The Laughing Swordsman

The guards frowned after they heard what Apollo said.

The taller guard scoffed.

"Killing people in the city? Who do you think you are?"

Apollo smiled.

"Oh, I'm Apollo!"

The corner of the shorter guard's lip twitched.

"Damn this kid!"

The shorter guard drew his sword.

Apollo looked confused.

"Why are you upset?"

The taller guard frowned as he drew his sword as well.

"We are people of the city. Do you dare try to kill us?"

Apollo had a gasp of realization.

"Oh! Sorry, I thought you weren't city people. Since you are, I have to kill you."

Apollo spoke as though he was politely asking for directions.

It was quite unsettling for the guards, but they were not afraid of some kid with a wooden sword.

The shorter guard scoffed.

"Then try and kill me!"

The shorter guard lunged towards Apollo and tried to stab him with his sword.

Like he was part of the wind, Apollo danced around the shorter guard, appearing behind him. Since one of his hands was occupied with carrying Maya, he simply slashed with his bokken.

A loud clang rang out.

The shorter guard was knocked over, his face slamming into the snow. The armor on his back had a deep linear dent.

The guard cried out in pain.

Since his armor was dented inwards, it ended up piercing into him.

The taller guard frowned when he saw this. A part of him refused to believe that this was the work of a kid holding a wooden sword, but his discipline forced him to take it seriously.

The taller guard took a few steps forward but did not lunge.

He wanted to see if he could counter Apollo's next move.

As for the shorter guard, he used his arms to push off the ground. As he did so, Apollo raised his bokken and slammed it down onto the shorter guard once again.

Another clang rang out.

The shorter guard was screaming in agony. His armor had been penetrated and blood began spurting out of his back.

The taller guard was shocked for a second, he did not expect Apollo to attack again when he was so close. After all, it gave him an opportunity to strike.

The taller guard did not give up this opportunity.

Yet, even though Apollo supposedly finished swinging, his bokken shifted trajectories.

The taller guard felt like his sword was pulled towards the ground. He was unable to resist the pull, involuntarily taking a few steps forward.

Apollo kept a cordial smile on his face.

And with that cordial smile, his bokken flashed.

"AHHHH-"

The taller guard's hand was directly cut off, leaving a stump that sprayed blood. He used his remaining hand to hold tightly onto his wrist, in an attempt to slow the blood loss.

But... it hardly made a difference.

The taller guard fell on his knees. He had never experienced pain like this before. His position as a guard was just for show. In reality, he had no battle experience.

His pupils dilated and constricted. His breaths were unsteady and weak. In the end, he simply hoped that death would claim him sooner so that the pain disappeared.

This wish of his was granted by Apollo.

The taller guard's head flew high into the air and landed on the snow with a light thud.

The shorter guard began freaking out. He couldn't get up off the ground.

"What did you do? John, are you there? You can't let this kid kill me!"

Apollo tilted his head to the side.

"Who is John?"

The shorter guard fell silent.

"Did you... kill him?"

Apollo blinked a few times.

"Uh... I just killed this guy."

The shorter guard furrowed his brows.

"Why are you doing this?"

Apollo hummed.

"Don't you remember? I'm supposed to kill people of this city and you said you were part of them!"

The shorter guard smiled bitterly.

"That's it?"

Apollo shrugged his shoulders.

"What other reason would I have?"

The shorter guard fell silent. He clenched his teeth, forcing words past them.

"...Who the hell are you?"

Apollo scratched the side of his head with his bokken.

"Haha, you're forgetful just like me!"

Apollo raised his bokken.

"My name is Apollo!"

"AHHHHH-"

...

Apollo wiped off the blood that he got on himself because it felt uncomfortable.

After that, he continued walking towards the city walls with Maya on his back.

The journey was long but uneventful.

Apollo reached a large gate that consisted of iron bars. Once Apollo got closer, a booming voice resounded.

"Stop!"

Apollo stopped walking forward. He tilted his head to try and peek past the iron bars and see who was talking to him.

However, the only thing ahead was an empty patch of ground.

Apollo scratched the side of his head with his bokken.

"Where are you?"

The voice was annoyed.

"That doesn't matter! What is a kid like you doing here? Go back home!"

Apollo pouted.

"But... I don't know how to get home."

The voice let out a sigh.

"Are you kidding me? That's not my problem, just get out of here!"

Apollo whimpered.

"Ehh? But I was told to go to the city!"

The voice paused.

"You... who told you that?"

Apollo smiled.

"Maya! She is so cool. You should see her shoot the fire things sometime!"

The voice gasped.

"...An elementary mage at her age? It's the daughter of a prestigious noble!"

Apollo tilted his head to the side.

"Huh? What is that?"

The voice cleared its throat.

"Forget what I said. You can pass. Make sure you escort her well."

The gates slowly raised, giving Apollo entry to the mysterious and magnificent city.

Somehow or another, Apollo unintentionally deceived the gatekeeper.

Who knew that his innocence would be the most cunning thing about him?

Apollo took his first steps into the city, turning his head from the left to the right. He was getting engrossed in his new surroundings.

Then, his head suddenly stopped.