Chapter 94

"…No, it's wonderful. To wield such a massive sword so effortlessly. I can see that inside that armor is a renowned swordsman. I can tell. You are not only skilled with a sword but also in character."

Folbein, hiding his face behind a white mask, praised Lamber with insincere words.

"So, what do you think will happen now!?"

The staff in Folbein's hand was pointed at Althe, who was hugging her father in fear.

"Hehehe! You're too soft! Oh, don't move. Drop that sword, right now!"

Folbein ordered Lamber.

Lamber dropped the greatsword to the ground.

Folbein's laughter grew louder from behind the white mask.

"Hehehehe! The tide has turned, hasn't it!"

Lamber, who had let go of the greatsword, closed the distance in the moment Folbein's attention wavered and delivered a merciless roundhouse kick.

Folbein was sent flying, his body folding in a perfect 'V' shape.

The super-heavy armor Lamber wore slammed into Folbein's abdomen with great force.

"Fo, Folbein-sama!"

"Folbein-sama has been defeated! What is that monstrous creature!"

Two of the private soldiers tried to flee.

But they were no match for Lamber's speed.

Lamber quickly took their backs and struck their necks with a horizontal blow from his gauntlet.

The two private soldiers lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

He had compressed their medulla oblongata, instantly stopping their blood flow and rendering them unconscious.

"Good, they're still alive."

Lamber nodded, seemingly satisfied.

Lamber was not good at holding back, and in the past, he had accidentally broken the necks of his opponents several times.

"That was close. Are you okay?"

Lamber asked the stunned Althe and the man, who was her father.

The man was on his knees, his mouth agape, slowly trying to determine whether the scene before him was a dream or reality.

Althe was also stunned by the gruesome scene before her.

The sight of someone being split in two was too intense for the young girl.

"Thank you, Sir Knight…"

Althe, still in shock, thanked Lamber in a broken voice.

Her father seemed to have come to his senses and repeatedly bowed to Lamber.

"Thank you, really, thank you! If Althe had been taken by them, I don't know what would have happened…! But… if this matter reaches the viscount, he will surely seek revenge on the knight and the surrounding poor people…"

The man said weakly, almost as if mumbling.

Noticing Lamber's gaze, he raised his head and flailed his hands.

"N-no! That's not it! I'm not complaining about the knight! If you hadn't helped me just now, I would have lost the most important thing to me right here!"

The man, realizing that his words might be taken as a complaint, desperately tried to explain himself.

Lamber stood silently, his face completely hidden, and his demeanor gave off a sense of oppression, making anyone near him feel a natural fear.

"No, I'm often misunderstood, but I'm not angry. And… hmm?"

Lamber suddenly stopped speaking and tilted his helmet.

He had felt an unexpected gaze.

Folbein, raising his trembling hand, pointed the tip of his staff at Lamber.

The lower part of his cracked mask was stained with blood from his mouth.

Folbein, despite receiving Lamber's kick, was still barely alive.

"Hmm, I thought I had crushed your organs… but you can still move."

"Haha… Underestimating us, the magicians of the 'Pied Piper Demon,' was your downfall! Earth, shatter!"

Spitting out blood, he cast a spell.

The earth near Folbein rose and formed a projectile, which flew high into the sky above Lamber.

It didn't miss.

A creepy creaking sound echoed from the surrounding area.

In the next moment, a large crack appeared in the wall behind Lamber.

The earth projectile had pierced through the old house.

"Hmm…"

The house, unable to support the roof, collapsed, and the debris rained down on Lamber, Althe, and her father.

This attack was possible only in the slums, where old, dilapidated buildings lined the streets.

Althe's father hugged her, curling his back to shield her.

"Papa…"

The debris mercilessly engulfed Lamber and the father and daughter.

Eventually, the roar of the collapse ceased, and the mortally wounded Folbein, convulsing, stood up.

"Heh, heh… Serves you right. I also crushed the unconscious viscount's private soldiers, but well, it's no problem without those useless ones. However, the damage to my organs is severe. I'll have to ask Lady Ruruk to head to Tetmberg and get new artificial organs…"

Originally, Folbein had once been on the brink of death due to illness and had been fitted with sturdy artificial organs, which were the result of the Eight Sages' experiments, replacing some of his internal organs.

Thanks to this, he had survived Lamber's kick, albeit barely.

"But who was that man… Even if he was a soldier sent by the royal family to investigate, he was too absurd… It was fortunate that I could use this dilapidated house to kill him…"

Folbein looked forward.

A pillar of dust rose from a pile of debris. Lamber, in his great armor, stood there, having pushed aside the wreckage.

The father and daughter, who should have been crushed by the debris, were also standing unharmed before Lamber.

"Huh!?"

Lamber had stood calmly, even as the debris fell.

Protecting the father and daughter with his massive body was no problem for him.

His strength was more than enough to handle the falling debris, and his armor was sturdy enough to make it possible.

He had not emerged immediately to avoid injuring the father and daughter.

"No way, that's impossible!"

Folbein, crying out, turned to run away from Lamber.

Lamber leaped and chased after him, delivering a horizontal blow to the back of Folbein's neck from mid-air.

The force of the blow caused Folbein's body to spin and his forehead to hit the ground, stopping him.

"You said something interesting, 'Pied Piper Demon.' Because of you, the valuable prisoner was crushed by the debris. I will make you tell me everything you know."

"K-knight, that person, he's already…"

"Hmm…"

Lamber, hearing Althe's father, lifted Folbein by the shoulder.

Folbein's head dangled, the neck broken.

Lamber was not good at holding back.

Especially since the blow was delivered from mid-air, the weight was unavoidable.

He had tried to hold back, but it was in vain.

"……"

Lamber silently and carefully placed Folbein's body on the ground.

"K-knight, that…"

Althe's father spoke.

Seeing Lamber's somber mood, he felt he should say something, but he couldn't find the right words.

Lamber's existence was beyond his understanding, and it was impossible for him to come up with comforting words.

"…It's fine. The next private soldier will be taken alive."

Lamber nodded and said.

"Next, does that mean you will fight the viscount's private soldiers again!?"