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As Krampus felt his consciousness fading due to difficulty breathing, his face turned pale, and he sensed death approaching.

“If this continues, I’ll die!”

Originally, only a few with spiritual interference abilities could kill demons. Without forming a “One Band,” neither swords nor spells could harm the Demon Clan. This was because demons, regardless of their rank, were treated as “Ascendants,” beings who, though not divine, were elevated beyond the mortal realm.

The Celestial Gods or otherworldly Reapers could transform those they contracted into Ascendants, beings separate from the mortal world.

Ascension meant abandoning one’s mortal flesh and replacing it with the laws of the heavens or other realms. The benefits of such a dramatic process were clear.

In this world, all life was destined to die. The cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death was an unavoidable principle, immutable as long as life existed.

But Ascendants were different. Their existence was governed by the laws of the heavens or other realms, not the mortal cycle of life and death. Thus, they did not age, fall ill, or suffer mortal wounds. Only another Ascendant or someone who could overcome the laws of another realm could harm them.

Yet now…

“I can’t even speak…!”

Krampus, a demon, was experiencing sensations he should never have felt—sensations of life, aging, the threat of disease, and the constant presence of death. These feelings were tearing his mind apart.

Unlike demons, who lived eternally unless faced with great warriors, spellcasters, or clashes with their own kind, mortal beings lived surrounded by countless factors leading to death.

Birth, aging, sickness, thirst, hunger, suffocation, and countless other unavoidable disasters and accidents. Fate was a journey toward death, and living was moving toward that end. What Krampus felt now was the intense reality of life—or rather, the reality of death.

When the Nun Knight’s right hand grabbed his neck, he was no longer an Ascendant. The otherworldly laws that protected him were powerless before her hand. The countless factors of death that surrounded mortal beings now bore down on him, stripped of his immortal shell.

“Ah, ah…!”

Krampus fell into panic. The sensations of mortality, which he had never experienced in his long life as a demon, plunged him into endless helplessness, pain, confusion, and fear.

Sophia, watching the demon’s spirit break, clicked her tongue.

“Tsk, completely broken.”

It seemed this demon had lost his mind from experiencing mortality for the first time. Now, even the slightest torture could extract all he knew.

But…

“Should I delay this for now?”

Sophia’s gaze shifted to the people she had just saved from the undead. Keeping them waiting too long wouldn’t be wise. According to her foresight, accompanying them would lead her to the masterminds behind the empire’s current state.

As Sophia thought this, an intangible aura began to rise from her. Soon, several streams of sword energy surged forth, striking Krampus’s body in precise patterns.

*Thud, thud, thud.*

If a martial artist had seen this, they would have praised it. This was the “Sword Energy Point Sealing” technique, a supreme martial art.

Demons, protected by otherworldly laws and devoid of flesh, were immune to physical attacks. Only sealing or binding techniques could subdue them. Without flesh, they had no meridians or pressure points.

But Sophia’s Sword Energy Point Sealing was a supreme technique, and Krampus, stripped of his Ascendant privileges, was now an ordinary being. Her sword energy seeped into his non-existent meridians, restricting his movements.

Krampus trembled in fear as his spellcasting and physical abilities were shut down one by one. Losing his Ascendant privileges and the sources of his power was terrifying.

Finally, Krampus lost the ability to move, speak, or even blink, becoming as stiff as a wooden doll.

“I’ll interrogate you later. Behave until then.”

Sophia carved the Church’s Grand Master’s seal onto Krampus’s forehead and stuffed him into a sack, completing the sealing process. She then turned to the group.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

Sophia’s apology, delivered with a hint of embarrassment, elicited awkward smiles from the onlookers.

Hermann Lingeck, the knight she had been speaking with earlier, waved off her apology.

“Haha, it’s fine. It seems you’ve dealt with the mastermind behind this attack. We should be thanking you.”

Sophia, still apologetic, insisted, “It’s still rude to handle other matters before introductions.”

Hermann, still a bit flustered, continued to reassure her. “Really, it’s fine. The rescued shouldn’t be apologizing to their saviors.”

The back-and-forth continued until Sophia finally relented.

“Fine, if you insist.”

Hermann, now under the expectant gazes of the onlookers, quickly introduced the group.

The lead knight, Hermann Lingeck; Roland Milansen, Hans Wagner, Oscar Schultzbauer, Gunter Schwarznoyman, and…

“Long time no see, Sir Karl Hector Meyer.”

“Indeed, it’s been a while. I never thought I’d see you here.”

“Haha, I’m glad you remember this humble swordsman.”

Karl Hector Meyer, a master swordsman Sophia had met before, was among the knights. Back then, he had been hired by a lord fleeing a plague, and his swordsmanship had left an impression on her.

Now, Karl had refined his skills further, reaching a level comparable to Hermann Lingeck. Sophia mused that if Hermann was on par with a novice Paladin, Karl’s progress was remarkable.

Sophia couldn’t help but smile wryly. “I thought Conra would win, but now I’m not so sure.”

Conra, her disciple, was a prodigy, but Karl had clearly not been idle either.

“Hmm? Do you know Sir Hector Meyer?” Hermann asked, noticing their exchange.

Karl smiled. “I received some guidance from her during my wandering days.”

Sophia nodded. “I helped him with the Reverse Muscle Technique.”

Hermann nodded in understanding. “No wonder you’ve reached such a high level at a young age.”

Sophia added, “It was just the Reverse Muscle Technique. His swordsmanship is all his own talent and effort.”

Hermann accepted this and moved on, introducing Brantley Somz, a rune caster.

“Honored to meet a knight of the Church. I am Brantley Somz, a rune caster.”

“Oh? The gray cloak, the badge… Are you from the Somz family I know of?”

“You know my family?”

“Of course! I never thought I’d meet a true Skald here. I thought I’d have to go to the Kalmar Diocese to see one.”

Skalds were renowned spellcasters from the northern regions, much like Druids in other parts of the continent. Their runic traditions had greatly influenced modern rune casters.

Sophia, with her past life as Lee Beom-seok, had a deep appreciation for such traditions. Brantley, pleased to find someone who knew of his heritage, happily concluded the introductions.

Finally, Sophia turned to the people in the carriage, her original targets.

The group consisted of two men and two women. One of the men stepped forward to express his gratitude.

“Thank you for saving us. We thought we were done for, but thanks to you, we’ve escaped a gruesome fate. I am Friedrich, Count of Schwaben and heir to the Hohenstaufen family. I will repay this debt.”

The man was none other than Friedrich, the heir to the current Kaiser of the Empire.

 

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