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『Nirijin』

The Nirijin, Sacred Keepers of Knowledge and Guardians of the Shadows, they seek to protect and serve their Masters. Intelligent they may be, thieves they can be known, honorable they are to be.

The Flute in Jack's hands, pressed against his lips, was wrapped in fringed twine and hollow bird bones with a head of a winged open beaked crow at its mouth. When the Flute of the Nirijin sounded, an odd sensation would pass through all those in the room. Nearly automatically the awe which had left the Guild Masters dumbstruck, faded.

Eerie yet soothing, the room filled with song. The dim lighting briefly became darker, revealing shapes moving about the edges of the room.

Monsters, the thought, had invaded. Summoned by the Angel who called. No one moved, not even the Commander of the Local Guard. He didn't put his hand on his hilt, unlike the Merchant, no one else felt the killing intent as it wasn't focused on them nearly enough.

As the instrumental song came to a close, the lighting returned. The flute once in Jack's hands, vanished without a trace, spent and gone.

Eight Lithe crow-like beings with black feathered arms appeared standing, flanking Jack on either side. They were dressed in light leather scaled short robes with daggers at their hips, and bows on their backs.

Their feathers looked to be as sharp as a steel blade, shining even in the dimmest of places with a metallic black hue. Their eyes large and glittery, taking in the shiny belongings of the various guests.

One out of all eight of them, held a staff and wore a magic charm around their neck. This one stepped forward, bringing its scrawny leg up onto the table, before walking to the center. Its head ticking side to side as it did so. Watching each and every one of them closely. Then, once it reached the nexus, he stopped as if frozen before shifting its gaze towards Remont.

"CAW!" It snapped its beak, causing the human to shudder and stir on his feet, almost falling backward at the sheer force behind the power of its call. As if its master's intent was its own.

Each of these crow-like beings were level fifty, it would take about three to five level twenties to put down one of them, depending if they even had the proper skills.

Taking in a deep breath, Jack would smell the air and release a relaxing exhalation. A bitter scent, a sour scent. Sweat and piss, the nobleman who had been acting so arrogantly just soiled his own garbs.

The fourteen year old squire boy from before entered the room on cue, walking over towards the table and standing beside Jack. "One of eight," his eyes were on the crow with the staff, "you and this boy will bring the fat merchant down to the dungeon. Until he has lost half his weight, he will remain there."

Essentially Jack's general plan was to strip this man of his status, his wealth and everything he had. Why? Because it was a warning to all those who stood against him. He had the means to take away everything they every knew, desired, had or even loved.

Be it by the hands of himself or the loyal hands of others he used.

"What!? No! You... You can't! You're not a King!"

"You are resisting?" Jack asked as his eyes turned towards the other Nirijin as they were spreading apart from one another. "Hm... It seems you're choosing to go against the well-being of the Monarch."

Drawing their bows from their backs and aiming them towards the man, they all began to creep around the table with their arrows notched on the straining string of their bows.

The man fell to his knees, blubbering as the soft clacking of the talons drew closer to him.

The young squire stood there, watching the crow-like beast on the table walk on across the wooden surface, before hopping down to the stone ground. His eyes flickered over to Jack one more time, before jogging over to the beings side. "What are you...?"