Chapter 331

THE movie started with a montage of scenes showing a beautiful continent and the people living in it. From scenes of everyday life to the colorful culture of every country in the continent. It was only a short montage and yet the audience couldn’t help but think how normal it was.

Yes, that’s the feeling they felt while watching that montage. Ordinary people living ordinary lives. Even the presence of aristocracy gave still off that ‘normal’ feeling.

This whole montage had no narration in it. But it perfectly delivered a message to the audience. That these people were living in a peaceful land. The audience suddenly felt subconsciously apprehensive. Maybe because they already knew what’s going to happen next.

That the peaceful lives of these people wouldn’t continue.

And sure enough, in the next moment, the demon invasion started.

The next scenes were purely gut wrenching. Demons invading countries, killing people, and just generally destroying everything in their way. Although the gore wasn’t too explicit, everyone in the audience could visibly feel the grief and the pain these people were experiencing.

It was so visceral that everyone just wanted to grab all those demons and kill them themselves. Then, slowly, amidst all the suffering, the theater slowly turned dark. When it slowly brightened, the first thing the audience saw was a young man walking towards a rustic looking village. He was carrying a bag over his shoulder.

It was the character played by the actor Stephen Tomlinson.

=====

The young man’s brows were furrowed and the corner of his lips were on a downward arc. Although he had a handsome face, that was completely overwhelmed by the gloomy atmosphere around him. It’s like he was someone born with a perpetually frowning face. Making him look unapproachable.

He walked past the gate of the village. The ones guarding the gate didn’t bother to stop him. Mostly because they knew who he was. The other reason was because they just didn’t want to deal with him.

The young man was an orphan who wondered to their village after a very brutal demon attack. The village chief was a kind and just man who decided to keep the child. But perhaps because of what he experienced, the child grew up very aloof. He liked to keep to himself. And if others bothered him, he wouldn’t hesitate to resort to violence.

In fact, just two years ago, he almost beat someone near death. Granted that the other party was the one at fault. Still. That image of him pounding another person with a face full of rage left a deep impression on everyone’s minds.

Now, all the people in the village mostly left him alone. Even with that, no one would dare to kick him out of this place. Because he was the main force in driving away demons that tried to attack their village.

The young man continued walking. Those he met on the way either avoided his gaze or just directly changed the direction where they’re going. He didn’t mind. When those demons took away everything from him, he started to care less and less about the things around him.

All except killing demons. That was the only drive he had in life.

On that night when his mother and father died protecting him, when his little sister was eaten right before his eyes, he made a promise. That he wouldn’t die until he killed as many demons as he could.

He was near his hut when he heard someone calling his name.

“Keith!”

There’s only one person who would call him in such a cheerful manner. He glanced back and saw a girl running towards him. She was the same age. But those who didn’t know the both of them would probably think that she was much younger. It was not just because of her outward appearance. It was mostly because of the way she carried herself.

Probably because despite the kind of dangerous era they were living in, the girl – Sarah – grew up sheltered like a flower in a greenhouse. That was all thanks to her father – the village chief.

Keith looked at the other expressionlessly. Although he didn’t agree to the way the village chief was protecting Sarah from everything, the two were probably the only ones he truly cared for in this village.

“You should have sent a letter that you’ll be coming back today,” Sarah said once she stood in front of Keith. “So, how was your hunt?”

Keith would go out of the village from time to time just to hunt demons and sell their body parts to the mercenary guild in a nearby town. That’s how he earned his money.

“It’s the same as usual,” he said. “If there’s nothing else, I really like to rest now.”

“Oh, look at me, I should have known that you’d be tired,” Sarah said with a guilty expression mixed with expression of worry. “I’ll go now. But don’t forget to go to our house later to talk to Father. I’m sure he wanted to know about your travels these past few days. Then, the three of us can have dinner together. Just like old times.”

Staring at the other’s bright smile, Keith was once again reminded of how worry-free Sarah was. How enviable – he though in a sarcastic manner.

He nodded before turning around and continuing walking to his hut.

Sarah watched as Keith walked farther and farther away. She stayed there until her eyes could no longer see his back.

=====

That was how the characters of Stephen Tomlinson and Miria Lane first interacted in the movie.

The following scenes after that showed Keith’s daily life. How he rested in the morning and hunted demons in the evening. How Sarah came to him every day, giving him food and chatting with him even if he didn’t reply.

Then, something happened that broke that daily routine.

=====

Keith was in the forest as usual, hunting demons, when he heard a commotion not far from him. He could hear fighting and the sound of people talking. When he decided to follow where the commotion was coming from, that decision completely changed the trajectory of his life.