Chapter 326: Headless (2/2)

”And whoever tries to harm my friends, dies.”

Mana exploded from the Seika's hand and obliterated the noble's head from existence. Screams echoed the noble's body fell to the ground, limp. A pool of blood gathered beneath it as Arthur wiped away the smear of blood off his face.

The hall was deathly quiet as some of the nobles and guards threw up what their stomachs had. The sight of the headless noble rang terror in everyone's hearts, including Dia.

He called her a friend, but the sight of him obliterating the noble's head was terrifying. It was in no way a sight that anyone would feel good to see, but she was an exception.

His words made her feel touched, as she felt protected for the first time instead of imprisoned. She was supposed to be the one protecting him as a part of their deal, but he didn't allow harm to befall her.

”You dared harm one of my vessels!” The Duke of Contracts roared as veins bulged on his arm. ”Knights! Kill this man even if it meant using every artifact you have!”

”Knight of Courage!” Dia turned to the Knight of Courage, whose face was pale and dazed. ”If things escalate from here, there won't be a city anymore!”

As if she was coming to her senses, the Knight rushed toward Arthur and held her sword against him. A symbol appeared on her weapon as the Knight looked at the Seika with both fear and helplessness.

”Seika of Living Beings, known as The Gardener.” The Knight spoke each word slowly. ”Under the name of his Majesty, you're now under Royal Seal for the murder of a nobility. Do you yield?”

Dia wasn't the one facing the Knight, but even she could tell the Knight was desperate. This method was the only way for the Knight to protect Arthur until they reached the capital.

”I do,” The Seika nodded as he shook the blood of his hand and released a sigh. ”I'm sorry for the inconvenience.”

The symbol on the weapon struck Seika's body and restrained his hand to his body as a barrier appeared around him. The guards stood down as the Seika was apprehended.

”The Court shall take place in Livia in three days.” The Knight of Courage said with a pale face. ”Whoever objects will be going against the wishes of his majesty and commit treason!”

Her threat made everyone back away as the Knight took the Seika to leave the hall. As the show's curtains closed down, only the nobleman's body was left to remind the people of how ruthless this Seika was.

***

”Can you unrestrain me now?” Arthur asked the Knight, who ignored him and kept walking. He looked at the barrier around him. It allowed no one to touch him, and it also fed him with a life force that would sustain him.

”No can do that other than his Majesty. Do you think the duke would back away if I didn't use the Royal Seal?” The Knight of Courage answered after a while.

”That's harsh, so I'm going to stay this way for three days?” Arthur frowned. ”He attacked first. It was in self-defense.”

”No, you killed him out of rage, not of self-defense.” The Knight snapped at him. ”Do you value life so little that you can kill someone this easily for the slightest of reasons?”

”Have you never killed a person before?” Arthur was surprised.

”I did, many times, but all for a valid reason.” The Knight said with disgust. ”But you... you treat people as your belongings, and you break them as you wish.”

”Do you know what kind of attack the noble used?” Arthur smiled at her words, and the Knight was taken aback. She shook her head, and Arthur sighed. ”It was a corrupt attack, as you guys call it.”

”Do you mean... that noble was a foul being?” The Knight grew hesitant.

”Oh no, he was a human.” Arthur corrected. ”However, he's someone who collided with the corrupt beings before, hence his weapon.”

”That doesn't mean he's with them just because he used a weapon that...”

”I don't care.” Arthur spat. ”He wanted to harm my friend and had dealings with evil beings. That's all I needed to know to judge him as unworthy of living.”

”Who are you to judge such things?” The Knight stopped walking and turned to face him. ”Do you think of yourself as a god who can judge humans?”

”If I don't judge them, who would?” Arthur's face was cold. ”It's my task to take care of those who sold their souls.”