The messenger sent by Acerus brought Lara to the castle.
"The saintess is here."
"Bring her in!"
Acerus jumped from his seat and greeted Lara. Like someone who got caught gossipping, the aide could not make eye contact with her and left the room with an awkward smile.
Lara came inside and sat opposite Acerus, she said.
"You said you had something to say, right?"
"Yes, I was thinking of contacting Demian."
"Is it urgent?"
"It's important."
Lara nodded and took out the long-distance magic receiver she was wearing around her neck and calmly cast a long spell. A red light emanated from the diamond embedded in the middle of the necklace.
Acerus had already used Lara's receiver once, but his eyes were still filled with deep curiosity and admiration. At that moment, he became more curious about the identity of the alchemist that Lara had.
"Has Valac given you some useful information?"
While waiting for Demian's answer, Lara asked. Acerus asked her how she knew and told her what Valac said.
"When I talked about the eastern border, he said he didn't know. But after knowing the characteristics of the Eastern Union and the demon worshippers who appeared there, he told me his speculations about this and that."
"What did he say?"
"If it was a hot-headed demon, Valac was sure a city would have already been turned into a wasteland by now. But seeing how this demon had only been growing his power rather than actually using it, he seems to be a sneaky and gullible demon."
"Valac must know him."
Lara smirked. Acerus also smiled after her. Then, Demian's voice came out of the necklace.
『Lara?』
"It's me, Acerus!"
When the impatient Acerus spoke first out of joy, Demian muttered a swear word.
『Damn it.』
"You son of… If you think I can't say anything because I'm in front of the saintess… you're right… But still, you scoundrel! You don't have much left for me to let you off."
『Around 80 times?』
"Less than that!"
『I still have a long way to go.』
Demian's voice was a little excited, it did not sound like he was drunk nor was it because he was in a good mood. Acerus did not notice it at all but Lara noticed that he was a little excited.
Lara spoke.
"Where are you now? Have you arrived at the border?"
『Not yet. We were attacked on the way there…』
"What? You were attacked? How did they know where you were passing by? Was there an information leak? Huh? Say something!"
『Shut up. How do you expect me to speak when you're talking this much?』
Acerus was flustered.
After his rebuke toward Acerus, Demian said to Lara.
『All the demon worshippers were killed, but the black sorcerers ran away so we're chasing after them. According to what we checked on the way… They have been focusing their attacks on remote farmhouses. Because the residents don't even know how to send a messenger or use a carrier pigeon.』
"What will they get from attacking a farmhouse?"
『They'll capture people and brainwash them with hallucinations. The grain in the warehouse will be used for food. And occasionally, livestock will be offered as sacrifices to hold rituals.』
"What ritual?"
『The ritual where the demons lend their powers to the black sorcerers.』
For the demons to use their powers would cause the Gods to intervene. To avoid that, they would use the expedient they came up with. Just as Abraxas exerted his influence through Lara, the demons lent powers to those who performed rituals by offering sacrifices.
Lara blinked her eyes.
"Are you okay?"
『Don't worry about me.』
Perhaps because of the influence of the subsequent battles, Demian sounded out of breath.
『By the way, Acerus, what are you two doing at this late hour?』
Demian asked. Finally getting the right to speak, Acerus spoke solemnly.
"Look closely at the black sorcerers. The spells they cast over and over again, or the symbol they use for rituals… Look at that."
『Why?』
"Valac will tell us what demon is there. It's good to know his weaknesses or have countermeasures."
『I can just kill him.』
"Oi! You may be able to do that, but it's not the same for us. At least do it for others!"
『A skull covering its eyes.』
"What?"
『It is a symbol of a skull covering its eyes.』
Even though Demian begrudgingly spoke as if it was troublesome, the demon's symbol was a very important clue. Acerus jumped up and looked at Lara. She held the necklace and told Demian.
"I will get back to you."
『Be careful.』
After contacting Demian, Lara got up, following Acerus.
"Let's go."
"Pardon? Where to?"
"You're going to Valac, right? I will interrogate him."
"You can't!"
Acerus blocked the door with his body. Then, with a desperate heart, he told Lara.
"No matter how much of a brat he is, he's still a demon. It's dangerous. If you could just stay here, I will go and find out by myself."
"I'm fine."
"Didn't you hear Demian's voice? He was growling with his violent temper because I'm bothering you late at night. Please save me."
"Crown Prince Acerus."
"No matter how much you're loved by God, I can't let you face the demon."
"I told you, I'm fine."
"Saintess!"
Although Acerus was restraining Valac, there was still a possibility that he would harm Lara. In addition, thinking that if he put Lara in danger and would later be retaliated by Demian, Acerus intended not to let Lara encounter not only Valac but also his shadow.
However, Lara also had no intention of stepping back. For her, this was over-protective. Lara let out a light sigh and reached out one hand in front of Acerus.
"Come out."
Fwoosh.
It was the sound of fierce flames blooming on Lara's palm. The small flame quickly stretched out and stood like a human, making arms, legs, and a face. It was the giant of fire.
"Oh my God!"
"That's right. God gave it to me."
"May… May I ask what is this?"
"It's the giant of fire that God gave me. It has the power to burn the demon away."
"Whoo, whoo…"
Acerus breathed heavily like someone with heart trouble. At the same time, he continued to look at the giant of fire.
"With all due respect… Can I touch it once?"
Because of its high heat, Lara was about to say that no one could touch it but herself. However, the giant of fire, who was showing off its dignified posture on her palm, suddenly raised the flame and became angry.
"It said not to touch it."
"Hoo… My apologies."
"Don't be upset. Other people can't touch it either.":
"It's okay."
Even on the way to Valac's room, Acerus muttered.
"As expected of my saintess. I can die peacefully now that I have seen a miracle in front of my eyes."
Lara turned her head as if she had not heard him. The giant of fire kept secretly reaching out to Acerus as if it wanted to burn his hair.
"This is his room."
Acerus stood in front of Valac's room.
"My apologies. I apologize in advance."
"Pardon?"
Without giving Acerus the time to prepare himself, Lara grabbed the doorknob and turned it at once.
Valac, who had been laying around, jumped up from the bed. When he saw Lara opening the door without knocking, he thought for a moment about how to react. He did not know whether to rely on Prince Sidhar's memory or to treat Lara as a saintess as seen and heard.
However, Valac did not even have to worry about that. Lara talked to him first as soon as she entered the room.
"You said you'd help with anything, right?"
"What?"
"There is a group of demon worshippers led by the black sorcerers at the border with the Eastern Union. They will drive a wedge between the Tarragon Empire and the Union in order to wage war."
"What?"
"They're using the symbol of a skull covering its eyes. Tell me who that is."
"Hah! Why should I listen to orders from a mere saintess? Get the f**k out before I rip off your good-for-nothing head and drink all the blood from your body…"
Valac was furious and approached Lara to threaten her. His eyes turned red and his fierce-looking teeth turned like a beast. As if he would rush to Lara and gnaw away her flesh right away, he lowered his posture and showed his violent temper.
Lara was not afraid. She just spoke indifferently to the giant of fire that was sitting on her shoulder.
"That ridiculous demon is threatening me. Burn him down medium rare."
Fwoooshh!
Explosive heat poured out of the small giant's body. Even after being surprised by Valac's aggressive behavior, Acerus could not come close due to the enormous heat.
All the furniture in Valac's room quickly turned into ash, and the chandelier over his head melted and flowed down like water. Everything else was fine, but only Valac and the things around him were damaged.
"Aaaarrggghhh!"
Valac could not believe it. It was painful. It was not a normal fire, it was not even a fire made with magic.
The body he took belonged to a human. Should the human body he inhabited be burnt, his soul as a demon should not be affected. However, this was different. It was a terrible fire that seemed to wholly burn the soul.
"Stop! Stop! Please stop!
Lara ordered Valac, who was struggling with pain.
"Then, make an oath of obedience."
She walked in with an indifferent face. On her shoulders, the giant of fire was smiling arrogantly.