The smell of blood, the crunch of bones,the wind whipping through the road.
The one bandit collecting the loot noticed Shin Yato and Kore. He froze. Slowly, he tapped the man beside him.
"Oi… look."
The second bandit glanced up lazily. At first, he didn't react. Then his eyes narrowed.
"…What the hell?"
The laughter around the corpse gradually faded. One by one, the bandits turned. The man pinning the woman stopped. Silence fell, heavy and suffocating.
Shin Yato stood calmly, his dark cloak swaying in the wind. Kore remained a few steps behind him, expressionless—empty, distant.
One bandit wiped blood from his blade, sneering.
"Well, well… looks like we've got visitors."
Another spat on the ground.
"Kid and a man… wrong place, wrong time."
The first bandit stepped forward, voice casual but grip tightening on his weapon.
"Leave whatever you have and get lost… or stay, and end up like him." He jerked his chin toward the mutilated corpse.
Kore didn't react. Her gaze never wavered. Shin Yato said nothing, simply observing.
The bandit's crooked grin faltered.
"…Oi," he muttered. "Why is he just standing there?"
Another bandit laughed, trying to break the tension.
"Maybe he's scared stiff."
"Or stupid," someone added.
The man holding the woman sneered.
"You all deal with them—I'm busy right now."
The woman struggled, screaming, tears streaking her bloodied face.
The first bandit eyed Shin Yato and Kore.
"They don't have anything… only a sword and a pretty face," he laughed.
The second bandit smirked.
"But we can kill the man… and sell the little girl."
The first bandit swung his weapon. Shin Yato moved with chilling precision, catching the man's neck in his right hand. A sickening snap echoed as the bandit's neck twisted backward. The body collapsed lifelessly.
The second bandit froze, eyes wide, staring at his companion's corpse.
"You… son of a bitch!" he screamed, swinging his weapon wildly.
Shin Yato caught his wrist with terrifying strength. Slowly, he pulled the bandit forward—his knee smashing into the man's head. Blood sprayed across the ground and over Kore's face.but she didn't blink. .
The two remaining bandits, still chopping the corpse, froze in disbelief. Terrified, they fled silently into the shadows.
Shin Yato released the bandit's wrist. Two lifeless bodies lay side by side. He bent down, retrieved a fallen weapon, and rose. With cold precision, he threw it at another bandit. The weapon whistled through the air and struck him in the head. He crumpled to the ground, horrified at his companion's death.
Shin Yato pressed a finger to his lips, signaling the last terrified bandit to remain silent. Then he picked up the remaining weapon and approached the man assaulting the woman. His shadow fell over them.
The woman looked up, crying.
"Please… save me!"
The bandit glanced up, confused.
"What—?"
Shin Yato raised the weapon, and the woman's scream was cut short.The blade pierced the bandit's chest—and through the woman beneath him. Blood erupted. Both went limp.
Shin Yato stepped toward the last bandit, whose fear had rooted him in place. Each step echoed against the terrified man.
Finally, Shin Yato's voice broke the silence—calm, hollow, deadly:
"Excuse me.Do you know how long it will take to reach the Holy Kingdom? The way?"
The bandit stammered, sweat dripping down his face.
"Y-yes… I know the route. If you leave now, you'll reach it by tomorrow evening. Please… just don't kill me!"
Shin Yato's lips curved faintly.
"Good. Lead the way."
The trembling bandit led them along a narrow, dusty trail. Each step he took was careful, hesitant, as if the weight of Shin Yato's presence pressed down on him like a stone.
Shin Yato walked a few paces ahead, silent, his cloak whispering against the wind. Kore followed closely, her expression unchanged—empty, unreadable. The bandit glanced back at her, shivering.
Meanwhile, in the Holy Kingdom, the streets were alive with preparation for war. Beautiful houses lined the roads, the city bustling, yet unease lingered. People whispered, questioning: "What is going on?" "Are the rumors true?"
In the grand council hall, built of marble, Priest Jamis hurried in. He approached the Grand High Priest, who was surrounded by other High Priests and High Saintesses, and spoke urgently:
"Your Holiness, other kingdoms are sending messages. They ask if the rumors are true. What should we answer?"
The Grand High Priest paused, then turned to Priest Jamis.
"Leave it for now. We must focus on the demon coming to us."
Saintess Emma spoke up.
"But we have to respond—to the people."
The Grand High Priest shook his head.
"No."
He paused, his calm voice serious.
"I can feel him coming closer."
Then he asked again, directing his gaze around the room:
"Are the preparations ready?"
One High Priest replied, "Yes, Your Holiness."
"Good," the Grand High Priest said. His voice hardened, his face serious.
"This time, we have to kill that demon."
In a back alley of the capital, in a plain, faded-colored brothel, a room glowed with lime-red walls and the flicker of a burned candle. Priest Andrew lay beside a woman, naked.
The woman leaned closer, her tone flirtatious.
"Holy warrior… can I ask something?"
Andrew turned his head, looking at her.
"Yes!?"
"Is it true," she asked, hand teasingly on his chest,
"That a Saintess tried to summon a demon… and the massacre happened because it failed?"
Priest Andrew's eyes widened in shock.
"Where did you hear that!?"
The woman shrugged.
"I heard it from one of the customers. It's not a secret—everyone in the Kingdom is whispering about it."
Andrew removed her hand, sitting up on the bed.
"No. It's not true."
The woman followed, sitting behind him, wrapping her arms around his chest.
"Don't get angry," she whispered, playful.
"I'm not angry," Andrew replied. "I'm just worried about something else."
"What else?" she asked, kissing the back of his shoulder playfully.
"There is a demon coming here… a very, very powerful one. When I told the Grand High Priest, he said we had informed everyone—but he insisted we could handle it easily, acting all high and holy… even having affairs with Saintesses when no one is watching," Andrew said, his voice tinged with anger.
"Wow, my holy warrior," the woman teased. "I've heard about the Grand High Priest's affairs many times… and they say they can deal with the demon. There's nothing to worry about."
"But we—"
"Holy warrior," she interrupted, playful, cutting him off. "Now stop. Let's go for another round."
She lay back on the bed, smiling.
"Come… put your holy sword here."
Priest Andrew looked at her, a flicker of guilt before he smiled faintly.
"I guess… okay."
In the knights' quarters, a walled stone yard stood just behind the barracks. Torches lined the walls, their flames flickering in the evening air. At the center stood a statue of a Goddess, silent and watchful.
Two knights stood before it.
One was in his thirties—tall, around six feet, with a strong, experienced build.
The other was a young knight, barely nineteen, about five foot seven, with brown eyes, a lean but muscular body, and a handsome face.
They finished their prayers.
Then both drew their swords.
The younger knight stepped forward, confidence in his voice.
"Sir Toras… today, I'm going to win."
Toras chuckled lightly.
"Alright, kid. Show me your best."
They took their stances.
Then—
The spar began.
The younger knight attacked first, swinging his sword with speed.
Clang!
Toras blocked it effortlessly.
Another swing—faster this time.
Clang!
Blocked again.
Toras smiled calmly.
"I gave you two chances. Now… my turn."
With a smooth motion, he deflected the next strike and countered.
The younger knight raised his sword to defend—
But the sheer force of Toras's blow drove him down to one knee.
He struggled to hold his ground.
"I guess… I win again," Toras said with a light laugh.
Then—
A heavy strike.
The younger knight's sword was knocked out of his hand, clattering across the stone floor.
Before he could react, Toras's blade stopped just inches from his neck.
Silence.
"…Alright, you win," the young knight admitted, a hint of arrogance still in his tone.
Toras laughed out loud.
The spar had ended in just five exchanges.
The younger knight picked up his sword and sheathed it as they began walking back toward the quarters.
"You did well today, kid," Toras said.
"Don't make fun of me," the young knight replied, slightly annoyed.
"I only managed to withstand two blows. And don't call me a kid… I'm a knight too."
"Alright, alright—my bad, Knight Ares," Toras said teasingly.
Then he added with a grin,
"But seriously, you improved. Last time, you could only handle one blow. Now it's two."
"I told you not to make fun of me," Ares said, his irritation growing.
Toras laughed.
"If you don't control that anger, no woman will ever like you."
Ares smirked.
"That's rich coming from someone who can't even propose to his girlfriend."
Toras paused, then smiled, a bit more serious this time.
"Hey… I will. After this war."
"Yeah, yeah," Ares said with a small chuckle.
Then his expression changed.
"…What is this war even for? Who are we going to fight?"
Toras looked ahead as they walked.
"I don't know," he said calmly.
"But I know one thing—we're knights. And as knights… we follow orders. That's what we do."
Ares tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
"…I'm going to become the greatest knight," he said quietly.
"So no one can ever look down on the orphanage… or make fun of us again."
Toras glanced at him, then suddenly wrapped an arm around his neck playfully.
"Don't make that serious face, kid," he said with a smile.
"I already know you will."
He pulled him forward slightly.
"Come on. Dinner's on me today."
Ares looked at him… then gave a small nod.
"…Okay."
The day passed.
Evening arrived.
The sun hung low, half-hidden beyond the horizon.
The massive stone walls of the Holy Kingdom stood tall, lined with thousands of knights guarding and patrolling.
Beyond them—
About a thousand meters away—
A figure stood.
Shin Yato.
Beside him stood Kore, her lifeless eyes unchanged, her face empty of emotion.
Behind them, the bandit trembled.
A faint smile appeared on Shin Yato's lips as he looked at the towering walls of the Holy Kingdom.