V3 Chapter 43

The atmosphere turned solemn in an instant.

However, before they could draw their swords and weapons, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by an intense, and horrifying murderous intent that freezes their bodies in the spot.

“And what do you mean by that, Lamian?”

Leticia asked, with a very cold expression.

Are they really after the treasure as well?

She looked at the Lamians beside the red-haired one with a menacing glare, readying themselves for battle.

The red-haired Lamian came forward with a smiling expression.

“I mean what I say, Human…from here on out, we will take over. It would be better if you don’t rebel, or else someone will get hurt.”

“Is this your plan all along? Is this your true face, Lamian?!”

Leticia scowled in anger.

“Do you really want to declare war against us?!”

When she raised her voice, the knights seemed to find their spirits back and immediately snapped out from the constraints of that horrifying killing intent that covered the area.

Whether it was the effect of skill or ability, no one knows, but their fighting spirit slowly recovered and rose up in morale.

This is the innate power of those of the ones belonging to the royal family. People call it 'Prestige', 'Kingly Air' and many more. However, although it's not a defined skill with a clear name, it was clear that the voice of the royal family could affect and ignite people's emotions and hearts as if raising their morale, and giving them strength.

There were even instances that with just one powerful voice, they could dispel any negative debuffs that restrict one's movement or action. That is why those who hailed from the royal family of Delouria Kingdom are said to be natural-born leaders or even god-given talented generals.

This is the true Brand of the Royal family of the Delouria Kingdom.

The knights immediately drew their swords, and the others prepared to fight. Even Celia who had a very complicated expression turned at her.

“Does Rain knows about what you are doing?!” she couldn’t help but say in anger.

Right now, the best chip for them against the Lamians is the boy named Rain.

A mysterious human. And for some reason, the Lamians seemed to hold the mysterious boy in high regard.

Upon her words, the red-haired Lamian’s face darkened and she glared at her.

But she didn’t say anything and instead turned towards the princess.

“You can say whatever you want, but I need you to step back now. We will take over from here. As long as you cooperate, none of you will be harmed.”

“Do you really think that we will just obey whatever you said?!”

Leticia reached inside her long coat and eased out her sword, ready for a fight. It felt somewhat heavy but comforting in her grip.

Although she didn't want to fight them, or rather, she was scared of fighting them. However, she cannot back down. This is the turning point. The prestige of the Kingdom is at stake at this very moment.

On her signal, the knights' aura started to burst out one by one, their bodies glowing in golden.

A result of the Knight’s skill called [Fearless] that raised their physical attributes temporarily, displaying their intent and will to fight.

However, before anyone could do something, a flurry of Lamians appeared like a startled flock of birds from every shadow on every corner of the cave.

Bows and arrows, spears and swords, all extended, ominously the dim light and torch illuminating the dark cave.

“I suggest you do nothing of the sort, human princess. Although we don’t care for war, we don’t wish for it. You just need to step aside for a while, and we will leave you alone afterward,”

A cold voice warned.

From the darkness, the familiar Medusa slithered forward, dressed in complete battle attire. It was as if she was displaying her intent to fight, and perhaps even start a war if need be.

Just by looking at her, the situation of the human group worsens.

Each and every one of them dreads the Monster King: Medusa. And their hope for survival took a hard fall.

After all, this is a Monster of Legend.

One that is said to be capable of destroying a country.

“What are you trying to do?! Are you also going after the Holy Sword?!”

“…Holy Sword, No. But much more precious than any treasure in the world,” Zarda said with a faint smile.

“You can have any sword you want, but this, it’s ours. And we will do anything to take him back. So please, Human Princess, step back. A sword is a sword, once drawn, blood will shed—don’t make us do it.”

Him? What did she mean by him?

Leticia furrowed her brows when she heard the Medusa’s words. It was completely out of her expectation to receive such a reply. Though, she was somewhat relieved when she said they are not after the Holy Sword. Then, there is still an escape in this deadly situation.

However, someone has a different thought upon hearing the Medusa’s words.

“Wait, you’re talking about Rain, aren’t you?”

Celia who was listening to the conversation suddenly asks in shock.

Looking at Zarda’s expression, she just can’t help but feel that this sudden strange hostility from them was related to him.

Ever since they had met, Celia had realized that Rain seemed to have some incredible, if not, an unusual influence on the Lamians.

In fact, if one just tried to see further on their actions that day when they first met the Lamians, especially the golden-haired Lamian and this Medusa, both of them displayed horrifying hostility after his name was mentioned.

Not hostility against him of course, but a protective kind of pressure as if anyone knowing him would spell bad for them. Hence, it was safe to assume that the Lamians cared deeply for him.

Furthermore, just a few days ago, the Lamians had not even cared about them, nor their expedition, sending one Lamian to guide them every time. In which, always, giving them warning to never step foot at the North part of the Desolate Cave.

It was easy to understand what’s in there—was it treasure that they didn’t want them, the humans to see, or someone that they would never want anyone to know, meet or even see. Well, there's only one that fits the description. Rain Revert. That mysterious boy she had met.

They’re protecting him, that’s for sure.

But why?

The black-haired boy, Rain, ever since that fateful day, had never disappeared from her mind. Though Celia had tried asking for his whereabouts since, she was only responded with contempt, or anger, or both.

But still, her thoughts always returned to him.

Where is he now? What is he doing? What’s his relationship with the Lamians? And many more questions she liked to ask, but know no answer will come. Unless she met him again.

But then suddenly, the Lamians came. Though they are reliable comrades in battle, having more come so suddenly, even eagerly helping them as if trying to quicken their expedition, even Celia started to doubt something is going on.

But Lamians had never shown any interest in the Holy Sword up until now. So why?

When Celia saw the red-haired expression, and now the Medusa, everything seemed to have clicked together.

Why are all Lamians suddenly started appearing here? Why has the Medusa who didn't want to associate with them suddenly appeared here? And more importantly, when everyone is in this place, where is Rain?

The Lamians turned at her, some shocked, some startled, there were also angry glares, but more importantly, Celia had obtained the answer she was looking for just from their reactions.

And she was not only the only one who had noticed it- like Leticia, Celis, and almost all the people had noticed the change in the expressions of the Lamians.

Realizing something, Leticia’s expression loosened.

If what Celia said is true then the Lamians are really not chasing after any treasure, much less, the Holy Sword. But the boy. And the little worries in her heart slowly faded, which was then replaced by a sudden bout of curiosity.

What happened to him?

And what’s his relation to the Holy Sword that they are looking for?

“That’s none of your business,”

The Medusa responded with a cold expression.

“Don’t move, Human Knight, hands off your sword. I assure you; you don’t want this situation to become worse than it already is,”

The red-haired Knight grits his teeth and lifted his eyes to the numerous Lamians eyeing him like snakes glaring at a frog. And sweat drenched his back. After a while, he took a deep breath and lowered his arm in surrender. Though, he still walks behind the princess with extreme vigilance.

“You chose well. Don’t try to be a hero, it’s not needed. And I warn you again, for those fools in the back. If anybody makes a stupid move all that remains of him will be a burning smell and scattered limbs. Now, lead them away, and I want this place clean up! Threia, I leave this place to you! Make sure no corners unchecked.”

The Lamians hurriedly surrounded the human group, causing the atmosphere inside the cave to once again solidify. It’s as if a single spark could ignite and burn everything in the place.

As the Lamians moved closer, with their weapons bared, the knights started responding, seemingly displaying the fact that they would never surrender, even if they know their own defeat—although they are strong, individually, as they are the chosen elites of the first Princess, but they have been battling up until now without rest, and they are already feeling the fatigue even with the priests help. In fact, even their mana has yet to completely recover.

Most of them have also drunk a Mana Potion not so long ago as well, which didn’t help their situation at all.

Well, even if they are in peak form, they still doubt they can win with this many Lamians against them. What’s even worse is that a Medusa is among them. No matter what they do, only a miracle can save them now.

“Wait! We can help!”

Celis, however, was not in the mood to fight. In fact, she was thinking of something else.

“There’s no need for conflict. We can do this together. I owe him my life, and I want to repay that. I want to help!”

“Yes, just tell us what happens to him. Is he sick? Are you looking for something in the treasures left behind by the Great Hero Arthuria? You know, only the Holy Sword matters to us, everything else aside from that, if you want something you can have it. There’s no need—”

“We don’t need your help, human. Never will be.”

The princess, Leticia hurriedly said. However, she was cut off by the Medusa who said with an intimidating expression.

The slender snakes at the top of her head stood up and hissed as they glared at her.

“We are true to our words, and we will give you whatever sword you are looking for…that is if we found it. But saving him, we don’t need your help. That is our duty, our obligation, not yours. If you want our relationship to continue as is, don’t ever poke your nose to places it doesn’t belong to. Now leave,”

Her stern face could barely contain the outpouring of disgust she felt for the suggestion. It seems like, the humans helping them was truly an absurd matter, and perhaps, a most disgusting thing that could ever happen.

Did they hate humanity to such an extent?

Or perhaps, there is another reason for such a strange reaction?

Leticia was taken aback.

She just couldn’t understand why they are so adamant on this subject. It’s as if they are trying to protect that boy from them, which, completely doesn’t make sense, by the way.

Why would they need to do it, when they didn’t even know the boy?

Why would they even hurt him?

Because he associates with monsters?

No…though, perhaps, others would, Leticia knows the prejudice of humans against monsters. And there were even cases of just associating with them would already lead the human to execution.

Though, of course, the Delouria Kingdom didn’t facilitate such things. In fact, there’s not even a single history about such absurd selfish wickedness that occurs in their kingdom. And the Lamians should know that.

The Delouria Kingdom had always been staying neutral in the issue of Demi-humans relationship with Humans. After all, the great founder of the kingdom and even the Hero Arthuria had complicated relationships with the Demi-humans and Monsters in the past. And though, such a relationship had already faded due to the atrocities from both sides, the Delouria Kingdom still clears away all prejudices and discrimination against Demi-humans.

In fact, among the existing Empires and Kingdoms in the current era, they have the loosest knots against them.

Perhaps, that’s even why they were able to at least, converse with the Lamians much better than one expected. If it was other Kingdoms, they certainly have been attacked by now. Or killed. But the Delouria Kingdom doesn't have an opinion about it.

“Don’t you think you are not making any sense? We want to help, we could do this together!”

Celia scowled in anger. She was very frustrated by the Lamian’s stubborn attitude.

“No, we won’t.”

“You—”

As Celis was about to say something again, now her face dyed with annoyance and anger, just at that time, her attention was suddenly stolen away. She saw a sudden appearance of dull blue rays of light in the dark ceiling, just above the monolith. It was like a light show had occurred, and the magic fluctuation in the surrounding became erratic.

“What’s going on?”

“What is the—?!”

“This is?!”

Zarda’s eyes widened in shock as well. In fact, all the Lamian stared aghast at the scene of the air suddenly being split open.

Large strong gale appeared, so strong some of the lightest people, most priests and mages wearing only robes were almost blown by the wind. But no one dared to blink. And then space began to distort strangely.

Zarda’s eyes light up, her lips curving into a wide smile. Though, subconsciously, tears of relief started to appear at the corner of her eyes.

She thought her tears had blurred her vision, so she hastily blinked, and looked again. It was at this moment, a rift suddenly opened in the sky, and four people dropped from inside that space rift.

“Elder Sister, it's Rain and the others! They are back.”

Drova screamed loudly with ecstasy.

“Thank god, they are okay! They’re fine!”

Stagna also cheered happily as well. Behind her were Sarete, Threia, and the others. They watched as the four figures slowly fell from the sky. Though, a second later, their happiness turned to fear.

The four figure’s descent from the open rift was not stopping nor slowing down, and they are even motionless.

Without hesitation, almost all the Lamians simultaneously moved, and they hurriedly run towards them like panicking cats, trying to catch them.

In fact, they almost flew in the air.

Zarda wanted to rush as well with a panic expression, but Threia hurriedly holds her back in time.

“Don’t forget your condition,”

Threia warned.

Zarda grit her teeth, but still she held herself. Closer, Drova was able to catch Lafetti, while Stagna and the others caught Granite and the Ant Queen. However, Rain was further from them.

Miyabila who was much closer and rapidly throw herself towards him before he hit the ground. But when she was about to reach him, suddenly a wind brushed past her, and before she realized what had happened, someone was already in front of her, catching Rain in her arms.

"You! What are you doing?! Put him down!" the red-haired Lamian screamed in rage.