Chapter 34: The Disciplinarian

Brent Underground Tavern.

"Hahahaha, Dorn, did you strike it rich? Why are you being so generous today?" a strange creature with green skin and boils asked Dorn, who was drinking heavily in front of him.

"Hahaha, it is indeed a windfall, thanks to that old geezer, Hari."

"That guy who's about to die?"

"He's not dying anytime soon. Next time I see him, I might even have to call him 'father'," Dorn said, gulping down his beer.

"Huh!? You don't mean..."

"Even old trees can have a second spring."

"Well, at least you have something to lean on now. By the way, didn't you say you picked up a new brother?"

"Mephisto. Dammit, that guy is a total fraud, just a charlatan playing at being mysterious."

"Your brother really is something else, calling himself [The Yellow Jester]."

Just as Dorn was conversing with the green monster, a fierce argument broke out nearby, drawing the tavern's attention.

"Why are you shouting so loud?" Ximen said, sounding displeased.

"You son of a—!"

Domalen swung his club at Ximen's head.

BOOM—

A figure went flying backward, slamming into the tavern's stone wall. It was Domalen, his entire body embedded in the masonry. At that moment, every non-human entity in the tavern stared in horror at the space behind Ximen.

That is... an angel!?!

Pure white wings shrouded its sides; it hovered above Ximen without a single beat of its feathers. Its face appeared both male and female, and blazing feathers manifested from thin air, falling like rain. A ring of fire encircled the back of its head.

"A... Guardian Spirit!?"

"It's... it's a Disciplinarian of the Heavenly Kingdom!!"

"Why... why is there one from the Heavenly Kingdom here..."

The non-human beings in the tavern descended into chaos; an aura of terror instantly engulfed the entire establishment.

Dorn crushed the beer bottle in his hand and immediately began his transformation into a God-Man Eater.

"Everyone, may I borrow something from you?" Ximen asked with a gentle smile.

"Y-you... what do you want?" a four-armed monster asked, trembling.

Ximen drew a hand across his own throat and smiled radiantly:

"Your heads—"

As Ximen’s words fell, the pupils of everyone in the tavern constricted, and a horrifying aura bound them all.

The angel's wings spread wide, and a terrifying heatwave instantly swept through the tavern, followed by agonizing screams.

BOOM!!!

A sea of scorching fire overturned the tavern. A massive pillar of flame erupted into the sky, reducing everything within a 60-meter radius of Ximen to ashes. Black cinders were scattered everywhere.

"Oh, ho~, there are still a few tough ones left who managed to resist Azazel's [Halo of Flame]," Ximen said, looking at the few figures who had only sustained minor burns.

"You trash from the Heavenly Kingdom!" a werewolf spat through gritted teeth.

"Everyone, attack together! Don't think about running; it's useless," Dorn, his arm skin blistered from the heat, shouted to those present.

"God-Man Eater, your name is Dorn, right?" Ximen suddenly looked at Dorn.

Dorn felt his hair stand on end as Ximen locked eyes with him. How did this guy know his name?

"How do you know who I am?" Dorn asked, watching Ximen warily.

Ximen chuckled, "A junior of mine said I should take good care of you."

What the hell!?

*Squelch—*

Just as Dorn was confused, a sharp pain blossomed in his chest. He looked down in disbelief to see a cross-shaped wound.

Dorn’s knees buckled, and he collapsed. Bright red blood sprayed wildly, and soon, he was surrounded by a thick pool of his own gore.

"You will be the last heretic to be executed. You’ll get to watch a magnificent performance before you die. You're so lucky." Dorn struggled to lift his head, his vision blurring intensely.

In his distorted sight, he saw the angel named Azazel holding a magnificent flaming sword, the heat radiating from it causing the very air to ripple.

Then came the one-sided slaughter!

Incineration.
Tearing.
Ash.

When the slaughter ended, Dorn had been consumed by the monster known as fear. A figure approached, and he could only lift his head like a helpless child.

The heatwave that had warped the space around him swept past, but he felt no pain.

Yarn, how can there be something so terrifying—

*Clang—*

Dorn felt the world spin, followed by eternal darkness.

*Thud—*

Something fell to the floor.

...

Ximen looked at the ash-covered surroundings and, with an embarrassed expression, summoned his lineage book to contact Evan.

"Ahaha, Evan, I think I might have overdone it. I recall our squad still has a little bit of reimbursement budget left for the mission—what? The Fog City region doesn't offer reimbursements? Why!?"

"Because of the 'Vortex Music' incident? That was how many years ago? Why is the Clock Tower so stingy?" Ximen grumbled angrily into the communication channel.

*Stomp, stomp, stomp—*

Suddenly, the sound of rhythmic, heavy footsteps echoed. Mages dressed in Clock Tower uniforms surrounded Ximen from 50 meters away.

"Evan, remember to come to the Clock Tower to bail me out!" Ximen hung up, looking awkward.

"Cough, cough—has everyone eaten yet?" Ximen asked, maintaining an awkward smile.

"According to the 'Aether Regulation Agreement', Article 36, Subsection 6: Any thaumaturge utilizing thaumaturgy in a region governed by a supernatural agency must report to the local authority. Article 33, Subsection 1: No thaumaturge shall maliciously utilize thaumaturgy in the mortal realm to cause financial loss to a locality. Article 30..."

A Clock Tower official in a blue uniform stepped forward, holding an arrest warrant stamped with the Clock Tower's seal.

"In summary, you are under arrest!"

"Can you let me finish picking up the loot before you drag me in?" Ximen asked, thick-skinned and habitual.

"..."

***

Fog City National Library.

"Achoo—"

Xia Shu rubbed his nose. He had been sneezing a lot lately; he wondered who was thinking of him.

Calculating the time, Evan and Ximen should have finished their mission by now.

Just as Xia Shu was thinking this, a tall figure appeared before him. It was Evan.

"You're here. Where's Ximen?"

"He's in the slammer. I'm planning to go bail him out now. I came here just to let you know before I head off."

"I'll go with you."

"That works."