Chapter 27: Chapter 24: Divine Punishment Fire

An attendant relayed Yalilan’s order. The Demon Hunters plunged their torches into the earth, their previously flippant, cynical expressions instantly hardening.

They formed ranks of three, hands resting on their sword hilts as they coldly scanned their surroundings. As their Alchemy Circuits activated, their pupils began to glow with a leaf-green light, making them look like a pack of wolves in the night.

Baron knew this wasn’t because all the Demon Hunters were Bronze rank. It was the effect of the [Hunter’s Eye], an ability granted to Silver Faction Demon Hunters after they pass the Magic Potion Trial to advance to the Black Iron Tier.

Unlike the Beast Faction, which relied on Branding and Beastification to fight, Silver Faction Demon Hunters focused more on developing the [Self]. Their battles with Demon Fiends relied mainly on combat skills and the Alchemy Weapons in their hands.

Therefore, the [Hunter’s Eye] functioned more as a support ability. For instance, the Black Iron Tier granted Night Vision and Spiritual Perception, the Bronze Tier provided Execution Intuition, and then came the rumored [Future Prediction] of the Silver Tier.

Baron didn’t know what came after that, at the Gold Tier. According to a book from the Bagins Clinic titled *Comprehensive Guide to Professional Laws*, there weren’t enough Gold-ranked individuals in all of Britain to count on two hands.

As for the Prole Continent where Baron currently was, he wasn’t sure why the Demon Hunters here were so similar to those on the Inner Side, but he guessed the number of Golden Tier individuals was probably about the same.

The villagers were frightened into silence by the Demon Hunters’ actions, their faces a mask of shock and terror.

As if to muster their courage, they mimicked the Demon Hunters, trying to plunge their own torches into the ground... but the torches quickly toppled over and went out. Only those held by a few of the stronger youths remained, stuck crookedly in the earth.

One of the Demon Hunters couldn’t suppress a laugh.

The Demon Hunters, who spent their years fighting Demons, were far superior in both physical prowess and combat skill to these farmers, who knew nothing but herding livestock and tilling the land.

Even for a simple act like plunging a torch into earth compacted by wagon wheels, the sweat and blood they had shed to gain that strength was no less than any farmer’s—and likely much more.

The rest of the Demon Hunters joined in, their booming laughter filling the air. A boisterous mood spread through the ranks.

Zod and Maguire didn’t laugh. Zod, an old drunkard, plunged his torch into the ground and immediately started drinking. Baron suspected the man’s entire pack was filled with iron flasks.

Maguire, however, lowered his voice and grumbled, "What’s so funny? Don’t we all live on a knife’s edge? If it weren’t for farmers, starvation would kill more Demon Hunters than Demon Fiends and war combined..."

’Whoa, this kid’s got his head screwed on right.’

Baron couldn’t help but take another look at Maguire with his thick brows and wide eyes. ’On a continent like this, which feels like the Dark Ages, it’s impressive for a young man to have such a conscience,’ he thought.

After a short while, a sudden commotion erupted up ahead. A moment of silence was followed by the terrified cries of the village chief and the villagers:

"Divine Punishment Fire! It’s the Divine Punishment Fire! There are so many of them! God is truly enraged...!"

The Demon Hunters looked over. Sure enough, in the dark forest behind the altar, clusters of eerie blue flames were drifting into the air.

From a distance, they looked like the eyes of Demons in the darkness.

’Divine Punishment Fire...’ Baron stared at the swarm of Blue Fire weaving through the forest...

’This so-called Divine Punishment Fire... why does it look so familiar?’ A bold guess formed in his mind, and his expression turned peculiar.

Yalilan wasted no time, waving her hand. "Into the forest! Each plume of Divine Punishment Fire is worth one Silver Prole Coin."

Prole Coins were the recognized and circulated currency across all nations of the Prole Continent, their status equivalent to the USD of another world. Furthermore, they used a sensible decimal system.

It was a stark contrast to a certain country that, despite being on the cusp of the 21st century, was still using an infuriating system where one pound was twenty shillings, and one shilling was twelve pence.

In this world, an ordinary farmer’s annual income was only ten or twenty Prole Silver Coins, so Yalilan’s reward was incredibly generous.

Hearing Yalilan’s offer, even some of the villagers’ faces showed a flicker of temptation.

To say nothing of this band of money-obsessed Bounty Hunters.

One Demon Hunter squad after another dove into the forest like wild wolves. Baron’s squad was not among them, as Andre had specifically ordered them to "stay behind"—not only to watch the horses, but also to prevent the villagers from turning violent.

Baron, Zod, and Maguire glanced at the surrounding villagers, whose fierce gazes were clearly filled with malice. They figured that if a riot did break out, the three of them would be instantly swallowed by the human tide.

The excited roars of Demon Hunters extinguishing the flames echoed from the forest. Among the villagers, someone muttered, "I wonder if I’d get paid if I took one out..."

Temptation flickered in the other villagers’ eyes as well, but a glance at the stooped, black-robed figure on the altar kept their ambitions in check.

Zod took a sip of his drink. "L, you owe me a Silver Coin."

"Me too," Maguire said sullenly.

Although their banter in the carriage, coupled with Baron’s feat of instantly taking down the thug, had earned him their initial trust, hearing the clinking of Silver Coins filling everyone else’s pockets... well, to be honest, they were still a little jealous.

Baron merely smiled without a word. ’If only I had some money...’ His hand subconsciously reached into the pocket of his Hunting Outfit and closed around something. He glanced down...

Silently, Baron tucked the twenty-odd Gold Coins into his Gentiana Pattern Ring.

’He didn’t know where these Gold Coins came from yet, but finders, keepers.’

Soon, the Hunters had dealt with all the Divine Punishment Fire in the forest. Back at the foot of the altar, Yalilan addressed the village chief above her.

"The divine flames are extinguished. If any divine punishment is to come, it will fall upon us—the ones who put them out."

"Now, release the girl from the cross."

The village chief remained silent, finally letting out a long sigh.

At this point, he knew he should keep his promise.

Moreover, he was dealing with a Viscount recognized by the Empire. To break his word would be tantamount to declaring war.

But just as he was about to give the order, a sudden, sharp uproar erupted from the crowd below.

They cried out, they screamed, they roared in fury.

In the forest, specks of blue fire appeared again, drifting like fireflies.

"Look, the Divine Punishment Fire... it has returned! Lady Viscount, you see now, don’t you? As long as God’s wrath is not appeased, these flames will eventually reignite!"

The village chief yelled with manic excitement. Startled awake by his words, the girl on the cross opened her eyes. Seeing her predicament, she burst into loud sobs.

Her cries made the younger Demon Hunters burn with anxiety. The older Hunters... the older Hunters just sighed. After so many years of hunting Demon Fiends, they understood that the demons lurking in the human heart were the most difficult to purge.

"Only by killing her! Only killing her will appease God’s wrath!"

The village chief cried out, and the villagers responded, raising sickles, shovels, and pitchforks. Under the twin moons, the sharp weapons blurred into a metallic fire.

"No! Sessi!"

The previously silent Olivia let out a heart-wrenching howl, like a frantic she-wolf trying to protect her cub.

She cried out the name of her revered God, desperately reaching for the cross, but Yalilan had her men seize her by the waist and pull her back. With the crowd so agitated, the Little Nun would be cut down by their merciless weapons in an instant.

Yalilan slowly drew the Silver Sword from her waist and instructed her attendant, "Tell them I have only one order: don’t kill anyone."

A glint of silver flashed as the Demon Hunters also drew their blades. Their muscles bulged as Alchemy Circuits surfaced on their skin. The Command Spells on the backs of their hands began to glow as they infused them with Spiritual Power.

And, uniformly, their pupils glowed emerald green.

Both Zod and Maguire activated the [Hunter’s Eye] unique to Silver Faction Demon Hunters, but then they noticed that Baron, standing beside them, had been silent this whole time.

He hadn’t drawn his sword, nor had his eyes lit up.

Instead, he was silently watching the Divine Punishment Fire floating in the forest, like a stone statue.

"L?"

Maguire sounded confused. Zod also watched Baron with curiosity, unable to figure out what tricks this mysterious kid from Feinan was up to.

Andre, who had been keeping an eye on Baron, seized the opportunity to call out, "Feinan! Why aren’t your eyes glowing?"

He barked at Baron, "Don’t tell me you think Lady Yalilan’s bounty is just some cushy job where you can slack off!"

"Trying to be a deserter, are you... Just as expected of a Feinan..."

"I could tell there was something strange about him from the start. He doesn’t even have a Command Spell on the back of his hand... What kind of Demon Hunter is he!"

"Maybe he’s from the Beast Faction..."

"What Beast Faction? He hasn’t used Beastification by now. He’s obviously just here for the deposit! His true colors are finally showing!"

The Demon Hunters weren’t whispering among themselves; they were discussing it openly. Their words reached Yalilan’s ears, causing her to frown.

’Could this Feinan Hunter really just be here for a free ride?’

She wanted to turn and look, but in the end, she only tightened her grip on her sword.

’I can’t deal with that right now,’ she thought. ’The priority is to rescue the girl these villagers are using as a sacrifice.’

Cyan Alchemy Circuits surfaced on her gorgeous face. A smooth layer of Mithril began to coat her hand, starting from the wrist, until it covered her Longsword as well.

This was the [Secret Silver Hand], an ability unique to Bronze Rank Silver Demon Hunters, capable of repelling all Witchcraft, Magic, Gunpowder, and potent poisons.

It was as hard as a piece of raw Obsidian.

But just then, a voice from behind made her freeze. Every Demon Hunter with a drawn sword, along with the villagers and the chief on the altar, turned to look at where the voice had come from.

There stood the black-haired, dark-eyed Hunter, gazing toward the divine flames and murmuring to himself, "I see now."

"L..." Maguire tugged at his sleeve. "What the hell are you doing?"

"What have you figured out?"

Before Andre could speak, it was Yalilan herself who asked.

"I know what the Divine Punishment Fire really is."

Baron gently shook off Maguire’s tug, a faint smile on his lips.