STM 21

‎ A strange spark seemed to spread across his unpleasant golden eyes. At first glance, it almost seemed like admiration, but what did it matter whether that bastard’s eyes sparkled or darkened? I barely managed to get up and charged at him again.

He’d definitely try to kick me like before. I’m waiting for for that moment.

I threw myself at him and clung to his long leg. I felt him hesitate for a second, and then I heard an annoyed curse above my head.

“Ha, damn.”

Yeah, of course I’ll get cursed at.

Because right now, I bit his thigh with my teeth. With all my might.

I never imagined I would do such a petty thing, but considering Lu’s frail body, I could do even more vulgar things.

But no matter how much I pushed my shamelessness, the effect didn’t last long. I wish I’d enjoyed his reactions a little a little longer, but alas my resistance was quickly over.

“Tsk.”

With a click of his tongue, a strong grip tore my body away as easily as cotton ball. Then came another flight ending.

I flew through the air and crashed to the ground with a thud. I rolled again. After rolling several times, the dizziness was worse than the pain.

I barely managed to stop thanks to a tree, but the I felt the pain because I was no longer rolling.

“Ugh…”

Perhaps because of the shock, I had troubling breathing. Haa, shit. I didn’t act like this even when fighting monsters….This bastard is even more vicious than a monster.

I tried to force myself to get up, longing for monsters.

My legs were shaking, so I had to brace myself against a tree to keep myself upright. The guy was looking at his own thighs, not mine. Even in the dim light I could see the rips in his pants I’d bitten.

I should’ve bitten deep enough to tear flesh. Damn it.

Although I wasn’t satisfied with the results because his muscles were as hard as rock, it wasn’t a total failure.

The smile vanished from his face. I glared at him and spat out the torn thread from my mouth.

“Ptui!”

Then, I realized belatedly that I could taste blood in my mouth. It was dark, so I couldn’t tell, but I thought I must’ve scratched him at least a little.

Well, I bit him hard enough to break stone.

As I realized whose blood I tasted in my mouth, a smile came to my lips.

“Isn’t it fun now? I’m having fun.”

Golden eyes glared at me like they were going to kill me.

“You.”

“What about me, bastard?”

I lifted my chin and smirked on purpose. But despite my bravado, pain surged through my body, making it difficult to stand. My entire body was probably covered in bruises.

Thinking about it made me burn again. Who the hell was this guy? He can’t help but beat me up every time he sees me. Damn it.

But the question I needed to ask came from the other person.

“Who are you?”

“I’m Adeye Lu. Who the hell are you?”

The moment I asked, I realized my mistake. If he knew me enough to try to kill me, then Lu must’ve known him too.

I tried to hide my panic as he tilted his head slowly.

“The outside’s definitely Adeye Lu, but why did the inside change?”

“I was almost killed by a monster and came back to life, so I have no choice but change.”

The excuse I always used came out of my mouth like a lesson learned. And I quickly added.

“Oh, now that I think about it, it’s thanks to you too. Thanks to you for kicking me to death, I lost my memory.”

“So you don’t remember me?”

There was a hint of arrogance in his tone, like he wanted to say “How could you not remember me?” Anger reared its head again.

“Yeah. I don’t know anyone with a face as shitty as yours.”

I gritted my teeth and said it, but a smile returned to this guy’s face. Fuck, that smug grin. I clenched my fist, determined to punch that face even if he knocked me down again.

But then, nearby, a sound was heard along with a human voice.

“There’s someone over here!”

Shit. I quickly pulled out a teleport scroll from my chest.

I hurried, worried that bastard would interfere, but he only watched me with a quizzical expression. And just as I was about to tear the scroll,

“Tairok.”

“What?”

What are you talking about all of sudden?

I tore the scroll with a confused face, and the air around me started to twist like heat waves. A thick fog enveloped me, and then my vision changed.

It was the Adeye mansion, the place that now felt like home after a few weeks.

Thud.

As soon as I arrived, my legs gave out, and I collapsed. My whole body ached.

Especially my abdomen that was kicked by that guy was so painful that even breathing caused pain.

“Damn, that bastard.”

I closed my eyes and thought of the voice I’d heard during teleportation. It must’ve been his answer to my question about who he was.

‘My name.’

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“Your Grace!”

Even when the subordinate called, Grand Duke Kun Tairok didn’t take his eyes off the spot where Lu had been. The subordinate spoke up even though he didn’t answer.

“There was a drug in Lord Brons’s tea that causes temporary paralysis. The healer says he’ll be able to move again within an hour. He can already speak now. As soon as he’s able to walk, we’ll call for a carriage and escort him home.”

The subordinate reported quickly, then lowered his voice.

“And knights from the Montaine family have gathered and are demanding we hand over Bilge.”

Normally, that last part should’ve made him turn, but Tairok kept staring at one place.

The subordinate, confused, followed his gaze, but there was nothing particularly noticeable.

“I don’t know how they got here so quickly, but we can stall until they arrive. However, since the Montaine family’s chief guard is there, even if the guards come, we’ll probably have to hand over Bilge.”

So please issue an order quickly. The subordinate waited anxiously, but again there was no answer.

“Your Grace.”

“Take him away.”

“Yes?”

Tairok commanded, his gaze still fixed on the same spot.

“Tell Count Penuang to reveal the secret passage of the mansion where Bilge entered. Move him through that passage and hang him naked from the main gate pillar.”

The subordinate barely held back laughter at that command. That arrogant bastard who no one could touch finally met his match today.

“Yes, I will do as you command immediately.”

“And.”

The subordinate, who was about to turn away, quickly answered “Yes.” Tairok, who didn’t move his gaze, slowly gave an order.

“Investigate Adeye Lu. Find out every detail about his recent actions, even the smallest ones. And find out whether the ability that supposedly vanished when he was young has returned.”

The subordinate was confused by the unexpected name, but then he understood. Wasn’t Adeye the surname of his enemy?

But that ability returned? The subordinate nodded seriously.

“I’ll send out informants right away.”

Only after hearing the answer did Tairoc slowly turn around. The subordinate bowed and stepped aside to let him pass, only to be surprised to discover that his trousers were torn.

“Your Grace, your pants…”

And what was that mark on his exposed skin? It looked like bite marks.

“I got bitten.”

“What?!”

Who was his master? The strongest swordsman who had never lost even a strand of hair in fights against monsters. And yet he said he got bitten?

“By who?!”

To his astonishment, he heard an unexpected answer.

“A cat.”

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They said the best healers in Tubain were all gathered at Adeye, and that wasn’t an exaggeration. The blow from that damned bastard must have been quite severe, as I fell ill as soon as I got home.

My whole body screamed. It felt like every bone in me had shattered to pieces.

The healers crowded around me, smeared ointments, giving me bitter medicine, and using some kind of magic to envelop my body in light. Within a day, I was completely fine.

“Montaine Bilge.”

I had just finished exercising and started lunch when Solongo said that name. It was that pervert who’d gotten beaten up by me. During that time, Mo, who had returned, displayed information about him.

[Montaine Bilge – second of the three siblings of the Montaine family, one of the four divine beast houses. A problem child who molests the young and naive. Has not received the power of a divine beast, but can use intermediate magic.]

Ah, of course, he was some spoiled rich brat.

“What happened to that bastard?”

“He was hung from the front gate of Count Penuang’s estate. Completely naked.”

Wow. I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration. A jail ending would’ve been better, but with that family background, that seemed impossible.

“But Lord Lu, don’t you know the identity of the victim you helped?”

I nodded as I ate my bread.

“No. I don’t know. Well, it’s not like I was expecting anything in return.”

“You may be due a reward”

I looked up, wondering if this was necessary, and saw Solongo muttering something seriously as if she was thinking about something.

“I seems like Kun is involved….”

“What?”

When I asked because I couldn’t hear her well, Solongo shook her head.

“No. I’ll let you know after I confirm it. And by the way, you used the scroll yesterday.”

Cough! I choked on my bread while eating and coughed. The mention of that scroll made me turn polite.

“Um, I’m sorry. I didn’t plan to use it unless I had to….”

“Why wouldn’t you use it?”

“They say it costs as much as two two-story houses in the capital’s city center. It’s expensive.”

Solongo tilted her head like she couldn’t understand.

“Why is that expensive? That’s only pocket change, the price of two houses.”

“…”

I forgot what I had come here fore and wanted to start a proletarian revolution. I took a deep breath and quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, who did that to Bilge? It couldn’t have been easy to mess with the Montaine family.”

“Yes, it’s not easy. No, it’s quite difficult. Unless it was someone from another divine beast family. But as it happens, another divine beast family attended the party yesterday.”

She looked at me for a moment and then added quietly.

“Kun.”

Kun? Why is that name suddenly coming up?