The Laughing Swordsman

The young man had long yellow hair that reached his waist. A smile was carved onto his face like he was a statue.

The clothes he wore had many holes and stains in them. Considering how cold it was, any normal person would've frozen to death wearing those.

However, the man looked like he was just taking a stroll in his backyard.

Apollo raised his bokken as a smile gradually formed on his face.

The man chuckled.

"Don't be so aggressive now. We can have a simple chat, no?"

Apollo's eyes widened.

He dashed forward and swung a flurry of strikes at the man.

On the other hand, the man leisurely walked backward. Yet, Apollo's strikes could never hit him.

At most, Apollo's bokken would brush by the man.

Apollo started laughing.

"Stop running!"

His bokken flashed and a large wave of snow flew up.

The man raised an eyebrow when he saw a blade of wind traveling towards him. He did not even attempt to dodge. When the blade of wind got close, it disappeared altogether.

Apollo's pupils shook.

The red scars on Apollo's arm expanded. His body emitted heat like a furnace and the smile on his face widened.

Apollo relentlessly swung his bokken. Unfortunately, the man still dodged every strike with ease.

In fact, he was getting bored.

One of Apollo's strikes missed. With an explosive bang, his bokken hit the tree. The top half of the tree snapped off and was sent flying into another tree.

The man was not even slightly concerned about Apollo's display of power. Instead, he sighed.

Apollo's bokken shot towards the man's chest.

Before it reached, the man's body flashed with a bright white light.

Apollo froze.

The man appeared at his side, holding to his wrist tightly.

Apollo was holding his bokken with that hand. Despite the clear gap in power, Apollo continued struggling, trying to pull himself out of the man's grip.

However, the man's hand did not budge.

It was as though he was holding onto a helpless child.

The man sighed.

"Kids like you need to be careful of who you provoke."

The man's smile widened.

"After all, there are some monsters hiding in plain sight."

Apollo sobered up. There was no way he could beat this person.

...At least, not now.

"What do you want?"

The man chuckled.

"Just curious what you are doing in this dangerous forest. My name is Mark, what is yours?"

Apollo blinked a few times.

"Apollo and what I'm doing is none of your business."

Mark smirked.

"A wonderful name. However, the terrors of this forest aren't as wonderful."

Apollo glared at Mark.

"What is so terrifying to you?"

Mark let out a muffled laugh from his closed lips.

"It appears you do not know."

Apollo smiled dangerously.

"Know what?"

Mark smirked.

"Sit down. Let me tell you a story."

Mark let go of Apollo and sat down next to a tree. He brushed aside the snow next to him and gestured for Apollo to sit.

Apollo considered trying to attack. However, if Mark was going to treat him like this, he could no longer work up the will to fight.

Apollo sat down next to Mark and sighed.

"So what is this story?"

Mark looked up at the sky.

"Three hundred years ago, a hero was summoned from another world. At the time, humans and demons were in a fervent war."

Mark reached out his hand, letting a snowflake fall on it.

"The hero was able to create whatever she wanted out of thin air. Using that power, she got past countless demons, all the way to the Demon King."

Mark chuckled.

"And when the hero was face to face with the Demon King, she gave a gift. It is said only a few people know of what it was, but it made the Demon King step down."

Mark sighed.

"From then on, the Demon King kept the demons in check. The world was at peace."

Mark was silent for a moment.

"But... the Demon King was killed just recently."

Mark turned to Apollo.

"With that, winter came early and the demons gathered to go to war once more."

Apollo raised an eyebrow.

"So there are just some weak demons around?"

Mark laughed.

"For now, yes. Demons with one horn are hard to miss. Two horns are a little rare, but you can find them if you search. As for three horns, encountering them means you got lucky... Or unlucky, depending on how you look at it."

Mark sucked in a deep breath.

"But the real terrors come from those with four horns. Not to mention those with more than four."

Mark raised a finger.

"They have yet to come to the forests. However, with each day, the number of demons coming increases. Soon, those with four horns will come."

Apollo furrowed his brows.

He recalled his fight with the three-horned demon. Even now, he was unsure if he could reliably kill it.

Yet, there were stronger ones?

Apollo closed his eyes.

"So that means if I want to survive, I need to step it up?"

Mark laughed.

"Haha, or you could avoid the forest."

Apollo smirked.

"What good would that do for me?"

Mark raised an eyebrow.

"I imagine it's much safer inside a city or village."

Apollo giggled.

"Oh really? How would that make me any safer?"

Mark raised an eyebrow.

"Your fellow humans should protect you, no?"

Apollo clutched the side of his face with his hand. Muffled laughs escaped him.

"I'd rather trust the devil to protect me before them."

Mark shook his head.

"Haha, I suppose that is true. But you should know, people like you are the quickest to die."

The inner corner of Apollo's eyebrows tried to dig into his eyes.

"I'd rather die than leave my life in someone else's hands."

The corner of Mark's lips turned up.

"Well said."

Apollo stood up.

"I guess there's no time to waste."

He began walking across the snow and through the trees.

Mark called out after him.

"Let me give you a little piece of advice.. You should be afraid of those with crowns, but far above them are the uncrowned."