Change of POV: Londes Di Clamp.
Disgusting mission! What are we, bandits! Did we fall so low to commit atrocities !?
I couldn't believe my eyes and ears for what we fell to work as proud Slane Theocracy soldiers! We were sworn to protect Humanity from anything and everything and now we fell to slaughtering poor villagers!
So disgraceful!
I couldn't help clenching my fists in anger at my superiors! Even though I'm aware of how much this disgusting and honorless it is, I still must do it! I have family to feed, damn it!
But at least, I can mostly stop other soldiers from becoming rapists, no matter what we do. One thing is killing innocent people and other is lusting over them. There is a damn line that can't be crossed! Otherwise we wouldn't be much different from Demi-Human beasts.
If I was not second in Command of the troops, they would not be much different from bandits by how they almost acted without my presence! Seriously, is this their nature?!
And that damn idiot Belius! He got his position via connections and his parents boot licking! Damn ungrateful and spoiled dirt! Even a fucking bandit is better than him! No wonder Emperor Of Baharuth eliminated incompetent nobles like him, we in Slane Theocracy should do the same thing too.
But shouting from that 'fool' got me out of my thinking. The nerve of his.
"Where are those two useless Knights?!"
"You all are good for nothing dip shits!
Says you!
"I want their heads! Don't you know that my time is precious!?" He screamed like a pig flailing his arms around and contributing to nothing.
He doesn't have balls to take life by his own hands, only to order and rape women!
So disgusting! Even his face is disgusting, he looks more like street rat with that face than an noble.
"You! Stop!"
But random shout caught my attention as I moved around to check to where that shout came from. And surprise, this is completely unexpected.
And out of the forest, a lone figure is appearing.
Figure is without a mistake, a male by it's body build.
Clad in all black armor-like clothes of decent quality.
About average height for man, wearing all black clothes with only one helmet being that of metal. Entire outfit has black color as scheme with golden accessories and chains under his coat, which is hard to notice without wind blowing his coat away slowly to allow people to notice it.
On his hands he appears to be wearing a clawed gauntlets, and on his left hip is strapped sword in sheath.
But the most amazing part of his armor or whatever you want to call it would be his helmet, helmet is pure black colored but from where his face should be only darkness could be seen, fluttering blackness of the abyss.. And on top of his head is something akin to a horn, or rather on his forehead is star shaped symbol with deep blue and black lines all around it.
It's unfamiliar symbol, could he be Knight from Noble house in Re-Estize Kingdom? It wouldn't be impossible.
All in all, his armor looks quite fancy and for anyone smart enough to realize, that would be a symbol of nobility or wealth if they are wearing such luxurious clothes, it's clearly of high quality material.
"Stop! Or you will be killed!" Shouted one of the random soldiers up in the front, specifically closest to Black Knight. But Black Knight simply continued walking closer, ignoring Knight's protest, all meanwhile Villagers were looking at this scene is silence, not daring to voice anything, probably trying to not get our attention.
Is it that hope shinning in their eyes, hope that this unknown Black Knight would save them from impending danger of our blades?
To live several minutes more, I suppose. Good for them.
Black Knight continued his march, he is now 5 meters or so away from first Knight, still not bothering to stop his walk.
First Knight unsheathed his sword before lunging at Black Knight.
"You deserve this! Scum!" Knight roared as he lunged at Black Knight, who still did not react to Knight's threat.
Knight swung his sword at unknown Black Knight and killed him for his arrogance.
Or at least that's how it should have happened. Instead, Black Knight caught his attack, with right hand clenching Knight's his throat while lifting him from the ground, while Black Knight's left hand is on Knight's wrist.
Everyone widened their eyes at grand perfomance. This feat of strength is above that of Knights. It's even on par of Gold-Ranked Adventurers and maybe even more, if the Adventurer's strength were not exaggerated .
Complete silence enveloped entire village, And only sounds were these of poor Knight being strangled from Black Knight, this silence lasted for several seconds before everyone finally understood what happened.
!Clench! !Crack!
A bone breaking sound was heard, Black Knight broke Knight's wrist which was holding Iron sword. Causing Knight to roar one more time in pain, before Black Knight picked up fallen sword from ground and plunged it into Knight's heart, effortlessly passing through his armor as if Knife through butter.
A spectacular show of strength Indeed.
Silence enveloped everyone once more.
Everyone expected Black Knight to die from the Knight's sword, not other way around. But such silence did not last for long, even if they were shocked and disgraceful soldiers, they all were still fully trained soldiers from Slane Theocracy, and something like this wouldn't usually shock them this much.
"Kill him! Strip him of all his belongings! I want that helmet!" Screamed Belius, with eyes full of greed and anticipation for what is to happen. " I want him to beg for mercy!"
With the support of Belius command, several more Knights rushed at Black Knight. With roars of confidence from each one of them
"Arg! Get him!"
"I want his gold!"
"Doesn't matter fool, kill him first and then we'll enjoy with women of this village!"
But alas, the moment they got close to him, they dropped to ground, dead!
4 Knights who rushed at Black Knight dropped to ground, headless. With their heads being cleanly cut off, and by their fallen comrade's sword no less.
Black Knight swung with stolen sword on air, sending off blood from it to ground. The only evidence he killed them with stolen sword now gone leaving pure and white Iron sword, as if nothing has happened.
'He took down four trained soldiers with one swing?!' I couldn't help getting nervous, I unconsciously gripped handle of my unsheathed sword. My teeth grinding against each other, as hairs on my head stood up straight.
"When you kill, you should be prepared for same thing to happen to you. " Spoke deep voice from the Black Knight as he stepped on corpses of the fallen Knights, slowly marching again but this time in Belius direction. "There is only when.."
"Monster!" Screamed some of the Knights before dropping their weapons and scattering all around and some of them even running in Forest's direction. Cowards! You have balls to kill villagers and rape them but when you go against Monster you run!
What dipshits of my colleagues
But alas, they did not make it. The moment they started to run they barely made it to several steps before their bodies were frozen in ice. Like transparent Ice-Sculptures, magnificently standing. Where once was unit of 15 Knights, now only 5 of them remained alive. Truly, a Judgment from God for their actions
"You! You all worthless scum, hold him off for me to escape!That's the only thing you are worthy of even! I will pay you 100 Gold coins if you survive!' Screamed Belius, frantically pointing at Black Knight. " I'm too important to die here! You do something!" He pointed at me but before he could say anything more, an Icicle pierced his head cleanly. Ending his worthless life in second, as if he didn't have one to begin with.
Causing him an instant and painless death, even that was too much for someone like him.
But all that happened to fast for me and others to process.
But yes, this was undoubtedly a God's punishment for us. Just as Black Knight said, "If you kill, prepare to be killed too."
He is right, and I shall accept death as atonement for his action.
I drooped my sword to ground and knelt on it, with my head cast downcast. Waiting for cold metal to cut my head off. I deserve this, and so do others. At least this way, I'll die like this.
Seeing my example, other remaining three Knights followed. They had seen the result of pointless fight, and even escape. The only way is , accepting our destiny in peace.
But at least, Villagers will not be killed anymore by our unit. And it will cease to exist so.
I couldn't help scoffing a bit before darkness overtook my vision and consciousness. And my body slumping onto hard dirt.
Change of POV: Velzard.
[Level UP! 2x]
I guess you couldn't expect much XP from several normal soldiers. What a shame, but soon Sunlight Scriptures will come, I can farm maybe 10 levels? They are much higher level than these Knights and they were Magic Casters too. And there are many, many more of them than these Knights.
I shrugged my shoulders. But unconsciously groaned.
After dealing with these Knights who tried to attack and escape, I had to kill that Captain. He was useless, scum like that do not deserve even second chance at all. He deserved it, and I probably won't have nightmares for it. It's pretty much survival of the fittest in this world.
But do I feel any remorse for my actions? I don't at all, I don't take enjoyment either, but I did something that should have been done. But I'm not gonna promote mindless slaughter, all four Knights who knelt down, I spared them.
But first I had to knock them out before anything. I did it fast by hitting each one of them hard on their head. I hoped it worked very well as it did in movies.
"My name is...." What should I call myself right now? It would be better to create two identities maybe? One is Dragon Velzard while other is? " Capitano, you shall call me Capitano." My naming sense is worst, I know but whatever. May I as well honor him.
Capitano sounds cool enough, and considering I'm wearing his outfit and using his voice due to enchantments, I may as well take false name as Capitano.
Ah, I see. Adventurer Capitano, while true name being Velzard. Yeah, Velzard is a bit feminine and it may be weird for the people to call someone who appear to be a man with such name. Let's keep it at easy for now. And well, for some reason I can't remember my old name, why I. I don't know, but It might be due to 'Tensura' Naming System and with me being True Dragon with already given name Velzard.
"Lord Capitano! Thank you!" Cried out Village Chief as he tried to prostrated himself in front of me, but I stopped him by grabbing his shoulders lightly, I'm not gonna that route!
"There is no need for you to kneel in front of me, get up. Everyone, you need to get yourself up and work around and bury your families first and foremost ." I said as I gestured for them to get up, which they did. " First, find rope to tie these four men for now and put them somewhere where they would have harder time to escape if they do manage to untie themselves first. With some hope, we could send them to Guards stationed in E-Rantel."
"But also, I did not save your lives for free, I require something in compensation." I said, causing villagers to gasp. Well, some did but not all. Dramatic entrance on it's peak! Otherwise they would be suspicious of me helping them if I don't require nothing in return. May as well do it." I'm in need of basic knowledge of where we are right now. I might be lost.." I acted like a true actor, for Oscar!
Zoro Route, starts!
As expected.
It was around 2 PM or something according to heat from sun. Apparently people these days decide hour by watch and in villages by Sun. It was around 2 PM when Knights attacked Carne Village and I saved them, and now several hours passed by. In that time, Villagers buried their fallen, same for Knights who pretended to be Baharuth Knight's. Giving them somewhat decent burial despite being their murderers.
But I requested them to strip off the armor from Fallen Knights. Well, with that I have 15 Armor sets with same quality to those of Baharuth Knights. It might not be greatest catch, but those 1 Gold for Each set is not bed in early run.
Each Armor set should be equal to 1 Gold Coin or even more by Village Chief words. That is.
And currency is :
One Silver Coin is = 13 Cooper Coins
One Gold Coin is = 100 Silver Coins
One Platinum Coin is = 10 Gold Coins
With 15 sets of Knight Armors I will have at least 15 Gold Coins which is good enough for starters.
And after selling those in E-Rantel I will become Adventurer and try to take advantage of my knowledge for first season. Meaning to take down Khajiit's army of Undead to level up several levels, take down Clementine to level up and take her daggers. They are of very good quality in this world but the best but top tier nonetheless.
Eventually take down Eight-Fingers too. Six-Arms organization is filled with six people comparable to Adamantite-Ranked Adventurers, in another words they are best EXP in Re-Estize Kingdom who I can take down and no one would bat an eye if I coordinate my strikes with those of Blue Rose.
Oh and also recruit Brain Unglaus for my Adventurer Team. That might be hardest part, but it would be such waste to not recruit him, he was Level 28 while Gazef was 29. Both were Almost in Realm Of Heroes, strong in Adamantite-Rank. But later on Brain at time of his death surpassed Level 30 and entered Realm of Heroes, with his ultimate move when used turned him into temporary level 40.
Yeah, I'm gonna recruit him.
And I kind of need a good name for my team..
But as I and Village Chief talked about affairs of the Re-Estize Kingdom, or rather what they know about Nobles, politics and bare minimum of necessities I need to understand before going to anywhere in this shitty country.
But when does Gazef appear ? Taking that Sealing-Spell Crystal with 7th Tier Angel may appear to be useful, especially if that Angel is still in it.
!Knock! !Knock!
A man barged into Village Chief's house. He looked to be middle-aged man, quite tall too with long hair past his shoulders, and with old scar on his lips. And he even had sword on his hip. No doubt, a hunter or soldier before?
"Village Chief! A Knight-like people are approaching village on horses!" He declared while gasping for air, he run as fast as he can, no doubt. Clearly worried.
This caused Village Chief to stand up from his chair, causing it to fall. "What! How many and how do they look?!"
"50 give or take. They were too far away for me to properly check their armor."
At that, Village Chief cast a worried gaze on me.
Time for me shine once more.
I sighed, yes I know that look!
"Order all Villagers to group together in one house, I and Village Chief are gonna meet these soldiers together in case anything happens. Village Chief will take lead. " I ordered before standing up, but casting one last look at map below me, yes the map is incomplete but it's good enough for first few gazes to understand where we are right now.
I will need to buy one complete in E-Rantel for sure.
"Understand, Lord Capitano!" Saluted Villager before heading off to relay my order to others. Leaving only me and Village chief in the house.
Village Chief turned to look at me with tears in his eyes. And hopeful gaze in them.
"Lord Capitano, I.. No, we cannot express our gratitude!" Said Village Chief
"~Sigh. Village Chief, please stop calling me 'lord'. I'm not a noble nor someone of such deserving title.." I spoke but then muttered to myself and for me only to be able to hear it. "For now.."
Village Chief looked shaken a bit for a second.
"How dare I call you anything else, my lord? You saved our lives, where many people in your place could have just ignored what's happening even if it was for your own gain." He replied before casting a downcast look at ground.
I looked at him before grabbing his shoulders and speaking to him. Causing him to snap his eyes on me "Village Chief, do not expect anyone to save you, nor your family nor your village. Everything that is happening in present is up to your own control and your ability to decide your destiny. "
I breathed before continuing. "I might have given you another chance, but you must take it and make your village stronger. Do not expect anyone to save you like I did. It was your luck I passed by.."
Chapter Word Count: 2944