I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

Dim lights from the window frame pierced through the kitchen, casting a gloomy glow around Raph.

It wasn't like he had not heard her coming, of course he did. But she wouldn't reveal herself if she knew he was aware of her presence already and he didn't want to spend unnecessary energy to force her out. So, this outcome was convenient.

Raph remained still for a moment, then hesitated as he attempted to turn around. She grasped the back of his shirt tightly and pressed the knife further, freckles of blood dribbling down as she said hoarsely.

"Don't move".

Well now that he coaxed her out of hiding, planning what to do next was delicate. Whoever this girl's identity was, pointed clearly to being their chef and the tone of her voice was laced with a hidden fear. A fear she tried desperately to hide by being tough but he could easily point it out.

"Relax, I'm not one of Gonzalo's men" He whispered quietly, trying to placate the girl. Her grip on the knife shifted, but then held firm.

"What was that noise outside ? Did you come here with an army to take his place ? What part or the Red Peacemakers are you from ?"

Her questions echoed softly in his head. "So you know about the Red Peacemakers then ? Are you a staff ?" He asked, curiosity laced in his tone.

The girl hesitated, her breath shaky as she asked. "Wha–What do you mean ? Aren't you one of them ?". Her grip became slightly loose while it shook.

Raph sighed. "If I was, I should have killed you long ago. Don't they have ways of detecting people's presence ?" He asked.

The girl shook her head and then slowly lowered the knife.

"...how…how can I trust you ?" She asked, a mix of emotions etched in her voice.

Raph slowly turned around, pushing her knife away, and stared deeply into the hazel eyes of a young dirty–brown haired girl that seemed to be in her late teens.

Soot and dirt covered her face, and her hair was tied in a messy bun. Her maid's attire was covered with dirt from hiding and soot from the coal stove.

"I am Raffaelo of the Jun household. You can trust me". He said sternly, staring deeply into her eyes as she took a few steps back, her gaze locked with his.

A moment of silence passed, the girl staring at him with a raised brow, as if contemplating deeply. Her face turned into a scowl when she grabbed a pan and threw it at him.

Raph dodged, and she picked up the knife to attack him.

He swiftly dodged her attack and grabbed her hands, locking them tightly behind her.

"What do you think you're doing ?" Raph asked, with a raised tone.

The girl cackled loudly. "you think–you think you can fool me ? A member of the twelve great families is never blind !" She cried out, whipping and lashing her body in a desperate attempt to escape his grasp but it was futile.
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His hold on her was firm but she seemed adamant on escaping.

"I only look blind ! I can see fine !".

Raph said in disbelief when memories of his past life reeled through his thoughts.

'How could I forget ?' He thought to himself. He was someone that was mistaken as a blind person to most people during the war against the demons because of lack of information.

Some had risen to the ranks from the slums and knowledge of how the only son of the Jun household looked was never accurate.

And this seemed to be a very similar situation. The girl suddenly pulled her body to the wall, climbing up with her legs as she attempted to back flip but Raph simply pulled her from the wall and crashed her onto the table.

The loud sound of ceramic plates breaking and copper pots falling to the ground echoed as Morganna burst into the Kitchen.

"What's going on, Raph ?!" She asked when she froze on the spot on seeing the rather interesting scene in her presence.

Raph's arms were gently pushing the shoulders of a girl in a maids outfit to the table while one of his legs held her's. Both seemed to be struggling, well one seemed to be struggling, the other just seemed annoyed at this point.

Raph and the girl turned to Morganna at the same time when a smug expression grew on Morganna's face.

"Whatcha doing, brother ?"

Raph's mouth opened agape as he glared at her. "It's clearly not what you're thinking Morganna !".

Morganna giggled as she turned towards the girl that struggled fruitlessly.

"you may as well stop now, even if you try to escape, there's no way for you".

The girl glanced at them for a while and then slowly loosened her grip on Raph until she finally gave in.

Raph sighed, pulling her up with his hands still held firmly against hers. He didn't trust what next she would do, she was too frightened to trust any of them at the moment.

"...what's your name ?" Morganna asked, taking a look at the interior of the Kitchen when she lingered on the boiling pot on the stove.

The girl remained silent for a moment but with a slight push from Raph tightening his grip, she replied through gritted teeth. "...Rina, My name is Rina". Her gaze was fixed on the wall, refusing to take a look at the two figures in her presence.

Morganna scanned the girl, Rina quietly as she approached her. "We're looking for the girls he took captive, Do you know where they are ?" She asked, her tone laced with curiosity as she thought. 'She's human'

"..Wh–Why do I have to tell you that ? You want to sell them off too don't you ?" She spat bitterly, grinding her teeth in contained fury.

The Juns glanced at each other then Raph asked. "Then, I presume there were many others who got sold ?".

Rina, the girl turned to face them, a hint of curiosity and hope in her eyes. "...are…are you not really part of the Red Peacemakers ?".

Morganna smiled at her as she shook her head. "we're siblings of the Jun household, didn't my brother introduce himself ?".

Rina slowly looked up at Raph as he loosened his grip. "...but..but he's blind ?" She asked, massaging her aching hands.

Raph clicked his tongue. "I can see just fine and I am not blind. I said this before". He folded his hands while leaning on the table while the girl glanced at them quietly for a moment.

"Then, you came to save them ? The beast folks ?"

They both nodded in unison. "Though, we decided to check separately". Morganna said, turning towards her brother. "The door I took led to an armory. It should be the last door".

Raph nodded as they walked out of the kitchen and towards the last door, Rina following behind them.

"You know the way, right ? you seem to be the Chef". Raph asked, giving way for Rina to take the lead.

Rina nodded, opening the door that led to a large hall with tables and benches.

The hall was suffused with dim sunlight penetrating through the opaque windows and a podium stood farther away from the benches, a table and chair placed there for a single person, most likely the leader.

Some wooden plates had been set while the benches were left in disarray.

"They seemed alarmed a while ago, was it because of you two ?" She asked, curiosity in her tone as they walked through the Hall towards another door by their left.

Raph observed the hall, the humid sensation creeping up his skin. "Yes, and now we can't find the leader and the captives".

Rina stole a glance or two from them and they noticed her frantic behavior quickly, when they got to the door.

"What is it ?" Raph asked, his eyebrows raised into an arch.

She flinched as she opened the door leading down to a basement. "Why didn't the great families come all this time? The number of beast folks that have been sold…and abused…I can't even begin to fathom". Her breath was shaky as they walked down the stairs. "We needed help, they needed help.

I didn't mind what they did to me but the beast folks were another issue, they did terrible…horrendous things to them ! and ! and ! and all this while the king and twelve families have been seating nicely, enjoying their counterfeit peace while worms like us were suffering".

Her breath was shaky, taking a stop and leaning on the walls of the stairs as tears swelled up in her eyes.

Raph and Morganna watched her silently, knowing words of affirmation would not suffice. It was true that business of the slums wasnt of concern to the higher–ups and that was why it was difficult to capture Gonzalo Jean at the time in his past life.

Though things may have strayed a little from his past life, the fear and pain that those men had imbued in these women were very much in the present.

Morganna walked down the stairs and tapped her gently.

" ..Although, an apology may not be helpful right now but what I can give to you is a word of advice". Her voice grew stern, and her eyes pierced through Rina's eyes sharply.

"Be it in the slums or the royal palace, a single rule conquers all and that rule is, Power.

Power to protect oneself, to protect our loved ones, to protect our self interests, our goals and our ambitions. Only the strong strive.

Why do you think those vagabonds of humans haven't attempted to kidnap royalties or the King of Elves himself or the Mermaid King ? Because they are powerful and they have powerful forces around them.

They would need an army, they would need to wage war in order to bring them to their knees and they are frankly incapable of that, and that is because they are weak.

In this wicked world where anything goes on, You must be strong, You must be in that percentage of society that has it. You must have Power".