The Extra Can't be A Hero

"If this is how humanity's highest authority runs, we're all doomed."

Amon's words cut deep, but more importantly, they were out of line. An unknown young man, under twenty, spoke without prior permission in the High Council. Not just that, he also insulted the council with his words, something unthinkable for a youngster of his stature. Usually, it would have been grounds for expulsion and potentially, punishment. But they couldn't brazenly execute a punishment with the Solaris Lord around.

More importantly, their interests were piqued as they watched the young man star them down without fear.

"Such insolence!"

"State your name, young Knight."

The Chairman berated Amon while the Grand Marshall demanded to know his name. The Grand Marshall could read body language exceedingly well for someone who had spent all his days on the battlefield. From the beginning of the meeting, Alrock had been looking over his shoulders, mainly glancing at the three youngsters who were summoned here.

For those who were less perceptive, they would have assumed that Alrock was checking up on the Hero. But, Gerrick Ironblood could tell with absolute confidence that the Solaris Lord was minding this young man. The same went for Leon. Whenever a topic was discussed, his eyes inadvertently moved towards Amon, as if seeking his opinion.

And finally, the young woman who stood behind Amon like a faithful wife wore an unreadable mask, and she beamed with joy while only looking at the young man.

It was enough to tell the Grand Marshall that Amon was a man of importance.

"Amon Solaris."

Amon replied dismissively. Truth be told, he had harboured some hope that the Hyades High Council would recognise the apparent threat right before them. He hoped they would set aside their differences, put politics away and work together for the common good.

But evidently, his expectations were completely off.

'Not to matter, the High Council is inconsequential.'

Reverting to his Number 23 mindset, Amon decided that the government was useless in his quest to hunt the Demon Cult. Either way, with or without the High Council's support, Amon and Yue had concocted a series of plans to eradicate the Demon Cult.

Hence, there was no need to respect this incorrigible council.

"Would you like to rescind those words?"

"Why should I rescind the truth?"

"You insolent brat!"

The Chairman blew his fuse and glared at the young man. Even though he wasn't at the top of his field, the Chairman was once a skilled combatant. For a young man who was more than half his age to disparage him so openly, made the man feel a wave of contempt.

"Please be mindful of your status, Chairman."

Although Amon was the first to be disrespectful, he didn't devolve into calling names. Furthermore, his words could be written off as youthful ignorance. On the other hand, the Chairman was expected always to hold the highest decorum. For him to show an outburst of rage towards a youth was highly degrading and ultimately, a foolish act.

But Amon didn't care for the semantics.

"While you are here arguing about politics and figuring out how to improve your positions best, the Demon Cult has violated thousands of innocent lives."

Amon took out one recording crystal and replayed the scene when he stumbled across an altar of human sacrifices. The grotesque ziggurat that formed was unthinkable, and only the Goddess would know what unimaginable suffering was rendered upon those poor souls.

"If you think you can negotiate with the people responsible for this, go right ahead. But spoiler alert, they will continue their human sacrifices, with or without a deal."

The ignorance of the High Council could be forgiven, for they couldn't foresee the future.

They didn't know that the Demon Cult and the Prophet were plotting to take over the world, and convert Hyades into a colony of the Demon Realm.

But the lack of anger and action after seeing innocent lives being violated in this manner was utterly unforgivable.

Hearing Amon's words, the Chairman calmed down a little. He knew where the young man's insolence and anger came from, and while admirable, it was also naive in the Chairman's view.

"War is ugly son. I sympathise with you, but we can't wage war without finding a path to peace diplomatically first. If we follow the Solaris House's suggestion, the Hyades Republic would be in a deficit we can't recover from for decades."

"You don't understand," Amon shook his head, disapproving of the Chairman's words. "If the Demon Cult is allowed to grow, there won't be a Hyades Republic to recover."

"..."

How Amon spoke with absolute certainty sent chills down the council members' necks.

It was as if he were foretelling a future bound to pass, and none had it in them to reject his claims. For some reason, they felt he wasn't a false prophet, but a scientist stating a fact.

"The Demon Cult has the ability to promise dying people a cure to all their ailments. For those who fear death, they promise immortality. Those who wish for chaos, they will be given power to do anything they pleased, even murdering and raping innocents. Thousands will swarm to them once the Demon Cult can preach their faith openly. By then, it would be too late to eradicate them."

The real threat of the Demon Cult isn't the Demons they can summon, but their ability to tempt even the most resilient of hearts.

Which human didn't yearn for power and immortality?

If there was one thing that Amon could count on, it was humanity's selfish desires.

That's how the Demon Cult grew so quickly. Once the Gospels were completed and the Apostles were mature, they would preach the word of their Demon King, ultimately causing a large percentage of humanity to betray their race.

It wasn't a prediction but a fact.

While the High Council bickered over who should take control, the Demon Cult steadily expanded its influence, consuming the entire world.

"Grandpa Alrock, there's no need to bother with them anymore. They're useless."

"..."

Amon's stern words sent multiple twitches up the upper ranks, and they glared meaningfully at the young man. They'd felt insulted, but ultimately, they could only rebuke Amon, who seemed to have no intention of apologising.

"Let me be excused."

If the High Council members couldn't be convinced, Amon had no desire to stay. He'd experienced this in the past when he was a Transcendent. Useless government officials would try to control and order him around, but Amon would ignore them unless his higher-ups had an explicit order.

"Wait," the Chairman halted Amon's retreat. "If you don't apologise to the High Council, we will formally charge you with a crime."

"Hey, don't push too far!"

"Solaris Lord! He'd disrupted a meeting of the High Council, a law punishable with a fine and imprisonment. I can let this slide due to youthful ignorance, but he must immediately apologise to the High Council."

"You…"

If he had his way, Alrock would cuss the man to oblivion. But unfortunately, the Chairman was right. Amon broke a law and had every ground to charge him.

Alas, Amon wasn't going to back down that easily. Rather than apologise, a wry smile was cracked on his squarish face while his golden eyes glistened with playfulness.

"Does this amuse you?"

"Yes," Amon replied, his tone this time even more dismissive. "You're proving my point for me. Instead of focusing on eradicating the Demon Cult and saving lives, you're threatening me with punishment because I hurt your feelings. Isn't that the very definition of ineptitude?"

"Y-You!"

The Chairman's face turned red like a boiled octopus. The other council members stifled their laughter, for they knew that Amon was right, and that pissed the Chairman off even further. Ever since he climbed to the highest rank in the United Bank, there hasn't been a case where he was this humiliated.

"Let me repeat myself, if this is how humanity's highest authority runs, we're all doomed."

"That's it," the Chairman couldn't take it any longer and slammed his fist. "Guards, imprison him!"

"You have no authority to do that, Chairman. Remember? The Solaris House now controls Alverton. The Republic has no jurisdiction in special properties. And why are you, a banker, ordering an arrest?"

This time, it was the Archmagister who came to Amon's defence. Jex fixed his violet eyes at the Chairman as if trying to hypnotise and calm the heated man. But it was useless, for the Chairman was too far gone.

"So, will you let his disrespect stand, Archmagister?!"

"No, there's no need for that." Amon shook his head and cut in once again. "I'd thought I would leave you for later, as you have yet to be corrupted. But, why should I let a ticking time bomb roam free?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Chairman… You've collaborated with the Demon Cult before, yes?"

"W-What?"

Amon glared at the Chairman, sending shivers down the old man's spine. Mana surged through the room as his eyes turned a brilliant gold, distorting the very fabric of reality. An invisible pressure bore down on the council members, thickening the tension. The combatants sprang into action to subdue him, but they were far too late—Amon's Dragon Eyes had already taken effect.

The Chairman may have been a warrior in his day, but it was no use against the might of Amon's draconic body and superior presence.

Shaking like a leaf in Autumn, the Chairman turned slackjawed as he responded: "Y-you!"

"Like I said," Amon shook his head once more. "You don't need to do anything."

Amon's mana resonated within the Chairman's body gradually purging the black mist that had seeped into his bones. The fog had a sinister, almost repugnant stench as if the world was denying its existence. It was very slight, but everyone present could recognise what it was—especially those who had faced Demons before.

Demonic energy.

"Chairman, you!"

"W-Wait, I don't know where this came from! Trust me, I'm not a Demon, I…"

"You aren't a Demon, but you are part of why the Demon Cult is now encroached in our government," Amon explained robotically. "You must have catered some sort of deal with them before, and even without knowing, they had latched their energy into your body. Slowly, you will be compelled to join them and betray humanity. A short-term benefit for a lifetime of servitude. Now, do you see the true risk of the Demon Cult?"

The last statement wasn't for the Chairman, but the other members of the High Council.

If the Demon Cult could corrupt even the highest authority in the Republic, who is to say the others won't fall either.

"Grandpa Alrock, please take care of the rest."

For Amon, this charade was enough to convince him that the High Council would be useless in his quest to stop the Calamities. In the end, he just needed to count on Yue and Leon. Hence, there was no need to stay here any longer.

Excusing himself from the chambers, he left the flabbergasted council members in a stasis, while Yue's lips were twitching with pure excitement as she recorded another chapter in the story of Amon the Great.