Chapter 270

Clang!

The sword blade hit the wall and rolled away. As expected, his skills were extraordinary, matching his appearance. The gang’s eyes followed the sword, causing them to miss Ian’s eyes turning golden.

Timothy roughly rolled up his torn sleeve, then tried to pick up the fallen sword from the floor.

“F-fuck! Don’t you know there’s no defense against a group attack?”

“Go forward! Push! You bastards, he’s picking up the sword!”

“You take the lead! G-go on!”

“Hurry!”

A first strike with the gang. There’s no greater truth in the world of ruffians. They all rushed in before Timothy could properly take his stance. Shouts erupted here and there to hide their tension and heighten their excitement.

“Uwaaaaah!”

“W-wait. The sucker’s eyes…”

“Get him! Kill him!”

The narrow, long corridor. In a sealed space without a single window, Timothy and Ian were cornered. Timothy advanced step by step, scraping the floor with the tip of his sword. Three steps before the clash, two steps, one step…

“Wait! I’m telling you, the sucker’s eyes are strange!”

“Uwaaaah! Let’s go!”

Ian, who had been watching from behind, turned his head and opened his eyes wide. Sucker? For a moment, he thought he had misheard. It was the first time in his life he’d been called that. Rather than anger, Ian smiled incredulously, finding it refreshingly absurd.

Tap tap tap!

“Hyaah!”

The man at the forefront swung his sword widely as he rushed at Timothy. Given its large surface area, it was bound to hit somewhere even if swung carelessly. Just as he complacently thrust the sword tip forward-

“Huh?”

Clang!

As Timothy deflected it with his sword, the overwhelming difference in strength could be felt through the locked blades. The man’s arms trembled. He tried to strike down, but it was futile.

Timothy easily applied force and pushed the man against the wall. The blade kept rising towards his neck. He turned his head to ask his companions for help, but this caused his strength to falter, and his neck was cut.

Slash!

“Aaaaargh!”

Once by his own sword, and once again by Timothy’s. The man who was cut twice in an instant clutched his neck with both hands and fell forward.

Timothy raised his sword and warned in a low voice.

“Clear the way.”

But it was too late to turn back. Youthful bravado had rendered rational judgment impossible, and the sounds from the stairs above only fanned the flames. Their gang members were continuously rushing in to provide support. Those at the front simultaneously pounced on Timothy.

“Die!”

Slash! Clang!

Slowly, but surely. Even if it meant being pushed back, Timothy focused on each strike. As he gradually moved forward, the gang’s momentum also surged.

“It’s okay! Keep pushing!”

“Fuck! Uwaaaaah!”

With five or six swords coming at him simultaneously in the narrow corridor, Timothy’s breathing became slightly labored. At this rate, even if he cut down all of them, he wouldn’t be able to leave due to the pile of corpses.

At that moment, an unexpected attack came towards Timothy’s ear.

‘Ah.’

The other ear will be cut off too. Just as Timothy thought this, Ian quickly condensed and released his magic. The strong impact sent the nearby enemies flying backwards.

Boom! Bang!

Crash!

“Aaaagh!”

“W-what was that just now?”

“What’s going on? What’s happening up front? Ah, I can’t see.”

“Suddenly pushing and shit.”

“Shut up! It, it, it seems to be magic!”

Those at the front all stopped at once. Those at the back were in an uproar, but they couldn’t move carelessly. A mage, they said. Aside from having no chance, there was a high possibility of him being associated with the Imperial Palace.

Timothy relaxed his lowered stance and turned to look at Ian.

“…Thank you, but the building will collapse.”

“I said I’d be gentle, but it is a bit concerning. Still, it’s better than having a diplomat’s ear cut off. Wouldn’t the king be curious when you return home?”

Debris dust fell from the ceiling due to the recent impact. If the building were to collapse underground rather than above ground, wouldn’t that be even more troublesome?

Boom! Thud!

Sure enough. From the opposite end of the corridor, in the arena, the sound of something collapsing could be heard. The floor they stood on and the walls shook violently. The gang members flinched and turned their gaze to the back.

Crash! Bang! Clang!

Rattle! Thud!

Something must have happened inside the arena. Intermittent screams of people could be heard, and inexplicable explosive sounds erupted.

The gang members stood there, alternating their gaze between the back and front, not knowing what to do. Then, as the arena doors swung open on both sides, something burst out.

“Iaaaaan!”

“Ugh!”

Boom!

Running with his legs sticking out between the iron bars. He was supporting the cage with both hands raised high. An employee who tried to stop him seemed to have failed, tumbling down the corridor after being thrown off. Beric roared out a curse.

“You bastards! It’s because of you that Ian left me behind! How am I supposed to go alone! Give me my carriage fare! How many times do I have to tell you to release this-!”

“…Beric?”

“Huh? You didn’t leave?”

Ian looked at him in bewilderment. The source of the loud noise from inside must have been the sound of him falling from the ceiling. His wounds haven’t even fully healed yet, how is he carrying that thing?

Beric spotted Ian and waved his hand cheerfully. As soon as he let go of one side, the iron cage tilted and fell to the floor.

Boom!

“Ow, this is freaking heavy.”

“Beric, how did you get down?”

“When I jumped and shook it, it came off with the ceiling. But if I had known you hadn’t left, I would have stayed still. My tailbone hurts like hell.”

Ian had moved to talk with Timothy, but it seems Beric misunderstood and thought he had been left behind. It hadn’t even been that long. He’s always so impatient.

“What’s everyone doing? Looks fun?”

“Well, it is kind of fun.”

“I want to join too. Someone lend me a sword! You there! You look so weak, you’re clearly meant to be stepped on. A sword is too luxurious for you! Hand it over to me! Or bring me my black sword!”

The man singled out by Beric retorted in confusion. It was an almost reflexive response, having engaged in verbal sparring in back alleys every day.

“Who are you calling someone meant to be stepped on? You’re the one who should be stepped on!”

“Huh? This bastard?”

“You’re the one trapped in an iron cage! Hyaah!”

Whack!

The man thrust his sword through the gap, but Beric quickly grabbed the cage and twisted it. The sword snapped and flew off, and at the same time, the corner struck the man’s chin.

He covered his torn mouth and fell forward. Teeth falling out along with blood. Beric shouted triumphantly.

“I’m not trapped, I just can’t get out!”

…Isn’t that the same thing? The gang members hesitated for a moment and looked around. In front was a superior fighter and a suspected mage. And behind was a red-haired madman.

It would be better to run away first. If the blonde boy was truly a mage, there would be no way out. Neither physically nor legally.

“Get out of the way! Damn it!”

“Uwaaah! Get out! Get out!”

As they turned their backs and ran towards the stairs, Ian instructed Beric.

“Beric. Block the stairs. Don’t let anyone out.”

“Huh? Hey hey hey! Ian says don’t go out! Stop!”

“Run faster, you bastards!”

“I said don’t go out! Are your ears clogged?!”

Beric lifted the iron cage with both hands and dashed forward. He then positioned himself at the entrance to the stairs before the gang members. They tried to push the cage away, but it didn’t budge due to Beric’s resistance.

“Stab him! Kill this crazy bastard!”

“Eh? Anyone want to put their hand in? I’ll bite it for you.”

“Kill him!”

Chomp!

“Aaargh!”

“Oh, a sword! Don’t know whose it is, but thanks! Anyone else want to put their hand in? I’ll cut it off for you!”

Slash! Stab!

Beric grabbed a sword and swung it right away. While he dealt with the relentless barrage of swords and fists, dodging this way and that, Timothy also readied his stance and jumped in. There was already an overwhelming difference in skill compared to these back alley thugs. Now they were even showing their backs.

Timothy advanced, cutting down enemies with ease. Even in the darkness, blood splashed about, and the smell of mold and blood grew stronger.

And finally.

Slash!

With Timothy’s strike, a man fell, and he soon found himself face to face with the iron cage. Beric looked up at Timothy, covered in blood. He grinned and stretched out his hand.

“Oh, mister. You look even dirtier up close! Want to have a go when we get out of here?”

“…Lord Ian.”

Timothy looked Beric up and down and turned to Ian. Ian was approaching them, stepping over corpses.

“Yes. What is it, Delegate Timothy?”

“…Is this person really your friend?”

Didn’t he refer to Beric as a friend earlier inside? No matter how he thought about it, he couldn’t believe it. Setting aside the difference in class, the worlds these two lived in seemed completely different.

“Ah, why! You just don’t know, but I’m, you know, despite how I look, huh? I’m quite something!”

Despite how he looked, he wanted to boast about something, but there was nothing to say. That he eats well? Sleeps well? His fighting is extraordinary, but he’s not the best yet. He lost to Jeirutt and was beaten by the black armor, after all.

In place of the speechless Beric, Ian smiled brightly.

“I wish I could deny it too.”

***

“Why are there so many people? Was it like this earlier?”

Jin, Romandro, and Xiaoshi sensed the markedly changed atmosphere of the street. When they parted with Ian, there wasn’t such a large crowd, and above all, weren’t they all in a half-dazed state?

But now it was chaotic, instinctively making them sense that something had happened.

“That’s right. There are many carriages too…”

“It’s the guard.”

“Isn’t that the alley Brother Ian went into?”

“Let’s go take a look. Xiao, guard him well.”

“Yes. Understood.”

“Excuse me for a moment. I’m going forward. Oh, thank you.”

As Romandro parted the crowd, Xiaoshi picked up Jin and followed behind. The closer they got to the inside, the more filled it was with bustling commotion.

At the center was a dilapidated building. Guards were gathered in large numbers, carrying out severely injured people. Jin, sitting on Xiaoshi’s shoulder, spotted Ian.

“Brother Ian!”

Ian, who had been talking about something with the guard captain, heard Jin’s voice and turned his head. At Ian’s direction, the guards controlled the crowd to make way.

“Jin, did you look around the park well?”

“Yes, Brother. The time was up, so we came to get you. But what is all this…”

“Young Master Jin! Do you have any bread left? I’m hungry!”

“Beric?”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Jin was startled to find Beric covered in blood while trapped in an iron cage. What on earth happened? Sensing his worry, Beric waved his hand with a smile.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. This isn’t my blood.”

“Beric, you fool! Your stomach wound hasn’t healed yet! What kind of trouble did you cause?!”

“I didn’t cause any trouble! Wow, that’s unfair. Do you have bread?”

Romandro rubbed his forehead as if dizzy from Beric’s words. Ian whispered something to the guard captain, who saluted formally before returning to the cleanup scene. To retrieve the key to Beric’s cage and his black sword.

“There are too many eyes and ears here, so I’ll tell you when we get back. And…”

“Hello.”

It was Timothy. Jin slowly opened his mouth and looked up at him. Up close, his aura was even more impressive.

Timothy knelt on one knee to meet Jin’s eyes. Among Ian’s companions, there was only one person who came to mind when thinking of a silver-haired, blue-eyed child.

“I am Timothy Ovia. I’m truly embarrassed to meet you like this. If you allow, I would like to formally pay my respects in the near future.”

Jin nodded unconsciously. It was a brief greeting, but in the current situation with all eyes on them, it was the best courtesy he could offer. Ian took Jin’s hand and addressed Timothy.

“Well then, Delegate Timothy. We’ll meet again.”

“Yes, Lord Ian.”

Ian gave a look suggesting he should hurry and leave. He had arranged for Timothy not to be questioned by the guards.

Timothy put on his robe and disappeared into the crowd. Ian watched his retreating figure until the end, and Jin observed Ian.

“Brother Ian.”

Ian turned his head with a smile as if asking what was wrong. At that moment, Jin’s subtle senses stirred. Had there ever been a case where Lord Ian smiled like that at someone he was meeting for the first time? He wasn’t sure.

“Have you met Timothy before?”

“…No. Why do you ask?”

Ian was born and raised in the border region and had only recently arrived in the capital. Even Jin, a prince, was meeting him for the first time, so how could he have met Timothy before? Ian denied it, but Jin somehow felt uneasy.

“Just… It seemed familiar.”

“It’s probably because you’ve seen his portrait.”

“…I see.”

“Let’s go back first. I’ll explain when we get back.”

Ian patted Jin’s shoulder as he stood up, and Jin nodded in agreement. Suddenly, the child tugged on Ian’s hand.

“Oh! Are you not hurt anywhere? Beric is covered in so much blood…”

Suspicion is suspicion, but worry is another matter. Jin’s question deepened Ian’s smile.

Ah, was it just a misunderstanding after all? Not goodwill towards Timothy, but just being in a good mood? Jin smiled along, making a slight dimple.