"Huh?"
"..."
Doneor and the bandits were startled upon seeing the figure emerging from the bushes.
Wasn't that a Holy Knight clad in golden armor?
It was none other than Judge Zekt, the one who had subdued them.
"Ah, no, Sir Zekt. T-This is…."
"You've found a copy of the Book of the Divine King. Well done. Hand it over to me. Or, could it be that you're tempted by that Naga woman's schemes and wish to test it out?"
Zekt asked with a smile.
"Do you want to verify whether the Judge's renown is merely a facade?"
"..."
The bandits were flustered.
'Aren't we immortal right now?'
'But the very person who made us immortal is that man….'
'Oh.'
The bandits swallowed hard as they looked at Zekt.
"Hand it over. The copy of the Book of the Divine King."
"O-Of course."
Unable to withstand Zekt's overwhelming presence, Doneor handed over the copy of the Book of the Divine King. Taking it, Zekt smirked wryly.
"I must say, I'm a bit disappointed in you all. I thought you'd handle this without dirtying the hands of a Holy Knight like myself."
"What?"
"A-Ah, no, that is…."
"Make sure to leave no witnesses. Then, I'll take my leave. I shall see you at the headquarters of the Lantarik Holy Knights."
But at that very moment—
Whoosh!
An arrow flew toward Zekt.
"What?!"
It was the Dual Immortal Bow that had targeted Doneor before, no—it was even more than that. Four arrows simultaneously aimed at Zekt from all directions.
Beauty of Nature, Yellow Crane, White Crane.
Two arrows imbued with magic, along with the Dual Immortal Bow, all hurtled toward him.
"Hm?"
However, Zekt simply flicked his hand. At that moment, a faint silver radiance emanated from his fingertips, and the incoming arrows exploded midair.
"Impressive archery. Are you from the Herald Clan?"
"That's right!"
From within the bushes, a young girl emerged. Midiam stepped forward, an arrow nocked on her bowstring. Astonishingly, she puffed out her chest confidently and glared at Zekt.
"A so-called Holy Knight, colluding with bandits and letting innocent people die? You shameless wretch!"
"Hahaha, how bold of you, little miss. Are you, a member of the Herald Clan, lecturing me, a Holy Knight of the King's Church?"
"Of course! I am Midiam Aether! A bearer of the Emperor's Voice! The ignorant call us soulless, but aren't you the ones truly devoid of souls?!"
With that, Midiam aimed her bow at Zekt.
"To call yourself a Holy Knight while joining forces with vile, brutal bandits—how insolent! In the Emperor's name, I shall deliver divine retribution upon you!"
"Hahaha! How adorable."
Even with an arrow pointed at him, Zekt showed no tension. Instead, he found amusement in Midiam's exaggerated words and actions, as though entertained by her bravado.
'Good, he took the bait!'
Midiam fired her arrow. Simultaneously, Ishmael, who had been moving along the trees, plunged from above, sword in hand, aiming for Sir Zekt.
"Adorable."
The moment Zekt extended his hand, silver flashes shot toward Midiam and Ishmael.
Clang!
As something struck Ishmael's sword, the blade shattered into seven pieces. Meanwhile, Midiam's arrow exploded midair. And then—
Thud!
Something pierced through Midiam's body.
"Urk?!"
Only then did Midiam see what had impaled her—it was a needle threaded with an incredibly thin string.
'N-No way! A needle… pierced through my body?'
Because it was so thin, even though it had gone clean through her abdomen, the pain was only mild. However, the thread had passed through her body.
"Do not move recklessly. If I merely tighten this thread a little…."
"AAAHH!"
As excruciating pain seared through her entire body from her abdomen, Midiam let out a scream.
"Midiam!"
A panicked Ishmael tried to rush at Zekt, but Zekt flicked another needle and thread.
Beauty of Nature, Twilight!
Just as Ishmael dodged the incoming thread aimed at his head, a massive tree behind him was pierced through with a dull explosion. The needle had effortlessly penetrated the thick trunk. And then—
"Hup!"
Zekt lightly flicked the thread.
— Wiiing!
The thread vibrated, and in the next moment, the massive tree shattered and split in half with a loud crack.
"Ah…!"
Midiam gasped in horror.
With Zekt's needle and thread impaling her, if he performed that technique, there would be nothing left of her but scattered remains.
The only reason she was still alive was that Zekt was deliberately holding back. If he wished, he could obliterate her in an instant.
"Hah."
Even the watching bandits were at a loss for words.
"This is… the Judge…."
"My god."
They had been filled with confidence, thinking they were invincible with their newfound immortal bodies. But seeing the power that Zekt displayed, it was clear their bodies wouldn't even stand a chance.
"Damn it!"
Ishmael tried to shoot arrows, looking for an opening. But as soon as Zekt flicked the thread, invisible forces tore through the air, shattering the arrows before they could even reach him. Even lightly grazing the thread caused the steel-tipped arrows to disintegrate.
Thud!
In the end, Ishmael, too, was struck by a needle.
"AAAHH!"
A needle pierced through Ishmael's arm, causing him to let out a scream. The needle soared up to a tall tree, wrapping around a branch, lifting Ishmael's arm into the air and leaving his feet dangling above the ground.
Unlike Midiam, who still had her feet planted on the ground, Ishmael, now suspended in midair, felt his wound tear further under the strain of his own weight. Panicked, he quickly clutched the thread and the wound together with his hand to prevent his forearm from ripping apart. However, the wound, pierced by the thread, split open, and blood trickled down along the thread.
"W-What is this…?"
In an instant, both Ishmael and Midiam had been completely subdued by Zekt.
***
Zekt did not appear to have any intention of killing Ishmael and Midiam, merely restraining them.
Was this the composure of an absolute powerhouse?
No matter what Ishmael and Midiam tried, they posed no threat or hindrance to him. He regarded them with the same indulgent gaze a parent might give to a child's antics.
'This is strange. He's insane. This guy….'
Why would someone like him stand idly by as bandits ravaged innocent civilians?
Midiam bit her lower lip as she watched Zekt approach her.
"You're still just a boy and a girl, yet your spirit is remarkable. It would be a waste to leave talents like you among mere Herald Clan members. How about becoming my disciples?"
"I appreciate the offer, but I must refuse. A proud daughter of Aether family will never become the disciple of a mongrel just to beg for her life!"
"Is that so?"
Another thread and needle flew forward, piercing through Midiam's thigh.
"Ugh!"
"A high-spirited Herald Clan member is admirable, but there's no need for me to spare both of you. I'll make only one of you part of my collection. Now, who shall live, and who shall die?"
At Zekt's question, both Midiam and Ishmael's eyes flared with defiance. Even faced with death, neither wavered, and Zekt found himself impressed once again.
"This won't be an easy persuasion, will it? Then, I suppose I should tamper with your brain a little…."
At that moment, another arrow shot toward him.
"Such a futile effort!"
Without even turning around, Zekt flicked a needle at the incoming arrow. But the moment the needle and the arrow collided, something unexpected occurred.
Ting!
The arrow deflected the needle and continued its course.
"Hm?!"
Shocked, Zekt watched as the arrow flew right up to his palm and exploded. The tension in the threads binding Ishmael and Midiam disappeared, allowing Ishmael to land back on the ground.
"Oh?"
Zekt opened his hand and examined it. The spool of thread in his grip trembled slightly. The impact from deflecting that arrow had made his hand vibrate. Though the trembling subsided quickly, he realized that his opponent was no ordinary foe.
At that moment, Midiam and Ishmael were freed from their restraints. Azadin had thrown a dagger, severing the threads that had bound them.
"Azadin!"
"You've arrived."
Even Ishmael, who had held resentment toward Azadin, felt nothing but relief at this moment.
"Well done, Midiam, Ishmael. I'm proud of you both."
Azadin praised them, having clearly heard of how Midiam had displayed the Herald's indomitable spirit to distract Zekt.
"On the other hand, Judge Zekt seems to take pleasure in tormenting children. Does the King's Church have no sense of dignity?"
"How amusing. So, you've decided not to flee this time, Herald?"
Zekt smirked, mocking Azadin for having avoided him thus far.
'Indeed, Azadin had been wary of this Judge.'
Now, Midiam and Ishmael understood why Azadin had always steered clear of him. But now, Azadin responded casually, as if unfazed.
"The world is chaotic enough. Killing someone like a Judge would only throw things into further disarray, so I've held back. After all, people like you are at least useful when dealing with the Kurt Divine Clan or monsters."
"Hahaha."
"But terrorizing civilians and children? That's where I draw the line."
"In regions with early marriage customs, those two would already be parents of one or two children by now. Hardly young enough to call 'children,' don't you think?"
"Like I care? Local customs mean nothing to me."
"You won't earn a good reputation by dismissing the traditions of other cultures."
"Well then, considering your age, shouldn't you already be laid out in a coffin in some village where they hold early funerals? How about respecting that custom by dying right now?"
"…Does such a place exist? Where?"
"Oh, somewhere. It exists."
Azadin brushed it off, then signaled to Midiam and Ishmael.
"I'll take care of that bastard. You two lead the others and escape."
"What?!"
"You're going to face the Judge alone?"
"Yes."
With that, Azadin leapt into the forest.
"What, after making such a grand entrance, you're just running away?"
Zekt scoffed, but at that moment, an arrow flew toward his face. Startled, he jerked his head aside to dodge, but the arrow twisted in midair, changing direction like a fish swimming against a current, aiming precisely at the path of his evasion.
Thud!
The arrow scraped against Zekt's armor, leaving a deep gash. The bow's immense power had nearly torn through the armor's plating.
"Your armor saved you."
Azadin taunted.
"Well, that was unexpected."
Realizing that Azadin's tactics were more troublesome than anticipated, Zekt clicked his tongue.
***
"Amazing."
Midiam was astonished by Azadin's archery, which had instantly neutralized the needle that had trapped them. Meanwhile, Ishmael, clutching his wound, grumbled.
"He probably just used a strong bow. If I grow a little more… no, if I use Black Steel Arrows right now…."
"Ishmael, you're always complaining when it comes to Azadin."
"You're the one who got influenced by him, and instead of running from the Judge like we should have, you insisted on a direct confrontation. Look where that got us."
"But we were praised, weren't we?"
"..."
That was exactly the problem.
Midiam had never cared about recognition or praise from others. As a noble daughter of the Aether bloodline, she had always been surrounded by people eager to please her, and she had dismissed their praise as mere flattery or meaningless words.
But now, she found herself speaking like him, acting like him, and feeling joy whenever he praised her. And what annoyed her the most…
'When he praised me… I felt a little happy.'
That infuriated her more than anything.