"YOU!!!" A guard's scream pierced the chaos, his hand heavy on Van's shoulder.
"Ah, y-yeah?" Van responded, a veneer of calm masking his confusion as he turned to face the guard.
"Run with me!" Urgency laced the guard's command.
Without hesitation, Van fell into step beside him, noting the dread he hid behind a sense of duty on his face.
"Where are we going to?" Van inquired, his voice steady despite the turmoil around them.
"I don't know who you are or why you're here...!! Normally, I'd take you in for questioning, but as you can see, this is a crisis, and we're short on guards!!" The guard clenched his fists and teeth, his eyes wide on the way before them, "Since you're all the way up here, someone must've let you through, right!!? Nevermind!! I don't care if you're a murderer or a thief, help us now, and I might consider letting you off the hook, even if you're a criminal!! GOT ME!!?" The guard's words rushed out in a desperate plea, his throat strained, louder than the alarms that rang and the air against their faces.
"Right..." Van replied, his mind preoccupied.
Glancing up at the looming dragon, he pondered, 'A dragon, huh...? I guess they'd want to take that thing down.' He realized. An idea clicked on in his mind, his eyebrow subtly raised upwards, 'Would it work on it...'
"What's your name, royal knight?" Van queried.
"Mine...!?!? You shall address me as Sir Hicks! I require you to man the cannons and—" Sir Hicks began, but Van interrupted him with a stern tone.
"Sir Hicks," Van interjected, causing the guard to turn around abruptly, confusion etched on his features.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!!? THE DRAGON'S ABOUT TO USE HIS FIRE ROAR AND NO ONE'S ARRIVED YET TO STOP HIM!!! EVEN THE ELITE KNIGHTS WILL TAKE A MINUTE OR TWO TO BE HERE!!! HURRY UP OR THE ENTIRE CITY WILL ALL BE BURNED TO CINDERS—" Sir Hicks's frantic words were cut short by Van's intensity, the dragon looming ominously in the background, preparing its fiery breath.
"SIR HICKS," Van's voice cut through the air, commanding attention and freezing the guard in his tracks.
"Since you care so deeply for the capital's safety... can you keep a secret, if it means eliminating this threat?" Van's tone was calm, yet carried a resolute weight.
Before Sir Hicks stood a man unlike any he had ever encountered. The stranger's armor was foreign—nothing like the designs worn in the capital. The greatsword on his back, adorned with ancient patterns, hinted at an era long past. And something about him exuded an unsettling aura, one that ignited every instinct in the guard's heart, setting his nerves on edge.
But Sir Hicks's love for the capital and its people outweighed any distrust he felt toward Van.
In that moment, there was no room for hesitation. Van's words echoed in his mind, and all Sir Hicks felt was his duty—to protect the city and those within it.
With passion and unwavering resolve, he responded.
"IF YOU HAVE A SUGGESTION TO SAVE THIS CITY, EVEN IF YOU'RE UNDER THE SHEETS WITH HER MAJESTY, I SHALL TAKE IT TO THE GRAVE!!" Sir Hicks bellowed, his gaze affixed on Van.
'Good...' Van thought with a quiet sigh of relief as he drew his greatsword—a massive blade that, beneath the moon's glow, cast a shadow vast enough to obscure the guard's entire view. A shadow that seemed to stretch leagues farther than even the colossal dragon circling high above the city.
'Wha... Just... how big is that thing...!? It's bigger than Lady Cerille's... even Sir Nickelson's!' The guard's earlier focus shattered, his mind momentarily fixated on the sheer size of the weapon.
YOU ARE READING
Betrayed, I Met The Demon Lord
FantasíaVan and his friend Magus had reincarnated in another world with magic. Tasked to kill the demon lord, they set forth. Van was granted very rough skills that made life for him in that world a living hell, yet he muscled through. Magus however, was be...
