Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 26

Chapter 26. Unintentionally (1)

Genl Monastery.

Located on the outskirts of the Imperial City, this monastery is a part of the Sun Church, the largest religion on the Rozenda continent.

When Yulian, the empire's 'Smiling Executioner', set foot in the monastery, the concerned parties looked at him with extre fear.

It's understandable, as Yulian does not believe in gods.

If such a person appeared at the monastery, what would they think?

'... He must be here to purge soone.'

Nine tis out of ten, they would likely think this.

"Sir Yulian... What brings you here?"

One of the monks belonging to the monastery approached

and spoke in a respectful tone while harboring such thoughts.

"I have co to see the Abbot. Is he inside?"

As I spoke with a smile, a color of fear began to blaze above the man's head.

"W-What business...do you have with Abbot Herren?"

I glanced at the male monk's face.

Even without utilizing the 'Color of Negativity', his fear was laid bare. And his deanor showed he had no idea why I was there.

This man seed unrelated. If so, there was no point in dealing with him.

"Abbot Herren is currently inside. I will guide you."

A soft female voice ca from inside the monastery at that mont.

"Follow ."

Leading the way was a nun.

Without a word, I started walking behind her.

As we delved deeper into the monastery, the groans of people and the pungent sll of dicine grew stronger.

The Genl Monastery had a hospital-like nature. Hence, the musty sll wasn't particularly unusual.

"You ca earlier than I expected."

As I was admiring the harmonious blend of marble pillars and the symbol of the Sun Church, the nun walking ahead spoke.

With a swift turn of my head, the previously unfamiliar nun's face transford into one I recognized well.

"I thought it would take a bit longer."

"I'm not one to be indecisive, Eleanor."

Eleanor, the bishop of the Dawn Society.

The nun guiding

was her in disguise through her specialty, shade magic. She wore a faint smile, though it wasn't sincere.

Her caution showed in the distance she tried to keep from .

"Does your mind change within a day? People usually call that fickle."

She looked at

with suspicion.

I only responded with a serene smile, not bothering to speak.

As we traversed the broad interior of Genl Monastery, a large wooden door appeared before .

"Beyond here, the Archbishop awaits you, Sir Yulian. Please mind your manners."

"I always mind my manners. With everyone."

With that, I swung open the massive door.

Beyond the door, structurally, it wasn't much different from the white-marble-decorated Genl Monastery, yet the atmosphere felt distinctly different.

'... It feels gloomy.'

There were cult mbers draped in black robes.

Their faces showed displeased expressions.

The 'anger' color visible above their heads.

And the room brimd with a tense, murderous aura.

Those negative energies pierced into

like arrows.

I maintained composure, making no such displays as I proceeded.

"Is it true, Yulian is here?"

"That Yulian... at the Dawn Society...?"

"Is the rumor of him joining true?"

Ignoring their murmurs, I slowly continued forward.

"You must be Sir Yulian."

As a voice echoed, the murmurs gradually subsided.

The voice belonged to a masked man.

He was the current leader of the Dawn Society.

The masked man, seated on a throne, spoke with a noble-like tone, but it lacked any grandeur.

It was like soone mimicking the speech of nobility without actually being one.

It was evident; the masked man, Tenelon, was neither nobility nor anything alike, having lived as a re farr.

"Yulian, you stand before the Archbishop. Show so respect."

Beside Tenelon, a middle-aged man whose graying hair showed, spoke.

I halted my steps and slowly opened my mouth.

"Why should I show respect?"

The mont I spoke, the surrounding temperature plumted instantly.

The air turned chilly, pricking my skin like needles.

"I heard from Bishop Eleanor that you ca here to join us. So, kneel and prove your loyalty."

"That's not what I conveyed."

As I continued, silence enveloped the room, to the extent it felt stifling to breathe.

"I didn't co here relying on petty faith. I ca to seek a business partner."

In the Dawn Society district, particularly where the strong gathered, it might not be wise to show such an attitude.

However, as I ntioned earlier, the stance I must maintain was not as a Dawn Society devotee but as a partner in so form of collaboration. Kneeling wouldn't be good for that.

'If I kneel here, the ti it would take for

to seize control of the Dawn Society will double.'

I sighed internally.

There was a slight resentnt over how things turned out, but I ignored it as much as possible and continued.

"My goal is solely strength. Your goal is cooperation. The alignnt of interests is why I am here, nothing more."

"Weren't you here to be in the sa boat?"

Next to , Eleanor's voice sounded.

She seed slightly flustered.

"Being in the sa boat doesn't an sharing the sa approach."

"Not a wise decision."

Saying it's unwise.

Indeed, seen superficially, it could seem that way.

This was an act of portraying the sowhat unbalanced 'Yulian' while wanting to secure a safe position.

'... Fully imrsing into the Dawn Society would an clashing with Sword Saint Hayden Reich. And pulling out of the Dawn Society would an they'd never let

go.'

Therefore, this was the stance I took.

While being affiliated with the Dawn Society, I wouldn't imrse myself in them, ensuring an escape route for any ti I wanted to pull out.

'Moreover, such an attitude would be welcod even by Tenelon.'

Yulian, who always walked with slit eyes, had unreadable intentions. Why would he want to join the Dawn Society?

When such curiosity arises, pledging unconditional loyalty to the Dawn Society would undoubtedly deepen suspicion.

In the worst scenario, it might appear he was plotting as a double agent for betrayal.

Even I felt a bit suspicious of such thoughts.

Typically, slit-eye characters can't be trusted.

"Wouldn't it be more prudent to rely on a certain force rather than entrust oneself to vague gods?"

Hence, it'd be better to clearly state that the objective was power, to prevent idle thoughts from the others.

"Yulian! How dare you act so impudently before the Archbishop!"

"That arrogant bastard...! To put on airs here...!"

"Enough."

As the voices filled with irritation began to fill the surroundings, Tenelon's voice, seated on the throne, quieted them all.

"Since it's for cooperation rather than simply becoming a mber, there's no need to treat him this way."

Gulp.

I swallowed internally.

Did I overdo it? As I contemplated, Tenelon spoke once more.

"Everyone, except for Sir Yulian and Eleanor, leave."

***

As instructed by Tenelon, after all other cult mbers left, leaving only Eleanor and , the room cald down a little.

Standing from his spot, he slowly stepped on the carpet and approached .

Watching him, Eleanor slowly knelt down.

"Hahaha! Indeed, as rumored, you're quite the spirit. Yulian, Yulian, proud scion of the prestigious Cryphart family, one of the Four Great Houses."

A frivolous laugh.

Contrary to the intense aura that the gathered bishops emitted.

He seed rather cheerful.

His speech distinctly revealed his emotions, enough for

to predict the smiling face behind the mask.

Indeed, although I openly declared my desire to be a collaborator rather than a mber, it wasn't a losing trade for the Dawn Society.

It's because I, 'Yulian', had declared not being hostile, but cooperative.

"That's alright. You're quite alright. I rather like this audacious deanor."

He said, brushing past .

Afterwards, he began to walk into the deeper part of the parish, and Eleanor, rising from her spot, followed him.

Naturally, I too followed behind Tenelon.

Into the depths of the parish, deeper inside.

As I started to wonder where we were heading, Tenelon spoke.

"This place is strictly off-limits except for bishops. It's where the holy relic is kept."

"Is that so?"

"Why do you think I'm showing you this location?"

"Well, I wouldn't know, as I'm not wise."

Eleanor subtly turned her head to glance at .

I smiled at her, and she returned her gaze forward.

"Even though you claim to be here for a cooperative relationship, what I seek is a loyal cult mber, not just cooperation."

"That's unfortunate."

"However, sending soone like you back would only create an enemy. It wouldn't be beneficial for us."

Although the Dawn Society was the root of evil in 〈Let's Kill the Demon King〉, it was still a secret organization.

No matter how powerful its individual mbers were, as an underground entity, manpower is inevitably limited.

"The mont you join, you'll be acknowledged with the position of bishop."

"W-Wait... Archbishop!? What do you an...?"

"Quiet."

Cutting off Eleanor's complaint, Tenelon continued.

"Is Yulian not the hero of the Northern Front? Offering him a fitting status enhances my reputation, wouldn't it?"

"But..."

"I see it that way."

Although it was an evident abuse of authority, no one in the Dawn Society dared protest against him.

Naturally so, for this current establishnt of the Dawn Society could exist largely due to Tenelon. To be precise, it was because the holy relic had chosen him.

With a satisfied grin, he continued.

"So, Yulian. How about joining us? I guarantee unprecedented treatnt you've never seen."

"Are you suggesting it's alright even in a cooperative relationship?"

"Are you not a man with clear goals?"

Listening to Tenelon's words, it seed the bout of bravado earlier wasn't entirely unnecessary.

I showed a faint smile.

"If you put it that way."

"Great, then to commorate the Smiling Executioner becoming one of us, let

show you sothing good."

With those words, we arrived at a vast open space with a fountain in the middle.

But it wasn't an ordinary fountain.

Around it, blood was splattered everywhere, and in the center sat a dazzlingly bright golden chalice.

This was the divine relic, Demon God's Chalice.

A tool that could materialize the residual thoughts of the demon god Barbatos.

With a *splash,* Tenelon stepped into the blood-filled fountain and walked toward the Demon God's Chalice.

Reaching inside the cup, into the inky black water, he began crafting a shape.

Soon enough, as he pulled his hand out, a large rod had ford.

"This is the horn of a demon. Through this Demon God's Chalice, I can manufacture the source of a demon's power, the horn."

The rod, dripping with black liquid, gradually took the shape of a 'horn'.

It beca indistinguishable from the horn previously seen on a demon.

"Isn't it remarkable?"

Tenelon posed the question to gauge my impression.

Indeed, it was remarkable.

The ability to manifest solely the demon's horn like this was notable.

However, knowing fully well the nature of the holy relic and the powers the horn possessed, I was aware.

Nonetheless, feigning surprise would serve well to earn Tenelon's favor.

With a deep sigh, I gave my most surprised expression as I spoke.

"Amazing... Does using that horn grant one a demon's power?"

"That's right."

"My god..."

That should suffice.

Afterwards, it was about showing a nuance of striving to gain power.

"Are you interested?"

Why would I be interested?

I'm well aware of the deadly consequences of using that horn.

Yet, to maintain a flawless act, my thoughts and words must diverge.

"Of course. That horn will clearly be a stepping stone toward realizing my dream."

"If you want it so dearly, I don't mind giving it to you right now."

Huh?

As I was thinking of my lines, Tenelon's words made

look up at his face.

Would he really give it to

this easily?