The female sorceresses within the Jialan Council always manage to have connections with the Demon Hunters. It is said that many council members have ambiguous relationships with those Demon Hunting Masters. People always joke about it, saying Demon Hunters do only three things in their lives.
Cleanse corruption, destroy evil, sleep with sorceresses.
Laine knows there is some truth to it. The women of the Jialan Council and Demon Hunters easily spark attraction, not just because of their complementary roles in battle, but also because they are mutually drawn to each other.
"Over a hundred years ago, the great Savior Ludwig, His Majesty, led the Order Alliance Army to repel five hundred thousand Chaos Army troops on the Fasha Plain. But after the Chaos Army was defeated, Ludwig was left with more terrifying things aside from a land covered in ruins, numerous destroyed towns, and farmland."
"Those things were the corruption and religious beliefs left behind by Chaos. The fallen faith spread everywhere Chaos had passed, with mutated Chaos creatures and Chaos cultists lurking across the empire, continually corrupting the world, hoping for Chaos to return once more."
"In this dark era, humanity doesn't need heroes but rather specialists—specialists dedicated to exterminating Chaos."
"This is how Demon Hunters originated."
"The origins of Demon Hunters are quite complex. The earliest Demon Hunters were almost entirely people who lost family and friends in the Chaos War. They viewed Chaos creations as eternal enemies. With training and collaboration between the empire and major churches, these people launched attacks everywhere. They burned with their life force, and the swift, cunning, and deadly Demon Hunters passed relentless judgment on all who believed in Chaos. Back then, if a Chaos cultist appeared in a village, Demon Hunters could turn the entire village to ashes."
"But over a hundred years have passed. Most of those Demon Hunters have already died, and with the threat of Chaos reduced and the world's level of corruption lowered, people willing to accept the brutal training to become Demon Hunters gradually decreased, as did the demand for Demon Hunters. Hence, the new Demon Hunters mostly come from orphans in the flames of war, abandoned infants of villagers, villagers who can't survive, soldiers and mercenaries seeking advancement."
"After professional training, Demon Hunters would understand how to prepare simple potions, carry holy water and artifacts, and master the techniques of fire cannons, rapiers, and longswords. Their rich experience helps them quickly identify Chaos cultists and execute pyres for all suspicious individuals."
"As for those vampires, although they are enemies of Demon Hunters, they mostly do not actively attack their counterparts. Usually, upon being discovered, vampires will voluntarily leave."
After Laine finished telling the lengthy history of Demon Hunters, he felt a bit dry-throated and drank a large gulp of water from his jug. The female sorceress nodded seriously with a grave expression: "Then, how do these Demon Hunters, who constantly deal with Chaos creations, avoid being corrupted?"
"Three methods. First, Demon Hunters always wear long cloaks, long coats, wide-brimmed hats, and buckled waistcoats along with thick gloves. These heavy garments can prevent their skin from direct contact with Chaos creations, and these clothes are regularly replaced."
"Second, just as I mentioned earlier, Demon Hunters always carry holy water and artifacts from the church. Besides using them to cleanse corruption, they regularly drink holy water to counteract Chaos corrosion."
"As for the third... It is exclusive to some of the Demon Hunters who submit to church leadership and are exceptionally skilled. The church regularly has priests bestow divine blessings upon them, protecting them from Chaos erosion, which is the most effective among the three methods."
"I have seen these three preventions in the library of Celestial Vault Castle. What I mean is, aside from these superficial methods, is there anything else?" Teresa took off the black-framed glasses with butterfly motifs, her silver eyes quietly watching the man sitting beside her: "You must know, right?"
"Fine, what I mean is, choosing the right employer is crucial," Laine relaxed too, sitting with his legs stretched out: "For example, the Demon Hunters under the Justice Church's command will receive silver swords blessed by the church. These silver swords are highly effective against Chaos. Similarly, the Life Church provides a small amount of Spring of Life to the Demon Hunters under its command. This precious spring water can effectively purify corruption. Also, followers of the Lord of Dawn and Moon Goddess can pray under the sunlight or moonlight, and the power of the deities will dispel the Chaos Energy from their bodies."
"Due to this prolonged and repetitive contact with Chaos Energy, extermination, and resistance, the bodies of Demon Hunters will undergo some changes, which medical books describe as having frequent minor ailments but no major illnesses. This change in their bodies attracts your Jialan council members. They easily develop a fondness for Demon Hunters." Laine thought to himself, isn't this just like viral antibodies? But if he said it, Teresa probably wouldn't understand, so he used a metaphor from the Elf medical books.
"I see, no wonder Sofia and Emma have such relationships with many Demon Hunters." Teresa leaned on the soft velvet pillow, her voice faintly said.