Chapter 127: Justice Written Red
As Kir gazed around the battlefield, he estimated forty or more corpses had been strewn about the village square.
Another building was on fire, and a group of surrendered men were on their knees near the cages, hands held high as Noir pointed his crossbow at them.
To Noir’s right, sitting on his chair, as if he’d simply decided to take a rest, was Brooker; a crossbow bolt sticking through his temple and into his brain, blood seeping out from behind one eye.
Amarena was nearby, holding Kangetsu in her hand as she kept it at the throat of someone Kir recognized.
Warmancer Cadence, and behind her a troop of about twenty adventurers, all looking fresh and pristine. Most had their weapons drawn, but not her.
Kir felt the fight go out of him as exhaustion finally caught up to his body, his form shrinking along with his waning adrenaline.
As soon as he was out of his war form, he fell to one knee, bracing himself while Stella flapped free of his back to land at his side with a supporting hand.
"You need a healer and a week in a bath," Stella said, swallowing hard as she visibly tried not to gag.
Kir wasn’t so able.
As soon as he saw and smelled the mound of death, he threw up. And only once he was emptied did he force himself to stand.
It was as he approached Noir and Amarena that the villagers finally recognized him for who he was.