First Kill
If someone didn't have any pride, wouldn't they also be lacking in self-confidence? If someone was free of greed, wouldn't they have trouble supporting their family? And if people didn't envy one another, wouldn't they stop inventing new things?
Eru Chitanda ( Hyouka )
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A few meters away from a group of men, on the branch of a tree. Kazuya was there holding his katana. With his left holding the scabbard and right on the grip of the sword.
"...I'm sorry, actually I'm not sorry at all. You guys will be my stepping stone so I can get used to killing. Be ready..." He muttered while staring at the group of men. The men were still laughing happily as they didn't notice someone was watching them.
Inhale...
Inhaling a deep breath, and using ki in his legs, Kazuya readied himself. He tightly gripped his katana.
Bang! Swoosh!
With a strong kick, the branch he was on broke. And he swiftly appeared at the nearest man. The man was beside the cage where Haruhime is.
Shing! Swoosh!
The katana in his hand swiftly left its scabbard and cut through the mans neck. Not a second later, his head separated and blood spurt out of his neck.
Bam!
The head hit the ground. Kazuya quickly jumped back and turned towards the other men who also noticed him. Due to it being his first kill, he felt uncomfortable.
But he ignored the feeling and continued. With his ki reinforcing his legs, he swooped out at fast speed.
Bang!
The ground he was on previously broke due to the immense force it took when he kicked the ground to dash towards the other men.
"Who-" One of the men shouted but before he can finish, Kazuya already arrived in front of him. Then he slashed his sword swiftly, cutting the man in half horizontally.
Then he turned towards the other men who shook in fear. Their legs were shaking but they gripped their weapons ranging from swords to spears.
"Diee!"
"He's only one person, let's go everyone!"
They shouted, but Kazuya ignored it. The men dashed towards him, slashing their weapons towards him.
Clang! Bam!
He blocked their weapons head on, then pushed them with a strong force causing them to step back. Kazuya noticed that these men were weak.
Maybe their strength is at low class disciple. But he quickly focused again, holding his bloodied sword he dashed towards them.
Swoosh! Swish!
"Ah!"
His sword swiftly slash through them as they screamed. It only took him seconds to finish the remaining four men. Now all of them were dead, cut by Kazuya's sword.
Kazuya looked at the scene in discomfort, he is still not used to killing but he is slowly getting there. Luckily his mind was stronger than normal people.
The place was now bloody, bodies cut in half laid there. The internal organs of the men were scattered and blood was spilled around. Lingering through the air is the scent of blood.
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Quickly getting out of thought, Kazuya turned towards the cage. Now that he was done killing the men, he noticed Haruhime saw the whole scene.
Slowly he approached her, but she just stayed there without much reaction. Kazuya was a bit surprised, he thought she would be at least scared as he literally just killed 6 men.
But he quickly arrived in front of her cage. He smiled kindly towards her, "Are you okay?" he asked caringly.
She nodded, "Yes, ...thank you" She answered in a low voice but he heard it.
"Your welcome! Then I will get you out of this cage okay? I'm not here to hurt you" He explained patiently, "Then can you step away from the door? I will break it now, ok?"
She nodded and stay away from the wooden door of the cage, that is also made of wood. Seeing her away from the door, Kazuya destroyed the lock and opened the cage.
He extended his right hand towards her and smiled, "You can come out now"
Haruhime stared at his hand with her eyes shining and took it. She then got out of the cage and turned to Kazuya in dazed.
"Do you have anywhere to go?" Kazuya asked, "And can you tell me your name?"
Ahe shook her head, "No, I was disowned by my father. And my name is Sanjouno Haruhime" she said sadly.
He nodded, "I'm Kinoshita Kazuya, a traveller. I'm going to Orario to become an adventurer, do you want to go with me?" He said but continued, "Of course you can say no too. I'm not forcing you, I just thought that since you seemed to have no place to go"
She thought for a bit and agreed, "I'll go with you"
He stared at her, "Are you sure? I could be a bad guy, you know?" he tried to warn her.
Hearing him she smiled brightly, "I think Kazuya-sama is a nice person"
Kazuya was once again surprised not by what she said but because she smiled. Previously when he scouted using the drone, he saw her having emotionless eyes but it seems she recovered a bit.
He just shrugged, "Then lets go" He motioned for her to follow him and walked away. She was confused as there is the cart they can use to travel but she just followed him.
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Now away from the site where those men were killed, Kazuya and Haruhime was currently riding a car. Yes a car, it is Kazuya's upgraded car which he brought.
Haruhime looked around the car in fascination, it was the first time she saw something like this.
While on the road Kazuya talked to her a bit. He did so as something like counselling and to get her mind out of what happened previously.
She was still a kid after all. She was only 11 this year and her mind should still be traumatized by what happened to her.
Getting disowned by your own father and getting caught by men as a slave to sell. Then add to the fact she saw someone killing those men.
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After a few hours of driving they can already see the huge tower from a distance. Kazuya stopped the car and told her to get out which she obeyed.
He also got out and stored the car in his inventory. Haruhime didn't ask about how he did that although she was curious.
"It was my special magic" She heard Kazuya's voice explaining.
"Anyway, from here on we will walk towards Orario. We are still about a few hundred meters away, come on" He smiled towards her.
"Yes, Kazuya-sama" She replied and they walked towards the direction of Orario.