Inside the house, all nine kidnappers—including the man who had captured them—now lay dead at Beta’s feet.
Beta pulled her blade from the chest of the last thug.
The slime sword dissolved into pure mana, vanishing without a trace.
She stumbled toward the wall, her face pale.
“Urgh…
*blegh!*” This was the first time Beta had killed anyone.
She was not naturally a bold or cold-hearted person.
Seeing the thick, crimson blood splattered across the room and the gruesome reality of death made her body react with instinctive revulsion.
Shino moved to her side, gently patting her back.
He pulled a water flask from his pack.
“Drink some water.
It’ll help you feel better.” “Lord Phantom…
am I…
am I pathetic?” Beta asked, her voice trembling and exhausted.
“Not at all.
You did well,” Shino said, gently stroking her hair.
His praise acted like a balm to her soul, making the psychological burden feel a little lighter.
After resting in the corner for a moment, Beta regained her composure.
The two explored the house and discovered a hidden cellar.
Inside were four children: three girls and one boy.
Beta rescued them immediately.
“It’s okay now.
The kidnappers are all dead.” However, as the girls emerged from the cellar and saw the blood-soaked slaughterhouse the room had become, their faces turned white.
“AHHHHHHHH!” A piercing, ear-splitting scream erupted from the third girl to exit.
The gore before her eyes sent her into a hysterical panic.
Shino and Beta felt like their eardrums were about to burst.
With a flick of his hand, Shino sent a glob of black slime to gag the girl.
“If you’re this good at screaming, why didn’t you do it when you were being kidnapped?” The gagged girl glared at Shino with pure venom.
Shino waved his hand, and the slime vanished.
“What do you want to say?” “You lowly, commoner filth!
Hurry up and take this lady away from this place!” *Slap!* Shino delivered a sharp backhand to her face.
“You…
you dared to hit me?!
Do you have any idea who I am?!” *Slap!* The second strike didn’t come from Shino, but from Beta.
“We saved your life, and yet you act with such arrogance?
How can someone like you even exist?” Beta snapped.
The girl showed no remorse.
She stood up, snarling, and tried to swing at Beta’s face.
Beta stepped back, letting the girl overextend, then countered with another slap that sent her spinning.
The girl lost her balance and landed right on top of one of the corpses.
“AHHHHHHH!” The screaming started again.
This time, Shino raised his hand and cast a specialized mana barrier, completely muffling the sound within the room.
“You three, follow us.
Let her rot here on her own.” The other three children looked at the noble girl with undisguised disgust.
Enduring their own nausea, they followed Shino and Beta out of the house.
As they stepped outside, they were greeted by a crowd of villagers armed with hoes, shovels, and sickles.
“It’s Number Nine!
Number Nine is dead!” the village chief cried out, spotting the body near the door.
“They were kidnappers!” Beta explained loudly.
“Nonsense!
Number Nine was a well-known philanthropist in our village!
How could he be a kidnapper?” the chief shouted righteously.
The surrounding villagers murmured in agreement, their eyes burning with rage.
Even though Shino and Beta were just children, they were clearly responsible for the death of their “benefactor.” “They *are* kidnappers!
These three children behind me were rescued from their cellar!” Beta protested.
“Tell me, how did Number Nine die?” The chief ignored her completely, his face twisted with anger.
Just then, a squad of soldiers marched into the clearing.
“What’s going on here?” the squad captain demanded.
“Captain!
I am the village chief.
These children murdered our fellow villager, Number Nine!” (Since commoners had no last names, their names were often simple monikers).
Beta tried to speak, but the hysterical noble girl ran out from the house.
“I am Narine Cabus, daughter of Earl Cabus from the Slunob Territory!
You!
Kill these two immediately!” she shrieked, pointing at Beta and Shino.
“What are you waiting for?
These two lowly peasants dared to strike my face!
They are more deserving of death than the men who kidnapped me!” The captain’s eyes narrowed.
“So, the Earl’s daughter…
In that case, we definitely can’t let you leave.
If you go home, our Viscount will face the wrath of your family.” The soldiers drew their swords.
“Yes!
Kill them!
A life for a life!
Send these brats to hell!” the village chief cheered.
“How dare you!
You show disrespect to a daughter of an Earl!” Narine screamed, but both the soldiers and the villagers ignored her.
“Lord Phantom…
why are the soldiers acting like this?” Beta asked in disbelief.
Why would the law help the criminals?
“It’s simple, Beta.
Because these soldiers are in league with the kidnappers.
There was a guard in the cellar earlier; when he heard the commotion above, he escaped through a hidden tunnel.
*He* is the one who called the soldiers.” Shino had detected the man long ago, but he wanted to wipe them all out at once.
Killing nine or killing a crowd—it made no difference to him.
He pointed toward a man hiding behind a nearby house.
Beta finally spotted him too.
“As for the villagers protecting the kidnappers…
they obviously get a cut of the profits.
Right, Mr.
Village Chief?” The chief’s face paled; Shino had hit the nail on the head.
“I have to admit, kid, you’re sharp,” the captain said, stepping forward.
“But being smart doesn’t fill your belly.
In this world, power is everything.
You know too much.” “Beta, do you have the confidence to take them out?” Shino asked calmly.
“I can do it, Lord Phantom!” “Then begin.” Shino flicked his hand, and three spheres of mana-shielding encased the rescued children.
“Run.
Go find your way home.” The spheres began to float and fly away, carrying the three children into the distance.
“Strange tricks…
probably some magic item.
It’ll be mine soon enough,” the captain sneered.
“Attack!
But be careful—don’t kill them.
They’re worth more alive as merchandise!” Fourteen soldiers armed with magic swords charged.
The informant had warned them that Beta and Shino were strong, so they weren’t taking chances.
In an instant, a slime blade materialized in Beta’s hand.
Before the first soldier could react, the blade was buried in his heart.
“Watch out!
This girl is fast!” The soldiers stopped their reckless charge, surrounding Beta warily.
But their movements were sluggish compared to hers.
Even surrounded, she moved like a shadow, killing another man with a single thrust.
“Move aside!
Let me handle this!” the captain roared.
A powerful surge of mana erupted from his body.
He lunged at Beta with his magic sword.
*Clang!* The blades collided with a crisp, metallic ring.
Then, like a hammer hitting an anvil, a flurry of sparks flew as their swords clashed repeatedly in a high-speed blur.