Book 2: Chapter 42: Explanation

Following Baron Albert into the Judgment Hall, Qin Lun realized they were already at the top floor of the Main Keep. The roof was the spire of the tower. The hall was square, surrounded by large stained-glass windows reaching to the floor. Aside from concentric magic circles on the ground, the space was completely empty.

Upon entering the Judgment Hall, most of the Demon Hunters showed expressions of comfort on their faces. Only Qin Lun felt nothing unusual. However, he immediately understood. Back when he signed the Demon Hunter Oath, its guardian power hadn’t affected his Law Body at all; it had merely formed a layer of magical resistance on his surface. Naturally, the Immortal Power in the Judgment Hall couldn’t affect him now either.

“Nova, Meyer, now you can speak!” Baron Albert walked to the center of the space and made a gesture. “What exactly did you discover over the last few days in Maiar Forest?”

“I’ll explain,” Meyer said, glancing at Nova. He stepped forward and began recounting the scouting mission.

There wasn’t much to say about the initial skirmishes with magical creatures over the first two days, which Meyer quickly summarized. He focused instead on how differences arose among the group that were later resolved. He told of splitting into two teams to lure away the magical creatures and search for the Witch’s Cottage. This included the key battle where the Odo team hunted the witch.

Meyer hadn’t participated in the witch hunt, so he primarily relayed what Bonnie and Qin Lun reported upon returning to camp.

“So, you had a major discovery inside the Witch’s Cottage?” Baron Albert’s eyes lit up, and he pressed urgently.

Nova and Meyer exchanged a look. Meyer pulled the Witch’s Notebook from his coat and tossed it to Baron Albert. All the Demon Hunters fell silent, their gazes fixed on the Baron.

“…Are you suspecting that the Albert Family conspired with the Witch Maiar?” Baron Albert looked puzzled as he opened the notebook. Quickly, he noticed the two pieces of information Qin Lun had specifically marked out. His face drastically changed color, showing shock and anger. “No, father, no one suspects the Albert Family conspired with the Witch Maiar!” Bonnie, who had stayed silent until now, finally lifted his head, his expression firm. “But, I want to know why the Werewolf you gave me turned back into a human after it died!”

“It regained its human form!” Baron Albert frowned but didn’t immediately protest. He looked around at the Demon Hunters and stated calmly, “Demon Hunters who command non-human creatures are not unique to the Albert Family. I assume you have other questions. Ask them all together. I don’t want to answer them like a prisoner, one by one!”

Seeing Baron Albert’s anger, the Demon Hunters fell silent again. Even Meyer seemed hesitant to speak now.

“Let me ask the questions then. After all, I was the first to question the Albert Family,” Qin Lun said smoothly, stepping out from behind the others with a slight smile toward Baron Albert.

“You? Doctor Stan?” Baron Albert stared at Qin Lun in disbelief.

“Your Excellency Baron, you really shouldn’t be surprised. Do you not realize that any doctor who saw Little Miller even once would inevitably have questions?” Qin Lun sighed softly, shaking his head. “Especially after you showed me all those medications ‘left behind’ by the other doctors.”

“They… were not killed by the Albert Family. They were…” Baron Albert flushed slightly, sounding embarrassed.

“I know. They likely all died from infection, not by deliberate harm from the Albert Family!” Qin Lun nodded faintly. “But any doctor looking at Little Miller would immediately deduce he had been bedridden for a long time. Catching the epidemic disease couldn’t have happened overnight. That the child hasn’t died from the disease in all this time inevitably makes one wonder if he is the source of infection.”

Baron Albert fell silent again, his expression shifting unreadably. The initial anger vanished.

“According to the witch’s notebook, Stephen’s wife was a Witch Maiar named Mary Claire, who used the alias Nina. A little over a year ago, it was you who led two types of magical creatures to kill Nina and take Stephen and Little Miller away. Stephen vanished, and Little Miller fell ill in bed. Then came the strange outbreak of epidemic disease throughout the Aodia Region.”

Qin Lun curled his lip slightly and continued, “Whether a Werewolf comes from a human isn’t really the core of our confusion! What everyone truly wants to know is: Is the epidemic in the Aodia Region the Undead Plague leaking out during your development of magical creatures? Little Miller has been sick for so long, yet other Albert Family members show no signs of illness. Do you have some medicine or item that grants immunity?”

“So, you think I was using Nina’s Black Magic to develop magical creatures, which caused the Undead Plague to leak?” Baron Albert’s face went pale, as if struck a heavy blow. He couldn’t help but stagger back two steps.

“Thomas, none of us believe you’d use Black Magic to develop those creatures. But you must explain why Little Miller got sick and what medicine you used to keep him alive for so long?” Lady Nova stepped forward, her expression anxious.

“Nova, even you…” Baron Albert took a deep breath, closing his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, his expression had calmed.

“I have nothing to say about that. Werewolves are not magical creatures at all. I can prove that. As for Little Miller’s condition… I cannot explain it. I can only say it’s because members of the Albert Family have a somewhat unique constitution. If you don’t believe me, ask Bonnie. Ask him if he’s ever taken any special immunity medicine.”

“That doesn’t prove anything. You could have mixed that medicine into Bonnie’s meals!” Qin Lun narrowed his eyes slightly, a faint smile on his lips. “Of course, it’s not impossible for you to prove your innocence. Since Little Miller has survived this long, I believe his father, Stephen Albert, must still be alive too. If you could just have him come out to testify…”

“Wellington Stan, you have not earned the right to demand anything of me!” Baron Albert fixed a cold stare on Qin Lun.

Qin Lun smiled faintly and stepped back, blending into the group once more.

“Thomas Albert, within the Judgment Hall, Demon Hunters of the Aodia Region no longer follow your leadership. We are equals here, brothers,” Meyer said slowly, his expression darkening. He stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Qin Lun.

“Doctor Stan’s words represent our position!” Tensions finally sparkled openly in Nova’s eyes, her fists, as large as bowls, clenching slowly. The other Demon Hunters’ expressions changed too, their looks turning cold and indignant as they watched Baron Albert.

“So this is the real reason you demanded I open the Judgment Hall…”

Baron Albert stood dumbfounded. He truly hadn’t expected this reaction from the Demon Hunters. It seemed the camaraderie of years felt like an illusion. He thought it was Qin Lun who should be facing their hostility. Could decades of friendship and shared battles with Nova and the others still not have built true trust?

Qin Lun watched coldly from the sidelines, a slight curve on his lips. The Baron’s reaction didn’t surprise him at all. When he first questioned the Albert Family, Nova and the others had glared at him with disbelief, utterly unwilling to trust him.

Keep in mind Qin Lun had just fought a life-or-death battle against Witch Meisha and had treated injuries sustained by many in the group. Even so, it was clear the Demon Hunters held deep bonds with the Albert Family. They wouldn’t easily betray each other.

But things were different now. The relentlessly advancing epidemic forced these Demon Hunters to temporarily set aside their personal ties to Baron Albert. Their fundamental duty to protect the human world left them no choice.

“Father, you must explain everything to us—fully and in detail!” Bonnie said with utmost seriousness, emphasizing each syllable, “Because victims of the epidemic have appeared in Han… Sen… Town!”

“Hansen Town… Hanover region…” Baron Albert shuddered as if struck, his gaze sweeping wildly across the gathered faces before him, seemingly seeking confirmation of the news. His demeanor instantly crumbled from defiance into bleak despair.

“It’s true, Thomas! Tell us the truth!” Lady Nova pleaded, unable to bear his expression, turning her head partly away. “There might still be a chance to make things right!”

“…Fine. Since you insist on knowing, I’ll tell you.” Baron Albert slowly raised his head, his face expressionless as he walked towards the back of the hall. “There’s a belief among Demon Hunters in the Aodia Region: members of the Albert Family age exceptionally quickly. Even as Demon Hunters, we have the lifespan of ordinary people. But none of you have ever known why this is.”

“Thomas, is there a secret here?” Lady Nova asked, sensing significance.

“Indeed. It’s not that every Demon Hunter in the Albert Family ages quickly, but specifically the reigning Baron!” Baron Albert stated evenly, a hint of irony in his voice. “It’s simply that the Albert line has always lacked many heirs, and the one who steps forward to lead is always the current Baron. Over time, this gave you all the wrong impression.”

The Demon Hunters frowned slightly, sinking into recollection. Thinking carefully, they recognized the pattern. Looking at this generation: Baron Albert aside, Bonnie Albert had been wandering abroad until Stephen’s incident brought him back to Albert Castle.

Stephen Albert had barely ever met the other Demon Hunters. The Baron had explained publicly that Stephen disliked fighting, was never trained as a Demon Hunter, and thus kept out of their affairs. Now that seemed likely to conceal something deeper. As for Laura, Nina, Elizabeth, and Miller—their presence was even fainter. No one really knew much about their situations at all.

“In truth, every male heir of the Albert Family starts with whatever combat profession they choose. But once they become the Baron… they inevitably become a Summoner,” Baron Albert said quietly, leaning a hand against a window.

“The Immortal Power we gain from that moment forward must sustain the lives of our contracted beasts. It cannot benefit ourselves any longer. The Albert Family Werewolves aren’t magical creatures. They are humans bound to us by a Servant Contract.” His voice held quiet intensity. “Human siblings… who volunteered to guard our world, dedicating themselves to the cause of the Demon Hunters!”

CRASH! Baron Albert suddenly punched through the stained-glass window in front of him and leapt through, falling downward.