Demon´s Banquet 3

From the expensive-looking black carriage stepped out an older man holding a black staff. He had a long white beard that made him look like a typical example of a mage from textbooks. He wore expensive black attire that clearly stood out among others. Even though it didn´t look as fancy it was clear that the quality of materials was on a different level. From the crest on the door of the carriage, everyone realized the identity of an old man. The people who were standing in front of the mansion recognized the old man and gasped. And started mumbling among themself.

The old man replied to their gazes with a kind smile and proceeded to walk toward the mansion's entrance where knights and servants were controlling invitations and confirming the identities of guests in case someone tried to snuggle in pretending to be noble.

As this was a banquet in which many high-ranking nobles and even some rich commoners like merchants or famous knights were attending. Security was of utmost importance and more than 200 hundred knights and 100 mercenaries were controlling the perimeter around the mansion. There were multiple master rank knights ready to be deployed in case a stronger opponent appeared.

When the old man finally walked toward the line everyone in front moved to the side and one of the nobles spoke as a representative.

"Person of you standing shouldn't stand In the line like rest of us marquess Dolion...please you can take my place" Other nobles nodded their head at the same time as if they had this prepared beforehand.

The old man, Marquess chuckled a bit when he heard the young noble.

"Mohoho- Don´t worry about me, I will wait in the line like everyone else, after all, we are all here as guests of Viscount Theodore. There shouldn't be an exception for an old man like me" He kindly replied and patted the young noble on the shoulder

The young noble and others were baffled at the humility Marquess showed. After all, he is a great mage that served the kingdom for over 50 years and did great deeds that made him a hero in the eyes of nobles and common people alike. Yet he was humble enough to stay in the like with a bunch of countryside nobles like them even though he could use his status as marquess to get in without any waiting.

—He is not a hero just for a show...

—To be blessed with the presence of such a great hero...this day couldn't be better

—To remain humble even with all the power he has...there is no other man like him!!!

They all started showering him will extravagant praises and words, some of the men were even sobbing because they met a hero they had all admired from the time they were children.

He was indeed a great hero that saved the capital from the monster flood 30 years ago. Single-handedly drove away the king of Lizardmens when they tried to attack the kingdom.

Build orphanages and schools for commoners with money he got as a reward and was the only commoner in history that rose to the rank of Marquess because of his great achievements. That is a 7-circle grand mage Richard von Dolion.

"Please Marquess this has nothing to do with your rank... it's just our way of being grateful for everything you have done for this kingdom" the young nobleman said as he stared at Dolion with eyes full of admiration

"Mohoho-I did only what was the obvious thing to do...but I will accept this gesture. Can you tell me your name, young man?"

"Its M-Mark.....Mark von Tremblay.."He said with a voice that was shaking from excitement

"Mohoho Mark I will remember your name," Marquess Dolion said and moved to the front of the line where knights and servants were observing the scene with eyes full of respect.

Both knights and Servants bowed when Marquess Dolion arrived as a sign of respect. True was that both servants and knights wanted to ask for the autograph but they had to fulfill their duties.

"Marquess Dolion could you please show us your letter of invitation and your ring"

Dolion took out the letter of invitation and the ring with his crest on it. He put a bit of magic power into it and his crest consisted of the black wand in front of the moon that started shining with radiant light. The ring was a specially made magic artifact that was given to nobles when they are adults or in the case of Marquess Dolion when he became noble.

The magic ring reacts only to the magic power of the owner so it's meaningless to steal it and impossible to make fake. It served as proof of one´s identity in the world where magic can easily change the appearance of a person under an illusion.

The servant returned the invitation to the marquess after he confirmed it was real but the knights didn´t open the red rope blocking the entrance. They both just looked at each other nervously

"Is there anything else young-lads?"

Knight and servants started picking each other to the side arguing about who is gonna answer until they both decided to play rock-paper-scissors

Marquess quietly chuckled at the scene and waited for them to finish. He was already accustomed to people being nervous in his presence and he saw them doing the even crazier thing than this one.

After a few rounds, the knights won and the male servant started talking with a defeated nervous voice.

"Uhm...We are extremely sorry marquess Dalion but viscount prohibited any sort of weapons inside the mansion and y-your staff does count as a weapon..."

"Mohoho is that everything? I would gladly give you my staff if it was any other day but today somehow my back hurts wouldn´t you make an exception to this old man this time?" He said it with a kind voice and touched his back

Knight's expression at this froze. He put his hand on the hilt of his sword that was hanging on his waist and spoke with a serious expression this time.

"I am sorry Marquess but you will need to give us your staff or else we can´t let you inside"

The kind expression on the marquess's face disappeared as if it was a lie and it was changed into an expression of pure annoyance.

"You should listen to advise of elders.." He whispered silently

At this, the knight's senses honored with training warned him of danger. He moved to unsheathe his sword. But the old man was faster. From his staff came out the dark black mist. The mist moved at a speed that was unnaturally fast to its gaseous form and entered into bodies of knights and servants through their nostrils.

Their bodies shook a bit as if they were internally fighting something but that didn´t last long and their bodies calmed down. Their eyes changed into pure black darkness.

"Too slow..." he murmured and patted knights on his shoulder

"Let inside all of the people wearing the same brooch," he ordered the knight and pointed at the black brooch in the form of a small horn that was pinned on his coat.

"Yes, Master"The knight's voice now sounded emotionless almost robotic

"Mohoho, Good" He then moved to the hall where other servants took his coat and led him into the ballroom. They were a bit surprised because they saw his staff but they didn´t think too deeply about that, the knights probably let him keep it. After all, he was this kingdom's "hero".

He was led in front of the big white double door. There stood a servant dressed in a red suit that made him greatly stand out because most men were wearing classic colors that were black-blue-white-green.

He was an announcer whose job was to announce the names of nobles entering the ballroom.

"I am..." Dolion tried to introduce himself but servants stopped him.

"It's alright Lord Dolion..who doesn´t know the name of this kingdom´s hero??!" He said and patted his chest proudly

" Kingdom´s hero!! Marquesse Richard von Dolion is entering!!"

All nobles immediately focused their attention on the door where they saw an old man with a face full of wrinkles and a white majestic beard. The nobles swarmed him like ants that found sugar on the ground.

—Marquess I am glad to see you in good health

—We met 2 y-years ago on the birthday of his majesty prince do you remember me lord Dolion??

—Dolion-sama could you please spare a bit of your time...

—Lord Dolion, Please accept my deepest condolences... the death of your wife was...

All of them bombarded him with questions and absolutely ignored etiquette and everything they learned thought their whole life. That was how much the name Richard von Dolion meant to nobles of this kingdom.

Dolion kindly tried to respond to their question and with his gentle smile managed to shake them off with excuses of feeling tired from standing that long.

Few nobles tried to hold him a bit longer but when they saw his gentle smile guilt filled their hearts and dismissed the idea and let him go rest.

Dolion found a place where members of his faction were seated and joined them. Even though the order of where people sat looked to be random. It was skillfully placed so each faction that conflicts with each other won´t sit close.

A Members of his faction greeted him silently with a nod and slightly bowed. All of them were "his" people.

"Your excellency...almost all of us already gathered hear and passed inspection." His subordinate and second in command Helmer von Bonnet whispered. He is a young viscount who inherited the position after his father died.

Dolion met him once during an expedition to the cursed Forrest. He saw potential in him and took him under his wings and even taught him his personals spell.

He was the person that Dolion could belive with his life and knew he was loyal. After all, he suffered from the same problem as him.

Limitations of talent.

That's why Dolion introduced him to the "organization".

A place that could help both of them fulfill their wish.

The place that knows what is good for humans unlike that rotten kingdom and their belief. A place that didn´t abandon him after he got older.

"Good job Bonnet....what about our people outside? Is artifact prepared?"

"Yes, your excellency...artifact was is in the place thanks to our people that were hiding among mercenaries"

Dolion nodded satisfied with the job of his subordinates

He observed all the rotten nobles inside this hall. There were many children and women playing and talking happily unaware of the terror that is approaching

Did he feel guilty knowing that he will ruin the lives of so many people?

The answer would be...No!

After all, he has already done enough for the kingdom.

He trained for years to go higher...shed blood and tiers for this kingdom.

Now it was the kingdom´s turn to repay him for his hard work with the lives of these rotten aristocrats.

"Your excellency...can we really believe the world of someone that is not one of us?"Bonnet asked with a worried voice.

It was not because he didn´t believe his master. It was because the information they got was from an outside source. It could be a very well-made trap from the kingdom´s side.

"I understand your worry...but it was Underworld king who gave me this information," Dolion said proudly

Eyes of many members who didn´t know widened with surprise.

"I knew that man for a long time...He could be called savage or beast but he is not a liar. He wouldn't prepare a trap like this and there is none in the world who could make him use underhand tactics. He has his pride and when he wants to destroy someone he will do it with his own hands"

Dolion was sure that the information given by the Underworld king was right. If he wanted to kill him he would be able to do it himself. After all, he has all the strength to do it anytime.

There is no need to lure anyone into the trap. That was not a style the man known as Underworld King preferred. At the same time, there was none who would force him to do something like that..even if the king himself tried.

Because of that, the Underworld king was one person Dolion could believe in and was grateful for this opportunity.

"I will need to reward him after all of this.." Dolion mumbled to himself

He then took a small vial full of black murky liquid.It looked more like living things than actual liquid as it moved inside a small glass vial. Instead of being disgusted, other members showed reaction of jealousy at the sight of disgusting liquid entering his mouth,

He drank it until nothing was left behind and felt his power slowly increase. It was not enough to break through but it gave him enough power he needed to finish the ritual.

"We will start summoning before dinner will start...be ready for signal"

"Yes!"(20x)

"Mohohho I can´t calm my excitement... it's time to release our true saviors into this world!!!!"Dolion laughed as his eyes were hidden behind dark mist"

[A/N

Fun Fact 2-Uriel has absolute loyalty to the divine. And if ever Orion turns his back on them or they order her to kill him. She would do it without hesitation and ignore her personal feelings even though she know she would die in the process.

If you believe this novel has potential please support it. Write comments on what you think about this chapter or write a review. Love you all]