章節 81: Chapter 65: She Came Straight Over!
In a remote, quiet town, the streets were nearly empty. Pedestrians moved briskly, each with somewhere to be, nobody lingering in the chilly evening air.
As the carriage rolled into the town, Rhodes stepped out, taking in the empty streets with a raised brow.
"Why's it so deserted here?" He muttered.
"Maybe they're just home for dinner," Yulia replied casually, though even she could sense something off about the town's eerie atmosphere. But she didn't dwell on it. After all, it was just a small village of a thousand or so people. In her experience, even if every single person here vanished, it wouldn't make much of a ripple.
She had seen towns with tens of thousands of people drained dry by a legendary demon. A place like this? Barely a blip on her radar.
From her vantage as a high-ranking mage, sacrifices like these were just part of the bigger picture.
"Sister Yulia, you're so smart! Unlike me, I can't even think of simple things like that!" Cinderella's eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at Yulia.
"Oh? Well… It's really just experience." Yulia scratched her head, a bit embarrassed by the praise. She wasn't exactly sure how she'd gotten labeled as "smart," but it felt nice to be seen as such by her little fan.
Especially when the fan was none other than a demigod-level demon lord.
As Cinderella batted her eyes innocently at Yulia, the latter couldn't help but look like a bit of a fool—a contrast that made Rhodes shake his head with a sigh.
This was a prime example of a high-ranking "scumbag" girl outmaneuvering a lower-ranking, straightforward one. The gap in their..."combat effectiveness" was clear.
"Why isn't there even an inn here?" Rhodes wondered aloud as he explored. The town's atmosphere was strange, yes, but it was also completely devoid of open shops. The only place with its doors open was a lone tavern.
Don't these people want to make money?
Shrugging, Rhodes pushed open the door and walked into the tavern.
The quiet murmur inside abruptly died, and wary eyes turned to him.
In the dim light, a dozen patrons sat with glazed expressions, sipping their drinks in silence. And amidst them, a familiar face caught his eye.
Van Helsing—the demon hunter from the Holy Church.
Why was he here? Did it mean there were demons lurking around?
Rhodes shook his head. It didn't matter if there were demons; it wasn't his problem. That was the Holy Church's job, not his. Let them play hero if they wanted.
He tossed a gold coin onto the counter. "A glass of wine, please."
The tavern owner didn't seem thrilled. "Outsiders aren't welcome here," he said in a low voice. "If you know what's good for you, you'll leave while you still can."
Rhodes chuckled. "Quite the businessman you are, refusing service to a paying customer." He settled into a seat and took a long look around.
The bartender sighed but pocketed the gold coin, pouring him a glass reluctantly. "Have your drink, but I'd advise you to leave once you're done. Staying here isn't safe."
Rhodes swirled the wine in his glass, not paying much mind. "Dangerous, huh?"
Just then, the sound of footsteps approached from behind.
"Your Majesty, Rhodes!"
Rhodes glanced back and raised an eyebrow. There stood Van Helsing, clearly tense, his face lit with something close to awe.
"Van Helsing, I remember you. So, what's a Holy Church demon hunter doing here?"
The title "Your Majesty" was no joke—it was reserved for the emperors, popes, demigods, and the like. For a Holy Church member to address him like that was a sign of deep respect.
Hearing his name made Van Helsing nearly beam with pride. He hadn't expected a powerful demigod like Rhodes to remember him.
"Have a seat," Rhodes offered.
Van Helsing sat nervously, as if ants were crawling up his legs. "I was sent by the Church," he explained, leaning in closer. "Several bishops in the area have reported people vanishing around Springfield Town. It's suspected that someone is conducting blood sacrifices to summon a demon. The Cardinal sent me to investigate."
Rhodes shook his head. Demons, always stirring up trouble. No wonder they were one of the two "cancers" of the material world.
"Good luck with that," he said, patting Van Helsing on the shoulder. Then he got up, ready to leave. No point sticking around. There was nothing in it for him—just another thankless job boosting the Holy Church's reputation.
Once Rhodes left the tavern, Van Helsing relaxed, exhaling heavily. Just seeing Rhodes up close, he'd sensed the sheer force of his power.
"It's only been a few days, but His Majesty's strength seems even more terrifying than before," he murmured. For demigods, every ounce of improvement was hard-won. But this man… his growth rate was nothing short of monstrous.
As he sat pondering, an unsettling thought struck him.
Could it be? That mark he'd seen on Rhodes—wasn't it the God-killer's mark?
Just days ago, Rhodes had killed an evil god. And now, was he taking down yet another? The mere idea sent a shiver down Van Helsing's spine. This was not a man to cross.
Shuddering, he raised his glass with trembling hands. A ruthless god-slayer wasn't someone he wanted any dealings with.
Outside, dusk had settled over the town as Rhodes and his group arrived at a small clearing. He jumped from the carriage and clapped his hands, summoning stone pillars from the ground. In seconds, a three-story villa rose before them.
Although it wasn't nearly as powerful as combat magic, creation magic had its perks.
"Big Brother is so amazing!" Cinderella's eyes sparkled, her expression like that of a love-struck teenager.
Rhodes clicked his tongue. Cinderella's tea art was as sharp as ever—subtle, innocent, but very effective. You had to give it to her.
"I'll help you with that 'demon exorcism' tonight," Rhodes said, shooting her a look. Cinderella's eager expression stiffened; she knew that his exorcisms came with a price.
The group walked into the villa. Although it was just a temporary structure made from condensed magic, the interior was well-crafted and comfortable enough for a night's stay.
Watching them head into one of the rooms for their "exorcism," Yulia huffed.
This man was getting more brazen by the day.
Rhodes paused, turning back to her. "Yulia, I can sense some demonic energy in you, too. Need a hand with that?"
"Idiot! I'm a legendary mage—I don't need your help!" Yulia's face flushed crimson, her voice suddenly unsteady. "Even if I did have demonic energy, you're the last person I'd want to exorcise it!"
Rhodes just shrugged. "Suit yourself. My door's open if you change your mind."
"Scram!"
Fuming, Yulia stomped off, dragging Britney along to the next room.
Hours later, the noise from Rhodes's exorcism session finally died down. But in the room next door, Britney's sleepy voice drifted through the quiet.
"Lady Yulia, what are you doing?"
The usually confident Yulia turned bright red, coughing awkwardly. "Just…practicing some spells. Go back to sleep."
"Uh-huh." Britney looked skeptical, watching Yulia sneak out of the room.
Rhodes, now winding down from his work, raised an eyebrow as Yulia slipped into his room.
"Couldn't resist, huh?" he teased. She'd refused earlier, but now she was here, no hesitation.
Yulia shot him a look and closed the distance. She was, after all, a legendary archmage. A mere exorcism wouldn't faze her—she'd show him how it was done.
Next door, Britney pouted in bed, listening to the commotion and muttering, "They're all liars!"
By dawn, Yulia's "demonic energy" had been thoroughly "exorcised."
"A few doses of holy water mixed with Sunthorn should drive out any lingering demonic presence in about half a month," Rhodes said seriously. "But the energy spikes in cycles, so we'll need to repeat this to keep it under control."
For the next half month, their exorcism sessions would continue—perhaps at a...faster pace.
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