Kenneth Rumore, the head of the Rumore Barony, was attacked by a Demon Beast on his way back, and the news sent waves of panic through the estate.
Unfortunately, the timing coincided with the period of reorganizing the guard force, so he had left with only a minimal number of men, which turned out to be the root of the problem.
Reports indicated that he encountered a high-ranking Demon Beast, the carriage was half-destroyed, and the guards were all wiped out.
Naturally, the people at the estate braced for the worst. They had prepared themselves for the death of the Baron and the Baroness, who were both on the carriage. However…
“The Lord has returned!”
Contrary to expectations, everyone survived.
More astonishingly, they were unscathed. Even the minor chronic illnesses they normally suffered from had completely disappeared.
Back at the estate, the Baron and the Baroness discussed what had happened that day.
“Who were they exactly?”
“…I have no idea. When we inquired, it turned out they weren’t from the Star Sect.”
“Moreover, one of them was a Beastman.”
“Before they left, I’m sure they said something…”
“It was ‘In accordance with the will of the Great Moon,’ if I remember correctly.”
They reflected on that day’s events. Suddenly, two mysterious girls appeared, saved them, and then casually disappeared. They wielded extraordinary magic that instantly killed a high-ranking Demon Beast and possessed an overwhelming divine power that could regenerate severed limbs within moments.
Their story was difficult to believe without having experienced it firsthand.
“…We owe them a great debt.”
“Yes.”
The grace of being rescued from the brink of death. There’s an intensity felt only by those who have stood on the edge of death. That’s why the obligation from saving a life is always profound.
At that moment, in the heat of the situation, they had let them go without a thought to capture their saviors. But if they ever met again, they must certainly offer a proper reward.
Hence,
“I’ll send someone to try and find them. Offering a large bounty should at least provide some leads.”
“A Beastman girl traveling with a fox… that combination isn’t very common. It shouldn’t be too hard to find them.”
At that moment.
I was lazily lounging on the sofa, scratching my scalp and whiling away my time.
“This is life, huh.”
The office was unusually loud because of all the troublesome people gathered there. Especially since receiving support from the Grand Lord, there wasn’t a single moment of silence.
With nearly thirty people crammed into a small office, it was inevitable.
“We need to expand the office…”
An increase in personnel meant a shortage of space. Some had to take turns camping out because there wasn’t enough room to sleep properly. By modern standards, this situation couldn’t continue. It was imperative to provide decent lodging if we were to use them effectively.
“Balkhan.”
“Have I been summoned?”
“What are your thoughts on expanding the office?”
He glanced at me sideways and asked,
“Does this office belong to the royal family as well?”
“Yes, though the lease will last for another five years.”
“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to build a separate office rather than expand this one?”
…Could be.
It was something I hadn’t thoroughly considered. But, upon reflection, building a new office would indeed be cleaner and more efficient than modifying the existing one.
“Would it be possible?”
“It seems so, if we request it from the main headquarters.”
“…And the costs too?”
“Of course.”
…Honestly, this place is giving without limits. Connecting with the Grand Lord was probably the best thing that happened since I arrived here.
Glancing outside, there was ample space. If I fancy, I could build wherever I like. After all, Blackmore was under my jurisdiction, and the land was mine to do with as I pleased.
That’s when it happened.
“…?”
Thud, thud.
Footsteps approached from a distance and grew nearer.
That meant they were heading this way.
‘Could it be the royal family?’
But why?
Regular visits from the palace occur monthly, and it wasn’t that time yet.
I frowned and focused on the sound. The footsteps grew clearer.
As I listened, a dark silhouette emerged from behind the dense shrubs.
“Ho, Balkhan.”
The man, who called out in a raspy voice, was a burly man with jet-black hair and countless scars across his muscular body. His fierce eyes caused an eerie sense of tension to ripple through my body. Balkhan, after identifying the man, bowed deeply.
“…Lord Third.”
Thus, there was no need to confirm the man’s identity.
The Third Lord, Kwon Seong Kallen.
…The overthrown Dark Shadow Sect Lord’s master because of me.
“Hmm.”
He casually scrutinized me from head to toe while stroking his chin. Even without doing anything, the pressure of his presence was overwhelming. I couldn’t discern if it was malice or just his inherent dominance since I lacked magical power, but Balkhan’s darkening expression suggested it wasn’t favorable.
“You’re that human the Grand Lord spoke about, aren’t you?”
He smirked and pointed at me.
“Somehow…”
He tilted his head, showing his confusion. His gaze swept over me again, and his stare was so intense that it felt like he could pierce through me if gaze could become substance.
Then,
“Isn’t he just a normal human?”
Whoosh!
A wind pressure surged alongside a sharp sound, and my hair fluttered. By the time I regained my senses, his fist was right in front of my face.
“…”
Damn it.
Too fast to react. Even though I had absorbed runes, my body was still just that of an ordinary human. With a single punch from a monster who had earned the title of Lord, there was no way I could dodge.
“Didn’t you avoid that?”
He grinned, raising the corner of his lips.
“Did you consciously dodge, or were you oblivious?”
“…”
“Should I confirm again?”
…Again?
I must stop this.
If he unleashes a serious punch, I’ll die with my head exploding right there.
But how?
Should I just kill him?
Or perhaps I lack the confidence to subdue him appropriately?
… Or should I just outright halt it?
No, it’s not a great option. This might only incite further competitive spirit. Given his nature, he would likely jump into demanding a proper fight.
I need to suppress him.
Completely dominate him so thoroughly that there is no room for further thoughts.
“…”
While contemplating this, I extended my right hand and murmured in a subdued tone.
“Confirming?”
I reached out and enclosed his stopped fist within my grasp, completely encircling it. Then, I softly whispered the activation phrase.
Acceleration.
Reverse.
And then,
“Who’s confirming who?”
Reverse.
The moment the activation phrase overlapped,
“!!!”
Lord Kalen’s calm expression distorted horribly.
Third Lord Kwon Seong Kalen.
He was a monster who reached his rank through sheer fists alone.
A fascinating rumor reached his ears.
The Dark Shadow Sect Lord had been killed by a certain human. The moment Kalen heard this, an impulse surged within him to find and shred this human to pieces.
However, suddenly, the Grand Lord began protecting the young man, even explicitly instructing against blaming him for anything.
This piqued Kalen’s curiosity. What kind of human could gain such extraordinary attention from that monstrous woman?
Hence, he came to investigate. During the initial encounter, something felt off about this human. He had neither magical strength nor a trained physique, yet something about him felt oddly discomforting.
Thus, Kalen tested him.
He unleashed his full-strength fist.
“…”
But the man didn’t move.
Either he was aware and chose not to respond, or his capability was too meager to notice the threat. A second confirmation was necessary. This time, the punch would bear Ki.
“Confirming?”
The human muttered something incoherent, then extended his hand and clasped Kalen’s punch. He then smirked.
“Who’s confirming who?”
…
And that was the end of it.
No reaction whatsoever.
The hand gripping the punch remained as it was. The human only stood there, gazing back with a slight smirk.
My annoyance began to grow. Attempting to pull my fist back,
“?”
It wouldn’t budge.
No matter how much Ki he poured or strength he mustered, his fist remained trapped within that hand. The only sound was the unsettling creak of bone being compressed, but the human didn’t seem to move an inch.
“!!!”
The more strength he exerted, the greater the pain became. It felt like his shoulder joint would be dislocated any moment.
“Damn bastard!”
Klang! Klang! Klang!
He raised the other fist and hammered it down onto the human’s face repeatedly. The sheer force sent shivers down the spine with a terrifying sonic boom, shook the ground, and turned the flat earth beneath them into a sinkhole.
Yet, despite putting all his strength into the punches, he didn’t leave the slightest mark.
It was like hitting mithril.
No, hitting mithril would, at the very least, leave an impression with all-out strikes.
Then what exactly was this human?
Standing there without a single flinch or tremor, as if frozen in place, he remained staring with that peculiar smirk on his face.
“Ugh! Shit! This is insane!”
Klang! Klang! Klang! Klang!
In a frenzized struggle, Kalen tried to tear his trapped fist free, his skin tearing, bones making an ominous crunching sound, but he paid no heed to the pain. Pride or dignity was long abandoned.
Yet,
“!!!”
That oppressive, inky-black gaze remained fixed on him.
*
