As the sun shone its brightest through the territory of the Fang faction. I rubbed off the sweat on my forehead using the back of my hand while chasing my breath. I raised my hands as I focused my gaze on my foe currently standing a few meters away from me waiting for my next attack.

Mehrad raised his fist while staring at me like a hawk waiting for its prey.

I toughened my legs and charged toward him. I hurled my fist in his direction but he easily dodged it with little to no movement. As a follow-up, I once more launched my fist aiming for his head but he easily deflected it by chopping my elbow and at the same time, unleashing a powerful punch towards my face, to dodge the attack, I immediately jumped back and repositioned myself.

"You did a great job. You are already keeping up with me even without the help of Extreme speed." He commented.

I raised both of my fists. "Yeah? Said the person who I couldn't beat in a pure physical battle."

He chuckled. "Don't forget that beastkins have extraordinary physical strength. Even Though demons also have remarkable physical capabilities, unlike us who already have it since the day we're born, you demons need to develop it first to see some improvements."

Suddenly, he launched a punch targeting my face. Once more, I jumped out.

"And fighting without using any magic is the best way to develop it?"

He tilted his head sideways. "That's one. But, the main reason we're doing this is, if ever you get stuck in a situation where you need to fight without magic, you won't end up powerless because you are too lean on your magic capabilities. We don't know when that would happen or if it would ever happen." He raised his hand and separated his feet. "However, it's still better to be prepared whenever that time comes."

With great speed, he rushed towards me and launched a chop towards my face. I dodge it by squatting and at the same time, I hurled my fist towards his chin.

I managed to hit him but the next thing I saw was his terrifying smile while looking at me. "Very well."

Fuck!

A powerful punch in the face instantly threw me away while spinning in the air. If I didn't drive my body to spin, my face would probably be facing the opposite direction now. I managed to land while squatting with my feet and hands supporting me.

The next thing I heard was his gentle chuckle while walking toward me.

"The last time that happened, my face got planted to the ground," I said as I stood up.

"I see, the same technique won't be as effective when used twice or more against you. You have very good observation skills. You are accustomed to fighting, aren't you?"

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"Yeah, I was often accidentally getting involved in street fights when I was younger. That's why I'm a little bit used to fighting."

My high school life was outrageous. People thought I was a delinquent just because I was always acting edgy. Little did they know it was just an act. I was always getting pulled in the middle of trouble, so I had no choice but to train so no one could beat my sorry ass. And to my surprise, those skills I got from those experiences came in handy in this world, well sort of.

"Really? And here I thought you were some kind of trained assassin."

A what?

"What made you think of that?"

He smirked. "You have no hesitation in your eyes. Every time I fought you, your eyes always looked like you were aiming for a kill. That's the eyes of someone who would have no problem killing people and would never feel even a little bit of guilt afterward."

I scratched my head. "Really? Do I really look like that? I can't see myself like that."

He chuckled. "But the funny part is, your personality is completely different from the way you look."

Even if I looked in the mirror, I couldn't see what they were talking about, and the scary part was, he's not the very first person who said the same thing to me.

"What is the difference? I'm pretty sure he's been acting as he is." Leo commented.

"Big bro Casimir is a good person."

I smiled and raised my thumbs up at them.

"Perhaps. But we will see." Mehrad rushed towards me.

I hurled my fist toward him in response to his assault.

"Mister Casimir."

Both of us stopped on our path when we heard a familiar voice a meter away from us. As we shifted our gaze we found Kuro bowing her head on us.

We stood properly and faced her.

"Do you need something, Kuro?" I asked.

"Yes, I am here to report something."

I walked towards the wooden bench where Leo and Misha were sitting and grabbed the glass bottle of water and the towel. Kuro just silently followed me.

"What is it?" I wiped off the sweat on my face with the towel.

"We have scouted 2 groups of humans on their way here. Both of them were from the kingdom of Inizio."

"Inizio? What is their purpose for coming here?"

"As of now, it is still unclear."

"I see. Do you have any idea who these people are?"

She nodded. "Yes, the first group that travels with great speed and consists of elite knights of the kingdom of Inizio is being led by the prominent knight of the kingdom, Captain Callan Adelaide. Master Leal sent more marionettes to investigate them and was just waiting for your order to make a move."

A Captain? What would a Captain need from this place? Don't tell me someone is already coming for me?

Man, I don't have any good experience that involves the Captains of the kingdom of Inizio. The last one I met literally tried to kill me and Misha.

I hope he won't bring trouble here.

"We need to discover their purpose first, if a Captain was sent here, it only means it's a very serious matter. Just observe them and if they do something worth the suspicion, capture them for further investigation."

"Yes."

"And who is in the second group?"

"The second group consists of 5 royal carriages and a few knights led by the Prince of the kingdom of Inizio, Dieter Inizio."

A Prince? What the hell is happening that they decided to go here?

I nodded and stared at Kuro. "Let them be, I will meet them myself."

She bowed her head. "I understand."

As if I have a choice, I can't just 'shoo' them away because as far as I remember, the kingdom of Inizio and this town has a somewhat good relationship, blindly driving them away or showing any hostility is never a good option in this situation.

As long as they won't do something bad, I should keep my cool towards them.