Chapter 3: Pierce Through, Notarashi

"Who...who are you?"

The princess's voice trembled as she asked the man who saved her. He held her in the princess style, the intense wind blowing heavily around them, and ashes scattering through the air.

"Oh? You're the bratty princess of the Vermax Empire, right? Lilia, isn't it?"

The mystery savior smirked. The princess's anger was visible, and in an instant, the man dropped her heavily on the ground.

"Sorry, I don't talk to spoiled brats," he said, clapping his hands calmly. He chuckled as the princess rose to her feet, her face flushed with fury.

"Hey, how dare you drop the princess like that? You could be killed for that! And it's not Lilia, it's Lily... Get that into your skull!" she shouted.

"Lily or Lilia, what's the difference? You're still a spoiled brat anyway," he replied, casually running his hand through his curly silver hair. Despite the chaos of the nearby demon, the two continued their argument.

"Don't you dare call me that! Show some respect to the princess, you peasant!" she yelled.

"Respect? I don't even care about the Vermax Empire, so why should I care about you? Besides, I'm wanted by your father. We're enemies," he said with a grin.

"Wanted by my father? But why?" she asked in shock, as the man slowly unsheathed his katana, the blade shining as he giggled softly.

"Figure it out yourself, bratty princess."

With a bright smile, he charged at the approaching flame demon. There was no trace of fear in his eyes as he faced the humanoid creature, only excitement. He sped forward, evading the waves of flames effortlessly, gliding over the ground before vanishing from sight.

"That pest... where is he?" the demon growled, only for the man to appear right behind it, slicing through its hardened exoskeleton. The demon roared in pain as its severed arm bled profusely before regenerating.

"A flame-type humanoid demon, huh? It's intelligent like a Djinn. Its regeneration is decent, but not fast enough to keep up with my attacks. I'd like to keep it alive since it's an elemental type," the man remarked, glancing over at the approaching Vermax Huntsmen. "But they won't let me go."

The demon turned toward him, flames erupting around its body as it launched a fiery projectile. The man deflected it instantly, appearing before the demon again, but just as he was about to strike, hundreds of lesser demons charged at him. In an instant, their bodies lay scattered in pieces.

"Why are you laughing? What's so funny?" the demon demanded.

"Nothing, really. I've been hunting down unintelligent demons for a while, but you're the eleventh intelligent one on my kill list. I've gained a lot from slaying your kind," he said, his gaze filled with killing intent. The air grew cold, despite the lingering heat, as the man smirked.

"Do you control an element?" the demon asked.

"What if I do?" he replied, releasing a blast of cold energy that instantly froze the ground. His suit glowed bright blue as the demon charged at him, the two clashing with elemental power, fire versus ice. The Huntsmen continued fighting the lower demons while Captain Rudeus approached the princess.

"Princess, thank the gods you're alright. You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice calm despite the chaos.

"Captain Rudeus, who is that man fighting the demon? He said he's wanted by my father and the Vermax Empire. Is that true?" Lily asked, her eyes fixed on the ongoing battle.

"Yes, he's responsible for the death of a noble some years ago. The infamous assassin of the North, the Deathmaker," Rudeus answered, and the princess's eyes widened in shock.

"The Deathmaker? You're saying that man is the infamous assassin?" she whispered, finding it hard to believe. He seemed too young to be such a ruthless killer.

Meanwhile, the fight raged on, reducing the woods to ashes. The man kept evading the demon's attacks, clearly enjoying the chaos. He dashed forward, cutting through the flames, scattering the inferno.

"What? How did he do that?" the demon gasped, as the man landed behind it, slowly sheathing his sword.

"Sorry, but you're too weak to cause me any trouble. If you don't have horns, you're nothing but a low-class demon," he said. The demon's head fell to the ground, green blood splattering as its body crumpled.

The man sighed as he turned to find himself surrounded by soldiers.

"S-level criminal: Deathmaker, you are under arrest for your crimes against the Vermax Empire. You will be taken to the capital to face judgment," Captain Rudeus declared, stepping forward with pride.

"Oh, come on, I just saved your lives," the Deathmaker replied.

"We know, and we're grateful. Since you saved the princess, the emperor might grant you a merciful judgment. But you're coming with us," Rudeus said.

The Deathmaker sighed, his hands being cuffed as he remained calm. His sword was taken, and he was now a prisoner of the Vermax Empire.

"You Vermax boys are really troublesome. Following rules... where's the fun in that?" he muttered.

"We are noble Huntsmen, followers of the law. You're wanted in thirteen nations. When we return, you will face your judgment."