Vile Evil Hides Under The Veil

Chapter 2004: White Raven Island’s Power Consolidation

'Hmm. This was nice. Guess I got to start practicing the Ranger path more from now on,' Eren thought to himself.

A brief but important moment of clarity washed over him.

Smiling faintly, he casually handed the mana gun back to the stunned event staff and turned to the crowd, giving a small wave.

"Thanks for letting me resolve some of the doubts I never knew I had on my mind," he said lightly, almost speaking to the mana gun itself.

For some reason, he also understood now why Renita liked her Ranger path so much, something he hadn't really paid attention to before.

Just a few moments ago, when he was aiming, he had forgotten all his worries. His mind hadn't been able to wander, even if he wanted it to.

Maybe that was why Rangers, those who relied on mana guns and ranged precision, always came across as calmer than other Rankers. It was a completely different experience from casting regular Skills or making use of the bloodline powers.

The very act of taking aim forced one's minds to focus on a single task, silencing stray thoughts. And those who mastered their wandering thoughts could find a state of calmness — like a serene, endless ocean.

This was why Renita had such a calming and healing effect on his mind, Eren thought. It was because she had found her calm that she could pass it on to him.

'I wonder what she's doing now,' Eren smiled and thought to himself. Previously, he did not have many ways to stay in touch with his companions and subordinates back in Anfang or those who followed Nina and the rest and entered Echidna.

However, with the Empussa Creation Manual and Dreamscape, he could meet with them and chat with many of them. It was more to stay in touch than to create Empusas out of their soul essence.

Thus, just like Nina, Eren decided to use the Dreamscape technique on Renita as well. He wanted to know about her progress and her well-being.

Soon, he was snapped out of his reverie by the claps and cheers of the crowd.

The citizens of White Raven Island were also impressed with Eren's Individuality. Although he often claimed he wasn't that complicated, it was clear to everyone watching that there was more to him than he let on.

The people of Labh Salem respected strength. They admired power, sometimes even worshiped it.

And Eren, after everything he had done — killing a god, conquering an island, forging a new empire and with a refined set of rules and regulations— had proven himself over and over again.

It also helped that Eren could act like a refined gentleman when he chose to. It was as if the godkiller-him and the public-appearances-him were two completely different individuals. The contrast between his ruthless might and his composed demeanor only made him even more of an enigma in their eyes.

Not to mention, Eren already had an army of supporters on White Raven Island — the demon beasts who had once lived in the Shadowed Grove. After the conquest, he had ordered them to relocate permanently. The island was massive, more than enough to house them.

These demon beasts left no stone unturned when it came to singing Eren's praises. To them, the Young Demon Emperor was not just a leader. He was their future.

So when Eren won the simple shooting contest, the demon beasts erupted in cheers as if witnessing the return of a long-lost hero.

It wasn't a battle that shook the world. It wasn't a god falling from the heavens. But here, in the heart of White Raven Island, it was enough.

Enough to make Eren Grimdawn a living legend in the eyes of the people.

***

A few hours later.

The night had fallen over White Raven City, but the city didn't slow down with the sunset. Instead, it came alive even more.

Eren and his company made their way back to their new residence.

They didn't rush. They simply walked through the buzzing city streets, taking in the sights of the growing city that was now theirs.

Their destination was a grand palace that stood beside the ruins of the Raashim Temple. It had once belonged to Shir, the acting head of Raashim Temple, but now it belonged to Eren.

This part of the White Raven Island had been untouched by the battle. No stray Skills or explosions had reached it.

The palace still stood pristine, its golden rooftops gleaming even under the moons' light. After Shir's defeat, it had been natural for Eren and his close circle to take over the palace.

The demon beasts acted as its guardians. Some stayed in their humanoid forms, others roamed the palace grounds in their beast forms, silent and alert.

The estate was massive, almost like a small city on its own. There were many smaller palaces within its grounds.

The four Demon Earls, the six sea wyverns, and the six demon beast captains all had their own smaller palace-like homes spaced far apart from each other. It could be said that the true military might of White Raven Island was gathered here.

For now, however, apart from Eren, Reen, Azurea, and Marina, no one else was in the central city estate. The others were busy carrying out their tasks, stabilizing the White Raven Island and Eren's growing power in Labh Salem's seas.

Even Eren's half-brother, En, had been sent out. He was traveling to nearby islands to consolidate Eren's rule, accompanied by Thalisa to make sure he didn't cause too much trouble with his… simple way of thinking.

Eren and En didn't need to do much. Just the presence of En, an SS-Rank entity, was enough to make Shir's remnant forces drop their rebellion. Sending En to these regions was much more efficient than Eren visiting them himself with his entourage.

Talking casually among themselves, Eren led the way through the wide halls of the palace. When the merfolk servants greeted them with deep bows, Eren simply waved his hand.

"Prepare a table in the garden," he said. "I'm in the mood for some drinks."

The past life's chronic alcoholic in Eren, which had been suppressed for a long time, was about to find its freedom for the night.