CHAPTER TWELVE : A SWORD (3)

Allen woke up as he felt someone shaking him. He looked to his right. A girl with black hair and tattered clothes was pulling his cloak. It was just like a lost child always does. Allen knelt and looked at the kid, and they stared at each other. He looked to his right. Klein was nowhere to be found. He probably went to get them something to eat. Allen hadn't had dinner yet.

"Are you lost?" he asked, tilting his head while smiling.

"Mia will never be lost!" She spoke with high spirits.

"I see. So, what are you doing out here alone? Do you want me to accompany you?" Mia just stared at him with a pair of shining eyes. Allen looked around. The arena was the same. It must have been quite a short time since he had fallen asleep. A child in the arena was not uncommon, but a child without a guardian was extremely dangerous. Human traffickers? Slaves?

"Mia had a bad dream. Mama tried to kill Mia and Papa." The kid buried her face in Allen's neck while crying.

"Don't worry. You are safe now." Mia kept crying and ended up getting sleepy in Allen's arms. Looking at the cute child, Allen felt his heart melt. Liam hates children. He dislikes them. Weak and ignorant about the law of the world, they act like their lives are the happiest. Remembering the eyes of both Adrian and Isabella tugged at his heart.

"Mia!" An unfamiliar voice could be heard as Allen looked and saw a blond-haired man with grey eyes staring at him. Allen halted his step as he stared at the man. A cold chill ran down the back of his neck. He felt horrified. The same face, a familiar voice, and also this aura. What is this madness? Allen stared at the man once again. How could this be possible?

Allen tried to hold back his feelings as he smiled at the man. He was running towards them. He found him. Alexius, the corrupted knight of Ashvell. Allen glanced at Mia, who kept holding his shirt. "Ah, thank you so much!" Allen just nodded and smiled back.

"Your daughter? She had some bad dreams." Allen walked toward Alexius and handed Mia to him. Alexius thanked him and ran away while waving his hand. He looked rushed. Even so, Allen was unable to focus on this. He fell to his knees as the nightmare he wished to erase resurfaced.

*****

A boy with blond hair walked slowly, and some of the freshmen started to gawk and laugh, but some of them blushed harder. The blond young boy, wearing a pair of glasses, wore a light blue knee-length long coat and a white shirt with black pants. He wasn't that tall, but not too short.

The boy just ignored the students as he took a seat on a nearby bench and opened his book while wearing a pair of earphones. A familiar boy, Seth. He intentionally took the book and threw it away. Most of the freshmen started to laugh.

"What are you doing here, freak?" Seth grabbed his collar and dropped him.

The boy just stared silently and kept calm. He glared at Seth, and the black-haired boy backed off. A large amount of killing intent filled the departure hall. The boy took his book back and sat down, ignoring other people.

Liam just stared at the blond. Something tugged at his heart to punch the black-haired boy in his face. But he just looked to the other side to contain his rage as he remembered how weak he used to be.

*****

If only he had stopped Seth at that time. If only he had fought back against the people who raised their hands against his brother, would his brother have chosen to fight back instead of taking his own life? His trustworthy comrades that he lost because of his so-called duty and obligation?

Allen didn't know how much time had passed. He didn't know how he ended up in this world. Is this a punishment? The familiar sight of his brother, a classmate and a comrade who will soon become a calamity of the world.

Allen had been planning to kill Alexius from the beginning. He couldn't take the risk of letting a mad knight roam around. What would happen after he died? Would someone be strong enough to control him? What's he going to do? This is the worst probability that he can think of. Is God playing a joke on him?

But first and foremost, he needed to find out why Alexius fell into darkness. He needed a new plan. There is no way he will let that man get hurt. Brother or not, Allen is determined to protect him. Not again. Claude warned him before. Are humans evil or just they were tempted by the greater devil?

*****

Not far from the place where Allen was sitting, Klein witnessed everything. He saw it. The smile on the Duke's face while comforting the child. It's real. The love and comfort are real. Then why did he treat his children like trash? If he is capable of showing that kindness, why hasn't he given it to his child but to a stranger?

Allen, who was standing up, suddenly received a notification from the system.

[ Confrontation with the additional plot choice! ]

[ Tutorial for the player Liam Ascente shall commence! ]

[Good luck]

[10, 9, 8..]

Allen looked at the notification screen and reached out to Klein. "Tell everyone to evacuate immediately!"

[5, 4..]

Unfortunately, they were too late. A large explosion occurred as Klein conjured a magic barrier to protect both himself and Allen.

The guards and the gatekeepers appeared as they tried to push away all of the demonic creatures. The smell of rotten flesh filled the arena. Looking at the east side of the bench, a guard was running with an aura engulfing his body as he cut through a horde of demons. Not far from him, an old man with a broken staff glanced around and yawned. He raised his hand and muttered silently.

"Reifal." A large dark flame ball appeared out of nowhere from the sky and swallowed the gatekeepers. The flame ended up attacking the only swordmaster with the sword as he stood at the center of the enemy line. He frowned and took a deep breath. Who in the world dares to attack the Underworld Plaza? Right at the center!

"Hey, you punk." A red blazing aura swallowed the entire land. A small yet threatening smile could be seen at the corner of his lips.

"Hmmm? Sorry." The old man just nodded slowly and ignored the swordmaster who kept threatening him. He simply increased the number of the demonic beasts, hoping to distract the swordmaster. He needed to find his target.

Another explosion could be heard. The young swordsman was covered in dirt and burned ashes. He kept coughing and trying to stand up. The old man nodded again and walked away. That person should be here.

*****

Not far from the middle point of the explosion, a man holding a bow was laughing awkwardly. He glanced to his right. Annoyance could be seen on the face of his current partner. Both of them were standing on top of the building. Due to their inhumane abilities, they could detect things happening outside the human sight range.

"He is targeting the fourth prince, right?" His eyes narrowed behind the glasses. He held his map tightly and took a deep breath. The other person just nodded and shivered. He hugged his bow and glanced back.

The guards kept attacking the demons. The man pulled his bowstring and aimed the arrow next to the two demons who were chasing some citizens of the underworld. He and his master were planning to spend their time tasting some new wine. His master was none other than the first prince of the Valencia Empire.

The arrow was coated with resistance magic that allowed it to increase the wind force. The arrows stuck on the demon beast's head.

*****

Next to the arena, Allen was sitting down and observing the situation. He cursed his luck this time. If only he could see someone's status window without touching them, that would be more helpful. By the way, who had the great idea to make the tutorial on the same day he transmigrated?

[ You encounter the second choice that can lead to humanity's glory and destruction. Make your choice.]

[First choice: Save the target of the demonic worshipper, the fourth prince, Mikaela D.Reiner.]

[Rewards: Trust of the demonic worshipper-15%, Light Magic (Blessing Lv2), Humanity extinction:-10%]

[Second choice: Save the future corrupted knight, Alexius]

[Rewards: Trust of the future swordmaster:+40%, Trust of the demonic worshipper +5%, Humanity extinction: -3%]

[Third choice: Run away and retreat]

[Rewards: Humanity extinction:+100%, Eternal death]

[State your choice]

The reward is death. Are they messing around? He wants to save Alexius! But his choice must be based on what he needs right now. Klein was standing next to the Duke while waiting for the order. "I need you to find a woman named Nathenia in a bar near here. The same bar that we used to come here."

Klein hesitated, but he followed the Duke's words. Glancing back a few times, Klein moved as fast as he could. He didn't know what was happening right now. Today was such a long day for him. Many of his questions were left unanswered. Looking back at the Duke, Klein made up his mind. He would find the truth that the man was hiding behind those unfamiliar eyes.

[You made your choice.]

He needs to use the blessing now. The only thing that is strong enough to counter dark magic should be his light magic right now. The man who killed the fourth prince should be in the eighth rank—codename madness.

Only by killing this person can he override everything that happens at the third prince's birthday celebration. But! That incident will show everyone how amazing the third prince is after he gets memories from his past life and kills Madness. 

This is not the time to think about what he should or shouldn't do. His target is still walking through the streets slowly, enjoying himself hunting for prey. It must be lady luck somehow who granted him the blessing. A boy with brown hair suddenly fell into his hands. He saw the information on the holographic screen. The current fourth prince was looking back at him.

[Name: Mikaela D. Reiner

Age: 14

Abilities: Elemental magic (Earth Lv3)

Character Identity: The fourth son of the Emperor of Valencia. He was a side character that no one cared about. It's just a shame that before his light magic can bloom, he dies at the age of 14 against the demonic worshippers...(locked)

Favourability: 0%]

"Duke?" The small boy looked at the calm man with inquiring eyes. He had seen the man at the Capital banquet before. Unlike the coldness he first felt meeting him, this man looked more humane. Allen nodded his head and patted the shivering child. He knew he was being rude, but someone needed to calm this kid down.

The old man who had walked away from him suddenly turned back and smiled gleefully, "Found you, little rabbit."

Allen once again cursed his luck! Lady luck? Goddess of fate or whatever, he gave up. The old man raised his staff and chanted the same black explosion spell. Allen unconsciously raised his right hand and created a shield made up of divine power while chanting the prayer. This is the worst day ever.