Chapter 80

Ed turned to Aron. He closed his eyes and prayed in front of the dead. The blood energy that arose from the broken blood stone pieces was oxidized by his blue divine power and disappeared.  

As Aron opened his eyes again and looked back at Ed, he had a gentle smile on his face as if he had awakened.  Ed tilted his head with a liberated look and asked.  

“Aron.”  

“Yes?”  

“Aron, right?” 

Aron answered with a smile.

“Yes.”

“I wondered if Astron borrowed Aron’s body in response to Ragrox’s rise, but I’m glad it wasn’t. I was surprised.  Anyway, thank you.  But how did you do it?”

Aron’s eye color itself has changed to blue. The divine power has faded, so it’s not just blue, it’s even mysterious. He looked like a being that transcends humans. So, Ed doubted that it was something else.

Aron answered the question with a smile.  

“I could just ‘see’.” 

It certainly changed his eyes. 

“Thanks to you, I was able to catch it easily.”

Ed thanked Aron.

The great demon did not come directly, but it was a manifestation. It seemed that the intermediate demon was far beyond that. It may have been lacking compared to Juan, who was a high-level demon. He wasn’t good, as he couldn’t do anything by being swept away by the waves of divine power that Aron had.  Arin also uses divine power in battle, but the nature of the divine power is obviously different for different people. This ability was something that Archbishop Martin, who was with Pendragon in Age of the Devil 1, could not even unleash.  

“Is this talent?”  

Aron replied with a smile.

“I’m glad it helped.” 

The problem is that Ragrox would have clearly recognized Aron. It was more likely that he would aim for him at a different level than before. Either trying to convince him, or trying to kill him.  

“I think I’m wrong tonight. Shall we move on?”  

“Brother! I’m really sleepy. I think I’ll fall asleep if I just put my head on the pillow. Today I want to rest here as planned. I also cut off the tail.” 

Ed laughed at that.

“Are you tired?” said Diego, patting him on the back.  

“Well, I have nothing to say when you ask if I’m as tired as the person who ran with me and Aron, but it’s still really hard.” 

I wondered if Ed thought too much of his own standards. He’s himself. He doesn’t mind running around like that, but Aron and Diego are different.  

“Then let’s rest here today.”

Two people died, and they were burned after praying, leaving no trace. So, there was nothing that could be done besides resting.  

“Let’s make the fire again, then.” 

While Aron quickly prepared to light the fire, Diego took the bird he had brought into the cave and finished grooming it.  Ed, who looked at the two of them, closed his eyes and went inside. He thought he wouldn’t be able to raise the level for a while because the experience required to level up has increased overwhelmingly, but he was lucky that the level went up, so he had to invest in stats.

He invested in agility without thinking. The effect of each stat invested when the level rose was different. Even now, the agility was only raised by one, but the effect was transmitted as it is. That’s why the level is said to be a thug. 

It seemed now that the shadow of Ragrox that popped out last time could also be a split. Although the problem is that he needs to see the nucleus. Then the scent of Diego’s broiling bird disturbed his thoughts.  

No matter how strong Ed was, he had to eat and live.  It was a pity that the three of them shared only two birds, but neither Ed nor Aron ate too much. So the two of them ate one, and Diego alone ate one.

Ed simply stuffed his stomach and looked at Aron.  

“Is that ‘see’ thing, perhaps a divine spell?” 

Aron shrugged his shoulders at that.

“I don’t know. Because it was only visible.”

After hearing Aron’s answer, Ed was satisfied. If it’s a divine spell, he wanted to tell Arin to learn it. Is it just talent and ability? Should he hire Aron?

Malcolm and Alon, who were chasing after the trail, lifted their heads at the sudden sense of divine power.  

The two of them, moving in pursuit of the Falcon, were afraid of the divine power and wanted to run away.  

They are still moving after the traces, but the fact that such a powerful divine power has erupted is something that they must find, even if it is not the person they are looking for.  

It was the first time they felt this divine power, and even if there was someone with this kind of divine power, releasing it was another story.  

If someone with such divine power is in danger, he must be saved.  

“Keep chasing the traces. For now, there is a place to go.”

Malcolm and Alon talked as they ran towards the place where the divine power was felt.  

“Senior, with a divine power like mine, isn’t it almost the level of a Master Paladine?”  

“Master Paladine would not waste his divine power that much.”  

“Isn’t that what you mean? With this kind of divine power, it’s almost like it’s on the top of five fingers.”  

“That’s right.” 

Malcolm had heard of a priest named Aron.  

He heard that he is the older brother of Arin, who is a junior, and that he will be an important figure for the troupe later on, but considering his age, he could not believe this divine power even though he felt it.

Malcolm and Alon, running with all their might, soon saw smoke rising in the distance.  

“Have you seen what they are doing?” 

He did not understand the situation.  There has been an event that would have caused such a divine power to erupt. Are they eating something there?  

“Let’s speed it up.” 

Both Malcolm and Alon started kicking the tree with all their might.

After filling his stomach briefly, Ed, who was sitting on the rock in front of the cave, looked up at the approaching presence.  

Seeing him running at a fairly high speed, Ed slowly hung his arrow on the string.  

He wondered if there were any remnants of Crossel left, but Jerry showed no reaction. If it had been the master of demonic powers, he would have figured it out already.  

Ed hung the arrow on the string and after a while, he stared at the two who appeared in the vacant lot. They were humans. 

They were not like someone who was on a mission and moved like Arin. They were wearing a light blue cloak and armor engraved with Astron’s mark. Paladines who revealed themselves as paladines. 

They got off the cluttered vacant lot, one guarding Ed and the other looking around.

“Senior, you were right about here. But did the flames happen here?”  

“Sacred fire?” 

Is it not that the divine power was simply released here, but also an evil power was burned in this place?  

“I’m called Paladine Malcolm. There seems to be a great deal of divine power here, can you tell me what happened?” 

Ed didn’t have to answer.  Aron, who came out of the cave after hearing the commotion, found them and spoke with a calm smile.

“May the glory of Astron be with you. My name is Aron,” 

The man next to Malcolm replied by smiling brightly.  

“Oh! May the glory of Astron be with you. This is Alon, the Holy Knight. We are the paladines sent to rescue after hearing the news that Priest Aron has been kidnapped. But what happened?”

Aron was yawning while trying to explain. And the moment they saw Diego like that, Alon drew his sword, and Malcolm also solidified his impression.

Ed stepped in front of Diego while they were stunned. Aron stopped in front of Diego too and said.  

“Put down your sword, Sir Alon.”  

“He has the power of the devil. Priest Aron. Come this way.” 

Aron shook his head slowly.

“This is the one who saved me. Put away your swords.”

Alon hardened his impression at those words. Those who possess demonic powers are either summarily executed or captured and left to the heretical inquisitors.  

But Aron was standing in the way, so he wondered if he should take Aron as well.  

Then Malcolm raised his hand to stop Alon.  When Alon turned around, Malcolm shook his head lightly.  

Aron drew his sword, and then he saw Ed, who was aiming the bow from behind Aron, lowering the bow.  

Alon’s expression hardened.  

“Are you aiming the bow at the paladine now? Just being with someone with demonic powers, you have to meet a heretic inquisitor and explain it.”  

Ed let out a short sigh.  As Diego’s seed germinated and its power grew, it was troublesome in many ways, as it was possible to recognize that Diego had the power of the devil even when he became a holy knight.  

Still, it’s fortunate that Aron stopped him and he didn’t have to kill the two paladines. Even if it was an unreasonable paladine, he couldn’t let him harm Diego.  

Malcolm spoke without further ado.

“So, I haven’t heard your name yet.”  

“Ed.”

Hearing Ed’s brief reply, Malcolm’s expression hardened.  And Alon behind him tilted his head.  

“Edward, the Demon Hunter?”  

“He’s called that.”  

“I heard that you and Arin are on exorcism.” Ed smirked at that.  

“I was on exorcism, and I heard the news that Aron had been kidnapped, and I came to the rescue.” 

Malcolm’s eyes turned to Aron, and Aron nodded his head.

“If Ed hadn’t saved me, I’d probably have been taken by Crossel. The 6th was chasing me, and the 4th and 7th were planning to join.” 

Malcolm and Alon’s expressions hardened as they heard Aron’s explanation.  

It was hard to believe that John the paladine had been killed by only one of Crossel’s fingers, but it was true.  

If there were three such people, there was no chance of survival.

And to see Aron saved and protected from such people is just amazing.  

“But I felt a powerful divine power, can you tell me what happened?”

Aron said with a smile at that.  

“I had awakened my divine power to be of any help.”  

“You mean that priest Aron had caused it?”  

“Yeah,” 

Looking back at Ed and Diego once, Malcolm said that he didn’t think Aron was going to lie.  

“The movement of the enemies exceeded our expectations.” Aron added.

“I’m sorry. Now that we’re here, we’ll take you to the headquarters safely.”

Malcolm’s gaze turned to Ed.  

“I will repay you at the church for this.” Ed looked at them for a moment and then asked Aron.  

“What are you going to do?” Aron looked at Malcolm and Alon for a moment, then turned to Ed.

“It’s a precious step from the troupe, but I can’t just send them back. I miss my sister, but I think it’s time to go now.” 

“Huh?  You can’t flee like that!”  

Ed covered Aron’s mouth as he was about to say something more and looked at Malcolm.  

“Are the two paladins all escorts?” 

Alon replied, snoring behind Malcolm.  “The two of us are full.”

Ed stared at him as if he was seriously thinking that way.  Malcolm stopped Alon, who frowned at Ed’s gaze, and looked at Ed with firm eyes.  

“What do you want to say, eh?”  

“Before you go to the main corps, replenish your forces. Among those behind Crossel, Ragrox met Aron in the incarnate state. They will come out more aggressively, but they can’t even start with only these people.” Said Ed.

Ed can’t take Aron forever with him. If he went to Arin, she would take him to a nearby temple. No matter how large a crossel is, they will attack the temple. But if he leaves Aron to them, he won’t know what will happen.  

Ed said, staring directly at Malcolm.  

“Me and Diego will be together until we reach the next temple.” 

Malcolm looked at Diego at those words and said with a frown.

“We are paladines. With help, we can close our eyes even if we see someone with demonic powers right in front of us, but we can’t be together.” 

Aron came up to Ed and took his hands and said,  “I’m not going to be caught so easily anymore. So don’t worry.” 

It’s more dangerous to say things like that in the first place.

“Okay.” Ed’s gaze turned to Malcolm again.  

“Ask for help,” said Malcolm, nodding his head without further ado. 

Even though he felt it, Aron’s divine power was at a level he had to protect.  Even if he gets more support from the Paladine.

“I will.” 

The two paladines went back to the way they had brought Aron.  

Diego asked while looking at those who were moving away. 

“Are you just going to send him like that?”  

“No. We’ll have to sneak up on them. At least, until he gets to the temple.” 

The fact that Aaron’s words have set the flag means that the experiences will come rushing towards him. This opportunity cannot be missed.