The storm on the second battlefield gradually subsided.
Sampo knelt on the ground, looking utterly lifeless. In front of him lay a certain Guard, barely breathing.
Even though he was beaten black and blue, flesh mangled, the ugly face still wore a smile, gazing tenderly at Sampo.
"Baby… don't lower your head, or the crown will fall. Don't cry, or the bitch will laugh."
"…"
…
Meanwhile, on the other side.
On the battlefield of the Astral Express group.
The cold wind still blew gently.
The three stood in different positions.
Each maintaining their own stance.
Not moving an inch.
What moved was only the wind, only the fluttering strands of hair, only the hems of their clothes.
They simply stood there quietly like that.
The atmosphere remained tense.
…
After kicking the person on the ground a few times, Sampo stood up and asked the other Guards nearby in confusion:
"I beat him up, and you guys just watched? Isn't he your brother-in-arms who's been through life and death with you? Why didn't anyone stop me?"
"Stop him? Why would we stop him?"
A Guard sitting on the ground munching on little bear cookies replied while chewing:
"He looks like he's enjoying it anyway. The one who needs help here is you."
"…"
"Look, you didn't even get hit, but your face looks way more haggard than his."
"…"
Seele pulled her scythe out of the snowdrift and slowly walked over to Sampo:
"Hey hey hey, you still haven't said why you're here! Don't tell me you came to support the merchant caravan too—there are plenty of Guards; they don't need you."
Gepard also said gravely:
"I wanted to ask this earlier. Sampo, you're not fresh off going straight and already trying to get wanted by the Silvermane Guards again, are you?"
At that moment, the Guard lying on the ground tremblingly raised his hand and mumbled weakly:
"Baby… he really does love me after all. He still wants to play cat-and-mouse with me. I'm in his heart."
"Get lost!" "Ohhh~~~!!"
After Sampo kicked that idiot hard, he twisted his neck, faced Seele and Gepard, and immediately switched attitudes:
"I was just worried you guys might run into danger, haha… so I followed along. In case there's anything I could help with…"
"No."
Gepard cut off Sampo's self-explanation directly.
"Based on my past experience, you're not noble enough to do that…"
"…"
"You followed because you were looking for ancient relics in the snowfield, right? Or maybe you were already searching for ancient relics in the snowfield and only came over after seeing us."
"You're pretty sharp." Under Gepard's gaze, Sampo gave him a thumbs-up.
"…"
Sampo shrugged carelessly, tone relaxed:
"There's no lockdown order anymore, and no Fragmentum creatures attacking the city every day. So going out the city gate to look for stuff isn't illegal, right?"
"Not illegal."
"But assaulting a Silvermane Guard is illegal."
"?"
Sampo stared blankly at the Guard who had already passed out at his feet, eyes wide:
"So why didn't you guys stop me? I thought if I could keep hitting, I'd just keep going!"
"Actually, we just wanted to see you get locked up." A Guard raised his hand.
"…"
"After you went straight, we had no reason to arrest you anymore. We're not used to it."
"Yeah, exactly."
"…"
"Anyway, this guy enjoys getting beaten by you. Let him have his fun. Afterward, we'll have a reason to arrest you."
"…"
Sampo took half a step back, eyes bulging:
"Damn! Fishing law enforcement? So that was your real plan all along!"
He looked at Gepard again and cursed:
"As the Guard Captain, you don't even control this? Dirty! Too fucking dirty! I'm reporting all of you!"
Gepard awkwardly turned away, looking toward the Astral Express group and even whistling.
Pretending he hadn't heard.
"They're fighting so intensely." Gepard murmured.
"…"
Seeing Sampo fall silent, a nearby Guard officer said gravely:
"Even if you want to report us, who would you report to? Above the Guard Captain, there are only the Executive Officer and the Supreme Guardian."
"Executive Officer Zeig doesn't handle affairs. As for Supreme Guardian Bronya… do you remember when you once kidnapped her to the Underworld?"
Pa—
The Guard sitting on the ground munching bear cookies clapped his hands and then spread them, saying mournfully:
"Damn, you've offended everyone in the Overworld."
Sampo: "…"
Above Zeig and Bronya was Cocolia.
He vaguely remembered last time Sampo had swaggered into Qlipoth Fort and even threatened her with her own daughter right in front of Supreme Guardian Cocolia.
By that calculation.
"…"
Sampo narrowed his eyes, warily staring at the Silvermane Guards standing up one by one around him. Suddenly, he felt immense pressure.
Fuck, he just wanted to watch the show—how did he become the main dish?
Just as he was about to slip away, inspiration struck. He slapped his forehead.
"Wait a sec!" He stretched out his hand to stop everyone and shouted:
"Didn't you say there were enemies around? If you come at me now, what if we get ambushed?!"
"Heh, hilarious."
"?"
Sampo watched wide-eyed as a Guard stepped forward lazily:
"We're all sitting down eating—why would we be afraid of that?"
"Don't run!! Everyone, get him! Grab him!!"
In an instant, the Guards all lunged toward Sampo. He was like someone caught in a steel flood.
By the time he reacted, he was already in the sea of people.
His hands, feet, head, and…
A total of six protruding parts were all tightly seized at that moment!
"You… you guys are sick! I'll pay, okay? Come on, I'll pay the fine! However much it is, I'll fucking pay it all!" Surrounded by the Guards, Sampo shouted desperately.
"Hmph, you think beating up our brother and paying some money lets you walk? You're too naive!"
"Fuck, you guys watched me beat him!" Sampo retorted.
"Who said watching means you can beat him? Is that written in Belobog's laws? That's all your own delusion!"
"Bullshit! Last time in the bathroom, Gepard watched me beat someone too! Back then, you just made me pay a fine, cover medical costs, and apologize—nothing else!"
"Ohhh? Look how badly you beat him this time! Flesh mangled, face all twisted! What a ruthless heart!!"
"I'll fuck your mom… that one who kept arguing with me, where the fuck are you? Show me your face if you dare! I swear I won't kill you later!"
"Fuck you!!"
"Fuck!!"
"…"
Seele stood in place with her scythe on her shoulder, looking utterly speechless at the scene.
The chaotic mess looked just like a vegetable market.
She looked toward the other side again.
"…"
"Ah…?"
Seele rubbed her eyes and focused hard on the battlefield of the Astral Express trio.
The original three people had now vanished without a trace.
…