Uncovered Truth

Every three days without fail a cargo supply carriage delivers food, medicine and miscellaneous goods to the royal castle. There, just after dawn a small group of guards receive those goods and then stock them in the royal castle.

King Goliath has always been very particular that his castle have plentiful foods and the like. This was information that Shirone had given to Sadako and Evan, the perfect plan to get in and out of the castle. At least a sure fire way for Evan, Sadako and Saika to get in and out. Avery's escape plan was a little hazy to be honest.

His chances of getting out were slim at best, this was the weak spot in their plan. Though, knowing this clear flaw, Avery pushed for a go anyways. As long as he could get that key to Sadako, that was the only thing that was important.

"That won't do. Like it or not, you're an important player. If we are to over throw Goliath that is."

"Over throw? Is that even possible?"

"Its highly unlikely, but not impossible so long as you're still alive."

"As long as I'm still alive? What exactly does that mean?"

"Hmm. Well, surely you'll come to understand soon enough...We'll continue this conversation at a later time."

Sadako flipped her glossy black hair over her shoulder. The three of them were hiding in the front of a supply carriage. The ride wasn't smooth what so ever, the carriage was made mostly from wood and had no suspension.

It was beginning to rain and the cloth covering the roof wasn't exactly water proof. A leak was dripping on their heads, not to mention that some of the food, possibility potatoes or onions had clearly gone rotten. Insects we're crawling all over the floor.

It wasn't a pleasant way to spend 2 days, yet none of the three minded any of it. They weren't in the mind set to think about themselves, they had more important matters at hand.

Suddenly, the carriage stopped.

"Eh- Are we here?"

"Yeah. Now is the hard part."

Moments later 2 royal guards appeared from the doorway of the castle.

"-and then I was like- and then she was all like-"

"What!? No way, you serious?"

The guards were young, probably not very high up the ladder in their rankings. They were talking back and forth without a care in the world between them. Being assigned to handle the manual labor duties of carrying supplies into the castle was more or less grunt work it seems.

"Psssst."

A whisper came from behind the cart, luring them in. They curiosity checked around the corner only to be dragged under the cart beaten and tied up. Their armor was stripped from them and worn by their attackers.

"Shit, there's only 2"

"It's fine Evan, I haven't a need since I am the daughter of Goliath I could be used in this matter

'captured and taken to Goliath' at that point myself and Avery will fight him and you will leave here with Saika in your hands."

"Eh- what? No- that wasn't part of the plan?"

"Not until now, unfortunately, this worthless bastard Avery seems to be more important than I originally thought.

Shirone spoke to me yesterday about a possible victory through political means.

I'd hate to say it, but it may be our only hope to free ourselves for good from Goliath's thumb."

Evan and Avery were putting on the clunky armor pieces and metal helmets. They didn't exactly look the part since most of the guards were either elves with long pointy ears or demons with long horns.

If anyone really pays too much attention then their cover would be blown in an instant, though even with that this was still enough for them to blend in to at the very least get to their destination.

Goliath slid his muscular arms into his silk cloak as he heard a knock at the door.

"my Lord, it seems her heinous has been captured and is here now. The guard holding her is expecting the posted reward."

"Oh?"

Goliath was suspicious from the moment he heard that news, though he ordered the guard to open the door anyways.

Incidentally, the guard at the door was Shirone. He's extraordinarily close to the king throughout the day, this is where he retrieves his valuable intel. If it were discovered that he aided Sadako and her party in any way, Shirone would most certainly be executed in the royal court yard for all to see.

However, Shirone believed that a king was supposed to be a powerful but intelligent being. Someone who was kind, that looked out for the people of Jigoku. Someone with a good head on their shoulders, deserving of the crown they wear.

Shirone did not find Goliath to match that description. Goliath was powerful, sure, intelligent yes. But Goliath only cared about himself, getting stronger and gaining more power. He wasn't a king, he was a dictator.

Shirone felt in his heart that if anyone was more deserving of that crown, it could be none other than Sadako. She had her cold moments, sure, but she also had her kind moments as well. She would surely turn this country into something much greater than Goliath had envisioned.

"You've done well, bring my daughter before me now."

"Yes sir!"

Shirone roughly grabbed at the shackles holding Sadako, all part of the show. Though, the sight caused a grumbling laugh to emerge from Goliath for some mysterious reason.

"You know, those shackles don't mean a thing to her right? With her power she can defend herself with both hands tied behind her back and her eyes closed.

It's hard to believe she's been captured just like that, what is the name of this guard who caught her?"

"mmm-"

"Its Avery Volk!"

"Ahahahgha! Avery boy. And what is it you want as a reward huh? Though I can already guess, knowing you."

Goliath was loud, he was truly amused at the scene before him.

"The key of Neodeka. You do have it right?" Avery's face was dead serious.

"Ahuh, yep. Right here. If you want it, you'll have to take it though, that won't be a problem I assume?"

Goliath dangled a key that was hung around his own neck. He slanted his eyes with a sadistic smile that said 'as if you can even take this from me'.

That was when the throne room suddenly was filled with fire, Avery dashed forward in a display of terrifying power. Glass shards flew at Goliath, meanwhile, Sadako also used her ability to fling a huge stone bench at him. It was an overbearing attack, anyone watching would think that they over did it even.

Though, that wasn't the case. The next moment was frozen in time, at least for everyone else in the room aside from Goliath. He had the power to turn things in his line of sight to stone.

Avery was stuck in a running position, his right arm extended out. His entire body except for his head was turned to stone. The broken pair of handcuffs on his wrist though curiously were still metal.

Goliath walked towards him, grinning from ear to ear with a creepy smile.

"Tell me, do you not recognize me at all Avery? No?"

Avery looked at Goliath, he was frustrated at his inability to move. He did focus in on the man before him however, he couldn't remember him though.

Goliath was muscular, he had grey and green scales on his body and huge wings similar to Atsuko's. He had several pairs of horns on his head, he was in his gargoyle form.

"So you don't recognize me then? Hmmmm, maybe this will jog your memory then hahah!"

The horns shrank into his head, his skin became more human like and his hair turned blond. After an instant Avery's face became pale, a cold sweat broke out.

His eyes went wide as he suddenly began to despair. Avery had learned the true identity of Goliath just then.

"-no no-no th-that's impossible, y-you're lying to me, this is a trick isn't it to get into my head, you're not- it can't be…"

"No trick here son. I'm the real thing."

Goliath brought the key to Avery, flashing it before his eyes while laughing. He grasped the handcuffs that have been locked on Avery's wrist for over three years now.

Just like that, he unlocked those cuffs with the key he was holding.

"Yes. There it is. Now you get it don't you? Hmm, I'm the one who locked you up in the first place. Mhm. I'm your dear old daddy."

This was too much for Avery to process, he was unable to move thanks to the stone surrounding his body. This was a living nightmare for him.