The Begotten Fiend

Chapter 27: Show Me Around

A tall, medium-gray wall towered over me. It had grooves etching different patterns into it--similar to the embroideries from my house. If I tried hard enough, I could even see the cone-like corners, where there were surely Kings Guards keeping watch.

I did it, I made it to the kingdom of Laronia, my home. More specifically, one of the entry points.

There were two guards standing in front of me. They’d been guarding a large, wooden gate--its edges a silver metal.

"Wait," one of the guards spoke. They held their hand out. "I need some form of identification."

Shit. I’d been fighting for so long that I forgot something so simple, but you can’t just waltz right into the kingdom.

There were three main ways. Either something tying your birth to Laronia like a birth certificate, a passport, or a stamp garnered from the king himself.

And I had none.

Though, if there were one way I could get it...

"My name is Nash Borne, of the House of Borne. My passage is certified in name." I took a bow, my hand to my right side. A gesture of the peerage.

I furrowed my brows. I hated using that name, especially after everything I’ve been through--what they put me through. But I wouldn’t let some petty grudge stop me from living my life.

The two guards stammered, then whispered to each other.

"You may pass." one asked, different from the one who spoke earlier. But as I stepped forward, he grabbed my wrist.

"What’s the meaning of this?" I asked.

"We heard about what you did. The woman you assaulted." They know...? The only way that could be is if it was widespread news. "If we find that you’re lying, or that you don’t truly have the certification, we’ll find you, and we’ll deport you." Even though the guard was wearing a helmet, the venom in their tone revealed their deep frown.

"I could have you executed for talking to me that way," I said, swiping my arm back to my side. "Pray we don’t see each other again."

Making my way, I grabbed my wrist. Their grip was... strong?

It’s not like I was unprotected either, I’d supplied myself with mana on the off chance he tried to do something. He was simply strong.

I’m not going to forget what I’ve set out to do. One way or another, I’ll get my revenge, but maybe I should get stronger first.

Though, that’s a whole other can of words... freёwebnovel.com

My ruminations stopped. There it was, the town I’d just entered.

It was... bland. There was no other way to put it.

The air hang with such stillness like an empty room. The houses were damaged--holes in the windows, creaking, wooden doors, and run down paint.

The scent of booze wandered about. The streets were in dire need of repainting, and the people were no better. freewebnσvel.cѳm

There were any number of men sitting amongst the streets, holding their drinks. Gaudy women in big dresses hovered over the men, striking up conversation.

If I had to guess, I would say this is a red zone, where the most poverty and promiscuity persisted. It was kind of off-putting, this being my first sight of civilization for the first time in over a week.

"Hey there, boy~" A woman spoke to my right, latching on to my arm. "Why, how lean. Isn’t that a rare sight. Perhaps I should take you to bed--"

Shivers flew through me. I pushed her off. "Whoa! Get off me!"

"Hey! There’s no reason to be rude, what are you, a virgin?"

"I... uh... I’m not going to respond to that."

"Hah! You are!" She approached me again, pulling on my cheek. "Virgin boy here found themselves in a red zone for the first time. That can’t be a coincidence, can it?"

What is up with her? It’s like she has no respect for a personal bubble.

"What... what are you insinuating?"

"Picture this. Someone--not you, of course--has been going through a bit of a drought, got a little bit curious, and decided to wander off to a brothel--just on accident, of course--in the slight hope that they’d get their first experience. Ring a bell?"

The gall of this lady!

Honestly, I felt like punching her straight through the city, but I withheld only because I didn’t want to draw attention to myself. Not when I’m not even supposed to be in Laronia.

I simply walked off, not saying another word to her.

"Well, fine! But don’t come running back when nobody wants to take you!" she yelled. I didn’t even bother to look back.

That conversation’s confirmed my suspicions though. This is definitely a red zone, and by recollection of this kingdom’s districts, I would reckon this is--

"Come on, pretty girl. This is the 72nd District. What use do you have, if not in my arms?" I turned to my right, to a small alleyway. Three men surrounded a single woman. "Just imagine it. You, the woman of the great Garron! There’s no way you can pass me up on that."

The biggest of the three men was holding her arms, pressing them up against the wall. "Unhand me, or there won’t be a Garron a minute from now!"

The three men inched closer to the woman, pressing their bodies against hers. "Do you hear that, boys? She just refused me."

"No, boss, you’re mistaken! there’s nobody in the world who would reject you!"

"Yeah! She’s just playing hard to get!"

"Hahaha! You’re right!" Garron continued, holding onto his pants. "I think we just need to ’drill’ some sense into her."

Yeah, that’s enough.

In a single bound, I covered the distance between myself and the three men. I stopped just a foot from Garron--the man in the middle--and gripped his hand that’d been restraining the woman.

"That’s enough," I ordered.

Garron stuttered, taking several steps back. In doing so, he released her grip on the lady. "Wh-what... who are you?"

"That’s irrelevant. All you need to know is that I’m the man who will end your life if you don’t walk away right now." I gripped even harder.

"Get away from him!" another man screamed, standing to my left. As he spoke, he punched for my throat.

Lurching forward in their direction, I side swiped their arm with my right hand, then used that same hand to grab their forearm and pull them down in my direction.

Thrown off balance, the man yelped, unable to stop their fall. Of course, I would help them.

I slammed my left hand into the side of his head, smacking him directly into the wall. His eyes rolled back, blood gushing from his brow.

"You lot," I said, turning my attention to the two remaining men. I activated Intimidation, then used a dampened Roar. "You will walk away from this and never look back."

My words were so cutthroat I felt even my heart skip a beat.

"Kh--wait! We’ll leave, we’ll leave!" Garron yelled, his hands in the air. He darted in the opposite direction, his other guy following suit.

They left their friend I’d buried into the hard wall.

Taking a sigh of relief, I held my hand to the woman from earlier. "You okay?"

"Yeah, thanks to you," she said, smiling. "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Hm, I wonder...

Ah!

"Sure, you can show me around this place."