Chapter 94 - Granbell

A/N:
Hey everyone! I've decided to start offering early access to chapters again on Ko-fi! I've got quite a few chapters ready in advance, so now I have the chance to offer this to you all.

With graduation fast approaching and the job search in full swing, I'm hoping this can be a way to earn some extra income while I continue my journey. Your support would mean so much to me!

For just $2, you'll get 3 early chapters, plus access to the next 4 chapters that will be posted throughout the month—so in total, you're getting 7-8 chapters for just $2!

If you'd like to show support without the early access, any donation, big or small, is deeply appreciated! Every bit helps as I work towards finding a job and continuing my writing.
Thank you so much for considering supporting me! Your kindness makes a big difference!

https://ko-fi.com/coverscribe

...........

After the creation of Guy's group of strong individuals from around the world, he began spreading rumors and information about a group of like-minded people, dubbed the "Demon Lords." Soon, people started calling them the Demon Lord Council.

This, in turn, made it much easier for Luminas to gain the loyalty and faith of the populace as they sought refuge in a place where they could feel safe from such evil.

However, this had an opposite effect on the monsters, who had always lived by the belief that "might makes right." The rumors were slightly different for them; they received the message that anyone strong enough could become part of such a powerful group.

In the years that followed the emergence of these rumors, the rampaging of monsters increased at an alarming rate. While typically only the more reckless and battle-hungry monsters would emerge to fight other monsters or raid human settlements, now even the more secluded ones began to leave their hiding spots, eager to gain status or obtain something beneficial by joining this powerful council.

Fighting between two strong monsters became so commonplace that humans began to cede territories to the monsters, hoping they would focus on battling each other rather than attacking human settlements.

This strategy yielded two favorable outcomes for humanity. One was that rival monsters would eliminate each other, allowing new monsters to claim the territory and engage in their own battles to defend it. Alternatively, when a single monster managed to claim a territory, it often found itself too preoccupied with defending its new lands from other monsters to launch raids against humans.

During this time, almost all monsters that considered themselves slightly more powerful than the rest proclaimed themselves to be Demon Lords. Anyone who heard this declaration felt compelled to challenge them, eager to claim the title of Demon Lord for themselves.

In a surprising turn of events, the humans who had defended their lands from the influx of monsters began to grow stronger, undergoing a sort of evolution of their own. Some were labeled as champions of the masses, capable of defending entire towns or cities by themselves. Among the most notable were the Masked Hero, said to be the guardian of the Holy Empire of Lubelios, and the Voiceless Hero, who earned her moniker from her silent and cold approach to fighting and her tendency to avoid communication with those she saved.

Rumors circulated regarding her supposed inability to speak, while others speculated that she simply did not have time to waste on conversation when she could be saving those in need.

Meanwhile, two new Demon Lords were invited to the council. Under Guy's invitation, a Lich and a Dark Elf were summoned to attend a Walpurgis.

"Welcome. These two will be joining us as Demon Lords as of this moment," Guy announced as the two newcomers stood. The others observed with varied interest, either curious about the newcomers or feeling forced to attend the meeting.

One of the newcomers was a well-built man wearing heavy armor. His face was covered by his helmet, but a strand of white hair and a sharp glare could easily be seen through the openings.

Misery took a step forward. "Undead Lich, Lich King, Arthas-sama." Arthas removed the blade that had been stabbed into the floor and raised it with both hands, the hilt near his chest while the blade pointed toward the ceiling. He nodded his head slowly, his mouth moving in a muttering motion that suggested he was acknowledging the introduction.

The dark elf smirked as she placed one hand on her hip, exuding confidence. Her blonde hair and striking magenta eyes were her most prominent features, aside from her daring clothing and cruel smile.

Misery continued her introduction. "Dark Elf, Fascinator, Cliché-sama." She tossed her hair back with a flourish as she surveyed the other Demon Lords, her gaze challenging. "It is good to be here."

Guy nodded in approval turning to the others," Is there any objection".

The news of new demon lords sent an uproar on both humans and monster kind. The monsters now having real proof of their chance of climbing up the ladder with the strongest and most powerful sent their burning desire ablaze.

A few more Demon Lords were invited as Guy noticed their potential. Unfortunately, many of them would eventually perish, either at the hands of a hero or from their fellow Demon Lords, or from aspiring one's intent on taking their status.

On one fateful day, sparks of metal clashing with metal could be seen as two swordsman fought to the death. Their expression serious as they held tightly to their weapons, intent on ending the other's life.

Demon Lord Arthas the Lich King neared his end at the hands of a hero. A young man with blonde hair and a sharp expression akin to that of an eagle held his sword tightly as he severed the hand holding the sword of the Demon Lord. Receiving a fatal injury, the hero did not let the opportunity go by and dealt the final blow.

"The place is crawling with Demon Lords these days. Aside from this one, most of them are weaklings," the hero remarked as he began to sheathe his sword, watching his opponent crumble to dust.

"This should help the surrounding cities that have been troubled by the undead," said Maria, a blonde-haired woman with pink eyes. She smiled at the Light Hero, observing the undead corpses littering the ground.

She wore a mage's robe that flowed gracefully around her and held a staff nearly her height. The hero, clad in light armor, wielded the legendary sword he had inherited from the first hero.

"Maria, let's go. The King may have died, but the undead that have mutated might have survived on their own," the hero urged, beginning to walk back toward the nearest city.

As they passed through the domain of the Demon Lord known as the Lich King, the area appeared desolate and eerie. Miasma flowed freely in the air, and thousands of corpses moved aimlessly.

Maria nodded in agreement as she followed closely behind. "Yeah, let's go, Gran." She quickened her pace until they were shoulder to shoulder, using her free hand to grasp Gran's hand, which swung at his side. She hummed happily as they marched through the undead domain.

Upon reaching the city, they were met with a celebration honoring the hero's return and the successful elimination of the Demon Lord who had been slowly turning people into undead.

Gran and Maria joined in, though Maria was more excited than Gran. He focused on exchanging information and making connections, while she eagerly recounted their battle with the Demon Lord to anyone willing to listen.

"And then the Light Hero severed the Demon Lord's arm with a swing of his sword!" Maria exclaimed, raising both hands high as if wielding an imaginary sword, swinging it diagonally for effect. The adults cheered, while the children gazed in amazement, their imaginations ignited by the spectacle.

Occasionally, their eyes would drift to Gran, who observed Maria as she joyfully narrated their adventures, her enthusiasm infectious as she sometimes incorporated magic into her storytelling.

"Hero," a voice called, drawing Gran's attention. He turned to see an old man who bowed his head respectfully. Examining his appearance, Gran noted the man wore worn-down clothes, nearly ragged, and his thin frame indicated a lack of sustenance—a surprising sight, especially on a day when food and drink were free for all.

"How can I help?" Gran asked, already sensing this was about the old man's troubling experience.

The old man sat beside him at the bar counter. "I—I need your help with monsters. In the west, near the Holy Empire, I've seen vampires attacking humans. N-no one believed me when I said that the vampire wore the priestly robe of the Holy Empire's clergy. I—I was banished for being a heretic from where I lived."

Gran raised an eyebrow; such accusations were dangerous. The Holy Empire's religion of Luminism was widespread, and speaking against it could lead to severe repercussions, or worse—death.

"Are you certain of what you saw?" Gran asked, lowering his voice to a whisper so no one else could overhear.

The old man's eyes widened with fear. "D-do you not believe me?" He was taking a significant risk by speaking of this to anyone; if the hero were to label him a heretic, it could cost him his life.

"I do believe you, but I can't take action based solely on your account. I plan to investigate; that's what I can do for now," Gran reassured him. The old man sighed in relief, the weight of worry lifting from his shoulders.

He bowed his head repeatedly, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Ah, no one has believed me for months. I lost everything—my family, my home, my friends..." He wept silently as Gran ordered food and drinks, and they began discussing what the old man knew and what Gran could uncover.

Over the next few days, Gran engaged with the citizens of the city, particularly those who had relatives in the area where the old man had lived. He inquired about any monster attacks, specifically those involving night-dwelling creatures, carefully avoiding direct mention of vampires or the church.

Maria wanted to help, but she was suffering from a massive hangover after the celebration and had been bedridden since then. She remained in the inn where they were staying, while Gran took care of her before continuing his investigation.

One night, when Gran arrived at their room, Maria was combing her hair. Hearing the creak of the door, she turned to her companion with a bright smile. "How was your day, Gran? Did you find anything?"

The Light Hero smiled at the sight of Maria, the tension and exhaustion leaving his body. "Yes, I found out something very interesting." He laid down his sword on one of the small tables beside one of the two beds.

Sitting down on his bed, he recalled what he had heard. "There have been cases where, on certain days—some say once a week—a person would always feel a slight headache, dizziness, and sluggishness."

Maria placed her hand on her chin, her brow furrowing as she thought over the facts. "Knowing vampires are the monsters, that sounds like someone who doesn't have enough blood. Does this help your investigation?"

Gran nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "Yes, this is enough proof for us to march and personally see what is happening in the Holy Empire." He stood and hugged Maria from behind, kissing her head gently.

Maria smiled, warmth spreading through her at the gesture, and placed her hand on Gran's arm that was wrapped around her. "Let's go then, after we get provisions."

"Yeah, let's go."

As they traveled, they finally reached the edge of the Holy Empire's borders. The town where they stayed was part of the Holy Empire, with its churches and priests prominently present.

Gran observed the church in the town and the clergy behind the scenes, while Maria pursued a more direct investigation by visiting inside and engaging in conversation with the priests and Holy Knights.

Gran's frown deepened as he got closer to one of the priests. He could sense the creature's true identity as a monster. The old man's words rang true—it was right before his eyes. But being a monster wasn't enough reason to slay him. At least, that was what Maria thought.

"You can't just kill him! The people will stone you, even if you try to call him a vampire. Think about the chaos it'll cause if his identity is discovered. Maybe it's just a rogue vampire that snuck into the church," Maria scolded him, her eyes wide with panic as they rested in their room. She had nearly panicked earlier in the day when she saw him walking towards the priest with his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"But we can't just do nothing! A vampire is hiding in plain sight in a town filled with humans. We don't know when it might go on a rampage and kill everyone here. He might even take them hostage if his identity is found out," Gran countered, exhaling deeply. He understood the potential consequences of killing the vampire in plain sight, but he believed the townsfolk's chances of survival would only increase with the creature's death.

Maria frowned again, her hand returning to her chin as she considered their options. "We'll investigate some more. If he really is using the church as camouflage for his schemes, then we'll assassinate him—but not in front of many people, and we won't leak his real identity."

They continued their investigation into the vampire priest for the next few days, occasionally accepting requests to subjugate monsters roaming the area alongside the Holy Knights.

The Holy Knights, a group established by the Religion of Luminism, were devoted to spreading the teachings of Goddess Luminas and protecting those in need.

"At the very least, we can confirm that the Holy Knights don't know his identity," Gran whispered as he and Maria sneaked into the church one night. They watched as the vampire priest entered with one of the townspeople, and they quietly followed behind.

Peeking through a window, Gran finally unsheathed his sword and barged into the room. Inside, he saw the vampire mid-bite on the unconscious human sprawled on a long chair.

The vampire didn't waste any time; he lunged at Gran. In a swift motion, Gran decapitated the creature, then plunged his sword into its body, pinning it to the ground.

Maria stepped in, her heart racing as she checked the vitals of the victim. "He's still alive, just asleep," she said, sighing in relief as she healed the bite mark on his neck.

As the corpse of the vampire vanished, Gran finally lowered his guard and returned to Maria's side. Together, they carried the victim and slipped out of the church before any misunderstandings or accusations could arise.

The next day, Gran and Maria left town as news spread of the priest's disappearance and several search parties were dispatched to find him. They decided to head to the next town to see if all the priests were like this one. If they were, it would support their hypothesis that vampires were using the Religion of Luminism as a front for their feeding grounds.

Unfortunately, their hypothesis proved correct. They began traveling from town to town, city to city, quietly culling the vampires masquerading as men of the cloth, taking advantage of the people's desire for security.

Meanwhile, a surviving vampire who had witnessed the incident hurried to Lune, the Capital of Lubelios, to report to their Queen. "A hero has discovered our secrets," Luminas muttered, rising from her seat. "Have the rest retreat. I'll handle this."

With those words, Luminas began to weave transport magic, preparing to confront the Light Hero where he currently was.

A/N: I made Maria Rosso a mage since she doesn't actually have any known skill and role aside from being Granbell's wife. But we do know that she at least was long lived so sage/saint maybe.

Also this is the pattern of Rudra as well, having a swordsman and mage pair.