Chapter 31: I, Too

“Are you the father of this woman?”

“Yes, yes, that's right... Without that child, I cannot live. Please, have mercy...”

“

Mercy?”

Curan scoffed, his tone devoid of any sympathy. “I gave you a fair chance by letting you risk your life on a coin toss. Weren't you the one who wanted to live so badly that you ran away? You said you'd do anything. I'm giving you another chance to live. What greater mercy could there be? Or are you saying only your daughter matters, and the rest are worthless?”

“That, that's not...” The man’s voice trembled as he struggled to respond. Men, women, and children of all ages stood around him.

“Please... save me!!”

“Please...”

Cries and sobs erupted from all around.

Ignoring their pleas, Curan, callously grabbed the woman by the neck, lifting her effortlessly with one hand. The grip of his hand tightened around the steel collar, suffocating her. Desperately, she clutched at his hand, struggling to breathe. As he flailed desperately, wildly kicking her legs, he wore a satisfied and bizarre expression. Eventually, the struggle ceased, and the woman’s life slipped away.

“You may enter. You've done your duty as a parent.”

Curan’s gaze met the eyes of the man who had been prostrate just moments ago. With a sudden burst of rage, the man screamed and charged at him.

What an idiot...

Looks like they will be disposing of several corpses today.

Hah, why resist when you could have just stayed still?

The surrounding crowd knew what the man's fate would be.

“Oh, right. You said you couldn't live without this woman,” Curan spoke casually, as if it were someone else's problem. He tossed aside the woman's lifeless body and clenched his fist at the approaching man.

Free city? Cut the bullshit.

Do you think this Golden Lion is saving you guys just to earn a mere pittance?

He only picks those without a penny to their name to board his ship.

The Golden Lion harbored a cruel hobby. Over time, even murder had lost its thrill to repetition. Seeking some twisted form of justification, Curan found his sole joy in the guise of legitimate, yet twisted, acts of killing.

Poor fool...

Death brings no benefit.

If the body were intact, a corpse merchant might buy it, but it’s hopeless now.

Curan leaped toward the elder, his massive body surging forward.

A cold aura emanated from his fist, and three streams of water seemed to swirl around his arm.

The man, witnessing his daughter's death, closed his eyes, choosing death over the crowd's expectations. The elder had fled from the imperials, who imposed unbearable taxes and exploitation.

However, this place, believed to be the last hope, was not a sanctuary but a realm of despair.

All of a sudden, as Curan's uncontainable strength shattered the wooden floor beneath him, screams of panic filled the air as his subordinates hastily cleared the area.

An explosion followed, shaking the whole building to its very core.

“What... what's happening?!”

At first, the subordinates thought it was because of Curan. But they soon realized that the explosion hadn’t originated from within the building, but from outside.

Rushing to open the door, a subordinate stood agape, witnessing a sight that left him speechless.

“Everything's... red.”

Blasts and explosions continued outside.

“Put out the fire! Get water! Call anyone who can use water magic!”

The panicked shouts of the subordinates filled the air as every ship anchored at the lawless port ...

was burning.

A fierce wind blew, carrying thick smoke into the harbor. The subordinate turned away, coughing.

Just as he closed his eyes to shield them, a flash of light flickered through the smoke.

The man, who had been blankly staring outside, surrendered to emptiness. His body slumped to the ground, gurgling sounds escaping him as his eyes rolled upwards, attempting to speak but ultimately silenced by the blood choking his breath away.

Hmm, Aidan Hamil, his mastery over the wind is still quite useful. The smoke is being directed this way correctly.

The black smoke, carried by the wind, engulfed the lawless harbor.

"Luckily, there's plenty to burn at the sea."

A dense black fog quickly enveloped the harbor, reducing visibility to mere inches, as people scrambled in confusion trying to extinguish the flames.

Passing through the chaos, Karyl covered his nose with his sleeve, and thought,

I feel someone is watching me. If only we had Zouk de Holde's fog magic, we wouldn't have to resort to setting fires... That woman with her hidden schemes must be hiding somewhere here.

Dodging a blade that emerged from the smoke, Karyl swiftly slashed the throat of another enemy.

Ah, this

brings back old memories.

In his previous life, being unable to use magic, he was forced to confront the empire's soldiers with only his sword. Hence, during his youth, before he grew into his full strength, resembled assassinations more than direct confrontations. Karyl would even resort to hiding his presence, and striking from behind.

The blade in his hand dripped with crimson blood. Karyl twirled Agnel on his palm before positioning the blade downward. He then repeatedly stabbed the dagger into a nearby enemy’s leg and up to their waist.

"Cough... Cough..." He pushed the lifeless body forward, looking ahead. The harsh smoke soon made his face sting.

Seems like it'll be hard to keep this up for long.

Having experienced countless battlefields, he was swift and decisive. However, this wasn't a war. There were no trained soldiers or knights here, fighting for an honorable death. Regardless of their numbers, taking down the leader meant the rest would scatter like a disorganized mob.

Slowly, without making a sound, Karyl continued forward. "You seem to have killed a lot of people."

Startled by his voice amidst the smoke, Curan drew his thick sword and swung it. However, his blade only cut through the air.

A calm, almost whispering voice followed, "I'm also quite experienced myself."

***

As the flames engulfed the lawless harbor, one ship stood unscathed. Amidst the swirling, tornado-like winds, Suan Hazer frantically rowed the oars, desperately trying to steer the only ship that remained intact.

Damn it... What's with that kid? Jumping into a sea of fire as if it's nothing.

Meanwhile, Aidan Hamil stood at the bow, his eyes sharply scanning the surroundings. The powerful winds, which he had summoned with his magic, gradually subsided. Though not intended for attacking, he had expended a vast amount of magical power across an area nearly encompassing the entire harbor.

Aidan rubbed his wrists, feeling a tingling sensation.

"Impressive. With such skills, why did you even come to Tatur...?" Suan, unaware of Aidan's background, expressed surprise at his use of magic.

"It's a trivial ability. It's only at the level of magic that imperials are born with. And look at me, I barely used magic for a moment and this is what happens." Aidan replied, showing his trembling arms to Suan.

Indeed, Aidan had only controlled the winds for a few minutes. His words were not entirely false. After all, he was not a sorcerer. Magic was not a weapon but merely a tool for him to conceal his presence as an assassin.

However, controlling the movement of the smoke and adjusting its intensity at various locations was a feat that even accomplished sorcerers would find challenging.

The original plan was for Suan Hazer to confront Curan... But now everything's turned into a mess.

Whether the lawless harbor was destroyed or not was of no concern to Aidan. Suan Hazer, known as the King of Slaves and immensely popular among the barbarians, was an indispensable part of their plan.

The prince Olivurn commanded us to recruit him at all costs, but why did things get so complicated...?

They had intended to lay the groundwork step by step. Then all of a sudden, reports came in that he had fled Piasta with an unidentified boy, and the situation rapidly changed.

There must be a reason why someone who was going to be released anyway chose to flee.

There was no need for further speculation; it was all because of the boy who had fearlessly entered the burning harbor as if it were nothing.

I thought he was just a young child, not even fifteen years old... But he had an aura that not even assassins possess.

A chill went down Aidan’s spine as he recalled Karyl’s expressionless face as he effortlessly killed without a change in expression.

Still, I learned something: He uses fire magic. To set a ship this size ablaze... He must possess at least 2nd class magic.

Aidan, concluded and smiled with self-satisfaction, unaware of the unique circumstances that allowed Karyl to use magic unconstrained by the elements.

I should report this,

Aidan thought he had a promising talent: arrogant yet appealing.

Moreover, we have a difference in life experience.

Being young meant there was definitely a vulnerability. Aidan thought Karyl could be manipulated.

Prince Olivurn might even approve of Him.

Little did Aidan know that Karyl MacGovern had lived far beyond his current age and had experienced hundreds of battles. He didn't even realize that in the eyes of that “naive boy”, he appeared utterly unprepared. It was an unprecedented event in the history of his past life.

Aidan Hamil, who had once manipulated all the information throughout the continent, was making his first and greatest mistake here.

His swordsmanship is also considerable.

No further explanation was needed for him to realize he was completely off the mark.

Where was he raised?

Aiden speculated wildly, imagining the various instructors of the Lurein Principality and the Three Kingdoms of Istria.

Of course...

He nodded as if he had made a significant decision.

Regardless of his affiliation, if we recruit him, it'll strike a blow to other nations. I'll see for myself.

Aiden’s resolved, constantly thinking about Karyl.

Suan Hazer, on the other hand, had become a secondary concern.

Why was that? Even he himself couldn't comprehend.

Aidan's mind was already consumed with curiosity about Karyl MacGovern.