Chapter 21: Green Light
Mistprowler Tiger.
A fiercely territorial beast. And when Arnold claimed its territory, it was already at Peak 2-star Rank. Unfortunately for him, the tiger immediately sensed the foreign energy disrupting its domain and taking over its territory, so it went for the hunt.
On a fog-laden day, while Arnold was searching for a suitable place to build his stronghold, the beast ambushed him.
The man barely survived.
The only reason he lived was because he ruthlessly sacrificed all three of his tamed beasts, even his strongest one. But his survival came at a devastating cost. His soul was damaged, dropping it from rare to common grade in no time.
He lost his ability to use skills forever, along with his right to claim land. The territory he claimed had been stripped from him, leaving him unable to claim another one under his name unless he ranked up or purchased a new one.
The Beast Hall immediately took notice.
He was demoted and his monthly stipend was reduced to a mere 50 Bronze coins. Because to them, he was nothing more than a cripple and of no use to the Empire since he couldn't rank up and grow to his previous ranks.
But 50 bronze coins were nowhere near enough.
Not when he had taken a loan of 60 silver coins for what was supposed to be a super bloodline beast… only for it to end up being a mortal rank beast.
Now he was in debt. Weak. Not to mention his own vices—gambling and his uncontrollable indulgence in colourful nights.
Desperate, he turned to the Baron.
The Baron employed him to guard his son—at a wage of 1 silver coin.
But that wasn't even close enough to pay the debt. His interest was 3 silver coins.
So Arnold began resorting to criminal activities.
He began beating, sometimes even killing, innocents to rob them. He raped to satisfy his urges. He also assisted Zolton in shady dealings for extra money. And when his own son failed to awaken…
He killed him so that he could reduce the cost of his living.
_____
"Say Arnold," Zolton said casually.
"Why not just kidnap her and bring her to me?" He slid two silver coins towards him.
"I have had enough waiting. If she is not in front of me today… you will have to deal with another corpse in the morning…" Zolton's eyes turned cold.
Arnold quickly snatched the money.
"It will be done," he said. "But I think I might return late. I will need to track her using my beast… but I would need something that has her scent."
Zolton just smirked and reached into his pocket, pulling out a piece of cloth.
Before handing it over to Arnold, he brought it close to his nose and inhaled deeply.
"Take it. This should be enough."
Arnold departed without another word, the room falling into silence behind him.
_____
She really is a Yandere!!
That was Leo's first thought when he saw the possessive gleam in her pink irises, locked firmly onto him.
Looks like Shyra getting closer to me triggered her reaction…. I need to be careful, or an innocent girl might end up getting traumatized just because she was looking at me.
Leo agreed to sleep with her until he was fully recovered, hoping she would calm down and return to finishing her meal.
At that moment, Lily was happily having her dinner, a pleased look on her face. Beside her, Shyra was still devouring her food from her bowl as if starved for days.
I need to know clearly if what Lily said earlier was serious… or just a joke. I don't want to do something I can't take back.
Taking a breath, he steeled his resolve to ask Lily out.
"Lily," he began, his heartbeat quickening.
"Yes?" She looked at him expectantly, urging him to continue.
"Did you really mean what you said before?"
His heartbeat was uneven; this was his first time he was talking to a girl like this.
Lily's face flushed a dark shade of pink.
"W-what are you talking about…?" she stuttered, looking elsewhere.
"About… me looking differently to you… Are you sure?" he pressed. He needed a clear answer.
Lily puffed her cheeks, annoyed at how blatant he was; nonetheless, she answered.
"Hmph. Idiot. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't mean it. And… and I don't want to be separated from you. Ever. You are only one I have left with, and I—"
Shyra, who had been patiently watching the scene unfold from the sideline, suddenly stiffened.
Her ears perked up as if in alert mode.
In an instant, she activated her Stealth skill, disappearing into the dark corners of the house.
Leo sensed something too.
His expression sharpened, and he stopped Lily mid-sentence, stepping closer to her. Drawing his dagger out, he held it defensively.
"Leo, what—!" Lily stopped mid-track as the front door exploded inward.
BOOM.
"Finally found that wench's house… now, who are you?" Arnold's gaze locked directly with Leo, who stood protectively in front of Lily, shielding her.
"Is that how you introduce yourself after breaking into someone else's home?" Leo replied, his eyes narrowing as he cautiously examined the intruder.
"L-Leo, he… he's Zolton's butler!" Lily said, recognition dawning on her face.
"Leo? You are still alive?" Arnold frowned. "What happened to the goons that were sent to kill you?"
He was clearly talking about Norn, Lans and Juan.
"So you are with that waste of a man that's harassing Lily," Leo said coldly. "As for them…? Heh. Why don't you go and ask them in hell?" A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
Arnold's expression turned serious and cold as the meaning behind Leo's words sank in.
Behind the man, a beast emerged—a wolf-type beast with dark blue fur, its presence suffocating.
Windbreath Hound (Peak 1-star) – Mortal Bloodline.
Shit!!
Even though Leo had hunted a peak 1-star beast before, that one had been injured and even caught off guard thanks to their ambush. But fighting this opponent was a completely different thing. This one was prepared and trained.
But there was no other choice but to fight them while also protecting Lily.
Shyra has already disappeared. I need to distract them until she can perform her surprise attack.
"How did you find this house?" Leo asked.
"House?" Arnold sneered, glancing around with an exaggerated look on his face.
"Well, everyone has their own standard… so about your question…"
He then pulled out the piece of cloth Zolton had handed him and brought it close to his face, giving it a deep sniff.
"This should look familiar to you, right? I must say… even the smell is irresistible. Makes me wonder…"
Leo's eyes darkened.
"Leo… that's… what Zolton tore…" Lily didn't complete the sentence, but Leo understood it completely.
Looks like I need to thank Master James by myself someday… I don't even want to imagine what would have happened until now if not for him.
But this mere butler, how dare he do something like that in front of Lily? He won't be going back today.