Return of the Fallen Volume 4 Chapter 38
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Author: Blue_Rat
ch38
The cocky attitude he had just moments before had vanished without a trace. This old man before him held him by the neck and no matter how he looked at Kazuki he couldn’t perceive the depths of his strength. As his feet dangled in the air, he felt like a mouse stuck in the clutches of a predator ready to kill him at a moment’s notice.
Still, he worked for one of the most powerful bosses in all of Gentis and he couldn’t back down.
“You piece of shit, let me go or… Guhhh!”
Kazuki didn’t like the man’s answer and squeezed his throat tightly, causing a weird noise to escape the man’s mouth. Kazuki didn’t stop and kept up the pressure and the man started to turn blue.
(If he wants to spout bullshit and not tell me what his boss wants then he can simply take a nap. I’ll find the boss myself.)
Kazuki had originally wanted to keep a somewhat low profile in the city, gather some funds, supplies, information and then dip out of here but it seems trouble followed him no matter what.
As the man in Kazuki’s grasp felt his mind going dark, every word of scorn was swallowed with difficulty and was replaced by impending doom.
Just as the light was fading from his eyes, a calm yet sinister voice swept over the room.
“Old man, I would stop right now if I were you.”
As soon as this person spoke Kazuki could feel a large force of magic gathering in his surroundings. A large circle had formed around Kazuki, Tsura, and Mei without them knowing and several rings and staff were all pointed in their direction. Several shards of rock and ice hovered silently along with small funnels of air and fireballs. One man near the back held a staff with a dark cloud of energy swirling above it. All of these attacks were aimed at Kazuki and the others and were just waiting for the go-ahead.
Kazuki was confidently he could dodge a few but all of them…
Kazuki loosened his grip but did not release the man from his grasp. Right now the other side outnumbered them and they were at a disadvantage. They had a shit ton of guards with enhancement tattoos clearly visible and those people, as time went on, seemed to multiple with more and more of them flooding in, weapons at the ready. Not only that there were at least 20 Mages of varying strength. Some were only at the first stage and relied heavily on magic tools but some were at the 2nd and even 3rd stage.
(It seems that bar owner was wrong about the number of Mages this place had.)
Kazuki looked toward the owner of the voice and noticed a tall yet slender man. He had long green hair that fell down to his waist and narrow features with yellow eyes. The man reminded Kazuki of a snake because of this.
The man’s eyes seemed to have flashed for a moment realizing something before he smiled. With a snap of his fingers, a man came out of a nearby room and held Nunully by her arm. Nunully was escorted to the snake-like man. When she was finally at his side, the man cleared his throat and spoke condescendingly.
“How odd, A man invites you in and you not only turn him down but you attack his people as well. It seems country folks are quite rude.”
Kazuki looked softly at Nunully before he sneered at this snake-like man.
“So eyes take it ur Degra, da owner of Dis fine establishment. Sorry but I don’t take kindly ta a man who pulls a blade on me, invitation or not.”
Degra chuckled inwardly before dark energy swirled above his hand and formed into a black blade. Holding it to Nunully’s neck he said.
“What about when a blade is pulled on your friend?”
Kazuki sighed and looked at Mei and Tsura. Kazuki dropped the man in his grasp and the three slowly walked over.
Walking over, each step they took, staff’s followed their every movement. Kazuki came before Degra but never once lowered his head.
“So, wat do ya want youngin?”
Degra eyes flashed. Now that he was closer to Kazuki he could observe him much closer and he found a few interesting things.
“Come with me and we’ll speak on things that shouldn’t be said in the open. I’m sure you would appreciate that OLD-man.”
Kazuki caught something in that. The way Degra emphasized on old man, it was as though he didn’t believe Kazuki was actually an old man. Kazuki looked at Degra’s eyes once more and noticed a few similarities to Lamia’s doorman back in Tresta. The man could see things others couldn’t because of his special eyes.
(Could this Degra see through me?)
Degra looked over the crowd and spoke calmly.
“Clean this place up and have it ready for customers within 30 minutes, do not be late. As for these guests here, they will be coming with me and I expect to not be disturb over anything small. Get to it!”
Degra turned around and gestured to Kazuki and the others. Only one guard followed him, surprising Kazuki and the others.
(This man is so confident that he turns his back on me. Is it because of all his henchmen or is he just that confident I won’t attack. No…he thinks he’s stronger than me, interesting. Maybe I should test that theory.)
Kazuki gathered some energy and was about to make a fireball when
Degra, without stopping his steps nor turning his head, he spoke to Kazuki.
“I wouldn’t try that if I were you.”
Kazuki wasn’t too surprised as this confirmed his guess.
(It is his eyes. They can see a few things.)
Mei ran over and hugged Nunully.
“Big sis, are you ok? Did they hurt you? Did they touch your chest? Mama says bad men always try to touch a lady’s chest.”
Nunully felt embarrassed but vehemently denied it.
“Of course not. I would have killed myself before I let one of them touch me.”
Kazuki looked her over.
“Are you sure your ok?”
Nunully felt ashamed.
“I’m fine. If not for me though you could have fought through these people, sorry.”
Kazuki flicked Nunully’s forehead causing a bit of pain. Nunully gripped her head and released a peep of pain.
*eep*
As she rubbed it with disbelief, Kazuki nodded.
“Yep, you did cause me a loss today.”
Nunully had tears forming at the edge of her eyes hearing this but then Kazuki added.
“So you better get stronger.”
Nunully’s expression changed and she thought about what Kazuki said. Was this not his way of not blaming her or maybe giving her a way out. Either way, determination filled her thoughts.
(I have to get stronger. So that way I at least won’t be a burden. Then, even if he doesn’t wish it, I’ll still be at his side. As long as I get strong enough, he won’t be able to throw me away.)
Mei didn’t quite get what was going on but still seeing Nunully get flicked on the forehead looked funny to her.
“Hehe, big sis is just like a child getting disciplined. Tee hee hee, big sis is actually the little sis. From now on I’m big sis ok.”
Mei gently patted Nunully’s hand as though she were comforting her but everyone could see she was making fun instead. Nunully pulled at Mei’s cheeks in retaliation.
Degra was a little dumbfounded by all of this.
(What an odd group.)
Kazuki and everyone else followed Degra to an upper floor and into an office. This was not what they expected at all when they stopped fighting. Tsura and Nunlly thought they would be locked up in an underground dungeon or something sinister, while Kazuki thought they were going someplace where Degra held an even greater advantage. Coming into this small office though, this gave Kazuki the upper hand in his opinion.
Using his ki, he could sense no traps whatsoever. No weird inscriptions that could seal power or lock someone in place. Instead, there were a few simple inscriptions that heated or cooled the room. An inscription that kept the room lit and other simple things like that.
(Is this man actually careless?)
Kazuki really couldn’t tell but Degra’s next words almost caused Kazuki to jump.
“That power of yours, the one you’re using right now, is that how you cheated my game?”
All eyes focused on Kazuki and Kazuki himself was awed.
(He can see or at least sense my ki. This man’s eyes are far better then Lamia’s doorman if he can even see that.)
“Is at y u called us up ere? Sorry but I have no clue what ur talking bout.”
Degra snapped his fingers and the man standing next to him walked over to a nearby table and began using a tool that heated some tea. Pouring everyone a cup, the man handed them all out with a few small cookies.
Mei was just about to scarf the cookies down her throat but then she remembered what her mom said about strangers and treats and looked at her mom. In return, Tsura looked at Kazuki because even she didn’t know what to do. Kazuki gave a nod and everyone began to eat and drink. Kazuki felt it would be stupid and make no sense to out of nowhere poison them when earlier there was a good chance Degra could have killed them. It didn’t mean that he wouldn’t or couldn’t just that it didn’t make sense to do so at the moment.
Degra sipped his tea and he felt comfortable in his heart. PLacing it down with a small *Clank* He wiped his mouth with a napkin and continued.
“You may not know this but these eyes of mine are quite unique. With them, I’m capable of seeing many things. Magic for example, usually it can’t be seen with the naked eye. Only if the energy is that dense and pure can people physically see it. I, on the other hand, no matter what, whether I’m awake or sleeping, whether my eyes are closed or damaged, I can still see magic. Not just magic though. I see through your little disguises, all of you. I know for a fact that your not old but actually a young man. By my estimates your actually only 26 to 29 years old. That woman isn’t pregnant and that boy is clearly a girl. I can see all of these things and more. And my tuition tells me that your not even from the countryside so you can stop with that fake accent.”
Kazuki laughed inwardly and straightened his back.
“Your eyes are good. The fact you can even see my age as well but how does any of this prove that I cheated at your game?”
Degra took another sip of his tea.
“It doesn’t.”
“So why do you say I was cheating.”
Degra smiled.
“Because I was cheating and the only way you could have beaten my game while I was cheating is by cheating yourself.”
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