" Your blade has broken, Hero Takumi. Yet you still raise your fists. Do you truly intend to duel me, a Knight, with nothing more than your bare hands? "
He was right. I was being foolish.
Lowering my fists, I turned my body and looked toward one of the guards that were off to the sidelines. I approached him steadily after turning my back on Allen. I knew he wouldn't strike me if I wasn't ready—he had a modicum of decency. My steps were heavy, and my overall vibe couldn't be any less intimidating. Even I knew that.
" W-What do you want?! Back up! "
The guard I had gotten close to stammered as he backed away, raising his sword again.
* FLASH—SMASH *
My fist sprang forward in a downward arcing hook. I had completely spun the jaw of the guard and sent him crashing into the floor in one blow. Outrage started, but when everyone had witnessed what I was doing, they quickly quieted down.
" How...barbaric. "
The King spoke as I ripped the gauntlets off the knocked-out man, adorning them. They were plated armor, nothing of any true craftsmanship or quality beyond the expected baseline that Mundul put into all the gear he made.
" Now I'm ready. "
* JUMP *
I leaped into the air toward the Knight Allen and pulled my fist back. Golden Aura continued to spin around my body vigorously as I packed the energy tightly into my right fist. Every intention in my body had been to blow off this man's head and make a statement. To kill him and show that even a Knight can't put a stop to me. It was a violent response in nature...but...
" D-Don't underestimate me! "
His sword swung upward, the tip and direction of it aimed squarely at my face. It was a well-executed swing, even down to the point of his toes had he been in proper form. However, form would not save him in the face of experience and power. Continuing its path, I struck at his sword instead. Like before, we clashed.
However, this time, I had colored Aura on my side. Our weapons clashed and sparked off each other once more. Unlike last time, however, he didn't shatter mine. I wasn't a pushover when I finally got hold of a weapon; I knew how to use it efficiently. There was never any better weapon for me than my own two hands.
" I-Impossible... "
" What? Are your eyes just for sure? "
* BURST *
Golden Aura flared and consumed the room in a torrent of whirring energy, blessing everyone present with a foreboding sense of my anger, frustration, and conviction. This was the cultivated strength of a man who lost his ability to hold back against bastards. No longer would I be the sheltered man who didn't do everything it took to save everyone.
If I have to kill this man to get my point across—
" Keep up!! "
Smirking, I planted my feet on the ground and quickly switched my stance around to have my right foot leading and my left behind a bit, acting as a spring. Left, right, left, left. It was a simple combination of jabs and straights that rained down onto my opponent like a storm. My feet lifted from the ground for a moment before they landed again. In the middle of my combinations, I began throwing in footwork. Before long, I was circling Allen with masterful steps. The goal was to trip him up and prevent him from being able to do anything.
At first, it was just a few punches to his body. He couldn't guard against them fast enough to prevent me from hitting him; however, he was well-trained enough to move his body to mitigate the damage being applied. But that simply wasn't enough. As I spun around him, he was struck clean in multiple areas.
Chin, liver, kidney, heart, jaw, cheek, head. I hit every place on the human body that housed a vital component for life. Ten, thirty, seventy, one hundred. I had smashed every part of his body with straights, lefts, hooks, uppercuts, and every other punch possible. The gauntlets of the knocked-out guard were beginning to wear down from my overextension of Aura usage. My visage was nothing more than a warped blur to those who were unable to perceive my strength. And to Allen? I was probably a monster—a creature sent to take his life.
" Whew! "
Right as I let out a sigh of relief, I stopped my assault. Allen Gaylord, the Knight who had been sent forward to put me in my place and check me, couldn't even fall to the ground. His body had been stiff—blood staining his mouth and falling outside of it, leaving a trail down his chin. His left eye was swollen and bloodied, probably from the fact that I jabbed him in the eye once or twice with my thumb. An armor-clad thumb performing an eye jab would certainly leave a lasting mark.
* GRAB—THROW *
I gripped the collar of Allen's armor and tensed my muscles. It would take nothing at all to brace my body and twist as I lifted him. With what could only be considered a feat of Herculean strength, I threw Allen at his father full force, making it so that the two would crash against the back wall of the throne room and fall in a pile.
" Don't forget this. If you try to threaten me or my friends again, I'll kill you. "
I wasn't speaking to Butovich and his son. No, I was speaking right to the King.
" Do you understand me, King Pito? "
He tightened his hold on his throne's armrests. He couldn't do anything but fuss. Unless he wanted to call upon his special Royal Guard forces and attempt to execute me with full prejudice, he had to let this go for now. I had made it simple and clear. I outclassed anyone he could throw at me. There were some people he could maybe try to use. Brina the Witch or Instructor Yulius are a few to mention. However, as I understood it, they acted more like free agents who simply lived in this territory rather than devout followers of the King of Humanity.
And I was already in bed with Brina.
My face had been contorted. Usually, I wanted to be a collected and calm man, capable of relaxing and not being so tense. However, I fell back on my old habits and feelings from after the first Raksha invasion in the old timeline. I couldn't help but be aggressive and overbearing here.
What else was I supposed to do when my friend was in danger?
" Don't summon me again—not unless there's an emergency and people need saving. "
I stared at every person present. The advisors, the nobles watching on the sidelines, the guards, and even the three knocked-out men that fell at my hand. My golden Aura had never dissipated, continuously pressing down on everyone. And then—I turned away from them, pushing open the large entrance door and leaving.
And all I could think at the time was: "Ahhh, I feel better."
. . .
" What?! "
" Yeah, yeah—we're leaving the palace. You and I both. "
" What for?! Knights in training aren't even supposed to leave! "
Elise and I had been sitting in the cafeteria, discussing my next plan.
" Well, we have to go to the Elven Castle. There are a few people we need to meet. Three, to be specific. "
" Three guys? "
" Yeah. Well, two guys and one girl. But two of them are old friends of mi—ah. "
I forgot for a moment that I was still only just recently summoned here. And they were only just recently brought as well. I was thinking about back on Earth.
" Huh? "
" It's nothing. But I guess I should tell you their names, right? "
Elise's visible confusion made me want to shift the conversation.
" Yeah! Who are they? Maybe I've heard of them. "
" I doubt it. But first there's Juri. He's an Adventurer and really good at it, too. But he is just a rookie for now. "
" An Adventurer? I would've been one had I not been scouted by Instructor Yulius. "
" Haha, yeah. He has a talent for picking up newbies randomly. Anyway, then there's Draesil. He's an Elf—he's lazy but smart. "
" Juri, an Adventurer, and Draesil, an Elf. Interesting duo of guys we need to meet, right? "
" Yeah. They're good people, though. And lastly...we need to meet with Gwen. She's an Elf with a bit of a temper. However, she's really powerful and capable. "
" Huh...You really like this 'Gwen', huh? "
W-what? Why would she say that? Confused, I got a bit closer to look at Elise's face. Ah!
" Are you jealous, Elise? "
" W-What?! W-Who would be jealous? Why would— "
" Hahha!! You're so cute sometimes! "
I couldn't help but laugh. It was completely absurd to think that of all people, Elise would be the one to be flustered and blushing about something like this. It was good and lighthearted. It almost made me forget that I had to beat up a Knight to protect her life. And in all honesty...Elise was sort of cute.
There wasn't much time for admiring women or romance when everything started going bad. However, before that, many women approached me in hopes of securing an easy life by being with the Hero. Some even wanted to be my concubine. However, I didn't want a harem.
I just wanted good people with me.
" Your adorable flushed face aside— "
" It is not adorable! "
" Right, right! Either way, we need to head out soon. Preferably today or tomorrow. Can you get ready? "
Elise took a moment to think. And that was understandable. Just as she had said, Knights in training weren't allowed to just leave the castle grounds. For a multitude of reasons, but primarily because the King wanted to use them as meatshields in the event of any invasion happening.
Something I had already seen twice before.
But I wouldn't let Elise be bound by those sorts of rules. She was far too talented for that. I leaned forward on the cafeteria table and hoped for a good answer. I wanted her to come with me now so she could meet the men I called my best friends sooner rather than later.
I wanted her to be one of us.
" Hmm...Alright. I can get ready tonight—but you have to promise me something! "
" What's that? "
" When we're free to train—teach me how to use Aura types! "
T-That's all? I was a bit disappointed when I heard her request. Aura Types were the sort of thing you learned a bit later in your journey with Aura, as the strength of your typing matters more to your experience in wielding Aura rather than the amount you can exert or the force of your Aura. An experienced master is capable of turning even less than a hand-sized Aura into a sharp blade with the strength to cut through steel. In the future, a man from the Giant Clan would create a technique to pierce through a block of dense steel alloy made from the Dwarves with just his finger and Sharp Aura.
" Alright! No problem. I can teach you that. "
But Elise was strong, steadfast, and capable in the mind. I could trust that she wouldn't rush her training and take what I say to heart. So teaching her to use Aura types would benefit her rather than be a detriment.
Though now I don't know if I should teach her Organ-Strengthening or let her figure it out on her own. Either way, Elise was taking steps to get stronger still.
After we finished eating and talking, we prepared ourselves. I returned to my quarters and packed up every little thing I had managed to take and swipe for myself. And then I left a note in a specific little compartment right by my bed. Only one woman would know about it. Brina the Witch. When she gets a hold of it, she'll know of my plan. I can trust her to make good on her words to help me out and cover for Elise and me.
And like that, four hours had passed. I waited outside the women's dormitory discreetly, and upon seeing Elise exit, I was quick to grab her hand.
" W-Woah! "
" We've gotta go fast. Once the sun comes up, more people will gather around. For now, we only have to worry about the main night patrol! "
" Right! "
Elise caught on fast and followed, not removing her hand from mine and instead just keeping up by my side.
However, we'd soon reach the main palace wall that towered over us.
" Only one way, right? "
* LIFT *
I swept my hands under Elise and lifted her into a bridal-style carry. She was light as could be for me; however, she fussed slightly. Her red hair swayed violently before I shushed her, smiling as I started to pack Aura into my legs. Crouching down, she could tell what I was about to do. And in that same moment, she covered herself in her own Aura, as if protecting herself.
Muscles, bones, lungs.
At that moment, I began to use Organ-Strengthening and tightened my insides before jumping with all my might. I managed to clear the towering wall that was easily over 6 stories tall and soar into the night sky.
It was beautiful.
A moon that lit the world below it and stars that had nothing but the short but lovely future ahead of them. The landscape was magnificent. Lush green fields with a city that was thriving. Asteria may have been full of corruption, but on a night like this in the air...It was beautiful.
" Off to the Elf Castle we go! "
I shouted as we were now far too high in the air for it to be any bother. We'd land up on top of the wall at this rate, and that was fine. Because the moment we did—I kicked off again, this time in a straight line in the direction of the Elf Castle.
We should get there in just two hours.
" I'm coming, Juri, Draesil. Just hold on. "
Elise was quiet. Was it because of the wonderful night?
Or was it because I had a complex look on my face?
VOLUME 3 END