14 Conflict

'She can see me, right?' Zeus whispered in his heart.

He was confident that his hiding position wouldn't be discovered. He also controlled his breathing until it sounded almost faint but it seemed like this woman had some strange skills.

Or perhaps she just has a very keen perception.

"Are you not coming out?" The Flame Princess asked.

On the other hand, seeing the Flame Princess talking to someone ahead, Kleo followed her gaze and his eyes also met the man. A trace of doubt before turning into shock appeared on his face and his guard went back up again after seeing another threat.

Feeling the numerous gazes, Zeus clicked his tongue and came out of the bushes. As a few bush leaves got stuck on his hair, he brushed them off with his hands before smiling at everyone.

"Hello." Zeus greeted them. He put back his staff behind him and raised both of his hands to show that he was not a threat.

However, none of them let their guards down. After all, they don't have any slight idea who he is.

"Stop right there! Don't move otherwise we will kill you!" Two men under Kleo's team stepped forward and blocked his path. Their weapons were tightly clenched in their palms.

Zeus halted immediately. He looked at Kleo, not even bothering to look at the Flame Princess.

"Who are you? What is your purpose here?" Kleo asked as his eyes squinted.

"Well, my name is Zeus. As for my purpose…" Zeus thought for a moment and continued, "I live here."

Hearing his answer, everyone seemed doubtful. They glanced at each other as if confirming if what they heard was right.

"You live here?" Kleo inspected his appearance and soon after, he sneered, "But you look like someone of our age. That's impossible."

Zeus tilted his head. "But it's true though."

"I don't have time to talk to you. Although I don't know your purpose for coming here, if you interfere with our affairs, I will kill you here together with them." Kleo responded as he aimed his sword toward his head.

"Well, I am not really planning to, so just do your thing."

Kleo nodded. "Then please leave here."

"Alright."

Without hesitation, Zeus stepped backwards. His eyes didn't leave them as he was also afraid they'd suddenly attack him. Even though he's strong, he's not confident enough to take

all seven of them down.

However, as soon as he walked his third step, the Flame Princess hurriedly called.

"Wait! Don't leave! Help me!"

"Sorry but I refuse. It's your mess. Clean it yourself." Zeus hastily refused the woman.

Who does she think he is? Her servant?

"I promise, I'll pay you handsomely. Just help me!" The Flame Princess begged as she occasionally glanced at the two women in the hands of Kleo and his men.

It was a desperate call but Zeus didn't want to help. They did look like they were both from a high-ranking family and he doesn't want to risk it.

What if he managed to kill Kleo?

Surely, his siblings would have chased him to death right?

Even if he evaded them, Kleo's father would surely bring him endless troubles. If that wasn't enough, their endless connections would be enough to make his life hellish.

"That's a really good offer!" Zeus smiled enthusiastically.

"So you're helpi—?"

"But I refuse. My life was already complicated and I don't want to be involved with you."

The cons are much more than the pros.

After hearing his words, the Flame Princess felt her body lose strength as her only hope crumbled into dust. Sounds of something shattering inside her heart echoed in her ears.

'Damn it!'

Her face flushed as she gritted her teeth in sorrow.

Hopelessness surfaced on her body and eventually, she collapsed on the floor.

"N-no…"

Meanwhile, Kleo sighed in relief. Knowing that this unknown man wouldn't help, the vigilance in his heart started to vanish.

Even then, the appearance of this man already jeopardized his plan. Although he's not certain if this man would keep his mouth shut, he's willing to believe he'll do, at least for now.

However, what happens after he kills the Flame Princess is a different story.

It's better to get rid of him.

'Just you wait…' Kleo muttered as he glared at the man with the eyes of a hunter.

…

Zeus dashed away, not even bothering to look back. Even so, he could hear the painful cries of a woman. It was a cry of despair, grief, and sadness.

However, together with the cries were the giggles coming from a group of men.

'Did they do it?'

They are laughing as well. Was it that fun to kill someone?

He could picture what might happen and his conscience made him a little hesitant to move forward.

'The two should have been killed by now.'

To be honest, their life was meaningless to him. Whether they die or not is none of his business. Thus, despite having the ability to stop it, he didn't move nor gave a damn about it.

But now, Zeus was conflicted by the fact that he let a murder happen. He's already aware of the dangers of this world and anyone can escape the laws like nothing.

Look at them, even a teenager can murder someone with ease. Killing seemed normal for them. What's more, they seemed like people who enjoyed watching people's despair over the loss of someone.

This leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

Zeus closed his eyes, trying to forget every moment he saw but in the end, it proved futile to do so.

As he opened his eyes, the veins on his arms popped out as he squeezed his fist in guilt.

Adjusting his breathing, he tried to calm himself. However, the throbbing in his chest intensified instead.

Ba-dump!

Due to the sheer amount of blood pumping on his body, he could even hear the heartbeats echoing inside his ear. Adrenaline started to build up inside him and before he knew it, he already grabbed his weapon.

"Master warned me not to be impulsive but…" A helpless smile surfaced on his lips as he murmured, "...it seemed like this trait was already engraved in my soul. What should I do?"

…

"Hahahaha, looking at you like this, I suddenly felt bad. Anyways, it's your fault. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being weak." Kleo kicked the bodies under his foot and walked towards the weeping girl with a grin on his face.

"You agree with me right, Flame Princess?…no, Elise."

Kleo grabbed Elise's hair and pulled her up from the ground. The tears in her pained eyes hadn't stopped falling. She stared at Kleo motionless but the trembling of her body and the boiling of her blood showed what she was currently feeling right now.

"Angry eh?" Kleo ran his hands at her cheeks and raised her chin near his face. "You're really mad at me, aren't you?"

At that moment, Elise curled her fists and swung them towards Kleo's chest. Her breath raced as the welled-up anger burst out of her body.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!"

However, despite her efforts, Kleo did not flinch nor move.

"Hahahahaha, it's futile. My body is not something a pure sorcerer can damage."

Her punches gradually became softer and a few moments later, she felt her hand had already gone numb.

In the end, she gave up, letting the tears drip down her face.

Her impulsiveness and sense of justice led her into this nightmare. She killed her friends. That's the only thing she knows.

"Lord Kleo, I have a suggestion." A black-haired teenager with a wretched smile on his face stepped forward and spoke.

"Tell me."

"Cough, Lord Kleo, seeing you have no interest in the Flame Princess, why don't…" the teenager blushed slightly, looked at the other two people behind him, and continued, "...why don't you just reward her to us?"

Kleo turned his head and glanced at his lackeys. All of them ogled at the woman's body in his hands. Their eyes gawked out, constantly biting their lips like beasts in heat.

Kleo's eyes squinted before a shrewd smile curved on his face.

"Indeed, that's a good idea. Here."

He threw Elise towards them as if he was throwing garbage when suddenly, his senses perceived a powerful threat.

"Look out!!!" Kleo yelled at his lackeys.

Unfortunately, it's already too late.

Baaam!

"AHH!!!"

A horrifying scream came from one of the lackeys and before the black-haired man could block it, a staff wrapped in a white bandage hit him to his chest and impaled him to a tree, killing him instantly.

Bam!

Kleo raised his sword and restlessly turned his head in all directions. Seeing that no one is coming out, he hastily grouped with his remaining two lackeys before he shouted in a terrified voice.

"W-who are you!? Come out! Face us if you're not a coward!" Kleo tried to remain calm but the shock of the sudden threat of death made him restless.

At that moment,

Step, step!

The sound of footsteps reverberated in the quiet surroundings. A man stepped outside the bushes, walked towards the staff he threw, and pulled it from the tree. As Kleo observed the man in front, his eyes shrunk.

"I-It's you!"

It was Zeus.