In the reporter’s byline, one name was emblazoned: "Finn!"

"!!!" Baron’s brow twitched violently.

It was the same name as the author of the *Finn’s Notes* series he had seen in Mundra and in the Blood Church’s library.

The series was written by a fellow named Finn, and it introduced the local customs, anecdotes, and folklore of Prole.

It spanned a thousand years.

’Is it a coincidence?’ No, Baron felt that "coincidence" wasn’t a simple enough word to describe something like this.

He shifted his gaze to the newspaper’s title: the *Gillian Weekly Guardian*.

The publication’s address was—Steel City!

...

「Steel City. First Hunter Association Headquarters, Vice-Chairman’s Office.」

Chairman Liuxia, hailed as Gillian’s next Elector, stood by his office window, gazing at the tall Statue of the First Emperor in the square. This angle allowed him to appreciate every detail on the statue, from the throne and the sword hilt to the stooped figure before the throne.

He was about thirty years old, dressed in a Hunting Outfit that was far from opulent. His long, white, slightly curly hair was uncombed, draping casually over his shoulders. On his chest hung a custom-made Obsidian Medal.

It symbolized his status as Vice-Chairman of the First Hunter Association, but it also had the function of detecting Demons and Beasts. Furthermore, it was a containment medal, holding the skulls of the many Demons and Beasts he had hunted.

In his right hand, he held a cup of revitalizing coffee. In his left was the copy of the *Gillian Weekly Guardian* his secretary had just brought him, which he hadn’t yet had time to read this week.

This was Liuxia’s daily habit. He liked to keep abreast of goings-on in places other than Steel City.

Like a king overseeing his lands.

He took a sip of coffee and slowly flipped through the news, stopping on a certain page.

His gaze fell upon the headline: "Fude City Hunting Competition, Mysterious Demon Hunter L Makes a Grand Showing!"

’If my memory serves me right, this seems to be the Demon Hunter from Feinan that Stephen mentioned in his message.’

’Possesses the potential for Silver Tier.’

’Defeated opponents above his rank: the Bronze Tier Barbarian Bear Knight Gray, the Sun Knight Gawain... and the Faith Knight Tristan.’

’And he even killed Baron Camberra, one of the sponsors on my path to becoming emperor.’

Liuxia’s gaze lingered for a moment on the black-haired, black-eyed young man in the news photo. He snorted softly. "It seems he does indeed have the skills to be of use to me."

He called for his secretary and handed him the newspaper. "Tell Stephen to pass a message to L. Tell him I require his assistance."

The secretary nodded, jotted it down in his notebook, and left. He never once asked if Liuxia had forgotten to mention anything, such as the terms of the invitation.

Because there was no need. It was enough to simply tell them they were going to help Chairman Liuxia.

In Gillian, for most Demon Hunters, being able to help Chairman Liuxia—one of Gillian’s four great Silver Demon Hunters and the destined Elector—was undoubtedly an honor, as well as a venture with guaranteed returns.

No one would refuse such a task, just as a poor man would not refuse money.

...

「Meanwhile, far from Steel City, in Rose City—the capital of trade and headquarters of the Rose Commerce Association, within the Church Country Haiwede.」

Atop the Tower of Decay, a woman received a wax-sealed letter delivered by a Servant Demon from afar. She opened it and read it in silence.

"Mama, is that a letter from Lady Arilyn? Did she send more tasty treats from the outside? Can we leave this tower soon?"

A little boy, about three or four years old, came up behind the woman, clutching a teddy bear.

The woman lowered the letter and gently stroked the boy’s head.

"It is from Lady Arilyn. She told me that if a certain Ode doesn’t eat and sleep properly, then when she comes to get Mama out of this tall tower, she’ll leave you here all by yourself."

The boy looked aggrieved. "It’s all those adults. They took everything away. I can always hear their wicked laughter in my dreams. It sounds like Demons, and it keeps me from sleeping."

A look of Mercy and heartache appeared on the woman’s flawless, pale face, which remained gentle and bright even under the blazing sun. It made her look like the Holy Mother in a church mural facing her Cultists, both pitiably beautiful and sorrowfully compassionate.

Lady Rose, Flora Von Petrian—the most beautiful woman on the Continent, who had been married to a Baron, a Viscount, and a Count, and was now set to marry the Knight King of the Amel Duchy—gently gathered her son, Ode, into her arms.

She whispered, "Lady Arilyn will come to save us. She told me she has already found an incredible helper. He is about to rise rapidly through the ranks in Gillian and will soon have the Elector’s support..."

"Does that mean the Knight King won’t marry Mama? Can we take Pading to the park to fly kites again...? What’s his name?"

Ode held up his toy bear. Pading was the bear’s name; Flora had commissioned the best teddy bear craftsman in Prole to make it, using all sorts of precious fabrics and gems.

This one little bear could buy an entire doll shop.

Flora stroked Ode’s little face, recalling the letter’s contents. "That gentleman is called L."

...

「City Lord’s Mansion. The evening banquet.」

The moon was bright and the stars were few tonight. Even though many things had happened and many people had died, the atmosphere of the banquet was as lively as ever.

Baron, who had hidden in a corner to avoid the flock of chattering women, let out a sneeze. Just as he was grumbling to himself, ’I wonder if someone’s talking about me,’ he saw Brother Sorrowful Gothic Tristan walk past him with a sorrowful expression.

Baron called out to him, "What’s wrong? You look as pitiful as a stray dog."

Brother Sorrowful sighed. "She said she hates me. I don’t get it. What is it about me that’s so hateable?"

’A little bit of the tortured artist act attracts young girls, but a serious case just attracts psychos. You don’t get that, do you, my friend?’

Baron clapped him on the shoulder and said casually, "So you’re saying she used to like you before this."

Brother Sorrowful froze, thinking that Baron’s words actually made some sense.

Seizing the opportunity, Baron pressed his advantage. "Girls need to be coaxed. If you’re too emo, you get annoyed and so does the girl."

"How do you coax them?"

Brother Sorrowful’s usual emo expression vanished, and he stared at Baron with his full, intense attention.

’Who would have thought? This Demon Hunter, exiled from Feinan by the detested King Feinan, is also a master of romance.’

"Spend money on her."

Baron wasn’t the one who spoke. It was the old lecher Morey, who had emerged from some corner dressed as an Attendant.

Behind him were Maguire and Zod, who had received formal invitations.

Maguire’s eyes lit up when he saw Baron. "L, Lady Arilyn is looking for you. She wants you to go to the conference hall."

’Looking for me? It’s probably about Stephen’s business. But I just ran into Stephen, and he said he’d visit me at the church tonight to discuss me joining the First Hunter Association.’

Baron nodded, patted Brother Sorrowful’s shoulder, and gave his own piece of advice: "If there’s no love, just go buy it."

’If there’s no love, just go buy it?’

The others watched the Demon Hunter’s retreating back thoughtfully. Brother Sorrowful Gothic Tristan sighed.

"Remedios is upset about Miss Triss’s death... I was comforting her, but she threw me out."

"She threw you out for comforting her? I don’t get what’s so great about a woman like that."

Maguire—the simpleton, legendary lipstick king, professional turtle-drawing contestant, and guy who’d spent the whole day sulking outside a brothel—retorted:

"Women like that are just trouble, if you ask me. Nothing like Ruth from my village. Now, let me tell you, she’s a real pro at herding sheep and watching cattle..."

Zod cut Maguire off with a cough and asked casually, "How exactly did you comfort her?"

Brother Sorrowful said, "She said she was very sad..."

The others nodded.

"And I said, ’Don’t be sad. Your sorrowful tears are scars upon my heart...’"

"..." The group fell silent.

After finishing his story, Brother Sorrowful saw that everyone was still silent. Assuming they were savoring the sorrow in his words, he sighed and looked up at the sky.

"The moonlight is darker than usual tonight. Perhaps it’s taking pity on me..."

"Yeah, back in the village, the stars were always really bright," Maguire said. He thought of Ruth. ’I wonder how she’s doing.’

"Where should we go?" Brother Sorrowful said. He felt the banquet was boring without Remedios.

Morey said, "To the brothel to have fun with the prostitutes. Any later and it’ll be closed."

Brother Sorrowful was taken aback. ’Didn’t we go this afternoon?’ he thought. ’I even made one of the prostitutes cry while I was there.’

"I mean, where are we going with our lives?"

"I’m planning to go to the brothel to have fun with the prostitutes tonight. If you want to come, then follow me. It’ll close if we’re too late."

The Blood Loss Knight, Morey, turned and walked away.

The other three exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, and then followed him.