Chapter 11

[Translator – Prøks][Proofreader – Prøks]

Chapter 11

On the walls of Borpeo, where the guards kept a vigilant watch, sat a solemn figure.

“…”

A woman with black hair was seated there.

Her name was Arin.

A witch.

Once known as the witch of the Legion, she had once instilled terror throughout the kingdom.

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Someone greeted her, addressing the woman who single-handedly brought destruction to the kingdom, someone whom the New Empire and even the all three major dark houses.

“Who?”

Arin responded without even looking at the person offering the greeting. It was a massive warrior clad in black armor. Slowly, the warrior removed his helmet and spoke in a neutral tone.

“I’ve met you once before, at a banquet. My name is Barbic.”

Long, cascading red hair.

The exposed face was as neutral as his voice, with strong lines.

“Ah, I remember.”

Only then did Arin turn her head to look at Barbic.

“Your physique intrigued me, so I was curious.”

“Thank you.”

Given Arin’s nature as a necromancer, there was certainly room for misunderstanding, but Barbic seemed unfazed.

“I didn’t expect to encounter a witch in this remote place.”

Barbic, who was usually reserved in speech, was not accustomed to addressing a witch.

“I heard you disappeared for a while.”

“There was business to attend to.”

“Business, you say…”

Rumors had been circulating.

“Are you looking for a candidate?”

A candidate.

There had been rumors circulating throughout Borpeo. Sein Demorus, a madman invoking the name of Demorus, was shaking the alleyways.

“Yes.”

“The candidate the witch is looking for….”

The witch, Arin, was a woman whose mere presence could shake the continent.

Not only did she choose the candidate herself, but she also became his guardian.

“It’s intriguing.”

“You’ll see soon enough, won’t you?”

Arin said.

“Stop standing there and come sit beside me.”

“Thank you.”

As if genuinely touched, Barbic blinked and took a seat beside Arin.

On the walls of Borpeo, with the city bathed in deep darkness, torches flickered, casting their light.

“Barbic.”

Arin called Barbic.

“Yes?”

“Are you prepared enough?”

“…You’re kinder than I expected.”

Barbic nodded slowly, saying so. Arin, without looking at Barbic, continued.

“The outcome will determine your fate as well.”

“…”

“If someone unworthy invoked the name of Demorus…”

Barbic remained silent.

“Whether he is qualified or not…”

Arin said.

“We’ll find out soon enough.”

The torches weren’t the only things aflame; there were other places. Soon, a small war would begin in the alleys of Borpeo. And depending on the outcome, the fate of Borpeo, the fate of Barbic, would be decided.

“It’s a battle of the candidates.”

The being known as Ogre. His true identity was another Demorus.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Arin, the witch of the Legion, was also known by another name: the witch of destiny. She was one of the three absolute witches in the continent.

Barbic could only wait for the impending fate to unfold.

***

The sound of footsteps echoed, as Sein walked forward. Dozens of followers trailed behind him.

Boom!

Flames from torches repeatedly cast their shadows large against the buildings.

Bang!

Startled Borpeo’s still-awake residents, who quickly shut their windows.

“Haha!”

Drunken revelers, wandering the streets, hastily fled at the sight of the commotion.

Gleaming eyeballs.

Swift hands gripping weapons.

Chaos erupted in Borpeo’s alleyways.

“Oooh…”

Amidst the tension, Sein leisurely hummed a tune—a song known from rumors. A melody unheard of in Chichiron, his hometown too small to know such songs.

“Chichiron was too dull for my taste.”

Once just a remote village, hardly more than a hundred souls, now…

“Now, things are getting interesting.”

Only a few hundred followed Sein, but the thrill was palpable. Like a scene from a childhood movie, every step mirrored the excitement felt then.

Finally, Sein halted.

Flames illuminated the other end of the street.

During the day, this area was a bustling market. But now, it was the scene of confrontation.

“Are you the mad dog of Chichiron?”

Wolf, the owner of one of Borpeo’s alleyways, stood with his men.

“And are you another nuisance of Borpeo?”

“…What…”

“Just so you know, I don’t discriminate against nuisances!”

Sein’s voice echoed through the dark alley.

“Heh.”

Wolf chuckled.

“You’re as crazy as they say.”

“Let me correct you. I’m not crazy. I’m a mad dog.”

With a swift motion, Sein drew his blade.

Wolf’s eyes narrowed.

‘Sloppy.’

He was once a knight’s squire.

He had once caught the eye of a knight and been chosen as a squire, receiving training under the knight’s tutelage. This enabled him to discern, quite clearly, the inadequacy in Sein’s stance.

In contrast, Wolf’s stance, holding his drawn sword, was quite impressive.

“One armed.”

Sein’s voice carried.

“I’ve heard your story. You were once a slave, taken pity upon and trained by a knight, only to assassinate him and steal his sword?”

Wolf’s face twitched at the sudden mention of his past.

“Thieving is what made me a one-armed man.”

“Shut up!”

Despite the outburst, Wolf remained focused on Sein, analyzing him.

‘Ignoring him isn’t an option.’

Despite being lacking, he was a Demorus. From Cyclops to Frog, the mad dog had destroyed them all. There had to be a trick hidden within Sein’s sloppy stance.

“It seems Ogre won’t show up. Is there a need to stay here?”

Sein proposed.

“Why not join us now? Like I said, I don’t discriminate against the disabled.”

“Well, you don’t seem interested.”

Wolf concentrated on Sein’s hand and sword, ready for any move.

“I don’t need petty thieves around.”

“…”

At that moment, Wolf instinctively leaned his head back.

A sudden rush of air, followed by a sharp sound!

A dagger flew towards Wolf’s exposed neck.

Thud!

A terrifying sound emanated from Wolf’s follower as the dagger pierced through.

A momentary lapse, and Wolf could have been dead, his forehead pierced by the attack.

“You coward…!”

Shaken by Sein’s unexpected attack mid-conversation, Wolf raised his head, only to find Sein, who had been distant moments ago, now standing before him, wielding his sword.

“I told you.”

Sein said, “I don’t discriminate.”

With all his might and magic, Wolf wielded his sword.

Swish! Thud, clatter.

But all Wolf could see was Sein’s foot, and suddenly, Wolf’s head was rolling on the ground like garbage.

It was all over in an instant.

“Let’s go.”

Sein swung his sword once more, swiftly dispatching Wolf’s remaining followers.

“Let’s move on.”

A gust of wind, carrying the scent of blood, swept through Borpeo’s alleyways.

***

A small war erupted in the back alleys of Borpeo.

“Slay them!”

“Aaargh!”

The sound of youthful screams and cries filled the late-night air of Borpeo’s alleys.

Among the four owners of the alleys, Cyclops was considered the most powerful in terms of force. However, when it came to evaluating the skill of his subordinates, Wolf was regarded as the best.

Wolf, a former squire, had the opportunity to learn proper swordsmanship and because of that had skilled individuals under him.

But now, it was Wolf’s subordinates who were being massacred.

“The city, nothing special.”

At the forefront stood Sein, surrounded by his frightened enemies retreating backward.

Wolf’s subordinates numbered over a hundred, but now three-quarters of them were famously killed by Sein.

Although Sein’s stance and swordsmanship were far inferior to Wolf’s, his sword was sharp and powerful beyond comparison.

Although they were recognized in Borpeo’s back alleys, they were ultimately nothing but thugs.

“Darren. Cyclops.”

“Yes, Boss.”

“You called for us, Boss!”

Sein had no equal among the thousands of masters who had shaken the continent.

“This should be enough. Spare those worth sparing and clean up.”

“Yes.”

“And make sure to catch that Fox.”

The momentum had shifted, and the tide had turned completely.

“You can handle it, right?”

Chilled by Sein’s words, Cyclops was terrified, but Darren was different.

“Go and return safely.”

“I won’t disappoint.”

Alone in the battlefield, Sein moved.

Though Wolf’s subordinates tried to block him, they soon scattered in a pool of blood that soaked the ground.

Step by step, Sein moved forward, stepping on pools of blood.

His destination was a shallow iron mine far ahead.

Unlike when facing Wolf, Sein’s momentum was now even more overwhelming.

His Dragon Heart, pulsing within him, enhanced his senses to their peak.

“It’s the Ogre.”

The owner of the back alleys of Borpeo, received Sein’s arrival.

Ogre, rumored to possess great strength, wielding a sword larger than a grown man.

But none of that mattered to Sein.

The only reason he was interested was that Ogre had identified himself as Demorus.

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