“Gyaargh!” Folgen screamed as his chest plate was torn in two, blood spurting from his chest.

Shion looked down at him with a disappointed look. “I expected more from the chief warrior of Falmuth’s Military.” She swung his katana sideways, splattering the blood off it.

“H-How?” Folgen gasped in pain. “The barrier should have weakened you all.” Behind him, he heard the death throes of his soldiers.

The battlefield behind him finally grew silent, and he heard footsteps moving closer to him.

“Pathetic!” Shion declared. “Any self respecting warrior would never rely on tricks like that!”

“I wouldn’t call Folgen a self respecting warrior.” Kanade chuckled as he stepped beside Shion.

“Indeed.” Kyoya added. “Especially if you consider that he had been planning to kill me and absorb my unique skill. Not very respecting.”

“What do you expect?” Shogo grinned, his fists still dripping with blood, which was not his own.

Shion frowned at the state of the two otherworlders.

Kanade noticed and turned to her. “Do you have a problem with us killing them?”

Folgen trembled, as he tried to crawl away. “You’ve… you fools! You betrayed humanity, and cajoled with monsters! Why!?” He cried. “Why’s the curse not working!?”

“Because we broke it, dipshit!” Shogo smashed his foot into Folgen’s face, sending him sprawling.

Shion frowned. “No. Not at all. He’s an enemy of Lord Rimuru and Tempest, he deserves nothing but the most gruesome of deaths.”

“I sense a but.” Kanade tilted his head.

Shion sighed. “Lord Rimuru wants to be allies with the humans.”

“Yeah that’s not gonna fly. This guy needs to die.” Shogo said with a serious expression. “Along with every bastard up there in Falmuth.”

“While I’m not one for needless violence, I do agree with Shogo. Falmuth must pay for what they’ve done.” Kyoya drew his sword, pointing it at Folgen.

The sky suddenly regained it’s bright colour as the Anti magic Barrier vanished. 

“Looks like Sir Benimaru did it.” Shion looked up with a proud expression. “He must have caught the traitor.”

“Well since we’re on the matter of traitors, I say we take Folgen with us. Figure out everything he knows.” Kanade said offhandedly.

“Huh!?” Shogo frowned. “Like hell I’m letting this bastard live.” He stomped on Folgen’s chest. “Who’s the tool now!?” He stomped on him again. “Where’s all that bravado gone!?”

Kanade frowned. “That’s not good.”

Shion looked at him. “Is something the matter?”

THWOOM!

Immediately, Soei appeared right next to Shion, bloodied and battered, with a wound on his shoulder bleeding profusely. He was barely keeping himself awake as it was.

Shion gasped. “Soei! What happened!?” She grabbed him before he could fall on his face. “Where’s your squad?”

“…Sent them… to…Benimaru…” Soei gasped in pain as he spoke. “They’re here… the… holy… saints.” With those words said, he immediately fell unconscious.

“Soei!” Shion yelled as Kanade rushed to her side, placing his hand on Soei. His hand glowed green as he sighed.

“It’s alright. He’s just unconscious. I can heal him, but I’m not sure when he’ll wake.” Kanade said with a relief.

“Who dares!?” Shion yelled, enraged. “Who did this to him!?” The ground trembled from her aura as she clutched at her childhood friend. “Saints. That’s what he said. That they’re here. These saints are responsible. I’ll kill them all.”

Kanade placed a hand on her shoulder. “You might wanna calm down, Shion. Don’t go rushing into battle just yet.”

Shion turned to face Kanade, and apart from her eyes, which were red eerie dots, the rest of her face was completely dark and covered in shadows.

The Aura emanating from her was so powerful, the sky turned slightly darker. “They hurt Soei. Don’t you dare get in my way.”

Kanade sighed, before his face turned neutral, although, his eyes now had a silver glint within them.

Shion’s eyes widened slightly, as the aura emanating from her vanished. She almost looked, taken back, by something.

“Look.” Kanade started. “Soei mentioned that his subordinates already reported to Benimaru. My guess, is that Soei bought them time to escape while telling them to bring information back to Benimaru. Once they were gone, he probably tried to escape too, using [Shadow Movement] and since you were the closest he recognised, he appeared here before he could pass out.”

Shion grimaced at the thought of her friend in such a situation. She sighed.

“Our best course is to go meet Benimaru, especially since the information Soei’s subordinates returned with, will be useful. And we can bring this guy along.” He gestured at Folgen.

Shion nodded. “I’m sorry for losing my temper so easily. Lord Rimuru has had me working on it for a while.” She lifted Soei in a princess carry. “It’s just, seeing him like this…”

“Nah. It’s all cool in the goblin hood.” Kanade laughed.

Shion let out a soft gasp. “How strange. You sound a lot like Lord Rimuru.”

“Is that so?” Kanade smiled as he levitated Folgen off the floor. He turned to the boys. “You guys aren’t coming?”

Shogo and Kyoya stood a distance away from the Kijin and ArchMage. “We don’t have to follow you, you know. You’re not the boss of us.”

Kyoya nodded. “Indeed, after all, even though you released our seal, you stated that you didn’t care what we did.”

“I did, didn’t I?” Kanade tilted his head in remembrance.

“Besides.” Shogo grinned. “These saints sound like a fun fight to be had.”

“Yes. I would like to test my various abilities on a powerful enemy, and these saints fit the bill.” Kyoya smiled.

“You guys go play kingdoms or whatever.” Shogo stretched his arms. “I’ll go crush these saints.” He started leaving, Kyoya following behind him.

Shion turned to Kanade. “Will you not stop them?”

Kanade shook his head. “Nah. It’s their life. I can’t tell them what to do.”

———-

Glenda rode silently on her black steed, not bothering to involve herself in conversation with the two saints.

By her left side, on a white stallion, was a handsome young man with medium-length white hair and emerald green eyes. He had on his Paladin uniform, which he wears improperly with the jacket tied around his waist.

Fritz. Paladin Of Wind.

One of the Captains of the Crusaders, and member of the ten great saints.

On her right side, also on a white stallion, was a red haired man with black eyes. Unlike Fritz he had his uniform on perfectly.

Garde. Paladin Of Fire.

One of the Captains of the Crusaders, and member of the ten great saints.

“Hey, I’ve been thinking.” Fritz said as he rode. “Ever since we noticed the paved road. This feels a little too civilised for monsters.”

“You have a point Fritz. These roads suggest construction, and since they lead to this Tempest, which is a monster nation, it’s obvious who built it. That doesn’t shift away from our mission though.” Garde said. “So for now, keep your thoughts to yourself.”

Glenda narrowed her eyes, as she dragged at the reins, slowing her horse to a stop.

“Hmm?” Garde and Fritz also noticed what had made Glenda to stop moving, also slowing their horses. Behind them the thousands of crusaders stopped their march as well.

Ahead of them, standing in the middle of the road, were two people.

One of them stepped forward. “So! Which one of ya, are the saints?”

Glenda tilted her head.

“These guys are humans right?” Fritz asked.

“Obviously.” Garde said as he moved his horse slightly forward. “And what do you want? As you can see, we’re on a mission…”

“Yeah, we know all about your mission.” The tall dark haired boy said. “We’re here, because you guys are apparently some of the strongest in this world. Not for long though.” He smirked.

“Oh?” Glenda moved her horse forward. “Do you wanna die, little man?”

“Looks like, they’ve already been cajoled by the monsters.” Garde said as he drew his spear. “They seem strong.”

Glenda rolled her eyes, her voice edged with disdain. “These weaklings?”

The shorter boy stepped forward, drawing his sword with a confident grin. “Weaklings, huh? Why don’t we put that to the test?”

“Are you sure you wanna mess with us?” Fritz asked, glancing between the two. “We’re only here for the monsters…”

Click.

Both strangers flinched as the sharp sound of a hammer being cocked rang out. Glenda leveled a sleek, black firearm at them, a smirk playing at her lips.

“You’re otherworlders, aren’t you?”

The two froze, shoulders tense, something resembling a flicker of unease flashing through their bravado.

“Hey, Shogo,” the shorter one muttered.

“I know, Kyoya,” the taller replied.

Then… hysterical laughter. Both boys nearly doubled over.

“She… she has a gun,” Kyoya chuckled, barely able to contain himself. “Oh my, I’m so terrified.”

“Seriously, lady, what do you think that’s gonna do?” Shogo snorted, wiping a tear from his eye.

Kyoya raised his blade, his confidence returning in full force. “I can swing this faster than the speed of sound. My unique skill lets me cut through space itself. You must be insane if you think a mere…”

“Yeah, I don’t really care,” Glenda interrupted flatly.

BANG!

SPLAT!

The sharp report of the gunshot echoed across the quiet road. Shogo’s laughter died in his throat as something warm splashed against his face.

“What the…” he mumbled.

Slowly, he turned his head, just in time to see Kyoya, now missing half of his skull, topple lifelessly to the ground. Blood and fragments of bone stained the earth.

“Huh?”

Shogo looked down at his own body, his clothes now soaked in blood and bits of pink matter. His hands trembled as the reality of the situation finally settled in.

“What…” he croaked, his eyes widening in horror, his pupils dilating.

His face contorted in terror.

“AAAAAARGH!!!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep