In the dormitory, Locke emerged from his room, a puzzled look etched across his face.

"Fire?"

He couldn't believe it.

The idea that all the students were scattering because of a mere fire seemed absurd.

The existence of the fire itself appeared to him as an absurdity.

With a half-smirk, Locke leisurely began his stroll.

Yet, his path deviated from the rest.

He was advancing towards the fire.

As he approached the burning area, an odd spectacle met his gaze.

"What's this?"

There were smoldering ashes.

Yet they hardly generated more than wisps of smoke; it didn't feel like an actual fire.

Looking at this, Locke was certain.

Someone had intentionally created this situation.

But who? And why was everyone leaving?

Without even properly investigating?

Locke didn't have the answers, not yet.

"I'll find out when I get there."

That was his train of thought as he continued his stride.

Gradually, the answers began to reveal themselves.

"What's he doing?"

The lounging mercenaries were startled to see Locke.

Locke unsheathed his sword.

This was an outcome he had somewhat anticipated.

Without a moment's hesitation, Locke launched his attack.

"Cough!"

His sword, gleaming under the light, brought down the mercenaries one after the other.

Caught off-guard, their weapons set aside.

They didn't stand a chance against Locke unarmed.

And so, in a brief instant,

"Whew"

Locke cleaned the blood off his blade.

Most of the mercenaries now laid sprawled on the floor, victims of his sword.

"Two of them, huh"

There were those who abandoned their comrades and fled.

Two of them.

Clutching their wounds, they were making their way up the stairs.

"There are more, is that it"

Had they descended, it would have meant they were retreating.

Then, a groan emanated from a fallen mercenary.

"Ugh... save me..."

Locke walked over to him and crouched down.

He stared the mercenary in the eyes.

Seeing Locke, the man trembled in fear.

"P-Please, let me live..."

Locke held his gaze, then asked,

"Who gave the order?"

The mercenary hesitated, trembling.

If he exposed the mastermind, he was doomed.

He had loved ones he had to guard.

But that was a concern for the future.

The present demanded survival.

Finally, the mercenary spoke in a hushed tone.

"It... it's the Fred family."

Nodding, Locke seemed pleased and continued his interrogation.

"How many of you are here, and who's the toughest among you?" Locke pressed.

The mercenary shuddered as he answered, "There are 13 of us... The toughest... he can defeat six to seven mercenaries effortlessly..."

Locke rose from his crouched position as the mercenary finished speaking.

"H-huh...! Don't...don't hurt me!"

A fallen man whimpered, recoiling from Locke's sudden movement.

Locke didn't even acknowledge him.

'Four down... two hurt... and the strongest can take six to seven...'

Locke's thought process was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps.

The sound steadily grew louder, and shadows began to take shape.

Leading them was a hefty man, obviously the head of the group.

"We've got a visitor," he sneered smugly.

Locke dismissed him, continuing with his train of thought.

'How many are left?'

Even though he'd learned complex mathematical concepts like differentiation and integration at the academy, Locke hardly ever attended these classes.

Doing calculations in his head was beyond him.

He was a warrior, not an academic.

"What are you doing?"

The leader asked, irritation creeping into his tone.

Nonchalantly, Locke replied. "And who are you?"

Visibly frustrated, the leader growled, "Ugh! Annoying."

His features twisted into a smirk.

"Alright, since you asked, let me introduce myself. I am the symbol of freedom, admired by even knights. I am the Mercenary King, Cedric!"

His proclamation startled the other mercenaries.

"Ce, Cedric?"

"Is...is he really Cedric?"

Their whispers were soon swallowed up by Cedric's self-satisfied laughter.

"Time to give up"

"Pfft."

Locke suddenly started laughing, provoking Cedric's anger.

"Are you mocking me?"

All Locke did was chuckle.

Eventually, his laughter died down.

"I'm not sure who you think the Mercenary King is, but...."

Locke unsheathed his sword, pointing it towards Cedric.

"The Mercenary King is a fool. He's just a guy who spouts about freedom. He's not someone to look up to."

Locke's words left the mercenaries stunned.

"I suppose Ill have to take care of you all then."

The numbers were irrelevant.

All he needed to do was cut everyone down.

"Huff... Huff..."

I ran as fast as I could, focusing my mana into my feet for speed.

She couldn't have gotten too far.

Soon, I caught sight of a carriage darting away in the distance.

"Luna...!"

Her name slipped from my lips as I continued to chase after the carriage.

The carriage picked up speed as I got closer.

I could've easily brought it to a stop with a punch or a spell, but I held back.

Luna was probably inside.

If I attacked the carriage, Luna could be hurt along with the enemies.

"First, I need to stop it..."

With renewed resolve, I continued my pursuit of the carriage.

Our gap between us diminished quickly, and before long, I was on it.

"Hup!"

With a swift jump, I found myself on top of the carriage.

"Ugh..."

The wind lashed at my face as the carriage kept its rapid pace.

I held on tightly to the carriage.

The driver, sensing an anomaly, twisted around to see me on the roof.

"What...What the!"

He blurted out, taken aback.

"Stop the carriage," I ordered.

Caught off guard, the driver stumbled and stuttered.

I shouted at him once again.

"Stop the carriage...ugh!"

-Whack!

Suddenly, a sword sliced through the roof of the carriage.

The blade brushed past my cheek.

Had it been just a smidge closer, it would've pierced through my jaw.

A voice echoed from inside the carriage.

"Keep running."

It was a voice I recognized - it was Carol, the butler.

"Ye, Yes!" The driver answered nervously.

"Huff..."

I took a deep breath.

"Ready for a round?"

I raised my fist, slamming it onto the carriage roof with a mana-infused punch.

The roof gave way, revealing Carol's sword inside the carriage, aimed straight at my throat.

It appeared he predicted my drop from the roof.

I grinned, raising my left arm.

-Clang!

"What?"

As my arm collided with the blade, the clashing of metal filled the air.

Carol's sword couldn't penetrate my arm.

Feeling proud, I mustered strength in my right hand.

"Is it my turn now?"

Before Carol could respond, my punch connected.

-Bang!!!

"Ughhh!"

My punch hit Carol's stomach.

The impact sent him flying backward, crashing through the back wall of the carriage.

"Phew!"

A voice echoed in my mind.

[Ugh, 'Guardian Spirit' means I absorb the hit instead. Be careful.]

It was Priscilla, complaining about the collision.

"Sorry, endure it for a bit."

I spoke to Priscilla, then shifted my focus to Luna.

"Luna, are you alright?"

She appeared to be unconscious.

First, I needed to get her off this carriage.

Carrying Luna, I jumped off the moving carriage.

Upon landing, I noticed a figure moving towards me.

It was Carol.

Despite being directly hit by me, he seemed to have recovered.

Perhaps, physical enhancement.

Considering he was likely a swordsman, the odds were high.

Gritting his teeth, Carol approached me.

"You damn brat..."

I gently placed Luna on the ground behind me.

Then, holding my ground, I locked eyes with Carol.

"I didn't like you from the moment I saw you."

I rolled my shoulders a few times, trying to alleviate the tension, then moved forward.

"Let's get this over with."

Carol, his gaze filled with venom, ran towards me.

"I'll crush you!"

But before he could reach me, a known voice echoed.

"Sylph. Shoot!"

"Huh?"

I stopped in my steps at the sound of that voice.

A voice I recognized uttering familiar words.

-Bang!

Following that, the sound of whipping wind filled the air and a tiny flame hurtled towards Carol.

"Ah."

Carol managed a startled gasp as he saw the flame bearing down on him.

-Kwaaaaaaang!

The flame mushroomed into a conflagration, surpassing the magic Anton had cast earlier.

Explosion magic.

The ferocious flames engulfed Carol.

"Haah... Haah..."

Heavy panting echoed from behind me.

I spun around.

A well-known face greeted me.

"Rie?"

As her name slipped from my lips, Rie exhaled and offered a small grin.

"Huff... Huff... I... came first, didn't I?"

Though Rie was struggling for breath, she still found the energy to laugh.

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