Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon furrowed his brows before he crossed his arms, "Where is your guild exactly."

"Well...." Kesya looked away and refrain to answer her emperor's question.

"Young Master, you shouldn't open up your cover," said Assid.

"It's fine," said Lyon as he waved his hand. "Nobody knows who I am here."

"We can't be too careful," said Cecile.

"Jeez, fine," said Lyon before he reached out and covered his face. After he was done putting on the hoodie he continued, "So, what's the plan?"

"Well, the plan is actually going here," said Lumina. "An extra money won't hurt."

"That's true," Cecile nodded. "Though, it seems like we are running out of Lyon's karma."

"Heh," Lyon smirked a smile as he heard his wife's jest. "So, you have any idea what we should do?"

"We can go to the next city and try our luck there," said Cecile.

"So in the end I was right!" Lyon proudly crossed his arms. "and you said that we have to save up."

"We do have to save up," said Lumina. "We have a little bit of money left to spare."

"You just have to go out of your way and overpay that guy," Cecile sighed.

Lyon sighed. "I'm sorry, I just feel bad about him."

"It's not like you're doing something wrong," said Luna. "Perhaps his fate would change unless you want to meddle further about it."

"Yeah, no, I rather not," said Lyon as he shrugged. "Anyway, how are we going to the next city without our dear caravan?"

"We can just walk there, like the old days," said Cecile.

"Are you kidding me? What about the caravan from before?" asked Lyon.

They were coming here with a caravan that was 'given' to them by the corpses of the last owner. They continued the shady deal for one last trip, only for Assid to kill the rest of them.

"It's gone, young master," said Assid.

"What? How can that be?!" said Lyon.

"It's not like this place is lawful in the first place," said Kesya. "They are all looking for an opportunity to better their state of life, even for a few tokens. It's not easy being an adventurer."

"It's not hard either," said Graham. "We can always live in the wilderness if we want."

"Wait a minute, I have a great idea," said Lyon before the rest of them had black lines over their head. "Hey! I haven't even said a word damn it!"

"Go on," said Cecile without much hope in her tone.

"Why can't Graham just rip out the space, we go in the spatial storm, swim, fly whatever, right? Skip everything and just be at the Myriad Devils! Simple, easy, and fast!" Lyon nodded excitedly.

"That won't work," said Cecile as she shook her head.

"What?! Why the heck not?!" asked Lyon as he clenched his shoulders up.

"Because we have to detect her presence in the vast unending space, not to mention the occasional sting that the place gave."

"But you did it at that central region place, I forgot the name, hehe," Lyon made a weak smile.

"That's because the transportation magic was still fresh, and combined that with Devil Ape's blessing. However, also, I think Selena should have mentioned before that someone might get notified if she were to stay too long."

"Huh?" Lyon slowly pondered before he remembered the devastatingly beautiful woman bursting through the crack of space, bringing tremor and unimaginable presence. All kings, all corners, they all knelt in her direction, but the woman immediately embraced him and gave him the ring that has helped his entire journey, till this day.

"Oh right, I think she did mention something like that before," said Lyon. "It seems like her situation is not as simple as I thought it would be."

"Either way, we must tread carefully," said Cecile. "Though I'm fairly certain that we might not be low-profile with you around, however, at least we can try our best."

"I-I was staying low-profile, but the situation always force me to be high," said Lyon before he sighed and then everybody else followed.

"So, we are going to walk then?" asked Luna.

"Unless the caravan is cheap," said Lyon.

"You mean renting one?" asked Lumina.

"Of course, maybe for one trip? They do have that service right?" Lyon darted his glance toward Kesya.

"They do, but of course, the guild members get a special discount," said Kesya.

"Woah, it's like they are monopolizing the entire city," said Lyon. "There are no guards here either."

"This place is technically lawless, but the guild has their own law to enforce. So if you're a vagrant, you should be just at the right gray spot of things," said Kesya with a nod.

"So, we are outlaws then?" Lyon chuckled. "Cool."

...

After the consensus gave birth to their decision to make a trip to the next city, the group was going for the nearest gate.

Again, they all adjourned the attention of all other adventurers as they walked on the street with those thick cloaks. The feat of the group spread faster than mosquitos in summer, everyone was whispering, some put up a smile, and some hid away. However, Lyon walked with a proud stride.

"This is fun," said Lyon, "Never thought that I would get a glimpse of adventuring, in this world."

"Hehe, he looks and acts like a kid," Luna chuckled under her palm.

"He always does that," Lumina sighed.

"It droves woman away, so that ought to be something that you want, right?" Kesya grinned at the sight. "But be careful though, he had the ability to sway even the most innocent fairy."

"I heard the tales a thousand times," Lumina rolled her eyes. "How is he keep doing that?"

"Beats me," Kesya shrugged her shoulder.

"H-Halt?" said one of the adventurers standing by the gate.

"Eh? Is that a question?" Lyon blinked his eyes before he faintly saw a tremor on the adventurer's legs. ( Oh... ).

"N-Nice to meet you, sir Sein," said the adventurer, "But sadly it's dangerous to go, outside right now."

"What? Why not? The sun is still up there?" said Lyon as he pointed at the sky.

"Y-Yes, however, the road to Farvan City is dangerous at this time," said the adventurer.

"Yes, sir Sein, with all due respect but the swarm is coming."

"The what?"

"The swarm."

"I'm not deaf, just explain the damn thing."

"Huh?" both adventurers looked at one another in confusion. They were wondering if Lyon was being sarcastic or not. However, if they didn't play it his way, they might be on the bed accompanying Arf the next second.

"T-The swarm is an event where beasts attack our city in, well, swarm. They went frenzy and attack the silk road, without hesitation, though, some of them fight with themselves."

"Oh? You have that kind of stuff, huh," Lyon pondered and rubbed his chin. "Then what you guilds do?"

"All of us will participate to defend the city."

"How about the reward?" asked Lyon.

"The beast slayer gets the beast dropped," said one of the adventurers.

"So all men to himself, hmmm, that's interesting," said Lyon. "Say, how long would this SWARM last?"

"Between one to four days," answered the adventurer.

"Four days?! Damn, that's a really long time."

"Yes, and we have no idea when it would stop either, nor when or where it would start."

"Ah, is that why the adventurers are hanging out outside the gate?" asked Cecile.

"That's right, that's how you guys met Nafail right? We are in a defensive mode right now, all the quests are currently pending due to the Swarm."

"Do they come in waves?" asked Lyon.

"Yes, up to two or three waves."

"And this has been going on for...?"

"Just yesterday," the adventurer nodded. "It's not safe out there."

"So we are in the middle of the Swarm?"

"It would take another three days to be sure," said one of the adventurers. "But no worries though, we got this."

"We?" Lyon furrowed his brows.

"Er... you're not going to Farvan, are you?"

"I don't think that you have the ability to stop us," said Kesya with a smile. "Besides, there is that Doma guy, with the archer here, he would help right?"

( Doma guy... ) both of the smiled wryly. Doma was a powerful figure inside Harp Guild and almost everyone in the city respect him, however, not these bunch.

"If you want to go for your death, then who am I to stop you?" the adventurer took a step back.

"That's more like it," Lyon laughed before the group ventured outside albeit with the furrowing gazes from nearby adventurers.

"Are they nuts?" muttered one adventurer as they saw them disappearing into the vast meadows.

"ALL HANDS ON DECK! BEASTS SIGHTED!!!" shouted one adventurer on top of the thick walls.

"The second day of The Swarm has begun!" said one of the adventurers standing by.

Meanwhile, Nafail who scratched his head just outside of the tavern immediately sobered up. "Oh crap!" He immediately rushed toward the nearest gate.