Chapter 368: Event (1)

    Before the full extent of the atrocities committed by the demon worshippers was revealed, they kept themselves hidden in the shadows, carefully concealing their true identities.

    The exact origins of their existence remain unknown, though many scholars speculate that their activities predate the Demon War.

    After all, without their influence, the Demon War might never have occurred, marking them as a group with a history as long as it is sinister.

    Over 3,000 years, interest in demons gradually waned, creating opportunities for demon worshippers to expand their influence.

    Their power grew, particularly through control of the “Four Major Black Market Commodities”: drugs, human trafficking, weapons, and monster byproducts.

    Extending their reach into the underworld, they amassed immense wealth, sometimes involving not only the wealthy and nobility but even clergy.

    Cases like the infamous corrupt cardinal scandal that rocked Savior revealed that the hands of demon worshippers extended across the entire world.

    Had the Chronicles of Zenon not exposed their existence, a second Demon War might have erupted, plunging the world into even greater chaos.

    Conversely, this demonstrates the unimaginable influence of the demon worshippers, as they left no trace despite their vast network.

    Yet, such secrecy is now irrelevant. Following the “divine punishment” of the corrupt cardinal in Savior, open war has erupted.

    At the same time, they sought to target Isaac, the one at the center of these events, but even that has not gone as planned.

    As a result, the demon worshippers shifted strategies: if they couldn’t strike the head, they’d aim to sever the limbs.

    Whether by prophecy or coincidence, their goal became clear: to disrupt the Chronicles of Zenon by cutting off its distribution at the source.

    Their first target? The printing press in the Duchy of Vellua.

    “This place is utterly wrecked.”

    “Yeah, it really is.”

    A man and a woman stood before a partially destroyed building, conversing casually.

    The man’s skin was tanned from time spent under the harsh sun, his muscular arms and the scars visible on them leaving an impression.

    The woman, with her short-cropped hair, bore her own marks of hardship, a deep scar etched across her cheek.

    Both were reasonably attractive, and they shared a common feature—a pendant around their necks.

    The pendants, reflecting the golden sunlight, marked them as adventurers.

    “They said it was a suicide bombing by demon worshippers. What’s the plan from here?”

    The woman crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the ongoing reconstruction of the building.

    There was a hint of unease in her voice.

    The man nodded in agreement, understanding her concern.

    After all, the structure being rebuilt was no ordinary building; it was a printing press established by Musk at great expense solely for publishing the Chronicles of Zenon.

    However, it had been completely destroyed in a suicide bombing orchestrated by demon worshippers, resulting in the deaths of two employees and severe injuries to three others.

    “Maybe the government will step in, like they did for the mint? Or the church might send in holy knights to protect it.”

    “That won’t be enough. They say some of the demon worshippers are demons themselves and could attack from afar with magic.

    And apparently, this bombing wasn’t even a coordinated effort but the work of a lone individual.”

    The woman’s logical concerns made the man nod in agreement.

    Demon worshippers were an evil force that influenced the entire world.

    Naturally, their organization was structured in isolated cells, with most members being mere pawns unless they were high-ranking leaders like the corrupt cardinal.

    Although Savior had declared an official holy war against them, a group that had evaded detection for over a millennium wouldn’t be easily eradicated.

    Without the Chronicles of Zenon, their existence might have remained undiscovered, highlighting their meticulous planning.

    “This is just the first signal flare. You can bet that every printing press in the world is going to be targeted soon. The Duchy of Vellua was likely hit first due to its strategic location.”

    “You’re smarter than I thought.”

    “No, you’re just dumb. Anyone who reads the news could figure this out.”

    The woman mocked the man sharply.

    She glanced at him, scratching his head awkwardly, before offering him a backhanded compliment.

    “Well, I guess that attitude of yours got you what you wanted.”No?v(el)B\\jnn

    “What are you talking about?”

    “You know, that.”

    Whatever it was, the woman found it difficult to say directly, resorting to indirect hints.

    She even glanced around to make sure no one was eavesdropping.

    At first, the man didn’t catch on, but her reaction made him realize what she was referring to.

    “Oh, the autograph? You mean the one I got from Zenon?”

    “Shh! Quiet! What if someone hears you?”

    The woman panicked, pressing her index finger to her lips in a gesture to silence him.

    Indeed, the man had been the one who broke through the security cordon surrounding Isaac during his return to the academy just to obtain an autograph.

    It had been a life-threatening situation, and had Isaac not responded, the man’s life could have ended then and there.

    Meanwhile, the woman seemed to have finished reading the notice.

    Her reaction was one of great shock.

    She kept adjusting her telescope, double-checking what she had just seen.

    “Wow... this person really means business.”

    “What does it say?”

    The woman, Anne, didn’t immediately answer Roy’s question.

    She climbed down and put the telescope back in her backpack before relaying what she’d seen.

    “From what I can tell, it seems Zenon’s quite upset about recent events. He’s serious this time—he might even wipe out the demon worshippers entirely.”

    “So, what does the notice actually say? You know I hate waiting.”

    “Fine, you’re so impatient. The notice isn’t from the Duchy of Vellua. It’s a letter from Zenon himself.”

    “A letter?”

    Roy blinked in surprise.

    The idea of Zenon’s letter being posted on a public announcement board seemed strange at first, but considering Zenon’s influence, it made sense.

    However, the content was what mattered most—after all, it was significant enough to be displayed publicly.

    As Roy’s expression grew more serious, Anne nodded and explained further.

    “Yeah. It looks like Zenon heard about what’s been happening. He’s taking things very seriously.”

    “You mean...”

    “I’ll need to confirm the details at the church or the guild, but apparently, anyone who makes the greatest contribution to eliminating demon worshippers will get a chance to meet Zenon in person.”

    “In-person? Did I hear that right?”

    Roy couldn’t believe it.

    Meeting Zenon was something people risked their lives even to attempt, yet now there was a promise of a private audience.

    Anne, also struggling to fully believe it, nodded.

    Her heart was pounding just as much as Roy’s.

    She wasn’t as reckless as him, but as a devoted fan of The Chronicles of Zenon, she shared his enthusiasm.

    In fact, their friendship had started because of their mutual love for the series—even before it became a global sensation with its first volume.

    “You heard right. The person who contributes the most to defeating the demon worshippers will get the chance to meet Zenon.

    Of course, if they prefer something else, the church or the state will probably offer support instead.”

    Roy’s eyes lit up with excitement. “Then we’ve got to—”

    “Wait.” Anne cut him off, her tone cautious. “Zenon doesn’t want any unnecessary sacrifices. If even one innocent person gets hurt, the whole deal is off.”

    Just as Anne tried to keep Roy calm, a loud, defiant voice erupted near the announcement board.

    “Who do they think they’re scaring with this nonsense?!”

    “Huh?”

    “What the...”

    Rip!

    Someone violently tore down Zenon’s letter (a copy, to be precise) from the board.

    The unexpected act left everyone stunned, but the next shout sent the crowd into a frenzy.

    “For the Father of All! We will never fall!”

    “Who the hell is that?!”

    “A demon worshipper!”

    “Get him! Take him down!”

    Chaos erupted as the crowd swarmed the presumed demon worshipper.

    Anne, watching the scene, realized that the situation had officially begun. This was likely to send shockwaves across the entire world.

    Realistically, meeting Zenon seemed unlikely, but just the fact that he had motivated people to fight against the demon worshippers was an incredible achievement.

    “So it’s really starting, huh? Let’s focus on gathering more details—” She paused mid-sentence, realizing Roy was nowhere to be seen.

    Startled, Anne looked around, only to spot him amidst the chaos.

    “Out of my way! I’m taking this guy in!”

    “And who do you think you are? I caught him first!”

    “Have you no shame?!”

    Roy was fighting his way through the crowd, trying to drag the demon worshipper away.

    “...I can’t even admit we’re acquaintances,” Anne muttered, covering her face with one hand.