Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 256 - 242: Demon man

Aurianna’s gaze hardened as she met his eyes. "So, are you here to stop me, or just to give me a warning?"

Batholem’s expression turned serious. "Whatever it is you’re planning, I’d strongly advise against going through with it."

Aurianna turned her attention to him, her voice low and challenging. "And why is that?"

Batholem’s fists were clenched and he tried to hold in his trembling hands. For the first time, the cold gaze in Aurianna’s eyes scared him. Taking a steadying breath, he spoke, "I don’t want you to cross my sister. If you kill anyone she doesn’t deem a criminal, she’ll hunt you down herself. That’s my warning."

Aurianna’s lips curled into a soft, unsettling laugh. "Chi, chi, chi... lalalalala." She broke into a bright smile, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Don’t worry, Batholem. Anyone who deals in slavery isn’t even human in my eyes. But I’ll keep your warning in mind." Her smile sharpened. "As long as they’re criminals, I can kill them, right?"

Batholem nodded, trying to mask his nervousness. "Ah... yes."

Just then, a hand roughly yanked Aurianna’s hair, forcing her head back. "Well, aren’t you softer than I expected!" sneered a middle-aged demon man, his grip tightening as he examined her with a twisted smile.

Aurianna’s face darkened, her voice icy. "Let go of my hair."

The man smirked, surprised at her boldness. "What’s with that look? Do you know who I am?"

She scoffed, unflinching. "No, and I couldn’t care less. Now. Let. Go."

Peter stepped forward, his eyes hardening. Two sharp wind arrows materialized, hovering beside the man’s neck. "You might want to listen to the lady and let go, unless you’d like a new hole in your neck."

The man’s face twisted with anger, but he didn’t release his hold. "You... you dare? I am—"

"I don’t care who you are," Batholem cut in, his expression just as cold as Peter’s. "Let go of Lady Aurianna’s hair. Now."

The demon man finally released Aurianna’s hair, his lip curling in contempt as he eyed her. "So, is she your friend? I’ll offer a million platinum coins to buy her. She could make a valuable addition to the Flonkong Organization’s merchandise," he said with a calculating nod.

Aurianna’s expression didn’t waver, but her expression became less friendly.

The man noticed, chuckling. "What’s with that glare? Don’t you know it’s perfectly normal for people to sell their companions to the Flonkong Organization? Or are you new here in Heaha Town?" His smirk widened as he leaned closer, his voice dropping to a sneer. "Whether you sell her willingly or not, one way or another... she’ll belong to us."

"Did you say you’re with the Flonkong Organization?" Aurianna asked, her voice chillingly calm as an immense, suffocating pressure engulfed the entire hotel. She rose from her seat, and in an instant, she was standing before the demon man, her gaze cold.

The man’s former arrogance crumbled as he dropped to his knees, trembling under the crushing weight of her aura. His mouth went dry, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

’This pressure... how can a child have such terrifying power?’ Yelina thought, her heart pounding as she instinctively gripped her sword, ready to act if things escalated.

Aurianna stared down at the demon with disdain. Her presence alone made it feel as though he were drowning in a dark, suffocating sea. "I didn’t know... you were a Grand Human. My apologies... I can make it up to you... if you’d like," he stammered, barely able to speak under her overwhelming aura.

Ignoring his pitiful attempts, Aurianna’s voice cut through his fear. "Bear mask woman. Is she here?"

At first, the man blinked in confusion, but then recognition dawned on his face. "You mean Athena? Yes, yes, she’s here! I... I’m so sorry, okay?" he choked out, his body trembling as he desperately clung to whatever shreds of hope he could find.

Aurianna’s expression softened into a bright smile that sent chills down his spine. "Thanks for the information." Her pleasant tone almost gave him a sense of relief—until her next words crushed it entirely. "Zagan, you can have him for lunch."

The demon man’s face turned pale as Zagan transformed, his small, innocent cat form shifting into a monstrous, slime-like creature, teeth gleaming as he slithered forward. Horror dawned on the man’s face, and he scrambled backward.

"W-wait! Please! I apologized, Madam! There’s no need to—"

But his words fell on deaf ears as Aurianna watched, her eyes cold and unyielding. Zagan lunged forward, devouring the demon man, whose pleas turned into screams of agony that echoed through the hotel. Soon, a sickening crunch marked the end, and silence fell.

The once blood-stained floor was spotless as Zagan reformed back into his cat form and leapt onto Aurianna’s shoulder, purring contentedly.

"Good boy, Zagan," Aurianna praised with a soft smile, gently scratching his ears.

"Master, your aura... it’s crushing me," Zagan winced in pain, his small body visibly struggling under the pressure.

Aurianna blinked, snapping out of her trance. "I’m sorry, Zagan," she muttered, her voice softening. Yet beneath it, a dark glint lingered in her eyes. Her fingers dug into her cheeks, leaving faint red marks as she scratched it frantically, "That man... he was so annoying. So annoying, so annoying, so annoying," she muttered in a crazed tone. She caught sight of the uneasy stares around her and inhaled deeply, forcing herself to calm down. Her aura receded.

Across the room, Nakim whispered, his voice barely steady. "I’m scared, Kakui."

Kakui narrowed his gaze, trying to read Aurianna’s expression. "That level of bloodlust... it’s the mark of someone who’s killed not just monsters but countless people. She’s no simple child."

"Even if she’s a Grand Human," Yelina added, her hands shaking as she clenched her sword, "it doesn’t explain how she got out of that Ruin. There’s more to her than I thought."

Aurianna’s gaze turned toward Peter and Batholem. "Afraid?" she asked with a sad smile.

Peter managed a nervous chuckle. "It... it would be a lie to say I wasn’t."

At that moment, a waitress approached, her face pale. "M-miss, we don’t allow... violence on our premises. I’ll have to ask you to leave," she said, her voice barely above a whisper, unable to mask the fear in her eyes.

Aurianna stepped towards the woman. Lifting her chin gently, she locked eyes with her, a delicate smile playing on her lips. "Did I kill anyone here? I’m sure you didn’t see anything, right?" Her voice was honeyed, almost mesmerizing.

The waitress’s eyes went blank, a dazed smile spreading across her face. "Of course, ma’am. I... I didn’t see a thing. Please, go on with your day."

Aurianna released her and watched as the woman stumbled away, utterly captivated. With a sigh, she turned back to Batholem and Peter. "Apologies for the inconvenience. I think it’s best if I take my leave. I hope you both enjoy the rest of your afternoon." She glanced at each of them, her gaze lingering briefly on Batholem, before turning to leave with Hadina and Zagan following close behind.

Batholem tried to call out to her, her name on his lips, but the sheer force of her killing intent still clung to him, rooting him in place, causing him to be unable to move. His hands and lips trembled. It was like nothing he’d ever felt, and it chilled him to the bone.

Peter, managing a composed smile, called out, "We’ll see each other again, right?"

Aurianna paused mid-step, turning back with a serene smile. "Of course," she replied, moving forward, with Hadina and Zagan with her, before disappearing into the hotel.

"To think she actually became a Grand Human," Peter mumbled, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Is that even possible?" Batholem asked, still in disbelief, his gaze darting over the lingering stares of terrified onlookers.

Peter shrugged, settling back into his seat with a chuckle. "Not for a normal person. But that’s Aurianna for you. And look at them all—they’re completely terrified," he added, subtly gesturing to the dazed group of people.

Batholem’s frown deepened. "I don’t think this is funny, Peter."

Peter rolled his eyes. "You’re acting like a child, Batholem."

"That killing intent was no laughing matter. It was... suffocating," Batholem murmured.

"Coming from a Royal Human? You’re way too soft. That’s why I even let you come on these missions with me. So you can get used to seeing the worst Imanity has to offer," Peter replied, his tone turning cold.

Batholem clenched his fists but forced himself to remain calm. "I know. But since you have the ability to see glimpses of the future, can you at least tell me what exactly Aurianna might do?"

Peter leaned back with a smug grin. "All I can say is that wherever that slave organization is, it’ll be reduced to ashes and the dungeon lands will disappear. And something... interesting will happen, which will just grant her a pardon for her crimes."

"’Interesting?’" Batholem narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean by that?"

Peter chuckled, standing up as Batholem followed. "I can’t spoil the surprise, can I?" he teased.

Batholem sighed, adjusting his cloak as they headed toward their rooms. "The others are probably worried. We should get back."

As they walked down the empty halls, Peter suddenly stopped. Batholem looked at him, puzzled.

Peter’s gaze was distant, his voice lowering. "Our future is... going to be messy, Batholem. Since you’re my bestfriend, I’ll give you a piece of advice. One day, you’ll have to choose a side. The side of a hopeful future... or the side of maniacs. But here’s the thing—if you choose the righteous side, you may not survive."

Batholem tensed, taking in Peter’s words. "Why would that be?"

Peter shook his head. "I can’t say." He continued walking, his pace quickening.

Batholem followed, his brow furrowed. "It doesn’t matter, Peter. I’ll always choose the righteous path."

Peter stopped again, this time without turning back. "Even if it means one day pointing your sword at Aurianna?" His tone was hard.

Batholem hesitated but then took a deep breath, his face set in determination. "Yes, even if it means that. Aurianna is my friend, but if she ever becomes a threat to my family or to innocent lives, I’ll stand by my family and fight against her."

’Annoying fool,’ Peter thought bitterly, his lips thinning. ’Tch. I don’t want to point my sword at you, either.’ He clenched his fist, his clock-like eyes flickering with a tremor of emotion before he continued walking