Guardian: Derek Walker 32

Suddenly, blue particles scattered through the air toward Luna. It was because we'd taken down Surfer, the Shadow of Greed—her power was getting a boost. In the original game, Luna would gain stat boosts or learn special skills every time she defeated a Shadow.

'Not a bad haul already.'

"Some weird power's flowing into my body. My chest feels all tingly."

Luna spread her hands, describing the changes happening to her.

"Just accept it fully. It's a power that'll help you."

"Understood."

Luna sat down in a comfortable position. I nodded at Kelly to guard her. It would take a while to fully absorb Surfer's power. With Kelly watching over her, there shouldn't be any issues.

"Time to wrap up the rest."

We'd beaten the Shadow of Greed, but there was still work to do. First, deal with Phallax and his spawn. Then clean up the mess.

Phallax, who'd had his power drained by Surfer, lay collapsed and unconscious. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hergen, who'd been his host, was chewed up beyond recognition—no chance of revival. The grotesquely swollen corpse looked less human than monster, enough to turn your stomach just looking at it.

"Is... is the commotion over?"

As the battle noises died down, villagers started peeking out one by one. The area was a total wreck. The ground was cratered, the village hall and nearby houses and barns collapsed like they'd been hit by a landslide. Plenty of folks had gotten swept up in Surfer's power and died too.

The village damage had exceeded 50. That meant two sub-quests failed. It stung, but with Luna absorbing the Shadow's power, it felt like a fair trade.

"Mr. Walker! Lady Luna!"

Rita's voice caught my ear. The place was a bloodbath, but she came running without a care. As she led the way, the other villagers hesitated, then followed cautiously.

"The enemies are down. No more danger. First things first—let's clean this up."

I dumped the rebuilding of smashed buildings on the villagers. No reason for me to fix their shit anyway.

I had the crowd tie up Phallax and his knights. I declared I'd hold a summary trial for them myself.

A mere merchant judging knights under a lord's orders? Absurd. But no one in the village dared oppose me. Besides, they all hated Phallax anyway.

"Urgh! Untie me, you bastards! Damn it! Treason! You're all traitors! I'll tell the lord and have you all beheaded!"

With limbs bound tight, Phallax stood in the makeshift village hall with his knights. The backlash from Surfer draining him left him unable to use mana at all. Probably permanent. His career as a knight was over.

Most villagers showed up to watch the trial. I hadn't even called them—they just gathered. In a backwater like this, a trial was prime entertainment.

"Mr. Walker... if word of this reaches the lord's ears, it could be bad."

Drobin, the young militia leader and acting village chief, spoke up with a grim face. Principled, but I ignored him flat-out. Not my problem.

"If we let that slime go, he'll frame us somehow. Didn't everyone see his true colors?"

"True, but..."

"Urgh! Traitors! Hey, chief! Untie me! Do it and I'll forgive you!"

"Filthy criminal. Shutting your stinking mouth in this solemn court! You, redhead! Gag that bastard!"

Calling on spectators is the judge's prerogative. I ordered a young guy watching the trial. He blinked wide-eyed, pointing at himself.

"Yeah, you."

"M-me? How could I gag a knight..."

"A few whacks to the head'll quiet him."

Even under orders, the kid just stared at Phallax, trembling. The furious Phallax gnashed his teeth and yelled.

"Derek Walker! I'll chew you up myself!"

"Fucking retard. Wonder how long you can keep strutting. Bianca!"

Bianca jumped at her name, turning to me.

"Tell that idiot his situation."

Bianca, who'd nearly been gang-raped alongside her sister because of Phallax, marched toward him with fierce eyes—unlike the redhead kid. I liked her drive.

"You bitch...! What are you—"

"You're no knight! Die! Die!"

Bianca grabbed a cudgel from the corner of the warehouse and started bashing Phallax's head. With limbs tied, he could only wriggle like a maggot to dodge. It was hilarious—the villagers burst into laughter.

"Kek! Is that really a centurion?"

"Useless prick. He was the one demanding money from our village?"

"Good job, Bianca! Just kill him!"

Mob mentality is scary. Everyone but pale-faced Drobin was cheering it on.

After a solid beating, I stopped Bianca. Phallax had lost four teeth, cheekbone shattered. Even a woman with a cudgel packs a punch—especially a sturdy country girl like her.

His knights watched their boss get pummeled.

"Defendant's quiet now—trial's easier. Good. Court is in session. Case number 6974. Defendant: Centurion Phallax. Charges: Overstepping authority, demanding bribes and sexual favors, fraud, embezzlement, attempted rape, arson, theft, collusion, terrorism, and countless other unspeakable crimes."

"Ugh... I didn't do any of th—"

"Bianca."

"Yes!"

Shut the defendant up for disrupting court.

"These crimes violate societal morals—horrific, inhuman acts. Therefore, I sentence defendant Phallax to death!"

At "death," his lackey knights exchanged shocked looks. Drobin looked uneasy too.

"Um... Mr. Walker. Even so, death penalty is..."

"Law must be strict. Considering his deeds, death's too lenient."

"But if the lord finds out..."

"No witnesses, no problem, right?"

I turned to Phallax's lackey knights.

"Hear the defense from the defendant's lawyers."

I'm from a democratic society—defendants get their say. His lawyers were obviously his knights.

They just glanced around, mouths shut like dummies. After minutes, the senior-most one finally spoke.

"I-if you release us now, we won't tell the lor—"

"Bianca."

"Yes!"

She misjudged the force this time—smashed his head like a watermelon. Heads are fragile. Cudgels make great murder weapons.

"Bianca!"

Rita screamed, eyes wide at her sister's antics. But Bianca shouted back defiantly.

"Sis! You haven't forgotten what these trash did to you, right?! They tried to rape us both! They deserve to die!"

"B-but..."

Bianca had changed. That near-rape by the knights must've done it. Extreme experiences transform people. I actually welcomed her shift.

"No objection from defense? Perfect. Very democratic trial. Phallax ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and his trash knights—sentenced to death."

I bashed Phallax's head with the cudgel instead of a gavel. Didn't want him dying too quick—held back a bit.

*-*-*

The day after Phallax's trial, the village was mostly sorted. No sign of orc attacks, thankfully.

Luna fully absorbed Surfer's power without issue. I ordered her and Kelly to rest a few days. Luna's such a workaholic—she won't unless I say so.

Lots ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of villagers visited Luna while she rested. From her story, folks under Surfer's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠influence had been rude to her. Hergen even tried offering her to Phallax.

Good thing Hergen croaked. If he lived, I'd have killed him myself. Shadow possession or not, he crossed the line.

Quest cleared, reward claimed. Kinda underwhelming, though. A-grade Inventory Expansion Coupon isn't bad, but I'd hoped for S-grade.

'Blame the two missed sub-quests. Cleared 'em all, it'd be S-grade at least.'

Couldn't be helped given the circumstances. Still, other gains make it fine.

"Kekeke. Come here, Bianca."

"Yess~"