[Empire's Underground Prison]
Locked up inside a dirty cell Alda coughed as hard as he can from all the beat up he got and lashes he received during the torturing, evidently he received 60 lashes both on his back and front that can be seen no matter what
It's been 2 days since both Mia and him was captured, they didn't even stand a chance against Hibiki, much less even injure him, they're not even sure if even Kaido would be able to land at least one wound on the current Hibiki
After their bitter defeat against they're fight with the current Hero (Reminder Raguel is possessing the hero's body and the only people that knows he is a different person are the Empire's higher ups) they were immediately surrounded and was brought here for torturing
As he push himself off the ground, Alda gently touched the collar that was forcefully made worn on them by the guards
The collar serves as to retrain their Mana flow causing them to be unable to gather Mana to retaliate
On the other side of the cell he saw Barton who went missing few days ago, apparently after Kaido's incident the traces of helping him escape leads to him thus ending up for his capture
He's been longer down here than them and has gone numerous torturing daily, it can be seen on his body that was full of bruises and his tired eyes that seemed to look at the empty abyss
Currently he could hear Mia's scream of pain and agony as she gets tortured by numerous whips, without magic they're body are as delicate and frail like a baby thus when the torture begin, the unfathomable pain will seer throughout their own body causing the to almost grit in pain
Even though he's the only person that Mia could rely on, even though he's the guy that should protect her, even though he promised to protect her, he couldn't even do anything as he continues to hear her painful scream
Luckily the current hero wasn't as cruel like the nobles in the empire, he forbids any noble to torture Mia by violating her, thus Alda respects him for that but that is all it amounts to as for the rest was filled with hatred
Later on Mia was dragged by hair back inside the cell causing her to fall front first, seeing this Alda immediately scurried to spot her while staring a death glare at the torturer
Seeing this the torturer simply scoffed at the before leaving
Holding her in his embrace Alda tried to discern whether Mia have broke or not, luckily the latter replied with a smile on her face as she carefully carrased his face to comfort him
This in turn made Alda cried
At that moment Barton who have gone silent for some time now has spoken with his hoarse voice
"... I'm sorry for dragging you guys like this... . . Because of me you guys have to experience this... . . I'm the worst guild master in history of Adventurers... . . Ha... Ha... Ha..." Said Barton as he musters up his strength to laugh
"But... . . We can't stay idle and ignorant... . . If we did we would be like puppets... . . I'm just glad that somehow... . . I manage to find a person quite different from the rest... . . Thank you... . . Alda" he added under his disheveled hair
In reply to this both Mia and Alda looked up to Barton with their tired eyes before replying
"It's not your fault, we helped our friend to fulfill her wishes, it's not like that is a sin right?... . . Our actions leads us to our current situation, as for being a guild master... . . I can say you by far are the coolest" said Alda in his Haggard state
"Just like he said... . . So cheer up guild master!... . . If was nice knowing that our higher up is someone we could depend on... . . " Added Mia as she lift her body up
Hearing both of their reply calmed Barton's trembling heart, he was truly grateful to receive such Adventurers, even though some nobles would sympathize them, a commoners sympathy was much more soothing for him than a noble
Later on that night Mia leaned on Alda's shoulder as she felt like her feelings for him was so mixed that she can't even muster up to be atleast honest, with everything that is happening she felt that it wasn't a good place to confess
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Next morning three knights came inside their cell and binded them with shackles as they pulled them outside, which in turn greatly confused the three
When they got out they immediately squinted their eyes due to the sudden illumination of the sun straight to their own faces that forced them to immediately look down as they followed the knights
When they got out of the castle walls, people on both sides of the street gasp in utter shock as they saw what seemed as three high profiled people was beat up and chained by the empire
The people showed pity and concern when they saw this scene which made both Alda and Mia to stick with each other for support
Seeing their relationship Barton couldn't help but remember his past with his wife when they were still dating
Some people who hates them however threw trashes and fruits at them as they laughed at their situation
When they arrived at the square it's center was left wide open as as executioner and Hibiki was standing in the middle, not far from the one could even see the King Emperor and the Duke spectating in a stage that was erected overnight
Seeing the executioner the three of them showed paled complexion as they realize their impending doom
Pulling Barton first both Mia and Alda tried to call out his name when the guards and soldiers restrained both of them, the former however just simply looked at them with a gaze that telling he wasn't regretting anything
Forcefully positioning himself by the guard, his neck was all exposed for the sword to cut as a soldier started to speak in a loud voice
"This man... . . He help a criminal of our empire to escape, he even tried to cover for him and yet not only he protected a criminal, he even resolutely never betrayed him by telling us it's whereabouts... . . He betrayed the empire, just how much has the empire has fallen"
With that the crowd looked at Barton with disbelieving eyes until the latter turned his gaze away from the crowd pitying gaze
"This guy deserves death" added the soldier
With this both Alda and Mia loudly called out for his name as they saw the sword being raised up vertically above his neck
Feeling his end was near Barton looked up above the sky as he smiled and tears flowed out from his eyes uttering his last words
"Dear wife and daughter... . .dad's gonna meet you soon"
With his final words the sword struck him down Completely beheading him and blood sprayed out wide on the pavement floor
With this the whole vicinity turned quite as Alda and Mia glance at the head that was rolling on the ground with a smile of longing lastly imprinted on it
Following that Mia was pulled and bares her neck above the sword
Following which the soldier also announced her crime that was fabricated by the higher ups
If the crowd knows that the princess was missing they would surely panic, thus they decided to fabricate a crime for both of them either way
With this however received an angry howl from Alda as he directed all his anger at Hibiki
"Don't touch her! No! Mia!!!"
Following that he glanced at Hibiki
"Hibiki!!! If you don't stop this I assure you that you would regret it!!! Don't lay a hand on her I beg you!!! She's everything I have! HIBIKI!!!"
As Alda loudly shouted such words he begun to shout out towards the executioner cursing him endlessly until one soldier finally got irritated and forced him to yield by punching him on the gut and kicking his jaw
Dropping down unto the ground he slowly gazed at Mia who was smiling back at him with a longing gaze full of regret, this made him feel like a fool as his heart wretched in pain from seeing Mia's regretful eyes
J reply to that Alda shouted in sorrow as he tries to break free form the soldiers that was holding him down
As for Mia the only regret she felt was not being honest to herself, mustering up her courage she silently said her last words to Alda full of longing and feelings that she were hiding all this time, this in turn caused her to cry as she finally confessed her feelings
Following the movements of her lips Alda clearly made out her last words that she directed at him
"I... . . Love... . . You... . ." Pronouncing that with his own lips caused Alda so much pain as he wailed and howled
He prayed for the gods to give him strength enough just to save her until the sword that was above her struck her completely beheading her
With the direction the head was going, it stops it's rolling when her face was faced on him with an expression of relief
With that it seemed the whole world turned silent and grey as Alda glanced at the head of the only girl that ever loved him truly with only one word entering his ears
"I love you"
Filling with rage and hatred a crack bore on its collar causing him to conjure at least one sword of light which he used to kill the soldiers that was restraining him and freeing him of his shackles
Wielding the sword of light in his hand, he loudly shouted and directed all his rage at Hibiki
"HIBIKI!!!"
With a step he dashed forward on Hibiki and swung his sword
Unfortunately Hibiki was on a whole lot different level above Alda, thus with a little wave Alda was left to back away
When he opened his eyes he felt a sword pierced through his guts and Hibiki's lips whispering on his ear
"Take this chance to say your last words on that girl... . . Don't mess this up"
Pulling out the sword from his guts, the sword of light that Alda was holding eventually shattered as the latter's time was ticking
Slowly and limply he heeded Hibiki's words and trudge forward to Mia's head as he fell on his knees and hugging her head tightly against his chest as he wailed
"I'm... . . Sorry... . . I'm... . . Sorry" he cried
"I swear... . .if we ever have a chance to reincarnate... . . I'll find you... . . And when I do... . . I'll assure you that... . . I'll make you happy" he added
As he said this he arched his back as he wailed and tears and blood flow out of his body, at the same time the executioner raised his sword above his head and beheaded him Completely killing him and his soul together with Mia till death do they part
For some reason Raguel who was possessing Hibiki's body lets out a tear in his eyes as he felt a deep sorrow within, he somehow concluded that the real Hibiki must have been in deep sorrow as he witness his very own friends killed because of him
"Looks like I haven't taken fully control of this body" he muttered as he turned around and left the vicinity
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Far above the empire a magic scout oversaw everything that has transpired, the person who made such scout was Lily who was already way far from the empire
When both her and Luke witnessed the grim ending of both Alda and Mia, she felt all strength in her body was seeped out from her as she fell limp and cried
She couldn't help but feel guilt, hatred, and sorrow for herself, if she hadn't suggested that she would leave then both Mia and Alda would have been still alive
"It's all my fault" she cried non stop
Seeing her like this Luke independently settled her down as she continued to cry, he himself was also gritting his teeth in pure bitterness as he witness such scene
The only place that they could rely on was with Kaido if they want to survive, taking the horse by its reigns he ordered it to move forward as he concluded that if they spend more time in such a place, not only will Lily grieve more but the empire would catch up to them
With a bitter feeling in his throat and chest, he trudge onwards towards the only place they know that has connections with Kaido
"The Ingra Kingdom"
End of Volume 2 Human Empire Arc
See you in Volume 3 Beastman Country Arc