Entering the City

Though it was uncomfortable, for Vivian and her fellow Demon Lords, it was still something they could barely endure.

This was, in fact, one of the factors considered.

Vivian, Sylvester, and Molly were all relatively young Demon Lords, and the aura they possessed was noticeably weaker compared to those legendary Demon Lords with centuries of history.

Therefore, it wasn’t particularly difficult for them to suppress their mana and disguise themselves completely.

In contrast, Demon Lords like Mogas, who had been active for hundreds of years, possessed mana so deep and distinctive it was almost like a brand burned into their souls.

No matter how hard they tried, they could never entirely hide their decaying aura.

Especially in an environment flooded with Holy Light, moving unnoticed was as impossible for them as a sewer rat trying to escape a spotlight.

“…But in conditions like this, can we really pull off an assassination?”

Vivian walked among the crowd, and couldn’t help but think this quietly to herself.

The line inched forward, drawing closer to the brightly lit checkpoint, where the guards stood in tight formation.

Up ahead, Vivian could see low-ranking priests handling initial screening, each holding a short staff emitting a gentle white glow.

Each person hoping to enter the main city was required to rest their hand for a moment atop the crystal orb embedded in the staff.

The orb would emit a faint light, apparently testing for any obvious signs of evil or dark energy.

Most passed without incident, but a rare few—shabby, suspicious, or with shifty eyes—were dragged aside for questioning.

Vivian’s heart beat just a bit faster.

With a subtle glance, she signaled Sylvester and Molly behind her not to make any sudden moves, especially to carefully control their own power.

At last, it was their turn.

A young priest, still boyish but making an effort to look solemn, stood in their way.

His gaze swept over Vivian and, following protocol, he asked:

“Name, place of origin, reason for entering the city.”

As he spoke, he raised the detection staff a little.

“Natalie, from Graywood Town in the northern reaches.”

Vivian gave a slight bow, her tone warm but weary, embodying the role of a traveling mage perfectly.

“These are my attendants, Syl and Molly.”

“We’ve come to the Radiant Court hoping for a chance to access the Holy Church’s library and consult ancient manuscripts, as well as seek an opportunity for advanced study at the academy.”

“Here is my adventurer’s insignia.”

Vivian had rehearsed this story countless times.

She smoothly produced an old adventurer’s insignia and handed it over.

The young priest nodded, showing no suspicion, and shifted his attention to the two behind her.

The moment Sylvester felt the priest’s gaze, he almost froze, lowering his head even further, hands clutching his sleeves so tightly his knuckles showed white.

His face was deathly pale.

To the young priest, however, this simply looked like a sheltered guide overwhelmed by the Light—totally normal.

Molly did her best to keep a straight face and nodded just as Vivian had, but her pale golden eyes couldn’t help but curiously flick over the silver embroidery on the priest’s robes.

Her throat twitched, teetering on the edge of a soft “guh” sound, but she managed to stifle it in time.

The young priest didn’t dwell on these “attendants.”

He brought the crystal orb to Vivian.

Vivian spread her hands above the orb calmly and waited.

At the instant of contact, she concentrated all her mana down and conjured a thread of faint, non-attributed order energy.

The crystal responded with a gentle white glow—no reaction that could catch the eye.

Satisfied, the priest motioned for Vivian to withdraw her hand, then briefly waved the orb before Syl and Molly.

Both suppressed their instinctive resistance with all their might.

Syl was so tense he actually trembled, but the priest took this for the respectful fear a civilian felt toward a holy artifact—the orb gave no unusual response.

“You’re good. Go ahead,” the young priest said, waving them forward before turning his attention to the next group.

Vivian let out a silent breath of relief, keeping a humble smile in place as she bowed her thanks.

She quickly ushered her two newly “pardoned” attendants through the outer checkpoint, officially stepping into the Radiant Court’s outer city district.

The moment their feet touched ground within the vast Holy Light barrier, the oppressive sensation around them intensified severalfold.

Even breathing seemed thick and heavy, every inhalation laced with a subtle burning—the darkness in their bodies felt locked in ice, almost impossible to move.

Sylvester’s expression grew even more strained, while Molly fidgeted with her neck, as if struggling against an unseen collar.

Even Vivian herself felt a wave of dizziness and discomfort.

“…Guh, I can hardly stand it,” Molly whispered under her breath, barely audible.

“Hold on. It gets easier with time,” Vivian replied softly, her gaze constantly scanning their surroundings.

On both sides of the street, shops and stalls crowded together, selling statuettes, sacred emblems, scripture, “blessed” holy water, and all the supplies a traveler could wish for.

Inside the city limits, Holy Church patrols were far more frequent.

Towering priests appeared now and then; the main gate to the inner city looming ahead was even more impressive.

Guards stood in formation so tight, the challenge truly began there.

After all, the Rhine Holy Church considered this one of its most important cities—not just for training the next generation of clergy but as humanity’s strongest fortress.

If the frontline fell to the Demon Clan, this would be the last, unyielding bastion.

“Let’s find a place to put down roots,” Vivian murmured.

“We need to adapt first, and wait for the signal from Mogas’s contact.”

She led them away from the main roads, slipping into a quiet, secluded alley to search for a modest inn.

Their mission had only just begun.

Getting into the Radiant Court was just the first step.

Next, they would need to confirm the location of the Saint Charles, carry out the assassination, and escape with their lives—no small feat, considering this radiant Holy City felt, to three Demon Lords, like wandering the deepest circle of a hidden hell.

For Vivian and her companions, every step was taken on the thinnest ice.

Extreme caution was their only hope of success.

Vivian knew well: completing this assassination would not just earn her merit.

It would secure a stable position, and the right to refuse even Mogas and the orders of the noble council.