Mystery of Existence

They gaze upon the town from afar, feeling vigor that they finally spotted a town — for them it's a place they could rest comfortablely and peacefully, even they could see people on the town doing their activities, a lot of merchants across the streets — creating a hustle in those streets. Jonathan observes from afar and knowing the town has everything they need, like have a place to stay, guild, and more. A suitable place to rest when they're tired, Jonathan begun to move his horse and led into the town. As they arrived upon the entrance, the walls that protect the town were quite low but it is durable to withstand an heavy attack, it also guarded by several local knights, armed with various weapons; spears, bows, swords and shields. They stopped Jonathan and his wagon to inspect his wagon for security reason, and one of the knight asked him if he has a guild-card. Which immediately Jonathan show it to the knight, seeing the guild-card he nodded and step aside, ordered the rest to go aside to letting Jonathan and his wagon in, because Jonathan having a guild-card which enough to identify the person and what rank do the adventurer is.

Thus, they enter the town and welcomed by the crowd and a lot of merchants, selling and buying stuffs. They astonished by this scene, a peaceful place with populated people, in that time, Jonathan wandering around the town, finding a inn for them to rent some rooms and rest. It took them ten minutes as the inn located not far from the entrance, it is also located near the guild — which the inn always filled with adventurer. As always, they parked the horse in a exclusive place for those, it also cost only few silver coins which includes checking horse condition, wagon inspection to make sure it is safe, and a meal for the horse.

Furthermore, Jonathan and Mary left the wagon and began to enter the inn. When they entered the inn, they've seen quite a lot adventurer sitting on those chairs and some are seems like having better experience, and some of them were new to this environment of adventure. Jonathan first walk past them, Mary followed Jonathan from behind, she felt someone were looking at her — she glances behind her to find a group of adventurer gaze upon her beauty, and they whisper something to their partner, seemingly talking about making her their girlfriend. Of course using a status of adventurer and try to lure victim with a treasure that they guaranteed, but she aware of those kind of tricks and wouldn't be fall from it. Which is why she doesn't like those types of male that only prefer woman's beauty not true personality and also not from love, she decided to ignore their gazes. In the same time, Jonathan are talking to one of employee, to rent two separate rooms for him and his partner; Mary. Eventually, Jonathan had finished renting the rooms with the keys held on Jonathan's hand, he then handed one of the key to Mary as he walked past Mary to goes upper floor.

Mary look on the key and turn around to follow Jonathan, but before she could come near him. The same group whose gaze upon her beauty blocked her path, their faces are the same as bastard, the hint of lust are quite visible on their faces. They approach her in intimidate posture, she surprised and backing off from them, she knew they had another intent to her.

"Hey pretty girl, it's quite surprising to see a beautiful woman visit to this place."

One of them spoke first, his voice is calm yet suspicious, and the rest are grinning which alert Mary for need to take quick action.

"Do you have time? We want to know you better."

He keep talking, stepping forward slowly and his hand slowly raise toward her, but she quickly slapped his hand and jumped backwards, creating a safe distance. Those slap's sound make a attention to all adventurer in the room, they intrigued about what would happen and just watch rather than helping her.

"Sorry, but i'm not interested with you guys. Y'all aren't my type."

She decline them in front of everyone, gasp sound filled the room. But the man still confronted her and not letting her escape from their grasp, slowly this scene become intense, Mary keep resisting their confessions but they also not giving up to make her fall into them, she can't hold her annoyance as her patience slowly on its max limit. She decide to ignore them because this will not reach the end of it, which she hurry passing them, her annoyance face can be seen. But when she passed them, suddenly, one of the man grab her wrist firmly, with this action, their intention are clear. Mary turn her head toward the man and glared him in furious face, in this moment, she no longer holding herself. This were already beyond her boundaries and she immediately cast a lethal magic, one of her free hand move toward him with a magic circle place on her palm.

In speed that he cannot react to dodge the attack, immediately he got direct hit into his stomach. Flying into walls and cracks it, he immediately unconscious of her sudden and immense power, his friends shocked but drawn their sword to fight her. Without any choice, she had to fight them — casting several low-magic circles on her side and aimed at them. Everyone began to betting one of them, some other bet on Mary while some bet on those group.

"You need to paid for that!"

One of them roared, it seems that guy were the leader, judging by his appearance which he's wearing a expensive-looking silver-gold armor, with shining silver blade and golden handle. He stepped forward, his face filled with confident that he would win this fight in ease, not knowing that Mary were a level-Master Mage, she also assisted Jonathan on fighting against Black-Dragon and Carvosh Kingdom. And resulting a win on their side.

Meanwhile, Jonathan on that time were packing his stuffs inside of his room, he finished it quickly and now he just laying down to refresh his body. But his rest is being halted by the noises beneath him, a noise of excitement and intrigued raised up even the second floor could hear those noises. Jonathan sit up and covered his ears, he confused by why these noises were so loud, is there something happen below him? He curious but also frustrated, he cannot sleep if the noise keep appearing. For him to rest well, Jonathan burst out from his room, going directly toward downstair. He arrived upon the first floor and he spoke in annoyance.

"What the hell is going on in here?! Could you guys lower the noi-"

He ceased speaking as he observed the unfolding scene before him. A crowd had gathered, drawn by a palpable sense of magic and mana emanating from a specific direction. With growing curiosity, he approached the crowd to discern the source of the commotion. Once within the gathering, he discovered the cause of the disturbance;

Mary Carter was engaging in combat with a group of men who appeared to be desperately defending themselves against her onslaught. Despite her relatively low level of magic, the attackers were clearly struggling to counter her assaults, which illustrated the power dynamics associated with a Master Mage. He noted the fury on Mary's face, likely stemming from a recent encounter with some male individuals, which he found somewhat amusing. However, he recognized that her current state indicated she had reached her limit. It was imperative that he intervene to prevent the situation from escalating further.

Jonathan stepped forward toward Mary, placing his hand on her shoulder, reassuring her and warning her not to let anger consume her. Mary responded with a burst of sharp words.

"They doing it first! I've had enough of their confession! I already rejected them but they insist! That make me pissed off!"

She regarded Jonathan with evident annoyance, pouting as she crossed her arms beneath her chest, while the magic circles gradually faded away. Following an unyielding assault, the group collapsed to their knees, exhausted both physically and mentally. Jonathan surveyed the group before directing his attention back to her once more.

"But don't you able to just restrain them? I'm sure that more effective than... Attacking them like that."

Jonathan advised Mary, but she disregarded his counsel, asserting that she had been subjected to harassment. She claimed a right to self-defense, which she exercised by employing low-level magic that nonetheless caused significant destruction.

"And you won't help me to out of this situation, instead you've just go away and directly into upstairs."

Jonathan responded to her question while scratching the back of his head.

"You know... You've strong aren't you? You could handle these situations by yourself without me, with your magics."

Jonathan's observations were accurate; even in his absence, she was capable of managing these situations calmly, as she had in the past. However, it appeared that her tolerance had been exceeded. She felt a significant degree of frustration due to their audacious actions, which clearly violated her privacy. Their behavior had crossed the established boundaries of personal space when one individual unexpectedly grasped her wrist, catching her off guard. This prompted Mary to respond defensively, though her actions were not intended to cause severe harm to them.

"I know! But they are already cross the line! I couldn't help myself but to punish those pervert."

As the group gradually rose to their feet, trembling, they attempted to flee from her. However, Mary noticed their movement, quickly turned, and initiated a series of spells directed at them. The individuals experienced intense discomfort due to the devastating nature of her powers, causing them to sweat profusely as they observed multiple magical circles forming, poised to unleash an attack. Reacting instinctively, they activated their protective shields, clearly displaying their fear. Yet, before Mary could launch her assault, Jonathan promptly pushed her from behind and dragged her toward the exit.

Consequently, the group that had been harassing her ultimately recognized the need to cease their actions, indicating that they should refrain from engaging with her in the future. Meanwhile, Mary and Jonathan walked side by side, with her visibly annoyed expression still evident due to Jonathan's intervention in her conflict. As they traversed the town, Jonathan took the lead, intending to find a suitable location that would uplift her spirits and help her move past the recent unpleasant encounter. It was clear that their journey would be significantly more challenging if they did not address this situation. After a few minutes of walking, Jonathan's attention was drawn to a restaurant ahead of them, which prominently showcased an array of appetizing dishes in its display, suggesting that it offered high-quality meals to attract patrons. He pointed toward the establishment and inquired if Mary would like to dine there. She raised her gaze and examined the displayed meals, which elicited a growl from her stomach. Embarrassed by the audible sound, Mary blushed, while Jonathan observed her reaction and recognized her hunger, noting that she could not resist the allure of the tempting offerings.

"I'll buy it for you, but there is one condition that you need to fulfilled."

Mary lifted her head to meet Jonathan's gaze as they walked along the street. Initially, she contemplated whether she would accept the conditions, which could potentially be disadvantageous. However, her attention was drawn to the meals displayed in the storefronts — these offerings appeared quite enticing. Consequently, she inquired about the conditions; if they aligned with her expectations, she would consider adhering to them.

"But what are the condition? If it's not the one i expected, i will not accept it."

Jonathan understood that she would respond in that manner; as a young woman who values her independence, she is unlikely to accept overly restrictive rules or conditions due to her strong sense of pride. Therefore, he recognized the specific conditions that would lead her to consider the proposal, particularly given the allure of the delicious meals being offered. Jonathan halted his movement, prompting Mary to do the same. He then turned to face her and articulated the proposed condition.

"The condition is that, if everytime you've got flirted on by someone or some groups, and they goes beyond the limits of yours, i want you to use an restraint magics rather than using an offensive magics. Do you accept this condition?"

The stipulation presented appears to be straightforward; she simply needs to utilize non-offensive magic rather than harmful forms. However, she is experiencing hesitation regarding whether to accept this condition, as she has a strong desire to partake in the meals as well. Considering that the parameters established are intended for her safety and the well-being of others, she ultimately decides to accept Jonathan's condition and exhales a sigh of resignation.

"Fine, i accept it and i swear myself that i'll use the harmless magic. So, the promise, you will buy that meals whatever i want right?"

She gestured toward the food display, and Jonathan observed the eagerness reflected in her expression, which elicited a chuckle from him. He acknowledged her remarks with a nod and responded accordingly.

"That's right, whatever you want to choose, i have enough money to buy them."

The promise of acquiring exquisite and gourmet dishes ignited Mary's enthusiasm. With the assurance that she could select any meal she desired, Mary moved forward with palpable excitement, demonstrating her eagerness.

"Then! Let's go Jonathan! I really want to taste those dishes."

Following the earlier events, she proceeded toward the restaurant, allowing no opportunity for Jonathan to respond or to catch up with her. Consequently, he began to trail behind her. Upon their arrival at the restaurant, they were greeted by an opulent interior characterized by elegantly designed tables and chairs that suggested affluence. The enticing aroma of delectable dishes wafted from the kitchen, as the chef prepared meals that were promptly served by the waitstaff. A waiter approached them with courteous gestures, guiding Mary and Jonathan to an available table.

Once seated in the plush and comfortable chairs, a waiter provided each of them with a menu, bowing respectfully before departing to attend to other patrons. Jonathan perused the menu, noting the variety of offerings; the majority of dishes were priced around 55 silver coins, with the more extravagant options ranging from 2 to 5 gold coins. He sighed, realizing that dining here could significantly deplete his finances, especially as he observed Mary eagerly scanning the menu, her eyes darting back and forth in anticipation.

After a brief period of consideration, Mary ultimately decided to order a dish known as Yio Serh, which originates from a specific village within a particular territorial kingdom in the East. This dish is a soup consisting of mushrooms, carrots, various cuts of chicken, and a cream called Rtoprh. Additionally, she ordered Grishork, which features medium-cooked beef from a high-quality cow, enhanced with a distinctive barbecue sauce known as Ioshisk Tar, and finally, a side of Hortish. Each of these dishes is priced at the equivalent of five gold coins.

Upon finalizing their selections, Jonathan called for the waiter. Once the waiter arrived at their table, Jonathan began to relay their orders. The waiter diligently recorded their requests on a small clipboard and acknowledged them, informing the duo that their meals would be served in twelve minutes. The waiter then proceeded to relay the order to the kitchen.

As the designated time elapsed, precisely twelve minutes later, the waiter returned to their table, presenting all the meals they had ordered. The enticing aroma of the food wafted through the air, provoking a noticeable growl from Mary's stomach. Her expression reflected her anticipation, as she stared at the delectable dishes before her, unable to contain her eagerness. Jonathan gestured, inviting her to begin her meal first. With heightened enthusiasm, she nodded in appreciation and commenced eating, savoring the exquisite flavors that left her longing to indulge in all the culinary delights the world has to offer.

Within the boundaries of Tyóush's territory, the inhabitants remain unaware of the ongoing conflicts between Humans and Demons, including Jonathan and Mary. Fortunately, these conflicts are situated far from their immediate surroundings. The Demonic forces have yet to extend their reach into the East, and as such, the local population has not encountered any Demons. However, it is worth noting that one of the Demonic Generals has devised a plan to conquer a nation located in the Eastern region. Should Jonathan engage in battle against them, the situation may escalate, especially given his previous victories over the two strongest Dragons on Earth—foes that even the Generals of Demons have been unable to defeat. It is conceivable that the Demonic faction is aware of Jonathan's potential, leading them to view him as a significant threat that must be neutralized prior to the emergence of the Hero.

Meanwhile, the Hero and his party have departed to confront one of the Generals, known as the Darkness Knight. Upon reaching the periphery of the kingdom's territory, the Hero is met by a battalion of Holy Knights dispatched by the Cardinal. These knights have been sent to assist the Hero in his endeavor against the Darkness Knight, as the Cardinal recognizes the formidable nature of this General and has therefore sent the strongest Holy Knights to support the Hero. Among the group, one Holy Knight steps forward, appearing to be the commander of the battalion. The Hero senses an overwhelming aura emanating from this individual, who presents as both powerful and imposing in stature.

"Hello Tirkavash, it is pleasure to meet you. An destiny Hero that grants an Holy's Authority, we've come here to help you, defeating the Darkness Knight. We know that they are strong, so we need to unite."

The Commander of the Holy Knights assured his counterpart that both he and his men would fight alongside him for the sake of humanity. They shook hands and commenced their advance toward the territory controlled by the Darkness Knight. Meanwhile, a Scout-Class demon entered the Darkness Knight's chamber, immediately overwhelmed by an intense sense of fear that permeated the air in the presence of the Darkness Knight. The demon nervously delivered a report regarding the situation, informing him of the Hero and the entire battalion of Holy Knights advancing toward their position.

Seated in an authoritative manner upon his command throne, the Darkness Knight observed the Hero's resolve with amusement, noting that the latter had not yielded despite substantial losses. Rising from his seat, he grasped the sword resting beside the chair and proceeded to issue orders to his entire army to prepare for an imminent attack, signaling his intention to confront the Hero once more. This development could prove unfavorable.

As the days progressed, The Hero, along with his party and the Holy Knight, successfully reclaimed their territories from the demons, approaching the core of the Demon's Defense. However, before they could advance further into the depths of the Demonic territory, they were intercepted by the battalions commanded by the Darkness Knight himself, who positioned himself before them, surveying their presence. The atmosphere became palpable with tension, akin to a heavy weight; an overwhelming sense of fear enveloped the group, each individual perceiving the danger emanating from this single formidable being. Many of them experienced perspiration due to apprehension, yet their resolve remained unbroken. Tirkavash, determined, drew his sword and pointed it defiantly at the Darkness Knight. Accompanied by his party, he advanced, with the Commander standing resolutely beside him. The Darkness Knight's expression behind his helmet conveyed a sinister amusement as he observed the unwavering resistance of his adversaries. A tense standoff ensued, with both sides locked in a fierce gaze. Tirkavash felt a flicker of anxiety, recalling his previous defeat at the hands of this opponent, but he was resolute in his determination to prevail this time. With a sudden surge of courage, The Hero propelled himself toward the Darkness Knight, followed closely by his party, accompanied by the rallying cry of the Holy Knight's Commander.

"Charge!"

With that command, entire battalions commenced their assault on the demons. Simultaneously, the Darkness Knight emitted a low growl, prompting the demons to initiate their own attack. Consequently, the conflict between the demons and the Holy Knights ensued. In the midst of this chaos, the Hero charged directly at the Darkness Knight, utilizing all of his mana to cast an enhancement on his sword, intending to maximize the damage inflicted. As he approached the stationary Darkness Knight, the Hero began his offensive by swinging his sword toward him. However, in an instant, the Darkness Knight drew his sword and effortlessly blocked the formidable strike from Tirkavash. The resulting clash between the sword of the Darkness Knight and the powerful blow from Tirkavash generated a significant shockwave, causing the Hero to gasp and propel backwards through the air with considerable force. He ultimately crashed to the ground, rolling roughly before regaining his composure while kneeling and slowly rising in a trembling motion.

The Hero was taken aback to observe the Darkness Knight standing seemingly unfazed, as if confronted only by a gentle breeze. As the Hero attempted another strike, the Darkness Knight suddenly appeared beside him and delivered a powerful kick, causing the Hero's armor to shatter. The blow propelled him a considerable distance, resulting in a crash that created a small crater upon his landing. Although his vision was impaired, he could discern the Darkness Knight engaging his companions, who were being overwhelmed by the adversary's formidable strength. This was a one-versus-five conflict, with the Darkness Knight attacking Birbosh at a velocity that surpassed human perception. Fortunately, Birbosh managed to evade the full force of the attacks and sustained only minor cuts to his face, incurred from the proximity to the lengthy sword of the Darkness Knight. Meanwhile, the archer Saravhask launched multiple magical arrows aimed at the enemy's armor; however, the arrows proved ineffective, rebounding off without penetrating the defense.

The attention of the Darkness Knight shifted toward Saravhask, prompting her to sense imminent danger. She swiftly vacated her position and relocated; however, the Darkness Knight's attributes of durability, speed, and strength were significantly superior to those of nearly all humans and races. He suddenly materialized before her, effectively obstructing her path. Raising his sword, he forcefully struck the ground, generating a shockwave that created minor seismic activity, reverberating throughout the vicinity. Although she managed to evade the initial attack, she found herself in mid-air, a particularly vulnerable state. In an instant, the Darkness Knight swung his sword upwards, unleashing a formidable slash aimed at her. Saravhask promptly invoked a shield magic; however, it was easily penetrated, despite the shield being comprised of multiple layers. Then, the blade tore through her chest, leaving a deep, searing wound. The gash burned as if infused with fire, her skin melting away upon impact. Blood surged forth in torrents, spilling over her trembling hands as she desperately pressed against the wound, trying in vain to stem the flow. The pain was overwhelming, forcing her to the ground with a ragged groan. But the injury was too grave-too deep. Her strength waned, and with each passing second, life drained from her body like the blood pooling beneath her.

The remaining members of Hero's party swiftly gathered around her, with Boithavor positioning himself in front to shield his comrades and protect his injured companion. Covaish and Tohkav began casting various healing spells to address Saravhask's severe wounds, a process that would require several hours due to the critical nature of the injury inflicted by the Darkness Knight — one of the knight's formidable skills. They were tirelessly attempting to stabilize her condition, and while healing was occurring, it progressed slowly and was not entirely effective. Fortunately, the attack did not involve poison; had it been a poisoned wound, the healing would have proven considerably more challenging.

Meanwhile, the Darkness Knight advanced toward them. Boithavor stepped forward to confront him, resolutely blocking the knight's path and staring at him with intense determination. From a distance, the Hero could only observe his friends and comrades struggle against the formidable foe. Noticing the injury sustained by one of his companions, he gradually regained his composure. Despite experiencing physical pain, he rose from his previous position and stood with a sense of resolve, determined to assist his party in their time of need.

-To be Continued...