CH 35

Here is what happened some time later.

The sliding door was violently opened, and four boorish-looking men entered.

[Ah, welcome. …Um, please excuse us. Our restaurant is full at the moment, but if you wait a little more, we should have a few more seats avail-] (Waitress)

Just as the waitress was about to finish her sentence, one of those men pushed her aside and entered.

Seeing their appearances and rude attitude, the customers concluded that they were ruffians, stopped eating and kept their heads down in silence.

They were a group of outlaws who wreaked havoc and made money through intimidation.

Not even in their dreams would anyone ever imagine thugs like them coming here to eat sushi.

The customers who came here with the idea of eating plenty of food cursed their own bad luck today.

[Ya sayin’ that ya got no sushi to serve to lowlifes like us? We’ve been hopin’ to try it, ya know? And see what this sushi stuff is all about.] (Thug A)

[No, like I said… I apologize, but all of our seats are taken.] (Waitress)

[Hunh? Then just tell ‘em all to get the fuck out!!] (Thug A)

The outlaws roared vulgarly and caused a ruckus.

[Hey! If you people keep causing trouble, I’ll call the guards on you!] (Owner)

The owner shouted in frustration and threatened them.

But the outlaws laughed it off.

[Hah! The time when those lil’ threats scared us off is long gone, ya know? How ‘bout I start toyin’ with ya, then?] (Thug A)

[Kh…!] (Owner)

Most of these outlaws were bloodthirsty.

They thought nothing of committing murder.

Their lack of soul meant that they were not intimidated by the words of respectable people.

As they smiled in satisfaction at the fact that no one dared to say anything, one of them pointed to the back of the room.

At a child and a woman, Seto and Satis.

They were the only ones among the customers who looked at them without fear.

There was a sort of disgust in their eyes, something that pissed them off.

[Hey, you there. The fuck’re ya looking at?] (Thug A)

[Hehehe! That chick’s hella hot!] (Thug B)

The four of them moved to the back of the dining room.

The customers had no choice but to hold their breaths and watch this critical situation unfold.

The villains surrounded the woman and the child with their towering bodies.

They drew out their swords and knives and began to flicker them either before Seto’s eyes or around his neck.

[…Hey, brat. The hell’s that look on yer mug? I can’t stand runts who get cocky with me. Ya wanna know what kinda the brats who pissed me off met? They all got skewered on this knife!] (Thug A)

[Heya, Miss. Wanna have fun with us? Oh, and ya better not fight back. We’re the best swordsmen in the world!] (Thug B)

The outlaws approached the two with sneering smiles on their faces.

But neither Seto nor Satis said anything to them, as if they did not pay them any mind.

[Hey, don’t ignore me, dammit!] (Thug A)

The outlaw who had been messing with Seto got tired of Seto’s attitude and tried to stick his knife into him.

However, immediately after that, Seto calmly splashed freshly brewed hot tea over his face.

[UGYAAAAAHH!! ────UGH!?] (Thug A)

Right after he screamed and covered his tea-drenched face with his hands, Seto picked up the knife the outlaw had unintentionally dropped, wrestled him to the ground while riding his back to immobilize him, and placed the blade against his neck.

It was one of the skills he had long cultivated on the battlefield.

Immobilizing a man full of openings like this one was like taking candy from a baby for him.

While that guy’s friends were by this lightning-fast feat, Satis also made her move.

She gave the ruffian on her right side an elbow to the gut.

She may be a woman, but a single blow from a demon was more than enough to knock him unconscious in an instant.

Then she immediately stood up and landed a powerful uppercut to the jaw of the other man standing right behind her.

[Don’t try to touch me so casually, will you?] (Satis)

The one outlaw who was still able to move freely felt paralyzed by Satis’ fighting spirit as she glared at him languidly.

[You little shit… Hey! Kill that bitch! Then help me!] (Thug A)

[D-Dammit…!! Hey, brat! Let go of my pal! Or say goodbye to that-] (Thug B)

[Oh boy, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.] (Seto)

One of the outlaws pointed the tip of his sword squarely at Satis’ throat.

But Seto remained as cool as a cucumber.

That outlaw realized firsthand what he meant by that.

The sword in his hand suddenly became lighter.

With an expression that was both relaxed and oozing with anger, Satis used her mana to break the blade.

Taken aback and overcome with chilling fear, the guy took an explosive punch in the face from her.

The four men were subdued in no time.

The last one, whom Seto was holding at knife point, gritted his teeth in frustration, angry at the realization that they had been defeated.

[…Get lost. Or my next move will end you.] (Seto)

[Shit…! You fuckin’ bastards…!!] (Thug A)

After Seto roughly released him, he staggered and ran away alone.

[Ah, he ran away.] (Satis)

[He actually ditched his gang…] (Seto)

However, only further suffering awaited the ruffian who ran out.

The city guards were already waiting for him, leaving him nowhere to escape.

Our heroes were behind him.

And the guards were in front of him.

L-Like hell I’ll get busted here…! (Thug A)

Just as he was thinking that, a man dressed conspicuously came out from among the guards.

He was a green-haired man in tight-fitting armor.

With a puzzled look on his face, the outlaw gazed at the man’s peculiar outfit that had lines of green light running through it.

[Hehehe. I don’t mind if you’re fascinated by my magic gear, but… Why don’t you worry about your current situation instead? For your own good.] (Green-haired man)

The man chuckled.

Perhaps it was due to his confidence in his own abilities, but his fearless smile gave the impression of a warrior showing exhilaration in the field of action.

[Y… You’re…!] (Thug A)

[I’m the captain of the garrison of this city… The man who bears the name of Osiris*! As well as… The world’s strongest. Magic swordsman!] (Green-haired man/Osiris) (*T/N: The kanjis used for Osiris’ name mean “The light that breaks through the dark sky”)

The man named Osiris struck a strange pose at every sentence.

Even the outlaw had heard of him.

[Can’t believe that… of all the bastards…!] (Thug A)

[Hmph. I can’t believe scoundrels like you actually came to this marvelous city… You guys gotta further tighten security! You’re slacking off here!] (Osiris)

Osiris gave instructions to one of the guards.

Then, as he approached the bandit with another proud smile, he let his murderous intent ooze out.

[That place also happens to be my favorite restaurant. If some bandit starts a commotion in there, then I have no choice but to show up personally… You damn miscreant! In the name of justice, I will purge you right where you stand!!] (Osiris)

As Osiris stuck another strange pose, the outlaw sensed an incredible aura from him, and tried to flee at once.

The next moment, a weapon resembling a magic sword manifested around Osiris’ waist.

It looked like a jamadhar katar, but the ornaments and geometric patterns here and there gave it a more bizarre appearance.

When he pointed it at the back of the fleeing bandit, the blade glowed green.

Immediately after that, the outlaw stopped moving as the sound of gouging flesh echoed through the air.

When he fearfully looked at his own abdomen, there was a great amount of blood gushing out.

It was as if he had been stabbed from behind with a sword.

Something like a slash wave coming from the blade of Osiris’ magic sword had pierced the bandit.

[Th… This can’t… be…!?] (Thug A)

After witnessing the bandit falling powerlessly, Osiris proudly spun his weapon with his fingertip, and put it back into the dimensional pocket he opened around his waist.

[There is no escaping Osiris’ magic sword. …Alright, let’s go inside. We have word that his gang has been subdued by two allies of justice.] (Osiris)

That bandit would be hung outside the city for public display.

This was Osiris’ way of intimidating all potential criminals, and thus protecting the security and order of the city.

[We’re coming in! …Hm?] (Osiris)

When they entered the restaurant, Seto and Satis had already tied up the other ruffians with ropes.

But what mostly caught his eye was the sight of this duo.

[You guys are…] (Osiris)

[These guys are bandits. We’ve already neutralized them.] (Seto)

Seto and Osiris faced each other.

And they both understood one thing.

────That they were both magic swordsmen.

How splendid. To think I would meet another magic swordsman who was blessed with a fine sense of justice and talent. But… (Osiris)

For a split second, Osiris glanced at Satis.

What is that woman doing here? Come to think of it, I heard that the Demon King’s army has been losing momentum, but… Is this related to that? (Osiris)

Osiris, who knew about Satis, looked dubious.

As the mystery deepened, Osiris decided to learn more about the two.

Later on, Osiris would act as a sworn friend and supporter of Seto and Satis.

And this was their first meeting.