I woke up early in the morning. By now my family must be searching me at full force… I had already taken measures so that Systy and Alice wouldn't move around to find me quickly.
Ridge was visiting one of her spirit friends and she was gone for more than a week. So finding me quickly would at least take a full day. As I woke up, I saw a girl sleeping on a chair beside my bed.
"This girl…. She could have at least slept on the bed…"
As I got up, the sun rays came in after the curtains were lifted… we were quite some ways away from the battlefield. I didn't want to start my morning with rotting flesh and Painful howls…
As I looked at the now brightened room… Mila who had the sun rays falling on her looked Dazzling… She wasn't as big as Mai or Systy… but her modest chest was just the right size… as she sat while asleep, her brown hair which was waist long gracefully draped around her… it seems she properly took care of her health last night, I still feel this pity just looking at them... as if this feeling would over whelm me... but do they deserve pity? they have finally stepped into light, rather than pity, shouldn't I show them the possibilities of the future?
Her sleeping face was peaceful. Since her face was already beautiful, after a good night's sleep, it only looked prettier. I can still see that although she had changed from the first time I saw her… yup… her spirit was damaged…
Being able to wield Miasma means you can be susceptible to bad deeds, seeing a person would make me able to evaluate that person to understand if he was good or bad… and the other thing that you are able to see is the past scars.
These scars are normally so psychologically deep that your spirit energy flow looks quite strange. This meant that Mila, even as young as she was… has been through unimaginable things. Some pains that even with time… would probably not leave her.
Realizing this was very saddening… but when I think that there are thousands of people like her feeling cursed and pained… the only thing I want to do is wipe out the whole existence of this damn empire…
As I calmed myself down and heaved a sigh...
I quickly got out of the room… not before setting Mila on my bed.. She should have a good night's rest while she can.
As I got down and started on a simple breakfast, I worked fast like the wind. I was feeling refreshed after a good night's rest, so my concentration was full too.
[after taking in so many souls, it's quite refreshing for me too. now I am things to do even while you stay your peaceful life.]
it's true, the soldiers that died at the field, at least the ones who committed suicide, I didn't let them go, I harvested their souls, Amanori would be playing with them personally, even the people I killed at the end, they are inside Amanori too, it soothed my mind to think how happy they would be living with us for all of eternity.
In a little time, I prepared breakfast one after the other. Everyone would get an egg with some bacon and bread. Maybe from the smell, but soon many girls started coming in and seeing the food, they got drool running from their mouths. It was nice to see their faces full of desire for food. Really, girls at this age should not be in despair, the more I spent time with them, the more I felt the desire to destroy this empire... but then the feeling for wanting to watch over them also took over me.
"Everyone, eat before it gets cold." As I said that, they didn't hesitate like last night. They thanked me for the food and started doing quick work on it. There was fruit juice in my storage so I gave them that too.
"M-master… Why do you have so much food?" A girl asked me while having the juice. I guess seeing Mila they are going to follow calling me master too. Well at this point I got used to it.
"Hmm… there is no good reason actually, I guess I like to keep the foods I like in great quantities."
"Wow, Master, you're treating us with your favorite foods!"
"Master is great!"
"Yeah! I will do anything the master says!"
"Me too!"
"Us too!"
AS if following the first girl everyone started saying the same thing.
I have to teach them common sense before they start worshiping me.
Haah! As I sighed, smiling wryly. I saw Mila enter. Maybe the girl's voice woke her up.
"Mila, all of you will go to my mansion today… My maid there should know what to do with you guys… her name is Mai. now I will be telling you nothing else since that information would make them catch on to me faster.. So after this, all of you prepare like last night. you are all going through a portal." as I gave Mila her portion of food. I said so, finishing my work of serving.
It looked like Mila wanted to say something but she stopped herself and quickly finished breakfast.
After that, everyone gathered outside. The portable house was stored in the storage. Hardly anyone would believe there was a huge house here.
As I was going to start opening the portal, Mila came forward.
"Master, I would like to accompany you."
"No, It will be dangerous."
"But master, I can help you navigate the empire… you can travel faster that way."
"Hmm, valid point but no, those girls are too grounded, without a leader they would feel distressed."
"But…." Mila looked a bit sad.. But I wasn't gonna let her tag along so easily. I didn't want to take a girl I just saved to the enemy territory… Still, her bravery was quite a lot.
"Master I would be able to fill in that position too, so you can take Mila with you." She was the oldest woman here. She was nearing 25 years old. She was a calm looking beauty. But still looked like a leader. Her name was Talia. As everyone vouched for the same thing, I heaved a long sigh.
In a mere night these girls became more active than I thought. They were like kids. Once they trusted someone there was no doubting them.
"Alright…. I guess I have no choice then.." as Mila came to my side, I opened a big portal under all the other girls and they fell through it in no time. It was quick work. And the portal closed leaving only Mila and me on this open plain.
"Alright.. Mila, tell me which way to the empire's capital?"
"The nearest town from here is called Tanba… we can take a 4 day long carriage to the capital from there.."
"No, no, not how to get there.. I mean which direction." hearing Me, Mila got a bit puzzled but still answered.
"We have to travel straight south-east. The empire's capital Theron should be there."
"Hmm… If by 4 days by carriage…. From the nearby town which is…"
"2 Days walk away.."
"Then it should take about…. 3 hours…"
"What?"
"Aright, no time to think about it, here we go."
"Hyaa!" Mila gave a cute yelp as I picked her up princess style and without letting her say anything else I used flash step.
"This way we can get there quicker.."
"Master, is this common for you?" Mila asked me.
"Yeah I travel this fast all the time."
"No, not that… I mean how you pick up girls…" as she said it in a deadpan voice, I looked at her only to see that she was suspiciously looking at me….
"I guess? I did do this a lot…." my girlfriends, especially Acadia. If she were to go to a faraway city, she requested me to get her this way. she said something about saving time was a merchants life line.
"Honey is the best carriage in the world!" That's what she said at least… I wasn't thrilled to be a carriage though? And apart from that, the maids sometimes requested to get carried like this too… of course behind Mai's back.
I couldn't say no to them when they asked with those sparkly upturned eyes… no matter how creeped out I felt when they heaved like they were in heat while I held them and went to places, I had to do it, they took care of me so I had to do what they liked.
"Hoo… I see… then I guess I will take this ride as a convenience of sorts from the master…"
"I don't know why but I felt like My respect just dropped a bit in your eyes.."
"Master is only thinking unnecessary things."
"Alright I guess.." as we chatted like this on the way to the empire, my surroundings changed. From grassy plain to villages then towns and then after 3 hours, I was in the empire's heart Theron. Before me a huge castle stood… If anything then I could say, it was too extravagant. gold was used all over the place...
"This is the place eh?"
"Yes, what does the master plan to do now?"
"Now? No more planning, I will storm the castle and seize it. Whoever comes to take it back will die a dog's death."
"For master who showed us so much kindness to do something so destructive is quite unbelievable." Mila who now looked like your typical adventurer was standing beside me.
"Do you think I am scary now? I can get you to my mansion if you want."
"Perish the thought, Master is my life saviour and someone who I am indebted to for life, so I will be here to help you with minor things."
"Haha… you say some bold things… alright let's go."
As I said so, I approached the castle.. Of Course there were guards… but I blasted them away with rock bullets. I kicked the castle gate and it flew far inside, crushing the other guards under it and finally dying..
"Intruder! Get the guards!" someone from the watchtower started ringing the bells. It must be a way to alert everyone. Soon rows and rows of arrows flew straight at me and Mila. I had covered Mila with a Miasma Barrier. It was hard enough to stop any physical attacks and it nullifies magic so she would be unscathed without any more worrying.
The Arrows that flew toward me were… blown away by punches after shock. I generated fist size rocks and threw them at the archer tower and watch towers.
The great force easily blew them all away. Soon the arrows stopped coming since the archers were dead. The land force was scattered here and there...
Last night, I had to hold back and give them a painful death. That's why It took longer than expected. But right now I was letting my power flow freely, be that physical or magic. From a distance, I saw a lot of magicians try to invoke magic but I dropped a huge boulder on them from thin air. of course even though I was easily killing them, doesn't mean they would be fine, I harvested their souls too.
getting crushed un the bolder, They would be mush by now. The ones that attacked me head on, I punched one guard and by the force he flew, all the rest blew away with him. They got smashed to the castle walls. The white wall got dyed red. I had enough with the empire really.. If I don't take action now, down the line they would surely do something to hinder me. it was laughable seeing them putting up magician barriers to save themselves, my attack's were too strong, those can't stop me. it would have been better had they used real shields.
"Mila, if you feel uncomfortable you can go…"
"...No master, I am fine." I tried to stop Mila from seeing all this… I had to be ruthless here. This wasn't a world where you could always show kindness…
At last I entered the castle. Blasting off the gate the same way I did with the entrance, I heard many painful groans. The gate had smashed on the guards. Many were already dead. The gate was heavy enough already but getting smashed by it was equal to getting hit by a speeding car.
I walked over the pool of blood and went further inside the castle. Here and there I saw servants cower in fear… when some body came running my way or rather to Mila.
"Mila! What is happening?"
"Miss Sally! I Found you!"
As the older woman embraced Mila with tears in her eyes, I could also see Mila with a tearful eye.
"Master, please send her to your mansion!"
"Alright…"
"Wait, what is happening?"
"I am Rekka Wolford and today the empire is going to fall…"
"What! The Heroes grandson! I see but wait, my son… I have much to do then. I have to gather more people. There are innocent girls and boys here and I have to get the people in the city who are working to save lives know about this too."
"But Miss Sally you might get attacked!"
"Don't worry.. This is the chance I was waiting for… Sir Rekka, I will gather some people in a while. They will gather outside at the mansion's garden. Please get them out of here."
"Yes that is a fine Idea Miss Sally, you do that and here is some protection. As long as you're covered by this, nothing should damage you. Just stay away from head long attacks."
"I thank you for such consideration. As old as I am, you even value my life…" as She bowed she got out of our sight.
"She took care of me before I was sent to the Army… she cried the night I was sent and even got punished because she wanted to stop me from going…"
"I see. It is good that you could repay her kindness…"
"Thank you master for your kindness toward me too.." Mila said with gratitude. What must her life have been until now… she even viewed me this kindly, even when she saw how I smashed humans like insects… for some reason my furious heart calmed down.
As we started going deeper in the castle, I found many soldiers here and there. They might have been strong but after training for 3 years, I was a lot stronger than common sense could comprehend. One by one, I broke through every barricade and massacred every last one of them.
Be it with my sword or simply with magic, I didn't regret taking a single life that day. I was paying these fools back after all, harvesting their souls for real. Not only are they feeling death… but after this, they are going to feel the eternal pain while they reside inside Amanori. as such I went all over the castle slowly and took my time killing each one.
At the end of all those soldiers, I found a big gate… probably behind this gate the emperor and his crooked entourage were there.
As I opened the gate with a powerful kick, it smashed with the guards… this was the 3rd time…. Did they really expect their enemy to open the gate and come in?
I thought in movies you always smashed the gate when you got in.
[I didn't know but smashing the gate really is something... you killed nearly 60 just crushing them with the gates... it's kinda funny.]
As the gate crashed, the room got dyed with blood. The people inside all looked frightened. Yet again the soldiers died by getting stamped by the gate.
Way in the back of the hall, I could see the emperor was standing. His face was pale, the other people who look like villains out of b-grade movies were looking the same way.
As I approached them, the remaining guards tried to stop me. But I punched him with so much force that his body shredded to millions of pieces and he left a spray of blood behind him. guts and shredded meat? of course it all evaporated just from the sheer heat of the punch,
This is enough, I can't stand this empire anymore, the soldiers here were so filled with Miasma that it was hard to believe they were even human, just how many inhuman things had they done to end up like this? How could I not notice this place sooner? Even with all my rage there was no answer to my question, my loved ones wanted me to not feel this way, they already knew.. But maybe, be it later or now… I would have always felt regret seeing humans turning into worse monsters than even the real monster out there.
Seeing someone die by completely disintegrating, the remaining soldiers went pale and stopped in their tracks. I blew their heads away with some more punches…
I could see it, every man in this hall was filled with Miasma. They had done so much crime I could hardly feel they were humans… in a cruel world where surviving from the wilderness was hard enough, crooked humans who played with other humans' lives are the lowest of the low in my mind.
Why can't you help people in need, why do you do these things? There is enough land, wild beasts, to live off nature to find food and live in the world with bliss, why do you do these things!?
As I had no way to explain why a human nation would become something like this, I felt myself getting more and more raged. I guess it was time… I will have to quell my madness by toying with these people too.
As the guards were done in by me, I moved closer to the throne… The Emperor looked flabbergasted. The room was silent. Far at the side of the room I could see some people. Most of them were girls and maybe they were of the imperial family.
I didn't pay them any mind. I kicked the Emperor from his spot and got him down from the throne. I kicked the throne away…
"This filthy throne…. I got to get a chair myself.`` As I said so nonchalantly, I brought out an extravagant chair fit to be a throne. Putting it on the previously destroyed throne place, I sat on it crossing my legs….
Now as I looked at the audience, I could see bewildered looks.
"Who are you!" the Emperor at last mustering his will asked me in a high pitched voice. I wonder if the voice sounded weird because he was scared or he was angry…?
"Kneel! You mongrels. You are nothing but human garbage!" as I said to kneel, everyone standing in front of me hit the ground as if the gravity was multiplied for them. But it was not that. No, It was my killing intent. The pressure was enough to bring them to the ground. I always held back when I used this... but now, I let it be free.
It was time to greet the emperor….