"P-Please... Let me go... I told you everything." A broken man lay on the ground, pleading for his life. The scent of burnt flesh mixed with blood permeated the air around him.
"Heh?" Standing before him was a pale man with black hair, a look of confusion crossing his face momentarily before he spoke, "Let you go? Where did you get that idea?"
Josh's throat tightened as he heard those words. He was hoping that this crazy man would let him go. At first, he regretted his decision to confront Aron with only a small group. But when Aron started asking him intriguing and serious questions, Josh began to suspect that this man was more than just a simple mercenary.
"Y-You promised... If I answered your question," Josh's voice trembled with a mix of shock, disbelief, and a glimmer of hope.
Aron tapped his lips thoughtfully. "Oh! Did I? Hmmm!" His eyes widened as a memory resurfaced. "Sorry, buddy, I didn't promise to let you go... In fact..."
Aron placed his hand on top of Josh's head, lowering his face to meet his eyes.
"I promised you'd receive the same treatment as your stalker friend, and I always fulfill my promises."
"What?! N-No, plea—"
"Soo, let's start immediately. I'll cut off one leg and crush each bone in the other. Next, I'll make your arms bend in the opposite direction. And lastly, a special treatment just for you. I won't cut out your tongue; I'll pull it out in one piece," Aron spoke with a smile on his face.
That smile, combined with the preceding words, filled Josh with overwhelming fear. His heart raced, and blood coursed through his veins as he failed to form any coherent words. His mind shut down, instinctively protecting itself from the horrors of Aron's "treatment."
"On second thought, I'll let you keep one leg in exchange for your mace."
"Now…" Aron's voice deepened, taking on a demonic-like tone, while his eyes flashed with a crimson glow.
"...Scream!"
"AAAHHHHH!!!" Screams mingled with the sound of bones being crushed, echoing through the forest as the "treatment" unfolded.
[You have killed: Human]
[+120 XP]
As Josh drew his last breath, a system message appeared, marking the end of the "treatment."
Aron took a deep breath as he rose to his feet, surveying the aftermath of his actions. Normally, anyone would feel sickened by such brutality, but to Aron, it felt no different than crushing an insect, especially when he learned some interesting facts about Josh's group and the most important one: 'The Rats' faction and their deals. Compared to what they were capable of, Aron's treatment was merciful.
Examining his surroundings, Aron noticed the remnants of his fight. Only the mage girl remained, while the female rogue and fighter had been blasted into ashes by Aron's fiery breath. And it seems that the stalker met an unfortunate fate in the crossfire.
[You have killed: Human]
[+100 XP]
[You have killed: Human]
[+110 XP]
[You have killed: Human]
[+60 XP]
Aron noted the varying amounts of experience points gained. It was understandable considering the differing levels of strength among his opponents. But he didn't dwell on it, instead grabbing Josh's mace and examining it before giving it a few swings.
"This mace is actually pretty good, and the chain will provide me with some much-needed range," Aron remarked, pleased with his newfound weapon.
"But first..." Aron pulled out the iron mace he had acquired from the goblin champion. He gazed at it with mixed emotions, then spoke to the mace in a gentle, almost loving manner. Seriously?!
"I'm sorry, darling, but we have to part ways." Pausing for a moment, a hint of sadness crept into the corner of his eyes as he kissed the iron mace. "Forgive me, but I only have one place in my belt. I hope you find happiness with another man."
Aron then directed his gaze high above the tree line, taking a few steps backward while firmly gripping the mace in his right hand. Balancing his weight, he relaxed his body and smoothly brought the mace behind his head. In a smooth motion, he took a step forward while keeping his eyes on the horizon and using all of his strength, along with infusing mana into the mace. He launched it into the sky over the trees.
WHOOSHH.
A sharp, sonorous sound resonated from a significant distance as the mace left behind a trail of dark-red energy, resembling a shooting star. Rising higher and higher, the sound of wind rushing past it grew louder. Aron watched his beloved mace disappear into the sky, saluting it by slamming his fist against his chest.
"Farewell."
'Sigh, it's a good thing I'm alone. No one saw this embarrassing act'
"Ehem!"
"Holy—" Aron jumped at the unexpected voice behind him. He swiftly turned around, his hand gripping the hilt of his greatsword, ready to strike.
And there he was. Raum stood atop a rock, wearing a wicked smile on his face. The little raven had managed to sneak up close to Aron and had the fortune of witnessing his entire display of Aron's loving act toward the iron mace.
"Farewell, my love!" Raum mimicked Aron's earlier gestures dramatically, with a touch of teasing.
Aron narrowed his eyes but couldn't help chuckling. "You sneaky little bird. How long have you been watching me?"
Raum chuckled in response. "Since that romantic kiss, And I believe I saw a tear? Really, Aron?"
Rolling his eyes, Aron tried to conceal his embarrassment. "Oh, shut up. You know how much that mace meant to me. It has been with me through thick and thin, and now it's off to fulfill its destiny," he said, attempting to sound nonchalant.
"..." Raum looked at him blankly. 'What destiny? And what is thick and thin? You literally used that mace for no more than two days….Sigh.'
Cough.
"Anyway, did you find it?" Aron swiftly changed the subject, shifting the conversation toward more pressing matters.
Raum nodded. "Yes, about 2–3 hours lengths west from here, the trolls are sleeping inside a cave. From what I saw, there are six trolls."
"Good, but first," Aron said, shifting his gaze toward the unconscious mage girl.
Raum quickly glanced at Josh's lifeless body and surveyed the aftermath of Aron's battle. He saw the archer impaled with a greatsword, the immense destruction, and the scorched ground.
"I see you had some fun," Raum commented.
Aron shook his head and let out a sigh. "Not much. When I start having fun, well…" he paused, gazing at Josh's lifeless form, "...they die."
Raum sighed and shook his little raven's head. "Weak, aren't they? Anyway, why didn't you kill that woman?" He pointed toward the mage.
A sly smile crept across Aron's face. "Her magic is interesting, and I need her to play a little trick for me."
"I kind of feel sorry for her. Poor girl," Raum commented, his gaze still fixed on the mage.
As Aron approached the unconscious mage girl, Raum hopped onto his shoulder. He was curious about what type of trick Aron was planning to do.
"Wake up!" Aron's voice boomed with a heavy tone as he released his killing intent momentarily.
Sensing the imminent threat, the mage girl responded instantly. She opened her eyes and clutched her staff tightly to her chest. She couldn't move because her body was depleted of mana from her previous spell. With a slight pain in her neck and head, she momentarily forgot the events of the day. Raising her head slightly, her vision remained hazy.
"Rise and shine, little witch," a blurry figure spoke, standing before her.
"Hmm?..." Squinting her eyes, the figure gradually became clearer. He was a tall man with pale skin donning old armor, black hair, and crimson eyes. Perched on his shoulder was a black bird with red eyes. The girl's heart skipped a beat as she held her breath. From her perspective, both the man and the raven appeared larger.
For a moment, she thought he was Death himself, but she quickly realized she was still alive and the man was not Death. It's impossible to forget his face—the handsome man who had massacred her entire group and tortured their stalker.
"AHHHHH!... NOOOO!" She let out a piercing scream. "I'm going to DIE!"
"..." Raum gazed at Aron with a blank expression.
"What?"
"What did you do? She's terrified of you" he asked.
"I did a lot. Just look around," Aron replied honestly.
"P-Please... Sniff... Don't kill me! I meant no harm... They forced me to do it... Please," she cried, lowering her head and begging for her life.
"Silence, witch! I'm not going to kill you."
"Heh?" She glanced at Aron with teary eyes, bewildered by his unexpected statement.
Aron knelt before her, a wicked smile spreading across his face as he proposed, "In exchange, I need you to play a little trick with your magic. Deal?"
The smile sent shivers down the girl's spine. Initially taken by its beauty, she quickly realized behind that smile is a cruel and ruthless man who has no problem inflicting pain on others. Not that she could blame him; she and her group had come specifically to kill this man. Though his actions were understandable, he had taken them too far, especially with the stalker.
"I don't have a choice, do I?" She hesitantly voiced her thoughts.
Aron's smile widened. "Little witch, you didn't have a choice from the start."
Hesitant and unsure if she could trust the man who had instilled so much fear within her,
'Shit!'
With no other choice left, she slowly nodded.
"Good. Now follow me, little witch," Aron said, standing up and extending his hand to help her rise.