jagged teeth bit into the cultist’s face.
“Ahh! The doll is biting me!”
“What nonsense?”
Caught in the demon’s illusion, the cultist writhed in pain as he bit his own face.
Since only he could see the illusion, others saw him rolling on the floor alone, like a one-man show.
Taking advantage of their distraction, I grabbed a tray and struck the head of a nearby thug.
“Where do you think you’re causing a ruckus in this precious place?”
“Ah!”
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Maybe his head was empty — every hit sounded satisfyingly clear.
“Why take a child hostage, you trash!”
“You crazy woman! You keep hitting the same spot!”
“You lost Mago because of you!”
I struck the cultist’s head in anger.
How could I keep my eyes off after losing Mago right before catching her?
“Give me back my time! How long have I been waiting!”
“Someone get this crazy woman off me!”
“And demons? Fathers? That’s nonsense! In this day and age, where’s that stuff? You’re delusional!”
I deliberately shouted to paint them as insane people.
‘If they find out there really are magicians who contract with demons, both me and my family are doomed.’
Besides, it was nonsense anyway. How dare they use Herace’s name to extort money!
“…The noble lady is right. Demons and all that are just legends, right?”
“So they’re just a cult.”
As murmurs of agreement spread, a remaining cultist glared fiercely.
“Shut your mouths! Where did this crazy woman come from… Ugh!”
Pow!
A cake flew at his face.
“Shut up! This was originally my territory!”
I grabbed the cake rolling on the table and threw it at the man’s face.
‘You think I’m the empire’s mad dog for nothing? I’ve done every kind of disturbance and made the blacklist!’
I’ll show them the full extent of my past troublemaking.
