Seeker 309

Test

Chapter 309. Public Execution

In the Oasis City of Radaja, in front of the palace square facing the oasis.

Since early morning, there had been a commotion.

"Hey, how many times do I have to say it!? That bastard Usman riding on that palanquin is a useless piece of shit, not fit for our king!"

"You! How dare you speak disrespectfully in front of His Majesty! Do you want your tongue cut off?"

"Try it! There are more than just one or two of us in this city who are dissatisfied. Are you going to cut everyone's tongues off!? Try it!"

"Gah...! This drunkard...!"

The king's palanquin attempted to go outside, numerous warriors guarding it, a drunken man being held down on the ground, and onlookers from the town watching from a distance.

Despite being subjected to kicks and punches, the drunken man continued to hurl insults at the king on the palanquin.

His face bore the marks of several beatings.

On the ground lay vomit and blood from the man being kicked in the stomach.

Even after being tortured by the king's personal warriors, the man did not yield.

Despite being drunk, determination shone in his eyes.

Among the surrounding townspeople were voices saying, "Isn't this going too far?" "He's an idiot. He should have known what would happen."

Among them were the tavern owner and her husband.

The owner tried to speak up but held back, biting her lip, while her husband comforted her by embracing her shoulders.

Soon, King Usman on the palanquin addressed the warrior assaulting the drunkard.

"That's enough."

Upon hearing those words, a sigh of relief spread among the entourage.

It seemed that the ordeal of mistreating the foolish man lacking political tact had finally ended.

But with the king's next words, the commotion among the people only grew louder.

"He publicly declared that he is unworthy to be our king. Then let us respond in kind. He is unworthy as a citizen of my kingdom. Execute him."

"What...? H-here, now...?"

Even the assailant hesitated at these words.

King Usman on the palanquin frowned disapprovingly.

"Yes. Immediately execute him as I ordered. After killing him, crucify him here for three days and nights, displaying his crimes as a warning. So that no more fools like him will appear."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

The warrior said, bowing his head to the king.

"Damn it, you're kidding...! What kind of king are you!? He's the traitor who killed King Fahad! Everyone in this town knows that's the truth, right!?"

The drunken man yelled, looking around while being restrained.

But the townspeople all turned away, refusing to meet his gaze.

Seeing this, the drunken man briefly showed a look of despair, then chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"Haha... well, yeah. Everyone values their own lives. I get it. I was a fool. People won't do stupid things like me. They'll survive wisely. It's better to struggle with heavy taxes and unreasonable royal orders than to die."

As the resigned drunken man's neck got approached by the warrior ordered by the king, he placed the curved blade of his sword against it.

Then the warrior raised the curved blade.

The sunlight beginning to ascend reflected off the blade, dazzlingly bright.

"What an idiot. No need for idiots like you in this world."

As the warrior spoke, preparing to swing down the curved blade—

"Wait!"

The clear voice of a young girl echoed around.

The warrior's curved blade, about to execute the drunken man, stopped its motion.

Following, several figures rushed into the square.

Three young men and women who seemed to be adventurers, accompanied by a small winged creature like a pet.

And one warrior who should have been with the palace.

But what caught everyone's attention was another person.

A beautiful girl with brown skin like a desert dweller, black hair, and emerald eyes.

"Lulu-sama..."

The drunken man about to be executed murmured as he saw the girl who had appeared.

The townspeople also exclaimed, "It's Lulu-sama." "Wasn't she captured in the dungeon?" "I heard she escaped."

King Usman on the palanquin, while embracing one of the beautiful girls brought by the guards, smiled slyly.

"Hmph, the escapee returns willingly to captivity. Like a moth to the flame. What are you all waiting for, capture them quickly. Handle them roughly if necessary, but don't kill Lulu and the two girls."

The warriors ordered by the king, however, hesitated to obey.

"W-what should we do...?"

"They say those adventurers are ridiculously strong..."

"Could it be they've achieved 'Limit Break'...?"

"But then, why were they caught by us back then?"

The unsettled warriors did not move immediately.

Seeing this, the king on the palanquin became impatient.

But before he could say anything to provoke them, the clear voice of the young girl rang out again.

"Warriors, you do not need to obey his orders. He is not the rightful king."

Lulu's words caused a stir among the townspeople.

The warriors showed even more hesitation.

The king on the palanquin shouted again.

"What are you saying, you patricidal wench! I've spared you out of mercy, but I've had enough! Someone, execute that girl! King Usman commands it!"

"I did not kill my father."

Lulu's words of denial were not just directed at the king on the palanquin but at all the people present.

The commotion among the people grew louder.

"Hmph, speaking nonsense again. Many saw you with a bloody sword in your father's chamber! Don't tell such blatant lies now!"

"It's not a lie. I'll say it as many times as necessary. I did not kill my father."

"That's why there is circumstantial evidence! Witnesses testified in front of the people! Do you claim there is evidence to overturn that!?"

"There is."

Saying so, Lulu took out an old, worn-out hand mirror.

It emitted a faint light, giving off a sense of divinity.

Seeing this mysterious hand mirror, the crowd erupted into murmurs again.

What would happen next?

The town's interest shifted to the girl with the mirror.

But on the girl's forehead, there was a hint of concern as a slight sweat appeared.