The Devil’s Cage

‘Learning makes me happy.’

Kieran told himself that as he stabbed dummies in the eye with the dagger in his hand.

Wolf Sect’s technique was much more vast and complicated than he had expected.

That’s right, it was vast and complicated!

At first, Kieran assumed Wolf Sect technique was just some battle techniques, but after he started learning, he realized Wolf Sect’s battle technique only occupied a very small portion of the overall technique, not even a quarter of it all.

The rest consisted of all sorts of knowledge, from minor ones like medicinal knowledge, sword forging and armor tempering, to the major ones like stargazing and tide records.

In short, Wolf Sect had a complete and intact inherent knowledge.

From the minor to the major, starting from a single point and then suffusing wholly, and with all kinds of varieties, including almost everything.

Naturally, learning such substantial knowledge would be an extremely complicated process.

Fortunately, Kieran’s talent, [Memory Palace], was a huge help.

It didn’t just let him remember everything he read, it also increased his memory capacity for learning things in life.

Anderson was extremely astonished with this feat, but he felt it was only natural and logical.

After all, if he didn’t have such a high level of talent, how could he be the heir to Snake Sect?

And now, he wouldn’t just be the heir of Snake Sect, he would also be the heir of… Wolf Sect!

“Colin, your gifts are the best among all those I’ve met. A week! You’ve spent only a week and you have managed to learn more than three years of knowledge!”

The old Demon Hunter exclaimed highly about Kieran learning 3 years worth of Wolf Sect knowledge in under a week.

Kieran reacted calmly, knowing what made it possible and recognizing his own limits.

Wolf Sect’s techniques might be complicated but the things he had learned were also complicated itself. Regardless of whether it was the techniques or the knowledge, they were all complicated.

The simplest example was the weapons that Wolf Sect used and mastered, like daggers and polearm weapons. Kieran learned all of them before and were all leveled up to Transcendence level. Learning Wolf Sect’s techniques under such conditions would be easy, he could master them with a single stroke.

Much of the knowledge in Wolf Sect also shared similarities and roots with some of [Mystical Knowledge].

Given the conditions, plus his [Memory Palace], if he was unable to finish learning everything, only then Kieran would start to doubt his life.

At the same time, the knowledge he mastered appeared in his skill tab.

[Name: Wolf Sect (Unable to level)]

[Related Attributes: None]

[Skill Type: Ancillary]

[Effect: Sharp Weapon Type Skill Level +1, Mystical Knowledge (Wolf Sect) +1]

[Effect: None]

[Consume: None]

[Prerequisite: None]

[Remark: Wolf Sect’s technique isn’t just about the action, it’s also about the knowledge. This is the culmination of many generations of Demon Hunters, requiring a very long time to master it all. But you are different, with a rather high base level, so you quickly mastered this but what you have mastered is just the basics, you still need to find a grandmaster Demon Hunter if you want to learn advanced skills.]

…

A rather decent ancillary skill.

The Sharp Weapon Type Skill Level +1 alone was enough for Kieran to fork out his time to learn it.

Transcendence and Transcendence +1 were different, even though the description in the skill tab had no additional changes.

These things were like how people drink water and only the person knows whether it is warm or cold.

As for the advanced skills?

[Name: Guard Blade]

[Related Attribute: Spirit, Intuition]

[Skill Type: Offense]

[Effect: Use powerful Spirit and Intuition to control dagger and sword weapons, the flying speed and distance depends on the rank for Spirit and Intuition. You need to be at least S rank in Spirit and Intuition to use this skill. Control a targeted weapon within a 5 meter radius and grand it a Strong attack acceleration attack (Every rank on Advanced Rank Spirit will grant it Advanced Rank speed and attack +1, distance +10 meters, and so on; every rank on Advanced Rank Intuition will grant an extra target and extra controlled weapon, and so on.]

[Effect: None]

[Consume: Stamina]

[Prerequisite: Spirit, Intuition S]

[Remark: Grandmaster Demon Hunter Anderson’s personal unique skill, he taught you with all his heart.]

……

Sou!

Without any preparation, Kieran slightly sucked in a breath, raised his hand, and the dagger that was stabbed into the dummy flew back to his hand.

It was a clean and quick action.

After the scene, Anderson couldn’t help but applaud.

“If I wasn’t sure that you have never learned similar technique before, I might have assumed you learned Guard Blade a long time ago,” said the old Demon Hunter. Then he added, “Since you have mastered Guard Blade, you need to pay attention to how you communicate with the weapon in your hand. Don’t ask me how, I don’t know myself, I just bring them with me all the time out of experience.”

The old Demon Hunter then showed the rows of flying daggers that he hid on himself.

“It’s done. I have nothing else to teach you anymore. You should attend to your own business. If I keep you here any longer, Monte might barge in here furiously,” chuckled the old Demon Hunter.

Spending a week’s time with Kieran made the old Demon Hunter, who already looked highly at him, think of him as his own junior, especially when he taught Kieran his own signature skill [Guard Blade]. In Anderson’s eyes, Kieran was already his disciple, just without the name.

Demon Hunters were always lenient towards their juniors and disciples.

They might be strict at times but that was the farthest they could go with one of their own.

Of course, if the disciple really committed some unforgivable mistakes, the Demon Hunters also had their own ways of punishing the sinful.

Kieran heard what Anderson said, but he didn’t leave straight away. Instead, he stood straight and bowed to the old Demon Hunter.

“Thank you for your teaching in the past week.”

Knowledge is priceless.

No amount of politeness and manners were considered too over those who teach you knowledge unconditionally. It’s something they deserved.

The old Demon Hunter smiled and waved.

He saw Kieran off, then sighed softly.

“Too bad you can’t become my disciple in name, but… it’s enough for now. It’s enough.”

The old Demon Hunter then turned around and walked to the next tent.

There, his friend Tandeker was playing with the little girl Ellie cheerfully and happily.

For the past week, the little girl Ellie thought she too should exchange food with labour but she was too young and there was not really much work she could do. It was definitely not because of Sivalka standing behind her every single time, intimidating others with a ‘if you let my daughter work, I’ll work you’ kind of look.

In the end, Ellie came to the old Demon Hunter’s place and took care of Tandeker.

She was there to take care of Tandeker but she was actually just there to play with him.

Tandeker’s mind was damaged, so he had the mind of a 3 years old and even lost some of the ability to take care of himself. With a new environment and the treatment from the royal doctors, the once titled Demon Hunter was smoothly on the path to recovery. His intellect even recovered to that of a five or six year old and he could take care of himself on a basic level.

Anderson couldn’t help but smile at his friend when he saw how happy Tandeker was as he played with Ellie.

Then he headed to Miers’ tent.

The one who needed people’s care was the Tracker. She was still in a mummified and comatose state, there was no good news about her recovery at all. Even the royal doctors were helpless against it.

‘Lady Miers must have sealed herself away on her own. She must release herself from the seal, only then we can heal her, or else we are helpless against it.’

Anderson couldn’t help but sigh when he thought of what the royal doctor had said to him.

He never doubted the doctor’s validity a bit.

It wasn’t just because of the doctor’s great reputation, it was also part of his own judgement.

“Miers, wake up please. Our darkest times are over. We have a new comrade in our ranks now,” Anderson sat beside Miers and muttered to her softly.

It was also something the royal doctor suggested Anderson do, hoping that the constant talk would wake her up one day.

The old Demon Hunter did as was suggested.

Then, Tandeker brought Ellie towards another side of the camp.

Although Anderson was concentrating in talking to Miers, he still noticed Tandeker’s movement. He didn’t stop his friend though.

The camp had sufficient guards, he didn’t have to worry much.

Besides, it was not the first time Tandeker and Ellie left the tent and played throughout the camp.

Either Tandeker and Ellie were still kids, or, in terms of intellect, both of them needed some time in their lives to play.

Unbeknownst to Anderson though, the two ‘kids’ were playing something that surpassed his wildest imagination.

“Ellie, Ellie, remember to breathe, remember your strength. Take it, take it.”

Using the ruins as cover, Tandeker was pointed at a rock as big as a millstone at the corner of the camp.

Ellie wasn’t afraid, neither did she step down. Instead she was eager to try. Right after Tandeker’s voice faded, she reached out her little hands and grabbed a corner of the rock, bearing in mind the breathing techniques and how to utilize her strength the way Tandeker had taught her. She exerted strength through her hands and then… she lifted the rock as big as a millstone easily above her feet! She managed to lift it up to her knees before she ran out of breath and was forced to put it down.

“Ellie, Ellie. Remember, eat! Eat more, get strong! Eat more, get muscle! Muscle is power!”

Tandeker tapped on his chest, which was strong as a wall.

Ellie nodded in a daze.

Both of them had no idea what they were doing.

Tandeker was only sharing his secrets with his only friend and Ellie thought it was really a game, at most training her strength in the process so she could do more work and earn more money in the future to raise her sister. Plus, when Uncle Sivalka got old in the future, he wouldn’t need to work anymore.

As for anything other than that? Ellie couldn’t understand.

Likewise, no one paid attention to their little game. Everyone knew about Tandeker’s situation. Other than sympathy, no one would spare any attention, let alone watch over this pitiful Demon Hunter.

Though Sivalka always paid attention to his daughter, it was after he finished his duties and patrols, and Tandeker would pick the time when Sivalka was not around, or more accurately, Ellie would only drop by Tandeker’s tent when Silvaka was not around.

Erin didn’t notice the changes in her sister too.

It was not that she didn’t care about Ellie, it was just that Erin was too busy.

After becoming the youngest priest of the Mist, she had to spend most of her time throughout the day learning the creed of the Mist.

Even though the creed was simple, it was for adults only. For a little girl, it would still take time and energy for her to master, even more so when this little girl couldn’t read or write.

Therefore, studying and writing also became part of Erin’s daily routine.

Every afternoon, Erin Sicar, the new lord of Sicar, who shared the name with the little girl, would spend around an hour and a half teaching Erin to read and write.

Then it was martial art classes for the young girl.

Rogart was the teacher in charge of the lessons.

At night, she had to study the creed of the Mist.

Basically, when all her lessons ended, the little girl returned to her tent and would head to bed right away after saying hello to her little sister.

Ellie had several times where she wanted to share her secret with her older sister, but when she saw how tired her sister was, she kept quiet and tried her best not to make noise.

She didn’t want to wake her sister.

Then she too trained harder, hoping that one day she could share the burden.

She would when she was strong enough! Ellie naively thought.

The two little girls were growing secretly.

The slums in the Lower Seventh Ring had also completely transformed into the camp for the Mist.

For a week’s time, with a lot of help from various parties, the slums had transformed anew.

The fences, antler barricade, watchtowers, all of them were coming to shape.

Swords, spears, armors, and muskets even appeared in the guards’ hand.

At the same time, the guards from Edatine palace also slowly joined them, and when one of the palace guards showed interest in the creed of the Mist, he was welcomed.

There was no hindrance, no criticizing at all.

The heir of Edatine and Snake Sect had an unusual relationship with the Mist anyway.

War God Temple, who had just teamed up with the heir, also wouldn’t say anything about this.

Turning a blind eye was the best option for now.

And as the one who orchestrated everything from the dark, Bloody Mary continued to be active among all the factions with its several identities, Simon, Edatine VI and Kurtzargert, and it was getting more and more skilled in its disguise.

It even thought that it had the time to play several more roles but the setups were done. It has no need to take up a new role for now.

Today, as Edatine VI, after it returned to the small council room, Bloody Mary immediately transformed into Councilman Kurtzargert.

After it quickly checked its flawless disguise, Kurtzargert immediately appeared in a room at Silent Night Town.

Outside the door, Horlaika and Horfe had been waiting for Bloody Mary.

“My lord.”

“Sir.”

Horlaika and Horfe greeted Blood Mary in different titles.

Then, Horlaika stepped aside and left the reporting to Horfe.

Although he was also part of Silent Night Secret Society, the north and the south were clearly distinguished. Even though Edatine Castle was Kurtzargert’s turf, nothing would change.

Since the report was on the southern councilmen, it would be Horfe’s responsibility to report.

Horfe was also extremely grateful for that.

In fact, Horfe realized Edatine Castle’s environment was far better than the south.

It was not about the resources or the living condition, it was the atmosphere.

Everyone was competitive, but no one made a move behind one’s back. Even when Colipo and Ludus had fallen into misfortune, Kurtzargert was never in a hurry to make his move. Instead, he calmed everyone down first.

Even for outsiders like him, as long as they didn’t get on the councilman’s bad side, they were all treated equally and were fair in receiving punishments and rewards.

It was impossible to find these qualities in the southern councilmen.

Therefore, after some slight discomfort, all the representatives of the southern councilmen, including Horfe, started to like this place, hence more effort was poured into their work, such as now.

When the internal news he received allowed him to decide whether or not to report it, Horfe chose to report it without a second thought.

“Sir, the compensation for Prince Colin is here. And… about that ‘him’ behind the scenes, we have some new discoveries.”