บท 152: Stalker
(3rd Person POV)
In Horn Kingdom's New District, operatives from various factions continued their fruitless search for the Ring of Greed.
The hunt spilled into Gloomstone Forest, where locals frequently witnessed powerful figures engaged in combat. These clashes became so common that residents barely reacted anymore.
"More strange tourists fighting in the forest," they'd mutter, returning to their daily routines. The locals remained oblivious that these "tourists" were operatives searching for the ring, often clashing with rival factions pursuing the same goal.
***
Meanwhile, Arthur prepared for his trip to Japon, accompanied by Firfel, Vivienne, and his recruitment team. Steve's group had already departed for Empirica on a similar mission to hire artists.
Arthur anticipated rapid growth in his animation studio's production demands. He needed both talent and expertise to ensure his upcoming anime would successfully broadcast beyond Horn and throughout Anatolia.
His strategy was clear: the more popular the fiction, the greater his influence in the fictional realms.
While Dragon Ball manga had found its audience, Arthur knew animation would catapult it to new heights of popularity. Despite releasing four volumes, it had yet to achieve true worldwide success.
To expand his manga production, Arthur had recently launched Naruto. Though only days into publication, it still needed to meet the Creator's Realms' strict success criteria.
Once Naruto gained sufficient recognition, Arthur could visit its world and master the Shadow Clone Jutsu. With such a technique, manga production would become both more efficient and faster.
Arthur settled into the driver's seat, with Firfel and Vivienne following into his car. Before starting the engine, he caught a glimpse of a distant figure - the same presence he'd noticed shadowing him lately.
"Something wrong?" Firfel asked, noticing his hesitation.
"Nothing, let's go," Arthur replied, pulling away from the curb.
In the distance, a hooded elf adjusted her cloak before slipping into her own vehicle to continue her surveillance.
Her organization had tasked her with gathering intelligence on New District's notable figures, particularly those wearing rings. While dozens of prominent individuals in New District wore rings, Arthur Pendragon, formerly Morningstar, drew special attention.
The organization found Arthur particularly suspicious given his knowledge of ancient rings, as demonstrated in his "Lord of the Rings" film. The possibility that he either possessed or knew about their target ring warranted investigation. Hence, they dispatched their most capable operative - her.
***
Hours later, their airship touched down in Nihhon City, Japon's capital.
Maya, Arthur's business partner, greeted them warmly at the landing pad.
As Firfel and Vivienne took in the bustling cityscape, Maya handled their hotel arrangements.
The hotel's traditional architecture stirred memories of ancient Japan from Arthur's previous life. Japon's culture mirrored that world's Japan perfectly, from its aesthetics to its customs.
Local demons resembled the yokai and oni of Japanese mythology, though their features weren't drastically different from those in Horn, Morningstar, or Thorn.
With his team dispatched to scout talented artists, Arthur focused on larger plans. Maya's local connections proved invaluable as he explored purchasing an animation studio. Expanding production would require facilities beyond Horn's borders.
Days melted into each other as business progressed. Firfel and Vivienne embraced the trip as a vacation, shopping enthusiastically at every opportunity.
Throughout it all, Arthur's shadow remained. His stalker had followed him even to Japon, but he'd ignored her presence, prioritizing studio acquisitions and talent recruitment.
Now, with several deals nearly complete and promising artists identified, Arthur could finally address his persistent follower.
He deliberately chose his path through the city, leading toward a secluded alleyway in one of Nihhon City's older districts. The area stood in sharp contrast to the bustling commercial center - sparse population, deteriorating buildings, the kind of place locals avoided. Perfect for activities requiring privacy.
Arthur tracked the cloaked figure's movements in his peripheral vision as he entered the alley. The location was ideal - no witnesses, no interruptions.
He turned to face his stalker, finally ready for their confrontation.
"More perceptive than I expected. You noticed me," the figure said, approaching steadily.
Despite her mask, Arthur wasn't surprised by the feminine voice - her silhouette clearly belonged to a beautiful woman. "You must have plenty of free time, following me all the way to another kingdom."
"Oh? So you knew I was tailing you back in Horn Kingdom?" surprise colored her tone.
"I'm not exactly oblivious to my surroundings," Arthur smiled. "Any particular reason you're stalking me like a creep?"
The woman bristled. "Don't call me a creep. I'm nothing of the sort."
"Then why follow a man around?" Arthur chuckled, deliberately lightening his tone. "Though I know I'm quite irresistible—"
"Don't flatter yourself," she cut him off, pointing directly at his hand. "I'm not interested in you - just the ring you wear."
Arthur's amusement faded into wariness. "The ring on my finger caught your eye?"
The masked woman nodded. "If you'd be so kind, might I borrow it?"
"Borrow?" Arthur snorted. "Why such interest? It's just an ordinary gold ring."
The {Devourer Ring} spell made it appear unremarkable - just a simple golden band. The woman studied it carefully but saw nothing special. Still, she pressed on, "If it's so ordinary, why not let me examine it?"
"I don't even know you," Arthur eyed her, saying. "Even if it's just an ordinary ring on my finger - it's still my possession. No way I would hand it over to a stranger."
"Then you leave me with no choice." The woman's voice turned cold as she surveyed their surroundings. "It's fortunate you chose this place. Perfect for assaulting someone."
Arthur smiled, "You can try assaulting me. I wanna see you try."
The woman snorted, then flashed toward Arthur with startling speed.
Her martial arts prowess was evident in every move. Before his Dragon Ball training, she might have posed a serious threat. Now, though, Arthur easily countered her kick.
She followed with another swift strike, but Arthur evaded smoothly, landing a precise palm strike to her stomach.
That single blow sent spittle flying as she staggered back. "You... You hid yourself well, exiled one. You're actually proficient in martial arts."
Arthur smiled, pressing his advantage with a relentless series of strikes.
Though she defended skillfully, the woman gradually succumbed to his assault. Finding space, she exclaimed, "I can't defeat you with martial arts, but I don't think you can match me with magic!"
Arthur paused, taunting, "Come on, show me what you've got."
Gritting her teeth, she unleashed hundreds of ice shards. Arthur's After Image Technique left them striking nothing but air.
The woman's eyes widened in shock. "I have no choice!" She began channeling a forbidden spell, knowing one mistake in the incantation could tear her body apart.
"Øthʀíkan Vælthūm Byn'darun"
Arthur felt the atmosphere shift as mystical lines materialized, wrapping around his body. While the woman strained to maintain the powerful binding spell, the {Devourer Ring} quietly absorbed its energy.
Thanks to the Concealment Magic, the ring's absorption appeared as if Arthur's body itself was nullifying the spell.
"Oh no..." The woman's alarm grew as she watched Arthur mysteriously dispel her magic.
Seeing him advance, she hastily erected a magical barrier around herself.
Arthur's strikes met the impenetrable shield. Recognizing its strength, he leapt back to create distance.
Just as the woman began to relax, Arthur dropped into a stance and chanted, "Kamehame... Ha!"
Energy gathered in his palms, coalescing into a brilliant beam that he directed at her shield.
The barrier shattered before her eyes. Even her mask couldn't withstand the pressure wave, crumbling to pieces on the ground.
Her exposed face registered pure shock at the display of power.
Arthur's triumphant smile faltered as he studied her features. The silver hair, the delicate face - her striking resemblance to Firfel caught him off guard.
บท 153: I'm no murderer
(Sylwen POV)
'This is impossible...'
I stared at the shattered fragments of my mask scattered across the ground, incredulous.
A B-Grade Protective Artifact, reduced to pieces! The magical barrier it generated should have withstood two forbidden spells, yet it crumbled before that strange incantation.
My expensive mask, destroyed as if it were common glass...
"You..." I finally found my voice after seconds of stunned silence. "What kind of magic spell was that?!"
How could the supposedly weak exile, Arthur Morningstar, possess such power?
"Hehe, why would I tell you?" Arthur smirked, advancing slowly.
I retreated, but escape felt futile. His demonstrated speed meant outrunning him was unlikely.
'Wait...' Something about his measured approach caught my attention. The hesitation in his steps compared to earlier... 'Could it be? Did that massive attack drain his mana reserves?'
It made perfect sense! No one could shatter a B-Grade barrier without consequences. He must be exhausted!
Seizing the opportunity, I sprang into action, ricocheting between the alley walls to reach the rooftop.
"Hmph, let's see if you can catch me after expending all your mana at once!" I taunted, certain he'd weakened himself.
Below, Arthur's smile never wavered.
That expression...
A chill ran down my spine.
Gritting my teeth, I turned to flee - only to freeze at a familiar voice.
"You think I was exhausted, huh? Not a chance."
There stood the damn Arthur, blocking my path!
***
(3rd Person)
Sylwen stumbled backward, her voice trembling with disbelief. "Ho-how... You should be drained after unleashing such a powerful spell!"
Arthur stalked closer, his smile carrying a hint of mischief. "Hehe, did you really think that single attack exhausted my power?" A warm chuckle escaped him. "I've barely tapped into my energy, beautiful lady."
Sylwen's legs buckled beneath her as reality crashed down. She sank to her knees, eyes wide with dawning horror. "This can't be..."
Raw desperation crept into her voice as she clenched her teeth. "My life is forfeit now. The organization will never take me back - I might as well end it all!"
Arthur's instincts flared as Sylwen's fingers closed around a concealed dagger, its blade glinting as she aimed for her heart.
"Wait—" He surged forward in a blur of motion, reaching to stop her self-destructive act.
But the dagger's momentum carried it downward - Arthur had no choice but to intercept the blade with his bare hand.
Splash
Blood arced through the air. Sylwen's expression transformed from determination to shock as she stared at Arthur.
Crimson droplets stained her chest, but they weren't her own - they'd sprayed from Arthur's wounded palm beside her.
"Wh-why?" The question tumbled from her lips, genuine confusion replacing her earlier hostility.
"Why?" Arthur gritted his teeth, pulling the dagger from his palm. "Because I am not a demon! I will not just watch another being kill themselves in front of me!"
She looked at him with a weird expression, "But you are a 'demon'."
His lips curved into a gentle smile. "Indeed I am."
His voice carried quiet conviction as he continued, "But I am no murderer."
Sylwen bit her lower lip, struggling to understand. "You needn't concern yourself. The choice to end my life was mine alone."
"But I had the power to prevent it," Arthur countered firmly. "Allowing you to die when I could save you would make me complicit in murder all the same."
"Why burden yourself with my fate?" Sylwen challenged, adding softly, "Especially after I just tried to steal from you?"
Arthur released a weighted sigh. "Truth is, you remind me of someone. Your face bears a striking resemblance to my girlfriend."
Sylwen's brow furrowed in recognition. "You're involved with that woman?"
"Oh?" Arthur's interest peaked. "So you do know her? There must be a connection..."
Bitterness darkened Sylwen's tone. "It was long ago - but I despised that woman. I hated her family and everything they represented."
Arthur's curiosity ignited. 'Interesting... I sense there's quite a story here...'
"Then you have to come with me." Arthur secured a rope around her wrists with practiced efficiency.
"Wha-what are you doing?" Sylwen's alarm returned to her voice.
"You're now my prisoner." Arthur's tone left no room for argument. "You can't take your own life anymore. You're under my responsibility."
"This is ridiculous!" Sylwen's protest echoed across the rooftop.
Arthur displayed his bleeding palm meaningfully. "You must do as I say - look at my hand. I earned this wound saving your life."
"I never asked to be saved anyway." Sylwen's words carried defiant bitterness.
"Enough talking. Follow me." Arthur tugged the rope, causing her to stumble forward.
Realizing their rooftop position, he smoothly lifted Sylwen onto his shoulder.
"Stop!" she protested, struggling against his grip.
Ignoring her complaints, Arthur began traversing the cityscape, leaping from rooftop to rooftop with fluid grace.
Mid-leap, he asked, "What's your name?"
"Sylwen," she answered, resignation coloring her voice.
"Why were you ready to end your life earlier?" His question carried genuine concern.
Silence stretched between them before Sylwen spoke, seeing little point in secrecy now. "It's an organizational rule - if someone sees your face for more than a minute, your life is forfeit."
She continued grimly, "Better to end it yourself than be hunted down by the organization."
Arthur's frown deepened. "What a ridiculous group you're working for." He added thoughtfully, "Why not simply lie? Tell them no one saw your face."
Sylwen shook her head. "Impossible. The mask you destroyed had a tracking spell - they already know it's been broken."
Arthur nodded in understanding.
"I could try claiming I concealed my face after the mask broke, that no one saw me for more than a minute," Sylwen added quietly. "But whether they'd spare me is questionable. Failing the mission alone likely marks me for death."
Arthur's discomfort grew. "You're trapped in a truly terrible organization."
Sylwen fell silent, her lack of response speaking volumes.
Noting her withdrawal, Arthur paused their journey. "It'll take time to reach our destination by rooftop." He carefully set her aside, considering their next move.
Sylwen broke her silence with urgency. "Just let me go. If you keep holding me, your life will be in danger too."
"Hehe, didn't expect you to care so much about my wellbeing," Arthur teased.
A flush of embarrassment colored Sylwen's cheeks. "I don't care about you."
"You really do remind me of Firfel," Arthur mused, watching her reaction.
"I'm nothing like her!" Sylwen's sharp retort carried years of buried emotion.
Her response only reinforced Arthur's suspicions about her history with Firfel.
"I mean it. Let me go now. You don't want to be dragged into my troubles." Sylwen's voice carried genuine concern.
"I'm not afraid," Arthur stated simply. "Besides, your organization only knows about the destroyed mask - they can't track who you're with or where you've gone, right?"
Sylwen paused before answering carefully. "True. They don't know my current location. But they'll pinpoint where the mask shattered. Their operatives in this city are probably already heading there."
Arthur glanced back toward the alley with the mask fragments. "So we need to move quickly then?"
Sylwen nodded gravely. "Yes. At our current pace, their operatives will catch up soon. They're skilled investigators - they'll trace our path from footprints and other signs."
Arthur's continued calmness made Sylwen frown. "I know you're powerful - but trust me, the organization has members far stronger than you!"
"Be at ease. We'll be fine." Arthur's confidence never wavered.
As Sylwen wondered at his composure, she gasped as bat-like wings unfurled from his back.
"This..." Fresh shock registered on her face.
"Let's go." Arthur swept her into a princess carry and with one powerful leap, they soared into the sky.
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