[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 412

The Demon Inn.

That wasn’t a nickname — its real name was literally Demon Inn.

When asked why, the answer was simple: the inn had been built on an old vacant lot where a demon had once been sealed.

And this was no ordinary inn. It didn’t accept just anyone. Without a reservation, no amount of money could buy you a room.

Of course, there were exceptions.

“Here.”

Maint showed something, and the inn’s staff immediately granted them entry — despite not having made a reservation.

“So basically, it’s like an ID?”

It was a plaque bordered in black, covered in red characters. Below, Maint’s name and a serial number were engraved.

“Yes. We believers are each issued one of these plaques to prove our devotion. Without presenting it, we can’t attend the gatherings.”

“I see.”

“This inn is really just a church in disguise. Beneath it, in the underground hall, lies an altar dedicated to Beelzebub.”

Before that altar, the faithful would gather and dream of his resurrection.

And tonight’s assembly would be unlike the usual ones. Since Beelzebub had personally sent out a signal, they would see this as a divine response and gather to plot their next move.

But the door leading underground was firmly shut.

“Does it only open when the time comes?”

“That’s correct. Down below, those with higher rank are preparing for the meeting. Common believers like us aren’t allowed in until it begins.”

“Then what was your plan for getting the information?”

“Not so much information… more like the roster.”

“So you intended to steal the attendance list while everyone was distracted by the gathering?”

“Yes.”

Good thing I came with him.

Every NPC in Gustain was level 1,500 or higher. Those with titles boasted levels of 2,500 to 3,000.

Even if they were distracted, there was no way a mere level 1,000 like Maint wouldn’t get caught trying to slip something out.

“Since we can’t just barge in, let’s secure a room and wait.”

“Understood.”

As a mere believer, Maint was only permitted to stay between the 2nd and 4th floors.

Jeong-hoon chose a room on the 2nd floor for proximity. Maint tried to insist on the 4th to keep his distance, but that plan was crushed when Jeong-hoon dragged him into the same room by force.

* * *

Time passed, and one by one the believers began to arrive at the inn.

[Hear me, I am Beelzebub.]

Each of them had received a response from him in the middle of their daily lives.

[The filthy and detestable seek to bind me.]

Filthy and detestable.

Binding.

[To erase that foul place, I allowed myself to be seized for a brief time. Therefore, offer sacrifices of ebony on my behalf. In doing so, you shall greatly aid the fulfillment of my grand design.]

Ebony.

It referred to the black crystals created by condensing the dark energy Beelzebub had personally bestowed.

They were so large that a grown man’s fist could be hidden entirely behind one.

These ebony stones could only be offered upon the altar — the very reason this gathering was being held tonight.

“At last, our wish will be fulfilled. We’ll escape this cursed place and reclaim our true freedom.”

True freedom.

That meant living as humans — not as NPCs.

At some point, they had come to realize that they were NPCs, and from then on, they had yearned for freedom.

The idea that this world was nothing more than a game, and that their existence was just a tool for the growth of outsiders, filled them with disgust.

[To you, I shall grant freedom.]

Before that awakening, a voice had sometimes descended upon those who already believed in Beelzebub.

Thus, to them, Beelzebub was the one and only being who could grant them freedom.

And now that they had received his direct response, their faith had turned into fanaticism.

Creak—

The door, which had been firmly closed, opened.

Beyond it, a staircase led downward.

The believers, accustomed to the process, once again presented their plaques for inspection before descending.

“Maint? This is your first time attending, isn’t it?”

The gatekeeper glanced at Maint’s plaque with suspicion.

“This gathering is an important one, isn’t it?”

“Hm, true enough. You may enter.” Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs NoveI~Fire.net

“Thank you.”

Maint safely descended into the underground, followed by the other believers.

The underground hall quickly filled with worshippers, and still, many had yet to enter.

From Arandis to every corner of Gustain, believers were plentiful, but the gathering was held only here at the Demon Inn.

Eventually, the gatekeeper shut the door, allowing no more entry.

“Please let us in!”

“We came to attend the gathering!”

Despite being told they couldn’t enter, the believers outside persisted.

“Argh!”

Then, a scream split the night outside the inn.

“Aaaaagh!”

“Uwaaagh!”

“Help! Somebody help me!”

Once it began, the chorus of screams didn’t stop, echoing all the way to the Demon Inn.

“A—A raid!”

Only then did those inside realize that the screams were coming from their fellow believers.

But by then, it was already too late to react.

“Arghhh!”

A scream rang out right in front of the inn.

Then, with a crash, the door was smashed apart — and they saw the horrific sight beyond.

Bodies strewn across the ground, blood everywhere, and standing amid the carnage was a lone man, staring directly at them.

The murderous aura radiating from his body crushed their will to fight, freezing them in place as though broken machines, unable to so much as twitch a finger.

“M-Monster…”

“What kind of power is this…?”

Every one of them was an NPC well beyond level 1,000.

Yet to be subdued by nothing more than a single glance meant that his level was far, far higher.

Even the gatekeeper was no exception.

The moment he heard the screams, he tried to open the door—but his entire body was paralyzed, unable to move an inch.

All he could do was watch.

‘Damn it… He targeted me first, right at the start of the raid.’

The gatekeeper’s level was 3,120.

By any standard, that was vastly higher than the other believers.

And even he had been subdued in an instant.

“Arghhh!”

The intruder swung his blade lightly.

Two believers standing at the front lost their heads in a clean arc.

‘Not even a sound?!’

Normally, such a strike would leave behind a chilling, slicing sound. But his cut had been so clean, so perfect, that it produced no sound at all.

“Aaagh!”

“Please, spare us!”

The screams came only from those whose bodies were still intact, their voices broken by terror.

Those whose lives had already been severed hadn’t even managed a cry before death claimed them.

“Please! Please!”

Their desperate pleas for mercy went unanswered. Without blinking an eye, he cut down believer after believer.

The inn’s first floor was cleared in moments.

Then, fixing his gaze on the gatekeeper, he vanished.

‘W-What…?’

The gatekeeper remained frozen, still powerless to move.

Rolling his eyes as far as he could, he saw the first floor piled high with corpses.

Why hadn’t he been killed?

The answer came from the screams echoing upstairs.

Some of the guests who hadn’t yet joined the gathering had been hiding there.

‘That’s it… he spared me because he wants information.’

Otherwise, there was no reason to leave the gatekeeper alive.

‘Better to be honest.’

He too longed for freedom, but he had no desire to throw away his life.

If this intruder wanted something, he would give it—anything to survive.

Better to crawl in filth and live than to die.

On that point, he agreed completely.

Not long after, the raider finished slaughtering every guest within the inn and returned to the gatekeeper.

“……!”

The gatekeeper tried to speak, but his voice would not come—his mouth only opened and closed soundlessly.

His vision spun sideways, then sank into darkness.

* * *

‘A pity. There was one I might’ve put to use.’

Tenebris looked over the corpses with regret in his eyes.

Among them, there had surely been those who carried useful information.

But Jeong-hoon had shown no mercy, cutting them all down.

“You already heard everything you needed,” Jeong-hoon said flatly.

‘But some of those stragglers might’ve known more,’ Tenebris muttered inwardly.

“This much is enough.”

Jeong-hoon spoke as he forced open the door leading underground.

There, the obsidian awaited.

Formed from concentrated dark energy, the obsidian would be plundered in its entirety, fueling his own power.

‘So that was their plan—to spread dark energy throughout New World through the ritual.’

Jeong-hoon tore the sealed door apart.

The barrier was meant to deny entry to any unauthorized being, but resisting his strength was impossible.

Craaaack—

The door was ripped clean off.

Jeong-hoon descended the staircase at a steady pace.

Tak-tak-tak—

Just then, a handful of believers who sensed something wrong were climbing up toward him.

“Huh…?”

“W-Who’s—?!”

Their words never finished.

Jeong-hoon mercilessly cut their throats, sending both bodies and severed heads tumbling back down the stairs.

The commotion immediately stirred unrest below.

“Let’s move quickly.”

Jeong-hoon stepped into the Heavenly Demon Lord’s Dominion, accelerating as he cut down every believer who tried to climb the staircase.

‘Hellfire.’

A massive inferno erupted, its searing heat surging as though it would burn the entire underground to ash.

Originally, it was a spell he could not wield—but having ascended to a demi-god’s realm, Jeong-hoon had mastered even magic.

He hurled the inferno to the very bottom of the underground chamber.

“Aaaargh!”

“Kuaaaagh!”

Screams burst forth from below.

‘M-Master! What if you burn the obsidian too?!’ Mukho cried out in alarm.

But Harnion shook his head.

‘It’s fine. Obsidian cannot be burned by ordinary flame.’

‘Then how do they use it for their rituals? Don’t they burn it?’

‘To ignite obsidian infused with dark energy, it must be cast into the brazier at the altar itself.’

‘And how would you know that?’

‘One of my duties once was to purify dark energy.’

Hearing their exchange, Jeong-hoon gave a small nod.

In truth, he had cast Hellfire with the intent of burning all the obsidian.

If it burned, the dark energy would rise as smoke—and Jeong-hoon intended to absorb it instantly.

The inferno raged without pause, and Jeong-hoon strode into the flames as though they were nothing.

Not a single soul in the underground survived the fire.

Except for Maint.

“Ugh… this is truly too much.”

Around Maint shimmered a barrier of light.

At the same moment he had cast Hellfire, Jeong-hoon had also erected a barrier of light to protect him.

It was repayment for personally guiding him this far.

“Shall I undo it?”

When Jeong-hoon moved to release the barrier, Maint panicked and cried out.

“N-No!”

If the barrier was undone within the blazing inferno, he would end up just like the others.

“The obsidian?”

“P-Please, follow me.”

Descending further underground, Maint first sought out the obsidian’s location.

It hadn’t been difficult—he had seen a priest carrying obsidian from the storeroom to the altar.

Thanks to that, he could now lead Jeong-hoon directly to the storeroom.

“This should be enough. I can put the flames out now.”

With a snap of his fingers, Jeong-hoon extinguished the raging inferno that had consumed everything.

“A-Amazing…”

Maint stood dumbfounded, even applauding without realizing it.

“Don’t just stand there—step aside.”

“Ah, y-yes.”

Maint quickly moved out of the way.

The storeroom was secured with three layers of locks, designed so that only a priest could open it.

But Jeong-hoon destroyed every lock through brute force, ripping the door open without hesitation.

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]