Chapter 54

Richard casually discarded the blood-stained crossbow bolt onto the ground, finally turning his gaze towards the First Guard, who were barely able to contain their impatience. Fixing his eyes on Tuku, whose eyes were bloodshot with urgency, he reprimanded, "What's the rush? Are you eager to throw your lives away?"

"If thou art not foolish, thou canst see that there hath been a manifest attempt upon mine own life. The ones responsible for this deed are undoubtedly 'warriors of sacrifice'—individuals fully devoted, or wholly ensnared by brainwashing. These are the most perilous sort in battle, perchance the fiercest amongst the thieves and riders who do hide among their ranks.

Though we may not have perceived it ere now, to rush in at this moment would be sheer folly. Thou art strong, and that is the very reason I did hire thee, but to charge into a hut so small without the cost of at least a couple of lives shall not lead us to vanquish them all.

Of course, this doth not imply that I fear for thy safety. Nay, it is merely that I would not see thy deaths come to pass in vain."

"But, Master Richard, we can't just sit idly by and watch them inside while we do nothing!" Tuku exclaimed, his agitation rising.

"What thinkest thou that we do nothing?" Richard replied, "There be many ways to slay. 'Tis not always required to charge in armed with weapons to take lives. If they be shut within, refusing to emerge, the best course is fire. Set the whole hut ablaze and turn them to charred remains—that is far more satisfying than to merely let their blood be spilled."

 "But…" Tuku started, clearly struggling with the implications.

"I wot what thou wishest to say," Richard interjected, glancing at Tuku, who hesitated to point out the rain. "Yes, 'tis raining—a plentiful deluge, which doth oft hinder flames from burning under such conditions."

"But…" Richard lifted his gaze to the thatched hut, narrowing his eyes into slits. He spoke slowly, "But… in this world, nothing is absolute!"

"Hmm?" Tuku was taken aback, as were the other members of the First Guard. They were caught between confusion and a gnawing sense of foreboding about Richard's intentions.

At this moment, Richard's eyes narrowed further, becoming mere slits.

"Wouldst thou care to see flames that can burn even in the rain?" Richard suddenly posed the question, directed at both his guards and the individuals hiding in the hut.

The First Guard members gaped in astonishment, unsure how to respond.

Richard let out a soft chuckle, disregarding them entirely as he focused intently on the thatched hut obscured by the rainfall. In the next moment, he slowly raised his unharmed right hand, aiming at the location of the hut, as enigmatic incantations flowed swiftly from his lips.

An invisible wave emanated from him, stirring a deep-seated fear within the hearts of the First Guard members.

Magical elements surged forth from Richard's mana core within, converting into flows of energy. One flow, two flows, three flows…

Meanwhile, Melissa, from the merchant caravan, had just arrived on horseback, dismounting as she approached the hut, with Mular and Alex trailing behind her…

Over a dozen streams of magical energy orchestrated within Richard's body, flowing methodically and harmoniously, escalating in speed until reaching its zenith.

Beneath a nearby tree, Lucy, the little maid, was still deep in her studies with her eyes closed, oblivious to the events unfolding around her. She quietly recited, "The phenomenon of giving two different objects an electric charge through friction is called… triboelectrification…"

"…Saya!" Richard concluded the final syllable of the incantation, his palm quivering slightly as the energized magical flow surged through his veins, racing to the tip of his fingers, and then bursting forth from his palm.

The invisible magical flow met the external world, undergoing a miraculous transformation, rapidly expanding into dark red fireballs composed purely of blazing flames.

One fireball, two fireballs, three fireballs, four fireballs…

A total of twelve fireballs! Twelve explosive fireballs with the power comparable to small grenades!

Richard's magical reservoir had been completely drained, with all its elemental energy converted into the fireballs that cascaded toward the small hut dozens of meters away.

The explosive fireballs zipped through the air with impressive speed, striking the closed wooden door with tremendous force. They effortlessly pierced a large hole and entered the structure, followed by the second, third, fourth…

By the time the twelfth fireball reached the thatched hut, an ear-splitting explosion reverberated from within, resembling the detonation of two hundred barrels of gunpowder. Everyone present felt a jolt, their ears ringing painfully from the sound. Visibly, the rooftop of the hut was propelled upward by the force of the flames.

Inside the hut, it was as if a volcano had erupted, unleashing endless torrents of fire that spewed forth from the walls and windows. Within ten seconds, accompanied by a thunderous crack, the entire structure collapsed, consumed by a roaring inferno.

The conflagration ascended into the sky, transforming the falling rain into steam. Members of the First Guard, positioned dozens of meters away, could feel the terrifying heat radiating from the inferno, the metal of their armor growing uncomfortably warm.

As for the fates of those inside the hut, no one dared to ask, for the outcome was painfully obvious—most surely, they had been reduced to ashes in the initial blast.

Richard slowly lowered his raised hand, gazing at the blazing ruin in silence for a moment before turning back to the First Guard, a half-smile playing on his lips as he asked, "So, are you seeing flames that can burn in the rain now?"

The entire First Guard collectively shuddered, their eyes widening in disbelief and their mouths agape, overwhelmed by a blend of shock and fear.

Though they had borne witness to Richard's many bizarre abilities, this spectacle left them utterly speechless. For the first time, they felt they were genuinely grasping who Richard, the second heir to the Baron's castle, truly was.

Is this really a person? Or perhaps… a sorcerer? The legendary wizard?

But wait… wouldn't a legendary wizard typically avoid letting any common person witness their magic? To keep their secrets hidden, they would often eliminate any witnesses to their spells…

So what about Master Richard…?

Eyes flickering with confusion, the members felt their minds spiral into chaos, until Tuku was the first to clear his head.

With a loud thud, Tuku stepped forward, kneeling on one knee in front of Richard, offering his knight's sword with both hands, a grave expression on his face as he said, "Master Richard, please accept my fealty! I, Tuku Bastek Harms, hereby vow to serve you for life, without any regrets…"

The other members of the First Guard paused before quickly realizing what was happening; in the next moment, they followed suit, kneeling on one knee as well, proclaiming in unison, "Master Richard, please accept my fealty! I, Hughes Culys, Philip Barkes, Matt Tangur…!"