Chapter 13. Come, Let Me Loosen Your Bones
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"We don't know when we might need this "The Seven Deadly Sins" to protect Liones, so the sooner we gather them, the better. Fortunately, we've already found one—and he even turned himself in."
Meliodas placed a file in front of Cyd, who sat up straight, studying the man with narrow eyes on the document. Cyd's first impression was that this man resembled a fox—a man who had committed the sin of [Greed].
He had murdered the holy woman who guarded the Fountain of Youth in his quest for immortality and burned the Fairy King's forest to the ground, killing countless fairies.
The crime was heinous, especially given the precarious relationship between the Fairy Race and humans. If the fairies declared war on humanity because of this, it would all be this man's fault.
Of course, this man wasn't left alive for the fairies to deal with—it was because he couldn't be killed. Beheading, hanging, even burning couldn't end his life. This man was the Immortal Ban.
"Wow, this guy looks like a real troublemaker," Cyd remarked.
"I look like a troublemaker too, you know," Meliodas pointed to himself, smiling mischievously. Cyd had the urge to punch him in the face a few times.
"If you're that self-aware, then cause less trouble for me. That way, when you propose to Bartra in the future, I'll be sure to say nice things about you."
"Huh!" Meliodas was stunned, clearly not expecting Cyd to say that.
"Let's go. This guy looks like someone who won't respond to reason." Cyd patted Meliodas, who was still in shock, on the back, slung the [Reforged Pandora] onto his back, and headed for the door.
Meliodas snapped back to reality, slapped his face to bring back his smile, and then ran after Cyd, waving his arms like a schoolboy.
"Leave this guy to me."
"Leave it to you?" Cyd was taken aback. Before he realized it, they had arrived in front of a massive prison. He turned helplessly toward Merlin, who was smiling not far away.
"Next time, give me a heads-up before using spatial teleportation."
"Giving a heads-up isn't a magician's style," Merlin wiggled her fingers. "Besides, traveling is such a hassle. The Captain and you can teleport here in just a few jumps."
"That would cause more trouble than just wasting time."
"Alright, alright, Cyd, you'll have to get used to it eventually," Meliodas said as he patted Cyd's waist and strolled toward the prison with his hands behind his head.
"Meliodas, invite him in a normal way," Cyd called out, worried.
"Don't worry, I'll be just as proper as you."
Though Meliodas looked childish, he was reliable… probably. Cyd half-heartedly waited outside the prison for Meliodas to bring out the man named Ban.
Merlin, meanwhile, had a mysterious smile on her face, crossing her arms as if she was expecting some entertainment.
As Cyd squinted, basking in the sun, the quiet prison suddenly started shaking. Cyd snapped his eyes open.
A jailbreak? Impossible. This was the sturdiest prison in Liones, not to mention that Meliodas was inside, whose combat prowess was formidable.
That left only one explanation.
Boom!
A figure burst through the solid walls like a cannonball, hurtling straight toward Cyd. He quickly realized that this person had been punched out, and it wasn't hard to guess who had done it.
"I didn't bring you back in such a rough manner," Cyd muttered, lifting his hand to catch the figure. But he forgot how fragile human bodies were. When something moving that fast suddenly hits a solid object, the momentum can twist the body apart.
"Ahhh!"
The man Cyd caught let out a strange scream as his body bent at a horrifying angle, with his head and butt colliding.
"Oops, sorry." Reflexively, Cyd dropped the twisted man to the ground, where his broken spine jutted through his abdomen, causing Cyd to flinch.
"Wow, he's probably a goner," Merlin commented, popping her head out to look at the grisly scene, shaking her head in dismay.
"Why not just bury him? He's dead for sure."
"Hey! Don't go around declaring people dead so casually." Injuries that should've been beyond recovery were healing completely within a few breaths. It wasn't time reversing; it was extraordinary regenerative ability.
"Damn, I didn't expect you to actually punch me out of there."
Ban rubbed his neck and looked at Meliodas, who emerged from the prison's destroyed walls. The lifeless look in Ban's eyes suddenly brightened.
"If you come with me, life will never be boring again," Meliodas wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his smile burning brightly. "That'll satisfy you, right?"
"Your offer's not bad~ But sinners like us will never be trusted." A rebellious smile crossed Ban's face, though a hint of sadness seemed to linger in his expression.
"Hmm! That is a big problem, but the guy who caught you just now has already solved that issue."
"Huh, caught? I nearly died just now!" Ban turned around with a dispirited look and glanced at Cyd, who was busy comparing his appearance to a wanted poster.
"Judging by your appearance and your weird regeneration, it looks like you really are Ban, the thief," Cyd confirmed, folding up the wanted poster and extending his right hand to Ban. "Let's get along from now on."
"Ah~ I recognize you. The 'Pure White Hero,' right?"
"Just call me Cyd. To dispel the people's prejudices against you, I'll act as the guarantor overseeing the [Seven Deadly Sins]. But don't feel too restricted. As long as you don't cause me any trouble, you can act as freely as you like."
"Oversee? Trouble?"
Ban raised an eyebrow, his face breaking into a carefree smile as he reached out and shook Cyd's hand.
"Then let's get along~"
"That's great—!"
Before Cyd could finish, he felt an immense force surging from Ban's hand. The calm air suddenly turned into a roaring wind in his ears.
Boom!
The prison, supposedly the strongest in Liones, was shattered as Cyd was hurled through several cells before finally crashing into a load-bearing wall and stopping.
Ban, still in his throwing posture, grinned mischievously.
"Sorry~ I don't think I can get along with someone like you."
"Okay." Embedded in the wall, Cyd spat out the last word. He pulled himself out of the wall, dusting off his clothes as he followed the trail of destruction he had caused.
"Even though it didn't hurt, getting thrown out like that was still surprising."
"Wow~ The body of the Pure White Hero sure is tough." Ban's face showed surprise as he saw that Cyd was merely covered in dust. Ban's eyes narrowed slightly.
"If you think I'll follow you, that's impossible~ We're just not on the same wavelength."
"Alright, alright, looks like we're heading toward another annoying development. How did Bartra phrase it again?" Cyd sighed heavily, putting down the [Reforged Pandora] and taking up a fighting stance toward Ban.
"Let's exchange punches and understand each other."
"You said it, so I'm not responsible, Captain~" Ban asked Meliodas, using the title he wasn't quite used to yet. But then he noticed Meliodas looking at him with a pitiful expression.
"Hey, what's with that—!"
Ban froze, as if a pair of claws from a dark forest had gripped his shoulders, sending a chilling sensation down his spine, making his smile falter.
There really was a pair of hands on his shoulders!
"I heard you're immortal, but even immortals can get stiff, huh?" Cyd grinned as he squeezed Ban's stiff shoulders.
"Even though you won't die, it still hurts."
Ban's eye twitched. No matter how hard he signaled to Meliodas for help, Meliodas simply maintained that pitying expression, even mouthing the words:
[Enjoy it.]
Who could enjoy being broken in halves!