Kapitel 23: Chapter 23 - A Knight From The East
" Alright, lemme sum it up real quick. " Zio spread the map with both of his hands, and Bella sits back, chewing on her roasted rabbit leg. They are two cities away from Tel' Almus, wandering on the outskirt of Al' Etra, a small-yet-busy town that lies on the southern part of the capital city.
" The auction begins today and will be held for three days. If your source is on the spot, then the sword will be auctioned on the last day, the day after tomorrow, am I right? " Bella nodded as Zio repeated what she had informed him.
" So, the expected place of encounter will be here in Al' Etra, just beyond the hill over there, right before the exit of the forest. " Bella nodded again. Zio squints his eyes, as she doesn’t seem to take him seriously. But it was his fault to begin with. His head was full of Ana when she explained the details of the plan, so he can't really recall every word that she said.
" And the time of the assault would be today at dewfall, so we can sneak up on them without worrying over the beast hunting hour... But what if the others didn't show up? "
" Bah, that's impossible. They're a bunch of greedy bastards. They will show up eventually, trust me. " Bella’s mouth is chewing non-stop. She even sucked the marrow of the bone and lick it all clean until not even a shred of meat is left behind.
" ...You know, something just doesn't feel right to me. " Zio frowned.
" Ha? What's the matter? Get the jitters, you pussy? " Bella teased Zio before suddenly wiping her stinky fingers to his lips and stroke it inside his mouth. Zio pulled himself away, choking.
" Goddamn! Bella! "
" True that something smells weird- "
" It was your hand! "
" -But it must be just some trivialities. After all, this is too good of an opportunity to let go right? "
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After that, they waited for their bonanza to come. Zio sat atop a tree that is high and nice enough to spot the upcoming party. Due to his lack of sleep, his eyes feel heavy as he’s on the watch, even though the time is drawing near.
" Zio! How could you sleep at a time like this?! "
" I-I wasn't sleeping! Just resting my head a little! "
" But your eyes are completely closed! "
" Uhm. Anyway! Have you laid the traps? "
" Heh, who do you think you're talking to? " Bella was in charge of setting the traps for their escape route as soon as they fetch the golden egg, just like she always been doing all this time. Zio thought of her slightly improve to think that even someone like her still has her own use after all.
" I don't know. A lustful monkey? "
Suddenly noises arise not far from where they stood. They quickly geared up and climbed down the tree. " It's here! It's here! It's here! " Shouts Bella excitedly. She's running towards the noise faster than a hare.
After arriving at the predestined place, the pair hides behind the bushes, observing the chaotic raid from the side-line. They enjoyed themselves looking at other bandits who were shouting and clanking their steel like a madman in trance.
" Ooh! Hey guys, look at the window! There's a couple of fine boobies inside the wagon! "
" Ulala! Must've been nobles! I have always wanted to defile those cats so much! "
" Phew! What a lucky day! We'll take all the goods and taking our turns on them before giving those sluts some balls and chains! "
" There's only one man as their guard! Truly, that 'big melon's information is on the spot as always! "
‘Big melon? Must've been talking about this stupid girl’ Zio believed. It is a good thing for them to be able to overhear their conversation as they are shouting out loud like barbarians.
" Kill him! "
As soon as the other bandits went for the kill, the wind feels like as if it was being sucked into the direction of the wagon. " Z-Zio? W-W-What are you- ", " Get down! " Zio instinctively pulled down Bella's head and hugged her tightly to his chest.
His premonition was right. Suddenly a surge of tempest blows from the wagon. Silencing the ruckus in an instant. There, Zio saw some part of the trees and the bushes were neatly cut in half. It was so clean that it almost looks like a work of a skillful gardener.
" T-That weirdly curved sword! I've heard it before! "
" I-I thought you just accidentally fit the description, but...! You're that wanderer from the east, aren't you?! "
That was a close call by Zio. Had he been late even by the nick of a second, then who knows what might happen. But it doesn't end there as he can still hear some commotion between them. Zio decided that it might be best to wait a little longer, he believes that he needs to find out who that guy really is before making any move.
" Z-Zio...? I... don't hate this but... I-I think you can let me go now... "
" A-Ah, sorry. " Bella’s face is as red as a beet as Zio released her from his arm. Zio worried that he might have squeezed the air out of her, even though that wasn’t the case.
" Oi, Masa! Stop playing around! " A loud voice came out of the wagon. By the voice alone Zio took a guess, that it might be a lady in her late twenties or early thirties.
" Alright, alright. Don't get mad~ It ruins your beauty. " A heavy and slightly drowsy voice answered the lady’s call.
Now they know that the name of the knight who is guarding the wagon is Masa. Now, Zio needs to see what else he can do. Only by then, they will decide whether to call off this heist and get the hell out of here or else.
" You piece of shit! Think we're scared!? "
Every bastard in the area immediately went for that lone guard. It's one against thirty, there's no way for him to survive this no matter how one looks at it. But astonishingly, the knight sheathes his blade instead.
" What the fuck?! Is he planning to take them on with his scabbard? " Zio blurted out words in amazement.
" Zio! What are you doing?! This is our chance! " Even amidst this mess, Bella can still keep up her focus. And that fact alone makes Zio wholeheartedly surprised.
" O-Okay... but I need to make sure. "
" Ugh, what now?! We got not much time left! "
" Well uh, are you sure that sword is worth that much? Enough for us to live a straight life? "
" Of course, you idiot! Why would they hire a guard like that if it weren't precious?! "
Bella’s words clearly make sense to Zio. Thus, he decided to go all in. After all, he can't afford to lose this one. There's no way he would let Ana live in that disgusting place any longer. This is now or never for him.
" Alright, let's go! "
Zio came out of our hiding, confronting the knight head-on, while Bella is sneaking up to the wagon to look for the jackpot. She will light up a fire the second she found the sword. And until then, Zio needs to lure the absurdly powerful knight away from her.
But doubts are starting to overwhelm Zio. ‘Am I going to live through this?’ he wondered. Looking at how the knight beats up thirty lads all by himself, his confidence is somehow dwindling. Then, suddenly, Ana's face flashed through his mind. Her violet eyes, her caring smile, her warm cheeks. His memories of her completely washed away his fear and worry.
He laughs upon himself. How uncool of him to let such doubt to envelopes him. He’s ashamed of himself for losing sight of his purpose. Forgetting that as long as she can live a decent life, nothing else is matters.
“ There's nothing to doubt, I just need to pull this off and go home to Ana. ”
In the thick of the fight, Zio throws one of his knives at the eastern knight. The knight then swiftly grabbed a sword that was swung at him by one of the bandits and use it to deflect the knife.
" Hey, that's danger- Oh? "
Their eyes meet, soon after the knight took care of the last lad. Now that the dust and everything subsides, Zio can clearly see him as a whole. The eastern man is clearly taller than himself, maybe somewhere around 180 sentimeitel. His figure is adorned by the black and messy tied-back hair that waved through the air which goes perfectly with his subtle stubble beard.
" Whoa! Are you lost or something, boy? " He reached out to Zio, waking him up from his absence.
" Nah, uncle. I'm right where I want to be. " Zio threw some more of his knives.
As the knight wanted to deflect it again for the second time, too bad, this time Zio had a trick upon his sleeves. The knives slightly curved right just before they make contact with his sword, changing their trajectory and caught him in surprise.
" ....! "
Yet, although it surprised him, he can adapt to most of the changing course of the knives in that little span of time. Only two knives were able to hit their target, though only grazed his cheeks.
After surviving his knives, he laughed.
" Yo yo yo! That's cool, how did you do that? "
" Heh, why do you care? You're going down anyway. "
The messy-haired knight dropped his borrowed sword and starting to rub the hilt of his real sword.
" Ah, don't be like that. It's been two years since the last time I bleed. You did a better job than you think. "
Zio thought that he was bluffing. Even though that the knight is indeed strong, there's no way someone could be that invincible, especially when he has that big scar on his lower lip. But Zio decided to play along nevertheless. Because all he needs to do is to delay time until Bella finished her job after all.
" How old are you, boy? "
" 16 "
" Well I'm 24, ain't so much of a gap aren't we? "
" Bullshit. You must be in your forties. "
" Goddammit, why is no one ever trusting me? " He scratched his head while loosening his shoulder.
Now that Zio thinks of it, the man is surprisingly proficient at speaking in his language. Zio considered an option to talk things out, thinking that it might be worth trying. A fight with someone as strong as him might costs Zio an arm or worse after all.
" Then... Can you just kindly let us have the sword, brother? "
He burst out to laugh upon hearing Zio’s words.
" That's the most straightforward request I've ever heard from a bandit! Why is someone as young as you being so desperate? "
" I need money "
" Hee... but aren't we all? " He calmly strokes his facial hairs while smiling.
" You have a point, his bad. Let me rephrase it... I don't need money, but my sick sister does. "
Zio was not joking nor scheming anything when he said it. His words are clear, his intention is pure, and his face is stern with honesty. All that he wished is for Ana to be healthy and able to live a happy life like any other kid. He doesn't mind eating the dirt all his life as long as that wish is fulfilled.
" Hmm... that's touching, but how can I know that you aren't lying? Please mind that I see you as an evil bandit right now. "
" Think about it. I was hiding behind the bush all this time, seeing you as you beat 'em black and blue with a scabbard. With a fucking scabbard. " Zio pointed at his sheathed sword and the unconscious thugs that were lying on the ground.
" Who in their right mind would have jumped out right before the face of a tiger knowing that he would be chewed alive? "
The eastern knight before Zio kept his mouth shut instead of cutting him in. The desperate Zio can’t help but wonder whether the tough man in front of him is really listening. The only thing for sure is that he is a bizarre guy. Making Zio starting thinks that this might really be the way for him to wrap it all up nicely.
" That's how it is, unless someone has something he has to do no matter the cost, even though he didn't want to. "
" Hmm... damn boy, You're good with words. "
‘This is it, one more push and maybe something good would happen.’ Zio hopelessly believed. Schemes, maybes, and what-ifs are starting to flow to his mind. Things that should be considered too good to be true.
Sounds ridiculous as it is, but in a time like this, one should make full of even the faintest glimpse of any possibility.
" No, I'm not. I'm just simply telling you my earnest wish. "
The old-looking warrior suddenly went relax and let out a breather out of the blue. Even though Zio was a threat that stands right in front of him.
" You know what? I always had the soft for this. Tell me your name boy. "
" U-Uh sure, I'm Zio. What's yours? "
" I'm Masatora. Nice to meet you Zio. "
Before Zio could respond to him, Masatora shouted to the lady inside the wagon. Zio bites his lips as he should've diverted his attention from the wagon. But here he is, failing successfully at the task. Thus, he just can hope that Bella hasn't made her move yet.
" Oi, Madam! There's this guy named Zeo who desperately needs the sword! He said he needs it so he can tend to his sick sister! What do you think?! "
Zio can’t believe the guy to just shouting it out loud like it was a real question. Things are not looking well for Zio. It seems that all of this talking isn’t going to get him anywhere. Hence, Zio prepared himself.
Geschenke
-- Geschenk
erhalten Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein