NOVEL WEB Chapter 168: Kiki and Nanami!
The sun blazed in the sky, casting its brilliant rays over a barren stretch of land. Its light caught on the youth's long golden hair, making it shimmer like molten gold.
His piercing blue eyes scanned the soldiers encircling him.
Cradled in his arms was the shinobi, while another woman in leather silently trailed behind, her head bowed.
"Leave," Zarek commanded slowly as he stepped forward.
The soldiers hesitated but took a step back, still maintaining their circle.
Zarek said nothing, his silence heavier than any word. He calmly approached his hammer, lifted it, and strapped it onto his back:
"It's time to go."
The soldiers' firm encirclement made Zarek sigh. He didn't want to cause unnecessary deaths, nor was it his role to kill them all.
He'd already dismantled the base by taking out the top dogs. If he left the rest to the soldiers, they'd be more than happy.
"Lady, please forgive my excuse," Zarek said, glancing at the bow-woman.
She tilted her head in confusion, but before she could react, Zarek grabbed her waist tightly with one hand while holding the shinobi in the other.
With a powerful push against the ground, he leapt high, soaring over the soldiers and breaking through their encirclement in a single bound.
Landing smoothly on the ground, Zarek nodded with a satisfied expression before turning and walking away.
The soldiers stood in uneasy silence, the quiet stretching long enough to feel uncomfortable—until one finally broke it:
"What do we do now?"
In his words, the other soldiers' faces hardened with bitter uncertainty. None of them knew what to do.
If they ran, they'd be branded traitors, doomed to humiliation even if spared execution. But staying meant certain death.
"Have we called for reinforcements?" someone asked.
"Yes, but, time won't be enough—"
Before he could finish, thousands of arrows rained down from the sky, cutting through the soldiers like a river of blood.
They stared in horror as a thousand-strong Ragnarok army marched into view, an unstoppable, perfectly organized force.
***
Zarek was traveling through the wasteland when suddenly his eyes flicked back, and he sneered.
"So, they were following me."
The bow woman's eyes betrayed a flicker of confusion, but she said nothing, fear tightening her throat.
Zarek glanced at her with curiosity.
"Why did you follow me willingly? Aren't you scared of the fate that awaits surrendered soldiers?"
She pouted slightly:
"I'm not a soldier."
"Then what are you?"
"I'm a mercenary. According to the Seven Kingdoms' convention, as long as a mercenary surrenders, they still retain their human rights. And if they redeem themselves with enough money, they can be free again."
"Oh, you were a mercenary. No wonder," Zarek said, then glanced at the shinobi in his arms. "And who is she?"
"She's from one of the clans in the Reinhart Empire. She'll be terrified when she wakes up."
"A prisoner loses all human rights and becomes a complete slave to their captor," Zarek muttered with a sigh.
"Yeah. My name is Kiki, by the way," Kiki chuckled. "The shinobi's name is Nanami."
"I see." Zarek nodded.
"Now, can you please let me go?" Kiki asked, glancing down at her waist where Zarek's hand had been holding her.
"Okay." Zarek released his grip, and Kiki quietly followed behind him, while Nanami, still unconscious, remained in his embrace.
As they traveled in silence, Kiki glanced at Nanami, who was still cradled in Zarek's princess carry. Her cheeks slowly puffed out.
'Hmm, for some reason, I feel left out.'
She sighed and finally spoke, "I'm tired. Can you carry me?"
Zarek stopped in his tracks and tilted his head. "You don't look tired."
'This bastard is so handsome but so dense,' Kiki cursed silently, but forced an honest expression.
"Yeah, I really am tired. Can you carry me?"
"Sure," Zarek shrugged, "but it'll cost you extra if you want a ride."
Kiki fell silent for a moment before asking, "How much?"
Zarek just smiled, reached out, and pulled her into his embrace, "Hold me tight. Let's go."
"Okay." Kiki smiled brightly, feeling the strength of his arms and the hardness of his body. Her cheeks flushed a deep, fiery red.
Before long, they arrived at the gates of Suncity, which swung open to welcome them.
Zarek took in the scene silently. His body bore streaks of blood, and his very presence commanded respect.
A booming announcement echoed through the city:
"Kaine has fought bravely against Ten Level Nine Telekinetic Users, of the same level and killed eight while capturing two alive!"
The declaration shook the crowd to its core.
The people erupted in cheers, their voices rising in joy as they threw flowers along Zarek's path.
"Kill those Reinhart bastards!"
"They burned and looted my village, thank you, Master Kaine, for fighting those bloodsucking fiends!"
Tears of joy streamed down some faces as roars erupted like a festival.
Zarek watched the outpouring in silence, his steps steady as he moved forward, quietly thinking:
'How simple-minded these people are.'
He kept walking until he reached the front, where soldiers snapped to attention and saluted him.
Before General Gerald stood, awaiting his return.
"Welcome back, soldier. You've achieved what no one else could," the general said with respect.
"It is my honor, General." Zarek returned the salute of his own.
"Haha, we'll be colleagues soon. No need for formalities, Princess Melissa is already waiting for you. Go ahead."
Zarek glanced at the two women. "What about them?"
"They'll be escorted, and their fate is yours to decide, General Kaine." General Gerald spoke with a hint of meaning while looking at the two women.
"Understood." He nodded with a shrug, Zarek felt like he definitely misunderstood however he was too lazy to explain, and then he walked forward, soon reaching a grand stage where the Princess of Carnage, Melissa, awaited.
"Welcome," Melissa greeted with utmost seriousness. "You have earned great military merit, and this ceremony is to honour you."
Around them, dozens of hummingbirds hovered, capturing every moment and angle, broadcasting live to the empire's news channels.