The back alley was still covered in darkness.
Sion continued to run from the killing intent that was closing in on him, desperately trying to think of a way to escape.
“What should I do? How can I get through this?”
A tense presence went through him.
He understood that it was a terrifying feeling, that once he let his guard down, he would be condemned to death.
“What should I do to overcome this?”
He seemingly moaned as he muttered to himself.
The enemy was just too strong.
He knew how strong the enemy was the moment he tried to attack.
The spell Sion cast was skillfully dodged by the enemy. In a fight between both sides, it's obvious that he couldn't match them.
However, if it was a one on one battle, Sion had the belief that he would win. That was certain.
However, there were 6 of them.
These were six highly skilled people, and based on their mobility, it was likely that they were professional assassins. People like them only needed a little interaction before reading into a person. The enemy's attacks were always coming at Sion's vitals without any mercy. Obviously, these people weren't just enemies that could be ambushed...
And they weren't enemies that could be taken down head on.
In that case, what method should he use...?
Will I be killed like this?
“If I can survive now and hang on till daylight...run...”
However, Sion's thoughts stopped here.
His feet that were running hard stopped too.
Thus,
A group of men clad in armour immediately caught up to him.
The men saw that Sion had suddenly stopped, and said in a mocking tone,
“Kuku...so you’ve finally given up?”
“Actually causing us to waste so much effort...”
“Kishishi. Then, let us send you to heaven and grant you release.”
However, even though the situation was really difficult, Sion didn't turn back to look at them.
“...”
He merely remained silent and narrowed his eyes.
“Yo, are you so scared that you don't even want to look at our faces?”
One of the men said.
At this moment, Sion finally spoke,
“I'm actually running for my own life...? Why must I run? If I really am capable of being king, the heavens wouldn't allow me to die here, right?”
At this moment, Sion turned around.
He continued with a calm tone,
“Ryner's right. If I'm capable of being king, I won't die in such a place...or rather, if I can't even deal with people...no, trash like you who follow those nobles that bare their fangs. If I can't deal with people like you cleanly...”
Sion's words were so casual, but his eyes were abnormally sharp. He bent his body low and got into battle mode completely.
On seeing this, the men didn't mind as they gave mocking sneers.
“Are you going to struggle before your death? With your ability, this is too much, handsome boy.”
The despicable laughter roared like thunder. Then, the man drew out long and sharp daggers from within their cloaks.
However, Sion didn't care about all this.
He gently exerted the force within his body.
The battle began.
With lightning-quick speed, Sion quickly closed in on the enemies and got ready to attack one of them.
At that moment,
Two men moved towards him, looking like they were trying to cut him off.
Sion knew that if he attacked one of them, the other person will use this opening and stab with the dagger.
Sion suddenly stopped and immediately and faced the swinging knife, ready for the man on the left that was attacking.
Sion grabbed that man's wrist that had the dagger in his hand, subdued him, raised his knee and smashed it hard into the man's chest.
“WAH!?”
The knee went deep into the man's chest.
This attack actually incapacitated an enemy...
Just as Sion was relieved at this, he suddenly felt a strong killing intent behind him, and shrank his body back.
But he was still an instant too late as his shoulder was slashed by the dagger.
“Ugh...”
Fresh blood came gushing out from his shoulder as a sharp pain went through his entire body. But if he stopped because of such a thing, his life would be in jeopardy.
At that moment, Sion rolled forward and pulled away from the enemy, got up and started drawing a magic array.
If he could do so, maybe he could finish off 2 enemies...
However,
“Don't get too cocky!”
Two men threw the daggers in their hands at Sion.
At this critical moment, Sion could only stop the creation of his magic arrays. He struck out, knocked a dagger off course and grabbed the other dagger at the same time.
Now that I have a weapon...
No time to think too much.
A black-clothed man who didn't look like he had any intention of participating used this short time to complete a magic array.
Upon seeing the enemy's magic array, Sion couldn't help but groan.
That was the lightning spell 'Izuchi', the same spell Kiefer cast on Ryner during the practical lesson. However, the enemy's 'Izuchi' was far stronger than the one Kiefer cast.
If it wasn't about training but really about attacking the enemy through magic, the caster's force was also an important point. Roland's magic really had such shocking destructive powers.
If he was attacked directly, it's likely that he would be turned into ash...
The man started chanting,
“What I seek is lightning. Izuchi.”
Immediately, a bright light came from the center of the magic array...
During this time, Sion threw the dagger in his hand at the center of the magic array.
Immediately, the lightning that was gathered from the magic array let out a light, and that blinding light followed the dagger as it stabbed the shoulder of the man drawing the magic array.
“WAAA!”
The lightning struck.
The man's body couldn't withstand the powerful destructive power of the lightning, and collapsed.
After dealing with another enemy, Sion smiled.
“Now, that's two...wa!”
Before he even finished, Sion was interrupted.
Someone struck him from behind.
Sion was attacked on the back of the head, and his entire body collapsed weakly onto the floor. The hit just now caused his legs to tremble, and he couldn't stand up.
“Da, damn it!”
Sion himself was almost paralyzed as he lay on the floor. He turned around to look.
And he found that his attacker was the man he had struck in the chest, the one whom he thought was unconscious.
That man sneered and said,
“Kishishi, this isn't a kid's game, pretty boy. This is a real battlefield of murder. Don't you know that you have to deliver the final blow to you enemy?”
And then, the man picked up the dagger that fell onto the floor.
His face showed an irritating and despicable sneer as he said,
“You caused me to waste so much effort. Now let's see how I'll deal with you...”
After saying that, the man raised the knife high up—
Sion couldn't move.
His head was still concussed and his vision swaying, and his body wasn't listening to his commands.
However, his thoughts were abnormally calm.
Will I be killed? In such a place? In such a dirty back alley? Me?
Really unbelievable. The developments up till now are way too funny...
He could see the man holding the dagger and swinging it down hard.
And it was shown right in front of his eyes in slow motion.
He was calm, abnormally calm.
He could see death approaching slowly...
Slowly.
Suddenly,
A strange object came from the side and appeared in front of Sion's eyes. It was a long, thin needle-shaped object that looked like it was made of wood. That needle-shaped object pierced through the man's hand that was about to swing down.
“WAAAAAAAAHHH!!”
The man screamed and stopped.
He looked at the hand that had the needle poked through.
“WHA, WHAT'S THIS!?”
The man roared.
A voice rang. It was the clear voice of a girl.
This voice stated casually,
“That's a dango stick. You can tell, right? Do you even need to ask?”
Her tone didn't have any emotion in it, and it was icy cold as if she was ignoring them.
Sion and the men turned to look at the source of this voice in unison.
And thus...
Everyone gasped.
The one standing in front of them was an unbelievable beauty.
She had bright blond hair and long and narrow eyes, coupled with that face that was abnormally beautiful. Wrapped under the blueish-white robes was an amazingly slender body. For some reason, she had a sword tied at her waist.
And her hand...
Was holding two dango sticks.
She continued to put the dangos into her mouth.
As she looked way too emotionless, the dangos seemed like they were hard to swallow...
However, such an emotionless expression, shown on such a beautiful girl's face could probably go hand in hand with the phrase 'mysterious presence'.
This girl who was completely emotionless looked at the current situation, and for some reason, started to blush.
“Has the recent trend...become such that men can attack other men brazenly? How daring, isn't it?”
“““AH!?”””
Immediately, Sion and the men cried out in unison.
The tense atmosphere was relaxed quite a bit.
Thus, that man with the dango stick pierced through him got ready again and yelled,
“YO, YOU THREW THIS DANGO STICK?”
On hearing this, the pretty girl just nodded her head.
“That's right. I finished that dango stick anyway.”
“THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING HERE!”
The man just looked even more agitated.
“You!? You think that you can get away with this!? Naa? Prepare yourself! Hehehehe…let’s see how we’ll deal with her, right?”
The man said to his partners, and the other men let out crude laughter as they agreed with what he said.
However, even while listening to these men’s crude words, this girl didn’t show any signs of backing away.
Not only that, she simply said.
“In that case, come at me. This lady shall take you on.”
After saying that, she drew the sword at her waist.
And still held that dango stick in her other hand…
On seeing this, the men growled.
“OI, ARE YOU LOOKING DOWN ON US!?”
“WATCH US SLAUGHTER YOU!”
Aside from the man holding down Sion, the others went to attack the girl.
On seeing this, Sion couldn’t help but shout,
“IDIOT! RUN AWAY!”
However—
At the next moment.
The woman disappeared.
No. The girl actually moved at a speed so fast it looked like she disappeared.
Immediately.
It seemed that the sword in her hand only flashed once as all 4 men were immediately incapacitated…
“Eh…?”
On seeing this, the man holding Sion down inadvertently let out a stupid sound.
Sion was also dumbstruck.
That’s because he saw it,
The girl was eating her dango as she moved at unbelievable speed before smacking the vitals of the men with the side of her sword…
No, for the girl’s standard, it wasn’t a case of being too fast or not.
Unless one focused, it was impossible to catch her with the naked eye.
Thus—
The girl who knocked the men down in mere seconds turned around.
The blond hair was dancing in the air, and the emotionless yet beautiful eyes were looking here…
“So, are we going to continue? Sorry, it’s my task to deal with crimes in this area. I won’t allow such acts to happen here. If you still want to continue…”
After saying that, the girl pointed the dango stick at the man and said,
“I’ll kill you.”
“Hii!?”
The effect was immediate.
The man let go of Sion and left his allies behind before running away on his own.
But Sion was still stunned as he remained there.
This girl…
This girl who had easily taken down the group of 6 men who were far stronger than Sion in the blink of an eye, while eating dango and dealing with the enemies one-handed…
It was unbelievable.
Sion shouldn’t be underestimated. Amongst those in the Roland Empire Royal Military Academy, he had top grades in fighting and magic…
However, this…
This girl who looked to be around 16 or 17, about the same age as Sion…
He couldn’t fight against her at all.
If he had fought her as an enemy, it’s likely that he would be dead immediately…
She was like a monster.
This term appeared in Sion’s mind.
A beautiful and extremely fast monster.
Or…
At this moment, the still emotionless girl continued chewing on the dango, and suddenly looked at the sky before muttering.
“Un, the sky’s about to turn bright.”
On hearing her say that, Sion looked up at the sky as well.
The sky was really about to turn bright.
Sion looked at the sky and narrowed his eyes.
The night…was about to pass.
The night in which he was ready to die.
However…
“I’m not dead yet…”
Sion smiled.
Yes, I’m not dead. If the heavens’ will was for me to die here, it means that my mission will last till here.
And the heavens sent a messenger…
He turned to look at the girl.
At this moment, the morning light broke through the clouds and shone coincidentally…
Right on her body, lighting her up.
That profile…
Wasn’t a monster.
It looked like a goddess or an angel.
Time continued to pass, and it was noon on the second day.
As usual, Ryner was sleeping.
Or rather, he slept the entire day.
On a side note to everyone, this was the classroom of the Roland Empire Royal Military Academy. Ryner was forcefully dragged by Kiefer to sit down in the classroom, but even through the 4 lessons and 3 breaks, his eyes still didn’t manage to open…
No matter how much the instructors questioned, raged and were taken aback by his aloofness…he still remained himself.
Well, that’s basically not the first time this happened.
Or rather, if it wasn’t for Kiefer, Ryner’s attendance would be almost zero.
These things weren’t worth mentioning anyway.
At noon break, Ryner, who was just like a corpse and asleep, finally woke up for lunch…
He rubbed his eyes that were sleepier than usual and yawned loudly.
“Naa…muu~n, is it morning…?”
“IT’S NOON ALREADY!”
Kiefer yelled back without hesitation.
“I say, Ryner…if you’re not going to work hard, you’re going to be expelled by the school, you know?”
“Nn~? Is there such a thing? I’m rather outstanding here…”
“Where did that self-confidence come from…stop saying such idiotic things and eat. The bento box’s rather heavy.”
Kiefer said and handed the bento box over to Ryner.
“Nn.”
Ryner gave a matter of fact look as he received the bento box.
At that moment, all the boys in the class shot killer stares over…however, the sleepy person involved didn’t notice this precarious situation at all.
In fact, no matter whether it was morning, afternoon or even night, once Ryner started feeling sleepy, he would even feel that eating was a chore and sometimes skipped all three meals. Thus, Kiefer had no choice but to prepare meals for him. Though it was just in name only…
Kiefer said,
“How is it? Is it good?”
Ryner said,
“Un, very good.”
Kiefer’s eyes sparkled as she smiled.
“Really? That’s great!”
At the same time, the other boys in the class were screaming inside their hearts:
(Must kill Ryner and dice him up!)
Everything was just as usual for a peaceful lunch break…
At this moment, Sion suddenly walked into the classroom.
As usual, he said with a cheery tone,
“Yo, you two. Your relationship’s rather sweet as usual!”
He deliberately emphasized, and on hearing that, Kiefer blushed.
“Wha...what are you saying…really you, Sion. We’re just friends. Yes, just friends…right Ryner?”
Up till now, Kiefer glanced at Ryner’s face, but Ryner remained silent.
He was silent, and also in a zen-like phase as he closed his eyes.
No, instead of a zen phase…
“…”
He actually fell asleep.
“YOU’RE ASLEEP AGAIN!?”
“Naa!? Ah, I actually fell asleep?”
“WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY ACTUALLY FALLING ASLEEP!? AND WHILE EATING TOO! REALLY, HAVE YOU BEEN FIGHTING MUCH RECENTLY!?”
“Really? Don’t praise me like that…”
“I’M NOT PRAISING YOU AT ALL! I’M DERIDING YOU HERE!”
“Oh, so you’re deriding me?”
For some reason, Ryner actually seemed aware as he nodded his head, yawned, and finally noticed Sion.
Ryner looked at him, and said,
“Yo, you still alive?”
Sion gave wry smile.
“Don’t decide my life and death so easily. You look safe too.”
“Not really the case. It’s because of you that I was dragged to lessons first thing in the morning. I nearly died there…”
Obviously, such ridiculous words were interrupted by Kiefer as she rewarded him with a punch.
Sion chuckled as he saw this, and nodded in a satisfied manner.
“Ah, it’s good that you’re fine. Speaking of which, sorry for disturbing your time together. Looks like I should go.”
After saying that, Sion made to leave, but Kiefer hurriedly stopped him.
“Hey, I told you that we’re not like that already♥! We, we’re definitely not in that sort of relationship! Right Ryner?”
Kiefer said and turned back to look.
However, Ryner was asleep again…
Kiefer was about to raise her metal-like fist.
“I say, at least…”
But Sion stopped Kiefer’s hand at this moment.
With a gentle expression, he looked at Ryner, and then turned to Kiefer before saying,
“Kiefer. Ryner didn’t really sleep much last night.”
“Eh? Really?”
Sion nodded his head.
“Un. Last night, because of a few trivial things, he ended up accompanying me through the entire night, so just let him sleep more, alright?”
“…”
Kiefer didn’t say any more as her normally cheery expression showed a somewhat awkward look. And then…
She released her hard fist that became a soft palm before slapping right on Ryner’s head.
“Eh!?”
Sion was shocked to see this.
But Kiefer didn’t think much of it as she said with a steady tone.
“No matter what, he sleeps too much! I don’t know what you two guys were secretly doing last night, but that means you didn’t sleep, right, Sion? Why is there such a huge difference? Either way, Ryner has to man himself up!”
Kiefer was angry.
The eyes that were normally in a half-joking manner narrowed dangerously.
And for some reason, she started to look lonely.
“Really…he should have told me everything…if he said it, I would more or less…this idiot Ryner…this idiot!”
On seeing this, Sion smiled.
“Allow me to take my leave first. I will have to head somewhere first.”
“Ah, un, what about today’s meeting…?”
“I can’t attend. Just proceed on your own.”
“Got it. I’ll tell everyone.”
“I’ll leave it to you then.”
After saying that, Sion left the classroom.
After a while,
Sion appeared at the dango shop.
The reason was,
Because the goddess forced him to buy them…
Sion recalled what happened last time, and couldn’t help but give a wry smile. At that moment, Sion was stunned by the girl’s otherworldly beauty, the girl who was giving off a bright light and had an ever perfect face…
Then—
The girl seemed to suddenly remember something as she looked at Sion and said to him.
Her voice was calm,
“They say that when dogs receive a favor, they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives.”
“Heh?”
Sion couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the girl’s words, and looked completely stunned as he answered that.
However, the girl didn’t seem to mind as she continued,
“For example, a dog was nearly drowning in a river, and I saved it in the nick of time. What do you think will happen next?”
“…No…”
Sion didn’t really understand the real meaning behind the girl’s words, but he still suitably answered,
“…You want gratitude?”
On hearing this, the girl nodded.
“That’s right. Dogs will never forget about this gratitude. Every year, the dog will definitely buy me a Wynnit dango shop ‘recommended combo set 4’ from the 3rd district. Dogs really are smart. They know that once they tell the shop owner to send it to the beautiful lady of the Eris family, the item will be sent to me.”
The girl said that with a serious expression, and Sion was momentarily stunned. It was different from the shock he had when he saw the overwhelming martial arts and outstanding beauty…
However, the girl didn’t seem to mind the expression on Sion’s face as she continued to nod expressionlessly in a satisfied manner.
“That’s what I’m talking about.”
What do you mean that’s what you’re talking about!?
Just before Sion was about to ask, the girl spun and took a large step before leaving…
Just like that, Sion went to the dango shop to buy the ‘recommended combo set 4’.
He didn’t really listen to the Eris’ family address.
There was no need. On hearing this name, he immediately knew who she was and where she was from.
The Eris clan.
This family was a famous clan that was in charge of protecting the king of the Roland Empire.
It was a noble clan with extremely great power.
It was also known as the swordsmen clan.
This clan’s mission was simply to protect the king, and never to take part in battles. Thus, very few people knew its power. However…
They were extremely famous amongst some of the nobles.
Everyone knew that that clan was the strongest.
They had a large dojo inside the city, and amongst some famous nobles, heading to the Eris’ clan dojo was like proof of being famous.
Only a small group of people could enter and exit the dojo, and those were nobles that were highly respected…
Sion looked up at this large stone structure that was built right in front of him, the thing that didn’t look out of place with all the decorations and serenity from the buildings all around, and yet had a serious and dignified presence.
He muttered,
“I understand. This place has nothing to do with me, a third-rate noble who was born illegitimately from my parents.”
For someone like him who could only be barely called nobility…
Thinking about this, Sion smiled. It was a sharp smile with many meanings, one that didn’t think about his own shame, and one without any mockery, and even one with a somewhat proud stand.
He knew that he was in a delicate position. The brothers he had never met before seemed to view him, born out of a lowly woman’s stomach, as a humiliation. They may have sent assassins one after another to assassinate him…
In other words…he wasn’t popular. He knew that. Thus, up till now, he tried his best not to go near those noble gatherings.
There were a few reasons.
First, he had many misgivings with those who were arrogant all because of their noble standing.
Another reason was that if he joined the nobles, he wouldn’t be able to get the talents that couldn’t even reach the nobles.
And last of all, he didn’t want them to realize his ambition…
If he stepped into the nobles’ territory and had the one thing he wanted discovered, those brothers of his would be wary of him. To him, that’s not a good thing.
If they really wanted to hunt him down with all they had, he wouldn’t have enough power to fight them.
Those brothers were different from him. They were born with lots of authority.
They wielded lots of power.
They were the second highest ranking in this country.
Sion and his brothers were all sons of the King of Roland…
However, from the moment Sion was born from his mother’s womb, he didn’t have the authority he should have. He was a child born from a lowly woman, just a child born from a King’s lust on a woman as he wandered through the world.
Every time those nobles saw him, they would say,
“Son of a filthy mother dog.”
His mother already had a husband, but once the king had his eyes on her, she was forcefully taken away. And once she bore Sion, she was abandoned…
In the end, Sion’s mother was treated like a dirty mother dog. His mother couldn’t withstand this pain and committed suicide, but still couldn’t get anyone’s pity. People just felt that she died like a dog, and no one went to her funeral.
Thus, he never met the king, and never met his brothers.
He felt hostility and killing intent all around from the moment he was born.
However, Sion…
Reveled in it.
Isn’t this interesting? I can bet everything on this. Since you people think like this, I’ll take you all down in one swoop. I’ll eliminate all those that get in my way.
To achieve this aim, he needed more power.
Political power, military power. No matter how beautiful or filthy it was, he would take them all.
He needed more, more and more.
He again looked around.
The beautiful buildings that were lined side by side in blocks were located in the large city.
This was the territory of the nobles. The territory of the nobles who hated him and tried to kill him.
However, he had no need to be scared.
To get this power he needed, even if it was the territory of nobles, he had to barge into it daringly.
If he wanted to get that assistance…
Sion’s mind remembered the information he investigated before he visited this place.
According to the records of nobles, that beautiful girl he met yesterday seemed to be called Ferris Eris.
“Ferris…Ferris…”
She was a noble.
However, Sion wanted to recruit her. He had never seen such a beautiful being.
Right now, the gates were right in front of him.
The gates to the Eris’ residence.
This was the residence of the clan that never appeared on the public stage, one filled with mystery, a famed clan hailed as the strongest swordsmen clan.
What kind of shocking situation awaits him…?
Sion knocked on the door without hesitation.
“I have a present for Miss Ferris Eris.”
And thus,
Without any warning from the inside, the gates opened silently.
A long road reached out from within the gates, and the wide garden was neatly trimmed on both sides.
It was an ordinary garden.
For a noble’s residence, this place was a little too humble. However, it wasn’t really that much different from an ordinary noble’s residence.
Even so…
Sion’s face tensed.
For some reason, inside the gates…
He seemed to feel a heavy, dark and deep darkness inside.
Sion was led to a dojo that was so large that the opposite wall couldn’t be seen.
The dojo was completely empty. There was no sound from such a large place, unknowingly forming a serious atmosphere. The entire dojo was tiled with wooden blocks, and there wasn’t a speck of dust around.
The old butler who was in charge of serving the guest led him to the entrance of the dojo.
“Please remove your shoes in the dojo. Then, if I may…”
The old butler looked like he was about to leave, and Sion hurriedly stopped him.
“Ah, I see. I want to see Miss Ferris, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone around…what should I do?”
The old butler looked at Sion, and then said,
“Mr Sion Astal. In the Eris residence, a first-time visitor has to meet the master. This is the rule, even for Master Eris’ friends…thus, please enter the dojo.”
“Eh…? But, there didn’t seem to be anyone…”
Before Sion even finished, he immediately shut up. He suddenly felt a strong and large presence coming from inside…
“Ah…!?”
This presence was different from any presence Sion felt before.
The killing aura of a beast.
He didn’t just feel this. That overwhelming pressure may be better described as a demonic killing aura.
It’s really hard to imagine that it was the presence of a human.
However, amidst all this, there was a serenity that felt like it could vanish when the wind blows, and an icy feeling that could see through everything…
Sion was confused. He cringed, and didn’t have the courage to look inside the dojo…
Wha, what resides inside…?
At this moment,
The old butler said,
“It’s my master, the older brother of Miss Ferris.”
Sion looked up. A man was sitting inside the dojo properly from who knows when. But there was definitely no one inside just now…
No…
Sion was ever clear about this.
This person was there right from the beginning. It was just that Sion himself couldn’t see it. This man didn’t want to be seen, so Sion couldn’t see him.
To the master of the Eris clan, was it really such a simple thing to go to this extent? Covering one’s own presence and not being in other people’s consciousness…
“Ku…”
Sion felt icy cold sweat flow down his back.
He looked at the man who was sitting silently in front of him…
He had blond hair that was like Ferris, but it was not long. The steadily closed eyes were coupled with an unbelievably good looking face. This man was also dressed in a blue and white robe.
The presence around him was ever so calm.
He looked to be a little older than Sion…probably about 20.
To an untrained person, he may look like a calm good youth.
However, this person…
At this moment, this man said in a clear voice that would definitely rile the other party’s anxiety,
“I’m sorry for taking a little while. I’m the master of the current Eris family, Lucile. You’re…Ferris’ friend, right? Nn. Looks like you bought a gift. I’m sure Ferris will be happy.”
Sion hurriedly changed his posture and answered,
“Ah, yes. We’re not friends, but Miss Ferris helped me out last night…I’m Sion Astal.”
“Helped you out? Ah, looks like Ferris did accomplish her task.”
“Task?”
Sion couldn’t help but ask upon hearing that. He suddenly remembered that Ferris seemed to have said something similar before…
He remembered that she said something similar—
“Sorry, it’s my task to deal with crimes in this area. I won’t allow such acts to happen here.”
Sion asked in an inquisitive manner,
“What does that mean?”
Lucile answered,
“Nothing. I just felt that the child was a little too free recently, so I gave an order to her that she will have to reduce the crimes of damage or violence to zero during a specific time.”
“Ze…zero…?”
Sion asked in surprise. Lucile nodded, and said,
“For me, Sion, it’s a little different in order, but I have to say it to you now. Welcome to the Eris residence. You’re an interesting person. Very good, I understand. We’ll welcome you here. I’ll allow you to see Ferris.”
“Eh? Interesting? Erm, I don’t really understand what you mean. Do you mean that I’m accepted…?”
On hearing this, Lucile smiled.
And then, while keeping that smile…
Killing intent suddenly exploded from Lucile’s body.
Right at Sion.
“Kuu…”
Such shocking pressure. It felt like he would be killed by the other party’s spiritual pressure the moment he relaxed. Sion’s knees nearly weakened, and he spent a lot of effort before barely hanging on.
He couldn’t move. No, he couldn’t even lift a finger. He would die the moment he moved.
He will be killed, definitely…
Lucile continued to keep his eyes closed and he smiled and said to Sion,
“Ho...I said it, didn’t I. you’re really an interesting person. Haven’t you realized what expression you were showing?”
Sion stared at Lucile and groaned.
“Wha, what do you mean?”
Sion’s tone went back to normal. No, it could most probably be said that his true nature was lured out…
And in a rather easy fashion too.
Lucile continued to talk as he looked rather happy.
“You were smiling at me. You knew that if I wanted to, before you even found me…I could have killed you. But you were smiling at me. Weren’t you scared? No, you’re really scared of me. You’re scared of such overwhelming presence of death. However, your heart had a feeling that exceeded that fear. What is it? What is that feeling…”
For an instant, Lucile seemed to stop pondering, and then he continued,
“Ah, I see? You want me. No, you want everything. Your eyes are telling me all your thoughts. You want this country’s…”
“You…”
Sion couldn’t help but widen his eyes. All his thoughts were read through.
How capable was this guy…
But if he was really seen through, he’ll definitely be dead!
The Eris clan always acted as guards for the king.
Sion’s entire body trembled. That’s because he was facing that overwhelming power of death.
He was facing that ominous pressure.
At this moment, Lucile stood up, and his face still had that smile that seemed stuck on his face.
It was really scary. The overwhelming difference in ability between both of them caused Sion to tremble in fear and remain unable to move.
Lucile slowly and surely walked to him.
He said,
“No. You want an even distant future. A future that’s far, far away. You’re really an interesting person. Should I kill you now? Or let you live? What should I choose? To kill or not to kill? The decision’s completely in my hands…ha, hahaha, ha!”
He smiled. He always had that smile on his face.
Sion couldn’t move at all.
A hand reached out. For a man, that hand was rather slender and extravagant.
The god of death resided in his hand.
That hand was gently stroking Sion’s neck, raising his chin…
At this moment,
“Oi.”
A familiar, unrestrained and clear voice rang.
“What do you want to do to my dangos?”
One could tell who it was from the tone. It was Ferris.
Immediately, the smile that was on Lucile’s face disappeared, and he turned to look at Ferris.
“Ferris, this Sion who you saved yesterday brought dango over.”
“I know. But what I want to ask is what were you trying to do, brother?”
“Fmm, men have a lot of secrets between each other. Do you really want to know, Ferris?”
“You…be, between men…?”
For some reason, Ferris’ bewitching face immediately went red the moment she heard this. She said,
“…I won’t ask anymore for now.”
“OI! ARE YOU MISTAKING SOMETHING HERE!!?”
At this moment, Sion was finally released from the tense curse. The killing aura from Lucile’s body vanished without a trace as if it never existed at all. Other than the neck Lucile was grabbing, Sion’s entire body was covered in cold sweat.
In a completely different tone, Lucile said to Sion in a somewhat calm manner, right in the ears in a whispering-like manner,
“You survived. That shows your power, right? I won’t do anything to you. You can build your relationship with Ferris now. Don’t see her as she is now. She’s a rather lonely person, probably because our parents died early.”
After saying these words, Lucile turned to Ferris,
“Ferris, looks like you really completed your task. Now you can proceed to the next task. What do you think?”
Ferris said,
“Brother. I have this feeling recently that you have been using your own interests under the namesake of tasks and dumping them onto me…”
“My sister, what are you saying? Isn’t this the training passed down for generations in the Eris’ clan? Don’t you believe me?”
“…What will you do if I say that I don’t?”
“You’ll die.”
“…”
It was a clear cut answer as Lucile actually said such merciless things so brazenly.
Ferris remained emotionless as she looked at her brother.
“You’re saying this seriously, right?”
“I’m always serious.”
“……Then, what’s the next task?”
Then, Lucile pointed at Sion,
“From now on, you’re going to be the assistant of Sion here. I believe that if you remain with him, you’ll get quite a lot of chances to train.”
Lucile suddenly said such words, and Sion couldn’t help but look at him.
“Ah? This is a little too…”
“What? Is there anything you’re unhappy about?”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
Sion wasn’t being unhappy, but also hoped for this outcome. He already wanted to get Ferris in his group. In that case, though he could get Ferris’ help easily…
What will Ferris think?
Sion continued to look at the emotionless Ferris.
She stared at Sion with those beautiful eyes, sighed, and said,
“I won’t dare to disobey you.”
Thus, Ferris joined Sion’s ranks of comrades…
After a while…
Sion was brought alone to the garden.
The moment Lucile said that he was going to meditate, the scary thing was that he disappeared, and Ferris looked like she wasn’t shocked by this at all as she said,
“I’ll have the old uncle bring you to the garden. I’ll be there soon.”
And thus, Sion arrived at this garden and was sitting on the long bench of the garden.
He looked around.
The garden was trimmed and properly taken care off.
The trees basked completely under the warm sunlight, and that same sunlight landed on Sion. The flow of water and the chirping of birds that came from somewhere seemed to make him feel comfortable.
If this kept up, he might fall asleep.
That’s what he thought.
Was it because of a lack of sleep? Or was it because of that monstrous presence of Lucile? Sion just felt tired.
He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes to rest for a while.
However—
“Are you the one who hid the dango and bullied sister? Stop hiding it and hand it over, or else I won’t care about the consequences!”
Someone suddenly growled at him. Sion hurriedly got up.
And looked at where the voice came from.
He saw a girl that was about 6, 7 years old, held by the hand by Ferris and looking back at him.
The girl was wearing a dress with lots of frills on the side. She had beautiful blond hair and a nice face that looked like she too would become a beauty in the future.
She had a really childish presence, but one could tell…
This girl should be Ferris’ little sister or some relative? In that case, the sister she was talking about should be Ferris, and what she just said…
Sion gave a wry smile.
“Bully you? Who’ll be so daring?”
Ferris ignored him.
“See that, Iris? You see that malicious face? He ate so much that I didn’t have any, and even looks all innocent at that. You cannot be like such an evil adult in the future.”
“I see it, I see it. Iris knows that he hid the dango. That guy’s holding the box from the dango shop, right? Sister? Iris knows everything.”
“Iris’ really amazing. That’s right. That guy snatched my dango and even threatened me, saying that if I wanted to eat dango, I have to help him. What do you think?”
“HE’S THE WORST!”
“That’s right. He’s the worst. What should he do when he wants to ask others for help?”
“Wynnit dango shop! Even a dog knows how to buy it!”
Iris answered without hesitation.
Ferris still looked emotionless, but seemed to be satisfied as she nodded her head.
“How about it, Sion? Even a child knows that. Now, what do you think you should do?”
Having been clobbered by their partnership for a while, Sion sighed.
“I’ll just get a combo set, alright?”
Ferris however shook her head.
“Two boxes. Who asked you to get me to accompany you to do such messy things alone? It’s really too troublesome. Iris will help too. Basically, the problem you’re facing is those attackers, right? There won’t be enough people if I have to track or set up something alone. So Iris, are you willing to help me out?”
“Un! I’ll help too. God will be angry and break my limbs if I don’t listen to sister, right?”
Sion looked at Iris, who was smiling and giving a radiant smile as she said such ridiculous words, and couldn’t help but shrug,
“Wait, don’t be too hasty. I’ll get the combo sets alright, but are you really going to get the little girl to help?”
“Hm? You have a problem?”
“What I’m saying is that there’re a lot of problems normally, right? First, it’s dangerous for her to take part.”
“Dangerous?...Fmm.”
Ferris nodded her head, and after pondering silently, she put her hand on Iris’ head. She said to Iris, who was playing with her hand,
“Iris, that peevish brother’s looking down on you.”
“Ah! Really? Why?”
“He said that you’re a brat who hasn’t gotten rid of your habit of wetting the bed.”
Immediately, Iris’ face went completely white.
“No way! Ho, hooooooowwww does he know about this!?”
“That’s because bad people love to grab people on their weaknesses the most. Speaking of which, Iris, what do you want to do? What will you do when your secret’s known?”
Immediately—
Iris’ face became heinous.
She glared at Sion viciously.
“If my secret’s known…I’ll kill them all.”
“That’s right. Go!”
“Un!”
Immediately.
Iris charged at Sion with lightning quick speed.
“Wai…”
Before Sion could even finish speaking,
He flipped up, trying to find a way to dodge the super-humanly fast child closing in as she swung a spinning kick over with her small leg. He then blocked the punches that were coming like rapids. Sion then jumped back and pulled his distance from Iris before looking at her.
Right in front of his eyes, he saw Iris, moving quickly with such agile reflexes for a small child.
“No way…”
Sion seemed to groan.
Ferris said in a casual tone to him,
“How is it? It seemed that Iris can already launch close ranged attacks on you just by relying on body techniques. Do you still think that she can’t help?”
Sion immediately shook his head.
“I admit defeat. So can Iris please help us out?”
“Un. Iris, stop fighting. This brother finally seems to recognize you as a mature adult.”
“Eh? Really? Iris really, never wet her bed, you know?”
Sion gave a stupid smile and nodded his head.
“I know that. Iris’ an adult already, right?”
Iris again gave a bright smile.
“Un!”
She nodded her head hard.
In contrast, Sion couldn’t help but sigh.
This little girl that was still immature and cute and adorable actually launched a spinning kick that would have broken his neck if she landed the kick.
He was really impressed.
The direction he was heading in wasn’t going to be won through battles. He had to get powerful backing instead of fighting a direct battle with a strong enemy.
“Well, I sort of knew this…then, including Miss Iris, may I introduce myself? Since I’ll be working with you two, allow me to introduce a little of myself to you two…”
Thus, Sion started his explanation.
He was born of a certain famous noble family, but illegitimately.
Amongst those few brothers or even sisters that he hadn’t met before, one may be trying to kill him.
First, was to investigate who the enemy was.
He never said everything out. No, he couldn’t. They’re the Eris clan. It had been said a few times that the Eris clan was the one in charge of protecting the king. How could he state his origin to such people, and even say that he was in dispute with his brothers…the king’s children?
Even though Sion himself was a king’s son…
No, there was no need for him to say it.
Besides, the ones who sent assassins to kill Sion wouldn’t be those brothers. Those brothers probably wouldn’t do such a thing? They would never stain their own hands.
Perhaps the one who directly hired the assassins were the nobles who were instigated by those brothers…
“First, if we can find where those people are…”
Once Sion explained this, Ferris continued to remain expressionless as she used her left hand to play with Iris, who was clinging onto her tightly.
“Then, you want us to investigate this?”
“Can you?”
“Un. This is really tough. First, there’s too little information. This Sion who’s pursuing a secret perversion wouldn’t even tell us the names of those nobles, and just said that he wanted us to look for the people mindlessly. It’s impossible. But…if I don’t do this, I’ll be killed by my brother…in that case…”
Ferris nodded her head.
“We’ll start watching you from tomorrow onwards. Once there are suspicious people around, we’ll follow them and find out who they are. Iris will be in charge of watching. From tomorrow onwards, you’ll be watched by Iris, no matter whether it’s morning, afternoon or night, including when you go to the toilet, when you bath and when you sleep…fm. This mission is a good chance for Iris to learn. She can understand how men are like beasts…and will despair in men so much that she’ll be my eternal slave. Fufufu.”
It’s unknown whether Ferris was saying this jokingly or seriously as she was always looking so emotionless…but Iris said to Ferris, who said such words without changing expressions,
“Sister, this slave is the most obedient child, right? Iris knows that. Iris’ sister’s slave!”
Iris was still a child after all as what she said sounded so adorable.
Seeing this pair of sisters, Sion couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
“Then, how about we test this out for now?”
And thus, the plan started to proceed.
The back alley was still covered in darkness.
Sion continued to run from the killing intent that was closing in on him, desperately trying to think of a way to escape.
“What should I do? How can I get through this?”
A tense presence went through him.
He understood that it was a terrifying feeling, that once he let his guard down, he would be condemned to death.
“What should I do to overcome this?”
He seemingly moaned as he muttered to himself.
The enemy was just too strong.
He knew how strong the enemy was the moment he tried to attack.
The spell Sion cast was skillfully dodged by the enemy. In a fight between both sides, it's obvious that he couldn't match them.
However, if it was a one on one battle, Sion had the belief that he would win. That was certain.
However, there were 6 of them.
These were six highly skilled people, and based on their mobility, it was likely that they were professional assassins. People like them only needed a little interaction before reading into a person. The enemy's attacks were always coming at Sion's vitals without any mercy. Obviously, these people weren't just enemies that could be ambushed...
And they weren't enemies that could be taken down head on.
In that case, what method should he use...?
Will I be killed like this?
“If I can survive now and hang on till daylight...run...”
However, Sion's thoughts stopped here.
His feet that were running hard stopped too.
Thus,
A group of men clad in armour immediately caught up to him.
The men saw that Sion had suddenly stopped, and said in a mocking tone,
“Kuku...so you’ve finally given up?”
“Actually causing us to waste so much effort...”
“Kishishi. Then, let us send you to heaven and grant you release.”
However, even though the situation was really difficult, Sion didn't turn back to look at them.
“...”
He merely remained silent and narrowed his eyes.
“Yo, are you so scared that you don't even want to look at our faces?”
One of the men said.
At this moment, Sion finally spoke,
“I'm actually running for my own life...? Why must I run? If I really am capable of being king, the heavens wouldn't allow me to die here, right?”
At this moment, Sion turned around.
He continued with a calm tone,
“Ryner's right. If I'm capable of being king, I won't die in such a place...or rather, if I can't even deal with people...no, trash like you who follow those nobles that bare their fangs. If I can't deal with people like you cleanly...”
Sion's words were so casual, but his eyes were abnormally sharp. He bent his body low and got into battle mode completely.
On seeing this, the men didn't mind as they gave mocking sneers.
“Are you going to struggle before your death? With your ability, this is too much, handsome boy.”
The despicable laughter roared like thunder. Then, the man drew out long and sharp daggers from within their cloaks.
However, Sion didn't care about all this.
He gently exerted the force within his body.
The battle began.
With lightning-quick speed, Sion quickly closed in on the enemies and got ready to attack one of them.
At that moment,
Two men moved towards him, looking like they were trying to cut him off.
Sion knew that if he attacked one of them, the other person will use this opening and stab with the dagger.
Sion suddenly stopped and immediately and faced the swinging knife, ready for the man on the left that was attacking.
Sion grabbed that man's wrist that had the dagger in his hand, subdued him, raised his knee and smashed it hard into the man's chest.
“WAH!?”
The knee went deep into the man's chest.
This attack actually incapacitated an enemy...
Just as Sion was relieved at this, he suddenly felt a strong killing intent behind him, and shrank his body back.
But he was still an instant too late as his shoulder was slashed by the dagger.
“Ugh...”
Fresh blood came gushing out from his shoulder as a sharp pain went through his entire body. But if he stopped because of such a thing, his life would be in jeopardy.
At that moment, Sion rolled forward and pulled away from the enemy, got up and started drawing a magic array.
If he could do so, maybe he could finish off 2 enemies...
However,
“Don't get too cocky!”
Two men threw the daggers in their hands at Sion.
At this critical moment, Sion could only stop the creation of his magic arrays. He struck out, knocked a dagger off course and grabbed the other dagger at the same time.
Now that I have a weapon...
No time to think too much.
A black-clothed man who didn't look like he had any intention of participating used this short time to complete a magic array.
Upon seeing the enemy's magic array, Sion couldn't help but groan.
That was the lightning spell 'Izuchi', the same spell Kiefer cast on Ryner during the practical lesson. However, the enemy's 'Izuchi' was far stronger than the one Kiefer cast.
If it wasn't about training but really about attacking the enemy through magic, the caster's force was also an important point. Roland's magic really had such shocking destructive powers.
If he was attacked directly, it's likely that he would be turned into ash...
The man started chanting,
“What I seek is lightning. Izuchi.”
Immediately, a bright light came from the center of the magic array...
During this time, Sion threw the dagger in his hand at the center of the magic array.
Immediately, the lightning that was gathered from the magic array let out a light, and that blinding light followed the dagger as it stabbed the shoulder of the man drawing the magic array.
“WAAA!”
The lightning struck.
The man's body couldn't withstand the powerful destructive power of the lightning, and collapsed.
After dealing with another enemy, Sion smiled.
“Now, that's two...wa!”
Before he even finished, Sion was interrupted.
Someone struck him from behind.
Sion was attacked on the back of the head, and his entire body collapsed weakly onto the floor. The hit just now caused his legs to tremble, and he couldn't stand up.
“Da, damn it!”
Sion himself was almost paralyzed as he lay on the floor. He turned around to look.
And he found that his attacker was the man he had struck in the chest, the one whom he thought was unconscious.
That man sneered and said,
“Kishishi, this isn't a kid's game, pretty boy. This is a real battlefield of murder. Don't you know that you have to deliver the final blow to you enemy?”
And then, the man picked up the dagger that fell onto the floor.
His face showed an irritating and despicable sneer as he said,
“You caused me to waste so much effort. Now let's see how I'll deal with you...”
After saying that, the man raised the knife high up—
Sion couldn't move.
His head was still concussed and his vision swaying, and his body wasn't listening to his commands.
However, his thoughts were abnormally calm.
Will I be killed? In such a place? In such a dirty back alley? Me?
Really unbelievable. The developments up till now are way too funny...
He could see the man holding the dagger and swinging it down hard.
And it was shown right in front of his eyes in slow motion.
He was calm, abnormally calm.
He could see death approaching slowly...
Slowly.
Suddenly,
A strange object came from the side and appeared in front of Sion's eyes. It was a long, thin needle-shaped object that looked like it was made of wood. That needle-shaped object pierced through the man's hand that was about to swing down.
“WAAAAAAAAHHH!!”
The man screamed and stopped.
He looked at the hand that had the needle poked through.
“WHA, WHAT'S THIS!?”
The man roared.
A voice rang. It was the clear voice of a girl.
This voice stated casually,
“That's a dango stick. You can tell, right? Do you even need to ask?”
Her tone didn't have any emotion in it, and it was icy cold as if she was ignoring them.
Sion and the men turned to look at the source of this voice in unison.
And thus...
Everyone gasped.
The one standing in front of them was an unbelievable beauty.
She had bright blond hair and long and narrow eyes, coupled with that face that was abnormally beautiful. Wrapped under the blueish-white robes was an amazingly slender body. For some reason, she had a sword tied at her waist.
And her hand...
Was holding two dango sticks.
She continued to put the dangos into her mouth.
As she looked way too emotionless, the dangos seemed like they were hard to swallow...
However, such an emotionless expression, shown on such a beautiful girl's face could probably go hand in hand with the phrase 'mysterious presence'.
This girl who was completely emotionless looked at the current situation, and for some reason, started to blush.
“Has the recent trend...become such that men can attack other men brazenly? How daring, isn't it?”
“““AH!?”””
Immediately, Sion and the men cried out in unison.
The tense atmosphere was relaxed quite a bit.
Thus, that man with the dango stick pierced through him got ready again and yelled,
“YO, YOU THREW THIS DANGO STICK?”
On hearing this, the pretty girl just nodded her head.
“That's right. I finished that dango stick anyway.”
“THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M ASKING HERE!”
The man just looked even more agitated.
“You!? You think that you can get away with this!? Naa? Prepare yourself! Hehehehe…let’s see how we’ll deal with her, right?”
The man said to his partners, and the other men let out crude laughter as they agreed with what he said.
However, even while listening to these men’s crude words, this girl didn’t show any signs of backing away.
Not only that, she simply said.
“In that case, come at me. This lady shall take you on.”
After saying that, she drew the sword at her waist.
And still held that dango stick in her other hand…
On seeing this, the men growled.
“OI, ARE YOU LOOKING DOWN ON US!?”
“WATCH US SLAUGHTER YOU!”
Aside from the man holding down Sion, the others went to attack the girl.
On seeing this, Sion couldn’t help but shout,
“IDIOT! RUN AWAY!”
However—
At the next moment.
The woman disappeared.
No. The girl actually moved at a speed so fast it looked like she disappeared.
Immediately.
It seemed that the sword in her hand only flashed once as all 4 men were immediately incapacitated…
“Eh…?”
On seeing this, the man holding Sion down inadvertently let out a stupid sound.
Sion was also dumbstruck.
That’s because he saw it,
The girl was eating her dango as she moved at unbelievable speed before smacking the vitals of the men with the side of her sword…
No, for the girl’s standard, it wasn’t a case of being too fast or not.
Unless one focused, it was impossible to catch her with the naked eye.
Thus—
The girl who knocked the men down in mere seconds turned around.
The blond hair was dancing in the air, and the emotionless yet beautiful eyes were looking here…
“So, are we going to continue? Sorry, it’s my task to deal with crimes in this area. I won’t allow such acts to happen here. If you still want to continue…”
After saying that, the girl pointed the dango stick at the man and said,
“I’ll kill you.”
“Hii!?”
The effect was immediate.
The man let go of Sion and left his allies behind before running away on his own.
But Sion was still stunned as he remained there.
This girl…
This girl who had easily taken down the group of 6 men who were far stronger than Sion in the blink of an eye, while eating dango and dealing with the enemies one-handed…
It was unbelievable.
Sion shouldn’t be underestimated. Amongst those in the Roland Empire Royal Military Academy, he had top grades in fighting and magic…
However, this…
This girl who looked to be around 16 or 17, about the same age as Sion…
He couldn’t fight against her at all.
If he had fought her as an enemy, it’s likely that he would be dead immediately…
She was like a monster.
This term appeared in Sion’s mind.
A beautiful and extremely fast monster.
Or…
At this moment, the still emotionless girl continued chewing on the dango, and suddenly looked at the sky before muttering.
“Un, the sky’s about to turn bright.”
On hearing her say that, Sion looked up at the sky as well.
The sky was really about to turn bright.
Sion looked at the sky and narrowed his eyes.
The night…was about to pass.
The night in which he was ready to die.
However…
“I’m not dead yet…”
Sion smiled.
Yes, I’m not dead. If the heavens’ will was for me to die here, it means that my mission will last till here.
And the heavens sent a messenger…
He turned to look at the girl.
At this moment, the morning light broke through the clouds and shone coincidentally…
Right on her body, lighting her up.
That profile…
Wasn’t a monster.
It looked like a goddess or an angel.
Time continued to pass, and it was noon on the second day.
As usual, Ryner was sleeping.
Or rather, he slept the entire day.
On a side note to everyone, this was the classroom of the Roland Empire Royal Military Academy. Ryner was forcefully dragged by Kiefer to sit down in the classroom, but even through the 4 lessons and 3 breaks, his eyes still didn’t manage to open…
No matter how much the instructors questioned, raged and were taken aback by his aloofness…he still remained himself.
Well, that’s basically not the first time this happened.
Or rather, if it wasn’t for Kiefer, Ryner’s attendance would be almost zero.
These things weren’t worth mentioning anyway.
At noon break, Ryner, who was just like a corpse and asleep, finally woke up for lunch…
He rubbed his eyes that were sleepier than usual and yawned loudly.
“Naa…muu~n, is it morning…?”
“IT’S NOON ALREADY!”
Kiefer yelled back without hesitation.
“I say, Ryner…if you’re not going to work hard, you’re going to be expelled by the school, you know?”
“Nn~? Is there such a thing? I’m rather outstanding here…”
“Where did that self-confidence come from…stop saying such idiotic things and eat. The bento box’s rather heavy.”
Kiefer said and handed the bento box over to Ryner.
“Nn.”
Ryner gave a matter of fact look as he received the bento box.
At that moment, all the boys in the class shot killer stares over…however, the sleepy person involved didn’t notice this precarious situation at all.
In fact, no matter whether it was morning, afternoon or even night, once Ryner started feeling sleepy, he would even feel that eating was a chore and sometimes skipped all three meals. Thus, Kiefer had no choice but to prepare meals for him. Though it was just in name only…
Kiefer said,
“How is it? Is it good?”
Ryner said,
“Un, very good.”
Kiefer’s eyes sparkled as she smiled.
“Really? That’s great!”
At the same time, the other boys in the class were screaming inside their hearts:
(Must kill Ryner and dice him up!)
Everything was just as usual for a peaceful lunch break…
At this moment, Sion suddenly walked into the classroom.
As usual, he said with a cheery tone,
“Yo, you two. Your relationship’s rather sweet as usual!”
He deliberately emphasized, and on hearing that, Kiefer blushed.
“Wha...what are you saying…really you, Sion. We’re just friends. Yes, just friends…right Ryner?”
Up till now, Kiefer glanced at Ryner’s face, but Ryner remained silent.
He was silent, and also in a zen-like phase as he closed his eyes.
No, instead of a zen phase…
“…”
He actually fell asleep.
“YOU’RE ASLEEP AGAIN!?”
“Naa!? Ah, I actually fell asleep?”
“WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY ACTUALLY FALLING ASLEEP!? AND WHILE EATING TOO! REALLY, HAVE YOU BEEN FIGHTING MUCH RECENTLY!?”
“Really? Don’t praise me like that…”
“I’M NOT PRAISING YOU AT ALL! I’M DERIDING YOU HERE!”
“Oh, so you’re deriding me?”
For some reason, Ryner actually seemed aware as he nodded his head, yawned, and finally noticed Sion.
Ryner looked at him, and said,
“Yo, you still alive?”
Sion gave wry smile.
“Don’t decide my life and death so easily. You look safe too.”
“Not really the case. It’s because of you that I was dragged to lessons first thing in the morning. I nearly died there…”
Obviously, such ridiculous words were interrupted by Kiefer as she rewarded him with a punch.
Sion chuckled as he saw this, and nodded in a satisfied manner.
“Ah, it’s good that you’re fine. Speaking of which, sorry for disturbing your time together. Looks like I should go.”
After saying that, Sion made to leave, but Kiefer hurriedly stopped him.
“Hey, I told you that we’re not like that already♥! We, we’re definitely not in that sort of relationship! Right Ryner?”
Kiefer said and turned back to look.
However, Ryner was asleep again…
Kiefer was about to raise her metal-like fist.
“I say, at least…”
But Sion stopped Kiefer’s hand at this moment.
With a gentle expression, he looked at Ryner, and then turned to Kiefer before saying,
“Kiefer. Ryner didn’t really sleep much last night.”
“Eh? Really?”
Sion nodded his head.
“Un. Last night, because of a few trivial things, he ended up accompanying me through the entire night, so just let him sleep more, alright?”
“…”
Kiefer didn’t say any more as her normally cheery expression showed a somewhat awkward look. And then…
She released her hard fist that became a soft palm before slapping right on Ryner’s head.
“Eh!?”
Sion was shocked to see this.
But Kiefer didn’t think much of it as she said with a steady tone.
“No matter what, he sleeps too much! I don’t know what you two guys were secretly doing last night, but that means you didn’t sleep, right, Sion? Why is there such a huge difference? Either way, Ryner has to man himself up!”
Kiefer was angry.
The eyes that were normally in a half-joking manner narrowed dangerously.
And for some reason, she started to look lonely.
“Really…he should have told me everything…if he said it, I would more or less…this idiot Ryner…this idiot!”
On seeing this, Sion smiled.
“Allow me to take my leave first. I will have to head somewhere first.”
“Ah, un, what about today’s meeting…?”
“I can’t attend. Just proceed on your own.”
“Got it. I’ll tell everyone.”
“I’ll leave it to you then.”
After saying that, Sion left the classroom.
After a while,
Sion appeared at the dango shop.
The reason was,
Because the goddess forced him to buy them…
Sion recalled what happened last time, and couldn’t help but give a wry smile. At that moment, Sion was stunned by the girl’s otherworldly beauty, the girl who was giving off a bright light and had an ever perfect face…
Then—
The girl seemed to suddenly remember something as she looked at Sion and said to him.
Her voice was calm,
“They say that when dogs receive a favor, they’ll remember it for the rest of their lives.”
“Heh?”
Sion couldn’t grasp the meaning behind the girl’s words, and looked completely stunned as he answered that.
However, the girl didn’t seem to mind as she continued,
“For example, a dog was nearly drowning in a river, and I saved it in the nick of time. What do you think will happen next?”
“…No…”
Sion didn’t really understand the real meaning behind the girl’s words, but he still suitably answered,
“…You want gratitude?”
On hearing this, the girl nodded.
“That’s right. Dogs will never forget about this gratitude. Every year, the dog will definitely buy me a Wynnit dango shop ‘recommended combo set 4’ from the 3rd district. Dogs really are smart. They know that once they tell the shop owner to send it to the beautiful lady of the Eris family, the item will be sent to me.”
The girl said that with a serious expression, and Sion was momentarily stunned. It was different from the shock he had when he saw the overwhelming martial arts and outstanding beauty…
However, the girl didn’t seem to mind the expression on Sion’s face as she continued to nod expressionlessly in a satisfied manner.
“That’s what I’m talking about.”
What do you mean that’s what you’re talking about!?
Just before Sion was about to ask, the girl spun and took a large step before leaving…
Just like that, Sion went to the dango shop to buy the ‘recommended combo set 4’.
He didn’t really listen to the Eris’ family address.
There was no need. On hearing this name, he immediately knew who she was and where she was from.
The Eris clan.
This family was a famous clan that was in charge of protecting the king of the Roland Empire.
It was a noble clan with extremely great power.
It was also known as the swordsmen clan.
This clan’s mission was simply to protect the king, and never to take part in battles. Thus, very few people knew its power. However…
They were extremely famous amongst some of the nobles.
Everyone knew that that clan was the strongest.
They had a large dojo inside the city, and amongst some famous nobles, heading to the Eris’ clan dojo was like proof of being famous.
Only a small group of people could enter and exit the dojo, and those were nobles that were highly respected…
Sion looked up at this large stone structure that was built right in front of him, the thing that didn’t look out of place with all the decorations and serenity from the buildings all around, and yet had a serious and dignified presence.
He muttered,
“I understand. This place has nothing to do with me, a third-rate noble who was born illegitimately from my parents.”
For someone like him who could only be barely called nobility…
Thinking about this, Sion smiled. It was a sharp smile with many meanings, one that didn’t think about his own shame, and one without any mockery, and even one with a somewhat proud stand.
He knew that he was in a delicate position. The brothers he had never met before seemed to view him, born out of a lowly woman’s stomach, as a humiliation. They may have sent assassins one after another to assassinate him…
In other words…he wasn’t popular. He knew that. Thus, up till now, he tried his best not to go near those noble gatherings.
There were a few reasons.
First, he had many misgivings with those who were arrogant all because of their noble standing.
Another reason was that if he joined the nobles, he wouldn’t be able to get the talents that couldn’t even reach the nobles.
And last of all, he didn’t want them to realize his ambition…
If he stepped into the nobles’ territory and had the one thing he wanted discovered, those brothers of his would be wary of him. To him, that’s not a good thing.
If they really wanted to hunt him down with all they had, he wouldn’t have enough power to fight them.
Those brothers were different from him. They were born with lots of authority.
They wielded lots of power.
They were the second highest ranking in this country.
Sion and his brothers were all sons of the King of Roland…
However, from the moment Sion was born from his mother’s womb, he didn’t have the authority he should have. He was a child born from a lowly woman, just a child born from a King’s lust on a woman as he wandered through the world.
Every time those nobles saw him, they would say,
“Son of a filthy mother dog.”
His mother already had a husband, but once the king had his eyes on her, she was forcefully taken away. And once she bore Sion, she was abandoned…
In the end, Sion’s mother was treated like a dirty mother dog. His mother couldn’t withstand this pain and committed suicide, but still couldn’t get anyone’s pity. People just felt that she died like a dog, and no one went to her funeral.
Thus, he never met the king, and never met his brothers.
He felt hostility and killing intent all around from the moment he was born.
However, Sion…
Reveled in it.
Isn’t this interesting? I can bet everything on this. Since you people think like this, I’ll take you all down in one swoop. I’ll eliminate all those that get in my way.
To achieve this aim, he needed more power.
Political power, military power. No matter how beautiful or filthy it was, he would take them all.
He needed more, more and more.
He again looked around.
The beautiful buildings that were lined side by side in blocks were located in the large city.
This was the territory of the nobles. The territory of the nobles who hated him and tried to kill him.
However, he had no need to be scared.
To get this power he needed, even if it was the territory of nobles, he had to barge into it daringly.
If he wanted to get that assistance…
Sion’s mind remembered the information he investigated before he visited this place.
According to the records of nobles, that beautiful girl he met yesterday seemed to be called Ferris Eris.
“Ferris…Ferris…”
She was a noble.
However, Sion wanted to recruit her. He had never seen such a beautiful being.
Right now, the gates were right in front of him.
The gates to the Eris’ residence.
This was the residence of the clan that never appeared on the public stage, one filled with mystery, a famed clan hailed as the strongest swordsmen clan.
What kind of shocking situation awaits him…?
Sion knocked on the door without hesitation.
“I have a present for Miss Ferris Eris.”
And thus,
Without any warning from the inside, the gates opened silently.
A long road reached out from within the gates, and the wide garden was neatly trimmed on both sides.
It was an ordinary garden.
For a noble’s residence, this place was a little too humble. However, it wasn’t really that much different from an ordinary noble’s residence.
Even so…
Sion’s face tensed.
For some reason, inside the gates…
He seemed to feel a heavy, dark and deep darkness inside.
Sion was led to a dojo that was so large that the opposite wall couldn’t be seen.
The dojo was completely empty. There was no sound from such a large place, unknowingly forming a serious atmosphere. The entire dojo was tiled with wooden blocks, and there wasn’t a speck of dust around.
The old butler who was in charge of serving the guest led him to the entrance of the dojo.
“Please remove your shoes in the dojo. Then, if I may…”
The old butler looked like he was about to leave, and Sion hurriedly stopped him.
“Ah, I see. I want to see Miss Ferris, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone around…what should I do?”
The old butler looked at Sion, and then said,
“Mr Sion Astal. In the Eris residence, a first-time visitor has to meet the master. This is the rule, even for Master Eris’ friends…thus, please enter the dojo.”
“Eh…? But, there didn’t seem to be anyone…”
Before Sion even finished, he immediately shut up. He suddenly felt a strong and large presence coming from inside…
“Ah…!?”
This presence was different from any presence Sion felt before.
The killing aura of a beast.
He didn’t just feel this. That overwhelming pressure may be better described as a demonic killing aura.
It’s really hard to imagine that it was the presence of a human.
However, amidst all this, there was a serenity that felt like it could vanish when the wind blows, and an icy feeling that could see through everything…
Sion was confused. He cringed, and didn’t have the courage to look inside the dojo…
Wha, what resides inside…?
At this moment,
The old butler said,
“It’s my master, the older brother of Miss Ferris.”
Sion looked up. A man was sitting inside the dojo properly from who knows when. But there was definitely no one inside just now…
No…
Sion was ever clear about this.
This person was there right from the beginning. It was just that Sion himself couldn’t see it. This man didn’t want to be seen, so Sion couldn’t see him.
To the master of the Eris clan, was it really such a simple thing to go to this extent? Covering one’s own presence and not being in other people’s consciousness…
“Ku…”
Sion felt icy cold sweat flow down his back.
He looked at the man who was sitting silently in front of him…
He had blond hair that was like Ferris, but it was not long. The steadily closed eyes were coupled with an unbelievably good looking face. This man was also dressed in a blue and white robe.
The presence around him was ever so calm.
He looked to be a little older than Sion…probably about 20.
To an untrained person, he may look like a calm good youth.
However, this person…
At this moment, this man said in a clear voice that would definitely rile the other party’s anxiety,
“I’m sorry for taking a little while. I’m the master of the current Eris family, Lucile. You’re…Ferris’ friend, right? Nn. Looks like you bought a gift. I’m sure Ferris will be happy.”
Sion hurriedly changed his posture and answered,
“Ah, yes. We’re not friends, but Miss Ferris helped me out last night…I’m Sion Astal.”
“Helped you out? Ah, looks like Ferris did accomplish her task.”
“Task?”
Sion couldn’t help but ask upon hearing that. He suddenly remembered that Ferris seemed to have said something similar before…
He remembered that she said something similar—
“Sorry, it’s my task to deal with crimes in this area. I won’t allow such acts to happen here.”
Sion asked in an inquisitive manner,
“What does that mean?”
Lucile answered,
“Nothing. I just felt that the child was a little too free recently, so I gave an order to her that she will have to reduce the crimes of damage or violence to zero during a specific time.”
“Ze…zero…?”
Sion asked in surprise. Lucile nodded, and said,
“For me, Sion, it’s a little different in order, but I have to say it to you now. Welcome to the Eris residence. You’re an interesting person. Very good, I understand. We’ll welcome you here. I’ll allow you to see Ferris.”
“Eh? Interesting? Erm, I don’t really understand what you mean. Do you mean that I’m accepted…?”
On hearing this, Lucile smiled.
And then, while keeping that smile…
Killing intent suddenly exploded from Lucile’s body.
Right at Sion.
“Kuu…”
Such shocking pressure. It felt like he would be killed by the other party’s spiritual pressure the moment he relaxed. Sion’s knees nearly weakened, and he spent a lot of effort before barely hanging on.
He couldn’t move. No, he couldn’t even lift a finger. He would die the moment he moved.
He will be killed, definitely…
Lucile continued to keep his eyes closed and he smiled and said to Sion,
“Ho...I said it, didn’t I. you’re really an interesting person. Haven’t you realized what expression you were showing?”
Sion stared at Lucile and groaned.
“Wha, what do you mean?”
Sion’s tone went back to normal. No, it could most probably be said that his true nature was lured out…
And in a rather easy fashion too.
Lucile continued to talk as he looked rather happy.
“You were smiling at me. You knew that if I wanted to, before you even found me…I could have killed you. But you were smiling at me. Weren’t you scared? No, you’re really scared of me. You’re scared of such overwhelming presence of death. However, your heart had a feeling that exceeded that fear. What is it? What is that feeling…”
For an instant, Lucile seemed to stop pondering, and then he continued,
“Ah, I see? You want me. No, you want everything. Your eyes are telling me all your thoughts. You want this country’s…”
“You…”
Sion couldn’t help but widen his eyes. All his thoughts were read through.
How capable was this guy…
But if he was really seen through, he’ll definitely be dead!
The Eris clan always acted as guards for the king.
Sion’s entire body trembled. That’s because he was facing that overwhelming power of death.
He was facing that ominous pressure.
At this moment, Lucile stood up, and his face still had that smile that seemed stuck on his face.
It was really scary. The overwhelming difference in ability between both of them caused Sion to tremble in fear and remain unable to move.
Lucile slowly and surely walked to him.
He said,
“No. You want an even distant future. A future that’s far, far away. You’re really an interesting person. Should I kill you now? Or let you live? What should I choose? To kill or not to kill? The decision’s completely in my hands…ha, hahaha, ha!”
He smiled. He always had that smile on his face.
Sion couldn’t move at all.
A hand reached out. For a man, that hand was rather slender and extravagant.
The god of death resided in his hand.
That hand was gently stroking Sion’s neck, raising his chin…
At this moment,
“Oi.”
A familiar, unrestrained and clear voice rang.
“What do you want to do to my dangos?”
One could tell who it was from the tone. It was Ferris.
Immediately, the smile that was on Lucile’s face disappeared, and he turned to look at Ferris.
“Ferris, this Sion who you saved yesterday brought dango over.”
“I know. But what I want to ask is what were you trying to do, brother?”
“Fmm, men have a lot of secrets between each other. Do you really want to know, Ferris?”
“You…be, between men…?”
For some reason, Ferris’ bewitching face immediately went red the moment she heard this. She said,
“…I won’t ask anymore for now.”
“OI! ARE YOU MISTAKING SOMETHING HERE!!?”
At this moment, Sion was finally released from the tense curse. The killing aura from Lucile’s body vanished without a trace as if it never existed at all. Other than the neck Lucile was grabbing, Sion’s entire body was covered in cold sweat.
In a completely different tone, Lucile said to Sion in a somewhat calm manner, right in the ears in a whispering-like manner,
“You survived. That shows your power, right? I won’t do anything to you. You can build your relationship with Ferris now. Don’t see her as she is now. She’s a rather lonely person, probably because our parents died early.”
After saying these words, Lucile turned to Ferris,
“Ferris, looks like you really completed your task. Now you can proceed to the next task. What do you think?”
Ferris said,
“Brother. I have this feeling recently that you have been using your own interests under the namesake of tasks and dumping them onto me…”
“My sister, what are you saying? Isn’t this the training passed down for generations in the Eris’ clan? Don’t you believe me?”
“…What will you do if I say that I don’t?”
“You’ll die.”
“…”
It was a clear cut answer as Lucile actually said such merciless things so brazenly.
Ferris remained emotionless as she looked at her brother.
“You’re saying this seriously, right?”
“I’m always serious.”
“……Then, what’s the next task?”
Then, Lucile pointed at Sion,
“From now on, you’re going to be the assistant of Sion here. I believe that if you remain with him, you’ll get quite a lot of chances to train.”
Lucile suddenly said such words, and Sion couldn’t help but look at him.
“Ah? This is a little too…”
“What? Is there anything you’re unhappy about?”
“No, that’s not what I meant….”
Sion wasn’t being unhappy, but also hoped for this outcome. He already wanted to get Ferris in his group. In that case, though he could get Ferris’ help easily…
What will Ferris think?
Sion continued to look at the emotionless Ferris.
She stared at Sion with those beautiful eyes, sighed, and said,
“I won’t dare to disobey you.”
Thus, Ferris joined Sion’s ranks of comrades…
After a while…
Sion was brought alone to the garden.
The moment Lucile said that he was going to meditate, the scary thing was that he disappeared, and Ferris looked like she wasn’t shocked by this at all as she said,
“I’ll have the old uncle bring you to the garden. I’ll be there soon.”
And thus, Sion arrived at this garden and was sitting on the long bench of the garden.
He looked around.
The garden was trimmed and properly taken care off.
The trees basked completely under the warm sunlight, and that same sunlight landed on Sion. The flow of water and the chirping of birds that came from somewhere seemed to make him feel comfortable.
If this kept up, he might fall asleep.
That’s what he thought.
Was it because of a lack of sleep? Or was it because of that monstrous presence of Lucile? Sion just felt tired.
He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes to rest for a while.
However—
“Are you the one who hid the dango and bullied sister? Stop hiding it and hand it over, or else I won’t care about the consequences!”
Someone suddenly growled at him. Sion hurriedly got up.
And looked at where the voice came from.
He saw a girl that was about 6, 7 years old, held by the hand by Ferris and looking back at him.
The girl was wearing a dress with lots of frills on the side. She had beautiful blond hair and a nice face that looked like she too would become a beauty in the future.
She had a really childish presence, but one could tell…
This girl should be Ferris’ little sister or some relative? In that case, the sister she was talking about should be Ferris, and what she just said…
Sion gave a wry smile.
“Bully you? Who’ll be so daring?”
Ferris ignored him.
“See that, Iris? You see that malicious face? He ate so much that I didn’t have any, and even looks all innocent at that. You cannot be like such an evil adult in the future.”
“I see it, I see it. Iris knows that he hid the dango. That guy’s holding the box from the dango shop, right? Sister? Iris knows everything.”
“Iris’ really amazing. That’s right. That guy snatched my dango and even threatened me, saying that if I wanted to eat dango, I have to help him. What do you think?”
“HE’S THE WORST!”
“That’s right. He’s the worst. What should he do when he wants to ask others for help?”
“Wynnit dango shop! Even a dog knows how to buy it!”
Iris answered without hesitation.
Ferris still looked emotionless, but seemed to be satisfied as she nodded her head.
“How about it, Sion? Even a child knows that. Now, what do you think you should do?”
Having been clobbered by their partnership for a while, Sion sighed.
“I’ll just get a combo set, alright?”
Ferris however shook her head.
“Two boxes. Who asked you to get me to accompany you to do such messy things alone? It’s really too troublesome. Iris will help too. Basically, the problem you’re facing is those attackers, right? There won’t be enough people if I have to track or set up something alone. So Iris, are you willing to help me out?”
“Un! I’ll help too. God will be angry and break my limbs if I don’t listen to sister, right?”
Sion looked at Iris, who was smiling and giving a radiant smile as she said such ridiculous words, and couldn’t help but shrug,
“Wait, don’t be too hasty. I’ll get the combo sets alright, but are you really going to get the little girl to help?”
“Hm? You have a problem?”
“What I’m saying is that there’re a lot of problems normally, right? First, it’s dangerous for her to take part.”
“Dangerous?...Fmm.”
Ferris nodded her head, and after pondering silently, she put her hand on Iris’ head. She said to Iris, who was playing with her hand,
“Iris, that peevish brother’s looking down on you.”
“Ah! Really? Why?”
“He said that you’re a brat who hasn’t gotten rid of your habit of wetting the bed.”
Immediately, Iris’ face went completely white.
“No way! Ho, hooooooowwww does he know about this!?”
“That’s because bad people love to grab people on their weaknesses the most. Speaking of which, Iris, what do you want to do? What will you do when your secret’s known?”
Immediately—
Iris’ face became heinous.
She glared at Sion viciously.
“If my secret’s known…I’ll kill them all.”
“That’s right. Go!”
“Un!”
Immediately.
Iris charged at Sion with lightning quick speed.
“Wai…”
Before Sion could even finish speaking,
He flipped up, trying to find a way to dodge the super-humanly fast child closing in as she swung a spinning kick over with her small leg. He then blocked the punches that were coming like rapids. Sion then jumped back and pulled his distance from Iris before looking at her.
Right in front of his eyes, he saw Iris, moving quickly with such agile reflexes for a small child.
“No way…”
Sion seemed to groan.
Ferris said in a casual tone to him,
“How is it? It seemed that Iris can already launch close ranged attacks on you just by relying on body techniques. Do you still think that she can’t help?”
Sion immediately shook his head.
“I admit defeat. So can Iris please help us out?”
“Un. Iris, stop fighting. This brother finally seems to recognize you as a mature adult.”
“Eh? Really? Iris really, never wet her bed, you know?”
Sion gave a stupid smile and nodded his head.
“I know that. Iris’ an adult already, right?”
Iris again gave a bright smile.
“Un!”
She nodded her head hard.
In contrast, Sion couldn’t help but sigh.
This little girl that was still immature and cute and adorable actually launched a spinning kick that would have broken his neck if she landed the kick.
He was really impressed.
The direction he was heading in wasn’t going to be won through battles. He had to get powerful backing instead of fighting a direct battle with a strong enemy.
“Well, I sort of knew this…then, including Miss Iris, may I introduce myself? Since I’ll be working with you two, allow me to introduce a little of myself to you two…”
Thus, Sion started his explanation.
He was born of a certain famous noble family, but illegitimately.
Amongst those few brothers or even sisters that he hadn’t met before, one may be trying to kill him.
First, was to investigate who the enemy was.
He never said everything out. No, he couldn’t. They’re the Eris clan. It had been said a few times that the Eris clan was the one in charge of protecting the king. How could he state his origin to such people, and even say that he was in dispute with his brothers…the king’s children?
Even though Sion himself was a king’s son…
No, there was no need for him to say it.
Besides, the ones who sent assassins to kill Sion wouldn’t be those brothers. Those brothers probably wouldn’t do such a thing? They would never stain their own hands.
Perhaps the one who directly hired the assassins were the nobles who were instigated by those brothers…
“First, if we can find where those people are…”
Once Sion explained this, Ferris continued to remain expressionless as she used her left hand to play with Iris, who was clinging onto her tightly.
“Then, you want us to investigate this?”
“Can you?”
“Un. This is really tough. First, there’s too little information. This Sion who’s pursuing a secret perversion wouldn’t even tell us the names of those nobles, and just said that he wanted us to look for the people mindlessly. It’s impossible. But…if I don’t do this, I’ll be killed by my brother…in that case…”
Ferris nodded her head.
“We’ll start watching you from tomorrow onwards. Once there are suspicious people around, we’ll follow them and find out who they are. Iris will be in charge of watching. From tomorrow onwards, you’ll be watched by Iris, no matter whether it’s morning, afternoon or night, including when you go to the toilet, when you bath and when you sleep…fm. This mission is a good chance for Iris to learn. She can understand how men are like beasts…and will despair in men so much that she’ll be my eternal slave. Fufufu.”
It’s unknown whether Ferris was saying this jokingly or seriously as she was always looking so emotionless…but Iris said to Ferris, who said such words without changing expressions,
“Sister, this slave is the most obedient child, right? Iris knows that. Iris’ sister’s slave!”
Iris was still a child after all as what she said sounded so adorable.
Seeing this pair of sisters, Sion couldn’t help but give a wry smile.
“Then, how about we test this out for now?”
And thus, the plan started to proceed.
