For the first time since the start of this event, Slade felt fear.

"How… How can you?!" He finally noticed that Siderius' flaming sword was never extinguished. It stayed burning even when the Dimming Stone was present.

"Poor stupid lord…" Siderius finally said. He raised the sword and aimed it at Slade. "Move or else I will kill you all."

Every soldier's hand was trembling. They're thinking about surrendering. They wouldn't dare to admit it. But they did.

"What are you afraid of?! This is simply an echo of his previous spell! Go kill him! Lord Rufus wants you to kill them all!"

Slade pushed a soldier forward. He and a few of his men gathered courage to rush at Siderius.

The masked hunter activated his <Piryo> Sigil once more.

[SULFUR -5]

[SULFUR EXTRACT: 285/300]

The wave of fire washed over the group of soldiers. They screamed in pain as they ran mindlessly for the hope of putting out the fire.

Siderius raised his sword once more.

"Drop. Your. Weapons. Or be killed."

Every soldier dropped their weapons. Ruben clenched his hands but he couldn't do anything. His plan failed. He had failed Lord Rufus.

Ruben Arist lived and he would continue to be the thorn of the Count of Southpara.

"Take their weapons." Siderius said.

"Go! Confiscated everything!" Ruben shouted.

His men rushed forward to gather all the weapons of Slade's soldiers. Then they forced them to their knees and tied them down.

Hundreds of soldiers. Too afraid because of one man. They were captured by a force much fewer of them. But what could they even do? Hundreds of soldiers were nothing in front of one single witch.

Or so they thought. The truth was, every witch would be overwhelmed to death if all of these men charged without hesitation. A witch hunter shared the same fate.

But fear had been ingrained deeply in their mind for many generations.

Witch was the sky. And Siderius used this to make him, temporarily, the sky.

The soldiers were all taken away. Leaving only Slade kneeling in the courtyard.

Rea quickly rushed to Siderius' side, completely ignoring Ruben. Ruben noticed that but he let it slide. That man just saved him and his family's lives, and couldn't argue with him over a single maid.

Slade lost but he still laughed.

"You sure are lucky, Arist. Having this powerful High Lord to aid you. Well… You can put me into prison now. My men will buy my way out soon."

"Why do you think I've ever let you go?" Siderius said.

"You're kidding right? If you kill me here, Count Rufus would hunt you. You can only let me go."

Siderius turned to Ruben. "You want to let him go?"

Ruben nodded against all of his judgement. "There is no other way. Killing him will bring the wrath of a count. I can't bear that."

Siderius laughed loudly. He withdrew his sword and broke Slade's neck via one swing with the Dull Steel weapon.

"You?! How can you kill him!" Ruben shouted.

"Idiotic!" Siderius shouted at Lord Arist. "Count Rufus already wants you dead! Do you understand?"

"But… But… With Slade's life, we might be able to negotiate. I can even ask for help or hide under another count."

Siderius shook his head. "You should have known better. There is no reasoning to a witch. Letting your enemy go will only guarantee you to be killed later.

The only way to survive is to kill them all."

"Still. You killed Renald Slade. Words will spread and we will have no way of escape."

"Who's going to spread that?"

"The soldiers? Slade's soldiers. They're not all from him but from other nobles. There are many other nobles who were in it as well."

"Just kill them all."

"You're talking about killing hundreds of…"

Ruben was going to say 'innocent lives'. But those people weren't really innocent. They came here for blood. Even if their reasons were different.

Siderius sheathed his flaming sword. "That's right. They aren't innocent."

"How did you know what I think?"

Siderius ignored the comment and continued. "Kill everyone. Bury this secret deep to the ground. Buy yourself enough time."

"To do what?"

"To wait for me to protect you." Siderius smirked. "I will soon be no less powerful than a count. Until then, your job is to survive. One day I will bring you all to glory and freedom."

Ruben clenched and released his fist repeatedly. He gestured for his personal guards to go away, leaving only him and Siderius.

"You will protect us?"

"I will protect any human that asks for my help."

Ruben nodded. He paused for a while before continuing. "Kill them all?"

"If you can trust them. You can spare some lives of course. You just have to remember what is going to happen with your wife and daughter if they were to tell you the secret."

Ruben took a deep breath. "I know what I need to do. Thank you. Thank you for your aid, Lord Nyx… We are forever indebted to you."

Siderius removed his mask. "You can use my real name, Lord Arist. I am Baron Satterblade of Snowfell. I have become a lord for less than two months now."

"It is my honor to finally know you, Baron Satterblade!"

"I leave the rest to you. I will rest now. Call me if you need me."

"Of course, Baron!" Ruben bowed deeply.

"Rea. Come with me." Siderius said.

Rea gave Ruben an apologetic look then followed Siderius.

"Yes, my lord!"

The disaster of Lord Arist was pushed back just like that. It wasn't entirely avoided as the revenge of Lord Rufus would come sooner or later.

But Ruben knew of it now and he could make sure his next step was correct. Everything was to ensure his and his family's survival.

Siderius returned to his old guest room and removed his armor. He slumped on the chair with his hand spread wide.

"Ugh… Today was a lot of work."

Rea was behind him, putting her hands on his shoulders. "Let me help you release the tension, my lord!"

Siderius nodded. His eyes were half closed, enjoying Rea's little massage. She was quite skillful, able to help with the soreness of his muscle.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Yes?" Siderius said.

"It's me, Nina."

Rea quickly went to the door and opened it.

"Lady Nina…"

"I wish to discuss matters with Lord Nyx alone."

Rea looked over to Siderius first. When she saw him giving a nod, she excused herself.

"I'll be waiting outside. Please call me if you need anything. My lord! My lady!"

Rea got out and Nina slowly closed the door. She faced Siderius with a face as red as a rose.

"Yes?" Siderius' brow furrowed.

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