Chapter 302
In the damp and dark iron cage, a woman trembled like an aspen leaf. Her pale skin had smudges of dirt here and there, but her beauty shone through anyways. Her long ears that peek out from her hair were distinctive.
“Based on the current market price, the elven children under ten years of age sell for about 150 gold, and girls are twice that price. After all, elves have a lifespan of at least ten times that of humans and are called the ‘Race of Beauty’ for a reason.”
“But I’m thinking it would be difficult for you to find sufficient demand to justify such a high price.”
“And that’s why we’re in Erhaim.”
“....”
“Erhaim is the center of the continent, both literally and metaphorically. Its black market is infamous for guaranteeing its customers’ anonymity and a wide variety of rare goods on offer. It’s become so great that it’s a shame to call it a simple black market.”
The slave trader’s gaze returned to the cages.
“And with a quality product like this… how much do you think it’ll sell for?”
The elf shivered violently as the slave trader’s repulsive eyes soon swept over her body.
“How could humans do something like this…”
The elf, Aila, recoiled in fear at the slave trader's words.
She had lived in Westwood, the western portion of the Elven Forest.
The day she had been captured had started off no different than any other day. She had gotten up in the morning and greeted the spirits, and got rid of the tree-eating pests. Then, in the afternoon, she and her friends had walked around the edges of the forest. However, after that…
‘...I can’t remember anything,’ she frowned as she thought.
She distinctly remembered walking through the forest, perhaps a bit further out than she normally would to satisfy her curiosity.
“Haa, haa…”
“...!”
Aila was started out of her thoughts by a moan from the side. There, she saw a thoroughly beaten woman with brownish hair, seemingly the same age as herself. Taking into consideration the differences between an elf and a human, Aila doubted the woman was older than twenty. She wasn’t in good condition.
“I just can’t understand it. How can they do this to their own kind…”
“Ughhh…”
“I can’t leave her like this.”
Aila’s eyes flashed with determination. She had a deep-seated hatred for humanity, but she was sure that amongst these humans, there must be someone like him.
‘If I use a simple spirit magic…’
“...Guh!”
Aila let out a small scream as she gathered her energy. The attempt had made her head feel like it was going to split into two.
Shocked, she looked down at her hands and muttered, “Forbidden”
She left hopeless as dark thoughts went through her mind. How much worse could things get? What would happen to her? Besides the two next to her, what had happened to the rest of her missing friends?
Imagining extreme scenarios, she began considering some very drastic options that she could take.
But then, something odd happened.
“...Keugh!”
At first, the sound was so faint that even Aila, who had an extraordinary hearing, couldn’t detect it. That was the beginning of the oddness.
Thump!
“H-hey, hey! What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?” the slave trader shouted.
Until a moment ago, they had been talking about price, but the guard had suddenly collapsed. How could he not be dumbfounded?
Of course, no one there believed he had collapsed due to outside forces. After all, Erhaim was currently under the governance of Swallow, an Empire that had won the war and held the most power in the continent. Not to mention, it was impossible to think someone would make a move when there were so many eyes.
However, there were times when things didn’t happen according to common sense.
“It… it’s an ambush!”
A voice shouted loud enough that even someone deaf could hear it.
“Am-ambush?!”
The slave trader’s eyes widened.
Soon, two people were visible in the distance. Christian wore a full suit of armor that was white; even his helmet was white. By his side, Cain’s armor was the complete opposite. His larger body was clad in black armor and helmet. Their helmets were special in that they completely covered their faces with their hair floating around them like a lion’s mane.
Swish, twack!
Cain tossed a stone the size of a knuckle and then caught it. He took a step forward as a grin grew on his face.
“Guess he didn’t die.”
“...I take it you shattered a few of your neighbor’s windows as a kid?”
“Certainly. And not just windows.”
“What else did you break?”
“Hitting and breaking bastards like him was my specialty.”
“This is the first time that I’m liking your habits,” Christian commented.
Cain’s grin widened.
“I’m going to kill them all.”
“I will help. May God’s mercy be on them…”
“I thought you didn’t believe in God anymore?”
“You’re wrong,” Christian muttered under his breath as he followed after Cain.
“Th-th-th-that!”
The slave trader stared at the two knights intently, then groaned and sucked in his breath.
Even if he searched through the entire continent, it would be rare to find people with such distinct looks. Even if they were just imitating…
‘Wait, no. Unless they’re insane, who would copy?them?’
As the man reached a conclusion, a surprised shout sprang from his mouth.
“The White Lion and Black Lion!”
“...!”
“What about Mr. Merchi and Mr. Farge?”
The slave trader quickly turned around. Fortunately, the two people who were in charge of their group were already aware of what was going on. Not only them but also everyone who guarded Erhaim’s gates.
“Close the gates and sound the alarm!”
Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding!
“Damn it,” The middle-aged man, the oldest of the guards, frowned. “It’s the Twin Lions.”
It didn’t matter what the Twin Lions’ purpose in Erhaim was.
He only had one directive from his superiors—the city of Erhaim needed to be closed off to everyone except for trusted allies and merchants.
“Quickly! Go and deliver the news! The enemy of the Empire, the Twin Lions, has come!”
The man’s shout echoed.
***
A bland voice reverberated in the practical gray hall of the castle of Erhaim, formerly Reinhardt.
“Sire.”
The owner of the voice had huge eyes that made him look like a frog, but the eyes were lifeless.
At one point in time, he had lived a life where he hadn’t needed to be subservient to anyone.
Once, he had been the head of the Wilhelm Knights and also been lucky enough to have served Joshua Sanders, a great king.
But now, he was little more than a puppet of the Swallow Empire. He had been trusted with the responsibility of monitoring the king and had been given the title Kingaitu.
“Aren’t you making your hatred too obvious? Well, I’m very glad to see you, Servant. Hohoho.”
“...You’re mistaken, sir.”
“I should hope I am,” the man mocked as he sat on the throne with his chin in his hand.
He was Duke Eima, a Master of Swallow, and was easily recognizable by the X-shaped scar that had been carved into his forehead by a sword.
It didn’t matter why the Kingaitu had come, Duke Eima had no intentions of being monitored.
“So, what brings you here? You can’t possibly be here to actually monitor me, can you?”
“...No, sire.”
“Well, while I’d love to tease you some more, judging by your expression, I see that it’ll have to wait. Hehe.”
Duke Eima laughed creepily for a bit before instructing Kingaitu in a commanding manner, “Tell me why you’re here.”
“...We have received an urgent message that the Twin Lions appeared in Erhaim.”
The Duke froze. His brows furrowed.
“The Twin Lions? Are you talking about the ones I think you’re talking about?”
“The description matches them perfectly,” Kingaitu responded without the slightest change in his expression.
“...How coincidental that they appeared in a time like now. It’s almost as if they had been waiting…” Duke Eima mumbled as he trailed off.
The hall was in complete darkness as the heavy drapes were covering the windows.
“So, what do you think? I don’t think that this is a mere coincidence.”
Kingaitu wondered who the duke was talking to as it was clear that the question hadn’t been for him. A new voice from the back quickly answered his question.
“Kekeke. What are you so worried about? Could it be that you, the new Star, are afraid?”
“Even if it’s me, I cannot handle two of them.”
“It’s not like you to show weakness, Duke Eima.”
“Because out there, they are already regarded as Superhumans.”
“Heh, I see that the title Twelve Superhumans has gone to the dogs.”
“So, Your Majesty, will you give me a bit of help?” Duke Eima asked.
A figure slowly emerged from the shadows.
Step, step.
“As expected, flies are continuously drawn to Reinhardt.”
“...!” Kingaitu’s eyes widened.
Until he heard the voice, Kingaitu had wondered if there really was someone when he couldn’t feel a single presence in the shadows. But someone really did come out from the dark.
“Hehehehehe.”
It was Lucifer. He walked out with a bloodthirsty smile while brushing back his long blood-red hair.
“The rumors say that the Twin Lions are connected to him.”
“By him, you mean…?” Duke Eima tilted his head.
“Our Swallow and Hubalt… do you know what the two conquerors of the continent are wary of?” Lucifer’s low voice was the only sound echoing through the hall. “The Magic Tower that can’t even take care of itself? If not, then Avalon that’s just a shell of its former self? Or perhaps the kingdom where only fools gather?”
His smile became bigger
“It’s none of those.”
“...”
“I was there the night that Agnus, the Dark God, fell on the Great Plains of Kraden. I saw that he arrived late to the fight but still defeated an army of hundreds of thousands by himself.”
Kingaitu flinched.
“Was that…”
“That’s right.” Lucifer’s eyes gleamed as he spoke. “It was Joshua Sanders.”
“....”
“Unless he reappears again, I doubt…”
“Even if he does show up again, I doubt he would be a danger to you, Your Majesty.”
“Hm…” Lucifer’s gaze deepened. “You can only truly understand it by going through it yourself.”
“....”
“Go check it out.”
“You mean—”
“You didn’t think you could order me just because you sat on the throne, did you?”
“Of course not.” Duke Eima got off the throne with a short laugh. “I solemnly swear to Your Majesty that I will carry out your command.”
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om