Chapter 133: Gazing at the Azure Sky

Lutz’s axe clashed intensely with the bandit’s greatsword.

Though the bandit was a seasoned warrior, the blacksmith’s strength was on par with his own, and their weapons’ performance was worlds apart.

The greatsword was deflected, and the blade of the mighty axe “White Lily(Shirayuri)” sunk deeply into the bandit’s shoulder.

“Ugh…!”

The bandit groaned in pain but wasn’t dead yet.

His left arm remained immobile, useless. So, he drew a spare dagger with his right hand, intending to pierce Lutz’s heart and take him down with him.

However, that plan failed. A searing pain, as if molten iron was poured into his wound, surged through him. Suddenly, a pillar of fire appeared. The man’s body was thrown into hell while still alive. When he opened his mouth to gasp for fresh air, flames entered and burned his throat and lungs. He couldn’t even scream or express his pain.

In the midst of this gruesome scene, two other bandits turned their eyes toward it. This was the last sight they saw.

Their throats split open as if a second mouth had appeared. Fresh blood sprayed. They died without feeling pain, without even realizing they had been cut.

Gwen swung his beloved sword “Lotus Blossom(Renge),” flinging blood off its blade, leaving a straight line of blood on the damp ground.

Only two bandits remained. Attacking a slowly moving carriage on the forest road seemed like an easy task. But now, their comrades had met a mysterious and cruel end, and the odds had turned against them.

Still, the two bandits showed no intention of fleeing. Lutz readied his axe, and Ricardo had returned without them realizing it. When Lutz began to step forward to finish them off right then and there, Gwen stopped him.

“Wait!”

Gwen intervened.

“I’ll handle these two.”

“Both of them?”

“Yeah.”

Though slightly concerned that they had no particular reason to fight, they reluctantly stepped back.

“Sorry for putting you on the spot,” 

One of the bandits said in a voice mixed with exhaustion, resignation, and relief. Even if they were going to die in battle, they didn’t want to be burned alive or drown in pleasure. Ideally, they wanted to die honorably, facing their enemies head-on.

The magic flames didn’t spread any further. Only shattered white bones remained. The breeze carried the scent of burned flesh. Although they had attacked people themselves, they found their methods of attack too merciless and cruel.

One of the bandits took a step back. They showed no intention of attacking together.

“I have one thing to ask…”

The bandit who had advanced earlier spoke while readying his sword.

“What’s your name? Your demeanor suggests you’re quite a renowned warrior.”

“I’m Knight Gwen. I lead a village on the border.”

“I see. You’re that… bat-bastard serving the king’s enemy.”

The bandit’s taunting words didn’t elicit any reaction from Gwen. He accepted it all as truth. The bandit snorted in boredom.

“Why are you doing this? It doesn’t seem like self-preservation is your goal.”

“Making excuses won’t change anything.”

“Still, say it. If you don’t, nobody will understand. It’s irritating when you act like you’re the only one who knows the truth.”

His frustration wasn’t solely directed at Gwen. He was pondering if there might be any connection to why they had to become bandits. In other words, why the country remained impoverished and in turmoil even after the war had ended.

“For the nation’s prosperity.”

“Even if you annihilate all the thieves in the world, your wish won’t come true…”

The man bowed his head as if offering his neck. A swift stroke followed, and his head fell to the ground. A moment later, his headless body slowly collapsed forward.

There was no emotion in Gwen’s eyes.

Only one remained, a man wielding a shortspear.

Claudia had somehow left the carriage and was watching the battle. Lutz informed her that it was safe now, and she seemed to have come to watch.

The man glanced at Claudia, then said playfully.

“You were carrying quite the treasure, huh? If we’d known, everyone would’ve fought more seriously. Oh well, what a pity.”

“Keep underestimating me, and I’ll set you on fire.”

Glared at by Lutz, the man shrugged. Apparently, he intended to spend his remaining moments in this manner.

“Well, shall we begin?”

As the man poised his shortspear, tension gripped Gwen’s back. Though his demeanor appeared nonchalant, it was clear that this guy was undoubtedly a skilled fighter. Neither side could find an opening to move. 

Gwen’s gaze was fixated on the tip of the spear, which swayed up and down.

The situation was unfavorable. Gwen knew he should keep a broader view of his enemy’s movements, but now he couldn’t take his eyes off the man.

The tip of the spear vanished from his sight. He didn’t have the luxury to search for its location. In an instant, Gwen leaped sideways.

The spear aimed straight for Gwen’s abdomen disappeared, its tip lightly grazing his side.

He had evaded the deadly strike. The man’s momentary hesitation was brief, and he countered by slamming into Gwen with his shoulder, using the spear as a makeshift ram.

Caught off guard by the unexpected attack, Gwen lost his balance. The pursuing spear was thrusting for his heart, but Gwen grabbed it with his left hand and pulled it away.

The man’s stance crumbled as well. With a single hand, Gwen swung down his beloved sword. It was an attack without proper form or preparation, but the sharpness of the blade made up for it, delivering ample killing power.

The man was cut diagonally, blood spewing as he fell backward. What met his eyes were leaves, branches, and the blue sky. Gwen considered it not a bad way for a man who had committed shameful acts repeatedly to die.

“If you have any last words, speak them now.”

Gwen approached, pressing his side and asking in a ragged breath.

“It’s something I never told anyone…”

“I’m listening.”

“I didn’t want to die. But now, there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve been taking from innocent people to survive all this time. There’s no way to fix that now…”

His vision darkened, staining with blackness. Though he felt no pain, he knew for certain that he was about to die.

“So, I clung to the idea that dying as a warrior is a fortunate thing, but in the end, nobody really wants to die, after all…”

The man’s voice grew softer, and then it faded away. All that could be heard now was the sound of leaves rustling in the wind.

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