I regressed and became the Sword Ice King

There were not that many places one would go to in a Town of criminals and unlawful rebels of society, or at least that's what the Kingdom and Empire have portrayed them to be. But the few that existed were quite popular, and it was common to make use of levies to get an entryway since it wasn't owned by the public.

One such, North from the centre of the town, was a well-known tavern. It is a place for crooks and worn-out adventurers, coming to get some action and money along with it.

The road was filled with sand, soft and sharp, stinging the legs of the indigenes of the Town who worked about barefooted.

This mostly included Kids, boys especially, who were seen in most corners of the region.

This part of town was owned by the Rugged Coin Clan. A clan of misfits and worn-out middle-aged men who spent most of their days drinking and sharing information.

Of course, they were protected by a powerful guild master, who rivalled the others and got their funds from any means possible.

They were hard-headed men who listened to no one other than their leader, and the loud cheers and conversations that echoed in the air were a testament to their daily antics, including drinking and having fun.

It was in front of this tavern, with fortified wood and sand holding it and a sign that spelt the name of the clan that a figure cladded in a white cloak stood in front.

His legs had dug deep into the sand, and the searing heat from the sun was affecting him from both sides, despite his cloak.

The figure stood motionlessly as he watched kids being pushed, beaten or walking about to carry out activities that were too much for them.

The figure sighed and took slow steps towards the tavern, ignoring the stares from the kids and people who resided in the tall, uncompleted buildings that surrounded the tavern.

His walking steps exuded an easily palpable grace, though it was covered under layers of sand and dust on his boot. It was surprising that the individual I walked by maintained his white cloak for this long.

Two men sat at the front of the tavern, each with a disgusted and suspicious expression etched on their faces as they glanced at the man in a white cloak. But sadly for them, the man didn't seem to mind them, in fact, he had not even noticed them.

His mind was boggled, perhaps exhausted from his journey, and all he required at that moment was a moment of respite.

But….better or not these unlawful people would give it to the man in white cloak that he did not know.

"Oi", The one on the left called out as he rocked his chair while the loud conversations echoed from within the tavern.

The man in a white cloak stopped by the wooden staircase, his expression hidden beneath his hoodie.

"You're not from around here, are you?" The man proceeded to ask, though the answer was rather palpable.

The man by the right, with a long chewing stick on his mouth and scars that would make one wonder where he got it from on his face, simply opened one of his eyes to stare at the white-cloaked man.

A tense silence ensued. "Time is ticking, I can not wait around here". The man in the white cloak said with a sigh and proceeded to climb the stairs, but at that point, the man at the left stood up with a loud thud from the sound of his chair falling. His hand was wrapped tightly on the Sword wrapped around his waist. A broadsword that was riddled with dried blood.

"Back off….we don't need visitors in our tavern". He said, his tone laced with venom and hostility.

The man in white cloak glanced at the man on the right, and then at the man that stood up. A soft sigh escaped his lips.@@novelbin@@

"Why do we choose violence when things don't go our way?" He said with a soft tone laced in his voice. "Oftentimes, man experiences difficulties, and most times, we choose violence to solve it".

He shook his head and clicked his tongue. "That is a world far from what man should strive for".

His statement came out soft-spoken and weak as if his journey had drained out his energy.

The man on the right stared at him with a baffled expression, as a small smirk formed from the corner of his lips. He glanced at his partner on the left.

"Croken, why don't we let this one in?" He asked.

Croken, the man on the left, whipped a disappointed expression on the man on the right. His brows furrowed deeply. "And why would I choose to do that? We don't know him, and we don't have the luxury to accept foreign visitors.

The man at the right glanced at the man in a white cloak.

"Are you from the west?" He asked.

The man scoffed in reply, a bitter and tiresome scoff that was palpable from his tone.

"The west?" He said with a distasteful tone in his voice. "Yes, I am from the west but I came from the east".

His reply sent a wave of shock between the two men, as they glanced at each other. It wasn't often you find someone from one region, living in another. Perhaps, it was something peculiar, to the point that it was their first time experiencing it.

"....You come from the East?" Croken muttered, his gaze glancing at the man at his right before a restrained sigh escaped his lips. "....Interesting". He said, before picking up his chair and sitting back on it.

A brief moment of silence ensued and the man in white cloak continued his steps into the tavern.

This time, the two men didn't stop him and simply pretended not to see him.

Soon, he had opened the doors and stepped into the world of the Rugged Coin Clan.

There were bulky men, injured men, old men, and every kind of such you would find in an unlawful place sitting around their tables, enjoying their meals and conversations, until, of course, a man in a white cloak stepped into their world.

The man in the white cloak paid them no attention and took slow steps to the counter, his dirtied shoes making loud sounds in the eerie silence that ensued after his arrival.

Still, he paid no attention and sat on the chair in front of the counter with two bulky men beside him.

The attendant walked up to him with a friendly smile, but behind that mischievous smile was a deadly frown.

"Heyyy, you're not from around here, are you?" The attendant said as he dropped a cup of water on the desk for the man in a cloak.

The man picked it up, stared at it for a moment, and sighed deeply. "You don't have to poison me". He said before gulping the cup of water with desperation that bordered on frenzy.

The attendant raised a brow in confusion when the man in a white cloak suddenly slammed the cup on the table.

"Another," He said with a strained voice, while the attendant raised a brow.

He poured out another cup of water, and the man drank the whole thing with the same amount of frenzy as before, like a man who was a perched traveller in the desert.

"Oi, slow it down," The man at his left said with a startled tone as he was served his fifth cup of water.

"Um, yes….I believe I should get another jug for you" The attendant added, but the man stopped him with the sound of his cup hitting the counter.

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"Does it matter? You people fear the unknown and refuse to accept visitors, don't you? That is why you stoop yourself to the point of no return. Choosing to kill the unknown, rather than learn from it". A soft cackle escaped his lips as he leaned on the table. "Well guess what? This world doesn't revolve around you. And someone will kill you too".

He raised his cup of water towards the attendant, as a strained silence ensued in the tavern as they watched the man's every action.

"Pour out some more. I am parched".

****

Almost a few kilometres away, four figures could be seen jumping from one building to another with speed as they aimed to get to a specific location in mind.

Raph led the group, his gaze shaking as he glanced at the regal chain on his hand.

'What? It's not responding again?' He thought in confusion as he jumped down from one of the buildings with a light thud.

Elsie followed soon, and so did Merthy and Cartwyn.

Their breaths were shaky as they glanced at Raph.

"Well? Did you find the person?" Merthy asked with curiosity laced in her tone.

Raph glanced at her and then at Elsie. "The chain stopped responding". He said with a sigh. "It seems it doesn't just respond when they're close….but rather when it's called upon".

He could remember the sensation from when it began to shimmer in his pocket. It was like a longing, for someone to come find him. Did something happen to the person he came to rescue? He did not know, but the thought boggled him.

Elsie glanced around, a scowl spreading on her forehead. "Where are we, Methy?" She asked.

Merthy glanced at her when she finally noticed it as well. A frown formed on her face as she sighed. "We were headed north from the centre of the town". She said in reply as they stared at the figures that surrounded them from the top of the buildings. "....We're in a free zone".