Reset Life – Chapter 77

Chapter 77: Please Don’t Call Me That (2)

First, Levidian grabbed the patrolman’s hand and pulled him toward her. Simultaneously, a gleaming knife appeared in her left hand as if by magic.

“Uh?!”

While the blonde guy was flustered, Levidian twisted his arm behind his back and held the knife to his throat.

“Don’t move!”

Immediately after that shout, I retrieved Levidian’s weapon. It seems the more cunning ones among the men surrounding me thought to grab me as a hostage.

“Hiya-!”

Several of them rushed at me as I crouched down, and I kicked out from my low stance, striking their legs.

“Ouch!”

“Ugh!”

As they tumbled down with a thud, I picked up Levidian’s weapon. Seeing another patrolman cautiously approaching her from behind, I shouted.

“Behind you!”

I threw not only my voice but also the weapon, and Levidian, without even looking back, threw the knife she was holding in her left hand backward.

“Ack!”

The patrolman, stabbed in the shoulder, faltered. Levidian pulled another knife from her right sleeve and threw it to the left. The patrolman preparing his crossbow there couldn’t avoid the sudden knife severing the bowstring and scratching his face.

“Ow?!”

Just then, the man held by Levidian tried to resist, but she kicked up the belt I had thrown with her foot and, with exquisite skill, drew her sword.

“Want another hole in your windpipe?”

Levidian pointed the longsword at the man’s throat, and he quieted down.

Simultaneously, everyone became silent.

I escaped the encirclement, and Levidian, with her longsword still at the man’s throat, glanced around. She said,

“Everyone knows what to do, right?”

It was the typical demand of a hostage-taker: drop your weapons. But the men looked bewildered, as if they didn’t understand. Especially on the faces of the patrolmen, conflict arose.

“Teacher, it seems they don’t want to listen.”

“I thought this man was the leader?”

“He might not be. But looking at his insignia, he’s the highest-ranking here.”

“I see. Hey, what’s your name?”

Levidian asked the man with the longsword at his throat. He swallowed and spoke rather calmly,

“Ma, Maxium.”

“Good, Maxium. Tell them to drop their weapons.”

“D, Drop your weapons!”

Maxium spoke, his eyes filled with fear, wondering if his command would be obeyed. I was curious too. Would the patrolmen listen to him?

Soon, very delightful sounds filled the air.

Clang! Thud! Clank! Ching!

The sound of many weapons falling to the ground was like an orchestral ensemble. Now I can finally breathe.

I let out a sigh of relief.

“Risel, please fasten my belt.”

“Ah, yes.”

I picked up the belt at Levidian’s feet, went behind her, and fastened it. As I fumbled with my hands to tighten it, she said,

“Now, everyone back away. Raise both hands, turn around, and slowly move away. Got it? Wait, what are you touching?”

“Yes? Ah, I apologize. The buckle is a bit difficult to fasten……”

“Do it properly. What are you doing? Hurry up and do as you’re told!”

Perhaps because I ended up hugging her in the process, she flinched slightly. This is making it even harder.

I fastened the belt around her waist and picked up the sword again. Meanwhile, the other patrolmen and the well-built men glanced at us and moved forward. Once they obey once, they tend to obey well afterward.

Levidian nodded and whispered in Maxium’s ear.

“Now, Maxium, if you don’t cooperate from now on, I’ll cut your left arm tendon first. If you still resist, then your left leg tendon, and then the right side. After I’ve severed all your limbs……”

“Then……?”

Levidian glanced at me and said,

“As Risel said earlier, I’ll make you a beloved body for special individuals. I apologize to your unborn descendants. By the way, I’m not used to this, so I might make a mistake.”

I unconsciously crossed my legs. Oh, that’s horrifying. Maxium nodded repeatedly, as if he understood perfectly.

“Shall we go then? Risel, let’s go.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

I raised my sword, stood beside Levidian, and backed away, watching the men walking forward.

We hadn’t agreed on it, but surprisingly, she and I were in sync.

I knew she always carried four knives. And I had already experienced that it took her less than a second to pull a knife from her sleeve. All thanks to the days of various training. Is this the bond of a master and disciple?

We backed away with Maxium until the others were out of sight. After that, we moved forward, dragging Maxium along. Levidian said,

“Well done, Risel. I knew you could do it.”

“I was flustered at first, but…… I trusted you, Teacher.”

“Thank you. As expected of someone I can trust my back to.”

She smiled brightly and praised me. That alone made me certain that I had truly done well. Her praise is genuinely more pleasing than anyone else’s.

Maxium seemed uneasy as we conversed peacefully.

“H, Hey, what are you going to do with me?”

“Just shut up and be arrested. And then make your statement. Remember? I said I’d personally beat you for three hours.”

I grinned. If possible, I’d like to split his head open, but I’ll endure it by diligently thrashing him for three hours.

Maxium sighed and lowered his head. He seemed to have given up. Well, there’s no other way now.

As we headed towards the city, I checked behind us. There were no other suspicious presences or movements. Perhaps the others decided to focus on clearing out the stolen goods.

However, now that we’ve caught the culprit, I can leave the rest to Namias. Before the High Priest, who illuminates everything, Maxium will confess as naturally as the Sair River flows.

“How much further is it?”

“About…… 1 kilometer left.”

“We’re halfway there. Let’s go up to the Pipe Road.”

“Yes. That would be better.”

I checked the map and compass to find our direction. Now we can just walk along the Pipe Road without needing to take the mountain path.

Even if we encounter other patrolmen on the way, they will prioritize the traitor who embezzled supplies over their comrade. No matter how strong their camaraderie, they won’t rescue Maxium.

I felt the tension ease slightly, but I didn’t bother to regain it.

With only 1 kilometer left, what could possibly happen? At most, we’ll just encounter other patrolmen. And since they’ll cooperate with Maxium’s arrest, there’s nothing to worry about.

It was then, as we were walking northwest for about 5 minutes. Just then, three patrolmen approached us. They seemed to have spotted us early, as they approached without concealing themselves.

“Risel, those people……”

“Ah, I see.”

They were all carrying loaded crossbows.

Oh dear. Could they have misunderstood? Well, it’s understandable. If they see their comrade being dragged along with a knife to his throat, they would naturally react this way.

I sheathed my sword, showing that I had no intention of resisting, not even a shadow of a nail’s worth. I spread my arms slightly and stepped forward.

“Everyone, calm down. Don’t be tense.”

“Sir Arisein, what’s going on?”

Unfortunately, I didn’t recognize him. He had black hair and brown eyes, and while his face was familiar, I couldn’t recall his name. I probably saw him in passing a couple of times. I said,

“We caught the main culprit of the embezzlement case. The person Teacher is holding is the perpetrator. He identified himself as Maxium. Is that your real name?”

“Mac? You? Is that true?”

The three patrolmen looked at Maxium with astonishment. Maxium tried to say something, but flinched as Levidian pressed the sword to his throat and gave an awkward laugh.

“Hahaha, it’s true. Sorry.”

“H, How could you……?”

“I’m disappointed, Mac.”

“We thought you were a good guy.”

The three patrolmen shook their heads at Maxium’s words. Their faces were filled with disappointment.

Well, I would feel the same if I found out that a trusted comrade had betrayed me. It was less than a year ago, but compared to how I felt when my father betrayed me, this is nothing.

I approached them and said,

“Ah, and if you go 1 kilometer that way, there’s a hill near the riverbank. The goods are there. Besides this guy, there are two more patrolmen. Since they’re not chasing us, it seems they’re moving the goods elsewhere.”

“Oh? Are you talking about those people over there?”

The patrolmen pointed behind me with puzzled expressions. I reflexively turned my head and saw the familiar burly men and patrolmen slowly walking towards us.

Oh no! If they were going to come, they could have waited a little longer!

I gestured with the hilt of my sword and said urgently,

“They retreated to the city! Those guys, they’re going to fight to the death!”

The patrolmen looked at each other and then hardened their expressions. They aimed their crossbows forward again. Are they seriously planning to fight?

The patrolman with black hair and brown eyes looked at me and said,

“In that case, we have no choice. We have to finish this.”

“Wait! It’s too much for just you guys!”

“Too much? No. We only need to catch one person.”

A sharp glint appeared in his brown eyes.

Why are his eyes, the crossbow in his hand, aimed at me?

Confused, I stood silently for a moment. Then, Levidian’s sudden scream rang out.

“Risel-!”

Thud!

“Huh?”

Along with her scream, I looked down at the crossbow bolt that seemed to have sprouted from my stomach, puzzled.

Despite being blocked by my armor, the bolt was deeply embedded in my abdomen.

Thwack! Thud!

And two more crossbow bolts pierced my shoulder and thigh. My body, without even time to feel the pain, slowly, rapidly collapsed.

“Uh, uhh……?”

A pathetic sound escaped my lips.

What…… What happened?

Why am I being attacked? Huh?

“Risel-!”

Levidian threw Maxium aside and rushed towards me. No, Teacher. You can’t do that…… He’s the culprit we finally caught!

“Ugh-!”

Sudden pain shot through my body. Red blood oozed from my shoulder, stomach, and thigh, accompanied by agony. It’s hot.

“Risel! Risel!”

“Ugh, huh…… Levidian?”

She tried to lift me up.

Her face was a mixture of deep despair, sorrow, worry, and unidentifiable emotions. It was an indescribable expression, but somehow, a heart-wrenching sorrow emanated from it.

“Hey, we almost got caught, John.”

“You’re such an idiot. What were you doing getting caught like that? If it weren’t for us, you would have been finished, Mac. I’m disappointed.”

“Hahaha! Sorry. But didn’t everything turn out well in the end?”

The freed Maxium and the black-haired patrolman called John conversed naturally.

Damn it. They had…… more accomplices?

Levidian tried to stop the bleeding from my shoulder wound. The pressure on the wound made lightning flash in my head. Lynin! You said lightning was too much!

“Ugh-!”

“Are you alright? Huh?”

There’s no way I’m alright, Teacher. I breathed heavily, looking at the blood gushing from my wounds. Every thump of my heart renewed the pain throughout my body.

Maxium’s voice reached my ears.

“Hahaha! Look, Teacher! You should have listened to me! Now you’ll both be buried here! The innocent monsters will be falsely accused, but it’s not uncommon, so just accept it!”

“What……?”

Sparks flew from Levidian’s eyes.

An intense light, so bright that it would have been mistaken for an explosion if seen at night, flashed. Pure rage blazed in her eyes.

“How dare you…… How dare you……!”

She gritted her teeth, her hands trembling. Over her shoulder, I could almost see a mirage of swirling emotions.

Even I, immersed in a swamp of pain, forgot my agony in fascination as I watched her.

She was enraged like a demon who had fought the primordial gods. Like an angel witnessing the audacity of demons who dared to defy the gods, she displayed an unbearable fury.

Ah, something must be wrong with my optic nerves, mismatched like a wrongly assembled puzzle. Why does even that side of her look beautiful?

The glint in her eyes was rage, but its form was liquid.

Just one drop.

Like the first drop that fell from the heavens to the earth, the crystal of her rage fell hot upon my cheek.

At that moment, silence fell.

Her trembling, driven by uncontrollable emotions, ceased as if by magic.

Only I, surrendering to the pain that hammered my head and body like a blacksmith’s hammer, seemed to be separated from that stillness.

She, who had been white with fury, spoke.

“Risel, bear with me for a moment.”

“Y, Yes……?”

“Fortunately, it seems to have missed your vital points, so don’t die. I still have things to tell you.”

“Le, Levidian……?”

She carefully leaned me against a tree. I could only watch her, unable to move, captured by the pain.

She untied the scarf around her head and neatly tied her hair. Her smooth, black hair swayed, forming a waterfall.

She picked up her sword. With that single action, she could prove herself.

She was a king.

One who ascended to the highest throne solely through the sword.

Acknowledged by all, she was the Sword King.

“I haven’t taught this to Risel or Lea…… But I’ll teach you today……”

Step. Step.

She took a step forward. Despite the small sound, it felt as loud as an earthquake. My vision swayed erratically, but strangely, her figure remained clear in my sight.

Like the harbinger of a tsunami, she declared, low and heavy,

“The meaning of ruthlessness.”

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