(21) Mesrath
Being worried about Nicokel's well-being, the coach had sent one of the two salamanders pulling the carriage to protect him.
This decision saved Nicokel's life in the end.
And led to the situation playing before his eyes right now.
Crimson and black flame clashed fiercely, merging into each other. Each fighting to dominate the other.
Unlike before, the salamander's appearance was completely unrecognizable. Domineering crimson blood covered its body like a banner, giving out a dazzling glow.
Facing off against the salamander was a half-humanoid being. Its body was made up of dark charred flesh, similar to charcoal and two horns protruded from its head. The black flame being released by him was filled with demonic energy.
Nicokel squinted his eyes.
'I didn't expect the salamanders to be this strong, it's totally pushing back that demon. Though it's just an avatar of the real demon, the salamander's performance is very impressive.'
Half of the demon's body was already destroyed within the few clashes that occurred by the time Nicokel walked back from the destroyed house.
The Salamander fighting against the demon was still in the young phase, not even an adult. Nevertheless, it could easily surpass normal gaseous stage mana users.
The two knights attacked in between too, chipping away at the demon's life.
Slowly the demon's avatar was pushed toward its destruction.
Nicokel checked his condition and then walked up to the demonic summoner, thrown at one corner of the road.
"Ho...." Nicokel shook his head looking at the dust covering the demonic summoner's body.
Pulling him back to a safe distance, Nicokel began analyzing the summoning circle. His eyes transformed and turned similar to amber.
Information pierced into his mind, making him grunt in pain.
'...That's useless information...I have no interest in learning the workings of that circle. I can't even understand half of the information that just flowed into my head.'
'I guess I just have to memorize it. The type of summoning circle used does not matter, what's important is the demon or angel you make a pact with. This brat might have known more...but it doesn't matter, huh?'
Looking at the scene where the demon's avatar was already mostly exhausted — Nicokel sighed to himself.
'The priest must be heading towards here, they might arrive any moment now...'
Hearing a dazed voice, Nicokel turned to the demonic summoner, who slowly recovered his consciousness. However, at the same time, the salamander spewed a huge amount of flame through the mouth, destroying the demon's avatar to oblivion.
"Ah..." The demonic summoner appeared dazed from the current situation too.
Such a reaction made Nicokel amused: 'So it wasn't him who activated the summoning circle? And instead, the demon opened it?'
Feeling this information to be valuable, Nicokel noted it down in his head.
Without waiting for the demonic Summoner to recover, Nicokel silently pulled out the sword from his hip.
A dangerous light flashed across his eyes.
"What a waste. I was thinking of letting you live, but now I can't let this slide, now can I? You tried killing me, so you will have to pay an appropriate price."
Light returned to the demonic summoner's eyes, immense fright passed through his body. Instantly making his body shake in fear from the blood thirst he felt on his skin.
Nicokel on the other hand lifted his hand high. He didn't see a reason to let the demonic summoner live anymore. The church would take him away either way and the reward won't change either.
'He might try to pull out something funny again too...' Cautiousness spread across Nicokel's eyes.
"Wait...! Wait for a second, please! I'm not a demonic summoner! That's the first time I ever summoned a demon...look, my mana is pure too!." Mana without a tinge of demonic energy materialized above his hand.
The two knights walked near Nicokel having taken care of the demon along with the salamander.
The demonic summoner's eyes began frantically shaking around, thinking of a way to preserve his life.
"....That's right! The church won't believe me to be a demonic summoner even if you hand me over! And I-I didn't want to kill you either! I just wanted to summon a normal demonic beast. I wanted to escape while it brought me time..."
"Shut up."
Nicokel spoke with his eyes squinted, things seemed to be developing in a strange direction.
'...This kid's mana is pure no matter how I see it, unlike the moment we all encounter him.'
The knights hearing the conversation were deep in thought, after listening to the demonic or not, the summoner's plea.
"....Is it a talent? Show me." Nicokel quickly deduced and looked deep into the summoner's eyes.
"Yes..." The summoner concentrated with a nervous face. The pure mana in his palm immediately turned into demonic mana.
Looking at the blue light flickering within the summoner's eyes, Nicokel retracted his sword deep in contemplation.
"So...you can use normal summoning or even normal swordsmanship?" Nicokel's eyes grew curious.
"Yes, I can use mana like any normal person."
Hearing this, Nicokel hummed in wonder.
Even if the summoner before him had not signed a pact with the demon, just the fact he used demonic summoning was heresy. It was more than enough to be punished by the church.
'And more than anything, he is from a barbarian bloodline, he would be executed one way or another.' Nicokel's eyes grew maliciously.
"What are you going to do now? And what's your name?"
Seeing Nicokel not showing any sign of wanting to kill him, the summoner was relieved internally.
Still sitting on the ground, the summoner introduced himself: "My name is Mesrath..."
"I see. Then Mesrath, the priest will reach here any moment now, what are you going to do?"
Despair crept up to Mesrath's face, he knew that the church won't care about his talent in the slightest. He had used demonic summoning, that was all that mattered.
"I don't know..."
A thin smile spread across Nicokel's face.
"Become my knight and I will save you and even give you a place to stay." Nicokel offered immediately with no hesitation.
"What...?" Mesrath stared at Nicokel, dumbfounded.
"Be quick, We don't have much time." Nicokel pressured with confidence.
'I might get the knowledge and a useful subordinate at once, taking him in.'