RGS Volume 3 Part 22

As the fake shouted loudly, six thugs approached them with swords. Although Abel, Melmond, and the butler were frozen with fear when they saw someone holding a sword approach them, the two in front remained unfazed, continuing their conversation that seemed detached from the tension.

“Then allow me to face at least five of them.”

Perhaps due to the desperation in Kin’s voice, Karas reluctantly granted permission for some of them.

“One.”

Feeling unfairly treated, Kin bit his lower lip in frustration as he raised his sword. The opponent who had already approached was about to strike down on him, and it seemed like his head would be split open in his delayed response, but the next moment, Kin’s sword blocked the attack with a swift motion.

It was a quick response that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye. However, no one saw Kin’s performance. Instead, the sound coming from the opposite side drew everyone’s attention. It was the sound of a slight breeze of wind and the sound of something being cut. Even though it was a small sound, people could only remember the sound because their eyes couldn’t follow it.

Since they couldn’t see when the person who was swinging the sword towards Karas had their chest split open, or when the person approaching from the side had their head cut off, they realized that the two had died in an instant only after hearing the sound of bodies falling to the ground. However, even that was overshadowed by Karas’ next move.

Swoosh—

The sound of the wind moving as the sword swung echoed loudly in Abel’s ears like thunder. There was a reason why the sound was unusually loud to him, who was standing still without being able to move in this situation. It was because Karas’ body seemed to turn towards him, and at that moment, his sword seemed to pass above Abel’s head.

No, it just seemed like that. What was visible was just the shadow of the sword covering him. To others, it seemed as if Abel’s neck had been cut off, as the sword’s edge came so close to him that there was barely a finger’s width of space left. However, it wasn’t just the sword cutting through the air.

Something hanging on the tip of the long sword tore and burst out. It was one of the thugs’ necks which was halfway severed, who had reached out to grab Abel. A waterfall-like spray of blood gushed out from the partially severed neck. However, thanks to the hand that suddenly pulled him, Abel managed to avoid getting blood splattered on him.

He was pushed aside and stumbled, unable to see Karas passing by right in front of him. It was only when he managed to regain his posture that he heard someone gasping for breath and realized that Karas was swinging his sword at Melmond and the butler. Of course, it only seemed to appear that way again.

Like Abel, Melmond and the butler were also untouched by the sword. They only saw the sword that brushed past their ears or heard the sound of the sword rising up beside their arms. They realized too late that the eerie moment had taken the life of the person who was about to strike them from behind.

However, they had no time to realize that the warm liquid dripping down their necks and backs was their opponent’s blood. The sound of their pounding hearts occupied their bodies, even stopping their breath. They should have been relieved that they were alive, but the shock of Karas’ sword grazing up in front of their noses did not disappear easily. Moreover, there was something they couldn’t understand.

How could Karas move so fast?

It was as if he had prepared in advance, accurately swinging his sword towards where the enemies were. And each time, he cut them down with a single stroke. It was hard to believe that the five thugs died in the span of a few breaths.

The people who were watching nearby also felt the same. Why did the five thugs, who had rushed in all at once, fall to the ground with their throats slit and chests torn apart in an instant? What the hell happened?

They kept repeating the only question that came to their frozen minds, and then they realized that the fight was not over yet.

“Ugh!”

A person drenched all over in blood, collapsed to the ground and let out a groan. Covered in wounds except for his arm holding the sword, he was one of the thugs who had faced off against Kin. It was a miracle that he was still alive, as his blood soaked the whole floor. However, despite his collapsed appearance suggesting that he would soon stop breathing, there was someone who didn’t hope for that.

“Get up.”

Kin commanded briefly, bringing the tip of his sword to the thug’s chin. The thug, who looked like he was about to die, trembled and looked up.

“S-Save me…”

“Get up and fight more. You’re the only share I have.”

It was Kin’s usual stern tone, but Abel’s group could sense the resentment hidden within it. And also the fact that he was intentionally keeping the opponent alive. Everyone was at a loss for words as they watched Kin encourage the opponent, feeling it was a waste to kill him.

If Karas hadn’t stepped forward, Kin would have been the one to forcibly lift the opponent.

“Kin.”

Kin flinched and turned his eyes when Karas called his name in annoyance.

“My share is barely the interest.”

Whether it was an excuse or a protest, Karas finally pointed to the other thugs who stood still like statues, seemingly bothered.

“One-third.”

“Thank you.”

Kin bowed his head in joy at the increase in his share significantly. The conversation between the two was similar to before, but this time no one laughed. As soon as Kin raised his head, he plunged his sword vertically into the body of the fallen thug on the ground.

Thud.

The dull sound of flesh being pierced resounded clearly in everyone’s ears. The thug, who had been stabbed in the stomach, twitched a few times with startled eyes before ceasing all movement. Just as he could not believe his own death until the very end, the onlookers also couldn’t believe their eyes.

If no one had interfered, it seemed like they would continue to focus on just one place. However, the second sound that rang out made the onlookers’ eyes move. When they first heard it, they didn’t notice, however, the second time, it was a chilling sound that sent shivers down their spines. A reality that turned their previously unknown fear upside down.

Swish.

Karas was stepping forward, dragging the tip of his sword.

There were still dozens of people alive on the deck. However, it felt like there were only two people alive based on the sound. Karas and Kin seemed to be the only ones breathing properly, with their blood-stained swords extended. Severed bodies, blood covering the floor of the deck, the stench of blood filling the air.

The daily life that had been the same for the two of them for the past six years was unfamiliar to others. Even those who had witnessed battles before found it difficult to get accustomed to the sight of people who had just been breathing a moment ago turning into mere chunks of flesh.

Among the onlookers, there was only one person familiar with such situations. The fake 1st Battalion Commander, who was the only survivor, as Karas had said.

However, he was now trembling like a winter branch, more contemplative than Abel. They were always the ones who created the familiar scene of slaughter. Impersonating the position of the 1st Battalion Commander, he had enthusiastically wielded his sword with the group. Their opponents were ordinary people who couldn’t even resist properly.

Even just looking at themselves holding the swords, they had pursued those who fled in fear and pinned them down as if hunting prey and stabbed their backs. Perhaps lucky for not encountering any worthy opponents to fight properly in the past few years, they had been filled with confidence.

We are strong. The emperor’s army fighting in actual wars is no different from us.

At times, they had even boasted, perhaps under the influence of alcohol, that they might be even stronger. Thus, they had never expected the outcome in front of them. And only to two people at that. It was unbelievable.

Despite having many times more comrades and underlings, they couldn’t even properly swing their swords even once. It seemed as though they knew exactly where the attacks were coming from and moved their bodies in advance.

Even if they clashed swords by luck, they easily pushed them away as if dealing with a child. Amidst his bewildered “Huh? Huh?” his realization that he was now the only one left hit him. Holding an expensive sword adorned with jewels, but he couldn’t raise his sword high.

The faces of the comrades who had committed murder, stolen wealth, and engaged in all sorts of wicked deeds together, were now separated from their bodies and rolling around on the floor. When he saw the corpses of the people they had killed, a suffocating frustration overwhelmed him. Just moments ago, his mind had been filled with disbelief, but now all that was left was uncertainty and questions.

“You, who, who are you…”

There couldn’t possibly be someone this strong. Is it really possible for someone to be so skilled in fighting?

“You should know.”

Kin replied in a deep voice and added.

“You claim to be the 1st Battalion Commander, but you don’t know me.”

The fake hastily swallowed his astonishment that was about to come out, but he couldn’t hide his widened eyes.

Could this person be related to the emperor’s army?

He quickly racked his brain. No, if he knew the real 1st Battalion Commander, he would have taken action immediately. Otherwise, he might just be testing him. In this situation, disguising his identity might be the only way to save his life. After all, the one who killed the Emperor’s army was no different from a traitor. The fake responded to his words with a trembling voice.

“Well, um, do you happen to have fought in His Majesty’s army before?”

Despite courageously uttering the words, his insides were filled with anxiety. If his lies were exposed, he might become a criminal and be dragged off to the real emperor’s army. If that happened, it wouldn’t just be him who would pay the price, but his entire household. However, the fake 1st Battalion Commander quickly suppressed his anxiety.

No, this guy is just testing me. I have to be assertive to survive.

So, he casually said, disregarding him.

“I don’t know you. I don’t remember every insignificant soldier.”

Kin silently laughed, revealing a rare hint of emotion in his confident words. It was a sight that his comrades had never seen before, almost like a statue coming to life, but unfortunately, there was no one to be surprised at the moment. Instead, Abel’s group only backed away nervously, casting glances at him. Although they hadn’t been traveling together for long, his laughter felt eerie to them.

“Well then, who do you remember? If you don’t remember the soldiers who trusted only you and charged into battle with you on the battlefield, then who do you remember?”

“What? That’s none of your…!”

Thud!

Kin forcefully plunged his sword into the corpse in front of him. Kin still pointed at the corpse with a smiling face.

“This guy is also one of your insignificant soldiers, so I guess you also can’t remember him.”

With his words, he twisted the sword and pulled it out. The chest of the already half-decapitated dead man was sliced by the enticing sword. Soon, along with the red flesh, the internal organs flowed out from the open chest. Most of the onlookers turned their heads, but only the fake managed to barely hold back with a stiff expression.

However, he couldn’t help but frown at the sight of Kin extracting the heart with the sword. He threw the dead man’s organs, still dripping with blood, under the fake’s feet.

The heart fell with a thud, and the fake flinched and moved to the side.

“It is the heart of a man you don’t even remember, so why don’t you pick it up and throw it to the fish.”

Thud, thud, thud.

One after another, other organs fell in front of the fake.

Thud.

In the end, the fake, who had turned pale, evaded several steps in a row and screamed.

“S-stop it! Such barbarism….”

“You must have witnessed such barbaric acts countless times. Your enemies mutilating your comrades and feeding them to animals. Those were the acts deliberately done in front of your eyes, weren’t they?”

“….”

“Well, even if you saw your comrades’ bodies being torn apart while they were still alive, you wouldn’t remember since they were just insignificant soldiers, would you? Then, do you remember this?”

Kin, with a smile disappearing from his face, muttered in a low voice.

“When you rushed into the enemy lines risking your life to save your captured comrade. There was someone who came to save a fool like you. You haven’t forgotten, have you? It was the benefactor who saved your life.”

“Well, I, I…”

“The greedy His Majesty who didn’t give you anything. That’s him! The one who saved your life was His Majesty, who was only seventeen years old!”

Kin now glared at the fake with fierce eyes. The fake trembled and retreated to the end of the ship, trembling, unable to withstand his gaze. Kin, with his hand gripping the sword tightly, seemed as if he was about to attack the fake, however, he managed to restrain himself.

“Whether you are the 1st Battalion Commander or not, it doesn’t matter. But insulting His Majesty and the soldiers who died on the battlefield is unforgivable.”

His deep voice resonated through the deck, chilling the hearts of those who heard it. Of course, there were those who didn’t listen properly. Karas was only looking at one person since he had killed his share. After killing all the b*stards he wanted to kill, his gaze naturally turned to him.

To him, all he could see was Abel’s face, who had turned pale as if shocked by the horrific sight. Abel looked like he was about to collapse, but he managed to breathe and didn’t faint. He was just staring blankly at Kin, who was talking about the emperor.