Chapter 10: Taking Action

When Via spoke these words, everyone present was wondering if this girl was joking.

The girl in front of them showed no trace of aggression; her eyes were gentle, lacking the oppressive aura one would expect from a Demon Lord.

Yet, the patrons in the tavern instinctively tightened their grip on their weapons.

Several Inquisitors quietly shifted their positions toward the windows and doors, sealing all possible exits in advance.

But no one openly responded to the girl’s words—or rather, very few dared to confirm that this seemingly fragile girl was indeed the legendary Demon Lord.

“Ladies, do you even know what you’re saying?”

The tavern owner pondered for a moment before speaking.

He was unaware of Via’s true identity, but since she claimed the title, he naturally prepared for anything. Moreover, the elite Paladins and Inquisitors in the room were already battle-ready.

“Of course I know what I’m saying. Right now, I’m standing here, giving you a moment—permission, even—to attack me.”

Via smiled and crossed her arms, clearly unfazed by their reactions.

“Then, Demon Lord of the Demon Clan, why have you come to this small tavern? If you truly are the Demon Lord, you should understand that appearing here now means you’re completely surrounded by the human army.”

The lead Paladin lowered his voice as he asked.

Up until this point, most still treated this as some young noblewoman’s reckless game.

But when Via shed her disguise and revealed her true form, the sound of swords being drawn echoed through the room.

Via smiled.

Ever since her rebirth, she had shown signs of abnormality.

She had been eagerly waiting to witness the panic on their faces when they confronted her.

“You betrayed the Saintess, didn’t you? Everyone here knows better than most why the Saintess was rejected. If you only want to ease your guilt, there’s no need to deceive yourselves like this. Am I right?”

Via looked around at several people inside the tavern.

According to Cecilia’s account, Via knew who the traitors were.

Among the Paladins and Inquisitors aware of the siege against Cecilia, most understood why the church drove the Saintess away.

Yet, these very individuals who once swore loyalty to the Saintess ultimately betrayed their own hearts, allowing the Saintess to be persecuted and even leading troops to hunt her down.

Via was well aware that given the church’s intensity in pursuing Cecilia, if her combat strength had been any weaker, she would have been cut down by the chaos of blades.

“I say, Saintess, you don’t mind if I deal with the traitors in my own way, do you?”

Via deliberately posed the question.

Everyone’s attention immediately shifted to Cecilia, who had entered with the succubus.

Under her disguise, no one had recognized the former Saintess at first.

Now, with her mask off, Cecilia no longer carried the distinct aura that marked her as the Saintess.

Yet the moment her face was revealed, her delicate features convinced everyone present that this was indeed the former Saintess.

The room fell into a hushed stillness, their breathing slowing.

Many among them fully understood that it was their relentless pursuit that forced the Saintess to seek refuge with the last hope—the Demon Clan.

Now, facing the Saintess before them, they felt some measure of guilt.

“Cecilia is no longer one of us. The moment she was expelled from the church, she became a full member of the Demon Clan.”

One Paladin said.

“No longer one of your kind? You’re right.”

Via smiled as she sat beside the man, then regarded him thoughtfully.

“Sadly, she was once one of you—but you abandoned her. Now, I will grant her the joy of vengeance.”

As she spoke, her form suddenly became intangible.

Just as her body grew ethereal, a sharp blade pierced through her.

Such a wound would be fatal to anyone else, yet no blood appeared.

Via’s figure slowly dissolved, and only then did everyone realize that the Demon Lord had already prepared a countermeasure.

A slash came just in time, deflecting a Paladin’s sword.

At the same time, it left a fresh wound on the chest of another Paladin caught off guard.

The room instantly descended into chaos.

The Paladins launched their attack toward Cecilia’s position.

Clearly, Cecilia’s actions proved their strategy was severely flawed.

Even a regular believer knew the Saintess was a formidable fighter.

Yet, when facing the Demon Lord as an enemy, everyone instinctively focused on the Saintess as their primary target.

In their minds, the Saintess had always been one of their own.

And “one of their own” always gave the illusion of being easier to deal with than the enemy.

In an instant, the storm of blades turned the tavern into a mess.

Cecilia breathed steadily, her iron sword feeling as familiar as the ancient Holy Sword itself.

She swung her blade relentlessly, suppressing several Paladins on the opposite side.

A Paladin charged directly at Via, swinging his heavy sword, but Via did not face him head-on.

Instead, she raised her hand and caught the blade itself.

In an instant, countless cracks appeared along the sword’s edge.

The Holy Sword, said to be capable of cutting through any demon, became fragile under her assault.

The church’s swords were all sanctified and blessed weapons, theoretically dealing far greater damage to demons than ordinary weapons.

But the problem was, once demons had the ability to resist or counteract the Holy Sword’s effects, sheer strength would always favor demons.

Via was exactly that kind of person.

“Surprised? You may never understand that if the Saintess truly wanted to kill you, she could destroy the weapon in your hands just as I have. The only reason she hasn’t is because she still holds the last shred of mercy for you.”

“You should have understood and supported her.”

Via’s words were directed at the halted soldier.

Among the Paladins, there were still some who were honest and rational, but they chose silence.

Outside, terrified screams and chaos came from the road.

Everyone knew what was happening.

The Demon Lord and the Saintess—these two had not arrived here alone.

The Demon Clan’s army was surely nearby, waiting for the right moment to strike.