11 『Gazef Stronoff』 (2/2)

Jack nodded to his and glanced towards the direction Nemu and Enri were. It was the graveyard where the four dead members of the village, including her parents, were now buried.

Though he could have resurrected them, he didn't want to show that power to anyone. Especially the ones watching what was going to soon transpire around the village. Reviving someone was apparently a rare gift and magic users typically only reached third tier unless they were talented.

The highest level caster known was the Court Wizard of the Baharuth Empire, Fluder Paradyne. They could cast Sixth tier magic, something that didn't even directly effect him, since it was under the seventh tier.

By now the sun was actually setting, a vibrant pink taking over the once clear baby blue sky.

”Gather the others to your residence within the next ten minutes,” Jack stated as he looked over the old man, ”Then met me in the square for the Head Warrior to arrive.”

Silva who was already in the square was standing there with the Blunderbuss Unit. Her eyes resting on the horizon that she was waiting for the Head Warrior to come from.

As the Elder left his side, Jack joined her, stabbing his staff into the ground before leaning on it with his arms crossed. ”So do you have an opinion on this that you'd like me to hear?”

She looked over at him for a few seconds, before nodding. ”Jack-sama wants to insert his influence over this village. Doing as you are, is fine, it'll work. My only question is, what are your plans after this? I can't fathom your brilliance...”

Jack smirked a bit when she had called him Brilliant. He couldn't help but let a chuckle emit from his throat before he looked to the sky above.

Its natural appearance was a beauty as real stars began to peak through unto the world from far and beyond the stratosphere. It reminded him of his room back in the underground city's castle.

”I wonder… How many planets are up there… What kind of Astronomy does this magical plane have.” Jack was really into the idea of space travel back in his past, as one couldn't see the sky or the stars without special equipment to get passed the polluted sky.

”Hm...” Silva looked up to the sky, not necessarily understanding Astronomy, only knowing it was the study of the Celestial World above. ”To explore the Heavens would be a privilege reserved only for you, Jack-sama.”

He couldn't help but snigger and lower his head as he leaned a bit more into his staff.

Ten minutes had gone by and the Chief was standing beside him as Jack was napping, standing up.

Silva was putting a helmet on her head as the Head Warrior could be seen on the horizon, his troop of fifty soldiers could be seen on horseback making their way to the village.

”He only had fifty troops…?” Silva muttered as she fastened the visor of the helmet over her face.

The Chief looked to her and the Blunderbuss Unit who were going off to guard the Elder's residence where most of the Villagers were now taking shelter.

Within the next five minutes that came to pass, the Head Warrior came galloping towards Jack and the Elder, coming to a stop as his men followed as well. Encircling the village entrance.

His dark eyes narrowed on Jack, a brow raised seeing the scales around his eyes as he was sleeping. He opened his mouth slightly, but didn't say anything until he slipped off his horse.

He was a well-built man with the chiseled face of a champion. Militantly, showing his might in every stride, the commoner-born Knight walked towards the Elder who was standing beside the sleeping dragon. ”You must be the Elder of this Village… I am the Head Warrior.” His eyes surfed passed the Elder, seeing some scorch marks on some of the houses and buildings.

”Head Warrior-dono...”

They had clearly been attacked. He didn't see a single soul except for some mysterious uniformed individuals prone on rooftops watching the perimeter with strange staves at the ready.

”Who is this?” He gestured towards Jack, who still hadn't opened his eyes.

”This man's Graham-dono, so he claims.” The Chief looked over Jack as he was apparently napping, but he knew that wasn't the case. Especially since his eyes were shifting under the lids.

”Oh?” The Head Warrior reached over, waving a hand in front of Jack's face. ”He's asleep standing up? What's with the scales around his eyes?”

”He claims to be a dragon.”

Parting his lips at these words, ”And…?”

”He killed off the Knights who were attacking the Village, it was a one sided massacre. Thanks to him however, we had very low casualties. Only four people died...” The Chief spoke in a soft tone, a faint smile across his lips as he watched the Warrior attempting to wake him without touching him.

Opening one eye, Jack looked up at the Warrior without moving his head. ”I could bite that hand off you know...” Without much of an expression on his face, he finally stood erect as he pulled his staff from the dirt and held it to his side like a proper mage.

The Head Warrior grinned at the spunk the supposed dragon had, ”But you didn't.”

”But I didn't,” he nodded and tapped his forefinger against the sleek metal medium. ”You are aware we are surrendered, right?”

The Warrior's grin turned to a faint smile as he nodded, looking off towards the horizon. ”Who are the people on the rooftops? They seem to be watching the enemy with instruments I don't quite recognize.”

”Think of them as magic staves,” Jack uttered under his breath as he looked to the people he had positioned on most of the vantage points around the village. ”They're my Honor Guard.”

The Head Warrior raised a brow at this, turning his attention back towards Jack. ”Honor Guard?” It sounded like this person was royalty or a noble of some unknown land. ”Which Country do you hail from, Graham-dono?”

”I hail from the Great Forest of Tob,” Jack seemed to wear a serious expression and shared an even sterner tone, as to make it seem as if he was telling the truth. Though he did not name a country. Then he flashed a grin, ”Where do you hail from?”