While the masterminds behind this particular Demon Refining plan in the Ataru Canyon was the Garibaldi family, they were by no means the only family involved.
In order to pull in as much help in this as possible, the Garibaldi family had secretly visited quite a lot of nobles and allied with them.
Of course, the Garibaldi family also made a lot of promises as well.
For example, one of them is that they would put up a quest with the adventurers guild, lure a certain party to accept it, and then trick them into coming to the Ataru Canyon.
That's because there's a woman that a lot of nobles in the Capital hates a great deal in that party.
Said woman is the daughter of the Arbin family, the child of that infamous sinner.
The Garibaldi family had considered the Arbin family as enemies for generations. The reason they were seduced by the [Original Devil] into enacting the Demon Refining ritual in the first place was to overturn the rankings and push the Arbin and Vladina families in front of them off the stage.
Given that, the Garibaldi family was only too willing to sacrifice a prodigy of the Aribins in exchange for such allies.
Thus, the many nobles who hate and despise the child of that sinner of the Arbin family had decided to join the Garibaldi family in this plot.
The old man's Christoldi family is one of them.
In other words, that old man joined in this plan for the sake of killing a certain girl.
Thus, rather than the completion of the Demon Refining ritual, he's more concerned with whether or not that girl had died or not.
However, as day after day has passed, they still weren't able to kill that girl.
It's solely because that girl's party also has a Protector God who, while not all that strong, is matchless when it comes to defensive battles.
"That Vivian again?"
The old man seethed.
Previously, he had also more than once attempted to use his family's authority to make trouble for Diere, but he was stopped every single time.
Of the people who stopped him, one of the is the Latrard family's Leili. There's also someone rumored to be of the royal family who quietly helped from behind the scenes.
Beside the two of them, the person who had helped Diere the most was Vivian.
Although Vivian isn't a noble, nor did she come from any kind of amazing background, she herself is extremely special, to the point of being called the Protector God of the Kingdom. That's why she could protect a little girl with just the strength she had.
This time, that Protector God of the Kingdom had once again protected that child of the sinner. That's why they weren't able to take her life all this time. This naturally make the old man extremely enraged and hateful.
It's also because of that, that when he heard that a representative of the royal family had entered the Canyon, that the old man stopped hesitating and directly activated the ritual and started the Demon Refining.
His goal was to make sure that no one in the Canyon will get out, turning them all into sacrifices for this Demon Refining ritual.
By now, the entire canyon is filled with rampaging demonic beasts and refining demons. Add in the attackers sent after them, the old man refuses to believe that they'll still fail to take the other party down.
"Gerald."
The old man summoned on of the nobles by him.
"Lord Vask."
The noble named Gerald immediately answered.
"Take a portion of our men and do whatever it takes to kill that bitch as fast as possible. Then bring her corpse back to show me."
The old man – Vask – gave out that order with a mercilessly cold voice.
"We're still adding more men?" Gerald was dumbfounded, "There's already a lot of our noble allies courageously pursuing them, Lord Vask."
In response to that, Vask didn't say anything. He just continued staring coldly at Gerald.
Gerald shuddered before hurriedly agreeing, "I've said too much. I'll take some men and head off right away!"
"Go." Vask spoke coldly, "Take some extra men. Kill those women as soon as possible. I don't want to wait anymore."
"Also, remember to remind the Garibaldi's side as well. If you encounter the representative sent by the royal family, don't hesitate and deal with them right away."
"Do not let any more unexpected factors to appear, got it?"
Vask had used his tone to convey to Gerald that he only wishes to hear good news from now on.
Otherwise, Gerald will likely have a very bad ending.
"U-understood, Lord Vask…!"
Gerald gulped before immediately taking a large group of men and running off.
Only then did Vask lead the remaining nobles in looking at the still struggling terrifying demonic beast.
His gaze seems to be one of reminiscence.
As he thought back to that nightmare all those years ago and all that he lost in that nightmare, Vask's expressions turned warped.
"Don't worry, my beloved wife and child."
"Although the main criminal has already been killed by that emotionless tool, the child who carries her blood is right here."
"I will definitely kill her no matter the cost and get revenge for you."
"Definitely…"
Vasks words made the nobles around him also show expressions of sorrow as well.
And that sorrow turned into warped hatred not long after.
After all, all of them, much like Vask, had also lost their families during the nightmare all those years back.
But the one behind it all was already gone.
Thus, their hatred had all unreasonably shifted onto Diere.
In order to kill that person's child, as well as to take revenge for their families, they joined in this treasonous plot.
Even if this will cost them everything.
…
On the other side, Shien and Airi had passed the outer areas of the Ataru Canyon and has now entered the inner areas.
"The magic power here seems to be even more amazing now." Shien muttered as he felt the enormous amounts of magic power in the surroundings that is constantly flowing toward the depths of the Canyon.
"This proves that we're getting closer to the center of the ritual." Airi confirmed.
"What about Vivian and them then?" Shien asked Airi, "Are we getting closer to them as well?"
"Of course." Airi nodded as she accused back, "Did you think that I'd ignore the situation there just to deal with the Demon Refining ritual?"
Shien didn't answer that question.
However, Shien did stare intensely at Airi.
That gaze of him seems to be asking a certain question.
"Won't you?"
That's how it is.
Airi immediately got mad.
"Of course I won't!" Airi angrily complained, "Since I already agreed to come find them, I definitely will do it. Even if I'm uninterested in those human girls."
That's true.
In that case, should he feel honored then?
Shien looked disdainfully at Airi, which made her really want to bit him.
As she forcefully pushed down that urge, Airi angrily spoke up.
"If you want to save those girls, then you'd best hurry. Theri position is constantly moving, and they're getting extremely close to the center f the Canyon's depths. Given that, they're either hurrying for some reason or they're being chased."
When he heard that, Shien kind of wanted to slap that brat in front of him.
"Why didn't you say so earlier!"
Shien immediately got ready to increase his pace.
However, right at that moment, a number of very obvious sources of hostility and magic power had entered the range of Shien's [Enemy Detection] and [Magic Detection], coming right for them.
"That's…"
Shien stopped for a moment before he understood.
Airi also narrowed her eyes.
"Suicidal insects."
When those contemptuous words came out of Airi's mouth, Shien just shrugged before lifting a magic staff.
It was the staff that Jacinta had given Shien.
Not long after…
"Boom!"
Waves of magic power erupted from afar.
The next second, countless spells shot out from that direction toward Shien and Airi.
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