《Legend of the Evil Hero》Chapter 15: Wretched Conviction
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"You are the demon that leads this army!" A brown-haired man yelled while his sword is aimed at the face of Ryuji. He was in his middle twenties wearing an attire similar to that of the Imperial Army under his semi-full plate iron armor. But some of its parts made it look like a bit different from the original army uniform and make it exhibit nobility. A golden dog tag was also proudly hanging at his neck.
"..." Ryuji tried to answer the adventurer.
But the moment he opened his mouth he realized that something was off beam. It was his voice, no matter how hard he tried he can't speak. Confused and surprised Ryuji tried to think back what caused his voice vanish. He looked at the ring on his hand and then he realized that it must be the recoil of absorbing the demon commander's cursed ruby earlier.
The man threw daggers at the red-haired hero before screaming again. "You're not going to talk?! Knights! Seize him! We need to bring this culprit to the commander!"
That explains it. Ryuji thinks that not only the adventurer before him is a member of some prestigious family but also in the position to order such command.
""Yes sir!"" Not too long after the knights that was climbing the stairs heard him responded.
"..." Once again Ryuji tried speak. But just like earlier, no matter what he does his own body wont obey. That's the time he jokingly realize that he was like a piece of human-shaped flesh sitting at the edge of the wall that time.
[Why can't I move? Why can't I say a word? It seems that my vision is the only thing that is loyal to me.]
As he continue to think and figure out a solution the knights surrounded him and then they begin to attach some kind handcuff to the red haired hero. Just before the handcuff was attached to him Ryuji took a gaze of it and seen familiar gem embedded on it.
The gem looks exactly like the one on his zircon armlet that he destroyed moment ago. That armlet was given to him by Paul after he receive his first quest week ago. Paul told him that the armlet was not an ordinary zircon, it is a gem as it limits the physical and magical power of someone who wore it. And since both of them agreed to conceal his identity as the hero, Ryuji used that armlet to limit his tremendous magic and physical power to minimal.
Soon after the handcuff was attached to him, Ryuji realized that the gem on the handcuff was somehow stronger than the one on his armlet because now he can feel his magic power being somewhat restrained.
After the knights finished their job in immobilizing him, the two knights supported his stand.
[What's the point of handcuffing me if I cannot move in the first place?]
One of the knights that was holding a crossbow walked in front of the red-haired hero. He looked at him in the eyes with sharp looks right before smashing the stock of the crossbow to him. Ryuji’s consciousness fades after that.
~~~
"Hey! wake up!" it was a voice of a girl. But he is not sure who.
Ryuji opened his eyes slowly, blink it twice then he tried to move his hands, this time it responded. Upon completely opening his eyes he scanned the place where he's at. It was a tent more likely a shelter used by the army on their expeditions.
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[How long have I been asleep?] Suddenly, he heard a distant voice.
"We have successfully captured the demon general sir!" he recognized that it was the voice of the noble man from earlier.
"Hmm. Very well." Someone behind the tent door answered.
When the footsteps from outside came closer and closer the tent door revealed a man on his thirties followed by the brown haired noble man from earlier.
The man in his thirties wearing an exclusive armor approached the red haired boy. He cast a smile and said "So you're the demon summoner, nice to meet you.— he reached out his hand to Ryuji for a handshake and upon seeing the handcuff behind the boy, he lets out a sarcastic smile afterwards.—My name is Cazius, I am the commander of the Al—"
"Blah. Blah. Blah. Skip the long introductions and state your business already." finally Ryuji's low pitched voice is back. He was really pissed off that time and want to break free from the cuff anytime, but he also realized that'll achieve nothing. So instead of letting out another rampage again he choose to play for a while.
"How dare you!" the brown haired nobleman drew his sword and tried to slash the boy.
"Archen wait! Save that for later." Cazius orders made the nobleman stop.
"Tch."
[Ryuji's POV]
Cazius grabbed my hair and pulled it upward. Then he whispered "Let see if you can keep that coolness of yours
Knights! Prepare the platform for the public execution!" Cazius shouted his command before going outside the tent.
Archen gave me a grin before following his foolish leader.
[So this is what the army does the whole time? pretty ironic]. I decided to take a rest and recover my lost MP from earlier while they're preparing my execution platform. But not too long since I closed my eyes the same voice that wake me up earlier spoke once again.
"I just left you not an hour ago, but look at you now."
My eyes was shot opened out of surprise. But upon looking around the whole army tent I noticed that it was only me inside. "Huh? Who are you? Show yourself coward!"
"Who are—. That kinda hurts me and I believe I can't show myself to you."
I suddenly remembered the familiar voice sounded like the demon summoner that I slay earlier. "Bel?? You're Bel right! You're still alive?"
" I thought you already forgotten me, hero. But anyway back to the topic, right now I am no longer in this world. I'm just communicating you through that ring on you hand."
"..." I looked my handcuffed hand in my back and witnessed that the ring that mysteriously appeared at my hand glows violet.
"I'll tell it all to you later. First, ill explain the current situation you're in, that man, Cazius is trying to frame you for all of the mistakes he had made on the Imperial Army's rout—"
[I already figured it out but...]
"Hold it! And why do you think I'll believe in those shits?"
"I may be your former enemy but please listen to me. Stop acting like a spoiled brat, you good-for-nothing 25 years old salaryman!"
"Get out of my mind!" I was very surprise when I hear her say that. But that is enough to prove me that she is not deceiving me.
"Hahahaha... Listen, if you let them do as they please it may cause you to be exiled at very least. Because I don't think they can kill you.. But if you listen to me carefully there is another way than letting them play their pieces...and more importantly, you want to avenge Lily right?"
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"..." By hearing her word through my mind it made me look to the ground and grieve once more.
I suddenly imagined Bel having a sarcastic smile." You want to return to Kasumi? then all you had to do is listen."
Once again I was surprise by her words. It made look up and replied wholeheartedly. "Fine. Tell me everything you know."
~~~
By the time the army finished preparing the execution platform it was already high noon. Adventurers, villagers, merchants and the knights were all looking at the platform when the Army commander arrived while accompanied by his footmens.
He took the center stage and began speaking. "Greetings, my fellow townspeople! I Cazius is here today to gladly announce to you that we had successfully captured the root of all misfortune that happened here moments ago! "
Just by hearing his words all of the people in front of him showed rage in their eyes. Rage that comes from their losses, pain, and grieving.
Cazius's eyes narrowed while smiling at the same time, then he continued "Behold, the commander of the Evil Forces!—with my mouth now sealed the knights carry me to the stairs and to the platform, the towspeople began chattering upon setting their eyes on me—"He is the one who's responsible for all of this destruction, massacres, and other awful doings done by the dire creatures! I am deeply sorry for your loss, so now. To express my condolence to your lost wife, husband, sons, daughters! I hereby declare by the kings orders that he will be executed right here, right now! Anyone who defy the king’s will has the right to step forward and accompany this traitor to the afterlife."
In the crowd, a bronze rank man in a light leather armor talked to his party. "The boy. I remember, he's been defending alongside Renia a while ago, how come is he the commander?"
The party gave him a surprised expression in return.
"What? But lord Cazius said that he was the commander? Don’t you think that kid is deceiving us?" A full plated crusader replied.
Then, a sorceress in light armor that overheard them joined the conversation. "I saw him earlier too. He and his party was the one who took down that behemoth. But after hearing all of those I don’t want to be executed with him."
"See? This boy only bring misfortune to us! So now that we see that we all agreed to the execution we will proceed then. Knights!" Cazius said while pointing his finger to me"
"Yessir!" the knights reponded.
Then they immediately proceed to the execution. The executioner climbs up the stage carrying a huge and very sharp looking blade. He walks in front of me maybe trying to intimidate me with that huge blade of his. I can say that the blade is really sharp by just looking at it because I caught a reflection of my eyes that seemed to be showing no interest at all.
The man lifted the huge blade with his two muscular arms high in the air and aimed right at my neck.
[Oh, so this is it? After something strange like being summoned to another world happened to me while enjoying my life on earth, is this really how my fantasy life ends? By the hands of someone I use to save from demons?]
I closed my eyes while having those thoughts in my mind. That's the least I could do to enjoy my last moment here waiting for the blade to touch my neck.
[Clannnnnkkkkkkksssss]
But unfortunately, my fateful death was interrupted when the executioner's blade hit something. It was clearly not my neck because I am still alive and besides it sounded like a metal to metal crash. So I opened my eyes to witness what it was.
I was very surprise when a girl with crimson colored hair holding a rapier appeared on my sight. It was her rapier that countered the huge blade just before it reached my neck. I started to think how was that thin rapier able to resist the downward full force of the huge blade but I'll put it aside for now as Renia the daughter of Paul known as the crimson heroine look at me delivering a sweet smile on her face.
"T-the crimson heroine? What in the world are you doing?" Cazius blunted.
Renia avert her eyes from me and change it to sharp gazes directed to the army commander "Believe me, you're accusing the wrong person Cazius."
"What? So you're going against the King's order?"
"I'll accept any circumstances and punishment that'll come after this but AHHHHH." Renia's words were cut when a poorly aimed fireball hit her in the right shoulder guard.
"Good timing. Mage. Too bad a swordsman like you had low resistance on magic attacks. Especially when you're protecting that boy." Cazius smirked.
Renia wants to counter the attacks of the low ranking mage but she just couldn't because the executioner is still fighting her rapier. "You piece of— AhhhHh." She said out of annoyance but was interrupted again by the fireball.
The mage tried to cast another fireball but this time a strong gust of wind nearly ripped off her garments and it carried her out of the stage. Of course the magician screamed out of pain but I couldn't hear that clearly since the winds are also covering my hearing.
"Oh for gods sake, they are appearing one by one." Cazius looked everywhere to find the caster of that wind magic.
"I'll never let you hurt him! Everyone!" A little girl on sorceress attire standing near the stairs of the stage said.
Or I should say a little elf. It was the same elf that I met weeks ago, her name was Chiyo. And after her instructions many figures come up from the stairs.
The figures appeared was also the ones I knew, of course they were part of my party Mayuri the champion, Karen the crusader, and Guinezia the dryad swordsman but there are also this three that surprised me the most it was the two Imperial Soldiers Christina and Ichiro. I don't know why they are "going against the kings orders" since those two are part of the army. And also the man that supported my life as an adventurer and serves as my guild instructor, Renia's old man—Paul.
"Caz. You crossed the line, do you know who is this boy?" Paul said.
"Crossed the—, I didn't crossed any line, you! You are all TRAITORS!! Knights you are free to engage them!" The army commander shouted.
"You coward! Always hiding at the back of your footmens! This boy was the HERO! You heard me?"
"Impossible! There can only be one hero in every 35 years! And this years summoned hero was in the royal capital!"
"Huh? …Lies! Cazius stop this already!"
"Say what you wanna say deadman!"
And then the clash between people who wants to kill and people who doesn't began. My party alongside Christina, Ichiro, Paul and Renia all fighting around me sweeping the knights away from me. While the adventurers at the bottom of the stage all confused what is going on and where should they side to.
Chiyo approach me with an assured look on her face and said. "Ryuji! Good thing we came back for you! Are you all right?"
" ..."[ I wanna told her to remove the thing covering my mouth] But gladly she realized it soon enough.
"Oh right sorry." she began removing the seal from the back that made my face almost lean to her still-growing chest.
I am amazed that even in a middle of an all night war she still smells how a maiden should. I realize that if she didn't removed the mouth cover quick I'll really gets fond to it.
"Thanks for coming back I really appreciate it." I said with my usual low pitched voice.
"Jeez. You're hopeless Ryujiii." she replied.
"Yes I guess so...[I wanna ask her on where did they leave Lily's remains as they are the ones I told to take it away, but that can wait for later.] ...Can you step back a little?"
"I'll remove your handcuffs first—"
"No there’s no need to do that, just stand back." And for now all I need to do is proceed to my plan.
"But why?"
"You'll see."
~~~
[Third Person POV]
On the other side when Renia finally taken care of the muscle head executioner she crossed eyes with Archen ."You sure of this?" Renia asked hold her sword with hostility.
"I’m the one who should be asking you that." Archen said before launching a full swing attack of his scimitar.
The crimson heroine manage to parry the blade and now they are facing each other. "You idiot! Do you... Do you know your sister was that boy’s lover!"
"Liliana? She’s not my sister, I don’t have a family. I only serve the hero and to kill that general is my—."
Archen was cut off when he felt some tremendous magic power unleashed in the center of stage. It was too strong that made strong blast of winds around it. Everyone not only him looked to where it came from.
It was from the red haired boy in the center. As Ryuji rise up broken handcuffs fall from his hands and at the same time the sky slowly darken and darken. All of the sorcerer below the stage vomits when they felt like the sky has fallen down, others fainted. But Chiyo despite being a sorceress and standing on Ryuji's side didn't feel anything. Was it because Ryuji protected her? or something.
And when the sky completely devoured by darkness, everyone no matter the distance heard the low pitched voice of the red haired boy muttering something.
[Ryuji's POV]
"Dark, dark, within darkness,—The space around me began to emit colors that was much darker than black—o' oblivion of hell feed on my soul, to slay them all—My eyes turned black with its pupil emitting violet glow and as I continue the chant the pressure around is getting heavier— One by one, hunt them down— My voice slowly changed from low pitched to somewhat ferocious tone and my lower body starting from waist became covered with black fur—. Come forth from the depths of hell!" — The moment I finished the last part of the chant, two horns similar to that of a goat appeared on my head.
I remembered what Bel said. [And to finish it you should decide what will you call your spell]
The smile imaging bloodlust appeared on my mouth once again and as the people who cannot move a muscle out of fear I let out the name of my spell.
"Lesser Form: …Great Demon... Baphomet."
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