Chapter 290: Power Inflation (8)

Inflation.

Currency expansion. The phenomenon where the value of money decreases due to an excessive increase in its quantity.

* * *

Balloons simultaneously rose in major central locations, including the imperial capital, Venetior. These large balloons ascended towards the sky on a particular day and time, only to burst soon after, either due to pressure differences or other external factors. The contents inside the balloons spilled to the ground, revealing bills, gold coins, and other forms of ‘money.’

As a vast amount of money flooded the imperial capital, citizens began to distrust it.

“Ugh, money. Let’s stick to bartering.”

“How do we know if these gold coins are real or fake? No deposits for a while.”

“Oh, thought it was good to get a money shower, but this isn’t good at all.”

“We’ll use bills as firewood and gold coins as weights, I guess.”

“Is our country going to ruin like this?”

Hoarding of groceries occurred, and nobody was willing to exchange essentials for money. Amidst this enormous chaos, two gazes observed from a high tower.

“…Is it okay for the head of the Imperial mint to let this happen?”

CindiWendy, the golden-haired beauty, directed an intrigued gaze towards a middle-aged man with brown hair standing beside her. He was Damian, the head of the imperial mint.

The two observed the money scattered throughout Venetior from the high tower. A massive amount of counterfeit currency, indistinguishable to the naked eye, was crafted meticulously by Damian.

CindiWendy, the logistics distribution expert, was responsible for circulating and distributing this counterfeit currency across the empire.

Damian spoke quietly.

“If I’m digging a grave, I should dig two. One for my brother and one for myself.”

“Good attitude. Have you sharpened the sword for a long time?”

“I’ve harbored a revenge motive in my family for a long time. I never thought I’d fulfill it with someone else’s help.”

“…I can empathize; I’m in a similar situation.”

CindiWendy and Damian, both with targets for revenge, joined forces with Night Hound like night-time hunters.

“Both of us have joined forces with a formidable man.”

They shared quite similar opinions.

Thud-thud-thud—whirrrr—

The downpour of gold coins in the distance, the gusts of wind carrying banknotes. Damian furrowed his brow as he felt the light drizzle of falling gold coins.

“Counterfeit gold coins look almost identical on the surface but are noticeably lighter since they’re cast with fake metal. Even if they hit you when falling from a height, it won’t hurt much. You can easily tell by holding them in your hand. Well, if they get mixed in with the real ones, it might be challenging to distinguish.”

“As for bills? Bills are originally lightweight. They look the same on the surface, too.”

“The counterfeit bills and coins are both dyed with magical ink, so they will naturally lose their color after only two hours. I don’t intend to create prolonged chaos in the economy.”

Damian’s words were accurate. The counterfeit currency being scattered in Venetior would turn into trash on its own after two hours. However, at least during those two hours, the empire’s economy would be in disarray. The distrust towards the inflating currency would lead citizens to focus on tangible goods rather than ‘money,’ naturally diminishing greed and desire for money.

CindiWendy asked, “But why does reducing the value of currency to almost zero in just two hours matter?”

“Two hours. It’s enough time to sway the fate of a world. Of course, it might be challenging for ordinary folks like us.”

Damian stroked his chin and answered with a subdued voice, “There are some extraordinary individuals risking their lives and fighting at this very moment.”

* * *

Belial was astounded.

[T-This can’t be! Why is the recovery slowing down more and more!]

No matter how much money he absorbed, his health wasn’t recovering. Money, human greed, the value bestowed by it—all seemed to have a problem in the cycle.

[Humans can’t resist the temptation of money, can they? Their greed is endless! But why…!]

Belial seemed confused. There had never been anything money couldn’t achieve until now.

However,

“Gold isn’t omnipotent.”

Vikir took a step forward and spoke. The following phrase, ‘at least for two hours,’ was omitted.

Time was running out until the vault would open. During this time, the numerous treasures inside would gradually lose their value.

‘With the empire full of distrust in currency, the world has entered an era of barter.’

The piles of money stacked here would be meaningless. Of course, it would be a short-lived hiccup, but for Vikir, it held significant meaning.

…Flash!

The eight fangs of Baskerville mercilessly pierced through Belial’s entire body.

Dolores continually sent buffs behind Vikir’s back.

“A Rune Disciple is the free master of all things and is bound by no one! (Lunianus homo omnium dominus est liberrismus, nulli subiectus.) A Rune Disciple is entirely faithful to all beings and is subject to everyone! (Lunianus homo omnium servus est offciosissimus, omnibus subiectus)”

The souls of two men and women who had lived different lives resonated with each other.

Vikir unleashed the full power of a Swordmaster without reservation.

Baskerville 8th Style. The aura of a Mid-Tier Swordmaster, rapidly rotated and cut everything it touched.

The iron body. The superhuman spirit.

A body tempered to the extreme, loaded like a tight bowstring.

Muscle fibers throughout the body seemed to protrude like thorns, ready to tear through the skin.

The pupil, sharpened to catch the focal point of the ultimate strike, gleamed sharply. The sharp and dense aura aimed straight ahead, supported by just one thumb, shot forward.

And in an instant, a strike that would cleave the world with unstoppable force was unleashed!

Qua-qua-qua-quack!

Swept away by the storm of aura, Belial screamed as his entire body was carved and torn apart.

Eventually, Vikir stood calmly before Belial. Bartolomeo, who had been a host, was already in a battered state, and Belial’s original body, which had manifested on top, was equally devastated. One of the thick horns had broken, and the other had numerous cracks. Black blood spurted profusely from the swollen, pig-like head.

“Extend your neck.”

Vikir never let’s go of the advantage he gained. The fangs of the demon hunter, plunging mercilessly into the demon’s throat. The hunting dog bites the pig to death. It was a very natural scene.

…However.

[Hehehehehe!]

In the final moment, Belial burst into laughter. Seeing his large pig nose twitch, Vikir narrowed his eyes.

“What’s so amusing?”

[Because I look forward to the faces of you miserable beings contorting soon.]

After finishing his words, Belial opened his mouth wide. Then, black smoke began to spew out of his mouth.

Decarabia, located on Vikir’s chest, spoke in a low voice.

[That’s his ability, ‘Oppression.’]

“What kind of ability is that?”

[….]

After hesitating for a moment, Decarabia told the truth.

[It’s an ability that makes the one who killed him pay an equivalent price in punishment.]

[That’s right! The one who kills me will die!]

Belial chimed in.

[No matter who it is, the one who killed me will die. I will take them with me. The remaining one will be very sad, won’t they? Losing a comrade and all.]

“….”

[Hehehehe! Who will pay for the sin of killing me?]

Then, Dolores spoke chillingly.

“Why is killing a demon a sin? If it’s a sin, then I will kill you and pay the price for that sin.”

[Hehehe – According to the religion and holy books of rune, demons are also creations of the rune, and isn’t all killing between creations considered a sin? Can you really be sure?]

Belial’s pig nose twitched, and there was a hint of confusion on Dolores’s face.

Right at that moment.

“Be careful not to play around on the demon’s turf.”

Vikir’s sword swiftly severed Belial’s neck.

…Splurt!

Black blood sprayed like a fountain. Belial rolled his eyes as if he couldn’t believe it.

[How, how can there be not even the slightest hesitation? My, my throat… You, you… aren’t you afraid of committing the sin?]

But Vikir paid no attention at all.

And then.

…Thud!

Vikir placed something on Belial’s forehead.

A piece of paper stained with black blood.

Its identity made Belial’s expression contort with despair.

[ Indulgence ]

‘All sins of this faithful follower shall be forgiven.’

– This indulgence is issued and guaranteed by the Old Testament Faction; counterfeiting may be subject to punishment –

㊞

In an instant, scenes from Belial’s past flashed before his eyes.

Among countless memories, one stood out.

A memory of one of his many associates.

‘If one can repent for sins committed in the past, is it possible to repent in advance for sins one might commit in the future?’

‘…But just how heavy a sin are you seeking such an expensive indulgence for?’

‘I might kill my neighbor’s pig.’

‘Alright. Just for coming this far for the life of a pig, I’ll give it to you.’

Thunk-

‘You have repented~’

It was an indulgence that Past Vikir had purchased at the temple of the Old testament Faction in the past, and its cost was merely one gold.

[…No, it can’t be.]

Belial, the great demon who descended to annihilate humanity.

The life of the absolute being that once monopolized all the wealth of the human world had now been replaced by an indulgence worth just one gold coin.

“It’s over, ‘worthless one.'”

Vikir said succinctly.

And the demonic sword Beelzebub drew an even shorter trajectory.

…Splat!

It was the moment that ‘the sixth corpse’, one of the ten supreme demon lords, fell.