Zania's eyes fluttered open.
Her body ached, and her pride burned. But worst of all—
She was bound.
Thick vines coiled tightly around her, restricting her movent. She gritted her teeth.
This man. This Armand noble. He had defeated her with ease, and she didn't even know his na. One thing was painfully clear—
She hated him.
She didn't care if he killed her; she was an Amazarak warrior. Death? She accepted it.
But—
Torture? Her stomach twisted at the thought.
She recalled Kenjirou's words: "The Armand nobles enjoy torturing their prisoners. They take pleasure in watching people suffer."
A shiver coursed through her despite her resolve.
Are they bringing to Garius… to torture ?
Her breath quickened. She wouldn't beg. She wouldn't plead. But deep inside—
She loathed this feeling of helplessness.
And the worst part? She still had no idea what this man planned to do with her.
Zania swayed slightly, tied up like cargo, slung over this boy's back like a re sack of supplies. It was humiliating. It was infuriating.
But—
What caught her attention were the two won riding behind him.
Their strange, bird-like mounts carried them effortlessly, their movents graceful and practiced.
Zania narrowed her eyes.
She had never seen these creatures before. She had traveled across the vast lands of Amazarak, familiar with the warbeasts of her holand, the armored steeds of the dwarves, and the hunting wolves of the Beastkin…
But these large bird creatures? They didn't exist anywhere else.
Were they exclusive to Armand's territory? A creature unique to them? How many secrets did these people possess?
The won were even more unsettling—one was a beautiful elf with long silver hair, and the other was a beautiful human girl with glasses.
Why were an elf and a human girl, both delicate and graceful, following a brutish family like the Armands?
She had heard nothing but horrors about this household. They were tyrants, murderers, butchers.
So why… why did these two serve them?
She couldn't understand it.
Yet—
Sothing was even more disturbing. Zania expected mockery, cruel laughter, taunts, and insults. Instead—
They simply stared. Not a word. Just a gaze devoid of warmth. A look she couldn't interpret.
What is that expression…?
A slow chill crept up her spine. This wasn't the look of warriors sizing up an opponent; it was the look of soone eager to do sothing.
For the first ti—
She truly felt uneasy.
Because in her mind—
She wasn't captured by warriors.
She was captured by devils.
"Liana! Let's visit those villages!"
Javier's voice rang out cheerfully, filled with excitent.
Liana's expression twitched.
"Young Master! We have sothing important to do right now!"
Javier waved a hand dismissively.
"Nope!"
He patted Buddy's neck, grinning broadly.
"Buddy! Let's go! at!!"
"Cuquawked!!"
Buddy flapped his wings enthusiastically, and Liana and Gloria sighed in unison.
anwhile—
Zania, still tightly bound, could only listen as her thoughts spiraled into pure horror.
This devil…! He's not satisfied with just one village?!
Her heart pounded in response to the rising dread.
Now he moves toward another? Another village to burn? More innocent people to slaughter?!
Her body tensed, adrenaline surging as fury and fear battled within her.
If only I had the power to stop him…!!
Zania's hatred deepened, and she gritted her teeth, cursing her own weakness. Her heart raced as they approached the village.
And then—
She saw it.
The villagers' faces twisted with fear. So rushed into their hos, while others frantically gathered their belongings, whispering in panic.
Then—
A loud, terrified shout echoed through the air.
"AHHHH!! THE BANDIT KING IS HERE!!"
Zania froze.
Bandit… King?
Her suspicions were confird. This devil—this brute—this noble of Armand—
He was even worse than she had thought. A noble warlord who personally raided villages?!
Her blood boiled. Her hatred burned.
And yet—
She was powerless. She could only watch.
Zania's breath hitched.
How many tis has he done this?!
An old rchant, his usual playful grin replaced by feigned panic, dramatically clutched his chest.
"Ahh, Bandit King! Please, don't take my food—take my life instead!"
Javier laughed heartily, playing along.
"Hah! Foolish rchant! I shall take this—BWAHAHAHA!"
With a dramatic flourish, he snatched a piece of fruit from a nearby stall and tossed it to Buddy, who caught it mid-air, crushing it effortlessly.
"Cuquawked!"
Then—
A blur of silver and brown feathers. Pikko and Peanut rushed toward other stalls. Peanut grabbed an entire basket of vegetables while Pikko snatched a loaf of bread and darted off.
The rchants scread in mock horror.
"Oi! The Bandit King's birds are looting us too!"
Zania's entire world shattered.
This monster had trained his beasts to loot as well?! This was not just tyranny; this was a plague upon the land.
She clenched her fists, fury surging within her.
anwhile—
Liana rely sighed, while Gloria had already pulled out the paynt pouch.
Zania expected screams. She anticipated begging, fear, and suffering. But instead—
She heard it.
Laughter. Loud. Genuine. Joyful.
The villagers laughed openly. rchants chuckled as they watched Javier's Pekko pilfer their food. So even played along, clutching their wares dramatically.
"Oh no! The Bandit King has struck again!"
An old woman bead, holding out a basket of pastries.
"Here, Bandit King! At least take the best ones!"
Pikko and Peanut rushed over, eagerly snatching the treats. Even Buddy puffed out his chest, looking smug as a child offered a skewer of roasted at.
Zania's mind reeled.
What… what is this?!
This wasn't fear. This wasn't oppression. She saw no chains. No suffering. Only smiling faces, pure and unrestrained joy.
Her breath quickened, and her chest tightened.
This wasn't what Kenjirou had told her. This wasn't the Armand she had imagined.
For the first ti—
Zania hesitated.
"Old man! Give more roast at!"
Javier's voice rang out, clear and demanding.
The old rchant laughed heartily, already pulling fresh at off the fire.
"Coming right up, Bandit King!"
Zania stared in disbelief.
(He's… demanding food? And they just GIVE it to him?)
anwhile—
Buddy happily chomped down on another piece of fruit, completely oblivious to the situation unfolding around him.
Javier's eye twitched in irritation.
"Oi, Buddy! At least let Liana finish paying before you eat that!"
"Cuquawked!"
Pikko and Peanut casually strolled past another stall. Peanut snagged an entire bunch of carrots while Pikko munched on dried berries, indifferently enjoying their spoils.
"Peanut! Pikko! Don't just eat like that! Let the rchant count it first!"
The rchants? They were laughing even harder. Javier buried his face in his hands, frustration boiling over.
"ARRRGGHHH! Damned gluttonous birds!!"
Zania's mind shattered.
WHAT IS GOING ON?!
This wasn't tyranny. This was madness.
And worse—
It was normal to them.
For the first ti, Zania wondered if she had been lied to—or if the entire Armand region was simply insane.
Frozen in place, her mind swirled in confusion. All of this—
The chaos, the looting, the insatiable gluttony of these monstrous birds—
Yet, the two won beside Javier…
They were paying for everything.
Liana calmly handed over coins to the rchants, her expression composed, as if this was nothing out of the ordinary. Gloria adjusted her glasses and sighed softly as she counted out the precise amount owed. Not a single rchant looked upset. Not one begged for their goods to be returned.
Instead—
They smiled.
They laughed.
They welcod this madness.
Zania's breath hitched.
(This… isn't oppression.)
She gritted her teeth.
(This isn't tyranny.)
Her chest tightened with unease.
Everything she had believed—
Everything Kenjirou had told her—
It wasn't adding up.
Her hands trembled, a dawning realization creeping in.
Because now—
For the first ti—
She was terrified.
Not of Javier. Not of his birds.
But of the possibility that everything she had believed…
Might have been a lie.
( End of Chapter )
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