It was noon when we returned to the village. Nothing unusual was going on besides the crowd of people gathering at the entrance of the Adventurer's Guild.

Yukio went closer to see what was going on and I followed soon after. There were too many people to enter or see whatever was happening inside so he asked whoever was the closest. Luckily, the man he grabbed just came from the inside and know some of the details.

From what he shared, there was a representative from the Royal Mage Association currently looking for a specific person. He wasn't able to hear the name of that person. All he knows was that her father send the representative to search and bring back his daughter and there was an argument currently going on between an old man and the mage.

"Do you know who the old man was?" Yukio asked one more question before letting the random person go.

"Yes. He's the blacksmith of this village. I believe his name was-"

"JO-SAN!"

Yukio didn't wait for his sentence to be done before he forced himself into the entrance. Many people were dissatisfied with Yukio's action but they couldn't do anything because they were easily pushed away with his strength. Having a path opened, I took the chance to also enter.

The first thing I saw was Old Man Jo angrily glaring at the person who was dressed extravagantly. Besides his bright green robe with a gigantic logo, he was also wearing a lot of expensive-looking jewelry.

"NO! That bastard just can't take her after leaving them alone to suffer!"

"I'm already being polite. If I want to, I could have taken her away already. It's just that, he doesn't want her daughter to be hurt. Even a single strand of her hair missing could mean my end you know."

"I don't care! I know how cruel the ways of your Association are. If he wants her to suffer from letting her in the Royal Magic Association, then he should come here himself if dares to."

"My master doesn't have any time for peasants you so he sent me although I hate it myself."

The mage's statement ticked off many people who were eavesdropping, yet no one moved. They understood the difference of power and status between the Royal Mage and everyone else. Even I could feel the pressure the man brings in his nonchalant state.

"SAY WHAT YOU WANT, YOU CAN'T TAKE HER EVEN OVER MY DEAD BODY!

"Oh~ That's a nice suggestion. He didn't say anything about killing others so..."

Noticing the mage's killing intent, Yukio rushed over to Jo and moved him aside.

[Air Tempest]

A violent wind ravages everything surrounding the mage. All tables and chairs around were destroyed and blown away. Old Man Jo wasn't exempted and got knocked far back. But before he hit the wall with dangerously fast momentum, Yukio was able to catch him.

"Hoho~ You're good for a peasant." The Royal mage saw Yukio's action and took interest in him

'What the- When did he get so fast?' Yukio's sudden burst of speed has surprised me.

"Pretty decent for a wind mage but a peasant is still a peasant."

'That explains why... He was using magic. But why did he not use it on our duel earlier.'

I pondered but I should not take my focus away on the fight or else I'll be a casualty since this Royal Mage has no intention of stopping.

The only people left on the scene were the Royal Mage, Yukio, an injured Old Man Jo, and I. Everyone has already left in fear that they would be included in the fight. The Adventurer's Guild turning into ruins after a single spell only shows how destructive this mage was.

Yukio was already having a hard time avoiding the wind magic. Include Old Man Jo on his arms, he is barely surviving the constant barrage of a violent wind.

I could see Yukio already getting tired. If this goes on sooner, both of them would die on the hands of this mage I just met.

'I don't want anyone dying as I'm getting just familiarized with this world do I?'

So, I took my stance with the wooden sword I've been carrying all day and prepared for an opening. Although it didn't take long because he seems overly confident of his standing.

I easily sneaked behind his back, avoiding all the flying debris on the way. There were no signs of retaliation so when I was within striking distance, I bashed his head with all the power I could muster.

*Ting* An invisible field has deflected my strike. Even though it wasn't a direct hit, he seems to have shaken up resulting to drop his staff.

"Aghh. Damn it. Who's in the God name did that"

I retreated far away but I was too late and the ground below me collapses. My left foot was stuck while a couple of dirt rose just below my feet. I hit the earth holding my foot before those walls sandwiched me. Thankfully, the ground wasn't too hard for my wooden sword to break it and I was able to barely escape.

"How dare a trash swordsman peasant touched me!" angrily said by the mage.

'He's pissed alright.'

He ignored both Yukio and Old Man Jo completely and shifted all his spells towards me.

Unlike my duel against Yukio, I was having a difficult time predicting where the attacks were coming from. Not because it was fast but rather, the spells were very random in my eyes. I could slightly detect some changes in the wind or shaking of the ground but that's about it.

I resolved myself and take the hits I couldn't avoid while Yukio was getting Old Man Jo to a safe place. It paid off since Yukio came back all armed and ready with his partner sword. I lured the mage's attention to create an opening for Yukio. But learning from his previous mistake, the Royal Mage has noticed the presence of Yukio before he was able to get close.

"Two versus one doesn't change the fact you, peasants are going to lose." He mockingly said after he stopped casting his spell

"..."

"Just give me the woman and I'll let you die peacefully."

I already knew the one he was looking for was Shimomura. Old Man Jo won't be that worked up if it doesn't involve her. I thought she was his daughter at first until Royal Mage here told us it was her father who sent him.

'I guess she never called him father in the first place and Old Man Jo seems to be the type of person who will act as a father figure or some sort.'

"I'm waiting..."

The Royal mage was expecting us to accept his offer. I looked over Yukio to see his reaction. The anger in his eyes tell everything, no one plans to hand Shimomura.

I signaled Yukio to attack from the left side and pincer him in both directions. I moved first and started to charge forward. When I was at halfway, it was the cue for Yukio to rush using wind magic.

Having his attention split, the Royal Mage closed his eyes and starts chanting another spell.

[Cutting Gale]

Multiple sharp blades of wind have formed around his vicinity. For every step, I took a blade slices through with astonishing speed. This goes the same for Yukio but unlike me, he wasn't able to dodge many of them.

Yukio was forced to retreat since his body was full of cuts. The more we got closer, the more the assault of wind blades were. With Yukio being out, I need to change my approach of attack.

"Silva, I'm going to support from the back, I can't dodge it as you can," Yukio muttered with pain while holding his wounds.

As soon as he said that, he cast [Fireball]

I took the opportunity to rush behind the mage's back thinking the ball of fire would force him to defend. I didn't realize he could cast different spells of different elements simultaneously.

[Earth Dome]

The mage tapped his staff on the ground causing it to rise and form a dome-like structure. It blocked the incoming fireball and imprisoned me and him inside.

'Damn, I can't see a thing.'

Trapped in the darkness, I tried to use my other senses to feel the mage's presence. When I felt a movement, I swiftly swung my sword and only hit empty air.

"It's futile. I admit you are one of the better swordsmen I fought but a swordsman is still a swordsman. People playing with toys like you are only pawns for us mages."

A sharp pain ran across my back.

"Why do you oppose anyway? I can't feel any emotions when you fight unlike the fool outside. I can at least speculate the man outside to be her lover or something but you... I don't even understand why you're helping them."

His words weren't really connecting with me since I'm busy trying to dodge the wind blades.

"Nevertheless, it's outcome would be the same. I kill every single one of you and take his daughter then I can finally stay away from this filthy place."

The wind blades were too much for me to handle. I've been hit by one then another until every blade has struck me all at once.

After I while the barrage of wind blades stopped and I could sense the wind being gathered in one place along with strong killing intent.

"I guess that's one down."

"..."

*BOOM*

A loud explosion shook the dome.