Volume 1 Chapter 2: Part 3: Going to the Capital

Are you serious?! Where is the love?!

Hearing that, Onyx wants to cry a bit. He can't believe how fast Emilia agreed to this. When he returned home and told her about this, Emilia gave him a suitcase with clothes and hugged him.

"Be respectful when you meet the emperor! Also, wear your best clothes!" The other thing she did was lectured him. Meeting the emperor was a chance that many others wouldn't get.

Lily and Wyatt wanted to come with him as well. But Emilia wasn't going to let them go. She grabs them by the scruff of their neck like kittens. After restraining the two, she kicked Onyx out!

As Onyx and Irene got to the front gates, they saw a giant carriage. It was grand. The carriage was white with gold engrained around it. Many different types of jewels are embedded on it.

Around the carriage are knights with their horses, ready to leave.

They actually brought something like this out?!

Irene's face was so happy when she saw this. But Onyx was surprised. He has seen something like this before. When he went to another city, a high noble would use a carriage like this to travel.

Onyx knew only the highest noble class could own something like this.

The knight opens the carriage's door, "Please get in." Irene was about to jump in. But she stops midway. Seeing the tense expression on her face, the knight was confused,

"Is something the matter, Miss Irene?" Understanding why she stopped, Onyx explained,

"Well, you see. For the past few days, we've been destroying everything we touch. We're afraid that we might break the carriage by accident." Even he was afraid to get in it. What if he touches it, and it creates a giant dent?!

The knight instantly understood. He chuckles, "How could I forget. Hero Irene and Onyx. This is normal for people who gain high skills. Because of the sudden strength gain, your body doesn't know how to control the strength." He takes out two bracelets. At the center of each bracelet was a bead with an engraving.

"Put these on your arm." Wearing it, Onyx didn't feel anything was wrong with it.

"You guys don't have to worry about breaking anything now." The knight motions them to get into the carriage. Irene was still skeptical, but Onyx took the chance.

He takes the first step into the carriage and,

Nothing. Nothing happened. There were no cracks or breaks in the carriage! Irene's expression brightens after seeing nothing breaking. She gets into the carriage as well.

"Wow!" Irene gasps. If the outside was beautiful, then the inside was majestic. Everything inside was red. And when she took a seat, she felt she was being consumed. The seat's comfiness consumed her.

Onyx chuckles at how Irene acts. He sits down beside her. When he did, he felt his brain turning to mush as well!

Seeing how they were getting comfy, the knight smiles. He shouts,

"We are setting off!"

The other knights nod as they start moving. As the carriage leaves, the villagers shout goodbye and pray for their safety.

...

"Umm, can you tell me how this bracelet works?" Onyx was curious about what the jewelry was. He never thought such a small thing would be able to help him stop his strength.

The knight explains, "It's a common occurrence for people who gain high skills. The person's body isn't used to the strength and will break things by accident. So mages have created a magic item for people to regulate their strength." The knight has a wry smile. He broke a lot of items when he got his sword skill too.

Continuing, "The thing regulating your strength is the engraving on the center of the bracelet."

Onyx's eyes widen as he asks, "Is this expensive?" He was scared that he might break it.

The knight chuckles, "You don't have to worry, hero Onyx. Even though this is a magic item, it's really cheap."

Onyx sighs in relief. But then he smiles, "Thank goodness this was created." He thought he would have to live a life where everything he touches would get destroyed or blown to smithereens.

Even Irene was smiling in relief.

"Ummm." Onyx was going to ask the knight another question. However, he just realizes that he doesn't know the person's name.

The knight realizes this as he greets, "Hero Onyx, my name is Edson."

Onyx smiles and continues, "Thank you, Edson. I just wanna ask why-" He was about to ask why the emperor himself would want to meet them personally.

But the carriage stops instantly! Onyx and Irene jump up from the seat.

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The three could hear the horses neighing loudly!

Edson shouts,

"What's wrong?!"

"Fanged boars! A horde of 20 as well!" One of the knights shouts. Edson makes a grim face as he hears this. He looks at Onyx and Irene,

"Heroes, stay here for now. Let me deal with those beasts." Edson steps out of the carriage. He stood at the front, unsheathing his sword.

Edson's kind expression wasn't there now. A serious expression replaced it. His sword starts to be covered in a tint of white.

Onyx and Irene look out of the window of the carriage. Outside there were 20 boars. Each one was around the size of the carriage, and they were running straight at them!

Onyx holds onto Irene, ready to protect her at any moment. The tusks on each boar were as sharp as blades.

Edson continues to stand there but with his eyes closed now, letting the boar get closer to him.

Immediately, he opens his eyes and vertically slashes at the boars! There was no sound coming from the tusk and sword clashing.

Just destruction.

Like that, three boars were sliced into two without any effort!

Onyx was surprised, and Irene's eyes were sparkling. They saw something incredible!

Edson dealing with those boars so easily looked cool for Irene.

While the boars became hesitant to attack, the other knights took the chance to attack, slicing them down.

Some knights start chanting, and fireballs fly towards the boars, burning them!

It only took a few minutes, but it was done.

"Slice off the tusks. We can use them for later." Edson orders. The tusk of a fang boar could be used to create weapons or high-class ornaments.

The knights nod as they begin to dissect the boars. Wiping the blood off of his body, Edson goes back to the carriage and apologizes,

"Sorry that you two had to see something like this." To him, Irene and Onyx were still children. For them to see something bloody on their first trip is regrettable.

Contrary to his thoughts, Irene shakes her head, "Don't be! The two of us decided to go on an adventure. Stuff like this will have to be natural like us." Irene has no sense of fear in her right now.

Only more excitement.

Seeing this, Edson gave a dry laugh. He didn't expect Irene would say something like that. As Irene is excited, Edson turns to Onyx.

He was only looking at the ground, not saying anything. Edson understood somewhat and didn't say anything to him.

"We're going to be traveling for a bit more. We'll be having a feast today as well." Tusk boar was considered a delicacy to many nobles.

When Irene hears that, she starts cheering. But Onyx only gave a slight nod.

...

At night, Onyx was still up. He was still hungover from what happened a few hours ago.

That was bloody.

Remembering the scene, Onyx couldn't help but shiver slightly, thinking of the sight. Unlike what Irene saw, what Onyx saw was only blood. Blood splattering all over the place.

Even when they ate, Onyx couldn't take a single bite of the boar's meat. It just reminds him of the blood of the boars.

Onyx brings the blanket up, covering her more. Then he left the carriage. He wanted to get some fresh air. When he gets out, he sees Edson outside swinging his sword. He slashes his sword vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.

Onyx sat on the side, watching Edson train.

The whole thing only lasted a few minutes. Edson stopped swinging his sword. He notices Onyx sitting there.

"Hero Onyx, sorry. I didn't see you there." Onyx waves his hands, "I should be the one apologizing. I was bothered by your training."

But then he smiles, "The way you swing your sword was cool."

Edson bows, "You are too humble. My skills are nothing compared to others in the capital." He knows his limits. Compared to others, he would definitely lose.

Seeing how Onyx came out of the carriage, Edson sat beside him,

"Do not worry about what happened, hero Onyx. It's normal for people to be scared of what happened today." He had been watching over Onyx after what happened.

"But look at Irene. Compared to her, I'm just a coward." Onyx continues to look down.

"Hero, It's ok to be afraid. It's something you get used to as you continue to fight." Edson comforts him. He had seen many people shudder in fear when they experienced death for the first time.

To Edson, Irene was abnormal. While Onyx was a regular person. Edson continues,

"You just have to have a goal to keep you striving forward."

A goal?

Onyx continues to look at the ground, wondering what goal he had. Irene's goal was to travel the world. What did he have?

But then it hit him. Onyx grits his teeth as he smacks his head.

"Hero?" Edson looks at Onyx, wondering why he did that.

Onyx looks at Edson, "Edson, could you teach me how to use a sword?" He was the sword hero. He is supposed to know how to use a sword.

Edson was surprised, "Hero, you should start training when you get to the empire. There are trainers who are more experienced and proper who can teach you better than I."

But Onyx shakes his head, "No! I want you to teach me now." His eyes were lit with fire.

"May I ask why?" Edson could see the glint in his eyes. Compared to before, Onyx was eager.

"I want to protect the person I care about the most. I want to protect Irene!" That was the goal he decided now! If Irene was going to go on an adventure, he would be there with her to protect her.

"I understand." Edson didn't say anything as he walked up to a knight sleeping. He takes his sword and hands it to Onyx,

"Here, I'll teach you some basic skills."

Onyx's face brightens,

"You come at me first." Edson should show it to him first.

Onyx nods and unsheathes the sword. This is the first time he held a sword. Onyx touches the blade, and it's smooth and slick.

It felt electrifying now that he was touching the sword. But he couldn't get immersed by this. Onyx points the sword at Edson and charges. He was ready to slash down on him.

However, Edson takes a step back and knocks the sword out of Onyx's hand! Edson shakes his head,

"Onyx, you need to work on your form first. If you charge in like that, it's obvious for people to know what you will be aiming at."

"Like what you were doing before?" Onyx remembers how Edson was swinging his sword in different directions.

"Mmhmm, try practicing your form. It'll help create a foundation for you." Edson was about to show it again, but he didn't need to. Onyx has gotten into a stance and starts swinging his sword around.

Swish! A strong wind sound came out of the sword. Onyx slashes vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.

Edson looks at him in shock, 'What great form!' Onyx had replicated what he did perfectly. However, what made Edson surprised was the amount of concentration Onyx had.

It was praiseworthy. Onyx was focused on the sword and nothing else!

Edson didn't say anything as he let Onyx swing his sword. It was just a basic movement. However, it felt majestic.

Onyx continues to swing the sword all the way to the morning. Some of the knights woke up and saw what he was doing. They also couldn't help but look at his slashes.

While everybody looked at him, the only thought in Onyx's mind was,

To protect. Onyx needs to protect Irene from all dangers out there. He needs to become stronger than everybody else!

His swings become stronger! However, his body gave out on him as he passed out. Edson grabs him before he can fall. However, he smiled at how hard Onyx had worked.

Edson carries him back to the carriage and places him beside Irene.

He didn't need to say anything. He just knows these two will become great heroes.

...

"nnnhmm." Onyx starts to wake up from his nap. His face was hit by the sunlight coming from the windows.

Did I pass out? He realizes that he's back in the carriage. Before he could think, he could feel his body was slightly tired. What's more,

What is crushing me?! Something heavy was on top of his body. He was going to move, but he instantly froze! Moaning sounds came out.

"nnnn mmmm." Onyx looked down and saw Irene on top of him. Instantly, He knew he couldn't move now. Seeing how peaceful she was sleeping, Onyx didn't dare to ruin it.

However, he was having the worst time of his life now. Why does she smell so good?! Before he could question his sanity, Irene started to move about on top of his body, hugging it more tightly.

That caused explosions in his head. How could somebody be so cute! Onyx played the card he could and played dead for her. He could only act like this until they arrived at the capital.

While Onyx continues to be silent, he starts to fall asleep. And he couldn't hear the slight mumble coming out of the one on top of him,

"Idiot."