Chapter 7, The Blacksmith's Mercenary

"You should leave as well," said Reis, turning the horse's head, taking a deep breath, utterly exhausted. "I apologize for startling you."

"Goodness!" Kirk muttered softly as he charged forward. Reyes met him head-on, a layer of white light coalescing on his sword, shimmering brightly. As Kirk rushed in, he murmured something under his breath, and suddenly, a ring on his right thumb began to emit a black glow

Before he could finish his words, the crossbow bolt had already flown towards him!

"Stand up!" Les shouted, his face pale and looking somewhat eerie. The professional priest tried to get up, but his legs would not obey, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

"You are insane, how dare you show such disrespect to the divine," said the prostrate priest, trembling.

Thank you, said Reis

What... what is prayer? The professional priest was already confused and asked.

It turns out he is bald! The bald man covered his left arm with his right hand, blood gushing forth, as his entire left hand had been severed, revealing the white bone beneath. His face was pale, his teeth clenched tightly, and he coldly remarked: "One hand for another, not bad." Looking at Kreek, his right hand had also been chopped off, lying on the ground. It turned out the bald man had deliberately created an opening, using his left hand to block the longsword. At the moment the longsword was obstructed, he severed Kreek's right hand, shattering his imposing presence!

You deceive the poor using divine pretense, robbing them of all their possessions and bringing despair to every soul in need of help, you scoundrel! I now give you a chance, an opportunity to refute my claims. " Raising his longsword in his left hand, Reis aimed it at the professional priest's forehead, "Pray now; if the divine appears, I will let you go. Otherwise..." As he spoke, his longsword slowly approached the priest's grotesquely fat face.

"Yes, your god," said Reis, as he slowly rode away into the distance, "God has never been fair..."

"Kill him!" Klic shouted fiercely, waving his hand as the other ten dragon knights surged forward. With no way to escape, Reis suddenly grabbed Chiv and held him in front of his chest

He said that you and he are engaged in a dirty business of deception together," Reis said coldly as he looked at the knight.

"Damn blacksmith!" Reyes cursed

When a loud bang sounded, the two horses veered apart and then turned their heads back. Reis swayed in the saddle but managed to steady himself; a warmth surged in his chest, and golden stars danced before his eyes. Looking at Klic, he saw that the grip of his hand had been jolted open, and the sword was on the verge of slipping from his grasp.

Reis dismounted from the horse and tied the reins to a tree beside the house. The clever horse quietly lowered its head to graze on the grass, making no sound. Reis approached the door and found it unlocked, so he pushed it open but did not enter immediately; he stumbled over something on the ground and nearly fell. Reis mumbled and cursed under his breath as he groped his way to the table and lit a small oil lamp. Instantly, a warm light spread out, illuminating the entire room. Reis was startled, staring in astonishment at his own house. This time, it wasn't that something was missing, but rather that there were many new items: a stove, forks, hammers, and piles of black charcoal scattered everywhere, along with chunks of iron lying about, making the already cramped room even more crowded. Reis sat on the bed, but then jumped up again, picking up a long bow from the bed.

What happened to that priest?" Greg's smile vanished as he asked

"Me?" Reis snorted, "I am not insane, for the gods cannot hear my voice, just as they cannot hear the cries of all the suffering in the world. Moreover, the gods cannot hear you either, for you are a false priest." Reis lifted the professional priest again to meet his gaze, and due to the exertion, his right arm split open, blood gushing out.

Boss, don't die!

"Shameless!" Reis shouted, his eyes wide with anger. The professional priest was so frightened that he suddenly choked, his throat feeling as if it were being squeezed, rendering him unable to make a sound. All that could be heard was a faint dripping sound, as the professional priest actually wet his pants.

"I demand that you explain, Knight of the Creek," Chekhov said solemnly, "otherwise I will have to report this unusual incident to the Tikhurian Knights' Guild"

Reis smiled faintly, and the bald man was unwilling to show any weakness, even in words

"I am not doing this for you," the bald man forced a smile, pressing his right hand against the wound, but blood continued to seep out. He endured the pain, beads of sweat the size of soybeans sliding down his face. "I also hate these pretentious knights, relying on some broken thing to bully others, it really makes one angry... Besides, if you die, where would I go to settle the score with you?"

"These are all my treasures..." Greg said, looking up at Reyes with a start.

Heaven, what is this... ...

"You are a good man, I can see that... Next time we meet, I hope we can have a drink together, enjoy ourselves thoroughly, and then..." Before the bald man could finish speaking, he fainted from the pain and fell backward, lying on his back. The bandits shouted and rushed over, surrounding him in a frenzy, all talking at once.

"Yes, let's do it! Boss, hold on, we are going to kidnap the therapist right now... God knows if the therapist will pass by here..." The robbers exchanged words, each taking turns, like headless flies, raising their bald heads, shouting and clamoring, disappearing into the woods

Klick glanced at Chev, then at Reis, and gradually his face began to turn pale, even his beard bristled. "It's all your doing, you little rascal!" Klick suddenly erupted in anger, spurring his horse and charging towards Reis.

The road has returned to calm, and Qifu stands there in a daze, seemingly unable to believe everything that has happened. It was so sudden, and yet it ended so quickly, leaving only a corpse and a severed hand wearing a ring

Qie Fu was taken aback, even failing to notice Reis's disappearance. He had never considered this issue and had never realized that not everyone loves and respects the divine. However, upon reflecting on Reis's words, they do hold some truth. Could it be that the divine only favors those who seek to please it? Can the wise eyes of the divine truly not see the suffering of the world? Has the divine's judgment already been buried beneath the endless flattery of mortals? ... Could it be that the divine only favors those who seek to please it? Can the wise eyes of the divine truly not see the suffering of the world? Has the divine's judgment already been buried beneath the endless flattery of mortals? ... Could it be ...? ... Is it that people like Reis, in their resentment towards the powerful, merely use it as a means to vent their dissatisfaction with the divine?

At that moment, the door creaked open, and Greg walked in carrying a heavy package on his back. He dropped the package onto the ground, producing a dull thud.

Nonsense! Can't we just kidnap a therapist? Don't forget we are robbers

"Go to hell!" Kreek's beard bristled, veins bulging on his face, as he glared with fierce eyes. He swung his long sword downwards, and the ring on his hand emitted a black glow. Reis raised his half-length sword, and with a clang, the long sword was reduced to just the hilt. However, Kreek's sword showed no sign of slowing down as it came crashing down! At that moment, suddenly, a shadow darted up, reaching out to block the long sword. With a thud, the long sword severed something, and then Kreek let out a scream, retreating back.

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By the time night fell, Reis had barely managed to return to his small cabin. His cabin was well hidden at the foot of a tall mountain, surrounded by dense woods, with tall weeds covering the narrow path. It was a place rarely visited by humans, and even the shadow of an animal was seldom seen. This is a common phenomenon in the African-Asian wilderness, where no one wishes to build their homes in conspicuous locations. Reis had suffered from such naivety before; within just a few days, his cabin had been broken into, and everything was stolen, leaving not even a pair of shorts behind. However, Reis did not blame the thieves; after all, life in the African-Asian wilderness is exceedingly harsh, and if blame were to be assigned, it could only be directed at his own carelessness. Although this current cabin is extremely inconvenient for living, it is very safe.

The professional priest suddenly became spirited, as if reinforcements had arrived, and shouted loudly: "Help! Help! Lord Click, save us!"

Is anyone there?" It was the voice of a woman, and then the door was pushed open

"What does he mean?" Click's smile stiffened, "What nonsense is this madman talking about? Don't believe him; he has always been crazy."

Oh dear

At that moment, Klicke snorted and raised the crossbow in his hand

"I am fine..." said Reyes, pressing on the wound

He is dead

"What are you standing there for? Everyone, charge!" shouted the bald man. With a loud crash, the bandits surrounded them, catching the dragon cavalry off guard. Armed with heavy spears, they found close combat nearly useless, and their formation quickly fell into disarray. Crowding around the injured Kreek, they retreated in a disorganized manner towards Marif, barely escaping the bandits' pursuit thanks to their swift horses. The bandits cheered wildly for a moment, then ceased their chase, erupting in a frenzy of joyous celebration.

"This madman..." Kliek muttered, his eyes turning towards Chekhov, startled once again, but he quickly composed himself and forced a smile. "Lord Chekhov Kholanda, I am truly fortunate to have found you at last"

As Qie Fu closed his eyes, it was said to be late, yet it was quick; suddenly, with a shout, his body was yanked away, and the crossbow bolt grazed his face

It is the wealth obtained through prayer

Is this your mercenary?" She curiously examined Reis, "But he looks quite disheveled...

You want to turn this place into a blacksmith shop!" Reis and Tu Shu cracked their mouths, revealing a painful expression as they asked.

What are you doing

"Shameless!" Les roared, throwing Chiff back. Krik's sword missed its target but quickly swept back, one sword following another, immediately forcing Les into a perilous situation

"Step aside!" Reis shouted, "Who dares to come closer!" The dragon knights immediately halted, hesitating as they reined in their horses

Our God?" Chekhov murmured

"To deceive in the name of God, you should know what kind of crime this is," Chekhov said with a frown

I do not understand, "Chekhov shook his head, "I really do not understand... why are you trying so hard?"

At the forefront, a knight adorned with a helmet embedded with pure white feathers came to a halt. He lifted the visor of his helmet, revealing a face covered in a scraggly beard, which protruded from the helmet like the tendrils of ivy. Upon seeing Reis and the professional priest being dragged like a dead pig, he momentarily froze, then immediately displayed a fierce expression

Suddenly, a fierce expression spread across Kreek's face. He raised his hand, and with a click of the mechanism, a crossbow bolt shot out with a whoosh, piercing the chest of the professional priest. The priest instantly lost his breath, his eyes bulging in an unusually strange manner as he looked at Kreek, seemingly in disbelief. A trickle of fresh blood flowed from the corner of his mouth as his body slumped down weakly.

My room... sigh... don't mention it," Greg said, "I am currently staying here, in my mercenary's cabin.

Reis struck him heavily to the ground, causing the professional priest to buckle at the knees and fall to the floor

"Moving, huh," Greg wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I need to hurry up and finish moving; there are still many things over there."

Don't kill me! Don't kill me! I will give you money, whatever amount you want, please don't kill me!

Greg chuckled heartily, looking quite simple-minded. "Didn’t you say you could lend me your house?"

Reis saved Chiev's life. Kliik, taking advantage of the situation, did not hesitate and thrust his sword towards Chiev's chest, with Chiev, who was caught in Reis's grip, becoming a burden instead.

It hurts!

Stop!

Greg's robust physique blocked the view, preventing Reis from seeing who it was

Then came a cacophony of wails. Only then did Chev see Reis's weapon, a gleaming longsword, slightly narrower and thinner than the type used by knights, exceptionally light. As Reis wielded it, it seemed to slither like a serpent emerging from its hole, with one streak of light vanishing just as another arose, creating an unbroken chain that dazzled the eyes and left one breathless. With each lightning-like flash that cut through the air, a soldier fell, the longsword transforming into a dance of death, instantly intensifying the murderous aura, completely different from the earlier confrontation with the bandits. One streak of light had not yet faded before another emerged, creating an unbroken chain that dazzled the eyes and left one breathless. With each lightning-like flash that cut through the air, a soldier fell, the longsword transforming into a dance of death, instantly intensifying the murderous aura, completely different from the earlier confrontation with the bandits

Chev was startled, "Be careful!"

Reis ... ... I just wanted to teach him a lesson, but I never intended for him to die, after all, a person's life is precious ... ...

The professional priest's eyes were about to pop out, and a terrifying whimper escaped his throat. A look of despair froze on his face; he seemed on the verge of fainting, yet he did not collapse. Finally, the professional and - picture - book priest broke down, struggling violently, and shouted loudly: "I will tell you, I will tell you, don't kill me, I will say it, it was Lord Krik's idea... I am not a priest, this position is... I bought it with two thousand gold coins... the money I deceived... Lord Krik and I split it... I am wronged... I only took a small share... spare my life, bandit... no, noble warrior, spare my life..."

Divine Might

I am merely lending you a place to sleep, you rascal, always wanting more...

"What are you looking for? We are robbers, and no healer is willing to treat us"

A cloud of gloom appeared on Greg's face

Chekhov stood in a daze for a long time, letting out a low sigh. He realized something he had never understood before: that God can sometimes be the object of human resentment. This is not ordinary hatred, but a profound, soul-deep anger. Due to God's status, this anger can only be suppressed; however, once it erupts, it is terrifying, to the extent that one might even be willing to sacrifice their life. Chekhov thought of the expression on the bald man's face when he severed Krik's hand, that painful yet desolate sense of triumph, that expression that seemed to be both a smile and a cry.

Boss, Boss!

The sudden turn of events left the soldiers flustered, causing them to instinctively retreat, while the professional priest vanished without a trace, his corpulent figure shrinking behind the soldiers. It was only when Reis charged forward that the soldiers regained their composure, raising their spears in unison, gleaming like a forest of white.

Chev was taken aback, his mind racing, and feeling a chill in his heart, he exclaimed: "You want to kill and eliminate..."

Oh my goodness

Looking for death!

"Pray, don't you understand? Pray! Just like you deceive everyone, hurry up and pray, summon the gods to save your dog's life." Reis looked disdainfully at the professional priest who was collapsed on the ground, "Aren't you supposed to be able to talk to the gods? Aren't you under their protection? Have you already forgotten how to pray?" Reis suddenly raised his head, glaring at the sky with hatred, and shouted loudly: "God, where are you? I am currently insulting and tormenting your servant, are you too afraid to show yourself? Do you only appear when you want people to suffer?"

"Pray quickly," said Reis

Where can I find a therapist? Hurry and find a therapist

"Nonsense!" Klic said, "What secrets do I have with you?"

"Shut up!" Reis shouted, "If you dare to shout again, I will immediately cut off your pig's head!" The professional priest immediately fell silent, but continued to tremble uncontrollably, his eyes rolling upward, and foam even spilling from the corners of his mouth

Chekhov sighed again and began to pray

Chiev shook his head, feeling somewhat ashamed, as such a disgraceful person existed. That Kelik was indeed the chief knight of Marif.

At that moment, sounds came from the other side of the road, the distinct sound of many hooves, orderly and sounding well-trained. Soon, clusters of bright feathers emerged first, swaying rhythmically with the hoofbeats, followed by shiny helmets appearing beneath the feathers, along with gleaming black armor; they were the dragon cavalry

With a loud bang, countless fragments of armor shattered and scattered. The last soldier fell to the ground. Reis, with his left hand gripping the longsword, pointed it diagonally towards the ground, looking down with disdain at those around him, as soldiers emitted groans of pain. Qifu silently cheered, what a brave warrior. Reis rode forward slowly; the professional priest had become unrecognizable, his face ashen, the flesh on his face trembling uncontrollably. He could barely stand, involuntarily retreating, and with a thud, he fell backward, facing the sky. Reis approached, leaned down from his horse, and lifted the professional priest. Immediately, the priest let out a scream akin to that of a slaughtered pig.

"If you have ever been a robber, you would understand," Reis said coldly. "Do you think that the people living in the wastelands of Asia, Africa, and Latin America are there by choice? No, these people are forced into it. Unless they are left with no other options, who would choose to be a robber or a thief? Your god only protects the powerful and forgets the lowest strata of society, discarding them like garbage. You might consider this a resentment born of jealousy. I hate them, I hate them deeply, so much that I have even forgotten to be afraid, forgotten to cherish my own life."

But it was already too late, another loud sound erupted, and a white light shot up into the sky, piercing through the clouds, remaining aloft for a long time without descending, while in Reis's hand, only half of a broken sword remained

At last, the long sword unleashed a surge of white, misty sword energy, faintly emitting a sharp howling sound, piercing straight ahead, transforming into a white rainbow

At that moment, another knock sounded at the door, and Greg turned his head.

Reis advanced, raising his longsword in his left hand. At that moment, Kreek also drew his sword from its sheath, leveraging the speed of his horse to swing the longsword down with tremendous force. The momentum was astonishing; even before the sword reached Reis, the fierce wind it generated had already caused Reis's hair to fly wildly.

Reis looked at Greg, remaining silent, yet his heart was filled with countless emotions: a blacksmith so brutally persecuted, yet so kind, while the one who killed the professional priest was a partner engaged in the same sordid trade. Sometimes, humans are truly worse than beasts.

Chiev knew of the ring that Krik possessed: the Elysium. It was a manifestation of divine power, originally bestowed by the deity Jialalaba to the knight Mayu, who later used this ring to eliminate the Diamond Beast that had taken residence in Tikuria. The divine power emitted by the Elysium could harden weapons, rendering them invincible, capable of easily tearing through even the Diamond Beast's iron-like armor. Centuries later, this ring came into the possession of Krik and received the recognition of the supreme deity Melania, being registered in the records of the deity Lans. The divine power emitted by the Elysium could harden weapons, rendering them invincible, capable of easily tearing through even the Diamond Beast's iron-like armor. Centuries later, this ring came into the possession of Krik and received the recognition of the supreme deity Melania, being registered in the records of the deity Lans.

"Help me, Lord Click!" the professional priest cried out hoarsely, "This robber wants to kill me; he is forcing me to reveal our secrets..."

What are you doing!" Ray screamed

"Do you really have mercenaries?" the woman said in surprise. "To find a bandit to be a mercenary, I thought you were joking. I can't believe you actually thought of that!" As she spoke, she peeked out from behind Greg, looking towards Reis. She was a petite woman, only reaching Greg's chest, clad in tight-fitting armor, looking sharp and capable, and her appearance was quite lovely.

Greg, there you are! I finally found you. I'm here to get my bow... How did your house disappear?