"W-Who are you?"
He heard the "bandit" leader's shaking voice and tried to open his eyes.
What he saw in front of him was darkness. Perhaps because he hunched back due to his exhaustion and he was too close to it that he could only perceive darkness. As he stepped back, the figure of a young man in a black overcoat filled his sight.
"An adventurer."
His lifeless voice penetrated deep in his body sending chills down the spine.
The bandits shuddered in fear, but before they could react all were dead, except the Bandit Leader.
Their eyes have turned pitch black, the last thing they saw before dying was Darkness, [Eternal darkness].
William stared at the scene in front of him with his mouth wide agape. The demigod in front of him was powerful, maybe as powerful as his father.
He belongs to the ancient family of Varya, which has taken an oath to protect the Imperial Family of the Arcadian Empire till death.
Except for the Empire Guardians, his Father is said to be strongest in the military.
"You took too much time to clear this trash Austin, I could do it 30 seconds faster than you." A youth said pretending to be disappointed.
His gentle voice penetrated through Aria's body. She didn't know if it was a sense of reassurance or relief. And although she was still confused, she allowed the warmness of his voice to envelop her body.
...I used voice filled with mana to ease the situation.
Austin was left speechless. How can he compare to a God-level being?
A young man with black hair slowly landed on the ground with hands folded on his back.
He was emitting a noble air around him different from adventurers.
But William's face turned ugly, he can see this young man is much more dangerous than the previous guy.
He is calm as a gentle breeze, he walked in the direction of Bandit Leader with quiet steps.
The young man was composed and completely indifferent to his surroundings, even if hundred other people attack him at once it would hardly make any difference.
The last time William saw such composure and overbearing was when he peeked at spar between his father and a Guardian...in which his father has been badly defeated.
As he shifted his sight from the young man, he saw the face of his master.
"You've done a good job holding out this far, William. Thank you."
He was surprised to find the princess who was supposed to be hidden in the carriage beside him.
"Move aside, adventurer. We have no business with you."
The "bandit" leader, although startled, did not show any agitation. If anything, there was fear in his voice. William moved his sight towards the "bandit" leader's hand and saw the sword he wielded was missing more than half of its blade. He realised that the clang he heard earlier was the sound of that sword being cleanly cut.
"Unfortunately, I have business with you." I said sarcastically.
The bandit leader tried to attack but his eyes went wide in surprise.
"What did you do!! Why can't I move?"
A lightning bolt struck him out of nowhere. It wasn't powerful enough to kill, but it could surely rob the man of his consciousness easily. The "bandit" leader fell limp to the ground as he looked at the figure of the young man in black and fell unconscious.
"Done," I nodded in satisfaction.
"Do not worry, it will just hurt a little." I grabbed his head and tried to peek into his soul.
"Ahhhhhhh....." He screamed in pain.
His howl echoed in the entire forest. His soul was eroding from inside.
Austin was unfazed but William who has already extorted many people got sweat down his forehead.
"He is convicted of attacking Imperial Family, yo-you can't kill him." He hurriedly spoke in a flustered manner.
I was unwavered by his warning, William got in an attacking posture but before he can move Austin blocked the path in from of him.
Seeing the situation worsening, Aria hurriedly stepped up.
"Stop it, William." Aria stopped William from further aggravating the situation.
William stopped abruptly.
She knows, now it is best to cooperate with them.
Aria stared at the Bandit Leader anxiously. It's her first time seeing someone getting extorted.
Although she has seen many physical extortions, but this is first time for a soul one.
"AHhhhhhhh....." The 'bandit' leader voice got dimmer, soon his body completely crumbled and disintegrated into particles.
I glimpsed at his remains puzzled.
"A God..."
Natsuki may be able to tell who is it. But finding her currently is not possible.
"Will ask her later,"
I turned in the direction of Carriage. " Are you coming or still playing hide and seek."
An old man with a white long beard materialised near the carriage.
"Hahaha, did I got discovered, My bad." He shake his head in disappointment.
Then I moved near the defeated knight and adventurers.
"L-Leon." A muffled groan of a man sounded.
I used celestial rays on Mia and Raphael and used
[Sanctuary] a large area healing spell for others.
"Hmm...celestial body magic." The old man eyes gleamed with interest.
The knights who were groaning in pain felt a warm and soothing sensation envelop their body. As soon as the sensation disappeared, they were incredibly surprised that the pain and exhaustion disappeared along with it.
The magicians also felt their mana returning and were equally surprised. They looked around their body, especially to the place where their wound was and didn't found anything, not even a scar. It was as if time itself was reversed.
Mia immediately stood up and also look around her body. She looked at me in surprise and awe.
"Hey teach me this magic?!"
I was surprised by her sudden loud voice. Her eyes also seemed to be sparkling.
"Nope." I denied immediately.
Turning around I left in the direction of Austin. Raphael glanced at Mia with pity.
"Forgive my late introduction. My name is William Von Varya."
William bowed courteously.
"Leon, an adventurer " I showed him my guild card.
"I have cleared the dead bodies, didn't find any clue."
"No need." I nodded at Austin.
It would be weird if he was able to find anything. But why is a god interested in mortals?
The blue-haired woman who was sitting down stood up and tilted her head at the boy who was approaching Leon.
"Ah, let me introduce him. He is Austin, my friend and also an Adventurer." Austin showed his guild card.
"It is nice to meet you."
Aria bowed slightly after I introduced him.
"Forgive my late introduction. My name is Aria Mesteltein, first princess of the Arcadian Empire. It pleases me to make acquaintance."
The princess curtsied and introduced herself elegantly. I was incredibly surprised by her introduction. It was not because of her elegance since I knew that she was some sort of noble and elegance was expected. It was because of the fact that she was the princess.
A God targeting a princess of the biggest human empire? I thought Gods do not interfere in the mortal realm. Things are bigger than I expected.
"Did you find something, young man?"
"Nothing worth the time." It is better to not tell him, else it will cause chaos.
The Old man nodded and made a thoughtful expression.
No one knows whether he believed it or not.
"Who is he? " Rafael was shocked at demigods appearing out of nowhere.
"A Guardian of Empire." Aria answered him instead of old man.
"..."
"Then, why didn't you STOP the bandits. You were here the whole time. We could have died." Mia lost her cool.
Fortunately, I stopped her in time.
"My duty is to protect members of the Imperial family no one else." The Guardian was unbothered by her behaviour.
I nodded.
Mia was unconvinced. But it's always the same.
The Guardians will only make a move to either protect the Empire or the Members of the Imperial Family. They take orders from no one.
"...Leon and Alex. Aren't you two from the Cursed forest mission?" The Guardian looked at us doubtfully.
Except for Aria, everyone was confused.
"Yes, you guessed right."
"I will assume there was no Near-God level beast since you guys make it out alive."
I shook my head in denial.
"So?... Eliminated."
"Yup."
"How many died?"
"Only one."
"Who is it?"
"James the BoneCrusher, ...But he has been killed by me, not by the beast."
"!!"
Everyone looked at me in shock including Austin. I gestured him to not open his mouth.
The old man had a solemn expression. . "I won't interfere in a fight between adventurers. But Church will get involved in this one."
"You have to be careful." He warned.
"Do not worry about me. Instead, worry for yourself aren't you going to die soon, old man, haha."
He is near completion of his lifespan. More than 600 years old and presumably the oldest human I have seen in this world.
William spoke unable to suppress his anxiety anymore. "Which mission are they talking about. And What about the Sir Guardian dying."
I frowned.
Why is there always an impatient guy?
"It was a classified mission to Adventurers Guild. Details will be soon public." The princess informed.
"What what about Sir Guardian dying."
"...I don't know." Aria glanced at the Guardian with a grim face.
He is the strongest of all the Guardians in the Empire. There will be dire consequences if he dies.
The old man sighed in regret. "It's true, I will die soon. This world is for youngsters to take care of."
"But remember young man...Don't get the Empire involved in your plans with Church."
"Else I will personally take care of you."
Shall I consider it a warning?
"Haha...Gladly. I have also heard Guardians using special magic, will be honoured to see it once." I provoked him for a fight.
Empire guardians posses knowledge of prohibited arts. I can use that for my experiments.
He squinted his eyes. "But didn't you already know it, the Celestial Body magic. "
Huh, that's a surprise. He knows about celestial body magic.
Is that the reason Natsuki warned me before?
Austin looked at us confused. I should teach him some spells in free time.
"What? Are you going to fight me now to know its source?" I curved my lip upwards and smirked.
"!!"
William immediately took Aria and moved aside. Austin moved back along with Mia and Rafael.
Mia cursed inwardly. [How can I assume the boyfriend of the teacher to be cool-headed. He is even more impulsive than teacher.]
A tense atmosphere was slowly enveloping us.
The knights and adventures deployed barriers. They were staring at us anxiously. Just now they have fought a deadly battle and now they have to brace for another.
"Hahaha... I would have previously, but now no need, I am already old. I will prefer to not have a standoff between guild and Empire. The guild has two new demigods now." The old man broke the silence.
"What a pity." It is disappointing. Maybe I can find other guardians sometime later.
"Hmm... I don't think I am needed here anymore. Young man, you and your partner can escort the princess. Consider this as an assignment from Empire. You can claim your rewards directly from Emperor."
"Hey, your can't ord-...sigh, gone." Before I was able to finish he has already vanished.
Of course, I can still sense him.
There is no way he will leave a member of Imperial family unguarded.
Did he want to test me?
Whatever, I glimpsed in the direction of the princess. She is famous in the whole Empire as a symbol of perfection.
I can use this time to know about the Imperial family.
... I also have an idea to solve Freya's problem now.