It's on the posters, paintings, newspapers, and displayed in every corner of almost every shop.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYu8X49PUu
The fearless expedition of a knight who eradicated a demon who tortured and manslaughtered human everywhere he went through, and the cause of the two kingdom's war that killed hundreds and thousands of men, women, and children.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNQT6SK1ND
It's been three months then since that certain demon disappeared in this world. Every empire united for reaching the peace that only took one person to happen.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYiI88VIir
I stared at the plaza this time of the night, watching how the street lights and lamps overflowed with much brightness, kids running and playing while holding their wooden swords and shields, lively stalls that's been build during the day selling antiques, street foods, and other materials that can be displayed outside and inside of a home. What the most mesmerizing of all was how every people I've seen was smiling, as if that happiness won't be taken away.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjenCxI59wy
Maybe because right now, we have been delighted by the news received from the palace. This first day of night festival, the hero will arrived to join us celebrate this year's feast for a whole week while going on to his mission to find the hidden type of monster in the Terao Forest, part of our homeland.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUllC29Gsd
"Sister! Sister!" My eyes sighted a small kid running towards me while holding a piece of red tulip. He's smiling from ear to ear, and I wondered if he even sees something when he beamed like that. "For you, sister!"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr81PS4fvZ3
It was then that I realized that this kid is the son of the maiden I've saved from the murderer a week ago.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQ2M4RVBDs
I stared at the tulips as I received it.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqfvKI3LsU
"Flower, sister, flower!"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyEkRBMKHR
My lips turned into curve as I tapped his head. "It is lovely,"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQxArH2IRe
"Lovely, lovely!" He lively said.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwau1MJJulF
"Uhm, where is your mama?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulRqtNlahr
He hold the trouser I'm wearing for the sake of gripping something. "Mama, there! Mama, there!"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFvLVnA2P3
As I lifted my head, I saw his mother waving not from afar, holding a basket. They seemed to be buying something this time of the night.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIG0fbSyzIw
"Let's go to mama," I said, grabbing his small hands.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEZjTKun0Ws
"Going to mama!"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzZvxH960rI
I let out a small laugh, he giggled.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqv0tVEiKDO
"Are we not a disturbance, Piper?" She asked.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3t3unrVIi
I shook my head. "Not at all, Mrs. Rouge."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5wSRmUjC3
She smiled. "Are you waiting for someone?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljy69CJg6M
I blinked. "No, I just went here because I can't sleep. Also, the door of the house where I'm staying is already locked. I pissed the Madam again," I scratched my temple. "Hehe,"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuhhli4UDx
She tapped me. "Then would you like to sleep in our home just this night?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ040zz5Znfk
"Thank you for the thought, Mrs. Rouge, but I was planning to wander around again tonight after I go with Commander Vale to greet the hero, I've been informed that their carriage will soon be here."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpsZMknky2
Her eyes widened. "I almost forgot about that news, Gage really wanted to meet him after his father told him the story every single day." She took the hand of the little kid.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0cbZqY3sj
"Hmm," I look at Gage. "I think it would be better for him to meet the hero tomorrow, Mrs. Rouge. Little kids shouldn't stay up all night. After all, we've got a whole week to see him."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxB3rEcne5
"You're right,"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5A8sCi64R
I smiled, looking at Gage whose scratching his eyes and showing signs of sleepiness.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp22jLVGkmD
"Little kid, go home for now, alright?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0nv2dAzfv
"Go...home? Already?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWysT9GlG6
"Yeah, kids should sleep now. And, thank you for this flower, Sister really loves it,"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIcJREDGgE
"Loves it?" His face lightened.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCW5nnD9xz
I nodded. "Next time, I'll bring you chocolates. But for now, you need to go home with mama."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcwiFMGHib
"Ahm, okay!"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlYrhhmoWy
I waved my hands as Mrs. Rouge and Gage turned their backs. I watched their backs fade away before I walk my way to my target destination.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ach18qHGS
The palace. I went straight to the knight headquarters where I saw Commander Vale. I bowed my head to the knight as they greeted me with rejoiced. I smiled with my teeth showing when they start to give me an alcohol. Commander Vale took it and put it away.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEmFpPKuAl
"Stop giving the child any alcohol," He commanded.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11BAQT2A99
The knights laughed. "Commander, we understand that Piper is somewhat like your own child, but she's twenty-one! She can drink it!" Sir Yuli spouted. Some knights agreed with him.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3auJXkeNA1
Commander glared at them as they sat in silence.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5AWdGFMaJ
"No drinking, the hero is going to arrive at any moment. And don't give the child any errands as of now. She'll be with us to greet the hero."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2oWT3XaAGZ
I beamed as the thought of Commander Vale still calling me a 'child'. It's been eight years since Commander Vale took me in ever since my parents died. He sheltered me like his own daughter since he has no one. When I turned eighteen three years ago, I told him I want to be on my own. He only agreed if only that means I would run errands to the knights so I could see him everyday. Now I'm staying at the inn of Madam Pearl, where I pay 10 silver coins every month. I feel like I've sunken into poverty since.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxm55aqSbN
"Commander! Commander! We need to get on our positions! The hero's carriage is arriving!" Someone shouted from the outside.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HOYEUw73Y
"Speaking of Gods and Goddesses, we shall go," I heard Dame Yura spouted. It cause a ruckus exiting the headquarters.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWBz6cRXc0
I only sighed. The Knight's uniform are all metal and inside, their muscles are all bulky and all, everytime this happens, it really hurts to bumped into them.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TAaA97lRH
"Let's go, child," Commander Vale tapped me in the back as I followed them.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhp4aGgzWO6
We all formed a formation on the main palace gate, it only took a minute for us to heard the sound of the arriving big vehicle. I may not look at everyone to see their faces, but I could sense that we're all tense.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oDgwPSqkd
Of course, it's the hero. We are all asking the same question in our tiny little brains.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC0CLeVZ5H
What is he like? Since the newspaper never showed any face of him.
Is he tall? Since it can't be tell in paintings.
What is his attitude? Since certain rumors are circulating around.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXORkcx35J
The carriage stopped. The footman of the palace opened the door of the carriage.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq98wcbEU9L
I lifted my eyes.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH3YrvdngO
A tall and poised well-dressed man exited the carriage. And he's...
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2i8lzdYKyU
He's young.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgcq52uM5N
I thought the hero would be at least middle aged. Our kingdom really know nothing about him. I'm guessing that only the royal family has been informed about it.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wOAwshEE4
Commander Vale took a step forward and bowed.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX6ufGqLj5
"I greet the hero of the empires, Sir Hezekiah Thrindel. I'm Commander Vale, Sir Thrindel, I will accompany you inside the palace."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC4Z47PeL0
The hero stared at Commander Vale. I couldn't tell what he's thinking. He's not reacting or showing any kind of emotion. Like he's been stiffed or something.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxSFFhMQJ1
I didn't know the hero is this rude...or cold.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFUDmeHyIW
"I see." He only replied. He proceeded to walk along with Commander Vale. I stared at the other knights sticking their eyes with the hero, watching his back entered the palace.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTekWYRwKkn
I could hear all sense of gossip as they entered that door.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqWXxa51Ond
"I've heard rumors about the hero, and it is said that he's always been like that even before he killed the demon. Don't you know he's been called the 'living statue' because of it?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEUmwDRC3w
I looked down.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZpykFBL7M
Living statue?
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFouGfWIsvB
"Is that so?"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuV7lYnQjJP
"Yeah! I'm telling you, that man is somewhat amazing but emotionless."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6EiHyR45Zw
I get away from the formation of the knights, every words of them is hurting my ears.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2Fy8BY5gO
"Piper, where are you going?" I heard Sir Yuli asked.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoF4GfEMOm
"Ah, I'm waiting for Commander Vale in the headquarters since I wasn't allowed to enter the palace, I can't go out if I don't wait for him,"
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGOo7z8Se9
"Who said that you weren't allowed? You're one of us."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzgOPAfKiM
I looked down. One knight didn't let me in a few weeks ago.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nW683VipN
"Is it alright? I'm not a knight."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMGY4xiSY0
He smirked. "So what? You're the commander's precious child. You can wait for him there."
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOKONtnVnH
I was somewhat embarrassed when he said 'precious child'.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTCzfoWRoH
"That's right, Piper. Besides, you've been with us to greet the hero." Dame Yura stated.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ag5aWnYdC
I only nodded as I followed them entered the back gate of the palace on the way to the throne hall. I heard the emperor's joy welcoming the hero.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpgUviw9CC
Still, the hero's poised seemed not to change since a while ago. Since I can only see his back, I'm guessing somewhat he's only staring at the emperor with no expression of joy.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytAol5CW8c
After exchanging statements, the hero requested to sleep, never giving any reasons unto why. It all looks like he wanted to get this over with. He never spoke in such long words, it looks like we'll need to pay a gold bar for him to reply words longer than ten.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbs4xq6Tjb
"T-Then, Commander Vale, you can accompany Sir Thrindel to his room." The emperor awkwardly commanded.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIYwJlew8z
Commander Vale nodded.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyycv9WlN3
"Thank you, Your Majesty." The hero bowed his head.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAim2xxSbCt
The emperor seemed trouble after all the conversation he had with him as he turned his back to follow Commander Vale. Some knights has gone array when it happened.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP8vVgrgBR
"Piper, go with Commander." Dame Yura tapped my back.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICBuY1gkyL
I only nodded as I said my goodbyes to them. I silently walk through the hallway, fearing someone might stop me from entering. Luckily, no one did since they're busy gossiping. Even the knight who forbid me to enter few weeks ago.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbNHTdxDHN
I escaped from their sights and proceed to follow my father and the hero.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU8o1yaa4q
It's then I realized they're going upstairs. As I get near, I saw a dangerous protruding nail in the stairs and tried to shout.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BRgct0jsx
"Wait---Commander!" I call Commander Vale, but it was the hero who stepped on it and lost his balance.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoox2gsxLLQ
He's going to fall off stairs!
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVK9Mh3r3hT
I run as fast as I can to catch his back, even though it means it's gonna break my bones to save him from getting hurt. We rolled down the stairs and stopped on the flat floor. My hands swing in pain as I realized that it slipped off his brooch. My palm was sliced in half.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68LOOLmFDI
But I didn't fail to stop the hero from getting hurt. I catched his head, sheltering it in my arms.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3fcDgxjOm
"Piper! S-Sir Thrindel!" I heard Commander Vale.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbc5SECgTML
I grimace in my left hand's pain as I slowly let go of the hero's head.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGOBbz4Vwa
I was surprised when I saw his widened and flabbergasted expression staring at me so near from eye to eye. Like he has seen something he didn't expect to.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZuuKfDCi4
I gulped, feeling the pain. His eyes fell off my hand and looked at the brooch that hurt it. I was thunderstuck when he turned to throw it away.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8REhYAz1u
"S-Sir?!" I shouted, dumbfounded.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTFnhISEFe
He grabbed my waist and arms to stand up right before Commander Vale offered to.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwC5iwr6dL
Suddenly, I couldn't breathe.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdNlg0s1PW
"Call the Imperial physician!" He shouted, his roots in his neck and forehead is going to pop off.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt9gbh4ZNZ
Commander Vale didn't hesitated to run to call someone. As I look down to process everything, I realized that there's a blood on the floor. But it isn't coming from me.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnvPJBagHU
It's from his pierce of hole in his foot because of the nail he stepped into, the cause of his fall.
49Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz266u2ct6
I didn't manage to protect him at all.
ns52.14.165.32da2
然後按「加至主畫面」