When I arrived, I was greeted by the sight of a massive swarm of people closing in. They didn’t look like they belonged here, and I could instantly tell they were members of the Eclipse.
There were so many of them, it was like they’d brought a whole army with them. The guy the big man had stashed away in that barn had to be someone important—some high-level official—because that was the only reason they’d show up in numbers like this. There was no other explanation that made sense.
Erick, the big man, stood his ground, his face calm, but the way his fingers wrapped tightly around his halberd told a different story. His knuckles were turning white from the grip. The tension in the air was thick, and despite his outward composure, you could feel the weight of the storm brewing inside him.
“Visitor, you came here just to investigate, didn’t you?” His voice was steady, but the weight behind it was palpable. “Do me a favor—get out of here with the others. Save them.”
“You’re gonna hold them off?” I asked, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
“Yes. Even if it costs me my life,” he replied, his eyes burning with a conviction that was almost tangible. He wasn’t bluffing—he was dead serious. “I have a daughter. My wife died before she even knew what it meant to have a daughter. I swore on her grave that I’d protect our daughter, no matter what. That’s why I’m begging you—get her out of here. Save her, save the people of this village.”
“D-Dad!” a voice pierced the air from behind us. A woman, stunningly beautiful with flowing blonde hair, came rushing over. She looked completely out of place here, like she belonged to a world far more polished, more elegant. Honestly, if you told me she was from royalty, I wouldn’t bat an eye. “L-Let’s go together! You can’t fight them all on your own!”
“I have to, Anna!” Erick’s voice exploded, ripping from the depths of his lungs. “You need to go with the other villagers! Get to the next village and tell them what happened here!”
Tears welled up in his daughter’s eyes, her voice cracking with defiance. “I don’t want to! I want to stay with you, Dad!”
The tension between them hit me hard. Watching their pain, I made my decision, stepping forward.
“You go and save them yourself,” I said, my tone cold and unyielding. “I’ll handle the fight.”
Erick’s eyes widened in shock. “You can’t take them all on,” he stammered, disbelief and concern mixing in his voice.
I met his gaze, unwavering. “Don’t waste time worrying about me. You should be more concerned about your daughter. If her father dies here, who’s gonna protect her from what comes next?”
Even if he was determined now to protect his daughter, it would still be useless in the long run. The danger was always out there, lurking in the future. What if something bad happened to her then? Was he supposed to rise from the dead to save her? That idea was ridiculous.
“Normally, I wouldn’t go this far, but I’m moved by your bravery,” I told him, my tone softening just a bit. “You’re risking everything for someone precious to you. If I was even half the man you are…”
I released a powerful surge of mana, the air crackling with its intensity. I concentrated it until it formed into a blade of pure energy, shimmering with lethal potential.
“You don’t need to worry about a stranger like me,” I said, casting a glance at his daughter, who was still clinging to hope. “Focus on staying alive for her. She needs you—you’re all she has left. And honestly, there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to me. Even with all this, they still can’t take me down.”
Erick’s eyes widened in shock as he looked from me to the glowing sword. Then he hesitated before asking, “Do you have someone you’ve promised yourself to?”
“I have,” I replied.
“Then, are you willing to take concubines?”
“D-Dad?” His daughter’s voice wavered, her eyes widening as she seemed to grasp the gravity of what he was suggesting.
“Well, the person I’m promised to has no issue with me taking concubines. In fact, she encourages me to have as many as I can handle. So, yes, I’m willing to take concubines,” I answered with a steely resolve.
“Alright,” he said. “If you manage to survive this, fight off, and defeat all these scumbags, I’ll give you my Anna as your concubine. Is that acceptable?”
“Dad!” His daughter shouted.
I looked at him and smiled. “I’ll gladly take her,” I said.
“Haha!” he burst out, his laughter booming and harsh. “If you manage to save our village, I’ll be more than happy to hand her over to you! You seem like a man worthy of her, after all!” he added, giving me a hard clap on the back that stung. “So, best of luck.”
He turned to the other villagers, his voice commanding. “Alright, everyone, let’s clear out and head to the next village!”
“Dad, you’re not seriously going to give me away as someone’s concubine, are you?” I heard Anna’s voice, full of disbelief.
“The young man seems to have some promise,” Erick said with a nod. “I figured he’d be more deserving than any of the dirtbags trying to win you over in this village.”
“But how come… I mean… Sure, he’s handsome, but I can’t just go with him. He’s already promised to someone, right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” he said, his tone matter-of-fact. “That’s why you’ll need to get along with her when he takes you. And try to be a good wife. It’s not entirely impossible that you could end up as the legal one.”
“Dad!”
The argument between father and daughter buzzed faintly in the background. I, however, kept my gaze fixed on the throng of people advancing toward us.
I reached into my suit and retrieved my mask—a smooth, faceless piece with no distinguishing features.
With a reward on the line, it was time to get serious.
I slipped the mask over my face.
Then, without a second thought, I hurtled forward into the fray.
