Chapter 92: Harsh But Necessary

Gareth’s face lost what little color it had left.

His eyes moved between Roderic and Edmund, who merely stared at his young lord for a moment before nodding.

’’Of course, young lord.’’

As Edmund walked away, Roderic turned his attention back towards the battlefield.

The surviving Deres soldiers and knights were being gathered together near the edge of the clearing.

Roderic watched silently.

There were still over fifteen of them.

For a split-second, Roderic’s gaze flickered across all the corpses scattered throughout the clearing.

’’Tch.’’

Roderic shook his head with frustration.

Just then, one of the knights walked over towards him.

The man lowered his head politely before gesturing to the enemies.

’’We’ve gathered them all.’’

Roderic nodded once.

’’Good,’’ he replied coldly.

Without hesitation, he began walking towards them.

The surrendered attackers quickly noticed him.

Some lowered their heads even further while others had already resigned themselves to their fates.

Roderic stopped directly in front of them.

His hand slowly moved towards the Azure Hooked Blades at his waist.

Just as his fingers wrapped around the handles, Edmund’s voice came from behind him.

’’Young lord.’’

Roderic glanced over his shoulder.

Edmund had returned, carrying several small boxes beneath one arm.

’’We could ransom them,’’ he suggested. ’’Their families and House Deres would likely pay a considerable amount for their return.’’

Roderic stared at him for a moment before shaking his head.

He’d long thought about that option himself.

’’There’s no need for that,’’ he replied, turning back to the prisoners. ’’We already have someone back home they’ll need to pay for.’’

Edmund’s eyes widened.

Understanding exactly who Roderic meant, he couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Shing! Shing!

Roderic drew both his blades.

’’These people slaughtered enough of ours and serve no further purpose to us.’’

His eyes swept across the kneeling prisoners for a split-second.

’’Therefore, I sentence every last one of you to death.’’

Heads shot up in disbelief right away.

’’WHAT?!’’

’’Noble young lord, wait!’’

’’We were forced to be here! We couldn’t help it, my lord!’’

A young, muscular knight spoke over all of them.

’’What about the honor code?! We surrendered! Surrendered prisoners can’t be executed!’’

More voices quickly followed, but Roderic ignored them.

His gaze eventually settled on the young knight kneeling near the center.

The man stared back at him furiously.

’’Where’s your honor?!’’ he shouted.

Roderic let out a scoff.

He dragged a hand over his face amidst chuckles.

’’You of all people, after ambushing our camp without a declaration of war, are one to talk?’’ he asked. ’’If you think I’m going to spare you lot after that, you must be crazy.’’

The young man’s eyes widened slightly.

’’But—’’

SHHK!

A hooked blade buried itself directly into the man’s forehead.

His body went limp on the spot, collapsing on the ground with a loud thud.

Everything fell deathly silent.

After a second, the enemy attackers unfroze.

’’RUN!’’

All at once, they began rising to their feet.

Roderic wasn’t bothered.

A pure golden aura had long gathered around the edge of his other hooked blade.

Without hesitation, he swung out.

WHOOSH!

A massive golden arc tore through the air.

The fleeing prisoners barely made it a few steps.

SHHK! SHHK! SHHK!

Bodies were cut apart one after another as the golden aura ripped straight through them.

Most didn’t even realize they’d been hit until they tried taking another step, only for the upper halves of their bodies to slide from their waists.

One man had been lucky.

Or... unlucky.

He’d stumbled over an older corpse just before the golden arc reached him, sending him crashing face-first into the dirt.

When he looked up again, everyone around him was dead.

’’N-No...’’

His entire body trembled as his face drained of all color.

Roderic pulled his other hooked blade out of the young knight’s forehead.

Then he turned towards the surviving enemy soldier.

The surviving man began crawling backwards, his body trembling so badly even that was difficult.

’’P-P-Please!’’ he stuttered. ’’I h-h-have a f-family! I didn’t w-want to come here!’’

Roderic’s expression grew colder.

He continued walking towards the man without hesitation.

As he caught up, the man stopped crawling back, completely unable to move.

Roderic crouched down in front of him.

SHHK!

His blade slowly plunged into the man’s neck.

The man’s eyes went wide for a split-second.

Then they grew hazy.

Thud!

His body collapsed back, now lifeless.

’’A family, huh,’’ Roderic repeated slowly. ’’I really wonder what made you think I’d spare you... did you think none of us have families?’’

After a moment, he just shook his head.

He didn’t even want to know the answer.

Roderic pulled his blade out of the man’s neck in one swift motion and stood up.

Turning around, his gaze settled on the finale.

Gareth was still lying where he’d left him, staring at the surrounding corpses in horror.

Roderic slowly rubbed his hands together.

’’Now then...’’ he announced loudly. ’’Where were we?’’

As he approached Gareth with a tight smile, Edmund’s voice suddenly rang out.

’’Young master?’’

Roderic stopped in his tracks and glanced over.

The attendant hesitated but quickly opened his mouth.

’’Didn’t we need him for ransom too? I’m sure House Deres would pay handsom—’’

’’I don’t know about keeping him for ransom,’’ Roderic interrupted. ’’We’ll be taking him back with us, though. He still has some use.’’

Edmund frowned, slightly confused.

Roderic turned back towards Gareth, his expression unchanged.

’’Though... his body doesn’t exactly need to be intact for that, does it?’’

Silence fell between them.

Edmund’s mouth slowly fell open, but no words came out.

At the same time, realization also flashed across Gareth’s face.

’’Wawt!’’ he shouted, struggling to speak properly. ’’Waiwt!’’

Roderic stopped directly in front of him.

’’You can’t do this! I’m the heir of House Deres! My father will—’’

’’Spare me the bullshit,’’ Roderic interrupted. ’’I don’t give a fuck about you, your father, or your entire family.’’

For a moment, silence fell between them.

Roderic stared at him, a cruel smile flickering across his face.

Then he slowly leaned down until his mouth was beside Gareth’s ear.

’’I lied to my attendant just now...’’ he whispered. ’’No matter what, I’ll make sure you never see that father of yours again.’’

Gareth froze completely as a yellow liquid began flowing onto the ground beneath him.

Roderic straightened back up, the tight smile returning to his face.

’’Blame your own stupidity for this,’’ he said, raising both blades.

SHHK! SHHK!

’’AAARRGHH!!!’’

Gareth’s scream echoed through the forest.