CHAPTER 00023
After the village people realized Akar's accomplishments, they not only properly treated him for his various injuries, but hailed him as a local hero, having defeated the tyrannical group that had overlooked the town's daily life since they came into it many years ago.
Finally, they'd been freed from the endless cycle of depression and submission that they had been forced into for many years. Akar now realized why the town had been so unhappy previously, but was glad that he'd been the change.
The people were so amazed by Akar's work that they held a party in his honor, gathering the entire population of the village to celebrate. The festivities continued for days upon days.
"Three cheers for Akar, the hero of Heart Island!" one townsperson said, raising his mug for a toast. The liquor flowed freely after such a profound victory, and Akar had no complaints there.
The party was welcomed with open arms, and all in all the night sky was brightened by the lifted mood of the village, all thanks to Akar.
However, not all were pleased by the result of the battle.
Later that night, once everyone had finally settled down, and Akar was sleeping temporarily in an inn, a group of people approached the ruins of the mansion. Their appearance was shadowed by their dark outfits, though it wasn't like anyone was there to witness them anyway.
One of the cloaked members raised their arm, and immediately the debris there vanished, leaving only the remains of the foundation and the bodies of Ultimo 10, Akar's handiwork. Looking down upon them from the edge, a cloaked member who appeared to be the leader scuffed at the sight.
"I'm ashamed to say he worked for me. Gather the bodies and bring them back with us. We'll heal them later."
Not too far from there, on the upper floors of an inn, Akar couldn't sleep. This wasn't helped by the loud noises he heard from outside. When he went to the window to investigate, he found a group of cloaked figures near the ruined mansion, one of which seemed to be using a power of some sort to lift the bodies of his former opponents from the pit and levitate them through the air. He watched intently as they walked away, puzzled by both them and the fact that the mountain of debris where the mansion was stood had mysteriously vanished.
Nonetheless, he went back to bed, deciding it was more important to rest now than to trouble himself over this matter.