Chapter 82: Gar’s Worries

Gar thought of the incident that happened three days ago. He had seen the might of the War Maiden that defeated the Overlord of the Demons in combat. They have said that she might have gone beyond ordinary and seeing it for himself made it clear that she indeed made it past the realm of humans.

He thought of the lonesome back of the War Maiden. Indeed, she had so much power and she didn’t lack any daughters. But it seems like there was a big hole that could not fill her heart. What was it? He asked but he couldn’t possibly fathom the mind of a woman who had lived for over five hundred years.

Gar was walking around the district that the elemental bolt hit. The landscape was cratered and the buildings that once stood in place were burnt and destroyed. The elemental bolt was precise enough to hit the target. But it seems like the monster was in the middle of rigging explosions when it hit.

He was standing near a wooden building. The door was old. The windows were ill-repaired and the walls had tiny holes on it. There were webbings around the crevices of its wall. A guy was standing dazedly near the wooden beams. Gar walked towards the guy and waved his hand.

“Did you see what happened?”

“Aye,” said the man. He didn’t bother to look at Gar. “The whole place was bustling with activity. First, it was the monster who came running amok with that terrible hand. The gatlings were fortified around but the bastard shot the gunners in the head. Those who tried met the same fate as well. He easily slaughtered us, you know?”

His limps trembled. Gar narrowed his brows.

“I was hiding under the floorboard when the by the good of her grace’s majestic bolt came down upon the monster.”

“We saw no corpse. Not even a trace of the monster!”

“And that’s why I’m afraid. You don’t understand it, brother. That monster could shrug off our bullets with ease. I swear that one of us shot him right in the head but he only stared back at us with his blood eyes. I saw it clear. I saw it clear! His eyes were that of a hawk! He could see through the walls! If not then he wouldn’t have hit some of us! I was lucky that I was under two layers! I was able to avoid his gaze but I was sure that he heard my breathing. I was lucky!”

The man clearly had lost his wits. He was biting his nails as he remembers the horrifying display. Gar had to leave and went down a street. He took two right turns and stopped by a statue for a rest. He then continued straight on a building-lined street. He avoided the hubbub of carriages, turned to the left, and entered a square where there cart-merchants selling streets foods. He smelled the roasted mutton. He has been walking around so he thought that he needed the break. He bought one and settled down near the waiting area. He bites off the mutton and chewed on it.

A man walks towards the waiting area with his hands inside his coat. He had strange red eyes and his hair was like ashes. Gar thought that for a young adult looking man, he was rather familiar.

“I didn’t see you in the tower, friend.”

“Huh?”

He turned and saw the skull mask he dreaded. His lower jaw trembled, he let go of his mutton, his eyes dilated, and he was unable to speak up, knowing, that he was here.

“You should have really come, friend. Did you really think that would stop me? Ah, is that why you are here, eating mutton, freely enjoying his time while a kid sobs in a corner, hoping, wishing that dear hero would save them?”

“I,” he tried to say something.

“No need to explain, I get it. Still, you are going to help me.”

“What do you want?”

“I want a map of the Alician Estate. I want to ask the protector of this city, and what she’s doing.”

“You can’t win against the lady!”

“Does that matter to you? It’s my own funeral, and please, I rather not hurt you. Even though I should get rid of you, knowing that you had me with that bolt. It hurt you know? Being skinned alive by the four elements. If I was a normal person, I would have died miserably, and the threat to your city would have been gone. Sadly, I am not.”

Gar’s breathing quickened, his palms sweated, and he was biting his lip. He was holding on the bench badly.

“Will you leave me alone? You won’t hurt my family again?”

“Don’t blame me for defending myself. I’ll swear that there shall be no harm done to your family as long as you do what I ask. Give me the map, deliver it to the old tower, and then stay out of my way. Go now, and remember, I will be watching, and if another bolt hits me, I will kill you.”

Gar nodded stiffly. He started forward, his forearms shaking badly as he walks to the main street. He could feel the stare. He was afraid, and rightly so, after all, that person was resilient enough to take on an elemental bolt with seemingly no damage done. If he dared to do something then surely this time, the patient of that monster would be gone, and Gar would have to face his wrath.

Rain hammered down the city of Alician. The citizens were running for shelter. Gar walks while splashing the puddle. He didn’t take shelter, he simply thought of how he should proceed. He didn’t have the best reputation and asking his brother would be outright suspicious. Gar didn’t want to do it but it seems his only choice was to offer his service to the guardsman of the estate in hopes that he would be allowed to enter the lady’s chamber.