'...Hmm is it really him though? '
"Hey you the hostage what's your name?"
The Black-haired man's eyes twitch before speaking he took a deep breath.
"Zero"
Those one words were like lightning strike to Xarth he was silent he never had thought that this could happen he was really I mean really really confuse and dumbfounded at the scene he's witnessing right now.
'Am I seeing right or even hearing right?
He's really Zero Hahahahahaha! Damn that shortened my life span hahaha his the fricking Main character and just like that he got hostage by some bandits hahaha I can't stop myself from laughing Ha.....Ha...Tch there goes my lifeline.'
*Cough Cough
Xarth looked beside him it was his Elder Brother Harold.
Xarth came back to his senses and looked forward to the bandits wearing orange clothes someone spoke at that moment.
"Hey! Now now we didn't permit you to question our hostage."
A girl with long and beautiful Green hair that resembles the green Field they were seeing throughout the way to the Capital. She wore really revealing clothes in the color orange and she also had a dagger on both sides of her waist.
'Who's this? Never heard or read of her?'
"Who are you?" Harold asked.
"Oh! Excuse my rudeness I'm Camila Leader of Orange Cross, I asked that you hand over your stuff or you'll die."
"Ha! How impudent you think you can kill me!?"
"Of course I wouldn't be saying that if I really can't."
While the two were arguing Xarth looked straight at Zero.
He examined him he saw that there was no sword on his waist but then again he got captured so it's likely they took the sword away from him. But it was not the case at all. Zero casually stood up from the ground And kicked the man holding the rope, the man went off flying to the field Zero easily got rid of the ropes restraining him.
*SWOOSH
He rushed towards the other bandits, He looked as if he had teleported over by how fast his movements were.
'Ho!? I really thought that he got captured but I guess not. As expected of the Mc displaying his superior strength here.'
Zero took the sword from one of the bandits he kicked it off again he swung his sword at the group of bandits that were running away.
*BBOOOOOOOMM...
A fiery red aura shot out of the sword and headed towards the bandits wiping them out with one swing.
The sword he had used slowly turned to dust like it was never there.
Xarth now understood what had happened.
'So your telling me his aura was so strong that the sword he used from the beginning turned into dust and. I have intentionally stolen his supposed sword that won't be turning to dust from one swing.'
'Are you saying this is my mistake!? Huh! Why though. I just got his sword ahead of time I'll return it to him anyway.'
Zero rushed towards Xarth his eyes were locked on Xarth his gaze was really intimidating. But Xarth didn't even move his eyes he looked straight at it without even flinching.
Someone came running in and position himself at the front of Xarth. It was Ernoul holding a low priced sword.
Ernoul was also looking directly at him as he was slightly shaking...
'This man...His Aura just now. I can't be mistaken he's a Swordsmaster and a really young and strong one at that. I've never heard of a Young Swordsmaster here in the Southern continent.'
Xarth pushed Ernoul to the side and started to speak.
"So what business do you have here Swordmaster?"
Zero stayed silent he continued watching the Nobleman's face he was stoic so he could not figure out what the man in front of him is thinking.
At that moment.
*GROWWLL...
"...."
"...."
"Are you by any chance hungry?"
Zero just nodded his head.
'What the!? Then what was that staring all about!? Anyway, I should be careful around him he's not innocent as he looks.'
"Then would like to have lunch with us?"
"Yes, I appreciate it."
Xarth turned his back to Zero he walked towards his brother who was standing over at the distance still arguing with the Leader of Orange Cross.
"Brother."
"Oh, what happened? I heard a loud boom?"
"See for yourself."
"Hey! Don't ignore me, Nobleman."
Harold and Camila stopped arguing as they saw members of the Orange Cross lying on the ground with injuries all over their bodies.
Camila clenches her hands and grits her teeth.
'I knew from the beginning that there was something off about that hostage to think that he was a Swordmaster. How could I not realize he voluntarily got captured by us and also stayed quiet he could have wipe out us from the very beginning so why!?'
"I knew there was something off about you! You voluntarily got captured by us you could've destroyed us easily. So why didn't you attacked us!?"
Zero started to scratch his head.
"Well, I thought that if got captured by bandits maybe they'll feed me."
'What!? That was his reason Oh My God hahaha!! You gotta be kidding me author why didn't you tell me that the mc is Stupid.'
"W-What!?"
"As I've said I was hungry so I tagged along with you. And I know I could've destroyed you from the very , I was just taking advantage of you."
"This brat!"
Camila took out her daggers from her waist and kicked off rushing towards Zero but Harold swiftly blocked the attack.
"That won't do. I suggest you get out of here."
"Tch waits for me Noblemans I'll get back at you and you also Zen...Zeo...Whatever your name is?"
"It's Zero."
"Hahahahaha!!! I'll come back for all of you. You better wait for it hahaha!!!."
She laughed crazily as she was running away in the opposite direction.
Harold turned his attention at Zero.
"So you are a Swordmaster and a young one at that. I've never heard of you before what's your name?"
"it's Zero."
"Okay, so you will come to have lunch with us?"
"Yes, I would really appreciate it."
"Okay, then you'll ride with us."
'Huh!? Why!? You idiot don't let him ride with us. I know I was the one who suggested he'd eat with us but!?.'
"Ah Brot-"
"Thank you."
'Tch he got ahead of me.'
"Then let us go. Guards tie up all the bandits we'll take them at the nearby territory if I'm not mistaken it's the Duke's Lancaster territory."
In the Duke, Lancaster household is it said that Duke Jidek Lancaster was a war maniac who likes to fight. Through winning wars he had gained the achievement of becoming a Duke's household a lot of noble houses tend to get on the good side of the Lancaster family because not only do they have great authority on the Kingdom they also have a very powerful army.
There was also a rumor that the Duke's household has a Royal bloodline but people just assumed it like it was supposed to be a rumor. But actually, It was not the case because in the near coming future the only son of Duke Jidek will be the new King of the Messiah Kingdom bringing prosperity in his reign.
'But that's at the last part of volume 3 of the novel which is about a year from now.'
The three men walked inside the carriage and sat down at their respective seats but...Xarth and Zero were sitting close to each other.
Xarth feigns ignorance and was just staring off the distance.
While on the other hand Zero was silently looking out the window as well.
'it's so suffocating here.'