Chapter 426: I told you to apologize

While the lady was screaming and asking for help, the two beastkin children were looking at the surrounding adults and were shivering in fear. Their ears which were the same as a cat's ears flopped downward and their tails had recoiled from the fear. The people were once again hurling insults against them. The two children couldn't understand why the adults were so angry at them despite them not doing anything bad.

Ever since they arrived in this place only bad things keep on happening. Their parents had died after trying to look for jobs. Once that happened the older sister tried her hardest to survive with her younger brother. Every day was a struggle to survive since all the humans hated them. Sometimes they started to think that maybe if they died, they could see their mom and dad again. It's not like anyone wants them alive.

...

Seeing that the two were trembling in fear and even crying Valdel's heart ached. The siblings looked at him warily, but then Valdel showed a kind smile at them. Ever since their parents died, no not just then ever since they arrived in this forsaken city, they haven't seen anyone smile at them. All they got were angry glares and curses. So the moment they saw Valdel's smile they started crying even harder.

"It's alright now, little ones, I will protect you." Valdel hugged the two. The moment they felt Valdel's warmth, for the first time ever since their parents died the two felt safe.

...

While Valdel was hugging the two beastkin children, the surrounding people were feeling agitated. Some of them were even showing extreme disgust on their faces. The more devout believer of the Goddess of Light could no longer hold it in and picked up a tomato and threw it at the direction of the beastkin children. Yet before the tomato could even get close it stopped mid-air and in a blink of an eye, the tomato was sliced in half.

Valdel stopped hugging the children and stood up, he then glared at the person who threw the tomato.

"You should apologize as well." The people that surrounded Valdel could now feel an intense pressure emanating from Valdel. The lady who kept on shouting and the man who threw the tomato gulped dryly as their legs gave in and they fell on their butts.

"You two better apologize now." The people finally understood what kind of person Valdel was when they felt that intense pressure. This person was a very dangerous man. The man who threw the tomato gritted his teeth and shouted at Valdel.

"Why should I apologize for?! It didn't even hit anyone!" When Valdel heard the man's response he sighed. The people in this city, their morals are so different.

"You don't even understand what you did wrong. It would seem I need to educate you guys as to what's right and what's wrong. Still, before that, I want you two to apologize to the children." Valdel spoke to the lady and the man. Yet despite being pressured by Valdel's killing intent the lady refused to apologize, as for the man who threw the tomato he was gritting his teeth trying to remain conscious. He was afraid but he would never apologize to any demi-human.

As things were escalating, the guards finally appeared. "What's happening here?" When the lady and the man heard the voices of the guards they felt relieved. They started pleading with the guards.

"Sir this person is a lunatic! He attacked us using some weird spell. Everyone here is a witness to what I have said." The lady quickly clung to one of the guards.

"Save us, sir, this guy is bad news. I think he's with that rebel group. What was it again, the claw of something, whatever, all know is he keeps on protecting those demi-humans, so he must be one of them." The man who threw the tomato spoke to the other guards.

The guards then asked the surrounding people what happened and got a better picture. Basically what they understood was that the man who was standing beside the two demi-humans was asking the lady and man to apologize. It was unknown if he truly used a spell, but he was indeed forcing the two to apologize.

"How about you, would you care to tell us your side of the story?"

"They tried attacking these two children, and they had no remorse in doing so. I just wanted them to apologize, it's as simple as that." When the guards heard what Valdel said they sighed. This guy was obviously a foreigner, as no one who lived here would ever defend a demi-human.

'Foreigners should stop meddling in the affairs of others. They just keep on making more work for us.'

"How about we talk more in the barracks. I'm sure after a calm talk the two groups can come to a more peaceful conclusion."

When the lady and the man heard what the guard said they wanted to argue some more. The guards noticing that the two were still unwilling to follow, glared at them. Seeing the glaring guards the two finally stopped talking. Even though they were truly unwilling they decided to follow Valdel and the guards back to the barracks.

Seeing the two finally relent, the guards made the crowd disperse. As they thought it was over and they just needed to make the two sides talk at the barracks, Valdel didn't move from his spot.

"What are you still standing there for, the barracks is over there. Just follow us and we'll have a decent conversation over there."

"There's no need."

When the guards heard what Valdel said they were at first dumbfounded, but after a while, they sighed.

'In the end, this guy is just like the others when faced with authority he's going to back off. Just another foreigner acting like a hero, but is just a willful loser.'

"Fine, seeing as you want this matter to end, we'll let everything here slide. Now let's all shake hands and forget about all this hateful stuff."

The leader of the guards smiled as he spoke. The lady and the man didn't really want to let this matter go just like that, but looking at the situation they had no choice. It was at that moment Valdel spoke in a voice that was neither loud nor soft, still, it was a powerful tone that made the guards and everyone else in the surrounding area feel tense.

"Who said that I want to let things slide? All I want is for those two to apologize to these kids. I don't need to follow you anywhere, and for as long as the two apologize sincerely on their knees, I will be willing to overlook everything they did. This is the best compromise I'm going to give them."

When the guards heard what Valdel said they were perplexed. It was obvious that this guy wasn't just some random thug, but still, he was in the capital of the Holy Kingdom. What does he think he could do here if he acts this heavyhanded.

"Oi, oi, you shouldn't push things too much. If you still want to talk, like I said we should do it in our barracks."

...

When John saw the escalating situation he felt scared. In the beginning, if they had followed the guards to the barracks after some small talk he could've found a suitable compromise, but now that was impossible. The moment they're brought into the barracks, the guards would most likely lynch them, just like they did with the other foreigners that have done something similar.

On the other hand, Ren was getting excited as the smell of battle was becoming so strong now. It would've been okay if they did things in a more subtle manner, but doing it this way was more his style. Once Valdel causes a big enough disturbance, Ren would see the true face of the so called Holy Kingdom. Lara who was standing beside him was also looking at the current situation ready to pounce or flee depending on what happens.

...

One of the guards approached Valdel and tried to touch Valdel's shoulders, but the moment he did so his arm was twisted. He didn't even see how it was done, the guard then started screaming in pain. When the other guards saw what happed they immediately drew out their weapons.

"What the f*ck do you think you're doing?! We just wanted to resolve this issue peacefully, and yet you started to attack us!"

"Hmph, peacefully, really? You can't even hide your killing intent and you're talking about doing things peacefully? Whatever it doesn't matter, my offer still stands if those two apologize then I will let this go, but if they don't then don't blame me for being forceful." As Valdel said those words filled with bloodlust, he noticed that the two beastkin children were extremely frightened now.

"Ren, can you please look after these two while I deal with this."

"I don't really like that tone of yours, it's like you're ordering me around, but sure I'll keep them safe." Ren appeared before the two children and carried them one in each arm. Seeing Ren appear out of nowhere, the guards finally took notice of him, Lara, and John. It would seem that the crazy guy wasn't alone after all.

When John noticed the stares of the guards he wanted to kneel on the ground and beg for mercy. He wanted to scream that he wasn't part of Ren's group. Still, he stopped himself from doing that, since he felt the moment he did so Ren would cut off his head.

'Damn it, I just wanted to make a little bit of money. Why the heck am I so unlucky?!' John was crying internally at the predicament he was in.

...

Once Valdel saw that the children were secure, he once again looked at the guards, the lady, and the man.

"So what's it going to be, are you going to apologize, or do I need to be a little rougher?"