“Bern! Wake up! Bern!” [Soldier]

By the urging of his subordinate’s desperate voice, Bern woke up while grumbling unhappily. He had just fallen asleep, after all. He tossed aside the blanket covering him and raised his naked upper body. His trained muscles were still wet with sweat. Inside his dim room, he could faintly make out the figure of the woman sleeping next to him. Only the blanket hid her body which he enjoyed a while ago. Frankly, she wasn’t any good, and did nothing but cry.

“What? And I told you pricks to call me ‘Captain’.” [Bern]

Bern sat on his bed and sloppily scratched his messy purple hair and beard.

“S-sorry! Captain! We have trouble! Please come quick!” [Soldier]

“Huh? Trouble? Is it this woman’s husband? I thought I left him half-dead.” [Bern]

“No, captain! It’s worse! Some guy just killed around fifteen of us!” [Soldier]

“… Huh?” [Bern]

Instantly, the lazy atmosphere around Bern disappeared and his brown eyes grew sharp. The soldier gulped at the intimidating aura he gave off.

“So someone’s dumb enough to fight Jadistro’s private army.” [Bern]

“Um, aren’t we Earl Tenneb’s private army?” [Soldier]

“Shut it, dumbass.” [Bern]

“Y-yes, captain.” [Soldier]

“Officially, we’re this town’s security force, remember? You’re all so dumb, it’s pathetic. That’s why I’m calling the shots, not just because I’m the only A rank we’ve got.” [Bern]

Bern’s voice was low and menacing. His subordinate, scared, stood at attention with his back straight. It was the logical choice when his superior could turn him into a blood splat with a single punch. He didn’t say a word as his captain dressed himself and put on his blue jacket that had bright yellow shoulder pads and embroidery on the chest to show his higher rank.

“You said it was some guy that’s defying us?” [Bern]

“Yes, captain.” [Soldier]

“Tch, wished it was a woman. Could have taught her a lesson in bed too.” [Bern]

The captain of the town’s military force was dissatisfied that he would have to fight a man. He still wanted more since that girl that fainted in tears was no good at all.

“Whatever. I’ll look for someone else to fu… Erm, bring back for questioning after I kill him.” [Bern]

Having buttoned up his jacket, Bern followed his subordinate that guided him to whoever was opposing them.

This job he got along with his blue uniform was the best thing that ever happened to him. Working for Earl Tenneb earned him way more money than when he was a mercenary. Moreover, he could do whatever he wanted in Jadistro.

Today as well, he was heading out to maintain order in town.

----------------------------------------

“For the record, I blame you.” [Ryner]

“Woof!” [Mi]

“Don’t look at me with those puppy dog eyes… Even if you are a puppy.” [Ryner]

“Woof woof?” [Mi]

“I said to avoid trouble, to be stealthy while we collect info.” [Ryner]

“Woof! Woof! Woof!” [Mi]

“We’re not here to play. I should have just left you with the maids.” [Ryner]

“Woof! Woof! Woof woof woof!” [Mi]

“… You have no idea what I just said, do you?” [Ryner]

“Awuuh!” [Mi]

The people in the vicinity were fearfully looking at Ryner, not because he was talking to Mi, a small puppy, like it was normal, but because of the bodies around him. Nonchalantly standing in the middle of the street and surrounded by dead men in blue uniforms was enough to attract everyone’s attention.

The soldiers that were still alive and those that were gathering towards the commotion had their weapons raised and bloodthirsty expressions.

“Stay.” [Ryner]

Right after Ryner gave a quick order to Mi, One of them lunged at his back and slashed horizontally. To dodge the sharp blade, he bent forward and sidestepped. Moving lightly on his feet, he spun around and made his way to his attacker’s defenseless back from which he proceeded to grab his head and snapped his neck.

Then, he held the now limp body with his left hand by the collar and his victim’s sword with the other. He had enough time to confirm Mi’s location before he thrusted the body behind him and used it as a shield. A soldier swung down his sword and buried the blade into the shoulder. At the same time, Ryner used the weapon he pilfered to block another attack that came from the opposite direction.

They locked blades for an instant before he kicked his opponent’s knee, causing him to stagger long enough for him to push his sword away and slit his throat in a quick motion. Afterwards, while still holding the dead soldier like a shield, he quickly leapt at the other one who just pulled out his weapon from the deceased’s shoulder. Ryner pushed the corpse right in his face and stabbed through its chest, impaling his enemy through the heart at the same time.

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Instead of pulling his sword out, he dropped it along with the two skewered bodies. Three men were added to the list of people he killed today. The civilians that didn’t run away screaming were taking refuge inside the houses in the vicinity and watching. They were scared, anxious, but watched with bated breath. The remaining men in blue uniforms were surrounding the lone man, but hesitated to attack. Their expressions and trembling hands told of their fear.

As for the one who created such a horrible carnage in a matter of minutes, he sighed and scratched the back of his head. He didn’t seem tense at all, but internally, he felt like puking. There were a lot of dead bodies, and a lot of blood.

“Really wanted to avoid this, but… Oh well, like an old friend used to say… If you’re in deep, then you might as well make as much of a mess as you can.” [Ryner]

Ryner kicked up a sword lying by his feet and deftly caught it.

“It’s the same whether it’s with battlefields or women.” [Ryner]

He looked at Mi that was staring at him while tilting her head. She was unharmed since he made sure of her safety as he fought. The puppy was calmly standing in the middle of the carnage as well. She either had nerves of steel or was ridiculously dense.

“On second thought, forget that last part. He was a damn pervert. A womanizing perverted bastard… Still a friend though… But he was a freaking pervert.” [Ryner]

Although only insults left Ryner’s mouth, there was no disdain in his voice and a slight smile formed on his lips.

“Captain, over here!” [Soldier]

“Damn, this is quite the mess.” [Bern]

The intrusion of two new individuals broke him out of his thoughts. He turned his head towards their direction.

“It’s him, captain!” [Soldier]

Led by his subordinate, the captain of Jadistro’s security force was now on scene.

“Thank the gods you’re here, Bern!” [Soldier]

“Dumbass! Call him captain!” [Soldier]

“Our captain’s here!” [Soldier]

His presence raised the morale of his men that had hit rock bottom. On the other hand, the townspeople that saw him quickly avoided his gaze, especially the women, and shrunk in fear.

“Who the hell is this punk?” [Bern]

He asked one of his subordinate as he eyed Ryner from head to toe.

“We don’t know. He just lashed out at us.” [Soldier]

“Oh?” [Bern]

Although he didn’t feel much motivation since his opponent was a guy, Bern walked towards him until they were a few feet apart. Lying on the ground in front of him were his deceased men who either had broken necks or sword wounds.

“Why’d you do all this?” [Bern]

The captain asked as he gestured at the dead, not really caring about them.

“They tried to kill my dog.” [Ryner]

The concise, short and unexpected answer that was spoken in a carefree voice surprised Bern a bit. He thought that the punk definitely had guts, though he would still die by his hands. Then, his eyes fell on the small puppy that was standing by his feet.

“You killed twenty of my men, over a dog?” [Bern]

Ryner looked up slightly with a pondering expression.

“… Yeah, pretty much.” [Ryner]

After a few seconds, he nodded a few times and shrugged his shoulders.

“Unbelievable.” [Bern]

Bern cracked his neck and stretched his hand out to the side. Right away, one of his subordinates handed him a sword, even though he already had one hanging on his waist.

“Look, punk, I’ve got a nice thing going on here and I don’t want you to ruin it.” [Bern]

The captain, without hesitation, grabbed the sharp blade with his hand. The steel body creaked as he tightened his grip.

“We can’t have someone rampage in our town or people will start looking down on us.” [Bern]

He crushed the steel blade in two. The pieces fell from between his fingers that did not even have a scratch. It was a simple act of intimidation, but quite effective. He preferred it over mana pressure, which was a waste of mana.

“Don’t get carried away. You can’t just do whatever you want on our turf and expect to get out alive.” [Bern]

His threatening voice and bloodlust were all directed at Ryner. The civilians brave enough to watch while hiding gulped and shook in fear. The men in uniforms all cheered and took up positions with renewed spirits.

Bern was an A rank. The black-haired man they fought might be a very accomplished warrior, but he didn’t exhibit any strength beyond human limits. Their captain, however, could break through such limits thanks to his large mana pool, given to him by the gods at birth.

“Step back, boys. I’ll handle this dumbass quickly, and go hunt for some babes. Hell, we should all go hunting. It’s been a while since we last had an orgy.” [Bern]

The soldiers cheered in a loud voice upon hearing his lust-filled proclamation. The onlookers cowered and some, mostly women, fled the scene.

As for Ryner, who was surrounded, he silently gazed at the A rank. His sleepy-looking expression didn’t change, but a certain pressure could be felt when one saw his half-closed eyes.

“… The pervert I was talking about always chases after every girl he sees and always rabbles on about breasts, asses and legs.” [Ryner]

“Sounds like he and I would get along.” [Bern]

“No, not really.” [Ryner]

Ryner swung his sword to the side. The fast motion, the high-pitched sound and the small gust of wind caused everyone to go still with tense expressions, including Bern. No more sneers or insults were present.

“He’d kill you for being a failure of a man.” [Ryner]

A drop of sweat slid down the captain’s cheek as chills went up his spine. The seemingly weak man’s appearance didn’t change at all, but it was like watching a cat suddenly transform into a lion.

“(This punk might be B, no, A rank like me. In that case…)” [Bern]

Shaking off his tenseness, Bern put his hand on his sword’s grip and readied himself for an all-out charge. He would instantly and decisively end the fight. That was his style. However, the moment he shuffled a foot forward, Ryner threw his sword at his chest. The sharp weapon flew straight like an arrow, but bounced off his body without tearing his clothes or flesh.

“(Weak! Is that all his body strengthening can do, or is he holding back?!)” [Bern]

Ignoring his opponent’s preemptive strike, he dashed with all his might and pulled out his sword. Empowered by his magic, his body reached a speed higher than a wild animal’s and toughness as great as steel.

“(In that case, I’ll kill him while he’s underestimating me!)” [Bern]

There was no feint or tricks. Bern wholeheartedly believed in his power that only the lucky ones were born with. His analysis of his foe told him that he either had a low mana pool or was still hiding his true strength. In any case, if he wasn’t going to shoot him with ranged spells or activate body strengthening, then that was fine.

“HOAAAAARRRR!!!” [Bern]

Releasing a powerful roar, Bern swung down his sword, which was reinforced by his mana, on his head. It was a blow too fast for ordinary men to perceive and too strong for even a boulder to retain its shape.

However, with flowing movements, Ryner stepped forward, stretched his left hand out and gently placed it on the side of the blade, near the hilt. He pushed it to his left, diverting the sharp blow that aimed for his head. Bern’s eyes opened wide in shock, but that was all he could do. He didn’t have time to react to what happened next.

His body, carried by momentum, was about to collide with his opponent, but that sleepy-looking man, instead of dodging, had stepped forward once again. Simultaneously, he released a right punch as his foot forcefully stomped on the ground. The fist flew like a rocket and hit him dead in the face.

“Bfft!!” [Bern]

His momentum was painfully stopped and he staggered back. Those who heard the impact and felt the resulting gust knew that that blow would have obliterated a man’s head to pieces.

Bern’s nose was crushed, his front teeth flew out and blood dripped down his chin. He let go of his sword and fell to his knees while groaning weakly. In his hazy consciousness, he saw his foe standing before him and looking down on him. His expression was carefree, lazy and devoid of sympathy.

“You’re not a man at all.” [Ryner]

Ryner lightly pushed the side of the captain’s head and he fell on the ground after losing consciousness.