Ch.15 I Was Bullied So Hard I Was Isekai'ed Into A World of Sword And Magic And Emerged As The Lightning Samurai God To Hatefuck My Former Bully Until She Got Heart Eyes

— Law Greyrat —

“So why do you think this is a good idea again?” I crossed my arms and looked down at my older brother, who was lying on his bed, looking incredibly smug.

“Because it will help her see that she is not the end all be all to this world.” Rudeus waved his hand.

“So you decided that the way to teach her some humility was by having her kidnapped in the night and saving her?” I tilted my head, trying to get a handle on his thought process.

In theory, it sounded like it could work, but was putting Eris in what she perceived as a life or death situation the best way to go about making her more respectful?

I honestly didn’t think so, but it would probably work, and it was the fastest way.

But I still think that organising the kidnapping of a child to teach them respect is a bit much.

“Don’t act like you don’t understand.” Rudeus narrowed his eyes at me, and I remained silent.

There was a reason Rudeus was doing this, and we both knew it. No matter how I felt about the situation, I had to admit that it wasn’t exactly a bad idea, just not my first option.

“Anyway, you should probably go. They’re gonna grab me once I’m asleep and do the same to Eris, so shoo.” Rudeus waved his hand with a joking smile, and I let out one last sigh before heading to the door.

“Alright, but be careful. Even if you’re organising this, things can still go wrong. Don’t forget how many people live in this place and the next town over.”

“Of course, I know all of that, but if anyone tries anything, it’ll just make me look even more reliable.” Rudy grinned. “By tomorrow morning, Eris will be so eager to learn magic and basic reading skills. After all, it’ll save her life.”

I shook my head and gave Rudeus one last wave before I walked out of the room and closed the door. As I walked down the hall, I considered going to Eris and talking to her for a bit but decided against it.

I also pondered on how Eris would view me once this event was over.

I’m supposed to be her bodyguard, yet for the sake of the kidnapping event, I basically need to give up my duty and let her get caught by strangers who, in her mind, want to ransom and to do unspeakable things to her.

But I guess I'll sacrifice a bit of her faith in me for the sake of my brother, his pride, his job and Eris’ future.

I can earn it back by whooping her ass in sword training tomorrow, anyway.

With that thought in mind, I made my way to my room and hopped on my bed.

Usually I would spend the night depleting my magic reserves to the point of exhaustion, then go to sleep, but tonight I felt like that wasn’t the right choice.

The thought of Eris and Rudeus being out all night with the intention of making their way back to this mansion held me off from resting.

How could I rest when my brother and the girl I was hired to protect would be out struggling for the entire night?

I narrowed my eyes as I looked up at the ceiling and eventually groaned as I pushed my body up.

I grabbed my steel blade that was leaning against my nightstand and walked out of the room after holstering to my side.

Maybe I’m soft, or maybe I’m paranoid, but something deep inside me demanded me not to rest until my worries were soothed and my responsibilities were relieved.

So that’s what I’d do. I would go out, and I’d follow Rudeus and Eris, and I wouldn’t come back and drop into my bed until they were both home and safe.

— Later —

A yawn escaped me as I bore my tired blue eyes on the house in front of the one I was standing on.

I had waited until both Rudeus and Eris were picked up by a couple of men that were allowed access into the mansion by the butler Thomas and of course Lord Philip’s permission.

I spent a couple of hours trailing the group all the way to the next town over by hitching a ride on the top of their carriage and laying down so I wouldn’t be seen.

When they had dragged Rudeus and Eris into a shitty-looking structure, I had jumped onto the neighbouring building so I would see them exit whenever Rudy decided it was time to make their epic escape.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly thus far, and I was starting to think that I may have overreacted just a bit by following them this far, but honestly, all is fine at the end of the day. It’s my duty to keep Eris safe, and I gotta stay up a little late to ensure that I will.

I sat down and reached into a small bag that I packed. I pulled out a leftover pastry that I had been given whenever I had visited the kitchen earlier, thanks to the beast women that worked there.

They took a fast liking toward me and coddled or greeted me every chance they got.

I wasn’t one to turn down their attention, though. I openly welcomed it! Next time I see Paul and Zenith, I’d have to thank them for giving me these genes because they made me a chick magnet, even at the young age of five.

Sure, they think I’m cuter than handsome, but the game is still a game.

As I quietly sat and took a bite of the sweet cream filled pastry, thoughts of Buena Village began to swirl in my mind.

I thought about my family, my little siblings, my mother, and my father, but I mainly thought about Sylphiette.

I knew Paul, Zenith, and Lilia took our departure well enough, while Norn and Aisha were too young to understand what was happening.

But Sylphy… I know her enough to know that our leaving deeply affected her.

Perhaps I fucked up with how much time Rudy and I spent with her because the three of us were practically inseparable.

Sylphy had been a lonely girl with no friends, but with our presence, she had become a girl with two people who would stand by her side as long as we could and ensure she had as much fun as possible.

Now… she was alone again.

Sure, Zenith and Lilia would give her company, and those bullies from the village wouldn’t fuck with her, but she couldn’t play with either group.

There was a bright side to this, though… Sylphy would grow into a young, strong, independent woman who didn’t need to rely on anyone to be happy.

She would learn to find happiness in her existence, hobbies, and desires, which made me wish to see her even more.

She’d be grown up, and I’d be proud the day I saw what the new and improved Sylphiette looked like.

I finished the pastry and dusted off my hands. I frowned at the structure the two were in and then turned to the dark sky.

How long were they going to be asleep for?

I sat patiently, waiting for something to happen—anything at all that would show the beginning of Rudeus’ plan.

The longer I waited, the more worried I grew.

I had ensured that I was in a perfect position to see everything around the perimeter of their beat-down house, so I was confident they couldn’t have managed to slip past.

Could they still be asleep?

I doubted that. Rudeus wouldn’t sleep long after being moved, especially with how things were set up. I doubt they would have drugged Rudeus and Eris too much if they did at all when they moved them, so they should, at the very least, be awake.

I sat cross-legged and tapped my hands on my lap while waiting for a sign or movement.

About half an hour passed before I heard an explosion sound in the structure. I locked my eyes on a hole that had been made and noticed Rudeus standing in it. Instead of hopping out immediately, he looked back for a while, and I assumed he was speaking to Eris.

After around fifteen seconds had passed, Rudeus took Eris’ hand in his and jumped out of the hole he had made. Both immediately began running, and I realised it was go time.

I placed my hand on the pommel of my blade and followed after them.

Once they were far enough away, they stopped and began talking. I was a bit far from them and couldn’t hear what they were saying, and while I considered getting closer to try and listen in, I decided against it.

I’m a swordsman, not a ninja. They’d probably spot me if I got too close, and while that wouldn’t be a problem in Rudeus’ case, it would be if Eris spotted me.

All of this would have been pointless if Eris had ended up seeing me because then she’d just demand I take her home, which would eliminate her need to rely on Rudeus.

I sighed and sat down as the two seemed to bicker for a while.

Eventually, Rudeus started moving, and Eris followed him.

I wondered if following them like this would be my entire night.

I hoped not. I wanted to lay on my comfortable bed and nod off. These are the sacrifices of being a good brother. Rudeus owes me for this later.

I followed them until they managed to come across a man on horseback. After a few moments of speaking to him, Eris and Rudeus hopped on the man’s wagon and the horse moved forward, taking them in the direction of Roa.

I smiled as they grew further and further away. It seems like my worries were for nothing. They’re going to be just fine.

I still needed to head back to Roa anyway, so I may as well see this through.

However…I didn’t have a way of getting back, at least not on horseback.

I looked around for a bit before I ultimately started running down the same road Rudeus and Eris had gone down.

Now, more than ever, I regretted ever following them.

The things I do for my brother.

— Eris Boreas Greyrat —

Eris stretched her weary body as the wagon came to a stop. Tonight had been a nightmare, but finally they had managed to arrive back in Roa!

“This is our stop.” Rudeus shined Eris a confident smile as he patted her shoulder and hopped out of the wagon. Eris followed after him, doing the same, and she walked behind him as they made their way back to her mansion on foot.

Law’s brother… Rudeus had brought her back home from the clutches of her capturers. In the time she knew Rudeus, she didn’t think much of him. She loathed him for wasting her time foolishly and forcing her away from more productive things, like sword training!

He had proven tonight that the skills he was trying to teach her weren’t so foolish…

Eris thought back to the way that man had walked in, completely disregarded her authority, and punched her hard in the face, and even when she was down, he didn’t stop. He stomped on her head, knocking out a few of her teeth in the process and leaving her bloody.

He didn’t care about who she was or who her grandfather was… he hit her anyway.

That got Eris thinking: would she have managed to escape without Rudeus?

Deep down, she knew the answer, and she knew it wasn’t the answer she wanted.

Rudeus had healed her, used his magic to make a hole in the wall, and helped her escape. Then, when she was lost, he managed to read the signs so they could find their way back to Roa.

Without Rudeus, she’d still be in the clutches of those bastards, a group of cowards that she’d be speaking about to her grandfather!

As they walked, Eris eyed Rudeus’ back and the realisation that she may have been too hard on him and his lessons.

Those lessons could save her life if she ever found herself in another situation like that, so they were very important to learn.

As much as Eris would like to focus all her time on sword training, she also recognized that not knowing how to find her way around would be a massive problem.

That is why she had decided to pay more attention to Rudeus’ lessons from now on; even if she still thought they were boring, she now understood that they were not a waste of time.

Eris’ mind flashed to her bodyguard, Law. She wondered how he managed to let this happen. He was supposed to be protecting her…

The red-haired girl shook her head and stared at Rudeus’ back with eyes narrowed in thought.

Both Law and Ghislaine were bodyguards hired by her family, any minute now they’d run around the corner and escort her and Rudeus back to the mansion!

Yes, Ghislaine would never leave her in danger for long!

Eris nodded to herself as if it should have been obvious from the beginning.

Maybe there had been something that had caught the two up so they couldn’t help her when she first got taken, but now that they were back in Roa, it was only a matter of time-

“Look out!” Rudeus shouted as he pushed Eris out of the way. Eris hit the ground with Rudeus on top of her, and just as she was about to scold him for pushing her so suddenly, she turned and noticed an arrow stuck in the ground a bit in front of where they had been walking and a man standing there that looked like he had just tried to grab her from behind.

Rudeus sent a blast of wind magic that launched him back, giving the two some space.

“You kids are a real pain in our asses, ya know that?” A man walked into the alleyway they had been travelling through with a few men at his flanks.

Eris’ eyes widened in fear as she realised a group of grown men outnumbered them, and she didn’t even have a blade to fight!

Rudeus stood up and moved so he was in front of Eris, making her eyes widen even further.

“What do you want?” Rudeus asked with a calm Eris couldn’t comprehend. Outnumbered by grown men, and somehow Rudeus was calm!

“Don’t ask dumb questions brat. The girl, she’ll fetch a pretty price, wouldn’t you say?” The man in front said as he placed his hand on the hilt of his sheathed blade, making Eris shiver in fear.

She scrambled to her feet and took a step back so that Rudeus' body was between her and the men.

“I can’t let you take her.” Rudeus stood firm, making a small wave of relief flood Eris. He wouldn’t betray her! And if he was this calm, maybe he had a way of beating them! Yes, that has to be it!

“Can’t?” The man asked with a devious smirk. “Or won’t? So you must have a price. Heh, how does ten gold coins sound?”

Rudeus stayed quiet at the offer, and Eris began to feel her heart speed up.

“… Can ten gold coins purchase three scholarships to Ranoa Magic University?” Rudeus asked, and Eris froze.

He… he wouldn’t sell her out, right?!

““Haha!”” The group of men all laughed long and hard before the leader clasped his hands together and smirked madly. “That many gold coins could buy what you wish for and a plot of land to live on for the rest of your life!”

Rudeus went quiet at his words, and the realisation that the green-eyed boy was actually going to give her away struck her very soul.

“I refuse.” Rudeus spoke out much quieter than before, but still loud enough for them to hear clearly. “I’m a tutor employed by the Boreas Greyrat family, and I will not forsake my duties for monetary gain!”

The group of men tensed at his words, and the leader narrowed his eyes dangerously.

“So you have chosen death.” The man shrugged before launching forward at full speed.

Eris’ eyes widened at how fast the man moved forward, and just before he could reach them, Rudeus fired a fireball that hit the ground in front of him.

*BOOOOM*

An explosion rang out that had likely woke up half of Roa.

The smoke began to clear enough for Eris to see another man coming toward her. The moment she noticed him, she also realised that there was no way she could alert Rudeus in time.

Out of sheer fear, she closed her eyes.

*FWOOOSH*

The sound of something being cut through two rang in Eris’ ear.

A second went by, then another, and another, and Eris began to realise something was off.

She slowly opened her eyes, and they widened immediately at the sight of the golden blonde haired boy standing in front of her.

The boy turned his head, and cold, angry blue eyes locked onto her red orbs.

“Eris… Rudeus, I’m sorry for taking so long.”

“Law!” Rudeus shouted with no small amount of relief. Eris would have shouted the same if the words didn’t die in her throat.

She knew it! She knew Law and Ghislaine would be looking for them, and she knew they would save her!

“You’re the brat huh, our accomplice mentioned you.” The black-haired leader said with a concerned frown.

“Accomplice?” Rudeus repeated, and just as those words left his lips, Eris noticed a dim light appear behind them.

She turned to see Thomas, her family’s butler, standing there with a lantern.

Rudeus turned and noticed him as well, and a relieved smile came to his face.

“Hey, you’re from the mansion, get help!” Rudeus shouted, and strangely enough, Thomas didn’t move.

Rudeus’ smile slowly began to disappear as a dark realisation came over his face.

“It was you…”

Those words made Eris’ eyes widen as she shot her gaze over to Thomas who smiled smugly.

“The lot of you are dying tonight.” Law declared suddenly, stealing both Rudeus and Eris’ attention. “Rudy, protect Eris while I deal with them, kill anyone that gets too close.”

Eris was momentarily surprised at how cold Law was acting. Almost as if he was an entirely different person from the same easygoing and know it all bodyguard she had come to know.

“Kill?” Rudeus questioned with wide eyes, and Law didn’t answer.

The blue-eyed boy rushed forward and began clashing with the leader, who met Law’s attacks with a smile on his face. The other men rushed past Law and their leader’s fight to try and capture Eris and Rudeus.

Rudeus sent a water ball forward that blasted against his face and knocked him out.

The others momentarily stopped their charge upon seeing their comrade so easily defeated, but in the end, they pushed forward even faster than before.

— Law Greyrat —

I glared deep into the swordsman’s brown eyes as he blocked my downward slash.

I needed to finish this fight now, so why the hell was I hesitating?!

The man wasn’t strong, or at least didn’t seem to be too well versed in the Sword Styles. I could tell just by our fight thus far that he was more experienced with North God Style than any other style.

Our blades clashed against one another as both of us tried our best to kill the other.

… Maybe that was my problem.

I jumped back, getting some room as sweat ran down my brow.

This man… I had to kill him.

It was a necessity, I understood that the moment I arrived here, but saying and doing were too completely different things.

One of us was going to die, I knew that much, and I had no intention of it being me.

“Mmmph!” I heard Eris’ muffled scream behind me and turned to see Thomas with one arm wrapped around Eris’ body, and the other hand placed firmly over Eris’ mouth.

My eyes widened in shock before narrowing into cold slits.

Thomas, that fucking traitor!

Rudeus had managed to deal with most of the other guys and only had a couple left, but that left him preoccupied to the point he couldn’t help Eris without leaving himself open.

Just as I was about to run in and save Eris, I saw my opponent rush forward in the corners of my eyes.

I turned my body back to block his attack, but didn’t have to as Rudeus of fire magic went past me and hit him, knocking him back and creating a small puff of smoke that cleared pretty fast.

“Law!” I heard Rudeus’ shout as he moved around using wind magic. “I got this, focus on your fight!”

The leader quickly picked himself back up and glared daggers at Rudeus.

I had to admit, Rudy was right, I shouldn’t have taken my eyes off of my opponent, hell it was one of the first things Paul taught us.

I dropped into a low stance and blasted off toward my opponent with the hope of ending this and helping the other two.

As I hit the halfway point between us, the leader winded his blade behind his back and threw it at me.

North God Style throwing technique…

Thanks to my Battle Aura, I easily smacked the sword away and kept my forward motion toward my opponent.

The man panicked and attempted to pull out a short sword which he kept behind his back, but by the time he had a hand around the hilt, it was too late.

I took one more powerful step, immediately ending up in front of him. His eyes widened in surprise as he tried to draw his blade down at me, but it was far too late.

*SQUELCH*

With a quick action I took his head off. The man dropped as I looked down at my sword with hazy eyes.

The blade my father had given me… was red with the blood of my first kill.

My head hurt, so I forced my attention away from the leader’s body and turned to see Eris was still in Thomas’ grasp, and Rudy was still fighting.

I didn’t waste anymore time as I stuffed that brutal moment into the back of my mind.

I dashed forward with my blood-soaked blade loaded and prepared to join the-

*BOOM*

My eyes widened as a figure dropped in front of me before moving forward faster than I could track.

The figure cut through the two guys Rudeus was fighting and managed to put a blade to Thomas’ neck, all before I could even make out who she was. Such speed…

… Ghislaine.

So this is the power of a Sword King…

“Ghislaine!” Eris shouted with pure joy as she ran forward and hugged the beastwoman who still had her blade to Thomas’ neck.

“I’m glad you’re safe. It’s a good thing I decided to check out that explosion.” Ghislaine smiled down at Eris before returning a cold gaze to Thomas who dropped to the ground fearfully. “Lord Philip will decide what to do with you.”

Thomas’ eyes widened in fear as he stuttered out words, but the more he stuttered, the less impressed Ghislaine was.

She raised her blade, making Thomas cover his face with his hands, only to get bonked on the head by the pommel, knocking him unconscious.

I watched Ghislaine pat Eris’ head as the two walked to the end of the alleyway in stunned silence.

Ghislaine Dedoldia… She was so far out of my league it was hilarious.

All this time I had known that she wasn’t going all out, but I had never imagined the gap between us was this large!

I looked down at my fist and clenched it tight.

I need that strength. I will have it.

“Rudeus, Law, let’s go!” Eris shouted, and I turned to see the red-haired girl waving at us from the end of the alley.

I let out a sigh and looked down at Rudeus who was staring at the dead bodies with shock-filled eyes.

I walked forward and grabbed his shoulder, picking him up. He was still staring at the bodies so I gave him a light slap on the cheek, and that snapped him out of his fearful trance.

“L-Law?!” Rudeus breathed out, and I patted his shoulder.

“It’s best not to look.” I said with a dry throat. I wasn’t doing much better either, and I doubt I would be for a long time, but staring at bodies was not a good use of our time. “Let’s go.”

Slowly, Rudeus nodded and I kept my hand on his shoulder as we walked out of the alleyway.

— The Next Day —

I sat down in the back of the room, listening to Rudeus teach about magic theory.

Both Eris and Ghislaine were sitting there, paying attention, even if the red-haired girl seemed bored.

Yesterday, or rather earlier in the morning, there had been a lot of movement around the mansion.

With those guys dead and Thomas in custody, we went back to the mansion where Philip, Hilda, and Sauros were waiting, along with a fuckton of guards.

Thomas was given to Philip, and undoubtedly interrogated and put to death. Meanwhile Eris got to hug her parents again.

As much as Rudeus had worried that he would lose his job for what had happened, he was wrong.

Eris had promised in front of everyone that she would take her studies more seriously, and that she would accomplish what was instructed of her.

Or at least that’s what she meant, Eris wasn’t very good with words.

“I don’t understand that!” Eris shouted, and Rudeus chuckled.

“It’s fine if you don’t, you have plenty of time to learn it.”

Eris paused at that before turning her head with a small blush. “Hmph!”

Rudeus shot me a glance, and I responded with a small smile.

His plan worked and both of them are safe… that’s all that matters.

When Rudeus was done with his class, both of us had talked for a bit before I made my way out to give Rudeus time to prepare his next lesson.

When I did, I stepped out to see Eris waiting for me with her arms crossed.

“You took long enough!” She said with her normal elevated voice.

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I lowered my head a bit to her. “Rudeus and I were just talking about-”

“I didn’t mean that!” Eris cut me off as her eyes narrowed. “I meant coming to sa—aid me!”

I frowned at that. In truth I had been following them for most of the night, but when they hopped on that wagon, I had tried to keep up with them and succeeded, but didn’t want to alert Eris to my existence. If I did… everything would have been for nothing. I didn’t know anything was wrong until I heard the explosion go off.

“I’m sorry.” I dropped down to a knee and lowered my head. “I came as fast as I could, but I was still too slow. I allowed harm to reach you, and that is unforgivable.”

We had not only simulated a kidnapping for Eris, but had actually managed to get her kidnapped with real stakes.

We fucked up, and even if it was Rudy’s idea, I went along with it and allowed her to suffer so much pain.

“Stand up already!” Eris ordered.

I looked up to see Eris’ entire face was red and she was averting her gaze from me.

“My Lady…”

“I already said you can call me Eris, listen to what I say!” She turned back to me with a scolding gaze, which only gave me a better look at her burning red face.

I stared at her in surprise for a few moments before heading her order and rising back to my feet.

“I’m sorry, Eris.”

“And stop apologising!”

“As you command, Eris.”

She turned and placed her hands on her hips before walking away.

“Law.” She said as she stopped for a moment and turned to me. “From now on, I want you beside me, and don’t go away for another minute!”

I blinked at her.

That… sounded like a pain in the ass.

But, if it makes her feel safer…

“Alright, Eris.” I offered a smile to her, and she spun around and kept walking, but I didn’t miss the way her ears lit up red like her hair.

“Ah, to be young and in love.” Rudeus wrapped his hand around my shoulder, and I raised a brow at his sudden appearance. I hadn’t even known he was listening.

“You know she’ll kill you if she hears you say stuff like that?” I questioned.

“Tsk tsk tsk. Our sweet little Ojou-sama wouldn’t do a thing, let the tsundere frolic, this can be our little secret~”

“Hey!” Eris shouted, getting both Rudeus and I to freeze.

Intense red eyes locked on both of us, and for a moment I thought Rudeus’ days were over.

All of that work to get Eris to respect Rudy… it would be all for nothing. She’d beat him to a pulp and I’d watch.

“Didn’t I say to stay with me?!” Eris pointed at me.

Rudeus and I shared a glance before letting out breaths of relief.

“Right.” I patted Rudy’s shoulder before walking after our resident tsundere.

As we walked, I eyed the girl from behind, and had to admit, even through all the attitude and ignorance she exuded, she’s not a bad person.

In fact, she’s someone worth protecting.

— Chapter End —

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