The Real Monster 16 Losing Important People V

CHAPTER 3 – PART FIVE

We arrived at the camp with a peaceful mood after two hours of walking. We did not even try to run or move faster. Insane-guy has calmed down and he seemed to be in control of his powers now, although when I look at his status it says, [Abnormal] I don't understand the problem so for half the duration we walked, and I did not know what's happening behind us. This is how it happened,

"So hey, did you really kill people or ma.s.sacre a town or something with your power, since I noticed you had one of these earlier before the ma.s.sacre you performed." I took out my own rune-band and showed it to him. Of course mine is a weapon instead of a restriction but he didn't know that.

[Not really. I've never killed anyone intentionally even what happened earlier was a byproduct of me losing control and their selfishness to use me. They lied to me saying they wanted to transfer me someplace else so that I could further be away from people I could possibly hurt, then "coincidentally" came across a dragon that was recuperating in a mountain we were in close proximity in.

[It's too obvious that they intended to use me to deal with the dragon. Still, I did not want them dead; they just died as a result of karma I think.] So the concept of karma is present here as well?

"Oh, then that's all good to me. I just don't want you to hurt my people while we are at our camp. You seem to be able to control your powers for a while though? It's been an hour or so since we've been walking and you seem to be in contro…l" I was speaking to him without the need to turn my head to look at him and have been doing so for the last hour, just looking straight and never at the back. When I actually did take a look, the trail we left behind was a sight to behold. An ice forest filled to the brim with branches of ice. I turned to look at him abruptly in surprise then back to the trail. This is very dangerous!

[It's you who's not ordinary. My body's been leaking power since earlier and you're not even affected or is it that you're unable to feel the frost, now that I look at it closely, your body seems to be unaffected at all by the frost. That's why I did not bother telling you.] He spoke just after I was put into a daze. Hurriedly, I took out a bangle and laser vision-ed my way into adding [Seal Mana Movement] runes to the already present gravity control rune. Then, "Hey, take this and wear this for now. If you don't like the design, then tell me later. Dammit, that was close; we are already so near to our camp. Good thing I noticed!" I handed him the bangle and immediately after he wore it, the place he was standing at after a step did not produce frost. After carefully looking at his steps later – like a dog sniffing at someone's b.u.t.t – I felt a.s.sured and gave him thumbs up. "That's better. Let's go."

So we continued on our journey and now we've arrived. But an unexpected problem came knocking me on my head, literally.

*BAM!* Ow! My head hit the s.p.a.ce in front of me like it was a steel plate.

I can't seem to enter the camp. The reason would most probably the spell. How do I tell them to deactivate it? But really, is this the effect of when seen outside, you won't be able to step into the s.p.a.ce? No that shouldn't be how it is, I still don't understand the full scope of this spell. More research is needed. For now, I need to inform them that I am back. Would knocking work?

*knock* *knock* *knock*

The s.p.a.ce that's in front of me rippled and produced dull sounds that echoed for about four times. There was no response so I tried again and this time with a bit more force.

*Knock* *Knock* *Knock*

After the third echo of the third knock, finally came a reaction or we can say I achieved my goal. They opened up and greeted me with heads bowed and saying [Sire] here and [Sire] there. I scratched my head because of that and looked to see the reaction of Insane-guy.

[You seem to be very much welcomed and adored by your subjects, 'sire.'] He had this smirk on his face that I wanted so much to erase. Whatever…

So we welcomed Insane-guy whose name was actually Isaac and was a former n.o.ble who left his heritage to avoid hurting people because of his problem. We explored some possible causes for his power leaking for the time being and also I succeeded in making him my subordinate, not that I doubted it from the start. I remembered his stats and told him that the most probable cause would be that his body cannot contain that much magical energy and power and so it needs to constantly leak so that his body doesn't implode. The human body really is such a mystery to be able to find solutions to problems on its own. With the bangle I gave him, it would be good enough since the mana inside his body would be sealed and would not move at all even if he commanded it with all his will. However, this is not a solution to the problem but just alleviating it temporarily at that. So I proposed to him that he should train with my subordinates from now on to get his body's physical capabilities to higher levels so that it catches up to a level where it can handle the magic he has. Of course, if there are mishaps, I will be there to cover for him I told him. Even though I'm pretty confident there will be no such thing as mishap unless he does something stupid on his own. Also, instead of being battle-oriented he was of the managerial type so I told him to manage the goings on in the camp while I do my job of doing nothing. The alchemist are learning every day, the Elementalists are also practicing their magic regularly and then the men are also training their bodies without putting too much strain on it from doing everyday work like hunting and patrolling.

After another month of living care-freely I finally remembered that I have to visit Acadria, since I did make a promise to them right? I shall go let off some steam. By this time, I already wore a pair of bangles each that could accommodate a maximum of 10 times. So an additional 20 times gravity instantly turned my ankle into mush and made me fall to my knees and so my knees' bones were also pulverized while my internal organs raptured like paper. My skin wanted to come off of my frame as well while my chests' muscles turned into mush, leading to me breaking my face and giving me pain. I could still take it so I did not mind. I then commanded the whole camp to not come to me for the time being while I was embarra.s.singly sprawled on the ground indignity in my face and pose.

However, that was a month ago and I can already handle the additional multiplication of gravity by twenty times. My stats continue to read as Mythical which is no longer going up, but I know that I have become someone not even thousands upon thousands of soldiers would be able to move.

I left the camp and told Isaac, that Insane-guy to watch over the three and the rest while I'm gone.

"I need to go now, you'll do well even without me here for a bit right? I'll be going now."

So I bid them farewell for now. Hopefully there won't be too big a trouble when I come back. I haven't checked those living up top, so they might come to visit, but I'm sure they'll only come when I come back or a bit earlier for me to come in and save the day. That's how these stories go right?

***

So I flew towards Acadria and descended when I was close to the castle. I used a road where people came and go and merchants used as their route to the kingdom. I encountered quite a lot of people. It's something I haven't had the experience of since coming here. I had a run-in with armies, those are a lot of people, but those are not normal citizens. Well, whatever. I went towards the gates, like a normal citizen and was subjected to an inspection. In front of the gate was a long queue but I only had to wait for an hour to get in front. While I was bearing with the boredom, I investigated the guards and found some who had statuses that says [Frightened] and that only changed when I they saw my face. So I reckon they must have been part of the people who knew my appearance because of the picture of me spread about in the guilds or that these two are mercenaries that came with Caltec that time. They're probably not part of the elite troops dispatched recently to a.s.sa.s.sinate me since, well, why would they dispatch an elite troop here on the gates.

No, no, I'm thinking about this wrongly. It's most probable to dispatch elites here to ensure that the safety of the citizens is ensured. But then again, does this kingdom have the citizen's safety in mind? Maybe I should take over this place? HAHA! What a bad thing to joke about. Either way, I'm sure he's not one since his status says clearly that he's a gate guard.

When it was my time to finally be inspected, I was asked very politely to step aside and come to the office of the guard leader. I complied since they did ask nicely. What greeted me there was the leader of the guards that looked quite pale. I don't really care why they are so frightened by me, but if this has a meaning I'd like to get to the bottom of it. So I asked, "Hey man, I'm not going to give you trouble unnecessarily, so you can relax, unless there's a reason that you're so on edge that you want to tell me?"

It's good to be straightforward in times like this to relieve their stress faster and get to the bottom of things even more at speed. The guard leader introduced himself to me first with a tremble, [M-Milord, I am called Gaston, the guard-leader in charge of keeping the gate s-smoothly flowing, p-pleased to make your acquaintance. The re-reason we have asked you to step aside was to inform you that the kingdom has issued an order that we report to the higher ups once we see you.] He stopped there and looked to be hesitating to tell the rest. However, I already understood his motive. He was stalling for time which is annoying for me, should I make an example of them right now? When I thought to that point he continued, [However, we cannot report to the them, because of what the mercenaries that came home that were from his area warning us all, to not a.s.sociate ourselves with whatever the royals are ordering because not just our lives but that of every citizen will be in grave danger.

[We don't wish for you to act on your threat, and so we ask this to represent the ordinary citizens, please spare us from your wrath. We also decided to tell you that the royals are not here in the kingdom. They fled the kingdom some time ago because of the report they got somewhere. The castle is empty, all which is there are the families of those you ordered to be gathered from the elite troops, or so the mercenary guild spread to the guards. Their lives all hinge on your mercy for them.

[We cannot dare to request it of you, but we really hoe you can spare them. The royals have already abandoned us, what's left of this kingdom is only the name. They are probably taking shelter some kingdom away from here until things tone down. Please.]

The guard leader pleaded with me earnestly. He really must be worried I'd ma.s.sacre all of them. I'm not really that kind of person. I know who to punish for my misfortunes at least. They can't be made responsible for following the royals. However, I don't buy everything that he said. If they are telling the truth, then that's good, but if I find out they are trying to trick me, just to save themselves and avert this 'calamity' that I will bring, then that's another story. Better that they come out clean now that I find out later that they have planned all these lines from way back since I've not visited right after and gave them time to prepare.

"I understand your concerns Gaston, but let me tell you this in advance. I don't like being manipulated and used most of all, if I find out that you are trying to tap into my humanity for the sake of saving yourselves or to dance at the music of the royals then take a very good long time to think, will I forgive you and those you protect then? My patience can only be tested once, after that if you try it again, I will not hesitate to deal with you.

"I will leave this kingdom after checking on the castle for those I ordered to gather. However, those royals, wherever they maybe, will suffer my wrath, right after. It would do you good now to come out clean and not earn my ire, lest you become the catalyst for a real ma.s.sacre." I warned him sternly and emitted a little of Overpower. It just boils my blood thinking of being tricked by other people taking advantage of what kindness I have. Saying all that, I left the building turned towards the castle. If they have done what I asked, then it should be all good, if not, I fear for the worst.