Breath of Holy Law

Naimus walked along the village's cobblestone road. Every villager he passed respectfully bowed to him.

Naimus returned their greetings with a warm smile.

This was something that had never happened before.

Just as Naimus had assessed Nigel, Nigel wanted to be a bad person, yet could never fully commit to being bad. He wanted to be a good person, yet lacked the persistence for it.

Though he possessed kindness, he shut himself away behind a sour expression, leaving himself isolated and helpless.

Yet in truth, changing one's reputation was not particularly difficult.

Naimus was certain that when the two people from the Church, supposedly interns but actually here to investigate, asked the villagers about him, they would receive mostly glowing praise.

That alone would save him a great deal of trouble.

"So, do you understand now?" Downs followed behind Naimus, having already changed into a new set of clothes, when he heard Naimus speak.

"What kind of person you truly are does not matter to most people. What matters is what kind of person you appear to be."

Building an image was one of the quickest ways to gain benefits from strangers.

"Most people have limited mental capacity. They often cannot process complicated matters, so those who dislike thinking tend to habitually stick labels on others."

"Then their minds follow that label when deciding how to treat you."

"So disguising yourself as the kind of person they like is a method that requires little effort yet brings enormous rewards."

Downs nodded, seeming to grasp something.

Naimus told Downs this only because he did not want his subordinate to be too foolish.

The other man was currently flushed with success. If he lacked even this much sense, provoked someone's jealousy, and caused problems with Naimus's arrangements, that would be the greatest loss.

Naimus smiled and nodded at a villager before arriving at Otto's residence.

He then had Otto's servant announce his visit.

Otto hurried to the entrance and received Naimus.

Inside Otto's study, the servant set down brewed black tea and pastries, then turned and left, closing the door behind him.

"Downs really is lucky. Though he encountered a demon, he unexpectedly embarked upon the extraordinary path and even earned Mr. Nigel's favor." Rather than immediately asking why Naimus had come, Otto sighed over Downs, who stood behind Naimus.

This story had only spread yesterday. Downs had not gone around telling everyone, yet Otto still knew. That could only mean Otto had been paying close attention to them.

"I merely saw a good deed through to the end. I could hardly turn a blind eye to sinful matters involving demons, could I?" Though Naimus spoke of Downs, his words carried another meaning.

Otto caught the faintly mocking tone in Naimus's voice. Just as he was about to probe further, Naimus continued.

"After all, people from the Church will come to investigate in a few days. If things are handled nicely, I can extricate myself more easily."

As Naimus finished speaking, sweat had already beaded on Otto's forehead.

He hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe it away, while his gaze sharpened.

"Oh, then congratulations. Perhaps Mr. Nigel will be promoted this time and leave our little village." After a brief silence, Otto offered his congratulations with a hint of delight.

"That is not certain yet." Naimus laughed. "Besides, even if I can leave, I might not be willing to."

"After all, generous people like Mr. Otto are not easy to find."

"Merely handling a few matters within my duties earned me so many token donations from Mr. Otto."

"Of course, of course!" Otto's smile was now entirely insincere.

He had fully understood what Naimus meant.

Naimus had discovered his business and was now telling him to clean it up and make everything look proper.

At the same time, the bribes Otto had given Naimus needed a proper pretext, transforming from bribes into token donations.

Naimus was clearly signaling that he wanted to distance himself from these matters.

Otherwise, Otto would become one of Naimus's "matters within his duties."

Yet the threat in his words had not been made overly explicit.

"I only came today to discuss the matter of the token donations, so I will not disturb Mr. Otto any longer." Naimus rose to take his leave. He had not touched a single sip of the black tea or a bite of the pastries the servant had brought.

"As you wish." Otto rose as well, but unlike before, he did not intend to see Naimus to the door.

The Precept of Forgiveness was not triggered. It seems the current situation has not yet met the conditions for me to forgive Otto. As Naimus was leaving, he turned to look toward the shadows nearby.

The Rope of Oath had sent him a response. The Village Guardian, who also carried a segment of the Rope of Oath, was hiding there.

Naimus had come today precisely to stir the grass and startle the snake.

He would pass along a message to prepare Otto for the investigation, while also having the Village Guardian lie in wait and locate the site where Otto was digging the Whale Skin Mine, along with some of the people involved.

Only by confirming these things could Naimus gradually seize the initiative.

Then he could clearly judge whether to silence them to ensure his own safety, or help conceal the matter and muddle through.

Naimus had not handled it personally, instead sending the Village Guardian, precisely so that this matter would appear unrelated to him.

I still do not have enough people, Naimus thought.

Though Downs possessed demonic power, he lacked experience and could easily make mistakes.

Though Pur was mature beyond his years, steady in temperament, and loyal, he was still not strong enough.

With so few people, Naimus found himself constrained in everything he did.

I still need to develop a hidden force, in the form of a Cult... After confirming from Pur the importance of faith in himself, he had decided to establish a Cult of his own.

But this could not be rushed.

At present, the churches of the righteous gods were spread everywhere.

Any Cult that did not belong to a righteous god would suffer the Church's severe suppression.

Even if he gathered enough people to form a Cult, its organization would not be tight enough. It would quickly be discovered, and then they would all be implicated.

Never underestimate the Church's determination when it came to suppressing heretics.

"So first, you need to control your demonic aura." Naimus decided to proceed step by step, starting by solving Downs's minor problem.

"I will teach you the Breath of Holy Law. You must endure the pain and practice it over and over!"

"Breath of Holy Law?!" Upon hearing that name, even Kurog, who had been playing dead inside Downs's body, could not help crying out in surprise. "Nigel, who exactly are you?!"

Even though he was merely a Lesser Demon of the Abyss, Kurog had heard of the Breath of Holy Law. Its existence was etched into demons' inherited memories as common knowledge.

It was the most advanced Breathing Technique within the Church of Precepts. It was said that even ordinary people could use it to increase their breed, advancing from Black Stone Breed to Steel Breed.

Aside from the saints of the Church, virtually no one knew it!

Coo, coo-coo, coo-coo-coo-coo, coo!