Wortenia Senki (LN) - Volume 23 - Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Hunter and Prey

Pireas, the royal capital of Rhoadseria, was a stronghold city with thick stone walls surrounding it. Five hundred years after the establishment of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, Pireas boasted of being an impenetrable fortress. To those living in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, the royal capital was another world. In more modern terms, it was similar to how those who lived in the countryside in Japan admired Tokyo. However, that once admired city was no longer like it was before. It wasn’t due to people fleeing the city because of the war, since many still lived within its walls. Overall, it was a large city on a large continent, with a population reaching millions. There was no way its people would abandon the capital so quickly, even after witnessing the terrors of war.

But the liveliness and passion naturally generated by the residents was missing. It felt more like there was an oppressive atmosphere hanging above the city. This feeling was fitting for a capital city that had just lost a war, for better or worse. The leader of the country was still a member of the Rhoadserians family. Although Lupis Rhoadserians had fled the city, Queen Radine, who had taken over the throne in her stead, was part of the royal family despite the dark rumors surrounding her birth. That wasn’t to say that everything would be the same just because a Rhoadserians was ruling again. It was something more than Lupis handing over the throne to Radine. The true ruler of this country was now a young supreme ruler who brandished a banner of a sword entwined with a two-headed snake with gold and silver scales. The unease present made sense under the current situation.

It was a suitable illustration of a losing kingdom on the verge of change. The tragedy of those caught up in the waves unfolded in the corner of a town near the royal capital walls. However, the affair wasn’t a tragedy brought about by the winner of the war, Baron Mikoshiba.

“How could this happen...” The words fell from Adam’s mouth. He and others were in front of a restaurant on one of the back streets that forked off from the main road that ran through Pireas toward the royal castle. A young couple ran a restaurant that had opened around a year and a half ago, but it was unknown where they had learned to cook. Regardless of their age, the food they made was delicious, affordable for regular people, and rather famous among those who lived in the city.

The wife was talented, generous, and sociable, so it made sense that the restaurant had many customers. Still, the restaurant was small and cozy, as twenty people could fill the establishment, which meant that they had to line up more seats outside the restaurant. Even then, there was no end to the customers day after day, showing the young couple were very talented chefs.

I wonder if it’s true that they previously worked as chefs for a noble family.

That was merely a rumor, but the couple were talented enough that it was hard to deny outright. The restaurant had garnered such a good reputation in the neighborhood that commoners in nearby districts had warmed up to the restaurant. Moreover, the couple had become cherished friends of Adam and those who lived in the neighborhood.

Finally, we can go back to how it was... I can eat my fill of their delicious food... Or so I thought. 

Adam wished that as a customer who had regularly visited the restaurant since it opened. But monsters had trampled on his ordinary yet peaceful wish.

Should I have stopped them when they said they would open a restaurant?

As a result of the war, food distribution stagnated, forcing the couple to close up shop for a while. They had reopened mere days before. Then the worst happened.

I know the nobles have been up to no good and pushing their weight around since coming here from their territories as a result of the war...

But that didn’t mean they could stop the couple from reopening. The restaurant was their only means of income, and its closing would stop that inflow. Not to mention, they had to pay high taxes as they lived within the royal capital. If they could not pay their taxes, they would become slaves, so it was only natural they wanted to resume business as soon as possible. Their decision to reopen the restaurant was a little premature, though.

“I’m begging you! Please stop! At least, spare my wife!”

“Please stop!”

A young man, who appeared to be in his early twenties, had his head pushed on the ground as he begged. Then, a young woman, seemingly his wife, screamed. It was a pitiful scene as the young man could not move because of the onslaught of blows. The men surrounding the young man continued to rain down blows with sheathed swords. No matter how lucky he was, he would surely have had multiple fractured bones. The pain he felt in his right leg and left shoulder meant there was a higher chance they had been broken. Wounds covered his whole body.

Even though he received wave after wave of blows, he still begged his assailants on behalf of his wife. The scene would make most people feel a sense of pity, even his assailants—if only they were people with ordinary feelings. But the men hitting him were monsters in human form, and there was no point in pleading or begging to monsters. Cries for mercy just spurred them to attack further.

I can’t believe this... How could this happen? Everything was so ordinary just before.

The couple was in danger of losing both their honor and lives. If anything, it was simply a matter of which came first. To those working in food and drink, this was an everyday occurrence. An overblown need for the limelight and for approval, coupled with the privilege of being a member of a noble family, had resulted in the leading young man of the group losing his temper. He then found fault with the wife, who served the customers, which led to the husband trying to stop him and receiving even more blows in full view of the public.

What came next was the usual pattern of events. Violence invites more violence. The fact the wife was a beautiful young woman only made matters worse. Adam could only stand still as the scene unfolded before his eyes. The other onlookers must have felt the same way as they surrounded the scene. Adam’s body trembled. Blood dripped from his clenched fist as the nails dug into his skin. He felt rage like he had never experienced before in his life.

No one could remain calm in the face of such inhumane acts. Yet Adam stood still, feeling as if his feet were nailed to the ground. He knew he could easily turn the tide but couldn’t make the first step due to a primal terror. Fear of suffering the same violence held him back, though his anger and hatred were visible.

Why is no one doing anything? Why can’t I help them?

Such questions clouded Adam’s mind, even though he knew the answer. Just like he could not move due to fear, the people around him could not move either. In times like these, people could only choose from two options. They could abandon the young man or seek help from a third party. No one would dare to simply desert him, so their only choice was to look for someone who could help.

I need to call for someone. But who?

Usually, one would call for the guards at a time like this. The organizations with power in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria were knights, guards, and others in similar positions. Guards were required to protect people of significance and patrol the area. In other words, they were akin to modern-day police officers. Since this situation was a little different, Adam couldn’t call for the guards. The monsters assaulting the young man before his eyes were those very same guards that should have been protecting the royal capital.

“Go on then, say something! You want to charge us for the food and booze? Just who do you think this person is?” shouted one of the monsters, pointing at a younger member of their group who was holding on to the man’s wife, licking his lips in a vile manner. The younger man had handsome features notable even among nobles. He wore intricate plate armor of seemingly higher quality than the gear worn by the other beasts around him. It was easy to see he was a financially stable noble whose clean-cut features contrasted with his vulgar expression.

He groped the wife’s breasts as he restrained her with both arms behind her back, demonstrating a dark, sinister lust through his demeanor.

“I don’t want your money. Please, just let my wife go... I beg of you...”

“I’ll do anything, so please spare my husband. I’m begging you, don’t hurt him anymore.”

The two yelled out, each concerned for the other’s welfare. Sadly, it was an act that further empowered the beasts who were drunk on blood and violence. The beasts surrounding the young couple sneered cruelly as the victims continued begging.

“To hell with that! No way we’re just gonna let you off so easily!”

“Y’know, we came all the way from Viscount Romaine’s territory just to look after ya! Our issue with ya is ya don’t seem to be all that grateful!” bellowed a beast, kicking the husband in the side with his iron-reinforced boot. Such a blow must have pulverized the young husband’s rib, and he bent over like a shrimp and called out in pain.

One of the beasts then spat on the young husband and whispered into his ear. “You’re just a dumbass who doesn’t know his place. This chap right here is Viscount Romaine’s successor, Lord Mario!”

The surrounding beasts all raised their voices.

“That’s right! Besides, we’re the guards formally requested to secure the capital! Going against us is going against the Kingdom of Rhoadseria!”

“Should we punish you as traitors? We can just say you’re spies for Baron Mikoshiba, and it’d be a quick ending for you and your shivering wife!”

“That goes for you lot gawking at us too! Any complaints, we’re right here! We’ll be happy to help!”

From their words, it was easy to see they were drunk. Even so, they probably weren’t bluffing, since most nobles in the kingdom were arrogant and corrupt. Nobles rarely rampaged within the royal capital like this, though it was not unheard of. This behavior was most likely the norm where the group of beasts came from. Considering the situation the Kingdom of Rhoadseria was in currently due to losing to Baron Mikoshiba, nobles wouldn’t receive harsh punishment for acting out. The kingdom wouldn’t be relying on guards summoned from other regions to keep the peace if it had the resources to punish nobles like these. The beasts themselves knew that.

“Go on, call for the other guards! As if anyone would dare strike back at Lord Mario, Viscount Romaine’s successor!” shouted the beasts as the onlookers, as well as the young husband and wife, gazed at the ground.

The onlookers wanted to do something but could not compete with the monsters, leaving everyone frustrated. These monsters were official guards, meaning there was nothing anyone could do. All the crowd could do was wait for the storm to pass. Even if they called for other guards, they were up against a noble. The other guards might not have even had the courage to help the young couple. Perhaps if someone who took pride in their job were to come along, they could have calmed the situation down, even if they were likely to be punished for intervening.

In the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, the gap between the commoners and the aristocracy was huge.

Why did this happen to us?

More questions welled up in Adam’s mind, and rightfully so. It wasn’t easy to ensure the impact of war only affected the battlefield and the surrounding areas, and the longer a war went on, the greater the impact would be. Basically, a conflict that ended quickly would have less of an effect on the civilians. The damage to Pireas from the recent war was minor, especially considering the destiny of the country was hanging in the balance. Other countries would have suffered more in similar attacks, and there was only one reason Pireas hadn’t sustained that much damage.

The conflict between the Mikoshiba barony and the military forces of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria had reached a hasty conclusion. A considerable amount of time had passed since the beginning of the northern subjugation, but the siege of Pireas itself had finished in a relatively short period.

Even though the war had such an unsatisfying end, that Devil didn’t even try to sell us off as slaves.

Regular people’s fates were usually tragic after losing a war, as men were conscripted as soldiers and sent to the battlefield. As a result, a majority would lose their lives or receive such grievous wounds that they would no longer be able to lead a normal life. Prisoners of war could avoid such unlucky fates and work as slaves. Soldiers rarely survived wars in which they lost uninjured and returned to a normal life. Many men on Earth experienced those consequences.

That wasn’t to say women didn’t equally meet perilous fates, and it wasn’t always because of the war. Most of their suffering happened before and after wars. Women very rarely participated in battle. Of course, that didn’t mean there were no female soldiers here on Earth. Plenty of generals represented their countries, like Helena Steiner and Ecclesia Marinelle. In this way, Earth had an egalitarian society like that of the modern day. But that only applied for those who excelled in combat, such as mercenaries and knights.

Due to martial thaumaturgy, one could strengthen their body, minimizing the gap in physical strength between men and women. Those who hadn’t learned martial thaumaturgy and led ordinary lives noticed the difference in physical strength between genders. Men recruited as soldiers made sense of this quickly.

Few nobles or royals would send untrained women as soldiers to war due to the cost-effectiveness and lack of physical aptitude. The only exception was if a country felt outnumbered during a siege; then it would conscript women to bulk up numbers. But that was a desperate measure the weak took if there was no end in sight to the war.

Women often served as combat service support, but seldom crossed swords with enemies. So, why did women meet tragic fates even though they were rarely on the front lines? The answer was that the men who went to war returned with the heart of a beast. Their guilt for doing something so irregular as killing someone, combined with the fear that they could get killed, was enough to drive them to madness.

In order to suppress that madness and forget the horrors they had seen and committed, many soldiers often sought the soft skin and the touch of a woman, even if it meant doing so without the consent of the other person. Such was the manifestation of every living being’s survival instinct, but that didn’t matter for the person who was the target of such animalistic drives. Claiming it as a human instinct felt like an attempt at justifying their horrific behavior. That said, Adam had also been conscripted as a soldier and had done anything to survive. He had lived for forty years yet held a dark past that he hadn’t even shared with his family. While Adam didn’t condone or agree with the actions in front of him, he understood why the beasts found peace of mind in behaving thus. As an older man, he wished he could have offered some words of comfort to the young man who cowered before his eyes.

However, these men are different. They’re simply pieces of shit, thought Adam.

People often said criminals had a motive to commit their crimes, which had some logic. Those born in poverty usually committed crimes to survive, but some were born into better circumstances and committed crimes out of choice. They were beasts with twisted mindsets, gloating about how they had willingly harmed people. All Adam could do was stare as the scene unfolded, burning into his vision.

I can’t run away... There’s no way...

There was nothing anyone could do. At this rate, the young man’s wife would be taken away and used as a plaything. Even so, no one attempted to escape. Although weak, it was their way of protesting the situation since everyone who worried for the couple all had the same feelings. They all prayed that before the gaze from so many witnesses, the beasts would give in to shame, remember their morals, and leave. They knew it was meaningless, but they had no other way to help. As if to make their prayers even more obsolete, one beast kicked the young man again.

“What’s wrong, eh?”

“You wanna protect your wife, right? You ain’t got time to be squealin’!”

A beast lifted the young man to his feet in order to take another swing at the young man’s face, all while the other beasts jeered. But it was no mere slap. The strike from the beast’s golden bracer connected with the young man’s face and sent a small white object flying from his mouth. The young man seemingly lost consciousness as he fell to his knees.

“Aah...” gasped the young man.

This isn’t good... They’re going to kill him, thought Adam. If they kept this up, the young man would not be long for this world. However, something happened that would subvert those expectations.

“Apologies. May I pass through?” A calm voice came from behind Adam. The speaker’s apparent serenity clashed with the sense of urgency in the air. The calmness irritated Adam, causing him to raise his voice and feel like taking a swing at the person trying to pass through. But he choked on his words before he could reprimand the person.

“Huh? What’s that? You’re...” Adam trailed off.

A noble dressed in black silk stood before Adam. Although the man’s clothes were of high-quality materials, they had a simple design, contrary to the more intricate and gaudy designs popular among Rhoadserian nobles. At first glance, he resembled a battle-worn soldier or an adventurer. Judging from the young man’s demeanor, he probably had noble standing. Even though he looked a little older than twenty, he displayed a calm nature that, paired with his somewhat aged face, would place him closer to his thirties. Behind the man were two young women both dressed like Arabian dancers—one with silver hair and the other with blonde hair.

What are nobles doing here...?

The man wasn’t wearing armor like Viscount Romaine’s son and really seemed to be a noble just passing by, even though it was odd for a noble to walk through a back alley like this one. The beasts who had been assaulting the young man couldn’t hide their bewilderment at the sudden appearance of a noble.

“Which house are you from? We are currently in the middle of something right now. Could you take a different street?” one of the beasts asked, showing some politeness. No doubt he was aware that when faced with another noble, they wouldn’t be able to use their authority as members of Viscount Romaine’s house. However, the man with the older face ignored them and crouched near the young man on the ground.

“I see... You’ve received some harsh punishment. Excuse me, I’ll need to touch you a little,” said the man.

Without waiting for a response, the stranger placed his hand on the injured man.

“As I thought, they really did a number on you. You have both arms broken, and your rib cage has a comminuted fracture. Thankfully, your bones haven’t caused any harm to your organs, so your life isn’t in any danger. You won’t be able to cook for a while, though... A shame. I was hoping to taste some of your delicious cooking.”

The man stated the obvious; it was only natural that the young man had a broken rib cage after enduring a kick from steel-reinforced shoes. There was no way the young man could cook, and his injuries were so severe there was no guarantee he would fully recover.

Considering the current situation, saving his life would be difficult enough. Although he faced grievous injuries, the newcomer nobleman remained calm, sighing as he turned around and spoke.

“Too bad... Medicine.”

“Excuse me. Please let me through,” said the silver-haired woman, disappearing into the crowd as if a single word had conveyed a command. She soon returned with a small bottle, her hands clasped around it. “Is this enough?”

“Yeah... Should be.”

The man observed the bottle of medicine the silver-haired woman brought and nodded slightly. He then took the bottle and brought it near the young man’s mouth without hesitation.

“I know it’s hard to swallow with the pain, but please try and drink this,” continued the man, pouring a purple liquid into the young man’s mouth. It caused him to cough violently, though he knew it was medicine. He desperately tried to swallow it even as it leaked from the corners of his mouth. The pain subsided, and the young man realized the man in front of him was trying to save him. Thus, he desperately tried to cling to this sliver of hope before him.

“My... My wife... Please... Help my wife...” slurred the young man, doing his best to plead.

“Don’t worry... I’ll deal with that shortly,” said the man, who motioned to the women behind him.

The young man then lost consciousness, perhaps relieved they had saved him. Meanwhile, the group of beasts watched everything take place in silence. From their point of view, it seemed like their plaything had been stolen from them. Letting a stranger interfere and do whatever they wished would be a major hit to their honor. They normally would find fault with the man trying to save the young man, but they did not attempt to stop him. The nobleman was fairly confident in his actions.

“Hey, do you even know what’s going on right now?” spoke up a beast without an inch of the politeness from before. To the beast, the man was not simply an intruder but an enemy who had interrupted his fun. He hadn’t attacked yet only because the man’s overwhelming presence intimidated him. The beasts had all nonchalantly surrounded the man, meaning they were ready to fight if needed. The man didn’t respond to the beast’s movements.

He’s like a king or something...

Adam was in awe of the man and his vigor. Suddenly, someone’s name appeared in his thoughts, purely by whim. He had no way to prove if it was true, yet Adam felt convinced he was correct.

“Baron Mikoshiba,” whispered Adam. Unfortunately, it was louder than he had intended. A look of fear covered the beasts’ faces. Adam looked around, disregarding everyone else’s reactions, and noticed the Mikoshiba barony’s crest on a flag fluttering on the horse carriage behind the crowd. The crest had a two-headed snake with gold and silver scales entwined with a sword.

Is it really him...? Adam felt a chill run down his spine. To those living in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria, Baron Mikoshiba—the Devil of Heraklion—was both their savior and a terrifying traitor. Bards had sung about his military prowess from the kingdom all the way to the far reaches of the western continent. Many said he was a man of wisdom who had successfully led Lupis Rhoadserians to the throne. But Baron Mikoshiba was also an accomplished villain who had destroyed Count Salzberg, former protector of the northern territories, and had seized full control. He had showcased his ability by recruiting the Twin Blades of Count Salzberg, the legendary warriors Signus Galveria and Robert Bertrand. Plus, he possessed the demon-infested Wortenia Peninsula and was king of the blasphemous demi-humans who lived there. Hearsay claimed that when he killed his enemies, he would bathe in their blood as proof of their annihilation. While most tales were exaggerated, there was some truth to them too. Ordinary citizens felt both adoration and fear for him.

Strangely, Adam felt no fear even though Ryoma Mikoshiba stood before him.

He’s less scary and more... Adam felt a sense of awe. If he were to explain what he was feeling, it would be that. He then prepared himself mentally for the bloodbath that was about to follow.

A beast looked at Ryoma with an investigative gaze, expressing unease and bewilderment. They must have also noticed the crest on the carriage.

“The Baron Mikoshiba? Is it really him?” They had also heard the rumors surrounding Ryoma Mikoshiba, and likely did not want to believe it was indeed him. But they also couldn’t deny it was him. After all, the noble standing before them matched the rumors.

“He is dressed like a noble, and the crest on that carriage is Baron Mikoshiba’s... Would such an important figure even come here?”

“Those two young women behind him with the gold and silver hair... Aren’t those the twins who serve Baron Mikoshiba?”

While one couldn’t say all the rumors were true, that didn’t mean they were all lies either, a thought that sent the beasts’ emotions into disarray.

“Lord Mario, what should we do? Isn’t this guy kinda a big deal?” a beast asked. Mario was still holding the young man’s wife with her arms behind her back. He had remained silent the whole time, and the other beasts raised their voices in agreement.

“Right... There’s other girls, anyway...”

“If we back down, they should back down too. I know it’s Baron Mikoshiba, but I doubt he’ll want to go head-to-head with Viscount Romaine just for a couple of commoners, right?”

They were happy to take a violent approach with commoners but were much more timid when it came to other nobles. Even though they preyed on the weak, they cowered before the powerful. But their opponent now wasn’t merely a noble. He was one of the most dangerous men in the Kingdom of Rhoadseria. His noble house’s military was one of the strongest in the kingdom. Viscount Romaine was in no position to pick a fight with Baron Mikoshiba. Not to mention, Mario held no official title even though he was next in line to be a viscount. Before an actual baron, he was just a successor—a weak one, to boot. Mario snarled at the weak yet tuck his tail between his legs when facing people stronger than him. While that was a logical approach, it was also a sign of being low in character.

They’re not afraid to speak their minds, huh? Well, I should expect that of lowlifes who would attempt to steal a man’s wife and make her their plaything in broad daylight.

Ryoma smiled wryly at their behavior. He didn’t feel the need to take Viscount Romaine’s power into consideration. Even if they were more powerful than him, the conclusion would be the same. Justice and morality didn’t depend on how strong or weak someone was.

But it seemed Ryoma’s thoughts had shown as Mario Romaine’s face twisted ugly as he shouted. “Are you stupid? As if I’m gonna step down! You think I care about Baron Mikoshiba? He’s just a conceited upstart!” shouted Mario, throwing the wife aside before taking his sword from its sheath on his lower back. The wife collapsed as she collided with a stone wall, appearing to hit her head. Ryoma, seeing her fall and lie still, signaled to the twins for them to tend to her. She might have had no visible damage, but there could have been internal damage.

“Hey, you all right?”

“Stay with us!”

A group of men noticed Ryoma’s signal and came running out from among the crowd. They bowed toward Ryoma, then headed over toward the young man’s wife, carefully picked her up, and swiftly left the area. Ryoma was worried about her injury but was more concerned about getting her away from Mario fast.

Mario didn’t react at all to the men. He would have never willingly let the wife and her husband escape; doing so would make his attempt to attack and humiliate the couple for his own enjoyment meaningless. And so he turned his attention toward the person who had interrupted him.

“Hey, asshole! Got a problem?” yelled Mario, pointing his sword at Ryoma. The beasts, seeing their master take that attitude, all followed suit. One by one, they unsheathed their swords. Ryoma shrugged as he laughed at them.

“Heh... Quite the impatient lot...” Ryoma hadn’t asked them anything, placed any blame on them, or even stated his name or rank. Instead, he had given medicine to the young man they had heavily injured, as well as responded to his pleading asking that they save his wife. Still, he never once said he planned to capture Mario and his group. In other words, negotiating was still an option for Mario—not that Ryoma had any intention of doing so. It wouldn’t have been strange for Mario to assume a sense of camaraderie between two Rhoadserian nobles. Anyone uninformed observer would have assumed that both would patch it up.

If he were dealing with a meddling commoner, no matter how violently Mario responded, it wouldn’t have been an issue. But now there was another noble involved, complicating things. As a noble, Ryoma could have overlooked the situation, which could have led to exposing the vulnerabilities of a rival noble house.

Should one take that risk, it would be safe to say that Mario was simply educating or correcting a rude commoner.

Regardless of that, they have drawn their swords.

Judging from their actions, they hadn’t thought this far ahead. Ryoma had expected Mario to come forward to justify his selfish actions and was disappointed that he did not.

Well, it won’t change the outcome anyway.

No matter if the beasts behaved modestly or threw their weight around, it would invite the same result. After all, Mario and his group were the kind of people Ryoma despised, and there was no need to uphold Japan’s law and morals here.

I’m glad I can tear these lowlifes a new hole and not worry about repercussions. That’s one of the benefits to this world. One of the few benefits of living here. 

Laws and ethics existed here on Earth, but compared to modern Japanese society, it was a lot easier to bend the rules where needed. The law of the jungle was prevalent here, as it was a world where the strong made use of their power.

These men were beasts who had taken human form, and Ryoma was a beast hunter—monsters who harmed humans were to be put down. Ryoma showed the smirk of a demon as that thought came to mind.

“What’s with that smirk of yours... Are you looking down on me? On House Romaine? Do you think we’re scared of you?!” screamed Mario as his grip on his sword trembled slightly with fear and anger.

Ryoma stood still, staring at Mario silently with disdain and ridicule. His gaze was more provocative than words, which spurred them to attack. Their anger and fear had hit the boiling point, sending Mario over the edge.

“That’s enough! Kill him! KILL HIM!”

The rest of the beasts readied themselves.

“Are we really doing this? What about the civilians?” asked one of the beasts.

“I don’t give a damn about them. Everyone’s trying to make a fool of me! There’s no way Baron Mikoshiba would be here, of all places! He’s a liar. I’m gonna do something about it, starting with killing everyone here!”

It was a nonsensical, desperate order from Lord Mario. An impersonator would not go as far as preparing a carriage with Baron Mikoshiba’s crest, nor would he necessarily even resemble the figure in the tales bards had told. It was also virtually impossible for him to fake having the rumored blonde and silver-haired twins along with him as maids. Plus, they were in Pireas, capital of the Kingdom of Rhoadseria.

The beasts had the pretense that the young couple had been rude to the nobles, and thus they had attacked in retaliation. However, killing Adam and everyone there would force the upper ranks of the knights to act, and Helena and Viscount McMaster would catch wind of it.

If this were a district controlled by Viscount Romaine, then he could use that power to silence everyone. It wouldn’t be an excuse to kill nearly twenty people in broad daylight, though. Still, I could imagine him doing that. 

It seemed, however, that none of this had occurred to Mario.

He’s like a bad guy out of a historical play. But at least now I have a good reason to act. 

Mario’s band of beasts was confused and had no choice but to follow his orders. They no longer had any means of retreat. The beasts roared as one of them slashed at Ryoma.

“Too slow,” said Ryoma, stepping forward with his left foot and punching the beast’s lower jaw while he was wide open. He grabbed the man’s throat and slammed him into the stone wall. The beast’s skull smashed on the surface, raining fresh blood everywhere. It was an outstanding show of skill. Adam, the civilians, and the group of beasts were all at a loss for words. Ryoma then called for their deaths.

“Show them the true fear of controlled violence...and then kill them.”

“Understood!” responded the twins, who had been standing still the entire time. The two of them approached the group of beasts, closing the gap while strengthening themselves using martial thaumaturgy. Their Muldahara chakras hummed as they spun, and the prana produced by those chakras opened their next chakras. All six chakras, from the Muldahara in the perineum to the anja chakra in the middle of their foreheads, rotated and granted their bodies physical abilities which were among the strongest in the world. If the twins took part in a battle of strength with a giant such as a pro wrestler, they would easily win—it would be akin to twisting a baby’s arm. The twins were gifted with rare talents, which had improved thanks to harsh, vigorous training and many battles fought alongside Ryoma Mikoshiba. In reality, they didn’t even need to strengthen their bodies anymore.

The beasts before them weren’t ordinary people like Adam and the other onlookers, nor were they battle-hardened mercenaries like Lione and her group. They weren’t even soldiers who had endured severe training or a grueling selection process. The two women had followed their master’s orders and sought further power to be able to enact them.

“Wind protection.” Verbal thaumaturgy—further increasing their strength. The wind enveloped the twins when they activated the art by speaking its name. It granted protection from a wind spirit in the form of a simple gust. Only a few throughout the whole continent had witnessed the twins strengthening themselves with verbal thaumaturgy. The thaumaturgy they had used was an ability that Ryoma had yet to master.

Perfect control... Not that I expected any less. 

When strengthening the body with martial thaumaturgy, it affected all aspects of the body—muscular strength, agility, reflexes, and so forth. Verbal thaumaturgy, on the other hand, focused on doing this only to specific parts of the body, and was very useful for heightening senses such as vision or hearing. However, such qualities as muscular strength and agility were a different story. Of course, one could punch someone or swing a sword at someone with all their strength as much as they liked. But there was no guarantee the opponent would sit and take it, despite how powerful the blows were.

It was better if they guarded, but if they dodged, it would leave an opening. Meaning one would have to abandon their weapon. Not to mention, from a balance standpoint, strengthening oneself with verbal thaumaturgy could be dangerous. When Ryoma saved the Malfist sisters, he experienced a speed boost from the wind protection. He wasn’t confident he could fight normally under the effect of that thaumaturgy. To use an automotive analogy, it would be like changing the engine of a car to a lightweight F1 engine but leaving the rest of the vehicle as it was. Or like adding nitro to gasoline, which one often saw in movies or manga.

They actually used nitrous oxide. In Japanese, it’s often written as “nitoro,” when in reality it should be “naitoro.”

Nitoro possibly had more impact. How one wrote it didn’t change the fact that it caused the engine to work faster and that one would need to prepare before using it. If one neglected to prepare, the engine could break, or the car might not keep up, leading to damage. Strengthening one’s body with verbal thaumaturgy was similar to that. With enhancement alone, verbal thaumaturgy could specialize and focus on a superior body part. For example, fire protection—a type of thaumaturgy that strengthened one’s attack by increasing muscular power—only did that. It didn’t strengthen vision, reflexes or even the bones themselves. As a result, a person strengthened with fire protection could feel everything when punching someone full force—not only would they harm their opponent, but they’d probably break their own hand in the process. It was similar to boxers known as “hard punchers,” who often hurt their hands when punching sandbags because they could not withstand the power in their own punch.

Being too powerful could lead to one hurting themselves.

That was the strengthening effect of verbal thaumaturgy. To avoid the risks, one could limit how much they strengthened themselves and keep it at an easy-to-control level. However, that could render the verbal thaumaturgy useless. In comparison, using martial thaumaturgy instead strengthened the whole body. It wasn’t as effective as the strengthening effect from verbal thaumaturgy, but it was more manageable.

In short, verbal thaumaturgy was more efficient, yet harder to control, whereas martial thaumaturgy was less effective but easier to control. A skilled martial thaumaturgy user could concentrate some of the power on heightening their senses, such as their vision or hearing—its scalability was helpful, giving it an edge over verbal thaumaturgy. As a result, verbal thaumaturgy wasn’t as highly regarded as its martial counterpart, though it did have its uses.

Although verbal thaumaturgy could strengthen others, martial thaumaturgy could not.

If someone is already strengthened with martial thaumaturgy, they can use verbal thaumaturgy to become even stronger. That does depend on how one uses it and the user’s ability.

Even if an ordinary car wasn’t able to use an F1 engine to its fullest capability and got further modified in some way, it could still make some use of it depending on said modifications.

Proof of that was happening in front of Ryoma Mikoshiba. Before anyone noticed, the twins had been hiding something beneath their swimsuitesque pareus and unsheathed their scimitars. The blades were sharp, ruthless, and as cold as ice.

For hunting prey, the twins Laura and Sara Malfist strengthened their bodies using verbal and martial thaumaturgy. They had undergone martial training as warrior slaves, so this was nothing for them.

Each time their curved swords gleamed in the light, heads and arms flew through the air. Screams of pain rose from the beasts disguised as humans as their red blood painted the stone pavement and their corpses began to pile atop it.

It began with two bodies, followed by two more in a few seconds. Every time the twins moved and swung their swords, more bodies appeared. The beasts fought earnestly, yet they were no match for the twins. Even if they tried to land a hit, the twins would simply cut through it. The beasts could neither do any damage nor protect themselves. This situation resembled how the beasts had assaulted and ridiculed the young man and his wife, where overwhelmingly stronger people committed violence. The difference was that the twins did not even have an inch of intention to humiliate the beasts. Their only aim was to end their lives.

“What the hell are you all doing?! Fight back! I’ll pay you however much you want, just kill them!” yelled Mario, his face pale.

Mario had taken many lives before but had always done so from a safe distance. As a noble, Viscount Romaine’s knights protected him. Because he had only ever killed from a superior position, he now trembled with fear for his well-being as he faced this genuine display of violence.

He’s probably never once thought someone would kill him, noted Ryoma.

Although Mario Romaine had caused so much chaos himself, he had never felt danger or a sense of guilt. Perhaps he appeared like an optimist, when in reality he was missing something vital mentally. From his point of view, the cries of the young man and his wife suffering severe wounds meant nothing. Thus, he felt no guilt. After all, he was next in line as head of House Romaine. The young man and his wife were mere commoners who lived in the city, and most nobles saw the common folk like cattle who paid taxes. In other words, nobles had a sense of power over life and death, meaning they couldn’t imagine said livestock defying them—and if the cattle did so, nobles would simply “scold” them.

Not that I can even understand such a nauseating thought.

In modern society, livestock being happy and having privileges was a recent development. For a long time, humans had exploited livestock, and none had complained or requested better treatment. As humans could not live without taking other lives, one might have said that it would be strange for humans to treat livestock like pets, giving them love and becoming attached to them. Of course, there were varying views on this. There was no reason to beat them to death with sticks or needlessly abuse them. People wouldn’t tolerate or allow this, based on modern values.

That said, it was somewhat understandable that this world differed from Japan in that the high-class aristocrats had this horrible view, whether one agreed or not. Humans were capable of magnificent emotions such as love and friendship. But when they viewed someone as less than their equal, they were capable of inhuman behavior.

I still don’t quite understand how the common folk are viewed as livestock, but can also be seen as sex objects.

Some people lusted for beasts. Ryoma didn’t know such people, but he had learned about them from books. Naturally, people with such a unique disposition were extremely few. Perhaps Mario Romaine also enjoyed such things. At any rate, it was the safer choice to think of the common folk as people as well as livestock. There was a high chance that people thought of whatever best suited their desire, which was a more human way of thinking. Humans saw only what they wanted to see. Mario probably didn’t feel his thoughts were contradictory; normality was subjective.

Ryoma felt deep down that Mario was not the kind of person he would want to form a relationship with.

Though I can’t really say that I’m normal either...

He knew his mindset was unusual, even in modern society, and often considered how he had been a mere high schooler in Japan. The beasts met their cruel ends as he mulled over these thoughts.

“Master Ryoma. It is done.” Laura and Sara silently bowed their heads. About ten seconds had passed since they had begun their slaughter—not even half a minute.

“Good job,” said Ryoma as he patted both of them on the head.

He then turned his gaze toward a half-frantic Mario, who looked at the corpses of his subordinates.

“Where’s all that attitude gotten to, eh?” Ryoma laughed as he looked at the pool of liquid near Mario’s feet. Even though first-time soldiers on the battlefield typically had the same reaction, this was no way for a noble to react. Mario did still have a hold of his sword, which was something.

“Did you see that?! This devil wiped out my subordinates!” shouted Mario.

“I don’t think so... In fact, I’m the one who saved the good-natured citizens from those perverted claws of yours. Do you have a problem with that?” replied Ryoma, stroking his chin with his finger and laughing slightly. There was no other way of putting it from Ryoma’s point of view. Whether it was true or the correct action was a different matter. The large majority of the people present thought the same as Ryoma, and the onlookers’ eyes had blame, disgust, and cold disdain toward Mario.

Ryoma was in the right. Mario was in the wrong and was the only one who thought different.

“Do you even know who I am? I’m next in line to be Viscount Romaine! There’s no way the House of Lords and the royal court will remain silent and let this happen!”

Ryoma chuckled. That might have been the case before Queen Lupis escaped the royal capital. The House of Lords had become a hotbed of corruption in which they strove to protect their own rather than manage the tyranny and oppression nobles committed. The royal court feared backlash from the nobles who wielded the true power, often leading to equivocal decisions. Meanwhile, House Romaine boasted a higher-than-average sense of power and authority. Thus, the influence and personal connections of nobles determined whether they had done right or wrong. In the past, if Ryoma Mikoshiba had helped the young couple, House Romaine would have considered it a personal attack. In times like that, no one cared about the advantages and drawbacks of the matter.

Had he not been careful, the young couple might have been pressured into saying that Ryoma was the one who attacked them, which would become the truth. That was how much influence the nobles had in Rhoadseria; they held most of the power. But that was now a relic of the past. No noble could threaten Ryoma like before, and even the royal court struggled to look Ryoma in the eye.

He doesn’t seem to realize times have changed. Almost makes me pity him.

The concept of law as well as good and evil had not changed, remaining like a measurement ruler, so to speak. But no uniformity existed when deciding on the facts of the matter. Though the gradations on the ruler didn’t change, the length would, depending on where it started. The law was ultimately a tool that depended on the person using it for good or bad. And so, Ryoma slowly approached Mario.

“Stay away! Don’t come near me!” raged Mario. Even his positive mind seemed to predict what would happen next. “Damn it! Everyone’s making a fool of me!” And yet, he chose not to flee—a result of his pride as a noble.

Well, it’s not like I planned to let him go, mused Ryoma, shooting a cold glare at Mario. When faced with a pest like a cockroach, not many people would let it go, even if they pitied it. That went for both ticks and spiders. People knew that if they let one go, it would hide away in the house somewhere and breed. No one wanted to take such a needless risk. That’s why we remove such pests...

Ryoma saw Mario as just that: a pest.

“Die, devil!” bellowed Mario, swinging his sword out of desperation, in spite of appearing well trained. At least his stance was that of a highly skilled swordsman.

However, Ryoma noticed a simple opening. Mario was so focused on overpowering Ryoma that he had devoted all his strength to offense and had no form of defense. Although he seemed prepared to protect his abdominal area, he had failed to do so for the lower half of his body, leaving himself wide open. Ryoma casually closed the distance between them, aiming a strong kick at Mario’s exposed crotch area.

In terms of attacking, that area was such an easy bull’s-eye that Ryoma did not even need to aim. Considering Mario’s crimes that day, it felt like an appropriate punishment. Even though a light amount of damage would have been enough, Ryoma had put enough power behind his kick to break bones. He felt something pop as his kick connected with Mario’s groin. The effect became very apparent as a sensation similar to crushing grapes traveled through Ryoma’s foot. Mario Romaine stopped dead in his tracks.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh!” An otherworldly scream left Mario’s lips. He clutched his groin with both of his hands before tumbling to the ground and rolling around.

A thick, red liquid began to flow down his hands. The onlookers turned pale as they watched over the scene. The men had especially gone extra pale, though one could understand why. Ryoma, however, was unfazed by the reactions of those around him and looked down on the groveling Mario, whose face was wet with tears and snot. He had the face of Yama, a king in the underworld, as he stared at the criminal he was about to punish for being guilty.

“H-Help...” begged Mario weakly. Having his most vital body part destroyed so easily left him with no strength. He was suffering from great pain yet hadn’t passed out; he didn’t have the strength left to form any further words to appeal his situation. He now resembled the young man he had been beating moments before. He had played the villain and had no one to protect or pity him. And a man called Ryoma Mikoshiba would decide his fate.

Some people may sympathize with victims of oppression, but that’s not to say they can act on it. That’s a whole different story.

It was the same as how no one had helped the young man. But there were no people who wished to sacrifice themselves to help Mario, who had been violently attacking others.

“Sorry... I don’t speak asshole.” Or “arrogance,” for that matter. Ryoma would have felt more guilty if he had stepped on an ant. “Well, try to lead a better life in the next one. That’s if there is another life after this.” He suddenly lifted his right leg, aimed it at the crying Mario, and kicked. His boot’s heel bore his entire weight as he pulverized Mario’s head, standing on it. The sound of bones breaking and something like a tomato getting crushed echoed through the streets. A large circle of blood bloomed on the ground, showcasing an awful way to die.

“Ugh...”

“How brutal...”

Some onlookers began to weep, unable to withstand seeing Mario’s cruel fate. The person behind such a merciless killing remained calm.

“Oh... I’ve ruined my shoes. My trousers too... Guess I’ll just throw them away. I can get another pair made, after all.” Nobody would notice the blood covering Ryoma’s clothes since he wore black, high-quality leather shoes and trousers. But Ryoma had no intention of cleaning and wearing them again.

“Master Ryoma. There’s some on your face too.” said Laura, handing Ryoma a handkerchief.

“Oops, my bad. Thanks.” Ryoma took the handkerchief and wiped his cheek with it. He acted like the scene was totally normal, yet everyone stood dumbfounded. They seemed to be at a loss for words, having witnessed something so far removed from their everyday lives.