The Demon King's Paladin Part 2. All Out War.

Chapter 382. Can Collect-a-thons Have Bad Endings?

                                                                    John Ericsson's Point Of View

I watched my torturer's last breath leave his lungs. He closed his eyes, and I could see that he stopped moving, his blood continued to flow onto the floor from the 2 cuts I made in his chest. I know that I'm supposed to be upset at the fact that I just killed 2 people, but to be fair, I've been having to deal with 1 of them trying to brainwash me for a month and then I had to deal with the guards sneaking in hits as they brought me to and from this surgery room-like space. The idiot made the mistake of telling me what brainwashed people look like, even worse still, he showed me what amounted to a labor slave that was brainwashed, I was shocked at the look on the person's face when I saw it. The reason why was because it was so familiar to me, it was the same look I had on my face after my parents died. Once I realized that, it was just to pretend that he was slowly wearing down my natural defense to Magic from being a Paladin. Today was the grand finale, the King got his answers from me and commanded Charles to do what he wanted with me, it doesn't take much of a look around this room to guess. From the sharp blades all around and his good mood, he was going to make me suffer. It's a good thing the guard was an idiot and thought he didn't need to worry and walked in front of me. The cuffs they had me in sealed my ability to use magic and even feel my mana, but my body is still stronger than an average Human or Elf due to the effects of my Holy Mana. It didn't take much strength to break the guard's neck and grab the keys at his waist to get myself out.

* Guagh!*

" Hm? Ah."

Charles let out a death rattle. It startled me for a moment... Now that I think about it a bit more, I shouldn't be wasting time reminiscing on what I just did! I quickly head out of the room and passed the guard's body I placed against the wall of the room and began heading left as soon as I got out of the room. I could feel that I was going the right way.

" Yes, you are, hurry up and get to them, they definitely aren't happy about having to sit there for a month!"

Lily quickly spoke up as she could read my thoughts. For some reason I couldn't really speak to anyone aside from Angela during my time being locked up. I could only guess it was from my mana being sealed by those cuffs? Regardless, it doesn't matter. I'm never going to let something like that happen again.

" You're damn right! If it wasn't for our Contracts, we wouldn't even know that you were still alive, John!"

" Sorry, Gil! No, Sorry everyone! But everything's going to fine. We've had to face worse than some pissed off Elves, right? We took on a God last year for crying out loud!"

" Even with that, we could still be there with you in spirit and speak with you, this past month... We were just so worried..."

" Sorry Paula, I know I messed up. I get the feeling I'm going to be apologizing a lot after I get back. But I'm okay, I'm always going to be okay, I promise."

* Sniff.*

" Okay, John... Just please, get back Home... Get back where it's safe for you."

" She speaks for us all, Kid. You should've heard the uproar Lily and Gil made in their Kingdoms."

" Hank! Don't speak another word if you still want those nectar cookies!"

" What!? Okay! I'm sorry, Queen Lily!"

" Heh..."

I couldn't help but crack a smile at my Spirits messing around.

" Yeah, I missed this a lot."

" We missed you too!"

They all responded in unison. It felt good to hear familiar voices again.

" Oh! It's here!"