The deserted area Zich wandered into was a quiet forest on the outskirts of Snewick. Built on the plains near the city, the forest was considerably large. It was also densely forested, resulting in several cases of children getting lost in it. Expectedly, hardly anyone went into the forest. Yet, it was a favorable spot for Zich since it meant that no one would be screaming their heads off if he beat these ambushers to satisfy himself.
‘It seems like those guys also think the same.”
Every single one of the ambushers wore a robe that fully covered their body and looked identical to one another.
‘Are they the robed guys?’ Zich thought there was a high possibility. ‘I hope these guys like to talk.’ Since torture didn’t work on the robed figures, Zich had to try to fish information out of them. Thus, Zich hoped that these guys would hold a conversation with him. The more talkative they were, the better it was for him.
Soon, Zich looked at the figures surrounding him and tilted his head.
‘Are they…not those robed guys?’
The robed figures approached their opponents with perfectly restricted movements. One could tell that they had received special training just by their movements. However, the group in front of Zich didn’t give off the same feeling as the robed figures. In fact, there were even some whose movements indicated that they didn’t have a lick of training. Simultaneously, Zich knew that there was no way that somebody would have gathered normal civilians for an ambush.
‘They are mages.’ So, it was understandable as to why their movements looked so stiff. Besides the few whom Zich supposed were mages, the rest moved like they were clearly trained. However, there was a sense of roughness in their movements.
“Are they mercenaries?”
“Mages and mercenaries…It would make the most sense if the mages had hired the mercenaries for an ambush.’
Zich decided to try talking to them first. “Who are you guys? I don’t know where you knuckleheads are from, but I don’t think you guys came all this way for a hike. One thing I know for sure is that you guys have no tact for disrupting our date like this.”
“It’s not even a date,” Lyla snorted.
The robed figures didn’t reply. They simply squeezed their robe strings.
Ching! Ching!
Then, they pulled out knives from underneath their robes. Some of the robed figures remained behind and pulled out their staff.
“You guys are attacking us because you know who we are, right? We are like celebrities within Sunewick.” News that the person teaching the fallen genius, Elena Dwayne, and the one, who easily defeated the top student in the magician’s tower were the same person had already spread across Sunewick.
The sound of laughter came from behind the robed figures. It was a twisted and mocking laugh. Zich stared at them.
“From that laughter, it seems like you guys know who we are. If possible, could you also take off that dirty mat you are wearing? Ah, but if your face looks like an orc that couldn’t possibly belong to a human, I’ll understand it if you keep it on. Actually, if that’s the case, please don’t take off your robes. My mind is really delicate, so if I see a nightmarish human like that, I will be personally affected.”
The sound of laughter immediately stopped. It was quickly followed by low murmurs filled with rage. Soon, some stifled laughter muted these murmurs.
“Your group’s team spirit is a mess. Even if your companion has an orc face ugly enough to make others run away with their eyes closed, you guys shouldn’t laugh at him if you are his companions. Seeing how you guys are all wearing robes, I’m sure all your faces are also quite terrifying to look at.” Zich’s words instantly halted the laughter that had followed. The insides of the forest were quickly overwhelmed by an ominous silence and bloodlust.
The robed figure standing closest to Zich said, “…Like we heard, you have quite a harsh mouth.” His voice was deep and rough and wasn’t pleasant to hear. He sounded like he could mentally pressure a person with just his voice.
Zich remained calm. “I’m sorry. As you can see, both my friend and I are what people call beautiful and handsome, so I can’t understand the sorrows you all faced and why you said such words. I apologize.” Zich bowed in an exaggerated manner. “Don’t worry everyone. I’m sure even you guys would be able to find self-love in the end with your terrifying appearances. Unfortunately, you shouldn’t expect such love from other humans since it would be impossible. Ah, I know even orcs and trolls would refuse you guys too. But it’s alright everyone. The monsters below their levels might, they really just might be able to accept you all.”
Like he was the god of benevolence, Zich stretched out both of his arms. “There are many different forms of love, so I also understand that too. Yes, I really do!” Zich’s body shuddered as emotions soaked up his heart. Then, he said to Lyla, “I had no idea that I was capable of speaking with so much love behind my words! What if I’m no longer a piece of trash who does kind acts but is really a kind person now? The Karuwimans really saw—”
“I think that’s enough of your nonsense,” Lyla cut off Zich’s useless words sternly. Zich pouted, but he didn’t continue talking.
“…I’ve decided.” The person who said that Zich had a harsh mouth spoke up again. “I will draw a couple of lines on that handsome face of yours. No, I will just completely skin it off. Let me see if you can continue to yap then.” He moved his sharp sword with murderous intent and growled.
“Try it if you can. I was thinking about making a mark on my clean face to better represent myself these days.” Zich scratched his cheeks like he wanted the robed figure to see it more closely. “But I doubt you will be able to manage to do so with your skills.”
“Are you that confident just because you defeated Mawin Jaewick?”
“No. Even though he was supposed to be a gifted mage or whatever, he was basically nothing to us. Even though he’s half the reason why we became so famous in the magical tower and Sunewick, he’s much too weak for us to feel cocky. Isn’t that right, Lyla?”
“…Zich.”
“Yeah?”
“Who’s Mawin Jaewick?”
“…”
Zich closed his mouth for a moment. He wondered if she was joking but judging by her expression, it didn’t seem like she was joking.
“Have you forgotten already? He’s the guy who dueled with you in the magical tower.”
“Ah, ah. That guy?” Lyla clapped her hands as if she finally remembered who he was. “That guy's name is Mawin Jaewick?”
“…Woah, even that is too much for me. Shouldn’t you remember him since you fought a duel with him pretty recently?”
“It can’t be helped. He was so unmemorable, and his skills were bad as well.”
“If he was here, he would probably be gritting his teeth like crazy.” Zich replied to Lyla with a dumbfounded voice, and it was at that moment—
Krrrrk!
They heard someone grit their teeth. It was such a loud and intense sound that it wouldn’t have been surprising if the person who gritted their teeth had no more teeth left. Zich’s gaze moved towards the direction of the sound, and it stopped at a person who was standing behind the robed figures.
“Who the hell grits their teeth like that…” Zich tilted his head and narrowed his eyes. “…Are you perhaps Mawin Jaewick?”
“…” The person did not reply, but his silence was the loudest answer.
“You really are that bastard!” Zich clapped his hands. “Are you the guy who led this ambush? Are you still upset about getting beaten the hell up by Lyla? Even though you’re supposed to be a gifted mage, your heart is as small as an ant’s nostril!”
“I-I’m not Mawin Jaewick!” Mawin Jaewick quickly shouted out loud.
However, it was too late for something like that to work. Zich pointed his fingers at him and even Mawin Jaewick’s companions shook their heads side to side.
“Now that I think about it, were you the one who snickered when one of your companions said I was famous? Are you still unable to accept your defeat from that day?”
“Of course!” Mawin Jaewick seemed to have given up hiding his identity and bellowed, “Do you think I will accept my defeat when your companion used a cheap trick to win?!”
“Trick?” Zich was completely dumbfounded. It was not because Mawin Jaewick accused them of being scoundrels who used tricks to win. Zich was a type of person who was willing to use all kinds of tricks to get what he wanted. There was another reason why Zich was dumbfounded.
“Why would we do that for a weakling like you?”
Even if a wagon full of people like Mawin Jaewick came rushing towards them, none of them would be able to lay a single finger on Zich or Lyla. Thus, why would Zich and Lyla go out of their way to use tricks against him?
Zich continued, “I just thought you were a spoiled brat who grew up sheltered and privileged, but I never imagined that you would have such a serious delusion. Being delusional to that extent is a disease. Since your family is well off, I recommend you to hire a doctor and go through intense treatments.”
Mawin Jaewick cried out, “I obtained this information from a trustworthy source, you trashy bastard!”
Zich’s eyes immediately narrowed at Mawin Jaewick’s words. “Really? There was someone who gave you information like that?”
The atmosphere changed. Mawin Jaewick took a step back, and his underlings tensed up.
“Just let me make sure of this first, Mawin. Right now, you’re trying to pay us back for tricking you, right?”
“Yeah! Are you finally admitting your trickery?!”
Even though Zich was still unpleasant to talk to, Mawin Jaewick agreed to Zich’s words because he thought Zich was finally admitting his wrongs.
Zich continued, “And there’s a person who told you that we used cheap tricks.”
“Yeah!”
“Your companions right now are probably mages from your school of magic and hired mercenaries, right?”
“I guess a traveler like you has some good sense! But it’s too late! Your sin is humiliating me, a heir to one of the magical tower’s most esteemed families, by using cheap tricks! Repent your sins right here!”
Zich let out a sigh. “You idiot. If you thought we used cheap tricks, you could have just challenged us to a duel again.”
“W-why would I care about what means I use to punish you low-lives!”
‘Ah, he doesn’t want to do that though.’ Zich could understand Mawin Jaewick’s emotions. ‘Even if we did use cheap tricks, I guess he feels uncomfortable about challenging Lyla again since she defeated him so one-sidedly.’
Coward—Zich added one more negative adjective to describe Mawin Jaewick.
Zich scratched the back of his head. ‘This is not the scene I wanted.’
Zich had wanted the robed figures or people related to Orland Dwayne or Walwiss Dwayne to come out, but a weird fish had been caught by his bait. However, it was too early to be disappointed.
‘Regardless, there seems to have been someone who encouraged him to do this, so I should put my hopes into finding out who that person is.’
“Have you finished organizing your thoughts?” Lyla asked, and Zich nodded.
“You’ve endured well. Lyla, you can sweep them all away.”
“That sounds good to me.” Lyla raised her staff; her cold gaze swept the ambushers. “I don’t like how they’re staring at us.” The way the ambushers’ lustful eyes scanned her body were starting to bother her.
Lyla prepared her magic and asked, “How much should I control my strength?”
In order to get information by torturing people, it was better to use not too much to keep them alive. However, Zich did not want to intervene in what his friend wanted to do.
“Do whatever you want. I’ll just take out the person I need.”
Lyla began her magic and said, “Do you know this, Zich?”
Ziiiiiing!
Mana began to swirl around Lyla’s staff.
“I really like that part about you.”
Kooooong!
Lyla’s magic was activated.