Chapter 112: Mana Dominance 2

’What mistake did I make for him to look at me like that?’

Julian didn’t understand. Fine, he sort of understood that Killac had done something unknown. Julian was clearly on alert, feeling the burst of Mana thickening the air around him.

The atmosphere had also clearly dropped to a terrifying level. But Julian felt nothing happen to him, he simply stood there, perfectly fine, while Killac stared at him with a terrifying smile.

’What’s with that smile?’

Julian felt uncomfortable enough to want to look away.

Even though he could see that burst of Mana, Julian unfortunately had no knowledge about Mana Dominance, that was information that had never been leaked out. Not because it was particularly important information or anything, the people here simply felt they didn’t need to share it and chose to stay silent about it.

As a result, Julian’s knowledge about a Rank-A Hunter was limited only to knowing they had far more freedom in controlling their Mana, to the point of even being able to manipulate their own Rank to appear lower.

Then, for some unknown reason, Julian, being stared at so intensely with an emotion he couldn’t quite understand, started feeling increasingly uncomfortable.

I mean... what was with that gaze, as though he were completely obsessed?

Julian could try to understand it if that gaze came from a woman, but from a man?

’This is excessive, I’m not into that.’

There was no way that was the case, right?

"....."

Right then, the smile on Killac’s face suddenly widened, growing even more filled with madness. Without realizing it, Julian nearly furrowed his brow at the discomfort that had now grown into something even more annoying.

That smile grew increasingly irritating, to the point where, for some reason, Julian started feeling genuinely irritated.

’There’s no way, right?’

Fortunately, Julian heard several among the great family members coughing as though in pain, choking on their own breath.

Julian didn’t understand, maybe they knew this situation was somewhat off?

’But... doesn’t seem like it. Could this man have done something?’

Recalling that burst of Mana, Julian thought nothing had happened since he wasn’t affected. But, as he glanced around slightly, Julian finally noticed that everyone seated at the table looked genuinely pale and were struggling to breathe.

’Ah...’

Julian didn’t understand why he wasn’t affected by whatever that man was doing, so, with an awkward smile etched in his mind, Julian looked at the man.

"What exactly are you doing?"

That was... a bit rude?

Julian only just realized it, but there was nothing he could do about it now. It felt like it might get dangerous if he kept letting that man continue whatever he was doing.

So, stopping him was clearly the right choice.

"Huh?"

Killac, the man, looked startled for a moment, blinking a few times, staring at Julian in disbelief, then clamping his mouth shut tight.

After that, the burst of Mana filling the entire room subsided and vanished completely, as though it had never existed at all.

The victims among the great families finally let out a breath of relief, as though whatever burden had been weighing on them had finally lifted.

Then a deathly silence took over the entire room.

Somehow, Killac clearly wore an expression of genuine shock, clearly, whatever had just happened wasn’t at all what he’d expected.

For someone regarded as a legend and a veteran among veteran Hunters, it was a reaction no one present here had ever once considered possible.

In short, this might be a fairly historic moment.

"...."

"...." ℯℯ𝑙.

"Hah."

And because Killac was indeed a veteran, he didn’t dwell in that moment too long. His lips curved, letting out a hollow laugh.

Then, the next instant, he laughed again, this time his laughter sounding genuinely amused, echoing throughout the entire room.

"Hah...hahaha..."

Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes as he wiped them away, the smile never leaving his face even as he stopped laughing. Then, his gaze met Julian’s.

"My apologies for my rudeness earlier. My name is Killac."

Killac extended his hand for a greeting, which Julian accepted with a slightly confused expression internally.

"...I’m Julian, pleased to meet you, Lord Killac. I’ve heard a great deal about you."

"Lord? Please, don’t call me that. I won’t be boasting about myself anymore, so please just call me by my name directly."

"Huh!?"

No one had expected Killac to turn out like this, his reaction even exceeding Lurker’s own treatment of Julian.

To the point where, without realizing it, someone let out a strange sound as an expression of their confusion and complaint.

As for Julian?

He stood there in silence without any emotion on his face, even internally, his expression stayed flat as he tried to process that information.

’Seriously...? Is this actually fine?’

Julian began reconsidering what had just happened moments ago. And once again, he still didn’t understand any of it.

The scattering Mana, the reaction of everyone in this room struggling, how Killac smiled like a madman.

All of it remained incomprehensible, but at the very least, Julian understood one thing.

’Am I once again falling into something that gets me misunderstood again?’

People were starting to respect Julian because he seemed extraordinary. Julian was being greatly honored because he could do this and that.

But... what exactly was this and that?

Julian didn’t understand what he was actually doing, yet the people around him kept catching it and considering it extraordinary.

"....."

Why exactly was all this happening to him?

"So, since it’s decided, please just call me Killac from now on, Lord Julian! And, since I still have plenty to get through, let’s start this meeting right away, okay?"

Then, without Julian’s decision, Killac decided it himself directly, as though whatever he’d said had already been agreed upon.

Julian looked at the man with an expression difficult to comprehend internally. Then, in the end, he simply nodded his head.

’Whatever, it’s just a name and a way of addressing someone anyway.’

Even though it would spark a commotion, Julian felt he didn’t need to do anything about this particular matter. Especially recalling Aveela’s advice once again, telling him to just make use of the misunderstanding.

With that, Julian had to keep playing the role of someone extraordinary even though he genuinely had no idea what was going on.

People would revere him, while Julian was still trying to figure out what exactly made him so extraordinary in the first place.

With all that complexity, the meeting finally began.