Chương 436: Chapter 409. Addressing The Crowd

I stepped outside my mansion, after I got properly dressed. I wasn't too sure if it was a good idea or not, to be honest." RAAAHHHH!"" HE'S REALLY HERE!"" I TOLD YOU IT WAS TRUE!" The crowd erupted into cheers. As I looked around, I could see big smiles all around from both Demons and the few Humans that were spread around amongst the crowd. There must've been around 2000 people altogether, gathered out in the main road in front of the mansion.

The only thing I could compare it to were the parades that would happen during the holidays or if a sports team won a championship in a big city. The crowd began to liven up even more until they were at a fever pitch as I walked out of the mansion closer and closer to them." Looks like we're not the only ones who missed you, Darling." Anna came up from behind me and happily whispered in my ear... Well, I say whisper, but with how loud the crowd is, she more or less was shouting at me. Grip.

Meanwhile, Sarah just tightly gripped my left hand. Grip. Before long, Anna followed Sarah's example. With all 3 of us linked together, we all walked in front of the crowd. As soon as I reached the gate that separated the property from the street, the crowd began to quiet down as we got closer and closer. This reaction was strange to me, considering that they had begun to get rowdy as soon as they saw me exit the mansion. We stood at the gate, somewhat confused by the lack of the crowd making noises.

That was until we heard some familiar voices begin to address us." They all want to know what happened. And then, they want to know what we're going to do moving forward."" Just like how we're all still waiting to hear what you've been through, Matthew." Flare, Ruby's cousin... Or more like a little sister, I think? Either way, Flare had come up to us and explained the reason for the crowd being so quiet. Ruby followed her as well. It looks like she's still really curious about what happened.

Before long, Emily, Alice, and Charlotte came out from the crowd and joined us at the front of it." So that's why they're all here?... The Nighttime Guards must've said some things during the shift change for the Guards... I'm still tired..."" Oh, Cyn? You woke up, huh? All the noise got to you." Sarah greeted Cynthia, who was approaching us from behind. It looks like she just rolled out of bed not too long ago." So, what are we going to do now?" Anna asked me a question about the current situation.

I thought for a moment about what to do... I guess since everyone's here, I can just tell everyone what happened. I turned to the crowd and saw countless eyes staring back at me. They're all waiting to see what I'd do. I feel somewhat like a zoo animal at this point." Good morning to everyone here! As you all can tell, I was able to return here to Paradise, relatively unharmed."" RAAH!" The crowd cheered for that, but I don't think it was really worth it.

I feel like I'm being cheered just for walking back into my house. I waited for the cheering to die down before continuing on." Now as for what happened. At the Summit, the Elves used a Magical Device that caused an explosion. I was knocked out in the blast. From there, I assume I was kept unconscious with some kind of Magic. When I finally woke up, I was in Alfheim, in a cell, in a dungeon." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings." Rah! Rah! Rah!"

I couldn't really make out what was being said from the crowd, all I could really confirm is that the Townspeople were angry at what I've said so far... Let's see how it goes once I start explaining what happened next... Grip! Grip! Just before I was about to begin the rest of the explanation, Sarah and Anna tightened their grips on my hands. I'd imagine they really don't want to remember this time in our lives. Either way, I need to continue on." Once I was in the cell, 3 male Elves walked into the cell.

The first one was somewhat middle-aged by Elf standards. He had long hair, and a strange look in his eye when looking at me. The other 2 were prison guards. It was at that point, that I realized that I was in shackles that seemed to seal my Mana within me. I couldn't cast Spells or fight back. I was forced to walk through the cold, stone hallway, bare foot, until we arrived in a cell block that was around 20 minutes away from where mine was."

At this point, the rambunctious crowd had calmed down, everyone was focused on my words. I thought that maybe talking about this all would be hard, but with Sarah and Anna next to me... I can see them, smell them, feel their hands in mine... It makes it all easier for some reason." When we arrived, the first thing to happen was one of the 2 guards had cast a Spell. It was a small flame that flew around the area and lit numerous candles that were stationed on the walls.

Once the area became bright, I saw what they wanted me to see. around 20 people, in what looked like a pit. I saw a few Elves, Humans and even a Dark Elf. They were mining. They were lifeless, even as they moved the rocks they broke into wheelbarrows and took it off some place I couldn't see. Suddenly, the middle-aged one began to laugh happily. Once he was able to catch his breath, he began to speak to me. The glee in the man's face was easy to see as words left his mouth. The long and short of it was simple.

The one speaking to me was the Head Torturer of the dungeon I was in. The people we were looking at were brainwashed into being willing, emotionless slaves. And that was what the King requested he do to me. He then called one of them up to where we were. I saw what one of them looked like. Days went by as he tried slowly erasing my personality from me. But he failed each time."" How do you know that?" Suddenly, as I was speaking, a familiar voice called out to me.

It was somewhat accusatory from the inflection that was used. I turned my head to see Rodrick looking at me with suspicion in his eyes." You showed up here in the dead of night, and now you tell us that you were being brainwashed!? You need to be examined!" Rodrick continued to speak, there was some likeminded individuals in the crowd. Suspicious, but also concerned for me, at least, I'd like to think it was concern... I felt killing intent beginning to leak from the area around me...

It looks like the girls were getting angry for me. I quickly began to speak, to stop any further problems from coming our way." I'd be more than fine with someone examining me, I plan on having Queen Aqua take a look at me as well. However, to further the idea that I'm not working for the enemy in anyway. Wouldn't you find it weird for me to kill the guy who was brainwashing me?"" What?"" The guy who brainwashing me, I killed him before I escaped from the dungeon I was in.

Around a week ago, I found the moment I needed. The brainwashing didn't affect me because of my Job. Paladins are prized for their Physical Defense as well as their Magical Defense. I was able to eventually fake being affected... Enough that a Guard just told me to walk behind him while he made the fatal mistake of not thinking I could snap his neck. After that, I found the keys to the shackles and then I stabbed the guy in his chest from behind.

I found the items that were taken from me when I was captured and then I ran. I ran all the way back here. Sure, I was hunted for a bit, but I survived them, and no one followed me after a while. I plan on visiting King Warrick and Queen Aqua today. Are there any other questions you might have for me, Rodrick?"" Not for you." Rodrick turned to Ruby and Flare." Do you really trust him, still? Is there anything that's felt "off" about him?"" No. In fact, I can assure you that he's completely intact!"

Ruby confidently affirmed my mental state. I was glad she did, the last thing I need is people questioning my sanity. I've already experienced that when hashing through the mandatory days off argument with my Employees." Okay. Just watch him close, Ruby."" I always do." Ruby wore a wide smile as she answered to Rodrick's request. Everyone in the crowd seemed to take a relieved breath, as well as the girls around me. Now then... I guess I need to visit Warrick and Aqua after breakfast?

To be honest, I was just going to send them a letter that said I was fine... But I guess I need to visit them now to get checked out, just so I get the okay from Aqua... Maybe I should have her put it down in writing? My day just got complicated.