After that blinding light faded, before the mayor's eyes was a completely unfamiliar place.
Gone was the cozy dining room of the mayor's mansion, gone was the fragrant smell of meticulously prepared food or the tranquility of a place full of elegance. Instead, there was a chillingly cold atmosphere, a noisy bickering worse than a fish market, and a nauseatingly foul stench.
Before Philip's eyes was something like a military camp, or perhaps some mercenary band. The mayor of Roa had been to such places a few times in his life with his father. But something was very strange; although the boisterous, martial air of an army was definitely there, there was something else added to it.
"Huh? Who the hell is this?" someone called out.
Instantly, all eyes turned toward Philip.
Unkempt hair, shaggy beards, torn, filthy clothes, and eyes full of... savagery. Just from that, the mayor knew the place he was in couldn't possibly be Asura.
They were not friendly at all. Philip realized that immediately. Those covetous eyes, looking as if they wanted to devour him alive, were truly disgusting.
"Wha... What is happening, dear? Weren't we just in the dining room? Who are these people?"
Hilda's voice trembled. The mayor's wife tightly gripped her husband's arm. Philip immediately snapped out of it, realizing his beloved wife was still standing beside him.
"I don't know what's happening. But it's okay, I'm here," the man immediately reassured her.
Philip stretched out his arm to shield his wife from the gazes of those stinking men.
"Hey there!" a scrawny guy with blackened teeth yelled. "Who the fuck are you!?"
"I-"
Before Philip could even answer, another guy roared.
"Dressed so fancily, must be from that damn Red Kingdom!"
"Red Kingdom!?" another guy shouted. "Where are those bastards!?"
And instantly, the already stifling atmosphere suddenly became more hostile than ever. Those filthy paupers grabbed their weapons, directing resentful glares at the couple. Even though they didn't know who each other were, not even their names, Philip knew for sure that if things kept going like this, blood would definitely be shed.
Red Kingdom? Philip immediately recognized the name. It was a kingdom in the eastern part of the Strife Zone; they were originally one of the nations under Asura's patronage, so the tea-brown-haired man had heard of it occasionally.
So this is the Strife Zone? But how could that be? I was in the dining room-
However, this was not the time to figure out the reason.
"Wait!"
The mayor cried out. Though his voice shook, it still carried enough of the imposing aura of a man in power. The men halted, albeit only for a split second, but that was enough for the tea-brown-haired man to try and find a way to defuse the current situation.
"I am not from the Red Kingdom," Philip declared. "I am Philip Boreas Greyrat! Mayor of the city of Roa in the Fittoa region of the Asura Kingdom. I don't know why I am here, but this is definitely a misunderstanding."
"Still talking nonsense, you damn spy!"
The scrawny guy yelled again. He shoved the mayor. Even though Philip himself was no warrior, he was still a grown man who had been well-fed since childhood. Yet, it was hard to believe that a body with barely any flesh could be so strong it made him stumble, almost falling over.
"I said-"
"Shut your mouth and go to hell, you bastards!"
Philip tried to use words to negotiate with the rushing mob, but was completely powerless. They were like a swarm of starved hornets thirsting for blood for far too long. Despite trying to control his breathing to stay calm, Philip couldn't escape the terror gradually rising inside him.
Damn it! This is bad!
"Hilda! Get behind me!"
Philip immediately tackled the weakest guy within reach, quickly snatching a rusty pickaxe. He prepared to swing it, to defend himself, but for a noble who had never held a weapon more times than he had fingers, there was no way he could match the strength of seasoned warriors. Especially the savage, bloodthirsty ones from a place like the Strife Zone.
*Whack!*
A strike to his shoulder blade sent a sharp pain through Philip's left arm. The weapon he had just struggled to seize slipped from his grasp.
*Thud!*
Then came another blow to his head, making Philip dizzy and forcing him to take a step back.
"Philip!" Hilda screamed.
Perhaps thanks to the time his father, Lord Sauros, used physical force to discipline him, the mayor had an outstanding pain tolerance. His head was bleeding, trickling down from the top, dyeing his forehead red, the chin area looking like a savage waterfall smelling of iron.
And so Philip still stood firm; he grabbed that rotten wooden club, yanking it hard, causing his attacker to lose balance and fall. The attackers immediately stopped. They had encountered well-dressed people before, people they considered enemies, and most were just stupid, weak fools who only knew how to throw money at armored knights. And now a noble could actually fight back?
Of course, they knew full well they could easily defeat this self-proclaimed Asuran noble or whatever. But they also knew that cornering a deer would make it go crazy and bite back.
Nobody wants to die, right? So they looked at each other, as if looking for someone to step up, be the stupid hero, and die first. It was always like that; someone would step up and die first anyway.
Yet, before anyone could step out, a deep, raspy voice rang out.
"What the hell is all this noise, you lot? If you're just eating, then shut the fuck up and eat!"
It was a slovenly man with a stubbly beard that was extremely unpleasant to look at. His face bore a large scar cutting right across his nose. At first glance, you could say he looked no different from the rest of the scum here. The only difference was his attire; instead of ragged clothes or patched-up armor scraps, the armor he wore, while somewhat rusty, Philip realized, was somewhat sturdier and better than even the armor of Roa's knights. On his back rested a sledgehammer as large as a grown adult. Just that was enough to show that this person's status was nothing ordinary.
"Boss Ulric..." someone blurted out, somewhat fearfully. "The thing is..."
"What thing!?" Ulric growled. "I told you I'm talking to my important guests, and you act like this! Is this acceptable!?"
Only then did Philip notice two other figures standing right behind Ulric.
One of them was a young man with brown hair. However, even more peculiarly than the big guy, the young man was for some reason wearing a brown wool scarf around his neck. It wasn't particularly fine or anything, probably just cheap goods, but it was intact and bizarrely clean compared to the rest of the dirt and dust expected of travel. The young man's face was quite calm, somewhat cheerful, a complete contrast to the rest of this place. On his hip hung a curved sword, so he must be a swordsman.
The other person had a shorter stature. Probably around 14 or 15 years old. It was hard to see much since that person was practically entirely muffled up in a baggy cloak.
Even though Philip didn't know who those two were, they must be the 'important guests' Ulric mentioned.
While Philip was observing, still tightly holding his wife's hand, the scrawny guy finished explaining things to Ulric. The brute, after hearing the story, looked toward the mayor, a glint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
"Oh? An Asuran noble suddenly appearing here?" He spat a wad of saliva. "What's this? Fairy tales? Hahaha! And what's next? A Demon King will try to kill me for laughing at this?"
Then the boss himself paused, his mocking face raising those caterpillar eyebrows. Then, Ulric turned to the young man.
"You don't mind waiting a bit, do you?"
"If it's an Asuran noble, I don't mind," the young man replied.
"Ha. That's why we get along so well, Brown Bear."
Then Ulric walked over, straight in a beeline to where Philip and Hilda were surrounded.
"This way of dressing, this kind of skin, definitely Asuran folks." Suddenly his voice dropped. "Maybe a real noble, huh?"
His eyes glued to Philip like a ferocious tiger looking down at the prey lying snugly in its paws.
A wise man like Philip knew full well this was his only chance. So he nodded, dropping the club in his hand.
"Yes. I am Philip Boreas Greyrat. I don't know why my wife and I are here, but we are not your enemies! If possible, I request permission to ransom myself and my wife. The Boreas family will surely remember your favor."
"Hmm! Fluent speaker even when he's wounded! Also knows how to use money for ransom." Ulric rubbed his chin. "You are an Asuran noble alright!"
Finally, there was someone he could talk to. However, before Philip could rejoice, Ulric immediately spat a wad of spit right onto the center of his chest. The face that seemed to be turning friendly darkened instantly. His hoarse voice now turned bitter.
"I despise you Asuran assholes."
A chill ran down his spine. Philip intended to step back, but suddenly realized he and Hilda had no path left to retreat.
"But, you're right, Philip of the Boreas Greyrat household or whatever," Ulric continued as his massive frame leaned slightly forward. "I need your money more than I need you. Killing you brings no benefit other than letting my boys vent a little anger. So, tell me, Philip, how much is your head worth?"
Philip didn't rush to answer immediately. He knew answering this question wrong would certainly cost both him and his wife their lives instantly. So he swallowed hard, slowly replying.
"Five hundred... no, one thousand Asura gold coins. For my wife and me."
"One thousand?" Ulric raised an eyebrow. "For someone from the wealthy Greyrat? Less than I thought. I heard you spent hundreds of coins for slaves."
"That is the tax revenue my territory can collect in ten years," Philip replied. "I think it is a suitable price, a price based on true value."
Actually it was four years, but who would know.
"Hah! I honestly don't understand what the hell you're talking about. But I like the way you talk, Philip." The boss placed his hand on Philip's head, rubbing it like petting a puppy while he grinned from ear to ear. "Alright, one thousand gold coins, for 'your' life."
"Huh? But-"
"Hey boys!" Ulric ignored Philip's confusion and turned to his lackeys. "Prepare a decent spot for this guy. And bring that woman into my tent will ya! I will visit her after I'm done talking with…"
"Wait!" Before Hilda could even speak up, Philip himself shouted first. "The deal was for both of us!"
Ulric paused. He turned to look at Philip, then cracked a wide grin.
"What was that you just said about a price based on true value or whatever? You have a territory, you have a price, and 1000 gold coins is your price."
"No! It must be for both of us." The mayor immediately objected. "You want more money, right? If so, what about two thousand? Two thousand gold coins for the two of us."
"And what if you're lying, huh?" Ulric sighed. "Then it wastes our food and our effort to keep you alive. So well, I like big-titted pieces of work like this, so consider it part of the expenses while you eat our food. I'd rather take one thousand gold coins and get to fuck a noblewoman than take your two thousand gold coins. I know my priority."
This bastard...
"What?" Ulric smirked again. "If you don't want to, I can just kill you right now, strip your clothes and sell them for a bit of coin too. Whatcha say?"
Philip's heart felt like it would explode from indignation. He had been through so many emotions, knew what endurance meant to achieve his goals, but this humiliation, coming from a commoner like this, was truly disgusting.
But what to do? Fight back? Philip alone? Even Paul, his cousin, despite being an Advanced-tier swordsman in three styles, wouldn't be able to stand against an entire army like this. Then what could a mayor like him do?
Absolutely nothing. There was no other way, it was hopeless.
And then he remembered a face. A boy. Then he remembered the thing that boy had given him.
That's right... I can use that!
So Philip let go of Hilda's hand, decisively.
His wife couldn't believe this action. Tears welled up in her red eyes. A sound of breaking glass echoed in that stifling atmosphere.
"Philip! You...!"
"Hah!" Ulric snorted. "Smart. Acting like that makes you a true bastard Asuran noble! Hahaha!"
Ulric immediately lunged forward, swinging his arm toward Hilda, intending to grab this sweet spoil of war. However, in just that moment of distraction, a pop no louder than a popping bubble rang out.
The entire space was submerged in a blinding light, causing everyone who was looking toward Hilda with amused gazes to instantly go as good as blind.
"Damn it! What the fuck!?" Ulric roared, wildly swinging his arms back and forth, punching and kicking anyone nearby.
His other subordinates fared no better; they instantly went crazy as they bumped into each other, rolling on the ground, their mouths constantly letting out ear-piercing groans and screams.
Meanwhile, the person who created that light immediately grabbed Hilda's hand.
"Let's go!" Philip yelled.
The two of them immediately forged a bloody path and fled from the crowd. A few soldiers unaffected by the light also gave chase.
...
Philip and Hilda continuously ran. They had broken through the encirclement, out of that army's camp. They slipped into the forest while those beggar soldiers still tailed them. They could escape, Philip believed so. Just push a little more.
And when they got out of here, they would go to some town or city.
Even in the Strife Zone, there were safe places. Perhaps the Red Kingdom? That place was friendly to Asura anyway. If necessary, they could sell some of the jewelry on Hilda. They were expensive; it would definitely be enough.
That was the plan.
However, just when Philip thought he had escaped, a figure appeared right in front of him.
"Hey, mister."
It was the brown-haired young man who had been with Ulric earlier. Philip immediately shuddered.
He tightly gripped his wife's hand, quickly looking around, checking if he was surrounded. And immediately, Philip changed direction, dodging past the person blocking his way without hesitation.
"Hey!"
Yet that young man was unbelievably fast. His feet seemed to glide over the ground rather than run. And he blocked the path right in front of Philip once again, this time even raising both his hands.
"Calm down, I just want to ask a few things. When I'm done, I'll let you two go, okay?"
Philip hesitated. Of course. Who could believe a guy with speed rivaling Ghislaine's, who was traveling with someone intent on killing him, would have good intentions. But every wasted second was a second bringing himself and his wife closer to death's door.
"Please be quick," Philip said hurriedly. His voice was a bit weak from blood loss.
"Alright, I think you created that light earlier using what's called a magic item, right? It's the bracelet on your wrist, isn't it?"
"That's right."
"Awesome!" For some reason, the young man seemed elated. "Then let me ask, where did you get that thing?"
"It... It's from my son-in-law," Philip replied, somewhat bewildered by the current situation.
"Is his name Atur Notos Greyrat?" The man asked again.
"Soon to be Atur Boreas Greyrat!" Hilda answered. "He's no longer part of that Notos household!"
"Is that so? Good for him!" The young man grinned widely.
Philip didn't understand what the hell was happening. Did Atur know this weird swordsman? And why...
"There's that damn Philip!" Ulric's voice echoed through the forest. "I'll kill you! Then I'll rape your wife until she dies! Anyone you know, I'll do the same to them! Your sons! Your daughters! All of them! I swear to whatever kind of god exists!"
A distance away from them was the furious boss, growling and wielding a sledgehammer larger than Philip himself. He was angry, of course. And his goal was exactly to smash the tea-brown-haired man's skull to pieces, then do all sorts of depraved things to the red-haired wife. Exactly what he would do to countless enemies before.
He wasn't called Ulric the Widowmaker for nothing, a notorious butcher ruling over a vast mountain range.
Unfortunately, something else had appeared today.
"Ah, good sir Ulric." The brown-haired young man raised his hand. "How about you let them go? I know their son-in-law. Don't kill them, okay?"
"Let them go my ass, Brown Bear!" Ulric roared. He pointed his weapon at the swordsman. "So you know him, huh? Do you want me to kill both you and the little brat you came with!?"
"Hehe. Come on, if you point your weapon at me, I'll take it as you really wanting to kill me. Which, you don't mean that right?" The young man was somehow still joking around. "I know you're just mad because you got blinded. I've had that happen to me twice, you get used to it eventually."
"If you keep talking like that I'll seriously kill you! I only show you respect because I know your master! Don't get full of yourself!"
And without knowing when, it seemed Ulric's entire army had surrounded the couple Philip, Hilda, and the young man.
"So they really can't leave without blood being shed?" Even now, the young man didn't seem worried in the slightest; he sighed. "Are you sure about that?"
"Shut your fucking-"
Before Ulric could even finish his sentence, a *thwack* rang out. A sharp iron blade had pierced right through his skull. The boss stood dead in his tracks for a moment before collapsing, motionless.
"And… he's dead." The young man said, a bit disappointed.
*Swish*
The knife was immediately retracted, soaring high up, disappearing into the canopy of trees, leaving hundreds, thousands of eyes shuddering in fear.
"What a pain. I hope Master won't punish me for this."
Then the young man drew his sword. It was a curved, single-edged sword. There was a detachable ornament placed at the back near the base of the blade, with various engravings. The handguard was shaped like a bow, the belly of the bow facing the hilt and the tips facing the edge. A sword that didn't give off a fearsome vibe at all, but only brought a bizarrely cheerful feeling, just like the one wielding it.
"They said that whoever kills the one who killed the boss will become the new boss right?" The young man said. "So? Who wants to be the next one? If you can kill me, you will get this famous Phoenix Elegant Dragon Sword as well."
And right after that, he killed a lot of people.
...
By the time the sun set, the hill they were standing on must have had over a thousand corpses. All killed with a single fatal strike. Those who were sane enough or overwhelmed by fear had fled; now there were exactly three humans left here.
Philip had kept holding onto his wife throughout the entire process. He witnessed everything. Listening to all the screaming, the clash of metal, and that nauseatingly pungent smell of blood. Ever since drawing his sword, that young man hadn't smiled even once.
He was as ferocious as... a bear!
"Phew, all done." The swordsman sheathed his sword.
His hands wiped the streaks of blood on his face, trying to clean them but only making things look more smeared. He smiled at Philip and Hilda.
"Normally they would all run away cleanly after the first two or thirty kills. Didn't expect it to take this long. Sorry about that."
"Ah, yeah..." Philip nodded. "I will introduce myself again…"
"Introduce? Oh, yeah! Right! I almost forgot!"
The young man suddenly slapped his own forehead and ran off somewhere. A moment later, he returned with a young girl. It was likely the person who had been heavily muffled up earlier.
"Sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I am Henry, also known as the Sword King Brown Bear!" the young man declared, pointing at the girl who was blushing for some unknown reason. "And that is Tris. We are old friends of Atur and were once saved by him."
Ah... so that was the reason. Philip instantly understood the matter.
Philip didn't know the specifics of everything, but that must be Tristina Purplehorse and Henry Whitebear. The mayor had once heard Ken mention that Atur had two friends who had run away for some reasons.
"Why did you introduce me so briefly, huh?" Tristina was clearly annoyed. She sighed. "I'm a North Saint too."
"But since you're always with me, no one cares anyway. Gak!"
And so Henry the North King took a stab to the stomach. He then lay down on the floor, motionless.
"Huh-"
Before Philip could even be surprised, Henry stood up again, he pulled out the knife that had just stabbed him and raised it high, like a treasure.
"Ta-da! No blood! Cool, right? I'm not going to die that easily!"
"You are an idiot." Tristina shook her head.
What is wrong with this kid? How can he be both silly and strong at the same time like this?
"But anyway, as I said, Atur is like a blood brother to me!" Henry declared. "Therefore, Atur's parents-in-law are like my parents too! So from here on out, I will ensure no one can lay a finger on you two!"
And so, Philip and Hilda got two strong bodyguards for their journey.
...