Chapter 6

Once I got to the tavern of Lady Vivian, it was actually hard to miss because it was the only tavern in this area and the sign saying the name had said so clearly tavern of Lady Vivian…

I saw that it was but a drunkard gathering…really some dirty looking men. There was however an overly large woman that was serving the men at the wooden bar.

“Lady Vivian! Refill please.” Said one of the men sitting at the bar and with that statement I understood who was that person…the owner

I took a look around while my appearances would have been very unusual back at Alsa I was not even given a second glance by any of the people present.

I saw a man wearing the same uniform as me, who was sitting along without wearing the helmet.

He had a gruff looking visage filled with scars and was bald. His nose was almost squashed and looked overly burly.

I stood in front of him and he took a look at me saying

“Oh. *@/-. You are back already.”

Ok I can’t seem to think how the hell is that name is being pronounced it is even muffled.

I then said

“Yeah. Well…I guess I am back.”

“Take a seat man.”

“No.” I said “I am in a hurry…”

“Ah…it must be that the king is asking about your mission. Seeing that you returned alive from the blighted lands I guess you managed to successfully eliminate the colocation of demons that was headed toward Evilliss”

“Yeah…”I said while I really didn’t know a damn thing about what he was saying but at least I got to understand some of the basics…

“Alright…but where is the rest of the group man?”

I didn’t answer because honestly I didn’t know what he was talking about

“Hmmm…so only you made it…man this is really troublesome…out of all the fifty members of our band…only the two of us remain…me an old retired fart and you, an absurdly strong and friendless bastard. Huhahahaha. Really it is time I drop this armor…it means nothing without my comrades…”

He then grabbed his mug and roared a toast.

“TO THE BLACK BLOOD BROTHERS!”

And chugged it in one go.

Well I guess I will have to go meet the king…whoever the hell he is…

I walked out of the tavern leaving the rest of the group and asked the first person that passed me

“Where is the royal palace?”

The man looked at me in fright and said.

“O-over there my lord…” he pointed at the big castle that was on top of a huge cliff…that cliff look very familiar… however, my lord?

The man scurried away before I could ask anything else.

Well anyway I will just have to walk toward the palace.

Passing by the dirty and old fashioned roads and houses I heard a noise.

Few boys were surrounding a little girl. She had short cut hair and very small physic. Probably six or seven years old. She was wearing tattered clothes they were torn and brown colored

She was bruised and filled with scares while the boys had sticks and rocks in their hands.

They were ganging up on her, while she was protecting a small pup behind her

I walked toward them and the moment they saw me they all scurried away. Even the small dog

Leaving the little girl alone.

I approached the girl and gave my hand to help her get up. While she began shaking and saying

“I am sorry my lord…please don’t hit me…I am sorry”

Huh?

“What are you saying little girl…I am offering my hand to help you get up.”

“I am not worthy of your help my lord please…” said the girl while shaking

What the hell is going on?

“I am just offering my help I don’t bite.” I said

And the girl then reluctantly grabbed my hand.

“Thank you my lord…”

She said. Then dusting off her clothes.

I then asked

“Why were they bullying you little girl?”

She hesitated a bit then said

“…I am cursed…” the girl said

“Why are you saying so, little girl?”

“…my mother died giving me birth, and my father died a day after that…my uncle took care of me but died two years ago…everyone I am around dies…I am cursed everyone tells me that…it has to be true if everyone says it.” said the girl while tears were filling her eyes…

What a dilemma…I don’t know how I could be of help to this little girl but…

“Listen up little girl. No one has the right to tell you that. If you don’t believe in it yourself, then no one can say it. And if they still keep saying it. Make them stop!” I said

“How? How can I make them stop?” said the girl

“You will have to force them to do so. Become stronger and once you are strong enough. Then no one will be able to judge you, or call you names. If they don’t respect you for who you are then force them to kneel and beg and then make them do so. Become stronger.”

“But how my lord. I was never able to use magic while everyone here is borne with great mana potential I am unable to feel this mana…I am useless my lord how can I make anyone respect me if I am not able to use magic…” she said.

“Easy. If you can’t use magic then learn the way of the sword.”

“But…it is pointless my lord. Even if I learn the way of the sword…I will still be unable to do anything. Magic beats the sword anytime I never had seen a person using only the sword ever to beat a magi user…”

What the hell is she talking about? Warriors are frighteningly strong and any mage would think twice before fighting a swordsman…

“What do you mean little girl? I think that the sword is the best way to beat a magician…”

“Well it is if it was one of the blood brothers using it. They are masters of spell swords using both magic and blade at once…but never had I seen any ordinary soldier using a blade even being remotely close to beat a novice mage…the time of the sword is long since gone…only magic or spell-swordsmen” said the girl

The hell? Spell swordsmen are indeed strong but any warrior art user can be more than enough to take on multiple spell swordsmen at once…

“I am not speaking about spell swordsmen… I am speaking about the art of warriors. The strongest form of martial and sword arts…” I said

“I never heard of that” said the girl…

Hmm…strange…a city with a name I don’t know…someone claiming that magic is mightier than swordsmanship and even not admitting the existence of warrior arts…quite strange…

“What is your name little girl?”

“My name is */--*/ …” said the girl

Add to that another name that is unpronounceable…seriously, I give up…

I looked through my pockets and managed to find something.

A pouch that held few coins. A mix of silver and gold coins. Printed on them is a face I don’t know…

“Here you go little girl. Go buy yourself something to eat you are too scrawny…I need to go. Take care of yourself little girl…”

I then left leaving the girl with her mouth open and a shocked expression on her face once she received the pouch…I guess it was too much for a little girl like her…but I am not here to save everyone I meet I need to see this king hopefully he will have an idea about what I am supposed to do…I hope…

I continued walking until I reached a clearing where a man with silver knight armor was standing alone.

Everyone was evading the man but the moment I was in front of him the man then unsheathed his sword.

“Dark blood swordsman I challenge you to a duel!” said the knight.

“Sorry not interested…” I said. I mean seriously who does that nowadays…

“You mean that you are backing away from a challenge!”

“Exactly so now please leave me alone I need to be somewhere else.” I said

But the man didn’t seem to be interested.

“I don’t think so! You shall fight me here servant of the dark blood!”

What an annoying guy…

“Alright you want to fight so be it.”

I grabbed my sword which by the way looked similar to the devourer although a bit cracked and very damaged…not going to be useful here…

Probably the overseer did something for it to resemble my sword…anyway

The knight then held his sword up and said a prayer…really, a prayer…

His sword then shone in gold and he made a stance.

He moved forward but I didn’t have the time to play with him

I used Shunpo and appeared behind him and instantly sent him flying with an earth shattering smash to the side.

However although the knight wannabe dropped unmoving I felt a spike of pain throughout my body…it seems that this body is not used to warrior arts…

I then kept on moving forward.

I reached the palace’s gate and the two guards instantly opened the door.

The moment I stepped in I felt a flash of light and some vertigo then saw myself transported a few meters outside the palace gate while the time of day changed from day to night…

What the hell is going on?

I turned and walked back toward the guards and said.

“What the hell happened?”

One of the guard then said

“What do you mean? Were you not rewarded by the king just now? You should go on my lord now that your brotherhood is disbanded you should retire back to your mansion…”

Disbanded? Rewarded what the hell did something happen within that time skip?

I then asked.

“Where is that mansion again?”

“What do you mean lord *@/-? Your mansion is north east of the capital right before you enter the grand woods…are you sure you are okay lord?”

“Ah no I was just…Euh testing you…well anyway I will be leaving…” is aid and headed toward the direction of the mansion.

The guards were a bit perplexed by my behavior I mean I can’t blame them…how would anyone act if they were dropped in another person’s body and had no idea what they were supposed to do…the hell is up with this challenge it should have come with a manual…

I was walking down the same road I took this morning. But my ears caught the barking of a small dog. I looked at the side and saw the small body of the same girl of this morning laying on the street.

I hurried to her and saw that she had blood coming down her head and was unconscious. The barking of the dog stopped the moment I approached and it began to growl probably trying to protect this girl…

You should have done that earlier…

I shook the girl a bit but she seemed unresponsive…I looked at what she had in her hands and found out that it was the pouch I gave her this morning…or at least what is left of it

I think that giving her that money was the reason she was assaulted…this is my fault

I then gently carried her and began to walk away while the dog was still barking and prudently walking behind me.

I then saw another flash and saw myself in front of a huge mansion

The hell is going on…I am starting to lose it…

“Welcome back my lord.” Said a man wearing a black twin tailed suite with white gloves.

He had gray hair his eyes were almost closed and had wrinkles all over his face…this person was old but still carried himself with composure and finesse fitting to a man of great status

I then noticed that I was still holding the young girl in my hands.

“You should take care of this girl…I found her unconscious at a back street.” I said

“You are too kind my lord. I will see to it. Should I have her work as a servant once she wakes up my lord?” the butler said

“Euh…yeah do that.”

I then walked inside the mansion.

It was…huge well really it was like a medieval castle from outside with all the walls and all but inside it was decorated with golden chandeliers and portraits of men and women wearing Victorian set of cloths and garments. The floor was adorned with a huge red carpet that went all the way up the stairs and to the top floor.

I walked toward the stairs and two women in maid like clothing approached me.

“Lord do you wish us to remove your armor?”

They were very pretty…about twenty years of old…whoever this guy was he sure did know how to pick maids…

One of the servants had golden hair with huge ringlets that were dropping all the way to her waist while her chest was enough to make all the women in the world jealous

She had a flawless pale skin with pink lips and blue irises adding more to her allure

The other girl had red short hair, two blossoming lips and dark brown eyes and some freckles on her small nose but did not pale in comparison to the other girl’s beauty…nor did she lose to her in the chest area…

“Y-yes please I said”

The two girls then began to gently unstrap me out of the armor and took it apart piece by piece.

Although they looked diligent they still blushed a bit the moment they removed my breastplate as I was only wearing a sleeveless shirt underneath, that fully showed the muscles of both my arms and the side muscles of my chest.

Once they got to a more dangerous area I then said

“I will take care of the rest.”

The blond girl then said

“Should I prepare your bath upstairs milord?”

I then thought about it…it’s been more than ten months since I last had a proper bath…

“Please do” I said then walked upstairs. I actually had no idea where the bathroom is so I began by opening the doors upstairs one by one.

Most of them were bed chambers and the last one that I opened was an open square room with nothing but a tub and some buckets laying here and there…probably where I would be taking my bath…hmm

I went to one of the bed chambers, took off my leg plates and removed the pants and shirt. I found a towel that was on top of one of the chairs inside the chamber and placed it around my waist.

Then went to the bathroom. And found that the tub is now filled with hot water.

Hmm that was fast…

I then entered the chamber and slowly dipped myself into the steaming hot water…to be honest it was a bit hot as I was used to not feeling this heat with my real body…now looking at myself this person’s body is indeed well constituted. The muscle mass the weight even the flexibility is almost perfect…

Compared to my older body before eating Arvion’s heart and flesh this body is much stronger than my own…however, it seems that I need to make it adapt to warrior arts…as I cannot use my dragon power anymore…

However what if I tried reaching equilibrium?

I then began meditating while still inside the tub. But was interrupted before I could feel the flow of the aura surrounding this place.

The two maids from before now entered the room…wearing nothing but a towel

“Euh…what can I do for you” I awkwardly said.

The red haired girl then said

“We are here to wash your back milord.”

Huh?

The moment she finished her sentence the blond girl closed the door and they both walked forward.

Right before they removed their towel

Another flash of light shone and I was back at the courtyard of the estate while wearing more formal cloths and had a practice sword in my hand…

Where are the pretty girls? What the hell is going on!!

…it was another time skip…as it was daytime and I was with just the butler of that time…

Damn it…I really am starting to hate whoever is responsible over these time skips…

(Somewhere in the distance an Overseer sneezed…it is strange because Overseer should not be able to sneeze…)

“Is something the matter my lord?”

Said the butler

“Ah…no.”

“Then why have you stopped with your morning practice my lord? Are you not feeling well?”

“No, I am just thinking about something.” I said

“Does it have to do with the girl you brought last week my lord?”

Last week? It’s been a week already?

“No…where is that girl anyway is she properly being taken care of?” I said

“Yes my lord as you had instructed once she had recovered she began to be trained as a servant.” Said the butler.

“Good.” I said then began to practice my warrior blade arts. I began by using the basic forms of the sword and moved like I was taught by my master. But this body is a bit rigid and would need more time for it to fully master the movements and perfect them.

“What a strange way you are moving with my lord, I had never seen you use such stances.” Said the butler.

“Yes…it is something I have picked up along my travel…” is aid

“Very well my lord. This is probably how you managed to beat sir Davons that day” the butler said

“Sir who now?” I said and amazed that a name finally was properly pronounced well there is Lady Vivian but whatever…

“Sir Davons Gascan. The white paladin of the banner of light.”

I have no idea who he is talking about…

Seeing the still confused look on my face the butler then said

“The person that challenged you last week my lord.”

“Ahhh. That guy…” I said

“Yes my lord…”

“Yeah, this was the reason I did so Mr.?”

The butler squinted his eyes for a moment and said

“I have been your butler for more than thirty years my lord…for you to forget my name is grave…did you hurt your head while ‘traveling’ my lord?” inquired the butler.

“Yes it seems that I have done so…”

The butler unconvinced said

“It is Rosenheim Vondaze my lord…”

A Vondaze? Like the king of Astora Claudius Vondaze?

“Are you related to the royal family of Astora?” I said

“I know not of this Astora my lord…but I can assure you that my bloodline is not royal. Only yours is, my lord.”

Mine?

“I will need to tend to some matters my lord…please excuse me.”

The butler then did so and left.

What a strange challenge I absolutely have no idea what I am supposed to do and this is just becoming more and more complicated…

I then continued with practicing the forms…

A few moments later I heard a rustling behind a nearby bush. I went to investigate.

It was the same little girl of that time. She looked better and cleaner. She was wearing maid clothing that looked cute on her there was a pack of sticks rounded together that was near her leg and she was holding one of the sticks in both arms.

Once she took notice of me she dropped the stick and began to fanatically apologies…

“I am sorry my lord I will get the firewood to the kitchen!”

“Easy little girl…what were you doing with that stick anyway?” I asked.

“I…I was trying to learn the way of the sword like you said that day…I never seen anyone use something like that before…I even heard that you had beaten sir Davons with one strike…so I knew that you are strong…and I am most thankful for your hospitality but…I only wanted to learn how to use the sword…because if one day my lord decides that I am no longer needed and wants me outside of this mansion I would at least know how to defend myself…I am sorry my lord…”

Huh what a strange kid

“You will always have a place in this mansion” it’s not like it is really mine but what the heck. “And if you really want to learn you just have to ask. Grab that stick I will show you the basics.”

Once I said that the girl’s eyes shone for a moment from excitement and hastily got out from behind the bush and readied herself with stick in hand

“First is, the stance I said”