Early that same morning, in the Royal Capital.
Brain Unglaus's head drooped involuntarily, heavy with a hangover, and even his spine, once straight as a blade, was now bent.
He dragged his heavy steps forward, his gaze fixed only on his own feet and the stone road beneath them.
"That vampire named Shalltear… just what kind of monster is she?"
The image of the vampire in a Gothic dress resurfaced uncontrollably in Brain's mind.
"My strongest Field, combined with Fourfold Slash of Light… and she actually blocked it with a single fingernail…"
Recalling how effortlessly Shalltear had stopped his blade with her fingernail, Brain felt his heart pound uncontrollably.
It was like a human's first, profound realization of their own insignificance, helplessness, and fear.
He continued walking aimlessly, until the familiar sour stench of the slums reached his nose and his feet sank into sticky mud.
"Filthy brat, you're disgusting!"
The harsh shout made him instinctively look up.
A well-dressed man, who appeared to be a minor noble, was viciously stepping on a child's face.
A look of sadistic pleasure lingered on the noble's expression.
The surrounding commoners watched with pity in their eyes, yet none of them dared to step forward to stop him.
"Sigh…" Brain let out a dejected sigh. It would be better to stay out of trouble.
Just as he was about to turn and leave, he caught sight of an afterimage flashing past him, slipping through the crowd with eerie yet graceful speed before stopping in front of the noble.
"So fast!" Brain hurriedly pushed his way into the crowd. "That person is definitely a top-tier powerhouse!"
"Scum. Why would you lay your hands on a child?" Sebas's tall figure shielded the child behind him. Even without releasing the slightest pressure, a vague sense of fear stirred in the noble's heart.
"You bastard, how dare you speak to me like that!" Seeing Sebas dressed as a butler, the noble frowned in disdain and raised his fist, intending to teach him a lesson.
"Whose butler are you? Kneel down and lick my boots!"
The moment he swung his fist, a dull bang rang out, and his abdomen felt as if it had been struck by an immense force, sending him flying backward.
"When did he move?!" Brain continued forcing his way to the front of the crowd, eager to get a clearer look at Sebas.
An invisible pressure subtly radiated from Sebas, instantly crushing the fighting spirit of the noble's attendants.
"It's our fault!" They nearly collapsed to the ground, hastily dragging the noble away as they fled in panic.
At that moment, two figures suddenly rushed out of the crowd and ran to the child lying on the ground.
One was a swordsman. Brain recognized him as Princess Renner's guard, Climb.
The other was a short magic caster.
She knelt on the ground and began casting healing magic on the child.
The noble's footprint was stamped into the child's face, mingled with blood and torn flesh, and bruises covered his face and body.
Ninya's hands glowed with the gentle light of healing magic as she carefully treated the child's face.
Seeing the child's wretched condition, pain stabbed at her heart. She glanced toward the noble fleeing in disgrace and said coldly, "Are all the nobles in the Kingdom such scum?"
Her own sister, Tuare, might also have been trafficked to the Royal Capital. If these nobles were all rotten to the core… Ninya took a deep breath, not daring to continue that line of thought.
Looking at the young magic caster before him, who clearly harbored disgust toward the nobility, Climb did not feel like offering any explanation. It had to be said that the Kingdom's nobility was indeed almost entirely corrupt.
Under Ninya's treatment, the bruises on the child's body gradually faded, and the bloody footprint on his face slowly disappeared.
"Um, excuse me, sir?"
As Climb looked up, he saw Sebas's figure about to vanish down the street.
"That gentleman is a powerhouse. I must catch up to him."
Climb spoke with solemn resolve, and his words sent countless thoughts racing through Ninya's mind.
Could he be a powerhouse with a sense of justice, just like Mr. Helant? "Please wait!"
Out of breath, Ninya and Climb stopped Sebas.
"Is there something you need?" Sebas turned around calmly, his expression unchanged as he looked at the two of them.
Sebas did not dislike these two, who possessed a sense of justice and were willing to treat the child.
Otherwise, with their strength, they would never have been able to catch up to him.
Sebas's gaze carried a faint pressure, causing cold sweat to bead on Climb's back. "My name is Climb, a warrior of this country… You just did what should have been my duty. Thank you very much!"
A sense of responsibility… Sebas was slightly moved and came to acknowledge the person before him, though his tone remained calm. "It's nothing. If there is nothing else, please excuse me."
Seeing this, Climb hurriedly said, "If possible, could you teach me the move you just used?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Climb felt a wave of shame. Asking to learn someone else's martial technique without offering anything in return was truly rather shameless.
He lowered his head slightly, not daring to meet Sebas's gaze.
"And you?" Sebas did not seem bothered, instead turning to Ninya. "You're a mage. I assume you're not here to learn anything from a warrior like me."
"I'm here to ask for your help." Ninya scratched her cheek and turned her head away awkwardly. "I feel that you're very similar to Mr. Helant… so I took the liberty of coming to seek your assistance."
Just as powerful, and just as full of a sense of justice.
This gentleman will probably help me find my sister… but even if he doesn't, I can't force him.
Half embarrassed and half hopeful, Ninya gripped her staff and waited quietly for Sebas's reply.
Sebas's originally cold and oppressive aura seemed to soften slightly, and even his stern features appeared much gentler.
"You know Lo.. Mr. Helant?" he asked.
"I do!" At the mention of Helant, a bright smile unconsciously appeared on Ninya's face. "Mr. Helant is the strongest and most righteous person I've ever met!"
"Back in E-Rantel, if he hadn't sacrificed himself to summon the Holy Domain God Lord and destroy the Demon God, we would all be dead!"
Her admiration was completely undisguised, and tears even began to well up in her eyes. "More importantly… Mr. Helant also promised me…"
!!!
A promise made by a Supreme Being?!!!
Sebas focused his attention and listened carefully.
"He promised me that I could search for my sister in his name!"
At this point, Ninya felt a lump rise in her throat. After the battle in E-Rantel, Helant had become famous overnight, his name resounding throughout the entire Kingdom.
For such a great figure to be willing to let her use his name to look for her sister was truly magnanimous and righteous.
Since it was something Lord Helant had promised, then he absolutely had to help.
Sebas's tone softened once more, and at this moment, he even seemed somewhat like a kind older brother ...in-law.
"So, what is your sister's name?"
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