Hero of Darkness

Kahn stood in front of his house as he stared at the group of city guards and Lieutenant Beatrice.

"I'll come later. Let me conclude the matter peacefully or you'll get on my wrong side." he straight-up threatened the Law Enforcer Squad that was directly under the command of Captain Nordak. He simply didn't have time to waste answering the questions. Sooner, his deeds were going to spread around anyway.

"I... I understand." spoke the lieutenant and left without rebutting Kahn because she could feel the anger in his eyes and his aura was many times fiercer than she had seen him previously. And she was already familiar with this feeling.. Because she once felt the same type of chaotic aura from Commander Straze..

[He's already a Grandmaster!] spoke Beatrice to herself in shock and ordered her forces to return because if they pissed Kahn off.. Who knew if they'd be able to return to their homes alive or not.

Kahn entered the house and saw Jerome standing along with few people.

"Sir.. What happened?!" asked Jerome in bewilderment after seeing Kahn completely drenched in blood.

"Settled some overdue scores. Who are these people?" replied and asked Kahn.

"They're from the morgue and then ones on the right are from city cemetery." explained Jerome.

"Is there a way I can have her buried in a place of my choosing? I'll pay you guys twice the normal price." he declared.

The men standing behind Jerome nodded in response.

Just then, a set of footsteps reached his ear and he looked back at the door.

"Kahn! Are you okay?" asked a young & slim man clothed in silky white attire who looked no older than him.

Behind him, walked in an old man with a long and plain beard.

"What are you two doing here? Came to make sure that I was dead?" he asked to the newcomer duo of a young & old man. They were the father-son duo of Nikola and Elanev.

"What do you mean?" asked Elanev.

"Why don't you tell your son, you old bastard?!" shouted Kahn as he stared at the old man Nikola.

"Father, what is he talking about? You only told me that the Scarlet Lion guild was looking for him." asked Elanev to his father.

But in response, Nikola only hung his head down and didn't dare to see Kahn in his eyes.

"I'm sorry kid.. It's just that I couldn't offend those people and had to protect my people and shops. Otherwise, they would've killed us and.."

"Save it for someone who cares about your justification!" interjected Kahn in the old man Nikola's words and he walked towards the dead body on the sofa. He took out the sheet from Jessica's face.

"Remember her? She was also there when you people were attacked by those bandits. She was also one of the people I saved that day & when those bastard from Scarlet Lion guild were being massacred inside the dungeon. And do you know how she repaid me?.." asked Kahn in his furious tone.

"She was tortured for hours but still didn't speak a word about me. They would've kept her alive for some more time if you hadn't opened your mouth! And do you know what they did to her after you revealed my name?.. They murdered her in cold blood and hung her body on the next street just to send me a message." declared Kahn, holding the old man responsible.

Because if the old man hadn't cowered in fear and maintained a firm stance, Jessica would've had some more time and maybe Kahn could've found a way to save her in case he was alerted beforehand about her being held captive because of him.

"I'm sor.. Sorry. I didn't know it'd turn out like this." Nikola faltered in his words after looking at the bruised-up face and lifeless corpse of the redhead girl.

"We.. We're sorry Kahn. We didn't mean this to happen." said Elanev.

"Sir.. We should hurry. It's against the customs to bury someone after the sunset." spoke Jerome.

"Kid.. We have our own lands. You can bury her in one of them. I know I'm at fault for her death as well.. At least let me give her a proper resting place. I promise we'll look after her tomb." said Nikola with a face full of guilt.

Not only he had betrayed and gave up on the person who once saved his and his only son's life but his actions also played a part in a young woman's untimely death. So he wanted to repent for his deeds.

Kahn agreed, he was still disappointed in them but he also wanted to give her a proper funeral.

They left for the lands Nikola mentioned and after traveling to the foremost west of the city, they entered a hillside area where some rich people lived in their extravagant houses.

In Rakos Empire, the funeral was conducted by Druids who prayed to mother nature and carried out the funeral procedure. The people from the morgue & cemetery also provided their services as Kahn was paying them double. The gravesite was decided under a full-grown tree which had light blue leaves. The entire place was serene and contained a lot of natural beauty to it.

Just before the burial was to be started.. Markus, Jessica's old subordinate and also the former leader of the Diamond adventurer group reached at the place.

He was informed by Nikola and came with another old man with short white hair and a grizzly beard.

As per customs, they said their prayers to the deceased and Jessica's body was buried with the hands of Kahn and Markus. The middle-aged man barely held up his tears as he lost another one of his old comrades just in a gap of a month.

After everyone had their share of prayers, they started leaving. Only Kahn, Jerome and the old man who came with Markus stayed behind. But he didn't come near or spoke anything, only stood at the end of this site, far away from everyone.

Kahn looked at the grave and he put his hand on the tombstone. Although he had a very small interaction with Jessica.. Just after learning how she did not give up the identity of the man who saved her life twice had gained his respect for her.

An unspeakable bond was formed between them at this moment. It was an odd feeling for Kahn because he truly had no one who he trusted in this new world and despite all that, this young woman had given her life to repay his kindness for saving her twice.

[Never again.. I can't let anyone die because of me ever again.] he made a resolute vow to himself at this moment.

"Sir, we must leave." said Jerome who was standing at the entrance of this site. Only when Kahn exited the site, did the old man standing at the end walked towards the grave and kneeled down.

"Who's that old man? Was he her family?" asked Kahn who was looking at the old man from a far distance.

"It's good if you stay away from that old man, Sir. His story is a complicated one." replied Jerome.

Kahn didn't ask for more details as he already had too much for one day. And he felt a sense of loss and guilt in his mind.

Although he had avenged her.. This feeling would take some time to go away.

He also vowed to visit her again if he ever came back to this city in future years.

With a heavy heart.. He bid farewell to Jessica Artwinger.