Piece 21 (part 1)

Five years ago, months before I entered elementary school.

"You're very skilled, little lady!! I'm surprised you even know how to deal with multiple opponents at once!!" The voice of praise came from my teacher, who I just met for not even two weeks.

We are on our way walking back to Cytus after doing a pretty long and serious mission. His face looked happy as he praised me, but I can't help but be reminded of what he looked like when he first saw me with blood all over me.

"Thanks, Master Althorn. I'm just following everything that you've taught me." Six-year-old me returned the compliment, and that teacher of mine looked quite happy by his teachings.

"Still… To be so easily taking the lives of others…"

"It's wrong. It feels wrong, but I know it's right." My words startled him a little, and he let out a sigh.

"It is indeed the right thing, Little Lady. However, I'm just surprised that you didn't even question it first before doing it."

"I had no time to be questioning it. People are about to get hurt."

"That is true. It's my fault for putting you in that situation, so I will take responsibility and continue teaching you. Listen to me very carefully, Milly." Master Althorn said to me as he stopped his walk, and I turned around because he suddenly looked so serious.

"Human lives are incredibly precious, but there are always times when those lives are nothing but parasitic. In those situations, removing the parasite is always going to be the most logical thing. However, I still must ask you to still use your heart whenever you make those kinds of decisions."

Uncle… Master Althorn's words rang inside my head once more, and I closed my eyes as I absorbed his words fully.

"Because, included in those parasitic lives, are also people who are trying their best to live as well."

These bandits are still people. They are people who are not affiliated with any country, and they are living on the open land that is not in a territory of any country. They are free, but their lives are not always filled with freedom.

I've learned about it as well. The reason behind why bandits are doing horrifying things is because they are doing it for money. They are an independent group of people who are trying their best to live without being controlled by a corrupt government, and they are only trying their best to enjoy their lives.

But, this… This is just so out of hand.

Even so, I'm not entirely sure my head is at the right state at that moment. After all, I just had my very first romantic moment shattered.

Then I had a bunch of knights coming at me and called me a demonic reincarnation. All because a twelve year old child called Jeremy Horus reported me for being too strong.

It's all shit. It's all a bunch of shitteries happening.

But, the worst bullshit has got to be the events in front of me.

When Roy took out that item and pushed the button, he knew exactly what would happen to everyone in that room. He, himself, may have prepared for the explosion, but everybody else in that room were purposely made unaware.

Including... me.

He was this close to confessing to me.

And not even five minutes later, he tried to kill me.

I don't... understand it.

"Roy... why?" My hoarse voice was sent ahead, confusing the four individuals who were in front of me.

The two sides stopped fighting completely and turned their attention to me. They noticed that I'm fully unharmed by the explosion just now, and they seem to be taking my presence with caution.

"What's this? You had your girlfriend with you the entire time?" The bandit wielding daggers who were previously facing the division commander showed concern as he turned his full attention to me, but Roy stepped in front of him to stop him.

The bandit turned confused, but Roy only stepped closer towards my direction. His expression showed a huge amount of apology and regret, and I realized he never wanted this to happen.

"Milly. I never get the chance to tell you that I genuinely liked you." Roy opened with those words, and it genuinely felt like there's needles stabbing my chest at the moment.

"I'm sure you remembered the events that happened years ago. How you and I… stood against the four of them. We were so outnumbered, and I got beaten up badly that I couldn't even walk for a few days after that." Roy then told the story about our past, and I squinted my eyes at him.

All of this… is about revenge?

"You guessed it, Milly. It was all to kill that cowardly bastard, who keeps cowering behind his followers and people." Roy then pointed his finger towards Jeremy, who looked mighty afraid at everything that was happening.

"I've wanted him dead for so long. There was nothing more in this world that I wanted the most aside from that. After leaving the school, I realized that I needed to get stronger, to find anyone who can assist me to achieve that goal.

That's when I encountered the Green Serpents, a group of unaffiliated mercenaries that was outside the territory of Horus Dukedom. They showed me their interest in taking out a certain member from the Horus family as well, so they offered their aid. And lucky for me, the one they are targeting just happens to be the same as mine."

The bandits… are also targeting Jeremy? An elementary school brat?

I see... it's definitely possible. Jeremy, even though he's young, he is still the eldest son of the Count family. He may not be the direct heir to the Horus Dukedom since his father is second in line, but he is still an important member of the family. His death will mean so much for certain people.

But, to go this far just because of being bullied… I should've expected it. Roy gave up far too easily on the fight that happened in the classroom. 

Or perhaps, he was only testing the waters? Because clearly, this is the real fight that he was preparing. This is the real moment that he wanted. A chance to truly get rid of Jeremy.

"As such, I'm hoping for your understanding. I know you hated him just as much as I do, Milly. So, please understand." Roy begged me once more, but my decision has been very firm since the beginning.

Roy noticed my silence and my cold glare, and the smile he was wearing disappeared right away.

"Milly… please."

He begged once more, but I'm still silent. I don't wish to answer him, because I know that he is right. I, too, wanted Jeremy to suffer. But, not like this. Not by involving so many people to get hurt.

"Then, what about me?"

My hoarse voice spoke once more, and Roy opened his eyes widely.

My gaze only stared down at him with disgust, fully knowing that everything that he said just now had been all about him. Not once did he ever mention why he betrayed me, or why he attempted to kill me.

After everything we've been through... How could you?

"I... never expected that you'd walk out alive." He uttered with such regret, and I've long realized that it was never his intention to let me live.

Because once all of this is over, once all the knights and Jeremy have died, he will need to clear all witnesses from ever telling the story. That includes someone like me, who had a great sense of justice in my bones. And Roy definitely knows that I will report him if he allows me to walk away.

If all of this was a long term plan, then killing me has always been on his agenda. After all, he was using me to lure Jeremy.

Roy is... unforgivable.

"I've made up my mind. Jeremy is one thing for being a spoiled idiot child..." My words began to grow heavier by the second, and everyone on the battlefield realized the change in the atmosphere.

The magic in my body fluctuates powerfully, causing a great disturbance with the flow of wind. As my magical pressure rises, the world around me starts to react. Wind gusts are flowing all over the place, and the pebbles around my feet began to be lifted from the ground.

The knights and bandits realized that my presence is not that a twelve year old should ever emit, and they became wary that my existence could be a threat.

The bandit leader who was beside Roy turned his whole body to face me, and his expression showed nothing but excitement upon seeing a powerful foe. The knight general was not as excited, but he turned more concerned as he covered the boy behind him from my presence.

My cold blue eyes that are now shining stared sharply towards the confused and bewildered Roy, and he couldn't believe his eyes for even a single moment.

My magical pressure has easily made me become the greatest presence in this whole battlefield. My wrath is not to be ignored, and Roy knows that.

"Master. Focus all our attention on her." Roy uttered to the bandit leader right beside him, and the bald bandit wielding two daggers only laughed loudly.

"You're right! Men!! Ignore the knights and focus all your eyes on her!!" The bandit leader shouted to the whole battlefield, and his voice was heard clearly.

All the bandits that are present on the collapsed castle site have turned their focus towards me, and they have completely left the knights. I realized that my enemies are only the bandits, and the knights don't seem to be hostile towards me at all.

Still... Can I really just fight them? I certainly don't wish to kill them, but can I fight this many of them with that in mind?

Ah... all of this is so confusing.

"You've caused trouble for too many people, Roy…" My cold voice once again echoed, and Roy closed his eyes as he accepted my answer.

"Kill her." Roy's words were heard by the bandit leader, and the bald bandit began to increase his magical pressure as well.

I noticed that this bandit leader isn't someone weak. He has pushed the division commander into such a state, so there's no chance he is a pushover. I made the right call taking this matter seriously.

I lifted my hand and took out a long black sword from my magical storage ring. The sword arrived in my hand, and I pulled the scabbard out to reveal the red blade that is underneath it.

Seeing the red blade, the bandit leader turned wildly excited.

"Oh, this is about to be fun!!" The bald bandit with the daggers said excitedly, and I began rushing forward.

FWOOOSSSHHH!!!!!!!

I dashed straight towards Roy, since I knew that my target would be him. And seeing that I'm aiming for his employer, the bald bandit also dashed straight towards me.

I lifted my sword for a powerful swing at him, and he lifted both his daggers to attack me as well. And before long, our blades clashed into each other--

FTANNGGG!!!!!

FTAAANNNGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!

… What!?

All of a sudden, a shadow just appeared right between us.

The shadow grew rapidly from the ground in front of me, and it quickly grabbed hold of the sword that I'm swinging so powerfully. I was widely shocked because my sword was held so strongly, but then I realized the appearance of the person in front of me looked so familiar.

The white hair that is waving madly due to the powerful wind force. The swirling and burning shadow magic that is surrounding his casual commoner's clothes, proving his capability to use such a godly ability. His bare hands and fingers that are holding the red blade I'm holding, as well as the two dual daggers that the bandit leader was holding.

And finally, the saddened face that I have never seen him wear, considering he always smiled at me whenever we looked at each other.

D-Dad...?