Episode 4: Here for Revenge (3)
The distance between Demian Haxen and Ted was roughly ten meters.
Ted closed that gap with a single leap.
“Impressive leg strength.”
As the distance narrowed, Ted swung his longsword without hesitation.
The blade, over a meter long, sliced through the air, aiming for Demian Haxen’s neck.
Demian took a step back.
The sword narrowly missed, grazing the tip of his nose.
“Even with such large movements, the sword’s tip doesn’t waver. Quite skilled for an apprentice knight.”
Despite missing his first strike, Ted wasn’t fazed and continued his assault.
A series of strikes targeted Demian Haxen.
Demian evaded each one with a single step back.
“His physical abilities are impressive, and his swordsmanship is top-notch. His reflexes are sharp.”
It was clear he hadn’t been slacking in his training.
“I underestimated him because he was hired by a trash group like the ‘Black Serpent.’ He’s more capable than I thought.”
“But I’m starting to feel the strain.”
Demian’s swordsmanship had long surpassed the realm of a master.
However, his physical stamina hadn’t kept pace.
He was already breathing heavily, sweat pouring from his body.
“I really need to work on my endurance when I get back.”
If he kept dodging, he’d eventually run out of energy and be in danger.
Demian decided it was time to counterattack.
“You little rat!”
Ted shouted, raising his longsword high.
“Let’s see if you can dodge this!”
He positioned the sword beside his face, aiming its tip at Demian Haxen.
A classic thrusting stance.
But Demian immediately saw through Ted’s intentions.
“He’s planning to use a secret technique.”
A secret technique.
Renowned martial arts often had one or two of these special moves.
When combined with aura, these techniques could cleave mountains and shatter walls, wielding the power of a natural disaster.
As an apprentice knight, the technique Ted could use was likely just a basic one.
But even that could be deadly.
Secret techniques were originally devised to ensure a kill, even before the advent of aura.
“Haa!”
The young man lunged forward, thrusting his sword.
Just as Demian was about to parry the attack, Ted twisted his body.
His forward momentum turned into a half-spin.
The following longsword slashed at the back of Demian Haxen’s neck.
It was an impressive combination attack.
However, Demian’s assessment was brief.
“Not much of a threat.”
Demian effortlessly bent backward, dodging the longsword.
The sword sliced through empty air.
In that instant, Demian raised his dagger.
He positioned it where Ted’s hand would pass.
The wrist was cut, severing the muscles.
The longsword slipped from Ted’s fingers, clattering to the ground.
Ted clutched his wrist, groaning.
“Im-impossible! How did you counter my technique…?”
Demian drove the dagger into the young man’s neck. Ted’s body crumpled to the ground.
“That was somewhat entertaining.”
Demian wiped the blood from his dagger and turned to Andersson Holm.
“Now that your trusted man is dead, what will you do?”
Andersson Holm froze, a cigarette halfway to his lips.
He trembled, pointing a finger at Demian Haxen.
“Do you realize what you’ve done? That apprentice knight was the Black Serpent’s boss’s prized subordinate! Killing him will bring the wrath of the Black Serpent…”
Demian approached Andersson Holm.
“Instead of worrying about the Black Serpent, you should be more concerned about yourself.”
Demian placed the dagger on Andersson Holm’s shoulder.
Only then did the threat of losing an arm seem to dawn on him, and his face turned pale.
“L-let’s not be hasty. I think there’s been a misunderstanding between us.”
“Misunderstanding? There’s something we need to settle first, don’t you think?”
Andersson Holm quickly prostrated himself before Demian.
Demian smiled, satisfied.
“Quick on the uptake. I like that.”
He patted Andersson Holm’s head with his palm.
Andersson Holm grimaced as if he’d bitten into something sour.
“You seem displeased.”
“N-not at all.”
“Your tone is a bit short.”
“N-not at all, sir.”
“That’s more like it.”
Demian settled into the chair Andersson Holm had been using.
It was a plush, luxurious chair.
“Victor. Why are you just standing there? Come and sit.”
Demian called to Victor, who was lingering by the door.
Victor hesitantly stepped inside.
“M-master… What did I just witness? How did you…?”
“Save your pointless questions for later.”
Demian turned back to Andersson Holm.
“Now, about our earlier conversation. The incident at this tavern has tarnished my and my family’s reputation. How do you plan to compensate for that?”
Andersson Holm swallowed hard.
“P-please, give me a moment.”
He moved to a safe in the corner of the office.
Opening it, he pulled out several gold bars.
“I apologize for the harm caused to the Haxen family. Will this amount suffice as compensation?”
“Not enough.”
“What?”
“There’s more in there. Bring it all out.”
“But if you take everything, I won’t have anything left for the Black Serpent’s tribute.”
“That’s your problem. If you refuse, I’ll just take it after killing you.”
Andersson Holm bit his lip.
Demian flicked the dagger with his fingers.
“I-I’ll bring it!”
Andersson Holm emptied the safe of all its gold bars and coins.
Only then did Demian seem satisfied.
“Victor. Gather it all.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Victor hurriedly collected the items.
Andersson Holm watched in a daze.
“Now, let’s settle the remaining matter.”
“R-remaining matter?”
“I told you, I’m taking an arm.”
Demian rose from the chair.
Andersson Holm shrieked in panic.
“W-wait! I gave you the money!”
“That was for the insult to me and my family. This is separate.”
Demian approached Andersson Holm without hesitation.
Andersson Holm’s face turned ghostly white.
“P-please spare me! At my age, losing an arm would be the end of me!”
“That’s your problem.”
“P-please, I’m begging you!”
Andersson Holm seemed ready to grovel at Demian’s feet.
“If you don’t want to lose an arm, offer something else of equal value.”
“I-I have no money left.”
“Then I’ll have to take it.”
Demian raised the dagger.
Andersson Holm held out his hands, shouting.
“W-wait! Please, just a moment!”
He dashed to a corner of the office, pushing aside a drawer.
A small safe hidden in the wall was revealed.
“H-here, take this.”
From the safe, Andersson Holm retrieved ten vials.
“What are these?”
“Elixirs from the Alchemy Guild!”
Demian examined the vials with interest.
The Alchemy Guild was renowned, needing no introduction.
They specialized in creating elixirs and were the only ones capable of producing the legendary panacea, the Elixir.
Elixirs from the Alchemy Guild were said to be worth their weight in jewels.
“What do they do?”
“They’re used by knights during training. They significantly boost stamina and vitality.”
Demian had heard of such things.
Some knights took elixirs to maximize their training results.
It was a luxury only the wealthiest families could afford.
“Why do you have these?”
“At my age, I bought them to maintain my health.”
“You’ve lived long enough. Don’t be greedy.”
Demian clicked his tongue.
Andersson Holm clenched his fists in secret.
“These will suffice for the price of an arm.”
“Th-thank goodness.”
“So I’ll just take an ear.”
“What?”
Before Andersson Holm could comprehend, Demian swung the dagger.
The blade sliced through the air, severing an ear.
“Argh! You brat!”
Andersson Holm clutched his ear, writhing in pain.
He glared at Demian with bloodshot eyes.
“You think you can get away with this? The Black Serpent will…”
“Tell them.”
“W-what?”
“Tell them Demian Haxen wrecked this place and took your money.”
Demian spoke in a calm, steady voice.
“I know how thugs like you operate. If you don’t crush them thoroughly, they just get bolder.”
During his time as a mercenary, Demian had learned much about the world.
One lesson was to crush your enemies completely.
“I’ll be paying the Black Serpent a visit soon. I’ll kill every last one of you who think you’re untouchable just because you’re a bit powerful.”
With those words, Demian Haxen hurled a knife.
The blade grazed the tip of Andersen Holm’s nose and embedded itself in the floor. A shrill scream erupted.
“Make sure you relay my message word for word.”
With that, Demian Haxen left the tavern, Victor trailing behind him.
On the way back to the Haxen estate.
Inside the carriage, Victor asked with a worried expression, “Master, are you sure it’s okay to just leave like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“After killing so many people, surely the city of Landwork won’t just let you be.”
Demian Haxen shrugged off Victor’s concern. “Did any guards stop us when we left the tavern?”
“No, they didn’t.”
“An organization as large as the Black Serpent usually has an understanding with the guards. They probably asked them to turn a blind eye to any incidents in their territory.”
Originally, it was likely a request to avoid getting caught by the guards no matter what they did. This time, it worked in Demian Haxen’s favor.
“But what if they put a bounty on you later in Landwork?”
“What do gangsters have if not their pride? Their entire place was ransacked by one person. Do you think they’d ask the guards to catch me?”
That’s why Demian Haxen had spared Andersen Holm. The Black Serpent needed to assess the situation quickly if they were to involve the guards.
“The Black Serpent will definitely try to kill me themselves. They might even attack our estate.”
Victor’s face darkened at those words.
“Don’t worry. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Victor’s face brightened a little at Demian’s reassurance.
“But Master, when did you learn to fight like that? I never imagined you’d be skilled enough to defeat even the apprentice knights, let alone the tavern guards.”
“I’ve been training in my spare time.”
Demian Haxen replied nonchalantly. He couldn’t be bothered to come up with a more convincing excuse.
“Wouldn’t it be better to take down the Black Serpent today?”
“Ha, listen to you. Wanting to uproot them entirely?”
“No, I just mean, after seeing your skills today, the Black Serpent shouldn’t be a problem.”
“True enough.”
But Demian Haxen chose to retreat for now. His weak stamina was a constant hindrance.
He was out of breath after just a few swings of the sword. Fighting the entire Black Serpent with this frail body was too risky.
“There’s no rush. We can take our time.”
Demian Haxen murmured as he pulled out the elixir he had acquired today.
An elixir crafted by the Alchemy School. It was a stroke of luck.
With this, he could train his body much faster.
Just a little.
Just a little more stamina, and he’d be ready to return to Landwork and deal with the Black Serpent.
“We’ve arrived.”
Victor said, looking out the window.
The two of them stepped out of the carriage.
“Demian! You scoundrel!”
As soon as they alighted, his father came running from afar.
His mother, sister, and younger brother were with him.
“Where have you been? Do you know how worried I was about what trouble you might cause?”
His father’s voice trailed off as he noticed the bloodstains on Demian Haxen’s clothes.
“You, you… what on earth have you done?”
“Victor, show him.”
Demian Haxen instructed Victor.
With some effort, Victor placed a large sack in front of his father.
When Victor opened the sack, gold bars gleamed inside.
His father was so shocked he made an odd noise.
“Wha—what is this?”
“I went back to the tavern that kicked me out and got an apology. This is the compensation.”
“Com—compensation?”
“Yes, soon all the bad rumors about our family will disappear.”
Even the Black Serpent couldn’t stop the spread of rumors.
In a few days, today’s events would be all over the city.
“I’m tired, so I’ll head up now.”
Demian Haxen moved to leave. His father was at a loss for words.
”…What just happened?”
He asked his wife and daughter.
They were just as clueless.
”…Brother!”
As Demian Haxen was heading to his room, his younger brother, Abel Haxen, caught up with him.
“Is it true what you said? That you went to the tavern and got compensation?”
“It’s true.”
“How did you manage that? Did you kill the guards there?”
“Yes, I did.”
Abel Haxen’s expression hardened at that.
”…Did you stab them in the back or something?”
“Do you think I’d stoop to such petty tactics? I walked in through the front and killed them all.”
“I’m not joking!”
Abel Haxen couldn’t believe his brother’s words.
It was indeed unbelievable.
The family fool, who had only ever squandered their wealth, suddenly killing dozens of people?
“Do you know what the situation in Landwork is like right now? The Black Serpent has taken over everything. If you act like this, they won’t sit idly by!”
The reality for the Haxen family was that they had to fear even a mere criminal organization.
Their territory was small, and they had few people. With less than ten soldiers guarding the estate, it was a valid concern.
“Why do you keep causing trouble? How far do you intend to endanger our family?”
“You’re the one I can trust to take care of the family.”
“What? What did you just say… Stop it! Please!”
Demian Haxen ruffled Abel Haxen’s hair.
Abel tried to fend him off with both hands, but Demian skillfully dodged.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle everything.”
Leaving those words behind, Demian Haxen continued up the stairs.
Abel Haxen watched him go, his face a mix of confusion and disbelief.