“Welcome to the starting point of the new world, Viscount Shien Buztout.”
As this laughter rang out, several figures slowly emerged from the shadows in front of the temple.
Four of these figures were the black-robed members of the Old Demon Faction whom Shien had confronted earlier.
Like guards, they surrounded a person in a four-corner formation and walked out silently as the person moved.
In the center of their protection was another figure in a black robe, but with their hood down.
It was a demon who looked about Shien’s age, with an unhealthy pallor, resembling a frail noble, a gentle smile on his face.
Seeing this gentle-looking demon, Oz and Maeve exchanged glances, confusion in their eyes.
Shien also narrowed his eyes, a hint of surprise on his face.
“You’re the leader?”
Shien asked directly, his tone laced with doubt.
It couldn’t be helped.
Shien discovered that this demon, protected by four black-robed figures above level eighty with the [Symbiosis] skill, was only level ten.
Yes, level ten.
In other words, this demon was very weak, so weak that he didn’t seem like a member of the Demon Race, which was known for its strength.
The Demon Race had an absolute innate advantage in strength, even surpassing the Divine Race in this aspect.
Even a demon with low talent could grow to a level unattainable by ordinary humans.
When Shien first became an adventurer, the staff at the Adventurers’ Guild had told him that ordinary humans, as long as they had no defects, could reach level ten by adulthood.
Demons, on the other hand, were much stronger than humans. They could usually reach level thirty by adulthood, far surpassing humans.
As for the Divine Race, they didn’t have the concept of adulthood. They were born in their final form, which would never change.
In other words, the Demon Race had the greatest innate advantage among all races. Apart from children who hadn’t reached adulthood, it was almost impossible for a level ten demon to exist.
Now, the demon before Shien was only level ten and looked frail. He must be a good-for-nothing with the lowest talent among demons, right?
Such a person was actually the leader of the Old Demon Faction here?
This made Shien doubt it.
However, although this demon was only level ten, he had learned a skill that surprised Shien.
While Shien was feeling doubtful and surprised, the demon smiled unconcernedly.
“Allow me to introduce myself.”
The demon, like a true nobleman, bowed politely to Shien and spoke elegantly.
“My name is Danas, leader of the Old Demon Faction’s [Mirage].”
—[Mirage].
Was this the name of the Old Demon Faction’s branch here?
As Shien thought this, Danas spoke again.
“I’ve heard of your great name for a long time.” Danas said with a gentle expression. “The adventurer who subjugated the [Assassination Branch], the new generation noble who tamed a dragon, and the one who has connections with a Demon Lord of our Demon Race. Your name is very well-known among the Old Demon Faction.”
“Really?” Shien raised an eyebrow and said jokingly, “Is it the kind of fame where I’m on your hit list because I subjugated your colleagues, and you’re planning to eliminate me sooner or later?”
“Of course not.” Danas chuckled. “Even though we’re all part of the Old Demon Faction, we belong to different branches. Except for cooperation and alliances, the branches of the Old Demon Faction generally don’t interfere with each other, and sometimes even become enemies. Under such circumstances, no branch of the Old Demon Faction would target you because of a declining [Assassination Branch].”
Declining.
Indeed declining.
After the large-scale assassination in the royal capital ten years ago, the [Assassination Branch], which once had over a thousand members and was known as the largest branch of the Old Demon Faction, suffered heavy casualties, with less than one percent of its original size remaining. Lucy had told Shien about this.
The [Assassination Branch] was an Old Demon Faction branch that mainly focused on assassinations. They didn’t have any exceptionally powerful members. Even their leader, Bedo, was only level eighty-four and didn’t have a Unique Skill. If he hadn’t mastered high-level dark magic and mental magic, his leadership position might have been replaced.
Such an Old Demon Faction branch, after its decline, naturally wasn’t taken seriously by other branches of the Old Demon Faction, and no one would go to great lengths for them.
But…
“You seem to be causing me trouble right now.”
Shien said calmly.
Danas quickly shook his head.
“You’re joking. How could I possibly cause you trouble?”
Danas denied it.
Unfortunately, he didn’t know that Shien had already seen through his only learned skill with [Appraisal].
“Do you think I didn’t notice that although your level is low, you’ve already mastered [Bio-Creation Magic] to its maximum level?”
Shien said bluntly.
Not only Danas, but also Oz and Maeve reacted to Shien’s words.
“You’re saying he has the [Bio-Creation Magic] skill? And it’s maxed out?”