"Surround the perimeter. Don't let any gawkers come near the house!"

  "Yes sir!"

  "As for you, use my horse and inform the higher-ups. Tell them that Dereia is killed!"

  As the leader of the small Zelestrean troop give commands to the soldiers, Grand Ecstasy, Helyna, Fleur and Norm are being tended by healers with Sophia's help. They're sitting on the same chairs where Helyna's family is eating. The body of Helyna's father respectfully placed on the floor then covered with blanket.

  Far from them are Dereia's dead body. She's just placed on the cold floor and in the corner with no regards.

  Grand Ecstasy and the others are just silent to Roland's confusion.

  "Why everyone looks so gloom? Isn't this is a triumphant moment for you?" Roland asked.

  But he get no answer. Instead, he recieve a question from Claustrine.

  "Why you take so long to reach us?"

  Roland averts his gaze.

  "The Zelestrean authorities decide to save the fields first. The fire can burn all the crops if not extinguished which would lead to severe food shortage."

  Claustrine sighs.

  "I see." Claustrine understands.

  "But I'm still confused. Why all of you look so down?"

  Claustrine sigh again after hearing Roland's repeated question.

  "It's a long story sir."

  .

  .

  .

  Helyna is in emotional void as they return to the city. Her sister quickly run towards her and give a question

  That Helyna can't bear to answer.

  "Where is... Papa?" Misha asked with innocence and hint of optimism.

  Helyna just looked at her little sister with a guilty expression on her eyes. She already wasted all of her tears in their home and can't express grief anymore.

  "Pa... P-papa is..."

  Helyna stutters. She can't bare to shatter the feelings of her sister. But her sister is not stupid as she already get the hint base on the defeated expression of her sister and the others averting their gaze.

  "No... T-that's n-not true..."

  "I'm sorry..." Mateo's defeated apology.

  Misha finally hit by the realization that her father is truly gone. She embrace Helyna and cry her hearts out as Grand Ecstasy and the others listen in agony. Helyna bite his lip out of grief and frustration.

  The event that night quickly reach the nearby kingdoms and the following days are full of talks about Dereia's end.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  The affected kingdoms quickly planned a meeting which will be held in Bolaire, where all of these started. Before the day comes, Grand Ecstasy decides to visit the village where Dereia came from.

  Located near the northern border between Nattunia and Bolaire is a small farming village of Sesil. Because of the village being in a very far and isolated territory of Bolaire, it doesn't recieve progress but in exchange. They also not get direct focus from the nobles' harassment as what they can only provide are miniscule amount of crops.

  "Good morning adventurers. What brings you in our humble village?" The village elder asked.

  "Good morning. We're looking for the residence where Dereia lives?" Mateo asked.

  "Ohoho... The Morningdews. They lived far away from this village as they tend a farm. You must be Dereia's new friends she found in the city, I miss that kid." The old man reminiscents the past.

  Everyone averts their gaze to the elder out of guilt but Mateo manages to say one single world.

  "Yes."

  Grand Ecstasy is surprised that the news still didn't reach the small village but they think that must be for the better, for now.

  "Ohoho... Sorry about that. Old folks like me just love to reminiscent the past. As for Morningdews, just follow that road and once you see a small home surrounded by crops, that's where they live." The Elder explains as he points on his left where a road can be seen.

  "Thanks you old man." Beltrand says his gratitude.

  "May the gods be with you. You might also encounter another group of Dereia's friends."

  "Dereia's friends?"

  "Yes. They say they want to tell stories about Dereia in the city."

  "I see... Thanks you sir?" Mateo gives a slight smile.

  Grand Ecstasy says their farewell and then follow the beaten path the elder pointed. Morningdew residence is really isolated as the village elder says as they take them minutes before Grand Ecstasy reach the house.

  Only for them to see suspicion.

  The door is closed but signs of struggle are visible as the nearby potted plants and objects are destroyed.

  Mateo feel a cold shudder, he quickly rushes to the home.

  "Mateo wait!" Claustrine is surprised.

  His friends panicly follows him. Mateo already inside the house when they finally reach the entrance. But before they even enters, Mateo exits and blocks them. His eyes wide and in shock.

  "Don't." Mateo's only words.

  Shirna gags as he instantly smell the stench of brutality coming from inside of the house.

  "Why?! What you see there brother?!" Beltrand asked with visible concern.

  Mateo shuts the door. His hand shaking.

  "Please..."

  Watching Mateo's expression make Sophia, Beltrand and Claustrine feel shivers on their spine.

  "No..." Sophia slumps on her knees.

  "Shirna."

  "W-why Mateo?" Shirna's anxious response.

  "You smell it right?"

  Shirna nods slowly.

  "Track the ones that did this."

  Mateo's words have sinister aura into it which quickly felt by his friends. Claustrine looked at Mateo with concern.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Not far from Sesil. A group of armed men are just resting near a river. They just finished washing their body and now ready to finally clean their clothes and armor still stained with blood.

  "Fuck. The blood is dried out. It would take a time before we remove it." One of the men rant as she scratch the dried blood.

  "Motherfucker. You complaining now when you really enjoy what we did there."

  Everyone laughs.

  "Who doesn't?! The ladies are truly amazing. I can still hear their voice."

  "The boss really take his time on the mom. She's really his type."

  The boss sitting on the rock far from his men as he watch them relive the moment.

  "But I still can't get behind on our client's wish. Because of that, we now dealing this bloody mess." One of the men says as he wipe his sword soaked in river water.

  "His daughter died so sudden on the hand of a commoner. Of course he's going to take revenge and give far worse fate just to set an example to the plebians. Besides, we don't fucking care about their intent." The boss explains.

  Then he pulls a roll of paper and waves it for everyone to see.

  "As long as we getting paid handsomely. Everything is fair game. We're eating good once we confirm the contract." The boss speaks with excitement.

  "Wohoo! I gonna spend more time in a brothel. Those women didn't satisfied me because you guys didn't give me more time." One of the men just casually says.

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  "I'm calling you to join the fun yet you still decide to become a watchdog. Only yourself to blame really." Another men critiques.

  "Well... If someone just swapped places on me, I would also have my share of fu-"

  Swoosh~

  He didn't even manage to finish his sentence as he falls to the water where he wash his blade. Creating a loud splash.

  "Huh?"

  The boss see the water where his henchmen is turns red. After some time, his men floats now with an arrow to his head.

  "AMBUSH!" The boss screams. Everyone panicly wears their gear and wield their weapon.

  But no amount of time can make them prepared for the upcoming battle...

  Or more like a one-sided beatdown. Mateo, Beltrand and Shirna are enough to defeat all of them while Claustrine and Sophia stays in the backlines.

  "Who are these people!? AHHHH!!"

  "THEY'RE TOO STRONG!"

  "Fuck this! I'm out!"

  One of the mercenaries attempted to escape to the woods. Only for him to fall face down. He looks back and see that his legs are now bent grotesquely.

  As they got hit by a rock pillar.

  "AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

  The eight remaining mercenaries are quickly apprehended by Grand Ecstasy including the boss. All of them are now kneeling in a row, powerless to even attempt any escape.

  "What we even did to you?!" The boss asked.

  But Mateo just looked at him with wrath. He have no reason to talk to the trash in front of him.

  "Shirna. Do you have poison of Miasma Frog on you?"

  The mercenaries feel fear after hearing the infamous poison.

  "Miasma Frog?! No! just kill us already please!" One of the mercerary begs.

  The rest also pleads to Mateo only for them...

  "SHUT THE FUCK UP! SUDDENLY YOU MONSTERS HAVE THE AUDACITY TO BEG FOR YOUR LIVES!?" Beltrand shouts. Just like Mateo, Beltrand also feel rage boiling deep inside him.

  "Monsters?" The boss scoffs.

  "You all planning to give us miserable deaths by poisoning us with Miasma Frog yet we're monsters? What a bunch of hypocrites!"

  Mateo looked at the boss with cold glare.

  "Hahaha... I like the way you look at me boy."

  "Call us monsters or whatever you like."

  Shirna pulls the vial of Miasma Frog and give it to Mateo.

  "I'm not really claiming any moral high ground. Afterall, there's no reason for me to give any semblance of morality to demons like you."

  "Demons?" The boss didn't understand what Mateo mean.

  "If I need to become a demon to punish a demon. I will do it." Mateo continues.

  "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!" The boss is confused.

  "It doesn't matter."

  Mateo looked at his friends behind him.

  "I don't want you guys to see all of this."

  Claustrine shakes his head.

  "No. This is OUR burden. You can't just bear it alone." Claustrine softly said.

  "Thanks." Mateo's single cold words.

  "I'm sorry Mateo. But I don't want to see this." Sophia said his words with concern.

  "I understand Sophia. You can leave now."

  Sophia slowly walks away, far away that she would not see what's going to happen.

  Far enough that she would not hear anything.

  Shirna and Beltrand assist Mateo of giving poison to the Mercenaries with an amount that would not kill them instantly but also give them prolonged suffering.

  Suffering they deserve for the sins that they done.

  The Miasma Frog's effect are horrifying. With just a single drop, the flesh of the Mercenaries decays and turns purple, their skin peeled off and their organs are slowly deteriorates. Their screams of agony makes the boss horrified as he watch his comrades slowly succumbed to a slow, painful death.

  The boss shivers. His bravado disappears knowing that he can't talk out things to the people that punishing him. He didn't even feel that his pants are already stained by his urine as he's looking on their eyes.

  Dark empty eyes that feels like it already stared on the abyss. He knows that they didn't feel any semblance of pleasure nor satisfaction on what they doing.

  After an hour.

  "P-please... N-o m-more..." The boss' cackled words. Unlike his comrades, he recieves the worse of the punishment as he only given non-lethal dose but still enough to bring indescribable prolonged pain.

  "I'-im s-sorr-y... I'I Al-already told you E-evrything I know..."

  Mateo just continue to stare down at him.

  But without saying a word, Mateo drag the boss away from his dead comrades.

  He drags him on and on with his friends following until they far away to the corpses.

  "Shirna. Call Sophia."

  "Yes."

  With Mateo's order. Sophia heals the boss' injuries. She gulps watching the extent of damage her friends dealt.

  But she never felt any sympathy, imagining horrors the man and his troops did which only Mateo knows.

  The boss finally feel relief, away from pain that seems like an eternity.

  "Mateo. This is his stuffs." Beltrand just came back after picking the sling bag the boss owned.

  Mateo opens the bag and search for something. After few seconds, he pull a scroll which the boss waves earlier.

  He opened the scroll and see a blood contract with the seal of two man named Ghist Pleifan and Hodor Jacc.

  "Ghist Pleifan huh? It's either you pretty close to a duke or your employer is so dumb that he makes a blood contract to the likes of you." Beltrand stares down on Hodor.

  "I-I belong to the dukes private mercenary army." Hodor's soft scared words.

  "That explains it. What we should do with him brother? You want him to be alive for a reason right?" Beltrand asked Mateo.

  "Yeah. Let's bring him to Bolaire."

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  The day finally comes when the three kingdoms is goung to discuss about the terror caused by Dereia. In the waiting hall of Bolaire's grand court, multiple representatives from different factions are present.

  Nattunia kingdom. Right now, Gilmore and Hilgurd is present. The Baron and Knight captain of Horic is also present as they wait for the person that the King sent himself to represent him

  "The representative is late." Hilgurd is bored as he fidget on his unlit cigar. Spinning it with his fingers.

  "They must really taking their time." Gilmore commented.

  "Is she's the one we waiting?" The baron said which caught the attention of Gilmore and Hilgurd. They look on the direction of the entrance and Gilmore smirks.

  "Looks like our king is really pissed off." Gilmore commented.

  "I can't blame him. Considering the incompetence that shown here." Hilgurd commented.

  Gilmore and Hilgurd watch the tall confident lady with purple short bob hair walk towards them. She's wearing a fit black pants and decorated sleeveless white coat which shows her cleavage. A red knee-lenght long sleeve coat just placed on her shoulder which wave on each bold steps she make.

  "Long time no see Gilmore." The lady greeted.

  "Nice to see you Kiana. How is Niana?"

  Kiana shrugs.

  "Just happy that she finally get a well deserve rest. Anyway, you expected me right?" Kiana raise one of eye brow.

  "Yes. Afterall, it's rare to get some disaster like this that summoning you is the only option.

  Kiana sighs.

  "I agree. The last time I got deployed for diplomatic stuffs is 2 years ago in the North. That's why I livid when I heared the news."

  Hilgurd frowns.

  "Ms. Kiana. I think you disrespecting the dead with that statement."

  Kiana shakes her head slowly.

  "Oh no no Mr. Hilgurd. It's quiet the oppossite. I can't wait to give our King's and my piece of mind about this shit show. Because just like our majesty...

  Kiana clench his fist to hide her anger.

  "I'm also pissed." Kiana smiles innocently.

  In one of the corners of waiting hall are representatives from Zelestre only consist of two Dukes and their servants. Each representing both side of the kingdom.

  Sitting timidly on one of benches are scholars from Academia talking to a Bishop representing the Church of Vivvilly the Eternal. The biggest religion of Yhigressia.

  "Do you think what they sent to us are true?" A female historian asked with anxiety.

  Afterall, she's well verse on the history and if the news that they recieve are correct. The world will be filled with uncertainty about the future.

  "Nattunia kingdom is the one that sent us the news. I can't see a reason for them to lie to us, especially on such dangerous topic." The Bishop answers.

  "So we should prepare for the worst? I wonder how the world will react once we finally confirm and turns out they really start to appear again?" A male scholar asked.

  "If it turns out to be true. I can see that everyone inside the grand court would rather turn the truth into a very huge secret." Another female scholar commented.

  "I agree on her. I believe the church don't want to inflict panic to the populace."

  As everyone is busy on their chatter, the huge wooden door opens revealing a formally dressed man. He looks at the surrounding as a quick head count before clearing his throat.

  "The general assembly is now officially started. Representatives of participating factions, please enter the grand court and go the assigned seats."

  It takes several minutes before the general assembly really start as the participants spents their time sitting on their chair. On the very top are messenger from far away kingdoms ready to send the news with their transport falcons.

  A man walks in the middle stand and face the crowd. He's a high ranking Bolaire noble with his fancy attire of blue and purple. He opens a scroll containing a report of the incident in Bolaire Academy and read it loudly.

  "Dereia Morningdew's rampage started in our prestigious Bolaire Academy. Being the only commoner attending the academy for nobles, Dereia feels the pressure of not equally performing unlike the nobles. Thus causing a deteriorating menta-"

  "Bullshit!"

  The man suddenly halts as a loud female voice boom on the enclosed grand court. Everyone look on the source of the objection and their gaze focused on Kiana. She's blatanly placing her both legs crossed on the table in front of her and her hands on the back of her head. She's leaning back on a relaxed position, rocking her chair as she feel the gaze of the people inside.

  "Can you state your reason Ms. Kiana?" A duke from Zelestre asked.

  "Because it seems that Bolaire is ready to just use Dereia as some sort of scapegoat in order to hide their incompetence." Kiana explains non-chalantly.

  "But that's what really happened Ms. Kiana. Dereia being stressed that she snaps." One of Bolairean noble counters.

  "C'mon don't take us like bunch of fools. Do you think the king would send me if Nattunia didn't have their own research about this matter? Think! Are you just bunch of fancies but no brains?" Kiana slams her feet on the table.

  They know the infamous reputation of Kiana. Being a representative of Nattunia alongside her twin sister Niana. The two acts as the King's willbringer and each of them have their own experties.

  Niana is sent for friendly diplomatic missions to garner cooperation with friendly kingdom. She's specialized on proposal of good trade deals and observing important peaceful events.

  Kiana meanwhile, represents the King's resentful view. Unlike her twin, Kiana is abrasive, straight to the point and honestly brutal about dealing with kingdoms that did bad on Nattunia. And Bolaire just fill all of the box for them to recieve Kiana.

  "Do you have any info you can share with us Kiana?" A duke of Zelestre asked.

  "With pleasure. So listen carefully."

  Kiana pulls her personal pocket book and read.

  "Our operatives also do their investigations and base on their findings. Dereia is not the only commoner that selected and instead part of a group of 10 scholars. Isn't that right?" Kiana gives a glare on the Bolaire representative.

  "Y-yes." The Bolairean representative answer.

  "But you know? When the massacre of nobles happened. The only commoner scholar left is Dereia, why is that Mr. Bolairean?"

  "Because they can't handle the complexity of the academy that's why they leave. Afterall, they're just mere commoner."

  "Oh my? Is that so?" Kiana's brow twitch.

  "Is the education of your academy really that extreme that it can cause anyone to be violent?" One of the representative from Academia asked.

  "Ok let's get this straight. You guys handpicked the best 10 of your so called commoners and despite that being a very huuuuge opportunity for them to change their life for the better, they just quit because the teachings is just that hard? Something doesn't feel right."

  Everyone stay silent after Kiana's explanation.

  "I agree on Ms. Kiana. I'm also a scholar and we all know how brutal the our Academia can be. But I still persevere and move forward. Because I know that this would bring my family to success." One of the representative from Magic Academia states his opinion.

  "Right?! Thanks for your opinion young lad." Kiana's appreciation to the young scholar.

  The scholar smiles as he sit down. The silence is defeaning but the Bolairean nobles are tense.

  "Ughh fuck it! You know what, if you guys don't want to speak the truth. Perhaps it's time to just hear the truth directly from them."

  "Directly from what?" -a Duke of Zelestre.

  "I want to call a witness."

  Kiana signals two Nattunian soldiers near the wooden door. The soldier open the doors and from there, Five young boys and girls slowly walks until they reach the middle of the court where they stand.

  The Bolairean nobles feel fear as they recognize the Five individuals.

  "H-how. I thought these plebians are assassinated already?! How they even here?!" One of the nobles panics which she almost screams her words.

  "Tsk! How they managed to locate them if we didn't even manage to do it?" Another Bolaire noble whispers.

  Kiana stands up and points her finger to the teenagers.

  "What's standing in front of you are 5 of the 10 commoner scholars picked by Bolaire. We managed to locate them hiding on our kingdom for some reason."

  Everyone chatter after hearing Kiana's allegation.

  "Now lets hear how they got treated inside Bolaire's academy."