Chapter 46: Public Execution of a Former Hero...
Nox walked through the wide cobblestone streets of Frosthold’s wealthy district alongside Audrey and Misty.
It still felt strange to him.
The buildings were enormous.
The streets were clean.
The merchants wore elegant clothing.
And nobody seemed to pay much attention to their group.
"Hey, Nox."
Misty smiled as she walked with her hands behind her back.
"Did you fall asleep with your makeup on?"
Nox raised an eyebrow.
"Did it come off?"
"No."
The dancer burst out laughing.
"It’s still perfectly intact."
Nox sighed.
"Great. Because I don’t even know how to put this stuff on."
Misty laughed again.
"Seriously?"
"Of course I’m serious."
"And how do you plan on doing your makeup tomorrow?"
"I’m not."
"Well, you should."
Nox grunted.
"I have no idea how any of that works."
Misty pointed at her own face.
"If you want, I can do it for you."
"You?"
"I used to do my fellow dancers’ makeup before performances all the time."
Nox stared at her for a few seconds.
"Now that I think about it... that actually makes sense."
Audrey, who was walking several feet ahead of them, interrupted the conversation.
"I see a large crowd up ahead."
The three of them looked up.
Several streets ahead, a crowd seemed to have gathered.
"What’s going on?"
Misty quickened her pace.
As they moved forward, they began noticing papers scattered across the ground.
The dancer picked one up.
Then she smiled.
"I think I found the answer."
Nox grabbed another.
Audrey did the same.
The poster showed a drawing of a smiling man.
Beneath it was a headline.
"Public Execution of the Former Thunder Knight."
"Why are they executing someone?"
Audrey asked.
"No idea. Maybe it’s normal around here."
Nox kept reading.
The paper talked about a deserter.
A hero who had lost his title.
’Sounds interesting.’
Maybe Tessa was investigating the same thing.
After all, the former inquisitor seemed to have a complicated relationship with titles and the Church.
"Come on."
Nox folded the paper.
"I want to see this."
Audrey nodded.
Misty smiled.
And the three of them continued forward.
◇◆◇
The crowd was enormous.
People from every social class filled the plaza.
Some wore expensive suits.
Others looked like they had come straight from the slums.
There were even several beggars watching from the edges.
At the center stood a large wooden platform.
On top of it stood a man dressed in white robes.
His pointed hat was decorated with jewels.
His golden staff gleamed beneath the daylight.
And his expression radiated absolute authority.
Nox listened to the crowd’s whispers.
"I heard the Fire Lion Knight captured the deserter."
"No way."
"The former Thunder Knight must be dead already."
"They say people who lose their title don’t survive very long."
"My cousin swears they age decades within a few months."
"That can’t be true."
Nox chuckled.
"Looks like we’re about to witness quite a show."
The voice of the man in white echoed throughout the plaza.
"Silence."
The entire crowd immediately shut their mouths.
Audrey blinked.
"Who is this guy?"
Nox shrugged.
"I’ve been wondering the same thing."
Then something strange happened.
The man in white slowly turned his head.
His eyes locked directly onto Audrey.
"You."
The huntress raised an eyebrow.
"Me?"
"I said remain silent."
The man struck the ground with his staff.
"No one may speak while a Saint of the Church begins an execution ritual."
Nox noticed several people staring at them.
Misty smiled and spoke without moving her lips.
"Keep your mouths shut."
"What?"
"If you don’t want us getting into trouble."
Nox decided to listen.
The so-called Saint seemed important.
And right now, they had no reason to attract attention.
The man turned back toward the crowd.
"It is my honor to announce that one of our heroes successfully located the deserter."
The crowd immediately began murmuring again.
"The former Thunder Knight. The man who betrayed the Church. The man who abandoned his duty."
Half the plaza looked shocked.
The other half looked excited.
The Saint raised one hand.
"And only one person was capable of accomplishing such a mission."
He smiled proudly.
"The glorious Fire Lion Knight."
His voice echoed across the plaza.
"Leo!"
The crowd exploded with cheers.
Thousands of people began applauding.
Nox stared at the platform.
Then he saw a man climbing a set of stairs at the side.
Red hair.
A relaxed smile.
His hands tucked casually into his pockets.
For a few seconds, Nox felt like something didn’t add up.
Then he recognized him.
"...No way."
Audrey’s eyes widened as well.
"You know him?"
"Of course I know him."
The demon pointed at the platform.
"That’s the drunk."
"What drunk?"
"The one from Misty’s village."
Misty blinked.
Nox nearly choked.
"He spent all of his money on alcohol!"
"Now that you mention it..."
"He was completely wasted!"
Leo waved to the crowd with a huge smile.
The people seemed to adore him.
They cheered, shouted, and celebrated.
As if they were watching a celebrity.
Nox couldn’t believe it.
’How the hell did this guy go from professional drunkard to kingdom-famous hero?’
Leo seemed perfectly comfortable with the attention.
He even waved at several children who were enthusiastically waving little flags.
Audrey watched the scene.
"Hm."
"What?"
"I think I could fight him."
Nox slowly turned his head.
"Could you please stop wanting to fight every hero in the Church?"
"I didn’t say I was going to."
"You were thinking it."
"Maybe."
Misty laughed.
"Don’t underestimate him."
"Who?"
"Leo."
The dancer crossed her arms.
"He’s one of the most famous heroes around the Capital."
"Seriously?"
"People in the villages talk about him all the time."
Nox studied the red-haired man.
Leo was still smiling.
Still waving.
Still acting like a genuinely nice guy.
And somehow, that only made Nox trust him even less.
"How strong is he?"
Misty shrugged.
"Strong enough that half the kingdom admires him."
"Great."
The Saint struck the ground with his staff once more.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
Leo took a step back.
The smile was still on his face.
But his eyes looked different.
More serious.
As if he were waiting for something.
The Saint raised both arms.
"Citizens of Frosthold."
His voice thundered across the plaza.
"Today, you shall witness the judgment of a traitor."
The crowd remained completely still.
"Today, you shall see the fate that awaits those who abandon the will of the Church."
Nox felt a chill run down his spine.
Something wasn’t right.
He couldn’t say exactly what.
But something about all of this felt wrong.
Maybe it was Leo’s smile.
Maybe it was the way the crowd obeyed without question.
The Saint pointed toward a large wooden structure standing behind the platform.
"Bring forth the deserter for his execution."
The crowd held its breath.
The massive doors slowly began to open.
