The man's identity was all but certain. That made what Cain needed to do much simpler.
"You're an apostle of the Human God?" Cain's eyes darkened.
"That's right! I am! Let me defeat you, evil Sword God!"
The tall man raised the King Dragon Sword high.
"North God Style Secret Art—"
But with a swish, the world fell silent. A soundless sword stroke cut through the night, and the tall man's head flew into the air. Blood gushed from his neck, spraying the King Dragon Sword he still held aloft. Then his headless body hit the ground.
Cain brushed the white smoke from his palms and walked forward. He pried the King Dragon Sword from the corpse's hands and tossed it to Alexander, who caught it with a wry smile.
Alexander looked at the sword, wiped off the blood, and strapped it to his back, looking somewhat ashamed.
"Thank you, Lord Cain!"
Cain had taken the head off an opponent Alexander had struggled against for ages without even drawing the Tachi at his waist. That superhumanly fast strike was just what Alexander would expect from a man he respected. Cain's strength had reached an absurd level.
"It was nothing. But how did that guy get his hands on the King Dragon Sword? And where's Rudeus? I received his distress signal."
"Uh, well..."
Feeling guilty, Alexander explained everything to Cain and Roxy.
"I see..."
"So he got separated from you when you ran into bandits... And you're banned from drinking for a month. How did you let someone steal the King Dragon Sword?"
"Sorry, Lord Cain. He caught me off guard while I was chasing him."
"Are you sure? I get the feeling you just wanted a drink..."
"Ahem. H-how could that be..." Alexander scratched his cheek, his face reddening.
Roxy