Chapter 67 : Chapter 67

Chapter 067: The Sword Fiend Arrives (2)

The plaza where the execution was taking place lay on the opposite side of the commercial district.

The closer I got to the plaza, the louder the murmurs grew.

It was already a sea of people.

“Wondered where everyone had gone, and they’re all gathered here…”

“Tell me about it. Phew.”

The tailor and the fortune-teller blankly scanned the bustling area before joining the crowd.

At the front of the throng, a high platform held the execution stage.

Armed members of Zephyros surrounded the plaza, from its edges to the stage, in a tight cordon.

“They’re too big to call a mere militia anymore. You’d believe they were Conwell’s official army.”

“Thinking I helped raise those bastards makes me want to bolt upright in my sleep.”

“Drives me mad. Rumor has it Zephyros is backed by the Archduke.”

“Looking at how things are going, it wouldn’t be surprising if that’s true.”

Amid the murmurs, some men quietly vented their discontent.

The tailor and fortune-teller eavesdropped on their whispered conversation, exchanging sly glances.

Their looks carried a shared thought:

Young and fearless, aren’t they? If Zephyros catches wind of this, they won’t even find their bones.

“Well, that’s the public sentiment,” the tailor muttered under his breath.

The fortune-teller nodded silently.

The masses weren’t foolish.

Especially the residents of Easton, the heart of Conwell’s commerce, who were particularly sensitive to rumors.

The powerless craved the world’s truths more than anyone.

That was one reason why the Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats never vanished from the Kingdom.

Then, it happened.

“Lady Adeline is the very emblem of a wise and benevolent ruler. Aye, no doubt about it.”

The voice was utterly flippant.

A statement that should’ve been chewed and swallowed in secret was proclaimed loud enough for all to hear.

The plaza was so noisy it quickly faded, but those nearby gaped in shock, turning to the speaker.

It was a middle-aged man, his slight frame wrapped in a dark cloak.

“Conwell’s never been fertile land, nor rich in resources. So how has it maintained its title as the hegemon of the Kingdom’s east?”

He slightly tilted up the wide-brimmed black straw hat on his head.

Beneath the deep shadow, a scruffy beard and a crooked smirk briefly flashed.

“Through shrewd trade and a robust domestic economy, that’s how. The previous Duke fostered merchant guilds and reformed the tax system to curb the nobles’ tyranny. A battle-hardened warrior who spent half his life in the demonic realm—how could he wield such ingenuity? Thanks to the sage Roland’s advice? Pfft, nonsense.”

He rambled on like a street performer, reveling in his own words, heedless of the gathering stares.

“No, it was Lady Adeline’s foresight. That young lass herself proposed it. She said opening the economy, monopolized by nobles, would let everyone, regardless of status, earn wealth. A fairer system would collect more taxes, which could further fuel commerce. She spoke those words with her tiny mouth at just thirteen years old.”

“You… who are you?”

“Six years later, at nineteen, she aims to sow that prosperity not just in Conwell but across the entire Kingdom. That’s the kind of person Lady Adeline is. She’s not someone who’d fall here.”

He pulled his hat down, as if erasing his presence.

“If I could help fulfill her grand vision, this lowly life of mine wouldn’t be a waste. Don’t you agree, good sirs?”

The stunned onlookers blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, but by then, the mysterious cloaked man had already melted into the crowd.

“Everyone, step back!”

A sudden bellow rang out from the back of the throng.

Step, step.

A steady footfall silenced the clamor in an instant.

The packed plaza held its breath, parting naturally to form a path.

Ness Servai, First Captain of Zephyros.

He was a knight once revered by men who upheld the Sharon Faction’s ideals.

At least, until recently.

“Quite the turnout,” he muttered to himself, his eyes languid.

He no longer bothered hiding his arrogance, as if pleased to shed the burden of humility.

His golden-tinged hair and deep blue cloak swayed faintly with each step.

The simple plate armor he wore gleamed alone in the plaza.

Creak, creak.

The sound of the execution platform’s wooden floor being pressed pierced the crowd’s hearts.

The footsteps stopped at the center of the stage.

Two Zephyros members stood with crossed, gleaming blades.

Behind them, Jayden’s neck was bound.

“Hmm.”

Ness scrutinized Jayden, rubbing his chin and eyes with folded arms.

Jayden knelt, head bowed low.

His hands, tied behind him, were tightly bound by chains and wooden shackles.

“Haa…”

Ness let out a long sigh, then stared at the overcast sky for a while before speaking softly, as if he’d made up his mind.

“What a sorry state, Captain of the Guard.”

“…”

Ness addressed the Zephyros members beside him.

“This man was on the verge of being knighted. Even in these times, he deserves proper respect. Remove the chains and shackles.”

His tone was ostentatiously magnanimous.

A faint murmur rippled through the crowd below.

“What’s that? Captain Jayden was about to be knighted?”

“So the rumor that Jayden was Lady Adeline’s confidant was true?”

“They say he held the rear alone when she was pursued and got caught by Zephyros.”

“Such a tragedy.”

The Zephyros members followed Ness’s orders.

They removed the shackles but left the wooden cuffs.

Even if fully unbound, Jayden seemed too broken to move.

Ness leaned in and spoke into Jayden’s ear, his gaze fixed on the crowd ahead.

“One last time, Captain.”

“…”

“Where is Jewelina Gunbel?”

“…”

“Oh, right. Just to clarify, I’m not doing this out of some grudge over Maserin’s betrayal. Maserin, of all people? Please.”

Jayden’s swollen eyelids twitched faintly between his disheveled hair.

A hoarse voice rasped from his cracked, blood-caked lips.

“…I don’t know.”

“You’re here because you don’t know. Fine, let’s try this. I swear on my honor that I’ll ensure Maserin’s safety—at least her life. How about it? Ready to talk now?”

“I’d like to ask you something. Why are you so obsessed with the Gunbel Trading Company?”

Ness shook his head.

“I ask the questions. I’m showing you courtesy befitting your status, even listening patiently. How much more mercy do you expect, Captain?”

“I am Lady Adeline’s knight.”

“…What?”

“I have no regrets. Just one thing—I wish I could’ve faced you in a proper duel before I go.”

Jayden slowly turned his head.

A fleeting glint sparked in his clouded eyes.

“But that’s fine. Bihen Benkou will come for your neck in my place. Keep it clean and wait for him.”

“You insane bastard, what did you just say?”

“…The Sword Fiend will return.”

Ness stood, exasperated, veins bulging on his smooth forehead.

“People of Easton, hear me! Zephyros merely upholds the Kingdom’s ancient tradition of primogeniture, following Archduke Callence’s righteous cause, with no selfish motives!”

Ness spread his arms wide and shouted.

“But what of Lady Adeline and her rebel faction? They denied legitimate succession, even colluding with foreign powers to disrupt this land’s order! Zephyros—! Then and now, we’ve safeguarded the Sharon Faction’s ideals, protecting Conwell’s stability and prosperity! Thus, I declare!”

Ness raised one arm, his lofty gaze sweeping over the crowd.

“…Zephyros shall execute the traitor Jayden to restore discipline.”

A wave of unrest swept through the crowd.

Amid rough breaths, their gazes toward the platform were tangled with complex emotions.

“No—!”

A thunderous voice roared, almost a gasp, as if it could tear through the storm clouds blanketing the sky.

It came from somewhere in the crowd.

All eyes turned toward it.

Of course, it was the cloaked man.

Those beside him hurriedly stepped back, but he didn’t budge.

Instead, he leisurely tucked his hands into his wide sleeves and looked up at the platform.

“Legitimate succession? You invoke the Kingdom’s traditions, but everyone here knows it’s nothing but sophistry!”

The cloaked man fully removed his hat.

Ness’s pupils shook violently as he recognized him.

“You…!”

“Ness Servai! A hypocrite cloaked in a knight’s guise! My greatest failure was not exposing your true nature sooner. That sin has brought me here today.”

Only then did Jayden react.

His swollen lips parted slightly.

“Ra… Ramba…?”

Ramba withdrew his hands from his sleeves.

The daggers in each hand spun like acrobats in his grip.

“Wild Dogs, it’s time to play!”

Ramba shouted loudly.

Gasps erupted simultaneously from the crowd filling the plaza.

Cloaked figures like Ramba appeared throughout the throng.

Not just one or two.

Each took their stance, wielding clubs of varying lengths.

The Wild Dogs.

To the world, they were vagrants whose whereabouts were unknown.

They operated covertly across the Kingdom, assembling swiftly and moving like shadows when needed.

Keeeing!

Zephyros instantly shifted to a counterattack stance.

With the sharp metallic clangs ringing out, the plaza descended into chaos in moments.

“Let’s bark to our hearts’ content today!”

“No mercy. Spare only Ramba and execute the rest on the spot.”

Ramba and Ness’s orders came almost simultaneously.

The Wild Dogs soared into the air, like a flock of ravens taking flight from the ground.

Thwack—!

Explosions and collisions rang out in succession.

Shockwaves of varied trajectories filled the sunless sky.

Amid the terrified screams of scattering people, someone’s cry pierced the air.

“Kraagh!”

A Zephyros member spat blood.

A Wild Dog’s club had struck his head dead-on.

“Keep pushing! Rescue Sir Jayden!”

Ramba shouted, parrying two attackers.

His cry struck Jayden’s ears.

He gazed at the pandemonium below.

A surge of emotion heated his face.

His body trembled, but two Zephyros members still restrained him, preventing movement.

“Ah…!”

Jayden let out a small gasp.

As people fled the plaza, Zephyros’s reinforcements arrived from the opposite direction.

They were completely surrounded.

Crack!

Jayden’s eyelids quivered.

He felt the blood of a cornered Wild Dog splash onto his face.

Zephyros was one of Conwell’s top military forces.

Their individual skill and organization were leagues above typical mercenary bands.

Once they reformed their ranks, their counterattack was ferocious, as if avenging the ambush.

It didn’t take long.

The Wild Dogs were quickly pushed back.

“Boss, free Sir Jayden first.”

A Wild Dog approached Ramba amid the chaos, followed by another.

Their bloodstained eyes gleamed with resolve.

“…I’ll catch up soon.”

The two Wild Dogs gave a curt nod, a simple farewell.

Ramba kicked off the ground.

His form spun swiftly over Zephyros’s layered encirclement.

Thud! Thud!

He landed in the center.

Simultaneously, Ramba stabbed the necks of the two Zephyros members flanking Jayden.

The moves were rough but swift.

“Ramba! H-how are you here…?”

“No time to explain. Get up!”

The Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats had stormed Zephyros’s execution.

There had been no prior warning.

Jayden was dumbfounded.

Before his eyes, Wild Dogs fell, bleeding.

Strangers whose names he didn’t even know.

Supported by Ramba, Jayden stumbled.

Exhaustion flooded his body. Gritting his teeth, he asked,

“The Lady… is Lady Adeline safe?”

“Yes! She’s with the Solari Order in Litania. You need to join her, sir!”

“B-but you…”

“Don’t worry about me. I came prepared. There’s a secret escape route nearby. Just hold on a bit longer!”

“Ramba…!”

Ramba suddenly straightened, eyes shut tight.

A dull thud followed.

He’d felled a Zephyros member who’d closed in, then exhaled roughly.

“The Sword Fiend will return soon. Seems he’s a bit late, though.”

“…!”

“Until then, you must protect the Lady…!”

The size difference was stark. Jayden was practically dragged by Ramba.

The Wild Dogs who’d broken through the encirclement fought desperately to clear their path.

Screams and noises mingled chaotically.

Then—

“Vermin gnawing at Conwell.”

Thwack!

A kick from the front sent Ramba sprawling backward.

Ness had appeared out of nowhere, without a trace.

“Now you’re resorting to all sorts of tricks, you filthy beggar.”

“Urgh…!”

Ness cracked his neck side to side, approaching the groaning Ramba with slow steps.

“Did you think I wouldn’t see through your scheme? The Wild Dogs and Sewer Rats, fighting to the death against injustice, only to meet their tragic end. And Zephyros, brutally suppressing them… a perfect sob story to stir the foolish locals’ sympathy. That’s your specialty, isn’t it? Spreading rumors with cheap melodrama.”

Crack—!

As Ramba struck from his seated position, Ness smashed his wrist with the sheathed sword.

Clang—

The two daggers flew far away.

Ness smirked at the dazed Ramba, one corner of his mouth curling.

“Pretty cunning, huh? I’ve had my eye on you lot for a while.”

“Believe what you want. Even if you’re right, the plan succeeded, so this beggar wins. Heh.”

“Win? You?”

Grab!

Ness seized Ramba’s throat.

“Guh…!”

“Annoying pest. The Archduke vowed to eradicate your kind the moment he takes power, didn’t he?”

Ness tightened his grip.

Ramba’s body slowly lifted.

Watching Ramba struggle, Ness twisted his smirk wider.

“I must be lucky. The ringleader himself walks right into my hands. If I personally deliver you, the Archduke will surely reward me handsomely. Don’t you think?”

“Kuh, guh…!”

“Oh, right. That’s your doing too, isn’t it? What was it—‘the Sword Fiend is coming’?”

Ness, chuckling, suddenly turned serious and slammed Ramba into the ground.

With a thud, the wooden floor splintered.

Ramba’s bloodshot face was smeared with tears and saliva.

His vision flashed.

“Why, go on, say it again. Who’s coming?”

“The… Sword Fiend…”

Slap!

Ness backhanded Ramba’s face.

One of Ramba’s few remaining teeth flew out.

A sudden wave of sorrow hit Ramba.

He glared with wet eyes.

“The Sword Fiend is com—”

Slap!

By now, the plaza was gradually calming.

Zephyros members surrounded Ness, who straddled Ramba, as if guarding him.

‘Haa…’

Ramba’s teary gaze fell on his fallen comrades.

They’d expected annihilation.

The Wild Dogs who followed him had come with the same resolve.

But the reality was far colder and harsher.

Death, though accepted rationally, was hard for the heart to follow.

“…The Sword Fiend is coming.”

“Heh, sure. As you know, Zephyros has some skilled interrogators. They’ve gained insight dealing with your kind. A little one-on-one time, and you’ll change your tune.”

Ness stood, blowing his disheveled bangs, and gestured to his subordinates

.

As the Zephyros members moved to lift Ramba, a loud murmur arose from one side.

It came from the crowd that had fled but stopped to watch, above their heads.

In that moment, the gazes of Ness, Zephyros, Ramba, and Jayden turned there.

“…?”

Ness tilted his head, his pupils gradually widening.

Gasps multiplied nearby.

“Ah…”

Ramba let out a soft exclamation.

Tears streamed down shamelessly.

When had it begun?

The storm clouds parted, and sunlight poured in.

Golden rays cut precisely through the buildings lining the plaza, across the towering bell tower.

A man’s silhouette emerged against the backlight. His cloak billowed long behind him.

“The Sword Fiend…”

Ramba’s voice choked.

Steadying his breath, he shouted with all his might.

“The Sword Fiend has arrived—!”

Bihen Benkou had returned.

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