Departure (part 2)

The trip to Freeden took three hours, with a few stops along the way. We halted on a few villages, one of them being Roy's hometown.

We took the longest stop there, since Roy went and visited his family for a little bit. And while he was doing that, me and Rake went to look for anything to bite while waiting.

We found a shop that sells fried cassava slices, and it was wonderful.

I have never tasted a fried cassava this good. The seasoning was perfect.

We both ended up buying so many that we nearly filled the carriage seats with it. By the time Roy returned, we already had fifty bags on the carriage.

I think most of his confusion comes from how the shop owner even has that many cassava with him.

After a while, we are back on the road.

The entire time, Rake is silent. His eyes are locked into the scenery during the trip, all while his mouth is chewing cassava slices.

I noticed his silence was mostly caused by the amount of chaos inside his thoughts, so I let it happen. After all, the guy was going through a lot in his mind lately. It is only normal for him to sort his thoughts, even for a little bit.

Unfortunately, my gazes were noticed by him.

"What is it?"

He suddenly asked with his monotone voice.

I noticed that he was not using his funny tone, so I made myself careful with my words. Even though he did the same thing to me a while back, hearing him using his serious tone now made me not want to joke around.

"Do you enjoy killing those people?"

I asked him what I have been thinking for a while, and he turned his gaze back to me. The two of us are no longer wearing our masks, and even though his eyes are still covered by the bandage, I can tell he was staring dead straight to my eyes.

"Naturally. They harmed children."

"They are still people. Plus, they didn't kill them."

"What they have done is still unacceptable. They deserved it."

Hearing him answering it so seriously like this made me even more pained listening to it. He spoke as if he is in the right, as if killing them has always been the right thing to do.

As I expected… the two of us view things differently.

"… It is still not what they deserve."

Rake turned his gaze back to me, but I did not continue. I turned my gaze away from him, and stared back at the scenery with a cassava slice in my hand.

But, from how he is still staring at me, I noticed that he is not done talking.

"How…?"

I turned my eyes slightly at him, and let him finish without turning to face him.

"How do you have that much patience against humans…?"

I noticed that he asked not because he is impressed with my emotions, but with how he himself is incapable. He asked, simply because he wants to understand that as well as I do.

Unfortunately, that is not something I can just explain to him.

The only way for me to answer that… is to just show him.

"Isn't it simple? I'm just a good person."

I said with a grin as I bit on the cassava slice. 

Rake then immediately turned away after I answered, and he held his mouth with his face. Seeing this reaction of his, I became very confused.

"What is it?"

"Nothing."

Not this again…

After the long trip, we finally arrived.

"Guys! We are here!"

Roy shouted from the front. Both Rake and I moved our butts to the front side of the seat, and we peeked from the tray to look outside.

Far in the distance is a tall wall, with tall buildings at the other side. From the looks of it, this is quite the fortified city.

"I thought you said Freeden was poor."

I said to Rake, and he nodded.

"… That is what I thought as well."

Hearing our conversation, Roy chuckled from the driver's seat.

"Well, that is the unique trait of the city. You see, despite the fortified walls and tall buildings that are inside, it is actually the poorest town of the entire kingdom.

Welcome to the most corrupt city of Ardjestyn. Freeden, the City of Freedom and Justice. Also known as the City of Rats."

Hearing that description from Roy's mouth, I looked rather surprised. To think that there is a city like that, even inside the territory of humans as well… is surprising.

As our carriage was arriving in the city, I turned my gaze towards the top of the castle walls. There doesn't seem to be much to be found there, but since the skies are rather blue, I can see basically anything that shows up there.

For example, a person.

The person watches over from above. His gaze seemed to be watching as our carriage arrived. I also noticed that his body was facing our direction.

"Say, is that a person?"

I poked Rake on the shoulder, and the tall guy turned his gaze to the top of the wall. But by the time I turned my gaze back there, the man was already gone.

"Where?"

"H-He's gone…"

"Are you being delusional?"

I smacked him in the shoulder, and I went back inside while Rake rubs his shoulder. I sat down at the spot near the window, that way I can keep my eyes back on the walls.

The person… is no longer there…

It's not that I am concerned that he was there.

But it is the fact that he was holding a sword.

The moment I saw that person was the moment I realized our trip in Freeden was going to be interesting.

And it only took a few days to prove me right.

This kingdom…

The people at the high seats…

All of them are twisted.

And I shall be the one to take them down.

And exact my vengeance.

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End of First Season

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The Knights Headquarters.

Technically they are in the same building with the church and the royal mansion, or also known as the White Cathedral. But people liked to think that they are a separate thing, since they are indeed separate instances.

It is the home to many important figures within the military. Knight division commanders, even the general himself.

The quarters belong to Arch-duke Ignicius. The most secure place inside the building, not only because it has the most important documents of the kingdom inside it, but it also has the most important items stashed away.

And the one who owns it is none other than the general himself.

Silent footsteps can be heard whispering inside the room. In the middle of this dark moonless night, the appearance of a black robed man entering the room from the window can barely be seen without light.

Noticing that the library room is empty, the robed man took off his hood, revealing a prideful burning red hair. His face is wearing a half face mask that covers the nose and below.

As he took the mask off, his eyes studied the room.

"Now then… this can only go horribly."

The intruder, Jack Redmane, began searching around.

His first target is the bookshelf on the right side of the room, where the most books are. The other bookshelves were filled with decorations and accessories, like a hanged blade or a small statue. And since he did not come for those things, he went to look into the books instead.

Information. Anything, regarding the truth of the kingdom.

After that person left, Jack was left alone with a mission. To find out the truth about the kingdom, and to look for any proof that he can use.

He has found out many dark things that the kingdom has done, but he has not found a good enough proof. He himself is already sure of the kingdom's wrongdoings, but he has not found concrete evidence just yet.

So, that is why he came here. The quarters of the strongest man in the military. General and Arch-duke Reithvord Ignicius.

After searching for ten books, he finally found his first proof.

"This is… this is it…!"

He mumbled silently, and he began stashing the book inside his storage bracelet.

But thanks to that little voice of his, it alerted the other presence inside the room.

"What are you doing here?"

Jack immediately turned his gaze towards the door to the room, and found a single man standing by the opened door.

The door was closed previously, and opening it should make even the tiniest noise. And yet, Jack did not hear a single thing, and the door was already open.

The man walked in from the dark hallway, and Jack immediately took a step back as he lifted his mask back up. His hair was already seen, but maybe he can still save his face--

"What are you doing, Jack?"

The man by the door asked softly, which then made Jack rather surprised.

He then began walking deeper into the room, allowing the light inside to light his face up. He was previously in the dark, which made Jack unable to see who it was. But there can only be one person inside the quarters of the general.

And that is the general himself.

Arch-duke Reithvord is wearing his usual stern face, and his expression does not look happy in the slightest. He is wearing his pajamas, which implies that he was just asleep.

Seeing that he has awakened the most dangerous man in the kingdom, Jack let out a sigh.

"… Well, shucks. I got found."

In the end, Jack already knows. That the moment he got found, is the moment things will start to enroll.

His life is only going to get more difficult from here on out.