Before the atrocities committed by the demonic worshippers were fully exposed, they remained deeply hidden, meticulously concealing their identities.

The exact origins of their existence remain unknown, but many scholars speculate that they were active even before the Demon War.

After all, if it weren’t for their influence, the Demon War might never have erupted. Such is the legacy of this group, which boasts a disturbingly long history.

Over the course of 3,000 years, interest in demons gradually waned, providing more opportunities for demonic worshippers to act unchecked, allowing their power to grow.

Particularly in the so-called “Four Black Market Staples” — drugs, human trafficking, weapons, and monster byproducts.

Their influence extended throughout the shadows, amassing immense financial power. Wealthy individuals, nobles, and even clergy were sometimes implicated in their dealings.

Take, for instance, the scandal of the corrupt cardinal in Savior, which caused an uproar. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the influence of demonic worshippers reaches every corner of the world.

If Zenon’s Biography hadn’t revealed their existence, a Second Demon War would have likely erupted, plunging the world into even greater chaos than before.

Conversely, this also demonstrates the unimaginable reach and power of the demonic worshippers. Despite their extensive activities, they left behind almost no traceable evidence.

However, that no longer matters. Since the corrupt cardinal in Savior received “divine punishment,” a full-fledged war against the demonic worshippers has commenced.

At the same time, they’ve been targeting Isaac, the root cause of all these events, but have yet to succeed in any of their attempts.

Thus, the demonic worshippers have opted for a different approach: if they can’t target the head, they’ll aim to sever the limbs and render him powerless.

Regardless of whether it was due to a prophecy or mere coincidence, their goal was clear — to completely cut off the dissemination of Zenon’s Biography.

The first target in their plan was the printing press in the Duchy of Bellua.

“This place is a total wreck.”
“No kidding.”

A man and a woman stood before a completely destroyed building, casually chatting as they surveyed the scene.

The man’s tanned skin hinted at a life spent under the harsh sun, while the visible scars and defined muscles on his arms left a strong impression.

The woman, sporting a short haircut, had a deep scar etched across her cheek, evidence of her own share of hardships, though perhaps not as intense as the man’s.

Both had fairly decent appearances, and a common feature was the pendant hanging around their necks.

Shimmering in the sunlight, the golden pendants marked them as adventurers.

“They said it was a suicide bombing by a demonic worshipper, right? I wonder what measures they’ll take now.”

The woman crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the reconstruction efforts of the building. Her voice carried a hint of unease.

The man nodded in agreement, sharing her concern. It was an entirely reasonable worry, given the circumstances.

The building being rebuilt was none other than the printing press.

Specifically, the one Musk had invested a fortune in to exclusively produce Zenon’s Biography.

Currently, it lay in complete ruin due to a suicide bombing by a demonic worshipper. Two employees had lost their lives, and three others were seriously injured.

“Maybe the country will step in, like with the mint. If not, the church might send in holy knights for protection.”
“That won’t be enough. Some demonic worshippers are known to include demons among their ranks. They might attack from a distance using magic. Even this bombing is suspected to be the act of a lone individual rather than a group.”

The woman’s reasoning was sound, and the man nodded in agreement. The demonic worshippers were a malevolent group with global influence.

Naturally, their organizational structure was cell-based, and aside from top-ranking leaders like the corrupt cardinal, most members were little more than pawns.

Even with Savior’s official declaration of a holy war, it wasn’t easy to catch an organization that had left no traces for over a thousand years.

Without Zenon’s Biography, the world wouldn’t have even recognized their existence, which speaks to the meticulous nature of their group.

“And this is just the beginning. Soon, printing presses across the world will be destroyed. Bellua was targeted first because of its strategic location.”
“Sometimes, you’re surprisingly smart.”
“No, you’re just dumb. Even reading a bit of the news would make this obvious.”

The woman sharply criticized the man, who scratched his head sheepishly in response. She glanced at him and offered a begrudging compliment.

“Well, that attitude probably helped you get what you wanted.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know, that thing.”

The woman hinted at something indirectly, avoiding saying it outright. She glanced around cautiously, as if worried about being overheard.

The man, initially puzzled, caught on to her meaning after noticing her behavior.

“Oh, you mean the autograph? The one I got from Zenon?”
“Shh! Quiet! What if someone hears you?”

The woman’s frantic reaction contrasted with the man’s carefree response.

Indeed, the man was none other than the adventurer who had broken through Isaac’s security at the academy to get his autograph.

It had been a life-threatening gamble, one that could have ended disastrously if Isaac hadn’t cooperated.

Fortunately, he succeeded in obtaining the autograph and was now enjoying a relaxed life as an adventurer.

“So what? Let them try to take it. I’ll just deal with them all.”
“Ugh… You have no idea how much trouble that caused us.”

The woman shook her head, clearly exasperated. Since rumors had spread, countless people had tried to claim the autograph.

Pickpockets had targeted the man in the streets, and inns proved even more dangerous during his stays.

At one point, a stranger outright challenged him to a fight, hoping to take the autograph by force.

Had the man not been a skilled adventurer, the autograph would have been lost long ago.

‘We can’t exactly auction it off either…’

The woman sighed deeply as she watched the man, who seemed entirely pleased with himself.

Truth be told, she was incredibly jealous. She was a huge fan of Zenon’s Biography herself.

But robbing him was out of the question. The autograph’s value was far too great, and such an act would be unforgivable.

If it were put up for auction, nobles and wealthy individuals would swarm like ants. However, the man had no intention of doing so.

It wasn’t out of respect for Zenon (Isaac), but to prevent the inevitable bloodshed such an auction would incite.

“Let’s just head back to the guild. There’s no point staying here if no new commissions are coming in.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”

The two adventurers stopped watching the reconstruction efforts and began making their way back to the guild.

Their guild was one of many established in the capitals and major cities of various nations.

Bellua was no exception. The duchy was a hotspot for diverse commissions, ranging from merchant escorts to high-stakes missions.

Naturally, this made the guilds and mercenary forces prominent in the region, drawing in countless people.

“Murmur, murmur…”

“Huh? What’s going on?”
“There’s a huge crowd over there.”

 

On their way back to the guild, the man and woman’s attention was drawn to a peculiar sight.

A large crowd had gathered unnaturally in one area, packed so tightly it was difficult to make sense of the commotion.

Familiar with the Duchy of Bellua, they quickly realized what lay at the center of the gathering.

It was a large noticeboard installed by the state, placed to ensure everyone could see official announcements issued by the nation or the church.

The noticeboard was now swarming with people, packed so tightly it was impossible to approach.

“What’s going on?”
“Looks like a new announcement was posted. Let’s check it out.”

The woman, naturally attuned to political developments, led the man toward the noticeboard.

There were so many people gathered that they could only observe from a distance, but the woman had just the tool for situations like this.

Though somewhat expensive, it was one of the most useful items she owned. She reached into her bag and pulled it out.

It was none other than a telescope, typically used in military operations or theaters. The craftsmanship required to produce it made it prohibitively expensive.

Still, its utility made it an indispensable part of her kit.

“Roy, give me a lift.”
“Got it.”

Without hesitation, the man—whose name was Roy—hoisted the woman onto his shoulders. From her new vantage point, she raised the telescope to her eyes and scanned the noticeboard.

“Let’s see… Hmm…”

While the woman scrutinized the noticeboard through her telescope, Roy glanced around.

It wasn’t unusual for people to gather when the state issued an announcement, often concerning tax changes or policies. Such matters naturally drew public attention.

But the sheer size of this crowd was anything but normal. Typically, people would glance at the notice and leave. The fact that so many lingered suggested something extraordinary.

Though Roy was in his twenties, his wealth of experience allowed him to draw such conclusions.

“...Huh?”

The woman, apparently finished reading, let out a surprised sound. Her expression betrayed her astonishment.

She repeatedly looked through the telescope, as if unable to believe what she had seen.

“Wow… This guy really means business.”
“What’s written on it?”

Roy’s question prompted the woman—Ann—to climb down from his shoulders. She carefully stowed the telescope back into her bag before explaining.

“It’s hard to believe, but it seems Zenon is furious about the recent events. He’s determined to put an end to the demonic worshippers for good.”
“Just tell me what it says. You know I hate suspense.”
“Impatient as always. It’s not an official notice from the Duchy of Bellua. It’s a letter from Zenon.”
“A letter?”

Roy blinked, surprised. A letter from Zenon, posted on a public noticeboard?

Though it was hard to grasp at first, reflecting on Zenon’s immense influence made it somewhat easier to believe. The real question, however, was its content.

If it was important enough to be displayed on a noticeboard, it must have caused a significant stir.

As Roy’s expression grew serious, Ann nodded, confirming his suspicions.

“That’s right. It seems the news about the bombing has reached Zenon, and he’s decided to act.”
“Does that mean…”
“I’m not entirely sure, but according to the letter, anyone who contributes significantly to eradicating the demonic worshippers will have the opportunity to meet with Zenon in person to express their gratitude.”
“W-What? Did I hear that right?”

The mention of a personal audience with Zenon caused Roy to exclaim loudly, seeking confirmation.

For someone who had risked their life just to get an autograph, the idea of a personal meeting was almost inconceivable.

Ann nodded again, her own excitement evident. She, too, was an avid fan of Zenon’s Biography, and her heart began to race.

Like Roy, her love for Zenon’s Biography had been the starting point of their friendship. They had met as fans of the series, back when only the first volume had been released.

“You heard me right. The person who makes the greatest contribution to defeating the demonic worshippers will be granted an audience. Of course, if they don’t want a meeting, they can request something else, likely with state or church support.”
“T-Then we need to…”
“Hold on. Zenon made it clear he doesn’t want innocent casualties. If even one innocent life is lost, the offer is void. So we need to be cautious—”

Ann was trying to calm Roy and emphasize caution when a sudden shout from the noticeboard drew everyone’s attention.

“Did they really think this would scare us?!”
“Huh?”
“What’s going on?”

Rip!

Someone roughly tore down the letter (or rather, its copy) from the noticeboard.

The unexpected action startled the crowd, but what came next left no room for doubt.

“For the Father of All! We shall never fall!”
“Who the hell is this guy?!”
“A demonic worshipper!”
“Get him! Take him down first!”

Chaos erupted in an instant as the crowd swarmed the presumed demonic worshipper, bringing him down.

Watching the scene unfold, Ann realized that the real conflict had begun. This incident would undoubtedly send shockwaves across the world.

Calmly speaking, the chance to meet Zenon personally seemed slim, but the incentive to hunt demonic worshippers was a monumental achievement in itself.

“It’s really starting, isn’t it? For now, we should leave this alone and focus on— Wait, where is he?”

Ann paused mid-sentence, suddenly realizing that Roy was nowhere to be seen.

Panicking slightly, she scanned the crowd until her eyes landed on a familiar figure.

“Move aside! I’m taking this guy in!”
“Who the hell are you?! I got to him first!”
“Have you no shame?!”

It was Roy, shoving people aside as he attempted to drag the demonic worshipper away.

“...”

Unable to acknowledge him as her companion in such a situation, Ann covered her face with one hand in exasperation.