Chapter 12: This is how I punched a foreign madman

20 June 422

The full moon was up in the sky by the time we were close to Erindor.

The walk back home had been as tiring as the one we had to endure the first time around, yet possibly just a little more straining because of how exhausting the day had been.

Encountering Satella, as much as it sounded dreadful from the perspective of Subaru, ended up being something of a boon, the saner personality of the Witch being quite the friendly individual to share a meaningful chat with, but also a good ally for the eventual situations about the Witch Cult.

It wasn't a secret that the group wasn't lead by the sealed woman, but the fact the leader, the Witch of Vainglory, was as powerful if not much more than Satella herself was something to not scoff at.

I sighed as we managed to go through another uphill section of the road, this time my eyes finally graced with the sight of the city that I had left behind earlier that morning. There were the soft lights coming from the windows of the various building, the garrison moving around to change guard and...

...

Was that a fire?

I blinked and felt a sense of dread rise within my chest as I did spot a particular zone of Erindor on fire, parts of the wall nearby either shattered or damaged brutally.

It was right where my mansion was sited and, ignoring the calls from the guards of the entourage, inciting Lime to rush towards the sieged town as fast as the Earth Dragon could.

The men manning the wall-section with the doors noticed my face as I came closer to the entrance, yelling for the opening of the only means of entering the city and giving me access to the dreadful aftermath of what seemed to have been a siege.

"M-Mayor, Ser Orestes is organizing the relief effort for the terrible situation. H-he is by your mansion, sir."

I nodded at the helpful young guard that was waiting by the doors and I continued to follow a precise path to the place I had to visit. I could see the weary man coordinating the efforts to deal with the fire and he waved back at me right as I approached him.

"Mayor, E-Erindor was attacked- the soldiers took the prince and-"

What? What about Wilhelm?

"T-They took the kids too, sir."

...No. Abso-fucking-lutely not!

"Who took them? What soldiers?"

Orestes hesitated just a moment and then sighed gravely. "Gusteko, sir. Someone powerful out-matched Wilhelm-san and... our entire force is deployed to deal with the aftermath of the disaster."

I gritted my teeth in barely-veiled fury and nodded. "Ser, were they directed for their nation?"

He opened his mouth, yet the answer eluded him for a while. Then he spoke clearly. "I think they mentioned something about Viscount Misère. He is a noble with a large mansion by the border."

"You think they will spend time there before returning back to Gusteko?"

"It's possible..." I needed answers goddammit! "B-But what are you planning, John. There aren't enough men to prepare for a rescue attempt-"

"That is why I am going solo." I stated calmly, still riding the Earth Dragon.

"Absolutely no, sir. You need to be there-"

"You are doing well, Orestes. I know that this sounds like if I am washing my hands from the responsibility but I have a duty to get them all back."

He stared for few more moments, gauging my determination and then... "Sir, if the odds are against you, promise me that-"

"I will be careful, Ser. Do keep the good work and I will be there by tomorrow morning."

I ignored once again the yells trying to call me out and I rushed towards the doors again, this time chasing for the mud-road that led to the border of the region. I knew that going alone was a suicidal thing and that whoever had organized this serious siege had to have been powerful enough to beat Wilhelm but... I had a plan. Like always...

Just as the city left my sight, I heard some rustling in the bushed and trees nearby and I slowly saw shadows following a parallel path as mine. Soon the soft light of the moon revealed whom had decided to follow me for this little 'trip' and I sighed as I saw a familiar caped individual leading the force.

"It would seem like you need our services, Mayor Bukharin."

"It would seem so, Mark."

The man groaned at being nicknamed like that and I did notice some amused snorts from the other members of the group. We were around twenty, maybe thirty if some were still away for me to see.

"Gusteko wouldn't launch a daring attack without some powerful individual giving support to this motion. It is a higher member of their society leading the force-"

"That I did realize quite recently, Markus, can you tell me something that could actually be considered useful for our current situation?"

"It isn't a General, nor a normal Noble that pushed for this situation. The presence of Prince Fourier so close by the border, an intriguing character of the Lugnican politics with his eccentric and odd ways, his deeds caught the attention of someone you should tread carefully."

I frowned at that frail warning and decided to poke the hornet nest. "Really? How careful?"

The leader of the Assassins sighed gravely. "The Holy King, Prince Ivan-

-Prince Ivanovich, Supreme Ruler of Gusteko and Holy Savior of the World!"

Fourier flinched at the over-joyous tone of the Mad Prince of Gusteko. He had heard many rumors of the mysterious leader of the Kingdom in the North, but he had never seen an image of him in his whole life. It was rare for the Holy Kings of Gusteko to leave their capital, San Petronius, without an urgent reasoning behind it.

Yet the young man was here, smiling widely as his copper red hair partly covered his odd eyes (silver with small bits of golden) and he continued with his pompous tones and speeches.

The blond was silent, knowing that a wrong word now was going to warrant some serious punishment on him if what had happened to his bodyguard.

Wilhelm van Astrea might have not been as powerful as years ago, but the damages he had sustained against the dark-haired woman that was keeping a close eye on him was terrifying. Two strange daggers and the black-purple theme of her clothes were a sign that... this wasn't a simple guard.

The two boys, Friz and Hans, managed to avoid any serious issues with Ivan, the prince only glaring at them when they tried to talk back at him. It was small things but it seemed to irk the ruler a lot for some reason. Could it be that he was annoyed by the presence of Demi-humans? Then why would he take them with him?

"But let us interrupt those tales of glory and focus on the deed at hand." He swiftly moved in front of Fourier, chuckling as he pointed ridiculously at him. "This is my little hostage, Fourier Lugnica... or Rugnica."

There was a brief snort. "Seriously, I should deal with those differences of language between our nations. Maybe I should go back home and burn some more silly books and who knows, maybe it will work this time around."

Utterly insanity. That was what he was staring at as the young man the moved his attention back to the rest of the room, his spectators.

"But I have to once more thank you for your kind offer of housing our tired entourage, Viscount Misére. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what we would have done."

The aforementioned man, the very individual Fourier had met back few years ago about... the marriage proposal that his current wife had advanced to the young prince... and ended up with him faking a relationship with Ferris, the cat-boy finding this very story hilarious even after so much had passed ever since.

The owner of the mansion couldn't do much but nod at the 'compliment' as his body was roped to a chair near where his wife was tied too. Tiriena hadn't changed much, maybe looking a little more scared because of the situation but she did seem to recognize him when he was brought in the room.

The situation was far from optimal... but he could work something out of it. The Mad Prince had yet to honestly advance something that could be considered threatening or some instance of a limited time of staying there... where a rescue team could arrive and help them out of there.

"A-ni-way~! Miss Elsa, how is our little prisoner. Wilhelm-san looked feisty when you started to play with him."

The woman gave him a neutral smile. "He understood that he needed to be quiet and he will not disturb you any long-"

"Excellent-no, outstanding! Really Elsa, if you weren't this obstinate in refuting my offers and having the backing of your silly Mama, I might be ravishing you right now." What was supposed to be a 'flattering reply' faced a glare from the woman, surprising Fourier as she did seem strong enough to take Ivan down.

But would have it mattered if the guards would have then attacked her? And who was 'Mama'?

"My fellow prince, Fourier." The blond found his shoulder grasped tightly by the Holy King. "Can I call you Fouri? Or Rier? Even Fou-Fou, I mean, I think our relationship would need some improvement for the last one but- I think I will set with Fourier. I don't want to sound-" His hands squeezed harshly the joints, eliciting a yelp from the Lugnican prince. "Pushy~!"

"You are funny. Or at least that is what I heard about you." The Gustekian leader hummed mirthfully. "But I don't know how to bring that 'fun' out. You see, I am an expert of the Science behind the Fun, but I am also the most ignorant about it and that is why I don't know how to work out this silly hostage situation."

"W-What?"

His smiled widened."'What' what? You mean the what what or the what what what?"

What is wrong with you!?

"Oh, you mean what is wrong with me?" Fourier paled at the precise repetition of his thought. "You see, my friendo, I might be insane to a certain point, but my insanity is actually the sanest way to deal with the insane burden of... the insanely sane power I was bestowed by a trickster of a fox being this unique and-"

"No."

... "Beg your pardon, Fou-Fou, I think I heard you saying 'No', but I can't understand if it is 'No, I am in love with Crusch Karsten and I am waiting for the good time to confess to her' or..."

There was a strange pause at his momentum, Ivan frowning while looking away, seemingly in a thoughtful silence before giving off an awed expression. "I can't get it! I CAN'T GET IT!" He exclaimed, arms shooting up in the air as he did a small dance before grasping Fourier's shoulders again.

"Tell me, Fou-Fou, what were you thinking? What is this thing or person I can't understand right now?!"

But as Fourier slowly formulated his answer, the door of the room slammed open, the guards there and the female Assassin prepared to strike the intruder and... Fourier felt his hopes rising at the sight of a furious John Bukharin, coated men showing daggers and crossbows behind him.

Ivan blinked, then gestured for his guards to drop their stances and looked wide-eyed at the leading figure of the new group. "Who are you, oh stranger?"

But his friend didn't stood still, he started to slowly walk towards the young noble in front of the blond. "I am the Mayor of Erindor, John Bukharin."

The answer seemed to leave the Holy King even more perplexed and then the following question was asked. "Wait, why are you approaching me?"

"So I can beat the crap out of you, jerk." The foul reply surprised Fourier, this being the first time seeing the Mayor this much angry at someone in particular, but the Supreme Ruler of Gusteko failed to catch that this situation was going to end badly for him.

"Sure? But can you tell me more about your thoughts, like why I can't see them or-"

BAM!

THUD!

"Ouch! What was that for, you meanie maniac?!" The Gustekian yelped as he fell on the ground, his hands going to his nose as some blood started to flow out of it.

"This was the first step for your free ticket to a world of pain, punk!"

And all hell broke lose...