Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

City of Sunhaven. Kingdom of Eldorath. Joravar Continent.

The entire city of Sunhaven was in a festive season.

It was the week of the Festival of Intoxication, celebrated all across Labh Salem wherever the temples of Sekhmet had a presence in the region.

This week-long celebration honored the goddess Sekhmet, during which her followers played music to soothe the wildness of the goddess.

They ritually consumed great quantities of beer and wine to imitate the extreme drunkenness that had once halted the wrath of the goddess, preventing her from destroying a certain region somewhere.

The festivities were not only a religious tribute to the goddess Sekhmet but also a time for the community to come together, revel in merriment, and indulge in various cultural activities.

Throughout the week, the city's streets were adorned with colorful banners, vibrant decorations, and the intoxicating aroma of various foods and beverages.

The temples dedicated to Sekhmet were particularly adorned with elaborate flower arrangements, incense, and offerings to honor the goddess.

One of the central aspects of the festival was the week-long musical performances that echoed through the city. Musicians, both local and from afar, showcased their talents, playing tunes that were believed to calm the wild nature of Sekhmet.

The rhythmic beats and melodious tunes filled the air, creating an enchanting ambiance that resonated with the spirit of the celebration.

Devotees and celebrants alike partook in various forms of beverages, believing that the act mirrored the extreme drunkenness that had once appeased Sekhmet's wrath. The revelers engaged in toasts, shared laughter, and celebrated the joy of life.

The festival also featured various cultural events, including dance performances, theatrical plays, and art exhibitions. Local artisans and craftsmen displayed their works, adding an artistic flair to the festivities. Traditional ceremonies were held, recounting the tales of Sekhmet and the significance of the festival in the city's history.

When Eren first arrived at Sunhaven, the festival for that year was about to begin. This was the reason why the royal scions from Eldorath had come to Sunhaven.

Of course, Eren had compelled some of the royal scions who had bothered him for no reason to commit all kinds of bizarre acts, resulting in their loss of heads and, eventually, their lives.

However, that didn't stop him from participating in the festival every year. The butcher liked this festival for a simple fact that it allowed him to indulge in his vice for an entire week. By seeing that the other people were drinking more than him, he felt like he was normal and wasn't doing anything too excessive. After all, one feels normal when they observe that there are more people in the world like them.

Eren's identity held great importance for the people of Sunhaven. As the only E-Rank potion-maker in the city, Ren Roman Idril received special treatment from both the city administration and the local temple body.

***

It was the first day of the annual Festival of Intoxication.

A grand stage had been set up in the middle of the city square's spacious open space. A huge crowd gathered in front of the stage, eagerly paying attention to the activities unfolding.

Ren Roman Idril appeared in his usual refined and scholarly attire, a man in his mid-30s wearing formal clothes. A light smile graced his lips as he surveyed the crowd around him.

Seated with a few distinguished guests on the stage, Ren shared the space with Eldorathian royalty, distinguished elders from reputed Sunhaven families, successful merchants with active businesses in the city, and scholars and individuals from nearby cities. Of course, Wilfer was also seen seated beside him, chatting with him enthusiastically from time to time.

Arman, Ren's attendant, stood behind his seat, feeling proud as he looked at the sea of people gazing back at him with a hint of envy in their eyes. His pride stemmed from his journey from being the boy from the boonies who once struggled to obtain Sunhaven's permanent residency. The onlookers envied him as the sole apprentice of the city's successful potion-maker.

"And now, I request Rook Ren Roman Idril to stand up and award some of the local youngsters of Sunhaven who have become Practitioners this year by successfully forming the F-Rank mana core," announced the speaker on the stage, addressing Eren while ensuring his mana-enhanced voice reached every corner of the city square.

A round of applause followed as a boy, appearing to be in his early teens, stepped up on stage. His eyes gleamed as he surveyed the crowd, relishing the attention and eager for more.

Ren Roman Idril rose from his seat, offering a smile to the boy and gesturing for him to come forward from his right. Simultaneously, a young woman approached from Ren's left, holding a bronze platter in both hands with a closed sack placed on it.

Ren took the sack, casually scanning it with his Mana Sense. It was a simple space-element alchemy item containing resources, both mortal and Practitioners' wealth, along with a copy of a Tantra Practice suitable for the boy standing before Ren with expectant eyes.

The Tantra practices freely distributed originated from the temple of Sekhmet, ensuring that those who used them would return to the temple for further iterations in the advanced ranks. It was a subtle method of soft recruitment employed by the temples.

Of course, most of these teens would remain in the F-Rank forever, not taking the Practitioners' Path. Forming a mana core was just a formality, a way for them to attain higher positions in their respective professions.

There were only a few dozen teens who had formed their mana core in their teens anyway. Considering the conducive environment of Labh Salem and overall population of Sunhaven, it was less than a drop in the bucket.

"Congratulations on forming your mana core," Ren congratulated the teen as he handed over the sack, smiling at him. The boy received the sack, bowed to Eren and the audience, acknowledged the applause, and then descended from the stage.

Watching the teen leave the stage, Eren sighed, reflecting on the rich customs of Labh Salem. In Anfang, there were no celebrations for mortals becoming Rankers in their youth. He recalled celebrating his own Ranker achievement by taking Nina out to dinner, using his own money.

Of course, Eren's past also made him recall the camping night he had with Nina and that brought a genuine smile to his face. It made him realize that his life in Anfang wasn't entirely bleak.

Eren continued congratulating more teens, presenting them with sacks containing various resources as they came to receive their awards one by one. Everything proceeded smoothly until a particular individual ascended the stage with malice in his heart.

[ Jaiye Sohren harbors feelings of greed in your presence. You have earned 0.2 Origin Force Points ]

[ Jaiye Sohren harbors feelings of envy. You have earned 0.1 Origin Force Points ]

[ Jaiye Sohren harbors feelings of wrath. You have earned 0.1 Origin Force Points ]

'Hm? What did I do to this fellow? Did I sleep with his lover while I was drunk?' Eren thought internally as he observed the approaching youth with a smile on his face.

'Naah. It's only the first day of the festival. I haven't even started drinking,' he discarded his previous conjecture.

This time, the butcher employed his Soul Sense to inspect the boy and discovered that the teen in front of him wasn't who he claimed to be.

'A man in his 20s. E-Rank late stage, a few steps away from entering the D-Rank. This is not the kind of Practitioner who should be in Sunhaven. Someone imported from outside?

Well, this should be interesting,' Eren identified the man through his altered appearance and hidden aura. However, he didn't let this revelation break his character and greeted the man as usual.

"Congratulations on forming your mana core," Eren said as he handed the guy the alchemy sack prepared for him. The boy hastily took the sack from Eren, his expressions turning ruthless with an evil smile.

"Hahaha, Ren Roman Idril! So you are that famous backer Wilfer is relying on," the teen's illusion unraveled as he transformed into the grown-up man he was in an instant.

His Ranking Status also surged from the vapor stage of the F-

Rank to the late stage of the E-Rank, enabling him to wield his mana power to the fullest.

He then glared at Wilfer with wild eyes and sneered before making an announcement to the entire audience.

"The Eldorathian king is dead, and Wilfer killed him. In the name of the fourth prince Wilwen and the future king, I shall avenge the previous king," the man declared before opening the restriction on the alchemy sack.

The entire crowd fell silent upon hearing the man's claim. Nobody understood what was happening, and confused expressions were exchanged among the onlookers.

It seemed that the man aimed to kill Wilfer and Ren in front of the audience, creating a chaotic scene.

Although he had been deprived of all his weapons before coming on stage, and there were a few Skill-based restrictions in the city square that prevented anyone from using their Inventory, he had already arranged for his weapons and other destructive items to be hand-delivered to him through the alchemy sack.