Chapter 523: Before the Fire Goes Out

The adventurers exchanged uneasy glances. Their earlier confidence had begun to crumble under the scrutiny of Adam’s group.

"That’s a serious accusation," their leader said, forcing a smile. "We encountered some bandits on the way here. The blood must have come from them."

"Oh?" Lilith tilted her head. "So you encountered bandits, and somehow ended up covered in human blood, yet you claim to be hunting goblins. How unfortunate that you forgot to prepare a more convincing story."

"We don’t have to explain ourselves to you!"

One of the adventurers snapped before quickly realizing his mistake. The moment he met Isolde’s cold gaze, his expression stiffened.

Adam leaned back in his seat, resting one arm against his knee.

"Then let me ask you something. If you’re really adventurers, which guild do you belong to?"

The leader hesitated for just a fraction of a second.

It was brief, but Adam noticed.

"We’re independent adventurers," the man replied. "We don’t belong to any particular guild."

"Really? That’s convenient."

Adam smiled, though there was no warmth in his eyes.

"An adventuring party without a guild, covered in human blood, wandering around at night, and claiming to be hunting goblins without a single piece of evidence. You must understand why we’re having trouble believing you."

"Enough of this!" another man shouted. "We’re not criminals! We came here peacefully, and you’re treating us like suspects!"

"Then you shouldn’t have given us so many reasons to be suspicious," Isolde replied flatly.

Meanwhile, Azrynn quietly observed the group. Her pointed ears twitched as she listened to their breathing and the subtle movements beneath their clothing.

Then she leaned slightly toward Adam.

"Some of them are preparing to draw their weapons."

Adam gave a small nod, as though she had merely informed him that the firewood was running low.

"I see."

The adventurers noticed the exchange, and their leader’s expression darkened.

"Damn it. Listen, we’ve been patient enough. Just let us pass, and we’ll forget this ever happened."

Lilith smiled.

"How generous. You’re willing to forgive us for questioning a group of suspicious strangers who approached our camp in the middle of the night."

Her smile widened a little.

"I’m almost touched."

"Stop mocking us!"

The leader finally lost his temper. He glanced at the other adventurers, giving them a subtle signal.

Several hands immediately moved toward their weapons.

However, before any of them could draw, Adam spoke again.

"One last question."

His relaxed tone somehow made the entire situation more unsettling.

"That village you mentioned. What’s its name?"

The leader fell silent upon hearing the question.

For the first time, he had absolutely no answer and his forehead started to sweat.

Adam’s smile slowly disappeared.

"Ah. I see."

He rose from his seat and brushed a few crumbs from his clothes.

"You’re not adventurers, are you?"

The leader gritted his teeth. Around him, his companions began drawing their weapons, abandoning any pretense of peaceful intentions.

"Kill them!" he shouted. "Take the women alive! We can sell them for a fortune!"

Ignis stopped chewing because she heard their chatter.

Alice, who had been looking rather bored until then, slowly turned her head toward the men.

Others also see them as fools.

Adam, on the other hand, simply looked at the men with mild disappointment.

"Really? We were having such a pleasant evening, too."

He glanced at the campfire, then back at the approaching attackers.

"Well, since you’ve decided to ruin it, I suppose we’ll have to teach you some manners."

"You should have minded your own business!" one of them shouted. "Now you’re all going to die here!"

"Do you know how many people have died by our hands?" another sneered. "We’re the Iron Fangs! We’re the most famous independent adventurers in this region! People tremble at the mere mention of our name!"

Their leader laughed arrogantly as he advanced toward Adam.

"Enjoy your last moments, you ignorant fool. I’ll make sure you regret ever crossing us!"

Adam listened to their boasting with a bored expression. Then he glanced at the campsite behind him before looking back at the approaching men.

"Could you fight a little farther away? I don’t want to get blood all over our campsite."

The adventurers stopped for a moment.

Then their faces contorted with rage.

"You bastard! You’re still looking down on us?!"

Adam looked at them like he was looking at idiots. "Well, you’re the ones who came here looking for a fight. I’m just asking you to keep the mess away from our food."

"YOU!"

The leader’s face turned crimson with anger.

"Rip him apart!"

The adventurers charged, their weapons gleaming beneath the moonlight.

Meanwhile, Ignis watched from beside the campfire, still munching on her sweets.

"Ugh, I don’t feel like fighting right now. I’m still hungry."

Alice turned toward her with an incredulous expression.

"How much have you eaten already?! You’ve been stuffing your face with sweets all evening!"

Azrynn glanced toward Adam, who was calmly waiting for the incoming adventurers.

"Should I help you?"

"No need," Adam replied casually. "You all get some rest. I feel like getting a little exercise myself."

Azrynn considered it for a moment before nodding.

"All right. Be careful."

Adam waved dismissively.

"Don’t worry. I’ll be back before the fire goes out."

Hearing that, the leader of the Iron Fangs nearly lost his mind.

"YOU’RE GOING TO REGRET THOSE WORDS!"

Adam smiled as the adventurers closed in.

"Let’s see about that."

The first adventurer reached Adam with his sword raised high, swinging down toward his head with enough force to split a person in two.

Adam casually tilted his head.

The blade missed him by a hair’s breadth and struck nothing but air.

Before the man could recover, Adam flicked his finger against the adventurer’s forehead.

Thump!

"Urgh!"

The man staggered backward, clutching his forehead as tears welled in his eyes. He felt as though someone had struck him with a hammer.

Adam looked at him with mild disappointment.

"That’s it? I’ve seen goblins put up a better fight."

"You bastard!"

Another adventurer lunged at him from the side, thrusting a spear toward his ribs. Adam stepped aside, caught the shaft with one hand, and gave it a light twist.

Crack!

The spear snapped in half.

The adventurer stared at the broken weapon in disbelief before Adam grabbed him by the collar and tossed him toward his companions.

"Watch out!"

Three men scrambled to avoid their flying comrade, only to stumble into one another and fall in a tangled heap.

Adam dusted his hands.

"Careful. You’re going to hurt yourselves before I even get started."

The remaining adventurers hesitated.

Their opponents were supposed to be a group of wealthy travelers with several beautiful women. They had expected a quick victory, perhaps a little resistance from the men, but nothing they couldn’t handle.

Yet their leader was being treated like a training dummy.

"Don’t panic!" the leader shouted, forcing himself to maintain his composure. "He’s just relying on physical strength! Surround him and attack together!"

The adventurers obeyed, spreading out to encircle Adam. Two rushed in from the front while another approached from behind, attempting to strike at the same time.

Adam glanced around.

"Ohh? Now you’re thinking. That’s an improvement."

He took one step forward.

The first sword swept past his shoulder. Adam caught the attacker’s wrist, pulled him forward, and used his momentum to send him crashing into the second man. The third tried to take advantage of the opening, but Adam turned and struck him in the stomach with his elbow.

The man doubled over, coughing violently, before Adam pushed him aside.

In less than a few seconds, all three were on the ground.

Adam hadn’t even drawn a weapon.

Back at the campsite, Alice watched through narrowed eyes.

"Are they seriously this weak?"

"Perhaps their reputation is exaggerated," Isolde replied calmly.

Lilith turned a page in her book.

"Or perhaps they’ve spent so long bullying weaker people that they’ve forgotten what a real fight looks like."

Azrynn watched Adam with interest. She had seen him fight many times, but she still found it amusing how casually he handled his opponents.

Meanwhile, Ignis popped another sweet into her mouth.

"Can we eat now?"

Alice slowly turned toward her.

"He’s still fighting!"

"But he’s winning, isn’t he?"

"...I hate that you have a point."

Back in the field, the leader of the Iron Fangs was beginning to sweat.

His men were dropping one after another, and their opponent looked more inconvenienced than threatened.

"What the hell are you?" he demanded.

Adam glanced at the adventurers scattered around him.

"Didn’t I tell you? I’m just someone who wants to enjoy a peaceful night."

He walked toward the leader, who instinctively stepped backward.

"Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to finish this before my companions eat all the food."

The leader gritted his teeth. Humiliation burned hotter than his fear.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small crystal, squeezing it until mana began to flow through its surface.

"Don’t get too cocky! You think your physical strength makes you invincible?!"

The crystal flashed.

A surge of mana spread across the ground, and several magic circles appeared beneath Adam’s feet.

The leader’s expression twisted into a cruel grin.

"Let’s see you dodge this!"

The circles erupted, sending pillars of fire shooting toward Adam from every direction.

For a moment, the open field was swallowed by flames.

The leader laughed triumphantly.

"HAHAHA! That’s what you get for underestimating the Iron Fangs!"

But his laughter soon faltered.

The flames began to disperse, revealing Adam standing in the middle of the scorched ground. His clothes were untouched, and he looked as though he had merely stood in front of a warm fireplace.

Adam glanced down at the fading magic circles.

"Hmm... Magic, huh?"

He looked back at the leader.

"At least you finally did something interesting."

The man’s smile disappeared.

Adam took a leisurely step forward.

"Now, then. Was that your best attack, or do you have anything else you’d like to show me?"