Past Allen: This arc will only have two chapters left after this chapter.
Present Allen: So past Allen is a liar. This chapter was split, meaning there's still three chapters left.
Hope you all enjoy!
Chapter Fourteen: Part Two: The Standoff
Motoyasu had nearly teleported himself and Amber out of the arena upon hearing the word execution.
Somehow, the Council had known. They'd known that Sadeena wanted to kill Mr. Saxon. They'd known that her main goal was to get the other kids out.
They'd known, yet they'd allowed things to play out to this point.
The plan was a bust. Motoyasu knew they had to get out of there right now.
…
There were a few reasons why he didn't teleport immediately, however.
The first reason was because Keel, Anya, and Fohl weren't nearby. If he activated the skill, he couldn't select them and help them escape. Not without some major improvisation after teleporting out, at least.
The second reason was because Hickwaal and Sebas weren't close to him either. Fighting to where they were wasn't an option, since it could get Amber and Sadeena killed.
The third reason was because of Sadeena herself. The woman was back to her human form. And in between using his powerful healing magic and sneaking a Healing Potion out of his weapon for her to drink, the hole in her chest had closed up.
Yet her pale, sweat-covered face held a mix of shock, desperation, and deep regret. Her eyes stared in the direction of the two kids she'd wanted so desperately to save, the two kids now having to watch their freedom and big sister figure be torn from them all at once through her blunder.
Even if Motoyasu had her join his party and he teleported her out of there, she would never forgive him or herself for abandoning her lil' ones.
No, running away was not an option here. It never had been. They had to stand their ground and figure out what to do now.
…
If there was any bright side to be found in this scenario, it came in the form of the mixed reactions from the crowd and mercenaries surrounding them. That was a big help, realizing not everyone wanted to see them dead, even if their motivations for it were not entirely benevolent.
A large part of the crowd was booing at Mr. Saxon for nullifying all the bets they had made. Others, like Bitch and Mauld, were cheering at the thought of this being a surprise execution. Others were booing louder than the others because the Council had put a premature end to what'd been a memorable battle.
Some were silent, staring at their beloved Nadia in horror. A few cried in protest about Sir Bubba and his lovely sister's lives being cut short.
As for the mercenaries and slave soldiers themselves… Motoyasu recognized some of them from the Gladiator's Bar in the circle around them. They definitely didn't want to be here, judging by how many had their slave crests glowing lightly on their chests.
There were a lot of humans and various types of demi-humans amongst them. The most common appeared to be hakuko around Dou-Lon's age, with that race making up a surprising number of the mercenaries and slave soldiers there.
"C-Councilman Saxon. I mean no obvious disrespect, of course." The main announcer, Mr. Strong, started playing with his bowtie nervously while inside his booth on his balcony. The other announcers flanked him, looking confused at the turn of events as well. "I don't know what was up with Champion Nadia just now but-"
All at once, the magic tool that'd been amplifying the voices of him and his fellow announcers was shut off. However, him getting forcibly and very obviously silenced like that just made the crowd's displeasure escalate.
Some demanded to have their bettings back. Others yelled for an explanation for what was happening. A few called for the execution to commence already. The latter ones all seemed to be wearing matching black robes.
Or were a certain redhead and a nobleman. Cheerleader #1 was trying but failing to grab their attention so she could point out what she'd realized earlier to no avail.
"Saxon, what the $%^& are you doing?!" Larsa brandished her claws and stomped forward towards the man in the white suit. Her officers mimicked her motions while standing at her sides.
A vein bulged in Mr. Saxon's head. He'd wanted this to be quick and easy. But the common rabble was once again making things difficult.
"Back off, Larsa! You aren't below suspicion yourself either! Why didn't you even try to defend me?! Guards! Restrain her!"
Saxon raised his fist and another group of slave soldiers poured onto the balcony behind Larsa and her officers.
"I'm sorry, Captain. We were ordered not to say anything about this to you." The slave guard upfront bowed his head apologetically while grimacing in pain as his slave seal flared up.
"You- Why are you ordering my men and women around?! You're supposed to pass orders down through me, you son of a bitch!" The panda woman snarled and took another step forward.
A brawl was about to take place on the Councilman's Balcony, but then:
"SILENNNNNCCCCCCE!"
Councilman Judas slammed one of his large fists into the armrest of his chair.
His powerful voice, magically amplified over the entire area, eventually caused a hush to fall on everyone.
The panda woman and her compatriots stopped in their tracks, with Larsa growling in displeasure as she did so.
…
After confirming that no one was going to interrupt him, the Councilman stood to his full height.
"I apologize for how… 'eager', my fellow Council Member was to rush things." Judas directed an annoyed glare at Saxon, who scowled in response. "Before we proceed, my fellow Council Members and I will do our best to address 'some' of your concerns about what is happening right now."
"For those who are concerned about their bettings. There is no need to worry. All the money that was used to bet on the previous match will be returned after the execution is finished. However, we will not be reimbursing you for what you would have won, as this match was never intended to be official.
"You see, this was a ruse on our part, done to expose an evil plot. To thwart an assassination attempt on a member of our Council, led by none other than our dear Champion, Miss Nadia herself."
As he gestured with his hand, many members of the crowd looked down at the arena.
Gone was the strong and tall Champion they knew.
The orca woman in her human form looked both weak and terrified.
Some more murmuring broke out then. After all, everyone there had witnessed what happened at the end of the match.
"Do you deny the Council's accusation, Miss Nadia?" Councilman Delilah smirked as she walked up and spoke this time. "You were aiming for Councilman Saxon, everyone saw it. Still, it's always better to have a confession than to kill needlessly like a raging barbarian, wouldn't you agree?"
…
Sadeena swallowed down her fear the best she could. Even as she tried to look at the Council, she couldn't help but notice the two scared kids hiding behind Mr. Saxon's chair now. Their eyes were looking down at their big sister with fear and concern.
"What is there to deny?" Sadeena managed to say with a dry tone, all her playfulness gone.
"It's not like I can claim I was trying to give Councilman Saxon a haircut a moment ago."
"Hehehe, indeed." Delilah giggled in delight. "Was it just him you wanted to kill then?"
"Yes," Sadeena pointed a finger at the fuming man. "Not you. Not Councilman Judas. Not Councilman Ziro or Hickwaal or Cain. Him."
Khan and Hickwaal were both frowning in their chairs. Khan had no idea what was going on. Ziro had never informed him about any of this.
Looking at the two demi kids, and with what he'd gleaned from earlier, however, he was starting to connect some of the dots for what was happening.
Sebas stood tall and poised, doing his best to maintain his appearance as nothing more than a simple butler. He was, however, ready to leap into action at a moment's notice.
…
"Mhmhm," Councilman Judas chuckled darkly. "Indeed, still, you attempted to murder a member of the Council. An act worthy of execution in and of itself. However, since you have readily confessed, we will ensure that your punishment will be swift and painless.
"To show our benevolence, we will have the execution done by guillotine.
"And then, afterward, we will throw your bodies to the Soul Worms."
Motoyasu's face paled at the mention of those dreaded beasts. Amber tilted her head, not knowing what they were.
Sadeena was completely floored by the councilman's statement. This kind of fate was worse. Far worse than anything she could have pictured, despite all the bad things she'd done in the past.
Many members of the crowd were stunned speechless too.
"Ohohoho!" Bitch, and others like her, however, were laughing with joy. She couldn't quite wrap her head around what was going on, but the fact that the individuals who'd taken her moment in the spotlight were not only going to be executed but fed to a group of Soul Worms right after filled her heart with glee! It almost made her feel glad that they hadn't gone forward with the execution immediately!
"E-Enough!" Hickwaal stood, his small height standing as tall as he could. "I can understand wanting to execute Nadia, but giving her and my gladiators over to the Soul Worms!?"
"Quiet, we will talk about-" Saxon started to say arrogantly.
"NO, I will not be silent!" Hickwaal stated with heated passion filling his words as his voice was also amplified over the arena. "By our rules, you do hold the right to execute your gladiator, Saxon! But you have no right to execute my gladiators or hand them over to those monsters, especially when they haven't played any part in what happened!"
…
…
"No part…? On the contrary, we are very well aware of your involvement in this scheme, Hickwaal." Councilman Cain finally stood, his thin lips widening unnaturally far out to the edges of his face while his long pale fingers reached into a bag next to his chair. "Allow me to ask, do you recognize these kids, by any chance?"
The Council Member raised a crystal ball up in his hand, activating it. Up above, the projections that'd showcased Sir Bubba and Nadia vanished, replaced by an image of what was happening down below.
Keel, Anya, and Fohl were cornered in the control node. To the side of it, a recording of them sneaking in and sabotaging the barrier played out rapidly.
Then, the recording switched to another recording of Sir Bubba walking with the kids topside to the Colosseum, alongside Sebas. The footage shown made it clear that they were connected to Sir Bubba and Sebas, and consequently, to Hickwaal himself.
"If you were not involved," Cain spoke in a dark voice. "Then I do hope you have a good explanation for why these brats were caught down below sabotaging the ancient device that powers the arena's barrier.
"Do think your next words over very carefully, Hickwaal. Because if it does turn out that you were personally involved in the plot to try and assassinate me, then you and all your servants will experience the same fate as your 'beloved' gladiators." Saxon spat out right after.
…
Hickwaal fumed. Sebas subtly began to raise one of the sleeves of his suit behind his back.
"WAIT!"
Before any action could break out though, a shout came from down below.
It was just one word, but it drew everyone's attention, even though some couldn't understand Melromarcian.
Amber raised the spear she'd recovered earlier in the direction of the Council. "You're talking a lot about how Whale Lady tried to kill Mean Guy, but I haven't heard you explain why she'd dare to try such a thing yet, especially in front of a lot of other people.
"Wouldn't she have done so in a less secluded place if she didn't feel desperate enough to do it out in the open, in front of thousands?!"
…
The eyebrow of Councilman Judas went up. "Is that truly important right now? Your lives are already forfeit-"
"It was important enough for her, so it should be important enough for everyone else here!" Amber interrupted, pointing a finger at the teary-eyed Sadeena. "You must be truly crooked if you think you can just kill us off and not have anyone here question why you're so desperate to do so!
"If the people here are as smart and wise as I've been led to believe, then they deserve to know why she did it! And not just accept what is happening because a couple of mean old people said so!"
…
…
…
Judas stood there, simply stunned by the half-Shuzaku girl's audacity.
What was worse was that the crowds of people were starting to murmur again, and more of the mercenaries there threw each other questioning looks. Especially those who'd been there longer than the others.
Judas rolled his eyes and coughed into his fist. He'd just deal with this here and now. It wasn't as if the crowds of people mattered, since they had the full might of the mercenary army gathered there. And even if those mercenaries tried to disobey, almost all of them had slave crests, so they could just order them to go along with it. Screw whatever authority Larsa believed she had. They held the true power in this scenario.
The Chief of Security was standing still, biding her time while looking around the balcony and trying to think up a plan.
But she wasn't the only one. Her eyes met with Hickwaal's and she saw his lips wordlessly move as he subtly pointed towards Saxon and then his butler, who looked like a loaded spring with the amount of tension going through his body right now.
'Blood.' Hickwaal silently mouthed again and pointed at Saxon once more before pointing at the two shaking children next to his chair this time.
...
Larsa blinked once and her maw spread in predatory glee as she gestured for her officers to stand still and wait.
While that was happening, Amber's simple words from earlier caused the man in the white suit to go into a fit of rage.
"Mean old men?! Is that all you have to say after that harlot tried to kill me?!" Saxon glared hatefully at the Filolial royal as he pushed Judas out of the way to address the girl down below.
"That woman has a name, Mean Guy," Amber had no cheeriness on her face or in her tone whatsoever. "Amber still isn't sure about her intentions for her older brother, but Amber trusts her far more than she does an honorless garbage pig such as yourself.
"You are undeserving of even being called a man since you lack kindness, honor, honesty, and merit.
"You took Sadeena in under your care with the promise to help her, only to turn back on your word and take away that which she held most precious to her. You have been too cowardly to even attempt facing in honest combat, forcing her to resort to this.
"You are a monster. Anyone here can easily figure that out for themselves after listening to your drivel." Amber stated in the most brutal, matter-of-fact tone possible. "Amber will make sure you reap what you've sown on behalf of Nice Whale Lady, Mean Guy!"
…
…
Mr. Saxon trembled with rage in his spot. Judas stepped forward again, opening his mouth to order the soldiers to kill the gladiators already.
"You insignificant pest! You truly are in on Nadia's scheme! And yet you dare to say such things about ME?!
"Fine then, get over here you two, that's an order!" Saxon yelled behind him.
The two kids cried out as the crests on their chests glowed bright purple. Even then, they didn't want to walk forward.
Too bad. Saxon was impatient to get things over with, so when they didn't obey, he grabbed the boy by his long fox-like ears, and the girl by her ram horns, lifting them against the barrier and showing the pair off to the world as they cried out in pain and terror. "YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE BEING EXECUTED, BIRD GIRL!? IT IS BECAUSE OF THESE BRATS!"
Judas and the others stared at their fellow Council Member in shock. Judas tried to yell for him to stop, but Saxon kicked the man back and continued, unrelenting in his rage.
"Witness for yourselves two Lurolona kids in all their glory!" Saxon crooned with delight. "Straight from the land of the Hero's Nation! A stock so limited in supply that they're worth thousands upon thousands of gold coins individually! And THAT STUPID BITCH was hoarding them ALL TO HERSELF!" He gestured with his face at Nadia, whose eyes had widened in terror upon seeing the two kids brought out before everyone to see.
Again, the reaction of the crowd was mixed. But Saxon continued with no restraint, screaming at the top of his lungs before the people could form any opinions.
"NADIA HAS BEEN BUYING UP ALL THESE BRATS FROM THE MARKET, PREVENTING THEM FROM GOING INTO CIRCULATION AND DRIVING THEIR PRICES THROUGH THE ROOF!" A fact that benefited the Council, but one he left omitted, as he was the one trying to paint those below as villains who deserved death by Soul Worm.
"NOW SHE WANTS TO MAKE OFF WITH HER LOOT AFTER EVERYTHING I'VE DONE TO HELP HER AS HER SPONSOR!" Also a fact, but one missing a lot of the truth. Whatever his original intentions had been, he was clearly motivated by nothing but his selfish greed right now.
"I PUT CRESTS ON THESE BRATS TO MAKE SURE SHE COULDN'T ESCAPE WITH THEM AND THUS MAKE OUR NATION LOSE A BUNCH OF WEALTH!" Also a fact, but then, the Council themselves had been helping to inflate the market, pumping up the value of these kids and exaggerating their importance being from the land of the Hero's Nation. All so the sale of these kids at auction would give them their biggest payday ever.
A classic pump and dump of stocks strategy. One which, unfortunately, works far too often in the real world.
"THAT IS WHY SHE WANTED TO KILL ME!" And that was why he and the other members of the Council were so twisted.
It didn't matter that the bubble they'd created was only in the slave market either. The value around these kids had been overinflated so much, and every other industry in Zeltoble had slowed so much due to the Waves, that the collapse of this bubble would result in nothing short of the complete and total collapse of Zeltoble's economy. And the members of the Council would get off scot-free with enough gold coins to keep their descendants wealthy for centuries upon centuries, even if they lived lives of lavish spending.
All at the cost of the lives of their citizens, of their part of the world, and the cost of the lives of these kids, whose only claim to fame was being from Lurolona.
...
Of course, only those who'd studied Economics would see that right now, of which there were very few who'd focused on that course in the Faubley Academy. What mattered was that the crests on the kids began to glow an even brighter purple. Both the boy and the girl began screaming in pain as Saxon raised them even higher above his head.
"Please, stop hurting Raia and Kaiden!" Sadeena screamed, falling to her hands and knees as she pleaded. More tears fell down the sides of her beautiful face. "They did nothing to deserve this! Please stop!"
"YOU WANTED A MOTIVE, DUMB BIRD GIRL?! THERE IS YOUR MOTIVE! FOR SUCH A CRIME, YOU AND THOSE WITH YOU WILL DIE!" Saxon roared.
Too bad he didn't see how his words hadn't gotten the support of the people. Most of the visitors were tourists who had not personally witnessed the horrors of what the Slave Trade entailed with their own eyes. They'd seen slaves, yes, some even owned slaves. But even then, they were not privy to the finer details of how awful the Slave Trade could be.
Hell, even a few of those living here, who'd long since gotten used to slavery, were disgusted at Saxon's actions. Many of the mercenaries, slaves themselves, looked up at him with their blood boiling in their veins.
Had it been Melromarc, it would have been different. For all of Mirellia's efforts, discrimination was still a problem and would continue to be a problem for many until the current generations died out. But here in Zeltoble, even with slavery being a staple market, many of the average people didn't see two demi-humans being held by their heads and tortured against their wills. Or two slaves being punished for doing something wrong.
What they saw were two well-dressed, well-groomed kids. Bound against their wills, unable to defend themselves as the paragon of virtue who was supposed to be one of the leaders of Zeltoble raged like an idiot buffoon while torturing a pair of ten-year-olds. All while their caretaker pleaded on her hands and knees for the man to stop.
In short, what they saw was true evil. Only those who were evil amongst them could stand what was happening.
The others though had come here wanting entertainment through a rare championship match. Maybe they'd even wanted to see one side or the other die.
But they had not come here to watch children being tortured.
"Kill him!"
"Screw him!"
"Off with his head!"
Members of the crowd began calling and jeering, but instead of pointing at the gladiators, they were pointing at Councilman Saxon himself.
It only started with a few, but then, the crowd's fury grew. And the number of voices against him and the other members of the Council began to grow.
"Off with their heads!"
"Give us new leaders!"
"Justice for Nadia!"
Judas scowled. "Are you happy now that you've turned everyone against us?" He asked sarcastically.
But the man in the white suit couldn't have cared less. In the end, he held all the power, and he was now going to use it.
"BY THE ORDER OF THE COUNCIL, THE GLADIATORS BELOW ARE TO BE EXECUTED AT ON-"
Saxon stopped speaking.
The crowds of people who were about to start rioting simultaneously held their breaths.
The Council Member's right arm was being gripped by a pair of large paws.
The group of slave soldiers that had poured onto the balcony earlier were being held back by the four officers.
Judas stepped back, pulling up another javelin from behind his seat. A pair of daggers appeared in Delilah's hands as Cain pulled a sheathed sword from his side. They stood in defensive poses. However, none of them had been attacked. Though, that could change at a moment's notice because of what'd just occurred.
To the side of Saxon, a large panda woman scowled.
"Hey, Saxon," Larsa spoke with a deathly calmness and resolve in her tone.
"I quit."
With one sharp and powerful motion, the large and strong panda woman ripped the Councilman's arm clean out of its socket.
Blood spurted out from the bald man's shoulder like a fountain. "AIEEEEEEEEEEE!" He screamed in agony in an uncharacteristically high tone of voice while instinctively clutching the wound.
Sebas moved swiftly, his two hands unflasking two potion vials that fell from his sleeves.
Almost as if in slow motion, he brought the two vials up in front of him, each one catching an individual droplet of blood in them. In the same motion, he shook them from side to side, diluting the blood in them both, before flowing to the side and dousing the chests of the two kids with the Slave Crest Remover.
A pair of small, black wings sprouted from his back at the same time, and he caught Kaiden and Raia out of the air before placing them behind him and Larsa, who moved into place next to Hickwaal.
The slave crests on the boy and girl's chests glowed and vanished from underneath their clothes immediately. Saxon didn't even have a moment to try and execute them.
"I don't care who you think you are," Sebas spoke in a calm, deadly voice. Shadows covered his face as waves of malice came off his form. "Harming kids in any capacity is undeserving of forgiveness from anyone."
"My apologies, Master Hickwaal. It appears that we'll have to leave this city earlier than planned." The butler raised his fists and looked the other Council Members dead in the eyes.
"Yes, it does appear to be that way." Hickwaal nodded before reaching into his coat pocket to pull out what appeared to be a flintlock pistol. "Do what you must, Sebas."
"Gladly." The man's arms bulked out, ripping the sleeves of his suit in several places.
His dragon wings flared out above the two kids, shielding Raia and Kaiden's awed and grateful faces from view.
Sebas bared the fangs in his mouth as he stood next to the panda woman, ready to attack the other Council Members. To the sides, Larsa's lieutenants were still restraining the crowd of slave soldiers.
"... What is this?" Judas asked, venom entering his tone as he glared at their former head of security and Hickwaal's butler. "Do you wish to be executed as well!?"
"%^&* off, Judas." Larsa snarled while baring her teeth. "I've had it up to my throat dealing with all of you parasites. I'm not going to pretend to be your guard dog anymore. And if that gets me killed, then so be it.
"But I'll make sure to rip all of your heads off before I go down!"
"You rabid wretch! How dare you bite the hands that fed you for all these years!" Cain brought his sword up.
Down below, the mercenaries and slave soldiers looked up at their Captain in shock. Many looked unsure about the sudden change of events.
For one, almost all of them had slave crests to make them obedient to the Council. However, Larsa was the one over them. The one who'd taken many of them in. Helped them adjust to this life and survive in their positions.
Many of them didn't have the cleanest records. Some had very good reasons for becoming slave soldiers. But Larsa had been the one who won even their respect and admiration. Going the extra mile for them and helping them out with even the smallest things, like making sure their loan sharks never took advantage of them, and that they received their paychecks for their work on time, drinking alongside them in their bars, all without asking for anything from them in return.
So having her turn on the Council was something that made even the last few who'd been waiting for the command to kill pause.
"D-Don't think it'll be so easy!" Delilah suddenly interjected. She clutched the two daggers in her hands with white-knuckled grips. "We all share master status on those brats! Touch us, and we'll kill the rest of them as well!"
"Delilah, shut up this instant!" Judas yelled at her.
"W-Why?!" She reacted in shock to his outburst. "They'll kill us otherwise!"
"Do you think we can afford to destroy our retirement plan, you dumb whore?!" Cain asked her angrily, siding with Judas. "They're not that much stronger than us as long as the backup magic tool is running! Think with your head for a moment!"
Delilah grimaced.
At the very least, they were at an impasse now. Sebas and Larsa paused. Do they act further and risk more kids dying, or… nah, there was no way they would be allowing these villains to get away.
One way or another, things were going to end here and now. Larsa was not about to die with any unpaid blood debts left. And even if Hickwaal wasn't fully on board with this, Sebas would not let any fellow orphans continue to suffer either.
They'd find a way to pull through. This deadlock wasn't going to result in the Council getting their way.
…
"... heh. Heheheheh." Motoyasu began chuckling to himself.
He'd already been surprised by how this situation had spiraled beyond anything he could have done on his own. Amber speaking out earlier especially had taken him by surprise.
Truly, he never thought she could have such a side to her. And the way she'd helped to get the crowds of people to turn against the leaders of Zeltoble.
He'd recalled quite a few things during that time. Many of them were unpleasant memories from after he'd started in this world.
The one memory that stood out was when Naofumi allowed himself to get caught, and brought Motoyasu to a room where the Shield Hero exposed the truth about Bitch by engineering a confession from the monster before his very eyes.
He still recalled that moment with crystal clarity. Every word she'd said that hit his heart and mind like a sledgehammer...
It'd been because of that moment he was finally able to let go of his former loyalty to Bitch. When he'd realized just how badly he'd messed up, and how he had so much to make up for. But boy had his life become so much better because of it.
Getting a public confession from Saxon might not have been what Amber was going for originally, but that's what she'd accomplished. And it'd even made Larsa, the Chief of Security, turn against the Council.
It was clear by now that their carefully concocted plan to get the kids freed by killing Saxon had already failed. By the sound of it, it was doomed to fail, since even if the Weapons Merchant had died, the other Council Members had also added their blood to the slave crests, like how Melty added her blood to the Hero Service Crests back home.
Something he should have thought of before. But they were beyond the point of no return now either way.
So Motoyasu figured he might as well take a page out of Naofumi's book and just do something crazy so Amber's engineered confession from Saxon, as well as Larsa and Sebas' brave actions to save two of Sadeena's kids, wouldn't be in vain.
"Air Strike Lance!"
The summoned skill shattered against the purple barrier protecting the Councilman's Balcony, cracking the defensive energy field.
…
The eyes of the Council, Larsa, and her lieutenants, literally everyone there was drawn back to the middle of the fighting pit.
Motoyasu tore his battered helmet off, revealing his handsome, smiling face. His ponytail flowed out on his shoulders behind him.
"It… it really is him," Lesty said, her voice full of anger and shock.
"Who? What are you going on about now?" Bitch said angrily.
"Malty, don't you realize who that is?" Cheerleader #1 asked in surprise.
"Wait, that's-" Mauld's eyes widened in realization as well.
"Mr. Saxon, you claimed those kids were from Lurolona, correct?!" Motoyasu yelled as he planted the base of his naginata on the ground beside him.
The man was not in any shape to respond at the moment, so Judas answered in his stead with a glare. "Why do you care so much about that?! Have you not been paying any attention to what's been happening?!"
"... funny, with how many people saw through my disguise this past week, I almost wondered if there was even a point in me keeping it up till now. But I guess I had you fooled in the end after all." It was Motoyasu's turn to smirk and laugh.
Part of him had been assuming that the Council had seen through everything. That they'd somehow learned who he was and planned accordingly. But no, even though others had managed to piece together who he was, they hadn't.
"Disguise? Oh, yes, your story of being a noble from Sworn." Judas scoffed. "We already know you're actually from Melromarc. Likely sent by that Vixen as an agent to infiltrate our ranks and cause us trouble, which was why you allied yourself with Nadia and-"
"Almost." Motoyasu cut him off, much to the man's surprise.
"Almost!? What do you mean?! You and your half-shuzaku sister are actually Melromarcian agents, are you not?!" Delilah yelled.
But then, her eyes widened in realization as she found the contradiction. Why would Melromarc, a human supremacist nation, be relying on a demi-human as an agent? Even if everything pointed to Mirellia being sympathetic to that group of people, even if they were talking about a half-breed demi-human, no one with demi blood running through their veins would willingly work on that level of trust with the country.
Unless…
Motoyasu ignored the woman, his eyes moving to the side to make eye contact with the panda woman instead. "Larsa, when we talked a few days ago, you let slip that the Council backed those who raided the Hero's Nation recently, is that correct?!"
Larsa turned her head slightly, looking confused at why he was bringing that up. However, a stir had started to occur amongst the crowds and individuals there.
Those wealthy enough to have personal translators weren't being told anything. EVERYONE could hear and understand what Motoyasu was saying word for word in their language. And people were starting to understand that they were all hearing him speak in their individual language.
There was only one group of individuals in their world capable of that. Delilah looked like she was about to have a panic attack, while her compatriots looked on in confusion.
Bitch's eyes were still narrowed. However, even though he was dressed in strange armor and wielding a different weapon, his voice was starting to sound familiar…
No, hadn't that fool perished in her trap at Mauld's former estate?! How could he have possibly survived that?!
"Yes, they were," Larsa answered with a nod. "I overheard that they wanted more Lurolona people to bolster the slave market and make more profit. How is that relevant right now though?"
The other Council members began to sweat. How could the info of that raid have gotten back so quickly? And had this man claimed the raid had failed?!
"Very relevant, actually. You see, my friends and I are affiliated with Melromarc. You all guessed that part right. But I wasn't sent by Her Majesty. No, I came here on my own volition…" Motoyasu continued to smirk, showing off his newfound confidence as he raised his weapon high.
He looked from the panda woman to Judas specifically. "Councilman Judas, you told me something when we first met: That every man should know his place.
"So allow me to show you where yours is."
With a bright flash of light, Motoyasu's naginata changed into the Spirit Tortoise Heart Spear weapon form.
The spear was a long weapon, longer than Motoyasu was tall. Its shaft gleamed with an emerald-like sheen, with the color shifting to blue around the tip. The head of the spear also had the addition of a round shell around the area of the Cardinal Spear's Red gemstone. From it, small green petals extended out.
…
If there was any confusion before, it had been eliminated beyond a shadow of a doubt. Motoyasu stored his helmet in the Spear's Gemstone, just to rub salt in the wound before he spoke.
"I am Motoyasu Kitamura, the Hero of the Spear. Sent here on behalf of the Hero's Nation to rescue the former residents of Lurolona who were enslaved in the Aftermath of the First Wave! And not just that anymore!"
Panic finally began to appear in Judas and Cain's eyes. Delilah was near hyperventilating though. She had guessed who he was even before the big reveal.
"For assisting in the failed raid against our Nation, for trying to disrupt our plans to fight the Waves worldwide, and for openly admitting to trying to keep some of our people from returning home and profiting off them, I declare the following members of Zeltoble's City Council enemies of our world, by the power and authority granted to me by my status as a Cardinal Hero!
"Councilman Judas!
"Councilman Delilah!
"Councilman Cain!
"And last but not least, Councilman Saxon!" Each name was delivered with authority and strength. Hitting each individual like a sledgehammer to their chests.
They were doomed. The people had already been calling for their heads, and the true Grim Reaper had shown up to do just that.
"And in case you believe me to be bluffing or doubt my status as a Cardinal Hero! Second Javelin!"
This time, thanks to him having his strongest weapon form equipped, the skill obliterated the barrier instantaneously.
BOOM!
The javelin construct shot past it like a shooting star before exploding against the back wall, creating a massive hole there.
As the smoke began to settle, a small nick opened on Judas' cheek where the skill had grazed him and a droplet of blood began to slide down the side of his face.
It'd been quick, far too quick for any of the Council Members to track the attack. No normal person there had been able to follow what he'd just done.
All they knew was that one second, the barrier had still been protecting the Council.
The next second, it was gone, and Judas had a bleeding scratch across his face.
Judas lifted a shaking hand to his face, touching the bleeding cut before bringing his bloodstained fingers up to his eyes in horror.
Motoyasu grinned again where he stood. He hadn't even needed to use Hengen Muso to turn it into a defense piercing or rating attack. He'd overpowered the magic barrier that could defend against even level 100+ above monsters through pure stats.
"Oh, and before you get any more bright ideas." Motoyasu's face darkened. "If you even try threatening me with killing the remaining children, I will end your lives, right here, right now.
"Nadia already told me how many there are being held captive. I know who these kids are by name. If I find that even one of them has been harmed in any way before we leave this place,"
The Cardinal Spear's gemstone turned a murky green. Motoyasu's voice twisted as if a demon was speaking instead of a man as small plumes of murky substance appeared briefly over his skin.
"I will be the one throwing the mutilated remains of your carcasses to the Soul Worms."
…
Damn, for a moment, Motoyasu almost felt cool with what he'd just said.
Larsa and Sadeena were both looking at him in shock. The panda woman because of the revelation that a bona fide Cardinal Hero had been there all along. And Sadeena because of how Motoyasu had decided to put everything on the line to save her kids.
It was… the bravest, most heroic thing the orca woman had ever witnessed someone do for her in a long, long time.
Her face relaxed, the tears disappearing as her lips formed a sincere smile. It almost felt like she was falling in love all over again, I say!
For Motoyasu, seeing the blood drain from Judas' face in particular was rather rewarding. All bravado had faded from the older man's features, as well as from the faces of the other Council Members. Cain looked like he'd bitten into a very ripe lemon. Delilah was on the verge of passing out. And Mr. Saxon… well, he looked like he was about to pass out too, though whether it was from fear, or, the more likely culprit in his situation, blood loss; was anyone's guess.
It honestly felt like things would all be resolved right then and there. That they'd have no more issues in this place.
…
"Hoo hoo! Ahahahaha!"
That is until a figure in the crowd rose from his seat. Laughing hysterically at what was happening.
He was an odd fellow, dressed in bright clothes. He also wore a Jester's hat, though, unlike the girl that Motoyasu thought about often, this jester's outfit was blood red. And the air about him felt far more sadistic.
"So it was true! The false Hero of the Spear has been in our midst all along!" The man cackled. "Cicero thought himself delusional when he was told this over a week ago! But it turned out to be the truth all along!
"Oh, Great One, Cicero is so sorry for not following your commands right away! Hehehehe, Cicero will now repent for Cicero's inaction and- ow! Why must you hurt Cicero, Great One!?"
"Quit with the weird talk, preacher. I've been dying to have this rematch for a while! You and your cult are just here to be our meat shields!"
"Ohhh, yes! Of course, Cicero understands, great ones!" The Listener bowed to the pair of individuals who appeared beside him.
Motoyasu stared with a frown as he recognized the figure who'd appeared from thin air and slapped the weird jester guy in the back of the head.
It was none other than the rogue he'd killed over a week ago. Appearing next to him was his corpulent compatriot, who'd been the same man that summoned the meteor to try and wipe out him and Fitoria's flock as well.
"Long time no see, you miss us, Spear turd?" The Meteor Guy asked with a grin.
"Dritte Javelin!"
Motoyasu answered with a skill, aimed directly at the guy. Before he threw it, however, he felt the very familiar sensation of being debuffed again. As well as that, the barrier that'd been shattered in front of the Council Members appeared directly around the burly reincarnator.
Ksch!
The barrier cracked, but it didn't break from the skill.
Before Motoyasu's eyes, it began to rapidly repair itself.
"Nice, Kanemoto got it working. Hard to believe his useless cheat is finally going to be useful, for once." The rogue chuckled as the same purple barrier also appeared around him. The distinct glow of buff magic came next, quickly spreading out to the other three reincarnators who appeared randomly in the crowd around the stadium.
These were the same ones who'd died fighting Amber and the other members of Fitoria's flock. All of them were back for revenge.
As for sixth member of their group…
"What… he just…" Fohl stepped back in shock.
The mercenaries that'd boxed them in earlier were all lying on the floor. A few were letting out pained grunts, others were lying in pools of blood, their eyes glassed over.
"Heheheh, man, these trash mobs were so ridiculously easy to kill. What level were these noobs? 40? 50?"
The reincarnator, presumably Kanemoto, laughed, surrounded by a purple barrier on all sides. "Hmmm, and there are two cuties and a trashy boy in here too.
"You girls would make a fine addition to my harem, what do you say?"
"Ew." Anya scowled.
"What's a harem… actually, never mind, I don't want to know," Keel growled, the hairs on her neck standing on end. "I don't like the look of this jerk one bit."
"You sure you want to try and fight me?" The reincarnator shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm currently debuffing you two while buffing myself thanks to my ability; [Magic Tool Thief]. This is probably the best contraption I've ever gotten to try it out on too.
"Not to mention, all of my girls say I'm quite satisfactory in bed and-"
Pow! CLANG!
Keel's fist struck the front of the barrier. A loud CLANG! signified the attack not dealing any damage, but the force of the hit slid Kanemoto back several feet.
His eyes widened in surprise, before narrowing in disgust.
"... fine then. I'll discipline you brats first." The reincarnator scowled as the energy from the magic tools in the room flowed to him.
Keel shook her fist, grimacing from pain. "Come on, Anya, Fohl. Let's put this jerk down."
"Yeah." Shadows covered the cat girl's arms and legs. Her fanged teeth bared in rage.
Fohl took on an aggressive combat stance too and the three of them charged Kanemoto simultaneously.
Up above, things were shaping up for the rest of the mess that was about to happen.
"Speakers! The False Hero has attacked the Great Ones! Cicero commands you! Rise up! Bring all we have to bear against those who would tarnish their greatness and threaten the sanctity of our world!" The Listener roared with religious fervor.
The robed individuals Motoyasu had noted before rose from the crowd. They brandished knives, shortswords, and other weapons.
"Brothers and Sisters, the Listener has spoken!"
"Our time has come!"
"Bring down the false Hero in the name of the true gods of our world!" Various Speakers roared out.
Members of the crowd, robed and not, rose with religious hysteria in their eyes. Tourists around them backed away in terror.
As noted before, just about everyone in the city was at this event. Including the entirety of the Cult of the Waves, who did not like the Heroes at all.
…
Motoyasu didn't even hesitate to finally bring up his Portal Spear skill then and there on his HUD, sending a party invite to Sadeena so he could portal her out as well. This was definitely not a battle they wanted to fight, especially with those reincarnator freaks here.
He'd instead portal them outside to the save point he'd placed before the match. He'd quickly rescue Keel, Fohl, and Anya in the confusion. Then rush topside to get Sadeena's kids, where Larsa could hopefully meet up with him along with Hickwaal and Sebas, as well as the rest of the Council Members in tow so they could ensure the remaining kids were freed without any harm coming unto them. They'd flee the city after that.
He wasn't sure that was how it'd all pan out. However, with his mind going into overdrive, he put the whole plan together since staying to fight would have been a terrible idea.
However…
Interference! Portaling is unavailable right now!
The notification appeared on his HUD when he tried to select the skill.
…
"M-Motoyasu? Do you have a plan?" Sadeena asked as she accepted the party invite he'd sent her.
…
"I had a plan..." Motoyasu said gravely.
Yeah, it wouldn't be that easy, wouldn't it?
Sometimes, the crazy plans just didn't work out.
And because Motoyasu's life was clearly not difficult enough yet...
"KILL THEM!" Saxon roared, activating the slave crests on every slave soldier and mercenary who had one in the area while still holding a bloodied cloth to his shoulder.
Right after that, he, Judas, Delilah, and Cain all dashed out through the hole in the wall that Motoyasu's skill had left behind, bypassing Larsa and her officers in the process. The barrier had been shattered, but they still had the buffs to their stats, allowing them to speed away far more quickly than what should have been humanly possible.
Sebas and Larsa turned to give chase.
"HAH!" But Cain, who had made no offensive moves before, suddenly threw out something from the bag in his hands. The strange black brick let out some inky black smoke as it sizzled.
"$%^&! Get down!" Larsa shouted.
Sebas immediately moved, turning around to hug Raia and Kaiden close as his wings spread out to protect Larsa, Hickwaal, Khan, and everyone else around him.
KaBoom!
The black brick exploded, and Sebas gritted his teeth as flames, shrapnel, and a shockwave slammed into his wings, causing him to suffer some damage. Fortunately, his body held firm, and no one behind him was harmed.
However, the explosion caused the passage that the members of the Council had fled into to cave in.
They'd gotten away. And the mercenaries and slave soldiers there were forced by their contracts to start fighting.
…
And that was how the majority of the mercenaries, as well as the slave soldiers, were all forcefully pushed into the Battle Royale that commenced with the Cult of the Waves and the reincarnators dashing into the fray.
Author's Notes:
Honestly, didn't think the chapter would get as long as it was, but going to do a split here. You all are so lucky I decided to dual post today, lol.
Till Next Time
Allen