Chapter 397

Chapter 397
## Chapter 397

An Unknown Threat (3)

The day had started out completely normal.

Rising early in the morning, he shared a meal with his relatives before heading off to his classes at the primary academy, which sat neatly within the ‘Company Employee Housing Complex’.

“Hey there, Aaron, good morning!”

“Look, Aaron is here! Did any of you catch the news about the incident on Mishang Street…?”

“You’re always so punctual. Truly an exemplary student.”

Aaron enjoyed a great deal of popularity throughout the academy.

This wasn’t just true for his peers; the instructors held him in high regard as well.

It made perfect sense given the circumstances.

The academy itself was financed and managed directly by the Hubert Foundation, meaning the vast majority of the pupils had parents working for Hubert’s Trading Company.

‘And my elder sister serves as the Chairman’s primary assistant.’

In reality, her role extended far beyond that of a mere assistant; she functioned essentially as his second-in-command.

The Chairman placed absolute confidence in her, passing down the bulk of his managing oversight into her hands.

A faint, wry smirk touched his lips.

While he felt immense appreciation for the status his sister’s position granted him—allowing for such a comfortable existence—it simultaneously brought a heavy sense of expectation.

After all, his current reality was a stark contrast to the life he had known prior to moving here.

‘It still feels surreal that this is my actual life.’

At this point, Hubert’s Trading Company had transformed into a foundational pillar of Tarak’s economy.

Their expansion had propelled them to the rank of one of the premier mercantile empires across the continent, spreading their reach well past the borders of Tarak and the Tulc Kingdom.

Their dominance wasn’t merely financial; they wielded immense political leverage that left a mark on the Count of Aonia—the ruler of Tarak’s broader region—and resonated all the way up to the Tulc royal lineage.

‘…Though from what I understand, the leadership welcomes it warmly due to the massive advantages they gain.’

The establishment of the foundation by Hubert’s Trading Company meant substantial resources were being poured back into Tarak.

A multitude of public amenities, including the very academy Aaron attended, were constructed from these funds, and even state-run departments received capital injections that vastly upgraded their working environments.

The local markets were thriving, and security had reached such a reliable state that citizens could stroll through the streets past midnight without fear.

The entire population was reaping the rewards of Hubert’s Trading Company setting up roots there.

Given that context, the royal treatment Aaron received was hardly a mystery.

Whispers had even begun circulating that he might eventually bind the family closer by marrying into the Chairman’s circle as a brother-in-law.

‘…Personally, I don’t harbor any strong feelings toward the idea. If it makes Noona happy, I’m supportive… but I can only guess what her true thoughts are…’

He was fully aware of the reality.

The great Chairman, Hubert, was the very same ‘Mister’ who had rescued them from their past misery.

Though it hadn’t clicked instantly, keeping a close eye on his sister’s micro-expressions and habits had eventually allowed him to piece the puzzle together.

He had developed a sharp intuition and an ability to read subtle cues out of sheer necessity, a survival mechanism from their previous, far more destitute days.

‘In all likelihood, he’s utilizing some form of… illusionary arts.’

Navigating the mercantile world was rarely a transparent endeavor.

It was entirely reasonable for the overseer of an enterprise as massive as Hubert’s to adopt a cover identity to ensure his personal safety.

“I’ve returned.”

“Oppa!”

“Whoa!”

The moment he stepped through the front door after his classes concluded, a small silhouette dashed forward. His younger cousin, Lafi—a vibrant girl of about six or seven years—hurled herself forward, locking her arms tightly around his waist.

“We need to head over to Grandma’s place right now!”

“…But I still have schoolwork to finish.”

“Move quickly! Grandma mentioned she just prepared a batch of meat pastries! She insisted that I bring you along. She’s keeping an eye on you because she claims you look far too… frail!”

“I’m really not that fragile…”

Confronted with her eager pleading, he found it impossible to say no. Offering a soft sigh, he allowed her to guide him back out the door.

With his parents and elder sister occupied with their daily duties, the task of supervising the young girl fell squarely on his shoulders.

“Hehehe… Your timing is immaculate. The pastries have just been pulled from the heat. Take a seat while I get everything ready.”

“Hooray!”

“I will pour some refreshments.”

“That sounds wonderful.”

They had walked over to the residence next door, home to an elderly matriarch who practiced mysticism.

Her appearance could strike fear into strangers due to the dense array of ritual markings covering her skin… yet she had shown them nothing but warmth since their arrival in the neighborhood.

Lafi, who practically lived at her doorstep, viewed the old woman as her genuine grandmother.

“Blessings for this meal.”

“Nom, nom— Grandma, these taste incredible!”

“Hehehe… Make sure to wrap a few up to take home when it’s time to go.”

“I absolutely will!”

The elderly mystic and Aaron shared a warm look as Lafi spoke through a mouthful of pastry crumbs, expressing her delight.

It was a serene, entirely placid afternoon.

The continent beyond their borders was gripped by turmoil, thick with rumors of an impending conflict involving the Immortal King… yet Tarak, and their small community in particular, remained perfectly insulated from the global strife.

Even if full-scale warfare erupted, this pocket of the world felt untouchable.

This sanctuary, maintained and shielded by Mister, Noona, and an array of dedicated allies, would stand firm against any storm.

Drifting off into that comfortable, innocent certainty, another quiet day drew to a close.

And then—.

Tap, tap—

“Pardon the intrusion.”

A sudden rap against the wood, accompanied by a quiet, unfamiliar utterance.

The phrasing carried a polite veneer, yet the underlying… brittleness… sent an instinctive jolt through the air.

Aaron, who had been preparing to depart alongside Lafi, carefully cracked the entryway open.

“Can I help you?”

“Ah, my apologies for dropping in unannounced. I am searching for a particular individual.”

A young youth, roughly matching his own age or perhaps a bit younger, stood on the threshold, a bright, cheerful expression plastered across his features.

“…If you provide me with a name, I might be able to guide you.”

Despite attempting to keep his words casual, Aaron noted that his speech had defaulted to a formal register without his conscious input.

It was a visceral, defensive reaction.

“Ah… the trouble is, I am unaware of their name…”

The youth’s voice lost its momentum as his eyes swept over the pair, his pupils narrowing with a sharp, piercing intensity reminiscent of a serpent tracking prey.

Saaaa—

An icy sensation flooded Aaron’s nervous system, causing his muscles to lock up instantly.

His throat grew parched, and a cold moisture began to bead down his spine.

Lafi, shrinking back to use his frame as a shield, commenced shaking as a deep, ancestral terror—devoid of any logical explanation—wrapped around their senses.

“…Tsk, another failed lead. Still, the trail is narrowing…”

The youth muttered under his breath, clearly irritated by the outcome, though Aaron found himself entirely unable to formulate a reply.

He recognized that the commentary wasn’t meant for his ears, but the sheer gravity of the fear left him completely immobilized, unable to make a sound.

“Aaron? Lafi? What is keeping the two of you at the door…?”

The elderly matriarch, having wrapped up her chores in the culinary area, caught sight of their frozen statuettes by the entrance and strode over to investigate.

Her vision locked onto the youthful visitor.

In that exact instant,

Whoosh—

…a sharp updraft tore across the interior of the room.

Simultaneously, Aaron’s frame, which had been frozen solid under the pressure, suddenly regained its mobility.

“Eh?”

He blinked rapidly as clarity returned to his thoughts, suddenly realizing he had been shifted back toward the floorboards, his back pressed firmly against the masonry a considerable distance from the entryway, holding a trembling Lafi close to his chest.

He found himself staring at the broad back of the elderly mystic, who had positioned her own form as a defensive barrier between them and the stranger.

“Oh? What gave me away?”

The visitor’s tone, dripping with a malicious, unsettling edge, vibrated through the small space.

Yet the old woman offered no verbal counter.

She simply lacked the luxury of time to speak.

“…A High Shaman tucked away in a backwater sector like this. How inconvenient. My goal was to avoid drawing unnecessary attention…”

The youth appeared to be internally evaluating his path forward.

But no matter what conclusion he reached, the outcome boded poorly for the occupants of the home.

Right as he seemed poised to execute his choice,

…the variables shifted once more.

“Grandma! Are Aaron and Lafi still visiting? My apologies, they haven’t returned to our house yet…”

The moment that familiar cadence—the voice of his cherished elder sister—drifted in from the pathway outside,

“…Located you at last.”

…the youth’s facial features contorted into a massive, predatory smirk, splitting wide to showcase elongated, pointed canines.

His gaze, previously mimicking a human’s, shifted to mirror that of a wild predator, the irises burning with an intense, bloody radiance.

Meeting that gaze head-on, Aaron felt his mental faculties instantly fracture, his field of vision dissolving into chaos as a deafening hum filled his ears.

A core terror, an ancient psychological scar he believed he had buried long ago, tore back to the surface and consumed his consciousness entirely.

“Diana! Secure Aaron and Lafi and run…!”

“Ha! As if you could manage…”

“Grandma…!”

Muffled cries and desperate orders swirled around him, and he could feel the physical sensation of being dragged, yet his body refused to cooperate, utterly locked down by the oppressive, suffocating magical pressure.

Had it not been for the defensive aura established by the elderly woman, his cognitive functions would have shattered permanently under the weight.

Thanks to her intervention, however, his senses slowly began to piece themselves back together, awareness filtering through in fractured intervals.

“No!”

His sister’s voice cut through the air—a raw, agonized shriek saturated with dread—followed immediately by the sight of the elderly mystic, still gripping Lafi tightly, collapsing downward as a torrent of crimson erupted from her lips.

Failing to grasp the mechanics of the violence unfolding, his instincts took over; he scrambled toward their fallen forms, wrapping his arms around them protectively.

“Tsk, what a tedious obstruction. Regardless, now…”

Right then, floating spheres of illumination, shimmering with a kaleidoscopic radiance, manifested out of thin air, projecting an aura of profound warmth and security that seemed to slice directly through the descending gloom.

Bathing in that comforting radiation, Aaron felt the remaining fog clear from his brain.

“…Elemental spirits? High Elves, perhaps? What business do they have in a place like this…?”

The youth’s tone, marked by a rare note of astonishment, reached his ears.

The surprise was fleeting, however.

Shaking off the initial shock, the predator locked his focus back onto his intended target.

‘…Noona…’

The environment around him, currently bathed in an artificial dusk, seemed to recede into nothingness as he held tight to his neighbor and cousin, his eyes straining toward a form positioned further away.

His sister lay completely motionless upon the ground.

‘…What steps… what steps can I possibly take here…?’

His mind felt hollow, his internal monologue crawling forward in fragmented, messy segments.

Yet one reality was undeniable.

The female entity who had arrived to stand between them and the predatory youth would not be capable of holding the line for long.

A familiar despair, a dark weight he assumed he had broken free from, began to re-anchor itself within his chest.

In that desperate moment, the visage of the most dependable soul he had ever encountered—the figure who had consistently provided safety—flooded his mental imagery.

The warm, approachable expression from their initial encounter, the merciless and rapid resolution when Lafi and the marketplace faced physical peril, the calculating, brilliant strategy employed to guarantee their integration into this metropolis…

He recognized the selfishness inherent in the thought, yet no other savior crossed his mind.

Pressing his teeth into his lip until his senses dulled, he raised an internal, silent scream,

‘…Mister—!’

…fully aware that his silent plea had no logical way of bridging the distance.

Right in that instant,

…a true anomaly transpired.

Crack—!

As though answering the silent, frantic call of a terrified child, the firmament directly above them split wide open.

Kaboom—!

And the fabric of the illusionary environment shattered completely.

The artificial twilight holding the territory hostage dissipated into nothingness, replaced instantly by the radiant, piercing illumination of a fresh dawn.

“Huh…?”

Aaron tilted his head upward, his gaze stretching wide with absolute shock.

The visual manifesting before him—a display of pure, unmitigated salvation—burned itself permanently into his memory.

A celestial entity, its expansive wings woven from solid illumination, had made landfall upon the dirt.

—

Heinrich stood firmly amidst the wreckage of the encounter, his focus divided between the youthful adversary, Temiran McCleary, and the prone, insensible form of Diana resting behind the intruder, his brow furrowing deeply.

‘…Reflecting on the sequence of events, there was an element… that never truly aligned.’

He had operating under the deduction that the ‘unknown threat’ flagged by Saintess Liesta’s divine intuition was none other than Hella.

The alignment of the timeline and the geography had simply felt too coordinated to mean anything else.

‘However…’

He had brushed aside any lingering doubts at the moment, given his restricted comprehension regarding the inner workings of the Demon World… but his current knowledge provided far greater clarity.

During that specific window, Hella amounted to nothing more than a exceptionally potent demon entity, lacking the true designation of a Demon King.

While her ancestral lineage naturally classified her as a transcendent entity, she was still missing a vital component of true ascension.

Her existence hadn’t even drawn the gaze of the Demon God until well after her migration into the territory of the Demon World.

Furthermore, the fundamental transformations that manifested only occurred after she successfully brought down the Strange Duke and integrated the essence of Abnormal…

“Huu! Absolutely nothing is developing according to plan! This… this cannot simply be an accident… This is the exact penalty for aligning with the incorrect faction! Getting hung out to dry like this purely due to the internal friction among the upper echelons!”

The adolescent’s highly disrespectful demeanor, coupled with his blatant lack of reverence for the higher authorities, served as the final validation Heinrich required.

The Saintess’s divine senses had been registering the presence of Temiran all along, not Hella.

While the arrival of Hella during that period might have acted as an accelerating factor… the root cause lay elsewhere.

‘…Liesta embodies the essence of a genuine Saintess, a stark contrast to my own position. She operates as a direct vessel for the Main God’s intentions. And our arrival in Tarak was dictated entirely by her spiritual steering.’

Consequently, this entire scenario was a manifestation of the Main God’s overarching design.

Simultaneously, an additional memory resurfaced within his mind.

Liesta had explicitly detailed that the aura of the ‘unknown threat’ carried the distinct signature of a demon worshipper rather than an unliving entity.

A mortal devotee of dark powers, not a native fiend.

Which meant…

Heinrich’s expression turned to stone, his gaze sharpening into twin points of steel as he locked eyes with the youth, delivering his words in a low, resonant growl.

“Temiran McCleary. The chaotic upheavals that recently rattled the Demon World… do they trace back to your handiwork? Were you the architect who assisted the Dragon Marquis in pulling those… abyssal monstrosities into reality?”

“…What? You possess knowledge of those events? How is the Main God Church gathering intelligence on the internal developments of the Demon World?”

“The vision of the Main God spans across all domains. The Demon World is no exception to His sight.”

“This is absurd. Since when did you religious zealots develop this level of operational efficiency?”

Temiran ran his fingers through his hair, his features tightening into an expression of profound irritation as he spat out his complaints.

He clearly possessed no intention of fabricating a denial.

Then again, given how perfectly his presence aligned with the emergence of the abyssal monstrosities within the Demon World, constructing an alibi would be entirely pointless.

“Tsk, so you’re the chosen hound of the Main God, are you? I pinned you for a simple… pushover, given how easily your order gets pushed around by the Immortal King. It makes sense now why that overly cautious, calculating predecessor of yours ended up failing so miserably.”

“Your assessment is flawed. We do not merely endure the onslaught passively. The collective forces of humanity are… systematically and permanently… dismantling the danger.”

“Bold words.”

The reference to his ‘predecessor’ undoubtedly pointed to the Revolutionary, the individual who held the mantle before him.

He had harbored suspicions regarding this connection ever since uncovering data linking Temiran to that man’s sudden extraction… it appeared the Revolutionary had been actively arranging the board for his inevitable replacement.

‘…The criteria for his selection remains a mystery to me.’

The reality of the situation was a profound misfortune for Temiran.

Abducted during his early youth, subjected to the transformation into a child of the night, and conditioned under absolute mental subversion for greater than two decades… all because he possessed some hidden… attribute deemed valuable by his captors.

“…The deity you serve is remarkably… hyperactive. If he found himself cast down into the depths of the abyss as a penalty for his transgressions, he ought to be spending his eras in quiet contemplation… yet he persists in instigating chaos, forcing mortals to endure the fallout.”

“Is that so? I completely concur. If he intends to alter the board, he should execute it with true authority. What is the fundamental utility of all this minor… tribulation? He truly needs to… elevate his methods.”

An incredibly jarring and unhinged reply.

Heinrich narrowed his field of vision, observing that the adolescent’s face remained twisted in pure annoyance.

Then again, given a lifetime defined by child abduction and systematic mental rewriting since his formative years… it would be entirely anomalous for the youth to display a balanced, rational psychological profile.

“Lay down your arms. Relinquish every piece of intelligence within your possession, and I will grant you quarter. Your birth mother continues to await your return.”

“…Mother…”

Heinrich raised his holy weapon, the sacred blade radiating a blinding, pure light as the energy rippled along the edge, delivering his final ultimatum.

His adversary, when stripped of titles, remained a creature of the night.

Even an chosen instrument of a dark deity could not easily close the gap against a true Saint wielding an empowered holy weapon.

Should the youth attempt a direct confrontation, the divine energy would reduce him to ash, and attempting a tactical retreat was entirely out of the question when factored against the mobility of 「Grand Blessing: Wings of Radiance」 coupled with 「Blessing: Leap」.

He understood the tactical math perfectly, which was precisely why he was utilizing a calculated bluff.

‘…Navigating an engagement becomes exceptionally precarious when the enemy retains control over an incapacitated non-combatant. My arrival should have occurred sooner.’

Heinrich wasn’t merely generating noise.

He was actively scanning for a tactical opening to launch an offensive, but the youth kept his positioning explicitly tied to the unconscious Diana, using her safety as silent leverage.

The predator would undoubtedly execute the hostage the split second a forward step was taken.

At the current distance separating them, Heinrich lacked the absolute certainty required to guarantee her extraction while simultaneously neutralizing the target.

‘…The nature of Heinrich’s power…’

He existed as a Saint, a conduit of raw, purifying divine essence—the ultimate antithesis to the undead and the vampiric races.

Yet, there existed an entirely separate entity whose fundamental nature was equally… catastrophic to vampires, albeit through a completely inverted methodology.

For instance…

…a true Vampire King, currently ascending toward the mantle of divinity by systematically devouring the essence of his own bloodline.