n

n

n

n”How did you- Uwagh…!”

n*thump*

nImoner took a step back and fell on his back on the empty wagon.

n”Hmph.”

nArisu scoffed and approached the fallen man slowly.

n”I’ve seen you a few times at the party in the capital… Such a shame… You seemed like a proper gentleman at that time.”

n”You…! It can’t be…!”

nThe man crawled back up and stared at the armored youth.

n”That wind spell…! And you can use a powerful water spell too?! It can’t be! Why is the son of the royal magician playing some sort of vigilante?! Do you think you can stop me? Young lord Banemor has more influence than someone like you! Know your place you bas…!”

n*WHAM*

n”GH-UGH…!”

nImoner couldn’t finish his sentence, as the now brown-haired and eyed young man launched himself at him with incredible speed, with his limbs augmented to the extremes thanks to the earth enchantments, and punched him in the stomach, knocking him out cold with just one hit.

n”You talk too much… too much information can ruin the plan.”

nArisu complained and looked towards the trees he himself came out from not too long before.

n”You can come out now!”

nHe called.

n*rustle*

nSomething moved between the long shadows of the trees and a small group of men and women of different ages came out led by a tanned woman with hair the color of the wheat.

n”Thank you very much, sir knight.”

nShe lowered her head and thanked the young man wearing black armor and everyone behind her followed suit.

n”You don’t have to worry about that – it was my duty as a noble.”

nArisu gave her a short answer and started rummaging through the pockets of the knocked-out Imoner.

nSince there really was nothing of importance there, he also checked if the wagon was really empty.

n”…?”

nThe people in the group looked at each other unsure of what they should be doing with themselves.

nIn fact, they were sold off to slavery by their lord’s third son – they were literally the last people on the wagon the armored young man was now searching – it was truly a bizarre experience.

nWere they supposed to just return to their homes as if nothing happened…?

nReally?

n”Whew!”

n*cha-ching*

nArisu jumped out of the wagon while holding a bag full of coins, he shook it and the sound of the coins made everyone look at the bag.

n”Quite a sizable one, you guys were worth a lot!”

nHe exclaimed impressed.

n”…ehehe…?”

nThe commoners laughed awkwardly in response.

n”…hmmm…”

nThe white-haired young man looked at them and then at the bag he was holding…

n”Here.”

nAnd then he walked towards the leading woman and handed her the bag.

n”Th-this is…!?”

nShe didn’t want to grab the bag but Arisu wasn’t taking it back.

n”This can’t be enough to make up for what you’ve been through, but it’s better than nothing. Take it and share it amongst yourself. Just… For your own good, you better keep it a secret that this man was working together with young lord Banemor. You were just abducted and sold off to throw off the real crime that he orchestrates – the kidnapping of the nobles… So – I’m serious, do not spread any rumors about him. He might be the worst type of person, but it really is for your own good. At least until that villain faking an illness will be brought to justice.”

nArisu said and everyone lowered their heads obediently.

nThat was also the time when the tanned woman accepted the money and nodded at the armored man.

n”We understand, young lord Lazaram. We will be rooting for you.”

nShe said with a solemn expression, reading between the lines and unfortunately getting fooled completely because of everything that happened to them all…

nFrom her – and all of her fellow rescued villagers – perspective, Arisu was the savior that showed up and saved them after they were captured and taken away to be sold out like livestock.

nWhy wouldn’t they trust his words?

n”Thank you.”

nArisu nodded back and returned to the wagon, grabbed the unconscious Imoner, and put him over his shoulder like a bag of flour.

n”I’ll be handling him. Don’t worry, he’ll face the charger and suffer the consequences – although there still is too little information to condemn young lord Banemor, people caught red-handed will not escape the righteous punishment from the crown! Believe in the queen, and in the crown – the nobles are here to protect you all!”

nArisu glanced over his shoulder and assured the villagers.

n”Nobles like you! Thank you again, my lord!”

nOnce again everyone bowed their heads and the young man in black armor passed them and walked towards the trees.

n”Farewell, young lord Lazaram! Thank you!”

n”Hmm~!”

nThe villagers called after him and he just raised his hand without looking back.

n*thump*

nAfter moving a good distance away, and making sure that no one has followed him, Arisu dropped the unconscious water magician and reached out his hand.

n”Shadow emerge. Shadow gate.”

nHe called out as his hair and eyes turned from white to black.

nHis shadow turned jet-black and grew out of the ground, creating a silky-black portal in front of the young man.

n”…”

n…and Arisu straight up put his head in there…!

n”Elsby! The rest may be hesitant to respond, but you must recognize me! Come on! Trust your instinct…! …or whatever…”

nHe called out with his head still inside the shadow gate – but no matter what, no response came from the darkness…

n|Haah… if only everything was so easy as fooling those commoners… Just when I finally managed to conjure shadow gate, any trace of Ghosts of Bellcephora disappeared! And I could swear that I already felt their presence! It’s like they withdrew from the world! That’s so not fair! Just when I thought I could finally see them all again!|

n…Arisu thought to himself, gritting his teeth while getting out of the spell and deactivating it…

n”…as you wish – at least my new family is caring about me – I will be the next king…!”

nArisu scoffed to himself, picking the unconscious man back up as his hair turned back to white.

n