Chapter 75 74: Freedom (1)



"I heard… the orb that the oracle guided us to has fallen in your hands."

"General Volfram, is this what you have called me for? Understand that I do not approve of your selfish ways—"

"—Enough. I don't need an outsider brat telling me how to run my own things."

"If there's nothing else, then I'll be leaving."

"Hand over that orb… and I'll give you what you have been asking for, Archmage."

"…"

"The thing that you have pestered us for the last two years, I'll give you it."

"I'll let you… be free."

***

"Erika Arkwin, you're under arrest!"

The three turned toward the door when they heard the sound of a knight. Standing there with the evening sun at their backs was a troupe of knights, their metal armors clanging with each step. With a scroll in his hands, the one at the forefront raised the visor of his helmet, revealing his scarred face. His other hand gripped around the shaft a spear.

"W-what… in the world?"

"Come along quietly, we don't want to use violence against a child of the gods."

Claude stood up, rather nostalgic from those words. He placed a hand on Erika's shoulder and glared at the ones ahead.

"What is happening here?"

"Hmph," the knight scoffed. "Take the other two too… we can't let anyone know a hero has betrayed us."

"What do you think, Claude?" Asked Elric, his head propped up on his hand as he turned their way, still laying down. The others were slightly taken aback at the sheer amount of disinterest Elric held in the knights, but the man himself didn't care for them.

"Hm, I'd say half a Grabar? Three quarters at max."

"You, let go of that woman and walk over here, no one has to get hurt—"

Claude lunged ahead and stepped right in front of the knight.

"Gauntlet," he muttered, and mist formed around his arm as he pulled it back. Before the knight could react, even before the gauntlet could be formed, Claude shot his arm ahead and punched the knight square in the face, straight through the gap in the visor.

The knight reeled back and fell over the other knights.

Erika could only watch with her mouth agape, while Elric laughed and smacked the floor.

Another knight dived towards Claude, but in the narrow space, the wild boy had the upper hand. He quickly grabbed the knight's hands, fainted a headbutt, and swooped the knight off his feet before kicking him down.

"Should we like, run?"

Elric immediately stood up and grabbed Erika's hand yet again.

"Let's go!!"

Claude pushed the group of confused knights away and dashed out of the building with Erika and Claude.

"A-after them! Don't let anyone catch them or the General will kill us!"

Erika tried to gaze back, but Elric's strong pull yanked her ahead. The three of them ran past the turns in the streets and jumped over the messy planks. Many people working around were brushed past, but the three didn't stop.

"Haha! Hahaha! Finally!!" Claude laughed as he ran, making Erika yet more puzzled. "Fuck those bastards calling us children of gods!"

"You should have gotten another punch in!"

"Glass half full, Elric, Glass half full!"

"Y-you guys—"

"Don't slow down," Elric screamed at Erika and pulled her closer once more. Erika looked back, the knights screaming at their tail.

"Catch the girls at least!"

"We can't let them go!"

Elric chuckled at their words again.

"Hey Claude, help us girls first."

"You shut up. You're no girl."

"Am too! What do you know?"

The two screamed and started laughing yet again. Erika was having a hard time understanding what was going on.

In no time at all, more knights filled the space around them. Knights wearing armor different form the ones before started blocking their paths.

Claude slid to a stop and dived into another path while the other two followed.

"What is happening… why… why are they…?"

"Does it take a genius? The old coot betrayed you after he got his hands on what he needed."

Elric's words struck Erika like a sledgehammer, but the other two couldn't help their laughter. From running away from the knights to getting a chance to fuck over General Volfram and his plans, it was a great opportunity for their revenge.

These were all thoughts that fluttered in with time. Ones that hadn't sunk in yet, since their first instinct was to take Erika and run.

And run they did.

Screams looking for them started to spread over the entire city. As the sun set, the knights looking for them ran about with fire torches and lamps like ants navigating their settlement.

The three knocked down whatever they could and ran away from the rest.

"Claude! Gateway to hell!"

"City gates, you mean."

Still unable to keep in their laughter, the two boys made one final dash toward the city gates with Erika in tow.

"There they are!"

"Get them!"

The few knights coming toward the exit were still too far away. They could make the escape.

Right before Claude could jump outside, another group of knights came into view. Outside the gates, lookouts had gathered, all of them stronger than an average Joe.

With no water around, Elric was also almost gone, and having Erika create some would take too long.

Claude winced and slowed down, his hands reaching to summon the mist when a loud neigh sounded from the outsides.

The clip-clops of horses followed right away.

"[EARTH SPLIT]"

The ground shook. An axe pierced through the roads and broke the land apart, sending a few of them knocked over. The ones that didn't fall soon had an arrow in their legs or their hands while the last one was trampled over by two horses.

Sitting atop it were Puzo and the two adventurers of Kone.

"My lady!" Puzo screamed, hopping off the horses with the others. "The general has betrayed you!"

The three stepped out of the city gates, and Jamie and Quinton dived in. They pulled back their weapons and shot at the knights.

"W-what are you doing?" Erika screamed, only to get a lopsided grin from the lanky Quinton.

"We heard everything from the lady of Zarak. She said this is a farewell gift."

"Don't worry, and just go," Jamie continued. "We'll hold them off as long as we can!"

Puzo, holding the reins of the two horses, urged the three on. "Get on the horses! The lady of Zarak sent enough supplies. You have to go before this place is flooded by the General's knights!"

With a grin, Claude pulled the reins of one horse and hopped on. Elric was about to climb on the other, but Claude pushed him back. Useless Elric had no idea how to ride one.

"My lady, please, go."

"But… what about you… why is this happening?"

Puzo turned back and grabbed Erika's hands.

"My lady. This is it, this is your chance at freedom." A tear streaked down the loyal servant's face. "Please, you have to grasp it. We will be fine, the lady of Zarak will keep us safe."

Erika hesitated yet more.

Another group of knights came running toward the gate.

"Erika," Elric called.

The girl took a sharp breath and looked at the rest.

Then, she grasped the reins of the horse and jumped up. Puzo then had to help Elric get on.

Another neigh sounded as the two horses jumped and turned to the back.

"Claude! Elric!" Quinton called. "It was fun meeting you."

"I'll remember you guys, forever."

"Haha," Claude laughed at their words too. "Who said we won't meet again? Just make sure you stay alive."

ραпdα -n૦νe| , c૦m "Goodbye! Quamie, Jinton! Thanks for everything! You too, Puzo, you better sign up for the subscription next time!"

"They're leaving!"

"Don't let them escape!"

"GO!!"

The two whipped their horses.

And galloped forth.