Chapter 345: What the hell are these humans? (2)

Cale blinked, surprised by the sudden change in Aurora’s expression.

“…I don’t like it.”

The Cheapskate—the Fire of Destruction— muttered to himself, sounding thoroughly unimpressed. But Cale didn’t have the time or patience to deal with that right now.

Aurora lowered her head—not to greet Cale, but toward her own hands.

Then—

Sniff. Sniff.

She smelled something.

“Ah—”

And she let out a gasp.

This scent… from the jewels…!

She kept sniffing—more frantically now.

“…!”

And, in fact, she even licked the jewels.

She’s crazy!

Cale instinctively took a step back from Aurora.

Thump!

But even that wasn’t easy. Suddenly, Aurora’s fierce gaze was directed at Cale, or more precisely, at the spatial pouch he was holding in his hand.

“..!”

Aurora grabbed Cale’s arm. The jewels that had filled her hands were now on her lap, moving with speed and precision like the wind.

“…”

Cale felt extremely uncomfortable, so he unconsciously let go of the spatial pouch.

Thump.

Aurora caught it like a hawk.

“Ah—Ah—”

She exhaled a breath full of joy.

She’s crazy.

Cale thought.

- I definitely don’t like her. Humph!

Cheapskate expressed his displeasure.

- Her obsession with money is almost like mine! She’s dangerous! That demon is very dangerous! Cale, she’s more dangerous than the God of Chaos, you must be careful with her!

A brief feeling of anxiety crept into Cale.

“Cale-nim.”

But the moment he saw Aurora’s face, Cale knew the answer.

“With this money, I will definitely move the base and the village in the shortest time possible.”

Her face was filled with determination and seriousness. Seeing this, Cale slowly smiled softly and spoke gently.

“In the future, there will be many things to do.”

Pat, pat.

Cale gently patted Aurora’s shoulder.

“I won’t be able to help much during this time.”

Cale extended his hand. His hand touched the spatial pouch.

“There will be more opportunities like this.”

Tap, tap.

Cale tapped the spatial pouch containing the jewels, as if knocking on a door.

“You understand what I mean, right? Eh?”

“...”

Aurora’s lips trembled. Cale’s soft smile filled her eyes.

“Let’s do well in the future. You know what I mean?”

Cale asked, and Aurora responded without hesitation.

“I will do my best. You won’t regret having me as a colleague Mediators.”

Aurora’s eyes burned with a lively flame. Then, the Sound of the Wind, which had been silent until that moment, spoke in Cale’s mind with a hoarse but serene voice.

- If we can solve it with money without hurting ourselves or exerting effort, that’s the best.

The Sound of the Wind continued speaking calmly.

- That’s what money is for, right?

It finally added.

- You’ve acquired a slave.

Slave!? What a big problem!

Cale was alarmed by the words of the Sound of the Wind.

- Not a slave, but a colleague! An excellent colleague!

The Sound of the Wind mocked.

- With all the gem mines and the most expensive magic stone mines you own, if you can manage the leader of an organization with just a few bags of jewels, that really is a good deal.

Cale turned a deaf ear.

- You’ve gotten a good group of “slaves,” no, colleagues.

Cale really ignored everything the Sound of the Wind was saying. Instead, he extended his hand.

“I hope we can complement each other’s shortcomings and have a good cooperative relationship.”

“Yes!”

Aurora firmly grasped Cale’s hand, and he asked:

“Who are we?”

“Arm!”

“Who are you?”

“Arm!”

“Who am I?”

“Arm!”

Cale smiled widely, and Aurora also smiled widely.

- “Choi Han, Choi Han! I’m feeling a bit scared now!”

“...”

- “Choi Han, the eyes of our Human and leader Aurora look strange!”

“...”

- “Choi Han, my piggy bank will be safe, right? Right?”

“...”

For the first time, Choi Han didn’t respond. He just carefully stroked his own head.

- “Choi Han! I miss the crown prince!”

While Raon was searching for Alberu Crossman and ignoring Cale and Aurora, Choi Han simply comforted him with a gentle touch. However, seeing Cale and Aurora, he decided he had to say something.

“That’s right.”

Both gazes turned toward Choi Han.

“We are Arm.”

Choi Han said this with a soft smile.

“...”

“...”

Aurora and Cale backed off.

“Choi Han, you don’t need to be part of Arm!”

Raon shouted with a horrified expression.

Choi Han just tilted his head, genuinely confused.

And just like that, the first joint operation between Cale and the “Mediators” was decided.
Under the name:
“We Are Arm!”

If the now dead White Star knew about this, he would be rolling in his grave.

* * *

The house, hastily converted into a makeshift prison, looked shabby. Inside were about ten soldiers from the demon army—specifically, subordinates of the "Flame Demon" from the Sixth Army—bound hand and foot.

“...”

None of them dared to speak. Compared to elite knights or high-ranking mages, they might not have stood out. But within the demon army—especially among the eight special divisions—they were far from weak.

“...”

They were never weak. During the Demon King’s rise to power, they had played a crucial role in crushing rival nobles.

“...”

These men couldn’t speak easily now. They couldn’t even swallow their saliva properly. No, more precisely, they couldn’t even breathe properly.

“...”

They could only tremble with their heads down. The gaze that was watching them.

“...”

A figure covered in a gray cloak and a gray hood pulled deeply over their face.

This is power—

But could it be called power? An intangible energy filled the house that had been quickly converted into a prison. One of the soldiers involuntarily thought.

Demon King—

Yes. It was when they had followed the current Demon King to annihilate a domain.

At the time, they had been stationed in the rear, facing fierce resistance from the enemy forces. And then—the Demon King calmly stepped forward.

The soldier had seen it. That Demon King. Walking without energy, as if bored, as if tired. Yet with every step he took, the air trembled.

And then—

His gaze swept across the battlefield, and the moment their eyes met.

“...”

He felt an overwhelming pressure that stopped his thoughts. Since then, he thought it was only natural that the current Demon King became the Demon King and considered it an honour to give his life for the greatest demon in the Demon World.

Why—

But why was he feeling the same pressure from the figure in front of him now?

“...”

He didn’t know exactly what had happened in the center of the village. He had been scattered throughout the village, capturing the villagers, so he didn’t know much. He only knew he had been captured while paralyzed by the intangible force emitted by the gray cloak.

And that the count had been defeated—

And that without a proper fight.

Gulp—

He swallowed hard.

The energy surrounding him slowly began to dissipate. He cautiously raised his head.

“!”

And then he saw those eyes looking at him. Under the hood, nothing else could be seen, but those eyes watching him were visible. In the dark prison, those eyes hidden in the shadow of the hood were indistinguishable in colour, darker than normal eyes. No, they were cold.

Scary—

Just when he had that thought...

“!”

That figure pointed a finger at him.

His heart sank.

Two others beside him were also singled out.

And then—without a word, without even looking back—the figure turned and walked away.

As if their task was done.

What?

Why did they point at me?

Something wasn’t right.

He glanced toward the enemy guarding the prison—a figure cloaked entirely in black, head to toe.

Without a word, the enemy entered the prison and dragged him, along with the other two, away.

They’re strong—

Each of the guards merely acting as jailers was as strong as a knight from the Sixth Army.

There was no mistaking it. They were part of the elite, the ones who had followed Aurora.

The demon army couldn’t know this.

Where are we going—

One of the three men spoke inadvertently, driven more by immense fear than by courage.

“!”

At that moment, everyone in the prison saw it.

The only visible feature of those cloaked in black: their eyes, curved like crescent moons.

Those eyes... were smiling.

And then, a voice echoed through the cold air.

"You have been given a glorious opportunity."

The voice was calm, almost cheerful—yet the three soldiers trembled.

"The Saint has chosen you. Consider it an honour."

With those words, the three enemies dragged the three soldiers out one by one. The remaining soldiers couldn’t easily open their mouths before the mansion door closed.

“Jeje.”

One of the guards couldn’t hold back their laughter.

“Hahaha!”

They soon burst out laughing.

“Chaos!”

With those words, the three soldiers in their grasp fainted one after another.

Kreeeeek—

The door slammed shut.

One of the remaining soldiers, unable to see beyond, let out an involuntary exclamation.

“Chaos, you say!”

At that moment, his gaze met that of another guard. The guard stared back, calm, before speaking:

"Don’t use that noble name lightly."

The guard then shifted his attention to the door and clicked his tongue.

"Tsk. This is why they need discipline. So impulsive."

It was clear they were scolding the guard who had laughed loudly earlier.

Gulp.

The remaining soldiers stayed silent, unable to speak easily, but their minds were racing.

The atmosphere felt like that of a religious group. Moreover, they were proclaiming chaos. And—

“Those three—”

Somehow, they seemed like sacrifices. Perhaps because the Sixth Army had come looking for sacrifices, it was easy to imagine.

Drrr, drrr.

The soldiers began trembling. No one wanted to face their own death. Then, one mustered up the courage.

“Are we going to die?”

At that moment, the guard who had been looking at them indifferently spoke.

“The pleasure of chaos will envelop you.”

With those words, the guard no longer looked at them. However, chaotic noises could be heard beyond the old walls of the house, as if a party were being prepared.

“Sacrifice... Feast!”

Those two words became etched in the soldiers’ minds, and they couldn’t help but tremble. And one of the guards dragging the three unconscious soldiers, who hadn’t been able to hold back their laughter.

“Why are you laughing so much?”

“And why shouldn’t I laugh?”

“Hahaha.”

He laughed again and said:

“A new base! And we don’t even have to worry about the door falling!”

That’s what leader Aurora said.

“Our colleague is tremendously rich.”

That explained everything to the Mediators.

“Hehe.”

“Heh.”

“Hahaha.”

The Mediators dragging the unconscious soldiers spoke.

“Tonight, while we perform the sacrificial ritual, we must create an opportunity for distraction, right?”

“Yes. And we’ll let about five soldiers from the Sixth Army escape.”

“Should we pretend to chase them as well?”

“Yes. Moderately.”

“Then, will they head to the demon palace, also known as the Demon King’s Castle?”

“That’s how it will be. They must report what happened today.”

“I see that among the soldiers of the Sixth Army; some are from Viscount Deshuran’s mansion. We’ll mainly release those who have high loyalty to the viscount; they’ll surely seek revenge on us.”

“Ah, good idea. Will the villagers help too? They said they’d come down from headquarters to assist.”

“Yes. We’ll all do it together.”

* * *

“Hah, hah!”

Among Viscount Deshuran’s subjects was the third son of the butler who served him, Krop. Although he had no talent for mana or aura, he became an ordinary soldier of the Sixth Army. However, he was quite clever, so he served as a scout for Viscount Deshuran.

“Hah, huff!”

He ran with all his might, like never before in his life.

“Guh!”

Even when he fell, he got up again. He didn’t care about the scratches from the branches all over his body.

Lalala—

Lalala—

Musical sounds were heard behind him.

Boom, boom, boom!

There was also the festive sound of drums and people laughing. But he couldn’t turn back.

“Hah, huff, huff!”

His whole body was drenched in sweat.

“Crazy!”

The center of the village he had left behind. Now there was an altar there, and several members of the Sixth Army were tied up on it.

“Sacrifice!”

It was obvious they would be offered as sacrifices. And around them, the villagers were singing and dancing, beating drums and—

“Eating!”

They were enjoying luxurious food.

“Arm…!”

Yes, Arm! Members of an organization called “Arm.”

Was it the God of Chaos they worshiped?

Why would such a religion exist in the Demon World?

He had never heard of such a thing. But aside from that—

“Sacrifice!”

A demonic offering! What a terrible act!

Krop knew that what the Sixth Army did when capturing villagers was terrible, but—

“...But we do it for the Demon World!”

They wouldn’t go this far for a god foreign to the Demon World.

And certainly, that entity—

“—is human.”

The words struck him like a bolt of lightning.

He remembered the Demon King.

“That guy... who looks like the Demon King... is human?”

A human... exerting such pressure?

“It must be the power of the God of Chaos!”

Surely it was a Saint or an apostle.

“This is madness!”

Madness was happening in the Demon World. This had to be reported to the demon palace.

“Ack!”

A scream was heard behind him. Probably one of those who had fled with him.

“Damn it!”

He wanted to save his comrade, but he didn’t turn back. He had to escape and report everything. In a remote mountain village, evil was lurking in the Demon World.

“Hah, hah!”

The sun had already set, and only darkness covered the mountains and forests through which Krop ran desperately.

Sssss—

And watching from afar, there was an entity silently observing him.

He wasn’t alone.

“...”

“...”

Two people were watching him, keeping a certain distance while following him. When Krop finally emerged from the forest and headed north toward the nearest noble domain—

“...”

One of them continued to follow Krop. The other returned the way they had come. Upon reaching their destination, they removed their mask.

“Cale-nim.”

“Hmm, is he gone already?”

“Yes. It’s confirmed that he’s heading toward the demon palace.”

Cale, eating a fruit and smiling, listened to Choi Han’s calm report.

“A member of the Mediators has followed Krop. He will ensure that Krop reaches the domain as much as possible.”

Pretending to chase yet allowing his escape.

The Mediators assigned to follow Krop walked that delicate line, expertly delaying his arrival at the domain.

* * *

“Huff, hah!”

His mouth was completely dry, and his body devoid of strength. But with a single obsessive thought, Krop had kept running.

“Who are you? No, what organization do you belong to?”

“He’s from the demon army! What’s happening?”

As soon as he reached the gates of the nearby domain, a knight and a soldier who recognized his demon army insignia approached him.

“Danger—”

“What?”

The knight asked incredulously, and Krop managed to say one last thing before losing consciousness.

He hadn’t slept well. He hadn’t eaten or rested properly.

During all that time, pursued by the enemy, he had only felt one thing. Whether it was the God of Chaos or whatever. It wasn’t a religious organization. Those guys were—

“Se, sect—”

The name was.

“Arm—!”

The emergence of "Arm," the most formidable enemy of the Demon King, marked a significant event.
---------
TL Thoughts💭:
With chaos as currency and cults as cover, how long can Cale keep the façade—before he starts questioning which side he's really on?

***

If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.

Thank you for reading!

[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]

[Translator – Anowa]

[Proofreader – Mayank]