Everyone except Fallen Paladin become shocked as soon as Hove got beheaded.
Usually, people will confirm the other party guilt first before proceeding to behead right? Then...what is this!?
They're still in the middle of a conversation, and he got beheaded without any chance to resist! Are you really a Paladin!?
All of the homeless man shaken in fear when they saw Hove flying head, some even start to kneel and beg for forgiveness. None of Filant teammate expresses disagreement toward his action, because they know that the observation done by their leader Filant is to be trusted, even when he's declared as a fraud and get his title as Paladin robbed, they didn't stop trusting him and keep following him as an adventurer.
Filant wouldn't kill any innocent people. Because of that very reason, he got his rank, his house, his wealth, robbed. Still, he didn't regret it, and he never will. All he can do is sigh as the country he serves for years isn't really worth to serve. Corrupt people will always exist, no matter if it's Aristocracy or Theocracy.
Bending down, Filant check Hove pocket, and his suspicion confirmed to be true. Although he's sure that Hove is certainly a scammer that can easily change his character, he isn't too sure that he's the one that he searched for, but seeing that thing confirmed his suspicion.
There inside his pocket is a half-filled magic stone. Rune after rune is inscribed on it even though it's just a one use item, and what spell is contained inside...it's too easy to guess, as the specimen of this spell are still groaning on the floor because of pain inflicted by them.
The magic stone is engraved with Explosion runes, link runes, and multiplier runes which make it hard to full because of the mana needed to activate it. Even so, although it's hard to do, it's by no means impossible to do. Looking at the magic stone which is only half full let Filant know that if they didn't kill that man as soon as they can, a great calamity will befall the people in this area.
"Tch, quite a heartless man…" Filant lowly muttered, keeping the half-filled magic stones safe in his pocket. Not letting other people use it to do some irreplaceable damage.
Still, if Supervisor Flor didn't remind him of the enemy position, and if he wastes more time interrogating him…This quest may end in quite an unexpected way..
The function of this magic stones needs not to be said. It's 「Exploding Corpse」 spell, even so, it's not used on corpse this time, but with the living. The stone is linked with all of these people, and a further check will show that all of them has a trace of corpse poison inside their body. Just one trigger and Boom! They will die.
It's good that the magic stones can only get activated after the user pours a lot of mana inside. If the magic stones activated, these people around who are connected with the stones will explode and…the person who touches their blood will get the same curse and…explode.
[Filant.]
While he's thinking, Filant receive another telepathic message. Hearing the full cover of the message turn his face into serious, then he look at his teammate and ordered with a cold tone.
"Tch...Let's go. We need to provide help and stop…the madness that's happening as we speak now…"
***
Slum district, Orphanage.
Inside an orphanage, one person can be seen panickedly wave his staff, yet no amount of waving can do anything, while his friend tried to defend him from all side, looking at the old man who stands in front of him now.
"What are you doing! Use your magic!"
"I know! Even so, something disrupt the flow of the surrounding magic! I-I can't use my magic at all!"
"Is it because of that powder!?"
He remembers that the old man has thrown some sort of powder into the room as soon as he entered. It seems that they will fight tough enemies today. The man decides to abandon his piggy teammate and use his stealth to hide and fight or at least, run from the old man.
"Hey, hey…I thought we will fight tough enemies, but it seems like we have encountered some small fries…" The old man flash the disappearing man his smile and let out a punch at an empty air. The punch shouldn't be able to connect, even so, the air somehow distorted after he let out his punch, making the man who just begin hiding with stealth feels pain all over his body and got thrown to the other side of the room.
*Boom*
The supposed magician who can't use magic anymore tremble, but before he can say anything, his head got snapped with a punch from the old man.
"Weak…"
Tharen can't help but complain after he finishes his foe easily. The foe they fought should be the strongest, and it should be the most important. Yet the enemies here are so weak? Then, how about other places? It seems like this mission will end peacefully if all of them are weak like this.
While Tharen is thinking, the man who got blown by him get up from the rubble and tried to run. This time, for sure. But before he can fully enter his stealth, he can feel some knock on his head, making him passed out in an instant.
"Haa…young people nowadays are pretty fragile…" An old woman mutters as she hit the man with her staff.
"Nah, not necessarily so. Freedom has completed their mission sooner than us." Tharen who is in the middle of thinking replied to his wife Jalica with pride, which also make the face of the old woman bloom into a smile.
"Hmph, of course! If our stupid son can't handle the job much faster than us old people, I'll be sure to punish him accordingly!" Jalica say that words coldly, yet those who know her until now will know that there's a hint of warmth and pride in these tone which also make her husband Tharen smile.
"Can the both of you stop bragging about your son and help us a little here? Do you want to make both of this old man and woman who didn't get blessed with a son jealous?" Another old man comes out from one of the room, with one child on his back and two on his hands. This old man is also a member of Old Beast — Thomas.
"Right, right. Are you so proud that you are blessed with a son and not like us who is only blessed with daughters? By the way, your son want to create a harem or what? Polluting our cute daughters to disobey us, what's up with Freedom anyway? Did he want to declare that he has finally freed from us old people by creating an adventurer team with his childhood friends? " An old woman comes out from the room with children too. She's also one of the member of Old Beast and the wife of Thomas —Regira.
The four of them are childhood friends with the same dream. Creating adventurer team, and then creating their families. Tharen and Jalica is blessed with a son who hate training at all cost — Charlison while Thomas and Regira is blessed with three daughter and give up to create the fourth as they didn't think it will result in a son.
The four of them is the son and daughter of the famous Old Beast, which also makes them feel pressured from their parents and surrounding. The four of them undergo rigorous training to become strong, but one day, Charlison snapped and decided to stop training altogether, rebelling against his parents.
His behavior rubs off to his other childhood friends and that they become the event where the four of them talking about their children rebellious phase. They as parents didn't really force their children to train. If their children didn't want it, then they will not force it. But who would know that the four of them will create an adventurer team together, and even call it Freedom.
They're already old, that's also why they let their children do everything they desire. They will tactfully agree to it even if that desire is dangerous. They tried to not intrude into their son or daughters private life, yet Thomas and Regira can't help but tease Tharen and Jalica because their son seems close to three of their daughters by saying that their son has a harem with their daughters.
Of course, they approve having their son and daughter married, but three with one, they can't help but think their friend's son appetite is truly big. Which also constantly make Tharen pray to the God and wish his son didn't do anything stupid, while his wife happily agrees as they will become a big family if that truly happens.
"Ehem…" Tharen let out a low cough to hide his embarrassment, then he turns serious and says."Let's forget about this until that day comes. If it really comes I'll beat some sense to my son and make sure he treasures your daughters, I'll also give a good dowry …"
"Tharen…I think you forget the important point…" His wife embarrassingly advice, and Tharen immediately realize that he has said the wrong thing with such a serious face; make him feel even more embarrassed than before. "Ehem…the situation is changing while we talk. Iron Crown encounters a Thoroic Ghoul and they alone wouldn't be enough to beat it, Spider Lily encounters some problem with insect and almost loses, and it seems that we have lost contact with Bloody Weapon with Freedom tasked to help them."
"I'll go and help these Spider Lily lass. If I let any of you perverted old men to go there, something unexplainable may happen to these lasses" Regira lightheartedly replied, while Tharen and Thomas who heard her words let out a heavy cough.
"Then, I'll help Iron Crown with Thoroic Ghoul since I need some parts of these Ghouls for my experiments." Jalica replied.
"I'll carry all of these children back to the Adventurer Guild, then Tharen, I hope you can take care of our children." Thomas replied after some consideration.
Hearing that everyone has choose, Tharen look at his teammate with a serious face and nod his head.
"Then… let's split up and help them."
***
Red…
Everything is red…
What happened here…?
I don't…remember…
In the first place…
Who am I?
What am I doing at this place?
Why is there severed hands and foot around the room?
I can't feel my hands and foot…
Is one of it mine…?
"Oh…one is still alive?"
Who is it…?
A child?
"Hmm…who are you again? Leader of the Adventurer team Bluffing Wimp?"
Bluffing Wimp?
"Ah…That looks of anger fit you more than the confused look you have earlier…"
I am angry?
"Hmhmhm…I like you more and more now. With this…you are now…my servants"
Wha-
*Chop*
"Ahahaha, coming here isn't so bad after all. Still, they will blame me, right? They will totally blame me, right? I just arrived in this town and all of this shit happening. It's my fault! It's definitely my fault right? Good! Good! Hahahahahaha, ah…they will totally want to fight me too right? I can't wait…I wonder who will provoke me later on. I better say my thanks to the person who destroy our secret operation the moment I arrive."
"How to say my thanks though? Hmmmm….I think a few…."
"…fireworks will make them happy."