I regressed and became the Sword Ice King-Chapter 244 - - Captured.

As the sun’s rays permeated the skies in a crimson blanket of awakening, the world became brighter. The Sun had driven the darkness once more and taken the place of the moon, serving as the only anchoring source of light for the Day. As the people arose to their daily tasks, so did Ziza and Merthy and some members of the Cat Guild.

There was a day left until the General Meeting of the Five Pillars, and a lot of matters were left untouched.

Of course, at a time like this, Raph and Elsie had other plans.

Finding Plum was their mission, or was at least, Raph’s and now that he found him, he wasn’t letting him go.

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At the moment, Raph and Elsie were walking through the free zone, albeit a lot stealthier now.

"How long until we get there?" Elsie asked with a quiet yawn as they walked past some rubble. The number of fallen buildings in this particular area had increased since their arrival.

It was practically a wasteland of concrete and sandy walls fallen to pieces, with large chunks of rocks and rubble.

"Almost, I think". He replied with a sigh.

He would have preferred to go on his own, but Elsie insisted.

’Bounty Hunters are persistent. If they were to come again, there would be a significant difference’.

He didn’t doubt his strength, but he wasn’t going to underestimate the persistence of Bounty Hunters. Especially those that had lost their crew in their mission.

’Absurd how they’re more loyal to themselves than other known organizations’. He thought when he finally got to the last building before the Rugged Coin Tavern came into view.

"Are you ready, Elsie? We may be attacked. Ensure you remain at my side, Okay?" He asked as he walked towards it with a slight grunt of worry.

Elsie giggled and nodded, walking after him quietly. It would be a lie if she wasn’t enjoying the way he treated her, and she was adamant about enjoying it while she could.

’Maybe leaving school for a while was a good idea’.

She thought, her gaze shifting about to inspect the area.

There was nothing much other than the rubble. The people that used to live there had been moved thanks to the Cat’s guild, and all that was left was owned by the Rugged Coin.

Soon, they got to the door, and Raph walked up, ignoring the stares from the two men who sat beside it. He opened the door with a single swing, causing the people gathered to turn towards him in unison.

’...Interesting’

He thought with a sigh as his gaze scanned the room, searching for his target and there he was, attending at the bar.

With a sigh, he walked up to the counter with Elsie by his side, swinging her tail leisurely as they sat in front of the counter.

The silence that suffused the air since their arrival was chilling, but that wasn’t what bothered Raph, really.

He glanced to his left, and there, seated next to him, was a muscular, built woman. She had rough crimson hair and piercing, cold black eyes.

Her attention was fixed on the cup of whiskey she drank, and her attire was an embodiment of strength.

He looked away and turned to Plum.

"You’re still here, huh?" he asked with a smile, while Plum glanced at the red-haired woman before turning to Raph.

"Well, yes. This is where I work now".

"Hmmm, too bad. We need you where you’re meant to be and not here". Raph’s statement was like a sting as Plum’s gaze darkened.

"if I was, then I wouldn’t be here". He muttered in clenched teeth. "Enough of your games. Meadow sent you, didn’t she?" He asked.

Raph raised a brow in surprise. "At least you remember her name, though, in surprise you’re willing to reveal your identity like this". He glanced around the room. "You must truly trust these men".

"Well, they gave me a bed to sleep in and food to eat when I came knocking. This is my best way of helping them".

Raph chuckled slightly. "What do you mean? You have a duty to uphold in the West, and you can help them much more when you’re there than over here".

A tense silence suffused between them as Plum picked up a bottle.

"No, thank you". He said when a fireball suddenly erupted around the crimson woman’s fist. A manic glint appeared in her eyes as she turned towards Raph and swung her fist towards him.

Raph remained unperturbed, his gaze cold and distant at the sudden action of the woman. He had already known who she was the minute he stepped into the building.

"Rugged Coin Guild Master. Safara Desert".

He said as blue aura erupted around in like a ray of light. His body moved in an instant, his right hand grabbing the woman’s fist, and his left grabbing her by the waist, lifting her into the air and slamming her against the counter.

A gasp of shock swept through the room as the chairs were dragged to the ground while they stood up.

At that moment, Elsie glared at the man, a firm bloodlust exuding from her warm, crimson eyes.

"Stay put". She said, her voice dripping with venom.

Plum gasped in shock as he slammed the bottle on Raph. The sound of glass breaking echoed as blood dribbled down Raph’s forehead, but his gaze never left Safara.

The woman bit down on her lip in surprise as she struggled to set free.

"Stay put". Raph said with a cold authority, and she immediately obliged.

"Plum Swanstorn. We need your help in the west". Raph said with a distant tone in his voice.

"My help? I do not want to have any affairs with the kingdom!" He muttered in disbelief, his voice shaky with adrenaline.

"You heard him. We don’t want you here, blind swordsman so you should leave". Safara said with repressed rags.

"....and Why is that? Because you said so….because from the looks of it".

A gust of cold wind formed in the air as a blade slowly protruded out, its tip aiming for the back of her neck.

"your life is in my hands".

"You think killing me will make the Prince go with you?! Don’t make me laugh" She said with a cackle.

A tense silence suffused the air when Raph suddenly sighed and let her free.

"Plum, Meadow and I are planning a revolt".

Plum’s gaze widened in shock, but he wasn’t the only one left amazed by Raph’s words. The room, or at least those who were aware of the matters of the West, were struck with surprise.

"Wh–Why would you say something like that in the open?" plum asked in bewilderment.

"Why wouldn’t I? The rugged coin knows of your identity and still treats you as their own….they wouldn’t let something like this slip up to the king".

Raph replied as he sat back down on the seat while Elsie did the same. "You aren’t the only one tired of the West, Plum. We also have lost things to the king; you are not alone".

He glanced around the room once more and then at Safara.

"You’re a battle mage with affinities for all four elements….talents like you shouldn’t be washed up here. Convince the price so we can make him King". Raph said to her, his voice filled with conviction.

It seemed like the people in the tavern were actually listening to him, but the subtleness in how they acted made him think otherwise.

He glanced at Safara, his gaze piercing through hers. "....What do you think?" He asked, his voice filled with curiosity.

The woman remained silent, her gaze flickering with intensity. Raph had only met her for a moment, but his brain screamed at him that it could be a warning.

’A warning for what?’ He wondered as he glanced at Elsie, but his eyes caught something at that moment.

Something peculiar, and white, which pulled his curiosity. ’....A Gas Mask?’

For a moment, it seemed like silence had suffused the air, but in the next, the glass windows burst open as black orbs were thrown into the building.

"Put on your masks!" Safara screamed out as the people gathered in the tavern pulled out a gas mask that had been hidden. Enjoy new chapters from novelbuddy

The black orbs rotated in a frenzy and emitted black fumes that clouded the tavern within seconds.

It was then it struck Raph as he quickly grabbed onto Elsie before the sudden influx of fumes affected his breathing.

"El"–cough "Elsie"

His vision had been clouded, but the sounds of footsteps receding the room echoed as he grabbed onto Elsie, who was also coughing.

"If you survive this, Blind Swordsman, then we will do as you please". Safara’s voice receded with their footsteps as the people who were once present in the tavern left the duo to their fates.

Raph coughed out erratically as he fell to his knees. ’Shit. Shit. Those bastard Bounty Hunters!’

He screamed out in his head as Elsie coughed out even more erratically than him.

Their bodies were completely repressed from the fumes as the smoke assaulted their senses even more.

’Shit…I’m losing it…move you freaking body!’. He held onto Elsie tightly as they fell to the floor, their bodies aching from the force of their coughs as tears streamed down their eyes.

"Shhh…Devil’s Gas still works as well as it used to, brather"

The sounds of footsteps entering the building echoed, causing Raph to struggle to get a better view.

’No!’ he cried out in his head. ’No! No! No!’

He screamed as three men in peacock masks stepped into the building, their eyepieces sparkling white as they moved in the fumes towards their unconscious bodies.

’No! NO!’ He thought as Elsie was suddenly pulled away from his grasp, his body shaking in rage.

"Hah….you should have killed us when ya gat the chance".

With a solid thud, his head was struck with the blunt of a gun, sending his senses into a state of unconsciousness.