"Regardless, we must first capture that small demon to uncover who's causing trouble in this village!" Naimes carefully assessed his physical condition through subtle sensing.
"This body is merely Black Stone grade. Although Naier maintained regular exercise, his indulgence in smoking and drinking left both body and mind damaged, never reaching the Black Stone grade's limit. Considering an ordinary Black Stone individual's baseline as one and their limit as ten, this body—even with breathing techniques and the recent life enhancement—only reaches eight."
"Meanwhile, a small demon only needs slight adaptation to immediately reach the Black Stone limit and prematurely gain supernatural traits—immortality, making it impervious to ordinary weapons."
"I could certainly strengthen this body with demonic power, but that would expose me. The holy knight breathing techniques I currently possess can harm it, but killing it would require excessive consumption of my origin power—not worth the cost."
"Moreover, demons make excellent enforcers... shouldn't waste one carelessly..."
These thoughts flashed through Naimes' mind before he settled on a plan.
His gaze fell upon Tangs, who stood with bowed head nearby, pondering how to repair the sheepfold.
Tangs lived right beside the sheepfold. Naimes' superior vision easily took in the man's dwelling and the remaining huddled sheep inside the pen. Certain details revealed Tangs' fundamental nature.
Beneath his rule-following shepherd identity pulsed a restless heart.
"Tangs, isn't it? Do you want to change your fate? Gain power? Rise above your station?" Naimes spoke bluntly. With villagers trapped in such limited lives, subtlety was wasted—they often couldn't comprehend it.
"I... I can?" Tangs lifted his head to meet Naimes' gaze, once again seeing his own reflection—so pitiful, so weak.
"I'm just lowborn... a shepherd... how could I possibly..."
Tangs possessed no confidence for anything beyond tending sheep. The darkness within had imprisoned him within these fold boundaries. Fresh chapters posted on NoveIＦire.net
Until now, when a piercing light breached that darkness.
"Of course you can!" Naimes' unwavering tone made Tangs' blood surge with sudden heat.
"Tangs, understand this—the true tragedy isn't mediocrity, but accepting it as your fate."
"Day after monotonous day grinds down all edges."
"Now opportunity knocks." Naimes' words carried mesmerizing power. "Assist me in resolving this demon incident, and you'll gain strength. Your status will transform completely!"
"You'll break free from mediocrity's cage, emerging reborn."
"So—will you obey my commands to seize this chance?"
During his Earthly existence of repetitive days, Naimes had felt unprecedented anxiety, watching everything about him being worn smooth by the curse of ordinariness.
When the miracle of transmigration occurred, he'd been ecstatic, knowing his awaited moment had arrived.
Everything he'd done was preparation for that once-in-a-lifetime perfect wave—to ride it to the pinnacle!
Even descending into the abyss hadn't changed this determination.
That erupting inner power radiating from Naimes overwhelmed Tangs, leaving him speechless as the words saturated his mind.
Trapped in lowborn identity, resigned to lifelong shepherding, he glimpsed life's meaning for the first time.
His entire body trembled with excitement.
"I will!"
As Tangs answered, Naimes' demonic power stirred slightly—a new contract took form.
Dealing with such demonically ignorant people was child's play; a few phrases could make them pledge themselves willingly.
"Good. Wait here at the sheepfold. After nightfall, I'll return with instructions. When you hear my voice, obey immediately—understood?!"
"Understood!" Tangs nodded vigorously, the stench of sheep about him seeming to fade.
With arrangements made, Naimes returned to his quarters, consumed a meager lunch, then performed Naier's supplemental rituals to maintain sword-enhancing energies.
Soon dusk arrived.
Though demons didn't fear sunlight, they typically lurked by day and prowled by night.
After dark, human hearts grew treacherous, endless hidden desires providing perfect hunting grounds.
Having devoured a sheep last night, that small demon surely lay low today, digesting its meal.
Naimes had no interest in rat-hunting in sewers.
Better to wait until sunset, when darkness approached and the demon's restless urges would inevitably leak through suppressed restraint.
To Naimes' eyes, this shone as conspicuously as a bonfire celebration at midnight.
"This demon was likely summoned here deliberately." Naimes walked unhurriedly through gathering dark—night posed no obstacle, the torch in his hand merely disguising his night vision.
A black shape lunged from shadows as he spoke.
Naimes raised his knight sword to meet it, sparks flying from the collision like clashing metals.
To Naimes, the attacker appeared as an oversized black rat the size of a large dog.
Black smoke-like energy wafted from its body, the demonic stench unmistakable.
Missing its strike, the rat-demon scrambled sideways, then whipped forward a dark blur—its segmented, flesh-colored tail moving whip-fast.
Though Naier had been eccentric, his skills proved adequate.
Naimes sidestepped the tail strike, his steady breathing—the unique church-inherited technique—stimulating his body slightly as spiritual light erupted within.
An upward sword slash followed. The formerly metal-hard demon flesh and chain-like tail softened under this glow.
The blade sliced through the tail, black blood dripping.
Though not completely severed, the tail hung limp by shreds of flesh at its base.
Pain enraged the demon. It gaped its maw, emitting guttural snarls.
"Enough. Don't force me to kill you. Shall we talk now?" Unfazed by the snarling, Naimes released a tendril of greedy demonic aura at precisely this moment.