The guards charged at Ryoujin, swords drawn. But their attacks ended in a chorus of screams. Swords flew from their hands, arms were severed from bodies, blood splattering across the marble floor of the hall.
The mages immediately began casting magic circles in the air, luminous runes forming one by one. But before a single spell could be completed, the flash of Ryoujin's blades struck—and their hands fell to the ground, severed along with the incomplete magic circles.
Seeing this, some of the guests screamed in terror and fled. Yet a few nobles remained frozen in their seats, too stunned to move.
"I only want to leave," Ryoujin said, his voice filled with restrained fury.
"Why do you still try to stop me? Didn't you yourself say I'm a disgrace to this family? Then why bother trying to hold me back?!"
Duke Astarion's face flushed crimson with anger. Beside him, Norak's elder sisters raised their wands, ready to strike.
"STOP!" Duke Astarion bellowed.
His daughters froze immediately.
"You may go," the Duke continued, his voice heavy. "And remember your vow. Never dare claim that you are of Astarion blood."
Ryoujin sheathed both swords calmly.
"Don't worry," he replied coldly. "I am a man who keeps his word."
He turned slightly.
"Then… farewell."
In an instant, Ryoujin vanished from the hall.
Duke Astarion's eyes widened.
"Father! Why did you let him go?!" one of his daughters shouted.
"Father!"
"QUIET!" the Duke barked.
He looked at them one by one, his expression grave.
"I could not stop him," he said slowly but clearly.
"Didn't you see what happened? His swords cut through the magic circles. There is not a single sword in this world capable of cutting a Circle Spell like that."
His daughters were stunned. The nobles present fell silent as well, shock painted across their faces.
"So… how could Norak possess such power, Father?" one of them asked.
Duke Astarion closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, his expression heavy.
"The swords he wielded just now," he said slowly,
"belonged to your mother."
He sank into his chair, memories of his long-deceased wife surfacing—she who had once been called the Sword Queen, the greatest swordswoman in the Kingdom of Hima.
**
Meanwhile, at the city gate, Vivi paced back and forth, watching the medical mages as they reattached the guards' severed hands using healing magic circles.
The magic glowed and spun, fusing flesh and bone as if they had never been severed.
Vivi's heart pounded in her chest. Her mind was restless, focused on only one thing—what was happening inside the palace.
Soon, the Solar Knight troops began streaming into the city, led by several commanders moving swiftly toward the palace.
But before they could go far—
Ryoujin suddenly appeared.
He stood not far from the mages, watching the hands being reattached.
"Impressive…" he said softly.
"They can reattach hands that have been severed."
His sudden appearance immediately caused panic. The guards and mages flinched; some nearly miscast their spells.
"Yes, they can," Vivi replied casually, as if the situation was no longer unusual for her.
"Except if it's their heads that are cut off."
Ryoujin smirked slightly.
"And what about you, my lord?" Vivi asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"It's done," Ryoujin replied succinctly. He looked Vivi directly in the eyes.
"I'm leaving this place, Vivi."
Vivi paused for a moment.
"Where are you going, my lord?"
"Traveling," he answered without hesitation.
"Do you want to come with me?"
Vivi studied his face. A few seconds passed before a confident smile appeared on her lips. She nodded.
"I want to come with you, my lord."
"Good."
Ryoujin then turned his gaze to a silver-armored guard.
"You."
"Y-yes, me," the guard stammered.
"Prepare two horses."
"All right," the guard replied without question, immediately giving orders.
Ryoujin turned back to Vivi.
"Do you know how to ride a horse?"
Vivi raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I do, my lord. Besides, I taught you how to ride. Have you forgotten?"
Ryoujin smiled faintly.
"Sorry. I never remembered."
Vivi pouted, but her smile didn't fade.
As soon as the silver-armored guard handed two horses to Ryoujin and Vivi, they wasted no time. With a gentle touch to the stirrups, the horses surged forward, leaving the city gate behind.
"How could the young lord be so strong?" the guard whispered, his eyes still fixed on the rapidly receding figures.
"Did he use a dark magic item?"
"There's no dark magic item for swordplay," his companion replied confidently.
"True swordsmen… they're the ones who slay dark mages."
***
Ryoujin rode his horse swiftly, as if the body had memorized the art of riding over decades. His movements were calm, balanced, without a hint of hesitation.
Yet Vivi's skill was equally remarkable. Even though Ryoujin stayed ahead, she could keep pace from behind without falling behind.
"This feels like… being young again," Ryoujin whispered.
"Full of energy. Full of spirit. It feels completely different."
He then loosened the reins, spreading both arms wide, letting the wind sweep across his face as the horse galloped faster.
Vivi smiled at Ryoujin's antics. Her heart felt light.
However, she didn't dare imitate him—she simply observed from behind, making sure her lord did not fall.
*
They rode on, aimlessly, with forests and dirt paths alternating on either side. Eventually, Vivi urged her horse forward, riding alongside Ryoujin.
"My lord!"
Ryoujin turned his head.
"Where are we going?"
Ryoujin pulled the reins. His horse stopped immediately. Vivi had ridden a bit ahead but now circled back.
"I don't know myself," Ryoujin answered honestly.
"If we're starting… where do we start from?"
Vivi thought for a moment.
"What is the purpose of your journey, my lord?"
"I just want to see this world."
"That's not a problem, my lord," Vivi said softly.
"But… do you have any coin?"
"Coin?" Ryoujin blinked, confused.
"You mean… money?"
Vivi fell silent. It was the first time she had ever heard the term.
"Yes… something like that, my lord," she finally replied.
"If we don't have coin, how are we going to eat? Where will we sleep? All of that requires coin."
Ryoujin scratched his head. The question had never crossed his mind before. Unconsciously, his thoughts drifted back to his previous life—when he lived as a samurai, earning money by taking on mission after mission.
"You know," he said slowly,
"In my previous world, there were places that hired people for work. Find someone. Protect someone. Even… kill something."
Vivi's eyes widened slightly.
"Your previous world?" she whispered, confused. "Do you mean… you want to become an adventurer?"
"Adventurer?" Ryoujin gave a faint smile.
"Yes. Something like that."
"In that case, we have to go to Brussel City, my lord," Vivi said with a confident tone.
"That's the city of adventurers. There, you have to register as a Hunter. Only after that can you officially take on missions."
"Is the city far?"
Vivi nodded slowly, her expression slightly somber.
"If we leave from here… it might take three days."
"And along the way… what are we going to eat? Where will we sleep?"
Ryoujin looked ahead, toward the long road stretching into the distance.
"We'll figure that out later," he said calmly.
"Let's move now."
Vivi followed, though worry began creeping into her heart thinking about the long journey ahead without any coin.
This time, Vivi rode ahead. They moved swiftly without stopping, passing through forests and open fields. Occasionally, Ryoujin glanced around, captivated by the beauty of the landscape—something he had rarely had the chance to enjoy in his previous life.
Time passed. The sun began to dip toward the horizon, and the sky slowly glowed orange. They had been riding for several hours without rest. Vivi, riding in front, began to feel uneasy. She knew this path well—there were no settlements along the way. If night fell, they would have to stop in the middle of the forest.
Suddenly—
Vivi spotted two small figures stumbling in the distance, as if being chased by something. She immediately pulled on the reins.
"My lord! Look over there!"
Ryoujin, riding behind, saw it too. Two children were running in fear, and behind them emerged several low-bodied, green-skinned creatures with savage faces.
Without wasting a moment, Ryoujin leapt from his horse.
In the blink of an eye, his body darted past the children. A flash of his swords cut through the air—once, twice.
Two of the creatures' heads were severed before they could scream.
Ryoujin stood calmly. His gaze swept the surrounding area, ensuring no other threats remained. Once certain, he looked at the bodies of the fallen creatures.
He crouched, examining the stiff green bodies on the ground.
"What kind of animals are these?" he whispered in wonder.
"Why do they look like humans?"
"That's a Goblin, my lord," Vivi replied, leading the two children who were still trembling in fear.
"Goblin?" Ryoujin furrowed his brows.
"What… are they?"
"Forget that for now, my lord," Vivi said anxiously.
"We have to help them. Their village was attacked by Goblins."
Ryoujin rose slowly. His gaze turned serious.
"Where is their village?"