As I'm about to leave my room, two teenage boys are rolling on the floor in front of my door.
"Hey, get back here, you naughty boys!!" Shouted one of the lady maids from the dark corridors with the only light source along the hallway being the bright candles on the walls.
"Oww-" One of the boys sits up while rubbing his right shoulder, in pain.
"Are you alright?" I asked them both, holding out my hands to them.
The twins looks at me with their dark brown eyes as their racoon ears twitch in curiosity. They take my hand and get on their feet.
""Thank you so much, Sir Nito!"" The racoon-dog twins bow their heads at me in unison.
"You guys are energetic this morning. What have you guys been up to?" I asked them with a smile on my face.
"Oh, Kichi wanted to prank big sis Mira by stealing her favourite nut cake." One of the brothers take out a beautiful nut cake from his straw hat.
Mira Bellwood; one of the young maids in this castle.
The other one is laughing at his older brother's statement. "C'mon~! I'm not the only one who's enjoying it, right Ri-Bro?" Kichi or also known as Kiseki, nudge his brother by his elbow.
But his older brother just nods in response with his eyes closed.
I chuckle at their behavior. "Well, make sure you both don't get into any huge trouble, alright Fumori, Kiseki?" I pat the top of their straw hats.
""Yes, Sir Nito."" They both said in unison.
But as I walk away from the twins, Mira's scream is heard from behind.
"Come here you naughty racoons!!!"
With that, the both of them run past me to the next part of the castle with Mira tailing from behind them, bowing to me before speeding off to the ether.
I just chuckle and walk my way to the dining hall.
"Heya, Lil Beetle~!" Miss Nadia wave at me from on top of the dining table with a huge rockbird wing in her tiny hand.
"Good morning to you too, Miss Nadia. How was your sleep?" I sit at my place and begin mixing my salad bowl.
"Like a baby dragon~ By the way, I need you to do something for me, if that's alright." Miss Nadia said as she flips her dark purple hair at her statement. She wasted no time.
I look at her with confusion in my eyes, while munching on my leafy greens.
"Do you perhaps remember the arrow marked at the Gate last few days ago?" She asked me with intrigued eyes.
I nod at her query. "Yes, I remember."
Miss Nadia then take a huge bite of the grilled rockbird wing and say, "I need you to take care of it for me~"
Take care? Does she mean I have to fight?
"Of course. I can do that for you, but what am I suppose to do exactly, Miss Nadia?" I asked for clarification.
"You, my dear Nito, have to exterminate the pests that has been threatening our home~" She flips her hair at her words.
"Oh, and you can take Seb if you want, but I doubt he will be much of a help since your contribution is moooore than enough~" Miss Nadia winks at me with her statement.
"You put too much credit on me, I suppose..." I can't help but sigh in modesty.
To be honest, I'm flattered that Miss Nadia has a high expectation on me, but I couldn't rub the anxious feeling off of my chest.
So I must stay vigilant and not to disappoint her too much.
"Mhm, you'll see~" With that, the Queen of the Illusion Forest flips her beautiful dark purple hair and continue her breakfast.
——— ——— ———
(Sebastian's POV)
I've prepared a flying carriage for Sir Nito to venture for his duty.
"How's everything going, Mister Hollow?" Sir Nito emerged from behind me without triggering my detection skills.
That alone shows the insanely huge gap between our powers.
I stand firmly, avoid showing any signs of neither startle nor fear.
"Everything is well and ready for you, Sir Nito."
"Great! Thank you, Mister Hollow." With that, the mighty beetle step into the carriage with his golden axe.
That axe emits a very potent pure energy.
I heard from the other maiden helpers in the castle, which they love to gossip about everything, regarding Sir Nito's golden axe.
They said it was forged by no other than our Master Kevin, a few years ago.
So judging by the amount of potent pure energy in the axe is an easy call that it is a no ordinary weapon.
I close the door of the carriage and get to the front seat, where me and our coachman; Devy Rubelle—a muscled fox-woman, sits with a leash on each hands.
"Ready to move, Sebby?" Devy asked in her cool accent.
"It's been awhile, isn't it, Devy?" I nod as I'm trying to start a small conversation.
"Hyah!" At my signal, the fox-woman begin to command the cloth-covered looking beast to bring us up in the air.
"Ya know damn right! It's been too long since we've stayed asleep from that human's spell, I've forgotten how much I enjoyed coachin'!" She laughs out loud.
"Of course you do, Devy." I said with a gentle smile on my face.
After Devy stabilizes the carriage in the air, she looks at me with squinted eyes. "Ya know what? Ya should shave ya facial hair just like the days before the sealin'. Ya would look way younger than ya are now."
We share a laugh for quite some time before she begin asking me a new question. "By the way, why are we headin' towards that place?"
I switch my gaze and stare at the layout of the Death's Continent below. "They threatened our Queen."
We have arrived at our destination after flying for quite some time.
Sir Nito walks down of the carriage after I open the door for him.
"Thank you, Mister Hollow."
I just nod at his words.
To be honest, he is the most mannered among the new people that we have in the castle so far.
Definitely more mannered than Lady Frienna...
I'm not saying this out of pure hate, but she's just different than the rest of them.
"So this is the place?" Sir Nito asked.
From behind, while caressing the faceless creature near our carriage, Devy states her opinion. "Ya know damn right it is! My ghast always brings me to the right place!" Then, she laughs out loud.
With that, Sir Nito chuckles in response.
"Sir Nito, over there is the gate of the centaur tribe. The only thing I can say is please proceed with caution." I showed him the well-structured gate along with the high stone wall a few feet away in front of us.
"Thank you so much, Mister Hollow, Miss Rubelle. I will be right back." Sir Nito bow slightly at us before walking towards the gate.
"Wait, he's not takin' us with him?? The centaurs are not to be taken lightly, ya know!" Devy asked me from behind.
"I believe we will only slow him down." I walk towards our carriage, while chuckle softly at my statement.
(Nito's POV)
This is a very huge gate. You can tell that they have strict guarding system.
I can't lie, the design is definitely to keep the unwanted away.
Well, let's try to settle things quietly.
"Greetings, centaurs! I am the spokesperson from the Queen of the Illusion Forest! Please allow me to enter as to discuss about your letter the other day!" I introduced myself from the foot of the gate.
Just as I finish my sentences, the huge gate opens up at the sound of a loud horn being blown.
Without looking back, I enter the town through the gate as it closes behind me the moment I step foot inside.
"Don't move, beast!" Ordered a strong looking halfman-halfhorse a few feet in front of me.
I raise my hands in surrender. Well, if push comes to shove, I will have no choice but to fight them all.
"There's no need to be so defensive, Mister." I said as I look around me; completely surrounded by centaur warriors.
There are around 10 of these big guys—heavily armed, but it's nothing I can't stop.
"Halt!" Said a voice so calm but so stern, stopping the warriors from approaching me.
A silver haired halfman-halfhorse figure approaches me in a deftly manner.
"Pardon my people. They were only fulfilling their duties as the guardians of this village." He said with a smile.
I don't sense any malice intent from him yet, so I'm going to play along just a bit.
"It's no big deal, Mister-?" I tilt my head to the left from my question.
"Tzarian. You may call me that for now." He smile softly at his words.
Seems suspicious but I'm going to slide on that.
I would hate to get violent on these people.
Yes, they threatened us, but it's sort of in their nature to act territorial.
I don't fault them for that.
"Mister Tzarian, may I have a moment with you in private?" I asked him politely.
He looks at me with a smile and say, "Why of course! Come this way."
The whole centaur warriors takes a few steps back, making way for us.
While we're walking to the huge tent in the middle of the village, he asks me a question.
"What is your name, dear beast?" He asked with a smile.
"You can call me Nito. Just Nito is fine." I responded to his question with a smile of my own.
He nods his head, laughing at my statement. "I wonder how long it took you to cultivate into your human form. It must've been a hassle for you, right?"
Cultivate?
I guess he thought I'm one of those beasts that acquires human form through years of cultivation.
Well, I admit that I didn't cultivate after my beetlefication. If you remember, I was able to shift my form due to the name that I got from Master Kevin after I was given a second life.
That contract with Master was so powerful it unlocked the potential that I never knew I had.
However, if I was only a mere magical beetle, then I would've taken maybe around a hundred years to cultivate into my human form.
"May I ask you why you want to know?" I asked while walking near the huge grand looking tent.
He shrug it off. "Nothing in particular. I was just judging by your look, assuming you are over a few centuries years old."
Not in the slightest.
If you count my former human life together, I'm roughly 25 years old.
You could say that I skipped the cultivation process and became who I am today.
We reached the tent, and I was invited in by the proud centaur—Mister Tzarian.
The furniture is all traditional; with feathered dreamcatchers around the ceiling and a few foreign items lying around.
Mister Tzarian sits on the floor near a large marble table in the middle of the tent.
"Come, dear Nito. Have a seat." He gestured to me, opposite of him. As always, with a smile.
Without hesitation, I sit on the square-shaped cushion that is prepared on the floor beforehand.
As I'm settling myself on the floor, the smile on his face shifts immediately.
"I will get straight to the point. Surrender your forest, and everybody lives." Said the centaur with strong authority.
The air shifts into something heavy entirely, but I'm not bothered by it.
He reach for a small wooden box on the marble table and open it.
I take a small breath.
"We refuse to surrender." I said without loosing my composure.
"So, is this a declaration of war?" He asked while wrapping a small leaf around a powdered substance.
"I would rather not go that way, Mister Tzarian." I said it to his face when he proceeds to light the end of the rolled leaf—appearing as a cigarette of sorts.
He smokes the rolled leaf. "Why? Are you afraid you'd lose? Or are you too confident you could slay us all single-handedly?"
Mister Tzarian blows the smoke into my face but I'm still composed. That's what we need in any confrontation; confidence.
Honestly, I wouldn't say single-handedly, but I would definitely give my all to fight for my home.
I giggle just a bit. "Mister Tzarian. Are you perhaps confident that you can outwit the Queen of the Illusion Forest?"
The proud centaur takes a deep smoke from the leaf and blows it out in a professional demeanor. "You know what? I've heard some news about that great Queen of yours. How she neglects her people. Stayed dormant for so long. So let's be honest here, kid. You need a new ruler."
I get it. Not many people knows about the Five Rulers of Death.
They're considered a myth. Fairytales that no one paid any mind whether they ever existed.
So according to this centaur, Miss Nadia is apparently just an irresponsible Queen.
"New ruler won't make any difference if they aren't able to raise a single civilization." I said, ignoring the fact that the smoke is slowly filling the air. There's not a single window on this tent, so ventilation is out of the question.
"What did you say?" He stopped smoking. Eyes staring heavily at me.
"The reason for the Queen's absenteeism is confidential. However, judging by your own village layout, I could tell how you're running this area." I said again.
This time, his hands are trembling in anger. The smoke, on the other hand, has almost completely covered this tent.
"And let me tell you, Mister Tzarian. With all due respect, you are not fit to be a ruler."
After finishing my last sentences, I could sense 5 spears and swords are swinging at me with precision in this thick smoke.
The collision made a loud explosive sound.
"Hahahaha! Me? Not fit to be a ruler? Behold, how true loyalty can help raise and destroy any civilization!" The laughter of a proud centaur can be heard somewhere in the smoke.
"I could say the same thing to you, Mister Tzarian." As the smoke dissipates away, all of the 5 centaurs' weapons are now stopped with an immense force the moment they touch my body.
No armour.
No barrier.
Just my bare skin.
"What the?!" Cried one of the centaurs around me.
The look on Mister Tzarian's face also shifted into somewhat scared.
With two moves, I grab one of the weapon that is on my neck, and knock all 5 of the centaurs down.
"The thing is, Mister Tzarian, I would've loved to settle things as quiet as possible. However, you chose this path." I said as I approach him around the marble table.
Mister Tzarian trembles heavily.
"Don't resent me in your next life, Mister Tzarian." It took only one move from me to knock the lights out of the proud centaur.
His silver hair flows with the force of his beheaded body and drops lifelessly on the floor.
——— ——— ———
(Sebastian's POV)
*BOOM*
An explosive sound is heard from behind the gate.
"Has it started already?" Devy asked while polishing the ghast that's tied to the carriage.
I turn around, looking at the gate. "I guess so."
"Should we go and help him?" Asked the fox-woman from behind me.
I can't help but stare at the gate, thinking whether we should interfere or not.
But it's all happening inside of my head, outside of Devy's awareness, so she vigorously shakes my whole body from my shoulder.
"Oiii, should we help him or not?? What're ya so stunned about??"
"Let's go. Let's assist him!" I snapped out of it.
"That's more like it!" Devy grins to the ears.
We are both running towards the huge gate without stopping.
It's in my attention that Sir Nito is a powerful force. He's like a walking war-machine in the battlefield without needing any assistance for creatures like this.
To be fair, the results would still be the same even if we don't interfere, but I cannot just stand there and do nothing!
As we're approaching the gate, I unsheathe my sword and slice through it, creating a hole for us both.
We enter the village through the hole.
But to our surprise, the whole village looks like a hellish scenery—explosions destroys tents and towers, fire burns the centaurs' flesh, blood pool all over the ground, and even the black smoke fills the sky above.
"What the hell is this??" Devy asked in such a shock.
I can't fault her for that. She has never seen Sir Nito in a fight before, but this scene is too much even for me.
I've always thought that his training session with Master Kevin and our Queen was a lot, but this is next level.
"Mister Hollow! Miss Rubelle! What are you guys doing here? Oh, but since the both of you are here, please don't let the rest of the centaurs escape this village! Thank you so much~!" How can he say that with a smile when he's slashing 3 centaurs in half with a single slash from his golden axe..?
"Sebby, quit ya dawdlin'! We've got work to do!" Devy snapped me out of it, while swinging her claws at the runaways.
I need to stop being afraid. I've lived years to serve the Dragonhearts with my family.
I had sworn on their dying breath that I would serve our Queen until the day I die.
Using my sword, I summon a light around it and slash the centaurs nearby.
This task is easy compared to what Master Kevin and his servants have to do.
"Hollow Technique—Judgement ofQuadruple!" I use my lineage Technique and conjure 4 hands around me with their respective swords.
I slash the centaurs with high speed together with Devy.
She is holding herself quite well for a coachman.
*Schwing*
With the last centaur slain, a loud metallic ringing sound is heard from behind us.
Turns out, it's coming from Sir Nito's slash, combining with a bright light that blinds the eyes, which reminds me of a star—cleaving the entire village down to the earth.
The Beetle God deftly descends in front of us.
"You did a great job. The both of you!" Sir Nito bow slidely to the both of us.
"Oh no, Sir. You were the one who finished everything." I waved a dismissive gesture at his words.
"Hear ya go! Ya look like a mess with the blood on ya face." Devy hands over a small handkerchief to Sir Nito without hesitation.
He grabs it with a smile, and begin wiping off the blood splashed on his left cheek. "Thank you so much, Miss Rubelle."
"Now, shall we go back?" Asked Devy, stretching over to the gate.
Sir Nito nodded at her question.
Then, we all walk over to our carriage and Devy drive us back to the castle.
——— ——— ———
(Nito's POV)
Once arrived at the castle, I walk over to the throne chamber for delivering my report.
My whole body is covered in blood of the centaurs I've slain.
"My my, Lil Nito~!! Looks like you've done a great job! Fufufu~!" Miss Nadia flips her dark purple hair over her shoulder on the throne after she throws away the scrolls from Mira; the magpie-woman maid.
I smile bashfully, scratching the back of my head. "I got a bit too carried away in the end. Hehe."
"It's alright, Nito. To be fair, they deserved it! How dare they threatened me~?? The Majestic Queen of the Illusion Forest~!!" She transform into her 'Dumb Form' and flies towards me.
"I guess so..." I chuckled nervously at her words.
Miss Nadia then lands on top of my head and say, "To the dining hall! I have prepared a feast to congratulate you~!"
"Oh, Miss Nadia, you don't need to-" Before I finish my sentence, she interupts.
"Why, sugar~? You did such a great job, so let me do something for you. Because of course, I LOVE party too~! So let's gooo~!!" She pulls my horns to the side as a signal for me to move.
Actually, this is a nice feeling after a battle.
I wish Master was here to celebrate with me...
But this will suffice.
It's alright. I will ask Miss Nadia to make a banquet just for Master's return!