The Laughing Swordsman

The guard suddenly lost the sensation of his body. His vision was spinning until it reached the ground.

For a few seconds, the guard could not comprehend what was happening. But when his vision started to darken, he came to a realization.

'That kid... killed me?'

The guard's head rolled across the cobblestone path with a terrified expression carved into his face.

The other guards were in a state of shock. As for Karn, he was rapidly blinking as though he would dispel the illusion by doing so.

The captain frowned and narrowed his eyes.

"Damn, surround this kid!"

Some of the guards had been half asleep, but right now, they were wide awake. Silently, the group stood up and slowly encircled Apollo.

Apollo let them surround him. He simply stood there next to the person he just killed with an uncanny smile.

Once Apollo was fully encircled, the guards suddenly dashed forward. Eight swords slashed towards Apollo.

The corner of Apollo's lip twitched upwards. His hand traced the side of the blade and his bokken snapped out.

Four swords suddenly shifted trajectories. Like they were defending Apollo, they collided with the other four swords.

Apollo was surrounded by blades on all ends but remained unharmed. Before the guards had a chance to do anything else, Apollo's bokken flashed.

A clanging sound rang out. Eight metal blades fell onto the ground. The guards stared at what remained of their swords, a hilt.

While the guards were still in shock, Apollo swung his bokken.

Laughter and heads filled the air. While some of the survivors got a grip on themselves, it was already too late.

Apollo's bokken flashed and the last guard was decapitated.

Suddenly, Apollo's bokken snapped to his back.

A thud rang out.

The captain attempted to take out Apollo by surprise. This attack came at the price of everyone under him.

Yet, it failed.

Despair clawed at the captain's heart.

Then, he heard an ominous laugh.

Apollo slowly turned around.

Once the captain looked at Apollo's smile, his entire body felt weak. He was unable to fight back.

With a flash, another head flew in the air, left to roll on the ground.

Karn stared at the bloody scene in shock.

"...You killed them all."

Apollo turned to Karn, still smiling. His neck was twitching erratically.

"What was I supposed to do? Let them kill me?"

Karn's face twitched. He hurriedly shook his head.

"No... no."

Apollo slowly walked up to Karn.

Apollo's bokken raised.

Karn flinched.

With a flash, the ropes binding Karn split apart.

Karn blinked a few times and remained still.

Apollo tilted his head to the side.

"Are you just going to sit there all day?"

Karn broke out of his stupor.

"Ah, right."

He stumbled up to his feet and almost fell back down in the process.

Apollo walked back the way he came and Karn followed from behind.

Karn was a bit frazzled at first but gradually calmed down.

Karn did not bother questioning Apollo about his swordsmanship or cruelty. Instead, he talked to him like he was an old companion.

"You know... I had a friend before."

Apollo had calmed down. A natural frown remained on his face while his voice was listless.

"A friend?"

Karn let out a soft chuckle.

"Yeah... the only friend I had in my twenty years of life."

Karn sighed.

"She was quite strange. For some reason, she wanted to help a person like me out."

Apollo looked over his shoulder.

"That is indeed strange."

Karn laughed.

"Yeah. She was always trying to fight for what she thought was right."

Karn smiled.

"Without her, I wouldn't be here today."

Karn's smile slowly disappeared.

"Because she died trying to help me with my debts."

Apollo sighed.

"Sounds like you ruined her life."

Karn smiled bitterly.

"Yeah..."

Karn took a deep breath.

"She used her own money to pay back my debtors. But the magnitude of my debt was not something she could handle."

Karn shook his head.

"Ever since she gave them money, the debtors got more aggressive. They kept asking for more money from her each day."

Karn's eyes narrowed.

"But she didn't have that kind of money. Eventually, it led to a fight where she was killed in the process."

Apollo's expression did not change.

"She sounds like a fool."

Karn sighed.

"A fool, but a kind one. I tend to wonder how a person like her would have lived her life if I didn't exist."

Karn clenched his fist.

"If she didn't have to deal with my debts, she would be living a carefree life. But because I had to exist, she couldn't."

Apollo took a deep breath.

"What are you trying to say?"

Karn laughed bitterly.

"I suppose... I am trying to apologize to her."

Apollo raised an eyebrow.

"For what? It's not like you did any of those things."

A tear fell down Karn's cheek.

"For being born."

Apollo fell silent. After a few moments, he shook his head.

"It's not like that was your decision."

Karn closed his eyes.

"Maybe... but it still feels like my fault. Sure, I've lived, but what for?"

Karn's eyes parted as he looked longingly to the moon.

"I've wasted away my life. My pathetic existence cost the life of a person that deserved everything in the world."

Karn's voice became shaky.

"If I just wasn't born, these debts would not exist. There would have never been any problem in the first place."

Tears uncontrollably poured down Karn's face.

"Nobody would have to care for me."

Karn's footsteps gradually came to a halt. Apollo stopped walking as well and turned to look at the moon with Karn.

They basked in the faint moonlight.

Tears kept falling from Karn's face.

"You know... I'm a sinner. Because I wanted to live, I stole the life from others."

Karn sniffled and spread out his arms.

"Because filth like me just had to exist, the beautiful things in this world were tainted."

He smiled bitterly through the tears.

"So that's why.. That's why it's my fault for being born."

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