Savior! Redemption in Another World! - Chapter 33

Let’s not jump to conclusions here, I could have simply missed them.

Sprinting all throughout my house, I can’t find either of them.

Not hiding in anything, not under anything, just gone.

Did someone take them?

No, the adventurers would simply have killed them.

Did they escape? Were they somehow spared from the mysterious spell?

Either that or they were able to escape the ice prison faster than I was.

Whilst I hope it was the former, it was most likely the ladder. Yet, that brings me a deep sense of relief.

Surge is a good study and a hunter with incredible senses, and Antonio is a human and a mage of insane talent. Together, they surely would be able to survive.

Being rational people, it’s obvious what they would do if they both escaped at the same time. Dead south to the nearest town for safety, and try to survive whilst learning what happened.

Steeling my resolve, I gather all of my backup equipment and say farewell to the rest of the sealed warriors. The fact that the kids didn’t unfreeze us means that there is most likely nothing that can be done.

That being said, I did try a bit of fire magic as well as swinging down with my ax as hard as possible on one of the monster statues, and nothing seemed to change.

I’m sorry my friends, but I must find my family.

I will return with my children, and hopefully, a few of you will be free by then.

With those final remorseful thoughts, I begin my journey southward.

///

It took me only around two weeks at nearly full speed to reach the outskirts of town. Yet, for the first time in ten years, I can feel myself nearly tremoring in fear.

It’s a city, a normal, city. One in which demonoids and humans lived in peace.

Yet, ever since I was born I was always told to avoid cities and civilizations, and that humans would attack us on sight.

That much is certainly true, or at least was. Humans held sieges against our village, and the only time a human trader ever came out to us he left immediately after realizing what we were.

But, Antonio is human, is he not?

Humans listen to reason, and they’re not inherently violent, I raised a child one so that much has to be true.

So maybe, those were just stories, and the human attacks were just violent acts of violent people, similar to the monster raid.

Steeling my resolve, I stood up from my hiding place and walked toward the road that led to the entrance of the city. It was surrounded by large walls similar to Taft, so it would seem strange to come from any other direction.

Cloaking myself just in case, I began to slowly make my way forward.

Stepping onto the road and walking it was fine, and I was even walking behind a merchant cart. Yet, that didn’t last long.

As soon as I was spotted by one of the guards posted on the wall, a loud whistling could be heard.

Immediately, guards inspecting the merchant in front of me quickly rushed him in and slammed the gates closed.

“Run!” I can hear the merchant yell. West Tounge? Rare but lucky.

“MONSTER OFF THE NORTHERN GATE, CLOSE OFF THE CITY. CODE RED.” One of the soldiers yelled. Based on his uniform, he’s a lieutenant.

Code Red, an imminent threat to the city. According to the informational books we got from the merchant, Code Red is rarely ever used. Only military ranks of lieutenant or higher are able to issue to command after all.

“I am no monster, I have no idea why you’d say such a thing,” I yell back, although the intent was to sound calm, my genuine voice came out more intimidating than I hoped.

“Your skin is scarlet red, knife-like ears, adorned with jewelry. You’re even wearing an arm ornament identical to the described tribe of Tiamat. Don’t try to fool us, you’re exactly as Lord Valken described.” The lieutenant yelled back, his voice shaking as more and more soldiers poured onto the walls. Valken? Was that not the merchant that came to the village to trade?

We welcomed him with open arms despite him being a human, even offered him some of the prey we came back with for food.

“Valken? As in the merchant Valken? You may be mistaken, my tribe offered him our good graces, and he left unharmed with food in tow. The only thing we asked of him was to sell us some informational books.” I say, putting my hands up, the universal sign of surrender. “Bring him here, he ought to remember me, even if it’s been a few years. Tell him it’s Gust Renarus.” I shout, yet subtly increasing the density of my cloak.

“As if we’d believe that! You probably just want to kill the noble who informed us of your lot! You’re lucky we’re even humoring you with a conversation, we should just kill your kind on spot, Devil!” The lieutenant barked, the fear in his voice slowly fading as I could hear more and more guards arming themselves behind the thick wooden walls.

God this is going nowhere.

I could just break into the city and rescue Surge and Antonio myself, but that would only sew further distrust in our village. My aim in adopting Antonio was the eventually bridge the gap of humans and at the very least our village, so killing this pack of rats would only soil that goal.

“I seek to do no harm. I’ve simply come for my children.” I say, drawing looks of utter confusion from the guards and lieutenant. Before the human was able to speak again, I felt an extremely strong presence coming from behind the gate, as well as a remarkably weak one.

“Clear a path and open the gate, lest I clear you out myself!” A loud voice boomed from the inside, and mere moments later, the gate opened.

“Captain Richard wait a moment!” The lieutenant yelled before an invisible force seemed to slam him into the floor. It must be silent magic, but I’ve never seen a spell with that effect.

“You there! Tiamat!” Captain Richard yelled, pointing his golden gauntlet towards me.

The man standing before me was the source of the strong presence I felt. Standing over two meters tall, in black armor accented in gold. On his back was a sword that looked almost too large for his body, but given his apparent strength, he could most likely use it well.

His armor was impressive, sporting intricate detailing that seemed to convey the image of a lion. What an interesting fellow.

“My name is Gust. Gust Renarus, a pleasure to meet you.” I say putting my hands down and crossing my arms. This is beginning to upset me. I simply want my children.

“Well, Gust. Are you a warrior?” Richard said, as his small grin began to widen into a wicked smile.

“I am. But as I said I’ve not come to fight. If you were to fetch the one called Valken, he could identify me.” I say, ever-increasing the strength of my cloaking. This one seems, troubling.

“Valken, do you recognize this one.” The captain says, giving leeway to the significantly smaller presence behind him. There stood the face of a man I recognized, yet aged significantly.

“Yes, I do. That is the chief of the Tiamat village I had dealings with when I was a merchant. He is exceptionally strong Lor- Captain Richard.” Valken said, giving me a slight nod as he explained who I was. Good, that should clear things up.

“Ahhh, the same chief of the same village that killed multiple A and B-rank monsters to intimidate you as soon as you approached it? Only to offer their corpses to you, as if to say they were above the need for them?” The captain said smugly, with Valken nodding along as he continued.

“B-rank? A-rank? Whilst those titles mean nothing to me, we did not mean to intimidate you. It is simply good manners to offer food to guests.” I reply, hurriedly trying to fix the misunderstanding. It looks like Valken remembers the situation quite differently.

“Is that to say you expect a noble to eat the corpses of dead monsters instead of the food you prepare in your village? I think I’ve heard enough of your taunts.” The captain said, walking forward as an invisible force seemed to drag Valken back into the town, the gate slamming down behind him.

“By my authority as Knight-Captain, Emissary of Acrimony, Richard Silverwind, I challenge you, Gust Renarus. If you are victorious, you may enter this city, as I will forbid any soldiers from discrimination against you. If I win, you shall leave, and you nor any of your kind shall return.”

As those words left his mouth, a deep purple chain shot out from his chest, stopping inches before my own.

“A Fae Ritual? I accept the terms” I reply, as the chain stabs into me and wraps around my heart. Interestingly, it seems that Fae rituals are still in use to this day.

Readying myself, a large golden structure erects itself around Richard and me, the Birdcage as it’s known.

As it completes, the battle begins.