Chapter 25, No Ill Intent (5)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian silently stared ahead. Of course, he had not removed his hood.

 

Behind Kalian, four armed men blocked the door. In front was an iron table, where a man sat across from him examining something in his hands. They were the vouchers Kalian had collected thus far.

 

“Making over 6,000 fiorins from 3 fiorins. Remarkable.”

 

Kalian did not respond. The man did not seem to expect an answer as well, as he shrugged and put down the vouchers.

 

The reason why the man had called Kalian here was obvious. The amount had grown too large. Since paying out that sum would cause tremendous losses, Kalian had willingly followed along, thinking they would attempt to negotiate or intimidate.

 

“Even though we run a gambling house, we do have business ethics. We’ll pay out your share.”

 

After saying this, the man lightly tapped the table with his closed fist. At that, someone behind him placed a pouch on the table.

 

When they unexpectedly handed over the money without resistance, Kalian looked at the man with a questioning expression. Though the hood concealed his expression, the man saw his head move and said with a smirk:

 

“Ah. But the reason I called you here…”

 

The man opened the pouch toward Kalian. It seemed he wanted him to verify the gold coins inside. However, Kalian did not turn his gaze towards it.

 

“It concerns me to hand over such a large sum to a child.”

 

His manner of speech had changed suddenly.

 

Someone must have heard him shouting at Kyrie earlier.

 

In any case, what they meant was ‘We’ll give you the money, but not now. Come back when you’re grown up.’ As if following a predetermined sequence, the one who had just placed down the pouch snickered.

 

After watching this scene for a moment, Kalian finally spoke.

 

“I know it’s a large sum.”

 

Only his lips were barely visible beneath the hood. Those lips were smiling. Though clearly a boy’s voice, he showed no signs of panic or surprise.

 

Kalian moved his head slightly and said in a disappointed voice:

 

“But I thought you’d at least attempt to negotiate.”

 

Instead of answering, the man pointed at Kalian’s head.

 

“Why don’t you take off that stuffy hood first, kid?”

 

Kalian raised his hand and lightly gripped the edge of his hood.

 

Then, he pulled the hood down even further as he briefly answered:

 

“No.”

 

“People should look each other in the eye when talking. Don’t you agree?”

 

Given the large sum of money he had won, and his calm demeanor over it, they figured he was not a commoner. However, seeing as he came without guards, he likely was not from a too highly ranked family either. Thus, with confidence, the man was behaving with such disrespect.

 

“If I take this off.”

 

The corners of Kalian’s lips twisted upward. It was a smile learned from Plants, one particularly skilled at irritating people.

 

“Things will get troublesome. Really.”

 

The smile, closely resembling Plants’, had an excellent effect. The man spat out a curse and gestured with his chin toward someone behind him. The man who had brought out the pouch walked toward Kalian and reached for his hood.

 

Kalian moved simultaneously.

 

*Shik!*

 

Kalian raised his left hand to grab the edge of the hood as it was being pulled off and drew the knife strapped to it. Then he stood up, turned around, and slashed across the hand of the one who had grabbed his hood.

 

“Aagh!”

 

By the time the man started screaming while clutching his hand, Kalian had already returned to his seat.

 

“Wh-what!”

 

It happened in an instant.

 

Kalian’s condition was at its peak, so he could move this much even with his emaciated body. Of course, it would only be possible for a very brief moment, and only once or twice. Still, that did not matter.

 

The four men blocking the door drew their swords at their companion’s scream.

 

Then, a terrifying aura emanated from Kalian.

 

Dense killing intent filled the surroundings with the clear to unhesitatingly kill anyone in his path.

 

The man could not speak. Cold sweat ran down his spine. Though he had faced Knights’ killing intent before, this was clearly different. The men around Kalian were in the same situation. Their sword tips involuntarily trembled.

 

People who lived in places like this were all quick-witted.

 

They were different from Knights, who would fight to the death without regard for their own safety. Kalian knew that once they realized the power difference, they would not press further.

 

“It’s no fun being underestimated because of age. Don’t be so curious about my face. Put away your swords, remove the noisy one and negotiate first. We can leave the threats for some other time.”

 

Despite the one behind him screaming with his hand half-severed, Kalian’s voice remained completely calm.

 

“If you understand. Let’s start over from the beginning.”

 

The thick killing intent that had been rising dissipated completely, and Kalian smiled sweetly. Seeing that smile gave them chills. The hood making only his mouth visible made it even more terrifying.

 

[Damn it! We’ve brought in some sword-wielding madman!! Could we win if we called in the men outside?] The man quickly calculated the difference in power.

 

[No. His movements are too fast. Our sluggish guys would not be able to keep up with his speed. Plus, with that kind of killing intent, half of them wouldn’t even manage to draw their swords before dying!]

 

The calculation yielded a simple conclusion. Rather than fighting and losing both blood and money, it would be better to just lose the money.

 

They were backing down without even crossing swords, worried about losing a fight they had not even attempted. It was exactly as Kalian had predicted.

 

[But, if I give all the money, I’m as good as dead too. What should I do?]

 

The man naturally had his own circumstances. Though he had brought out the sum, trying to act tough, it would be problematic if such a large sum left their organization all at once. It would disrupt immediate business operations and leave insufficient funds for tribute payments.

 

Still, since Kalian had mentioned negotiation, the man decided to try pleading his case.

 

“It’s difficult to give you the whole sum at once. If you tell us where you’re staying, we’ll send the money in weekly installments.”

 

*Ciiiiiiiii!*

 

The tip of Kalian’s knife scraped the iron desk. A spine-chilling sound rang out.

 

Kalian once again demanded. “Swords, and that noisy one.”

 

Recalling what Kalian had said earlier, the man made a gesture. The four men’s drawn swords returned to their sheaths, and two of them took the screaming man and fled out.

 

The man spoke again.

 

“Better? Now, if you’ll tell us where you’re staying…”

 

*Ciiiiiiiii!*

 

That sound meant it was not the right answer.

 

The man gritted his teeth.

 

“Look, truthfully, it’s really difficult to give all that money at once. We have to pay weekly tribute…”

 

As if telling him to be quiet, Kalian raised his knife to his own lips. His measured voice continued.

 

“Don’t tell me things I’ll have to look into. It’s bothersome.”

 

“What, what are you saying we should do then, when we don’t have the money to pay you?”

 

The man inadvertently raised his voice. Then, as if stung by the realization, he continued in a desperate voice.

 

“No. That’s not what I… I mean. Please, just tell us what you want.”

 

Kalian tapped the desk with the tip of his knife.

 

“I won’t take the money.”

 

It was the most welcome thing the man had heard. Color returned to his face. But Kalian’s words were not finished. What followed was like a bolt from the blue to the man.

 

“Instead, give me one person. I want Fiendeye.”

 

“No, that’s…”

 

*Ciiiiiiiii!*

 

“Oh shit, are you being serious!?”

 

The man momentarily frowned. The unreasonable demand had made him combative. The man even thought, [Let me see you try!]

 

Kalian noticed the sudden change in the man’s mood. If he gave it a little bit more time, a fight would surely break out. At that time, they would discover how weak he truly was, that he would be no different to handle than any ordinary child. Therefore, he could not give time to think!

 

Kalian gritted his molars.

 

“He’s just started making money, and the Master…”

 

The man speaking suddenly closed his mouth.

 

It was because he heard Kalian’s knife, which was not even a sword, making a small ringing sound.

 

*Wuung!*

 

Soon, blue energy enveloped the knife, swirling around it before extending into a sharp blade.

 

Blue Aura gathered on the knife, looking as if it could cut anything. The man’s eyes twisted in shock.

 

Those who had only heard of such things in legends drew in their breath at seeing this miracle before their eyes. They looked at Kalian’s hand with unconcealable shock in their eyes.

 

As if to prove their suspicion correct, Kalian quietly rose from his seat and brought down the knife, now bearing the Aura length of a sword, right in front of the man’s nose.

 

The man flinched and hunched his shoulders.

 

“…!”

 

At that moment, there was no sound.

 

The knife pierced through the thick iron table as if it were pudding, sinking in without a sound. Only the blue afterimage remained like a nightmare.

 

Under the table, a cold chill emanated from the Aura Blade that had barely grazed between his knees before disappearing. The man unconsciously pulled back. His pants were cut, revealing his bare legs.

 

“What are you!?”

 

Kalian lowered his head. Blood surged up from within his body.

 

Kalian grabbed the corner of the table with both hands to support himself and barely managed to swallow back the rising blood.

 

[Damn it. I can’t do it twice.]

 

He could feel his heart being torn apart.

 

Kalian barely opened his mouth, pretending to be composed:

 

“Six thousand fiorins and your four lives… would that be enough to trade for Fiendeye?”

 

His voice trembled. It was from enduring the pain, but to the man’s ears, it only sounded like someone containing their anger.

 

[This is insane! A Sword Master!? Even if a hundred, no, a thousand men like me gathered, we’d be no match for him!]

 

Having quickly assessed the situation, the man hurriedly nodded.

 

He signaled to his two subordinates behind Kalian, who were trembling with wide eyes. It meant to bring him, and the two rushed out competing with each other.

 

Kalian reached out and collected his knife.

 

The knife, which he thought would not withstand Aura, was surprisingly still intact. The blacksmith’s skill was exceptional, and the Aura that had manifested and quickly disappeared.

 

Kalian gave a small laugh. [To think s knife is even stronger than me…]

 

Kalian sat back down. He lowered his head to hide his pained expression and slowly caught his breath.

 

Five minutes passed, which felt like five years. The pain subsided to a somewhat bearable level. When it took longer than expected, an impatient Kalian tapped the desk with his knife.

 

Feeling his life shortening at the sound, the man hurried to speak.

 

“They’ll be back soon, please wait for just a moment!”

 

Right after, the office door opened and the men who had left earlier rushed in. However, there were only two of them. They had not brought Kyrie. So, the man urgently asked.

 

“Where’s the kid? Why are you back alone?”

 

“He mentions… Hina, that he can’t leave without her…”

 

Kalian raised his head in surprise. The sudden movement almost caused his carefully maintained hood to fall off.

 

[Hina?]

 

It was a name he had heard of before.

 

[Could it be, that girl from earlier…?]

 

As Kalian’s head rose, the man hastily spoke:

 

“You mean he wants to leave together with her?”

 

“Yes, with Hina. He says they’re both inseparable…”

 

“It doesn’t matter, just bring them both! Whether it’s two or three, bring them all!”

 

“Y-yes!”

 

The sound of running footsteps was heard again. This time, it didn’t take very long for them to return.

 

*Click!*

 

The door opened once more. And four people entered. Besides the man’s subordinates, Kyrie, and the girl Kalian had seen earlier were there. It was the same silver-haired girl who had handed over the vouchers.

 

Seeing them, the man brightened and declared:

 

“There. Take them both. Please just quickly leave.”

 

*Thud*

 

Kalian rose from his seat. The man and his subordinates flinched and stepped back.

 

“Follow me, both of you.”

 

Having spoken as if he had no more business with the others, Kalian walked toward the door.

 

“Ah.”

 

As the man was stroking his chest in relief, Kalian suddenly turned back and approached again.

 

“Wh-what is it!?”

 

Kalian stood before the man and held out his hand.

 

Seeing this, the man was shocked almost to the point of fainting. [Did this madman change his mind? Does he want the money too?]

 

Kalian smiled sweetly.

 

“Return the entrance fee and the principal.”

 

[It’s five gold coins, you know? We need to use our money sparingly.]