Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

A gathering den of the Order of the Root Coven.

Somewhere in Labh Salem, nestled deep within an underground city.

The members of the Root reveled in their recent triumph over enemy forces.

The den echoed with the sounds of celebration—singing, dancing, and the enticing aroma of barbecue filled the air. Shadows of revelers danced by the fire, creating rhythmic patterns on the ground and walls.

Amidst the joyous chaos, away from the bustling crowd, a couple found solace in each other's company. The man, young and handsome, and the woman, demonically beautiful, were none other than Ivor Osan and Hettie.

While others discussed raids, demonic rituals, and territorial matters, Ivor and Hettie engaged in conversations unrelated to the typical coven subjects.

Hettie, once resurrected by Eren, had been given a second chance at life. Similarly, Eren had saved Ivor, enabling him to leave Anfang and explore the vastness of Labh Salem.

Ivor had once thought that being labeled as Osan Woods' Butcher was the biggest misfortune in his life. That his life was over after the entirety of the Anfang Alliance had started hunting him.

However, after coming to a different world and handling a new set of challenges, Ivor realized how limited his perspective about life in general had been. He realized that the problems he had when he was just a teenager were not as big as he had made them out to be in his head.

Or perhaps, it was he who had grown stronger from his circumstances. Ivor realized that the "end" he was dreading in Anfang was nothing but a beginning. That life had more to offer to him other than a messed up family and shitty fate.

Separated initially, Ivor and Hettie had reunited after a few years and had been inseparable ever since, navigating the dangers and possibilities of this new world.

Their journey began with a promise made in the face of uncertainty inside Eren's formidable Birdcage—a promise that if they ever made it to Labh Salem, they would stick together, and explore together.

Surviving the Birdcage incident and the subsequent Great Shattering was nothing short of a miracle for them. Eren had basically rewritten their fate along with all the other denizens of Anfang.

Despite their initial attempts to find Eren in Labh Salem proving futile, Hettie and Ivor blossomed into a couple during their travels. They almost had nothing in common but somehow they didn't let their differences get between them.

Staying in Anfang would have limited Hettie's fiendish ascent, but Labh Salem offered myriad opportunities for her advancement. Transformed into a fiend by Eren, she bypassed the need for a Faustian Contract with another demon. This independence allowed her to tap into demonic energies directly, fostering steady progress in her newfound home.

Hettie was originally from Labh Salem, to begin with. She knew the ins and outs of the demonic rituals and demonic powers better than anyone in Anfang. She also knew which Skills were suited for which battle style.

As such, she streamlined her own progress as well as guided Ivor in his Ranking Path. The couple managed to rise through the ranks within the coven, which earned them a certain level of respect from their peers. They both were leading their respective teams, strengthening their coven one mission at a time.

Eren, having recently arrived in Labh Salem, reached out to the duo a few weeks ago. Ivor and Hettie were taken aback by the considerable time it took for Eren to join them.

Despite their eagerness to reunite with him, Eren advised them to continue their current pursuits. He didn't want to disrupt the substantial progress they had independently achieved, offering nothing in return.

Eren appreciated that those who chose to follow him in Labh Salem had already carved out a robust path for themselves. This showed him that he was not investing in them. It was as if the saplings he had planted in the past had been turned into trees that could grow on their own without his support.

Ivor, Hettie, Eliza, Layla, Leela, Maya, and others who had entered the Dimensional Gate with Eren were carving their own destinies in a new world. Disturbing their rhythm and impeding their progress would run counter to Eren's own objectives.

As such, the butcher urged Ivor and Hettie to concentrate on their individual growth, allowing the duo to continue their endeavors without interference.

Within a few short years of arriving in Labh Salem, Ivor Osan gained the illustrious title of the "Golden Demon." This designation stemmed from his Sin of Pride Ability, centered around his unique armor, which had evolved into a Unique Skill through his utilization of the Mesh.

Acting on Hettie's recommendation, Ivor joined the Root, a formidable coven in the region equipped with demonic resources, diverse Tantras, and expansive territories. His active participation within the coven contributed significantly to his advancement.

A combination of Ivor's innate talent, dedicated efforts, straightforward Ranking Path, Labh Salem's resource abundance for Rankers, and compatible Tantras propelled him to the esteemed rank of Grand Knight.

His Elemental Attainments soared when he used Tantras in combination with compatible Yantras and Mantras. His weapon proficiency leveled up when he made use of the special Arrays available in the coven. He also became well-versed in handling the demonic mana, unlocking several Skills that supported his Unique Skill.

Unlocking the Soul Sense further allowed Ivor to exponentially enhance his Spiritual Force compared to his time in Anfang. This Spiritual Awakening, in turn, heightened his proficiency in wielding his Sin Series Ability. Amidst Labh Salem's abundance of prodigious individuals, Ivor emerged as one of the most exceptional Rankers when all his advantages were stacked together.

With the fabled S-Rank status on the horizon, Ivor stood at the threshold of becoming a Sage or Kaiser—terms denoting S-

Ranked Ranker entities in Anfang and Labh Salem respectively.

Should his progress continue at its current pace, Ivor was poised to achieve Sage status within a few short years, a feat his grandfather, Issac Osan, could only dream of but ultimately failed to attain.