Chapter 205

Chapter 205: This Time

Renin ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Abalan paced anxiously around the room.

Inside ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the room, cleared of people, rows of stuffed monster heads glared at Renin as he walked around restlessly.

It ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was not only heads that were stuffed.

Gargoyle ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍wings, hydra husks, troll ears, and more were gathered by size.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍collection, which could easily look bizarre, clung to the luxurious wallpaper and created a strange atmosphere.

Finally ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reaching the end of the room, Renin compulsively fiddled with a monster claw hanging on the wall.

“Damn it, damn it......!”

He could not forget the cold eyes of that wormlike thing.

Watching the procession of wagons arriving from the Temple was his secret that no one knew about.

It was a habit that satisfied the inferiority complex no one else knew he had.

Because it allowed him to forget his shabby state, having failed to become Emperor and been driven out to the border.

Whenever he wanted to forget his suffocating reality, he would look at the enormous amount of tribute offered by humans like worms.

All realities were harsh and suffocating, but Renin found his own reality especially difficult to endure.

He could not leave Hyre.

The Emperor’s command was absolute.

He felt wronged by his fate, having to fight monsters and enemies here for the rest of his life.

It had to be a little more splendid and a little more abundant than his radiant life in the capital.

Renin himself knew that such an inferiority complex was an emotion far removed from what everyone imagined a god to be.

But he could not stop.

Because cutting himself off from that sweetness that allowed him to forget reality was difficult.

But today, Renin had fallen into deep despair because his secret hobby, which no one had discovered until now, had been discovered.

And by a mere Temple knight of no importance!

Nothing was certain yet, but whether it was true no longer mattered.

What mattered now was the fact that he had felt shame.

He had to live as if nothing had happened, as if such an incident had never existed from the beginning.

To do that, he had to kill that man.

He had to personally confirm that his breathing had stopped.

Then, he felt as if he could shake off this filthy feeling.

Small footsteps reached his sharpened ears.

One light set, and one heavier set.

Thinking that the bastard with those insolent eyes was approaching made his heart grow impatient.

Should he pierce his throat and kill him in one blow?

Or should he open a hole in his stomach and watch him slowly die?

Leaving only those irritating eyes intact sounded good too.

Knock, knock.

At last, the sound of knocking rang through the room.

Standing before the door, Renin Abalan calmly subdued his excitement.

If he showed too much delight after piercing the belly in one blow, that would look pathetic in its own way.

On top of the hand where he drew up power from inside his body, a small wind gathered.

He gathered the wind in his hand and compressed it slightly.

Smaller, smaller.

Feeling the wind trapped inside his fist squirm in his hand, he opened his mouth.

“Come in.”

The well-oiled door opened without a sound.

The first to appear was the attendant.

“Lord Renin, I have brought the knight.”

He reported in a smooth tone, but Renin was not listening.

Renin’s nerves were entirely fixed on the black-haired man standing behind him.

Excited, he raised his hand and aimed at the man’s stomach.

Renin knew his attack would pierce through the attendant’s chest as it passed, but he did not care.

It had no more meaning than replacing a single servant.

More important than that was granting pain as quickly as possible to the insolent knight who had shamed him.

With his gaze fixed on the yellow eyes looking at him, he opened the fist he had been clenching.

The sensation of the compressed air escaping his hand was thrilling.

Because at last, his heart could become peaceful.

Of course, the floor would be dirtied with blood, but that was none of Renin’s concern either.

If he went out for a short walk, someone would clean it all up neatly.

Bang!

The sound of air bursting rang out, but the scene Renin had expected did not happen.

Someone did collapse, but the only one who lost consciousness was his attendant.

For a moment, it seemed there had been a flash of light, but it passed so quickly that Renin could not be sure what he had seen.

It was very rare for one who had inherited Abalan blood to experience a situation where his five senses could not keep up.

He tensed his whole body at the fearlike sensation he felt for the first time.

The black-haired man looked at him with an expressionless face before finally opening his mouth.

“Is greeting people like this your specialty?”

The moment he heard his voice, Renin realized that the opponent was not simply some common knight from the Temple.

Renin was a man with senses as sharp as a finely honed sword.

He was a born hunter and never lost prey he once targeted.

Renin immediately charged at Ratel.

It was an accurate and rational judgment.

Renin drew the sword at his waist and tried to stab the man’s chest, but Ratel’s sword smoothly turned aside his attack.

To avoid giving him time to prepare an attack, Renin again swung his sword toward his neck, but he twisted his body to dodge and kicked away the unconscious attendant to put distance between them.

Seeing him display even the leisure to take care of another person angered Renin, and he drew up his power.

Strong wind was a good means to obstruct an enemy’s vision.

Renin rode the flow of the gust he created and rapidly approached his enemy.

His target was the eyes.

He intended to make it so those insolent eyes could never open again.

But this time too, his sword cut through empty air.

Renin turned his head to find the man who had suddenly vanished from his sight.

And at that moment, an enormous force applied from behind sent him crashing to the floor.

He tried to raise himself quickly, but with the impact of his neck being pressed down, he missed his chance.

Renin was an outstanding hunter.

After the man entered, none of the judgments he made were wrong.

Therefore, the fact that he was slammed to the floor by the scruff of the neck without landing a proper blow was by no means because of poor judgment.

He was simply weaker than his opponent.

***

Jing, who had been waiting outside for Ratel to take Renin down, entered the room immediately when no more sounds came from inside.

“He seems far weaker than Dito. I don’t understand how something like this is guarding Abalan’s border.”

Ratel, who had pinned down the struggling Renin, said calmly.

“You are simply too strong. If it were me, I would have lost my life before even lasting ten minutes.”

Jing answered as he closed the door.

“To dare do something like this! What are you people?!”

Renin was trying to raise sharp winds to attack Jing and Ratel somehow, but each time, they were blocked by Ratel’s power and faded helplessly.

“Shut up.”

Ratel said as if annoyed, then tightened the hand around his neck.

“Kgh!”

When Renin finally grew quiet, Jing bent down and looked at him.

Seeing him lose to Ratel far faster than expected, and look infinitely shabby, Jing felt a strange sensation.

Renin glared fiercely at Jing.

His eyes flashed with the will to kill him at all costs, but he did not seem to have recognized Jing.

“I guarded your side for quite a long time, yet you do not even recognize me.”

Jing muttered hollowly.

At his words, Renin frowned and stared at Jing’s face, and his eyes gradually widened.

“You are......!”

The moment he finally recognized Duke Fiders’s face, his body sprang up, but Ratel did not let him thrash about as he pleased.

“Stay still. If you try to move one more time, I’ll put a hole in your throat.”

Even at Ratel’s warning, Renin’s eyes burned with rage.

And as if he could not believe he was being treated this way, he breathed roughly.

Ratel took his gaze off Renin and looked at Renin’s attendant, who lay unconscious near them.

If he had not blocked Renin’s attack, there would have been a hole in his chest.

Ratel knew he had not stopped even while knowing who his attack would strike.

Because Renin’s face had been filled with excitement at the simple fact that he could kill him.

Ratel looked down at Renin’s fine golden hair with murky eyes.

Unlike his peaceful expression, a ferocious emotion was growing inside his chest.

It was not that he was particularly angry at the bastard for trying to kill one of his people.

Only, upon seeing such a typical example of the Imperial Family, the anger inside him that had briefly hidden itself raised its head.

It would be simple to tear his throat apart right now.

Because he knew even a very small amount of strength would be enough, the impulse was even harder to endure.

Of course, Ratel was aware he had to control his emotions.

He also knew that keeping this man alive would benefit them more than killing him now.

However, even knowing all of that, releasing his strength was not easy.

Watching Ratel’s hand around his neck grow stronger and stronger, Jing grabbed his shoulder.

“Calm down. If you kill him now, things will become complicated.”

What they needed was the holy object, but it was still too early to kill Renin.

Thanks to Ran, things had gone smoothly all the way here, so they could kill Renin and run, but there was still a problem left.

If Renin suddenly disappeared, there would be no one left to protect the people gathered in Hyre from monsters.

They could not know how long it would take for the capital to hear the news and send the next Imperial Family member.

Those with more than enough wealth would be fine.

They could simply leave for somewhere else.

But the people who were barely sustaining life in Hyre could not leave.

If monsters attacked while people fell into chaos, in the end, the ones harmed would be those at the very bottom of the power structure.

However, Jing knew Ratel had no interest in such things.

He also knew it was not right to demand from Ratel the affection he himself held for his homeland.

Jing held his shoulder silently.

Only hoping that he would not make a hasty judgment.

While receiving Jing’s worry, Ratel drove his sword down into Renin.

Thud!

“Aaaagh!!!”

Ratel’s sword buried itself in Renin’s arm.

Blood spurted from his arm.

Jing let out a relieved sigh and took out a bottle to collect his blood.

Renin exhaled roughly and glared at Ratel as if he would kill him.

“Have you become afraid of handling the aftermath now? It’s already too late. Someday, you will regret leaving me alive now......”

Renin, who had been making venomous threats, could not continue speaking.

Whack!

Because Ratel struck him as if to smash his head open.

After obtaining enough of Renin’s blood, Jing glanced at Ratel, who was looking down at Renin calmly.

“What? Did you think I wouldn’t be able to hold back and would kill him?”

“Half of me did. You have no reason to protect the people of Abalan, do you?”

“It wasn’t that I wanted to protect them.”

Ratel muttered.

It was not that he wanted to protect them.

Only, the face of a certain child who had secretly thanked him came to mind.