《The Legendary Baka Warriors》 Prologue Today is a special day for the citizens of Edelweiss. The hero of the kingdom, the handsome young master of Ravencourt is about to arrive at the city gates. Rows upon rows of beautiful women lined up on the sidewalk to gaze at the fabled handsome young master of Ravencourt. It didn¡¯t take long before a grand procession arrived at the city gates. Taking the lead was a young man riding a white horse. He was dressed in black clothing that matched his elegant demeanor. His carefree smile instantly captured the hearts of all the ladies present. A pretty girl dressed in noble clothing screamed from the side of the city gate. ¡°Kyaaaah! Kyaaaaah! It¡¯s the handsome young master!¡± The young man casually flipped his shiny black hair as if to tell everyone ¡°Go on ladies, praise me more.¡± A busty lady in her early twenties gasped, ¡°He¡¯s so dreamy! So handsome!¡± She pushed the crowd in front of her to have a better look. ¡°Handsome young master! I love you!¡± A teenage girl with cute curls shouted from ten meters away. The young man winked at the teenage girl and blew her a kiss. The teenage girl was overwhelmed with emotion causing her to faint with a smile on her face. A beautiful middle-aged woman threw him seductive looks. ¡°Handsome young master, I want your child!¡± The young man chuckled and it made the middle-aged woman¡¯s legs turn to jelly. She helplessly flopped down on the ground as her pupils turned into hearts while staring at him. An old woman wearing a pink dress broke out from the crowd and ran in his direction. ¡°Handsome young master please marry me!¡± Her sudden action made her legs cramp, and she fell helplessly face first on the hard cobblestone street. She closed her eyes, and braced herself. She waited for the pain to come, but it never did. Instead of the hard cobble stone hitting her face, something soft and warm replaced it.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The old lady slowly opened her eyes, and saw the hero of the kingdom cradling her in his embrace. He smiled at her, and asked in a worried voice. ¡°Grandma, are you hurt anywhere?¡± The hero of the kingdom was just too handsome, and the old lady was mesmerized by his looks. ¡°N-no, I¡¯m fine. Thank you for saving me.¡± She forcefully averted her gaze to the side. Looking at his sincere and beautiful brown eyes made her heart pound like crazy. Her wrinkled face turned beet red. This was the first time that a man managed to capture her heart. The handsome young master lifted her in a princess carry, and carried her towards the priests who was part of his entourage. The young ladies who saw this scene was filled with envy. They cursed themselves for not running towards their hero, and accidentally ¡°trip¡± in order to get his attention. They lost the chance, and they were not shameless enough to make another scene in front of the crowd. After making sure that the priests are looking after the grandma, the handsome young master took the lead once more and walked on the street. He held the reigns of his horse as he waved at the crowd. His elegance and charisma made the ladies go wild with fervor. A beautiful lady wearing seductive clothes jumped up and down from where she stood. ¡°Kyaaaah! He smiled at me! He waved at me!¡± ¡°No! he smiled at me!¡± The pretty girl standing next to her refuted. ¡°No! He smiled and waved at me!¡± Another girl joined their conversation. ¡°Wanna fight?!¡± ¡°Hah! Bring it on!¡± The handsome young man saw the commotion and decided to intervene. He coughed a few times and it caught the crowd¡¯s attention. The argument died down, and everyone gazed at him. ¡°Girls, there is no need for you to fight among yourselves because,¡± the handsome young master paused and struck a cool pose, ¡°I love all of you equally.¡± he added. The ladies weren¡¯t able to stop themselves and screamed in delight. Some of them threw their shame away and ran in his direction. ¡°Handsome young master, make me your concubine!¡± ¡°Handsome young master, please give me your baby!¡± ¡°Handsome young master, make me your slave!¡± ¡°Handsome young master, make me your pet!¡± ¡°Handsome young master, ravage me!¡± The handsome young master didn¡¯t brush them off. Instead he encouraged them to embrace him. ¡°Girls, come into my arms, and let the handsome me make your dreams come true!¡± ¡°Handsome young master!¡± The beautiful ladies went wild because of his declaration. He was showered with kisses and they caressed every part of his body. Nothing escaped the ladies clutches, and their hands wandered freely. The handsome young master sighed in bliss at the sweet sensation of soft hands caressing his face. The soft hand caressing his face felt familiar. It was a hand that he had held so many times in the past. ¡°Handsome young master, it¡¯s morning. Time to wake up.¡± A voice spoke in his mind. He slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the beautiful lady lying beside him. ¡°Just ten more minutes.¡± He said. ¡°If that is your wish, then this humble servant dare not disobey.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± And with that, the handsome young master closed his eyes one more time. He has ten more minutes to embrace the beautiful ladies in his dream. Auxiliary Chapter for Class Classifications Class Classifications for Body Physique, Magic Power, Guild Rankings [Body Physique Classes] E - Normal Body Physique (Commoners) D - Slightly above normal. C - Stronger and faster than normal men. B - Enhanced Physical/Magical Abilities A - Has a bloodline ability. S - Inborn special abilities from physique/bloodline. Can have more than one bloodline ability. SR - Has a special physique/bloodlines akin to mythical/legendary beasts (Example: Dragon Bloodline, Phoenix Bloodline, Lightning Spirit Veins, Fire Spirit Veins, etc. ). Able to use the advance power of their bloodline abilities. SSR - Pure Bloodline/Physique. Able to wield the full power of their bloodline abilities and Body Physique abilities.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. Black - Bloodline/Physique of Deities or what you call Lesser Gods ---------------------------------------- [Magic Power Classes] E - Unable to use magic power. D - Very little magic power. Just enough to use storage items like storage rings, storage bags etc. C - Is able to cast basic magic spells. (Example: Stone Bullet, Fire Bullet, Water Bullet, Air Bullet, Cure etc.) B - Able to cast second level spells. (Example: Fireball, Stone spikes, Water Ball, Air Slash, Heal etc.) A - Has the ability to feel and harness the flow of mana in the surroundings. Can use the mana to enhance their magic power to cast advanced third level spells. S - Larger mana pool and able to cast spells simultaneously. Can use 4th level magic spells. (Example: Fire Wall, Stone Wall, Hydro Ball, Air Blast, Great Heal.) SR - Able to fly in the sky with the use of magic power in the environment. Can summon Elementals to fight for them and use 5th level magic spells. (Example: Fire Elemental, Mass Healing, etc.) SSR - The Pinnacle of the Mortal Realm. The power they wield are able to destroy cities. Can use up to 7th level magic spells. (Example: Summon Lord Class Elementals, Greater Mass Healing, Fire Storm, Lightning Storm.) Black - Breaks through the boundaries of the Mortal Realm. The powers they wield are akin to Deities or what you call Lesser Gods. ---------------------------------------- [Guild Rankings] Class E - Beginner Class D - Intermediate Class C - Experienced Class B - Veteran Class A - Elite Class S - Champions Class SR - Emperor/Empress Class SSR - Sovereigns Class Black - Supreme Finding Happiness ¡°Mirror Mirror on the wall, aren¡¯t I the most handsome of them all?¡± A young man, around eighteen years old, stared passionately at the mirror in front of him. Suddenly, a loud crack was heard as if to reply to his question. The young man¡¯s face went stiff as the mirror in front of him shattered into pieces. He scanned the room in vigilance to see if someone was watching. Seeing no one in the immediate vicinity, he decided to make a run for it. He walked swiftly towards the exit as naturally as possible. He was just a few steps away from the door when a palm grabbed his shoulders. ¡°Sir, where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± The young man slowly turned his head to see a fat guy wearing expensive clothing smiling back at him. Sweat formed on the young man¡¯s forehead as his mind worked overtime to think of a way to get out of his current predicament. The fat man was not being idle either -- he gave a hand signal to the staff and they formed a circle with the two of them in the center. The young man understood--through his countless experiences of this exact situation--that offense was the best defense. ¡°Excuse me? Why are you grabbing my shoulder?! Is this how you treat your customers?!¡± The young man shouted. He had raised his voice on purpose to get the attention of the other customers in the store. The fat merchant eased his grip and looked at the other customers with a smile. Feeling the grip on his shoulder lessen, the young man wore a smug grin on his face Heh, trying to outplay me? The young man thought. You are a hundred years too early! The young man brushed the hand away that was keeping him in place. He glared at the fat man with injustice painted all over his face. The fat man gave a brief bow and introduced himself. ¡°Sir, I am Nicholas Roge, the branch manager of Roge Merchant Guild here in the city of Aster.¡± Nicholas said. ¡°I see! So it¡¯s sir Nicholas. I¡¯ve heard great things about you!¡± ¡°Sir, you know of me? Then I''ll get straight to the point. You broke that--¡± The young man knew where this was headed. Before Nicholas could say anything else, he decided cut him off. ¡°Of course I know you! You are the number one lolicon in the city of Aster. I¡¯m glad I¡¯m a guy, if I was a girl you would have already kidnapped me!¡± The young man said, giving the merchant a disdainful look. The customers in the store started whispering to each other. They glanced at Nicholas from time to time and their eyes contain looks of disgust. Nicholas almost spat a mouthful of blood then and there. Who would want to kidnap you?! Your face alone is enough to break a mirror in my shop! If no one was around I would had already spat on your face! He used all of his will power to stop himself from beating the teenager in front of him to a pulp. He forcefully held his anger in check and continue to smile. "May I know your name Mr.Customer?¡± Nicholas asked. He wanted to know the name of this annoying teenager in front of him and send goons to beat him up later. The young man flicked his hair dramatically. ¡°Remember my name and remember it well!¡± The young man made another cool pose and arrogantly raised his chin. ¡°I am Kei Frieden! The 4th son of the Earl of RavenCourt, most handsome man in the Earldom, and number one heartrob of Edelweiss!¡± ¡®Wha-What?! The 4th son of the Earl of Ravencourt?!¡¯ Nicholas almost had a heart attack after learning the young man¡¯s identity. The gears in his mind churned. His attitude did a complete 180 and he immediately gave the young man his most elegant bow. He had heard rumors about the fabled ¡°handsome young master¡± of Ravencourt. He praised himself for holding back, and not spitting on the young man¡¯s face earlier.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Hehe, so it is the famed handsome young master of RavenCourt. Forgive me for not being able to recognize your greatness.¡± Nicholas said. ¡°The great and handsome me forgives you of your shortcomings.¡± Kei said, waving his hand. Nicholas believed in the saying ¡®Strike while the Iron is hot.¡¯ He knew that this opportunity may not come again, so he decided to make his move. Nicholas rubbed his hands together and tried to score some brownie points. ¡°Handsome young master, if you like anything from the store just give the word and I shall give it to you as a gift.¡± ¡°Mmm? Are you sure about that? Then can you give me the most expens--¡± Nicholas coughed repeatedly, ¡°Hah, my health is deteriorating. Business had been hard as of late. How will I be able to care for my four wives and twelve children if I don¡¯t make a profit soon?¡± Kei almost choked at the shameless attempt of Nicholas to prevent him from asking for the most expensive item in the store. What? Four wives and twelve children? With your looks and fat body that is enough to turn any woman into a pancake if you slightly press on them? How can you be shameless?! I spit on you! Pitui! Kei cursed Nicholas in his head. Nicholas gave Kei a pleading look as if saying ¡®Please have mercy on me, my wives, and children.¡¯ Fine, you win. I can¡¯t be too greedy. Kei compromised. ¡°Then do you have any recommendations?¡±. "Are you looking for something particular handsome young master?¡± Nicholas signaled the staff with a hand gesture. They obeyed and left the two of them alone. ¡°Actually, I¡¯m here to look for souvenirs to bring back home.¡± ¡°Souvenirs for men or women?¡± ¡°For women.¡± ¡°Then in that case, I highly recommend accessories.¡± Nicholas led Kei to the corner of the store where the accessories are displayed. ¡°All women like accessories. The more expensive it is, the more they love it.¡± Nicholas confidently shared his wisdom. ¡°Mmm. Indeed accessories are a good choice.¡± Kei said, ¡°Can I take a closer look at those two butterfly hair pins over there?¡± Kei pointed to the two butterfly hairpins that caught his attention. Nicholas gently took the two hairpins from their casing, and presented them to Kei. ¡°You have good eyes handsome young master. These two hairpins were made by a great craftsman from Gladeolus.¡± Nicholas paused for a bit, ¡°He said that anyone who wears these hairpins will find their happiness in life.¡± he added. ¡°Find happiness¡­¡± Kei¡¯s gaze became gentle as he caressed the two butterfly hair pins in his hands. ¡°Will you take these two hairpins handsome young master?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll take them. Thank you for your generosity.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure to serve you handsome young master.¡± ¡°Sorry about the mirror.¡± ¡°Mirror? What mirror?¡± The two of them chuckled and gave each other a knowing glance. ¡°Please carefully package these two hairpins for the handsome young master.¡± Nicholas ordered. One of his trusted aids brought out two ornate boxes and carefully placed the hairpins inside. Once that is done, they took out a storage bag and placed the two boxes inside. Kei accepted the storage bag with a smile. Nicholas personally escorted him to the entrance of the store to bid his farewell. ¡°Nicholas, I will repay this favor in the future.¡± Kei said. Nicholas chuckled. ¡°I will hold on to your words handsome young master.¡± ¡°Believe in me. A member of the Frieden family always repay his favor.¡± Kei bid his goodbye and walked away. Nicholas have no doubt in his mind that Kei will keep his promise. He is, after all, one of the ¡°Overlords¡± of the Federation. ----------------------------------- Kei walked towards a secluded clearing outside the city. There was a carriage parked near a tree as if waiting for his arrival. He cheerfully shouted from the distance. ¡°I have returned!¡± ¡°Handsome young master! You¡¯re finally back!¡± A tall and beautiful woman with long, light-brown hair happily ran in his direction. ¡°Milfa, where is your sister?¡± ¡°Sister is still sorting out the inventory in the carriage. She¡¯ll be finished soon.¡± Kei gave Milfa one of the ornate boxes. ¡°Then please take this.¡± ¡°Handsome young master, this is?¡± ¡°A gift for you.¡± ¡°Only for me?¡± ¡°Yes, I have one for your sister as well.¡± Kei showed Milfa another ornate box in his possession. Milfa curled her lips into a smile and opened the box in her hand. Her eyes sparkled when she saw the butterfly hairpin. ¡°Do you like it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s beautiful!¡± Kei gazed at the beautiful lady in front of him, and decided to tell her a bit about the hairpin. ¡°The merchant said that these two butterfly hairpins will bring happiness to those who wear them.¡± Kei said. ¡°I hope that you and your sister will find your happiness as well.¡± ¡°Handsome young master, did you know?¡± Milfa¡¯s beautiful hazel eyes have a mischievous glint in them as he stared at the young man in front of her. ¡°Know what?¡± ¡°I already found my happiness.¡± ¡°Mmm?¡± Milfa blushed and shyly turned her back at him. ¡°Handsome young master, can you help me put the hairpin on my hair?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Kei took the hairpin from her hand and gently fixed her hair in a ponytail. He then locked it securely in place using the hairpin. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Kei admired his work and gave his nod of approval. ¡°How do I look, handsome young master?¡± ¡°You look beautiful.¡± Kei said. A tall woman who looked just like Milfa poked her head from the carriage. ¡°Wow! That hairpin sure looks beautiful!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry Tifa, you have one as well.¡± Kei said, chuckling. He went to the carriage and handed the butterfly hairpin to Milfa¡¯s twin sister. ¡°This hairpin brings happiness to those who wear them. I hope you will find your happiness as well.¡± Tifa accepted the gift gratefully and winked at her sister. Kei saw that there are still a few packages that are needed to be organized and decided to help. With the three of them working together, the inventory was finished in no time at all. ¡°Mmm, is everything ready?¡± Milfa gave the inventory one last glance. She nodded her head and gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Everything is ready, handsome young master.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go. Let¡¯s head to the city of Amaranth!¡± Kei ordered. ¡°¡°As you command, Handsome Young Master!¡±¡± Tavern Brawl Milfa woke to the sound of birds chirping. She had the habit of waking up at this time of the day due to her duties as her young master¡¯s retainer. She glanced at her twin sister Tifa, who is still sleeping beside her. You¡¯re the older one, shouldn¡¯t you wake up earlier than me? Milfa sighed. But, if that were to happen, then I¡¯ll probably lose one of the things that make my mornings complete. Milfa slowly stood up from the bed and did some basic stretches. She stopped after she felt that her muscles are no longer stiff from sleep. She gave her sister one last glance and left the room. She headed towards her young master¡¯s room with a slight spring in her step. She opened the door and headed straight to the bed. Her young master is still sleeping like a pig. She giggled at the sight of his messy black hair and wiped the drool that is coming out from the side of his mouth. ¡°Handsome young master, it¡¯s morning. Time to wake up.¡± Milfa said. She opened the curtains and sunlight poured down from the window. ¡°Mmm.¡± Kei stirred in his sleep. Milfa sat on the bed and caressed his cheeks. She knew that her young master will be waking up soon, so she took this opportunity to get some skinship. Her young master¡¯s face is rough to the touch, but she did not mind. Kei slowly opened his eyes. He felt someone caressing his cheek and knew that it was Milfa who have come to wake him up. While he won¡¯t admit it in the open, waking up in this manner makes him happy. ¡°Just ten more minutes.¡± Kei said. ¡°If that is your wish, then this humble servant dare not disobey.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Kei closed his eyes one more time. He was very tired because he stayed up late last night writing letters. Milfa stood up from the bed and organized the letters that her young master wrote last night. She will have to send them by messenger hawks on her young master¡¯s stead. True to his word, Kei lazily stood up from the bed after ten minutes. He yawned and did his morning stretches. While doing so, he glanced at Milfa who was only wearing a one piece night dress and frowned. ¡°You know, you shouldn¡¯t go out of your room wearing only a night dress. Even if our rooms are just right next to each other.¡± ¡°Understood handsome young master, it won¡¯t happen again.¡±Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°Mmm, as long as you understand.¡± Milfa smiled at Kei. ¡°But, can I wear this to wake you up when we go back to the Frieden Estate?¡± ¡°Of course you can.¡± Kei said. ¡°After all, I am a healthy young man. Who wouldn¡¯t want to see a beauty like you in her lingerie?¡± Milfa gazed at her young master. One of his thick eyebrows were raised and his thick lips formed a nasty grin. If other women were to see his current expression, they would be already be running for their lives. She giggled and winked at her young master. ¡°All you need to do is give the order handsome young master, and I¡¯ll happily wear anything for you.¡± Kei chuckled and waved his hand. ¡°Go and wake your older sister, let¡¯s have breakfast together.¡± Kei said. ¡°As you wish, handsome young master.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Kei watched Milfa leave the room. After making sure that she is gone, he rubbed his cheeks in order to erase the silly grin on his face. Ai~ Milfa¡¯s feelings towards me hasn¡¯t changed. I better give her a proper answer soon. He washed his face and wore his clothes. He waited for the twins to knock on his door and the three of them went to the tavern together. The tavern was filled with adventurers during this time of day. Some of them are preparing for their raid while others are just lazing around waiting for their party members to show up. The moment Kei¡¯s party entered the dungeon, all eyes focused on the two beauties beside him. ¡°Whoa! Such beautiful twins!¡± An adventurer in his early twenties exclaimed in delight. ¡°Damn! Why are they accompanying a goblin? They¡¯re better off accompanying someone like me!¡± An adventurer with with above average looks gritted his teeth in envy. ¡°Two beautiful flowers placed in a pile of dung! What a waste!¡± A middle aged man lamented. Looks of envy and hate were directed at Kei. He just smiled and arrogantly raised his chin. ¡°Will you look at that girls, I¡¯m so handsome that all the men can¡¯t help but give me envious looks.¡± Kei said. The adventurers glared at him. Some of them ogled the two beauties beside him. Kei sighed while striking a pose that irked the adventurers in the tavern even more. ¡°Hah~ Being handsome is a sin.¡± The bartender spat in disdain. What?! you¡¯re handsome? What part of you is handsome? Your nose? You fool! "The handsome me will grace this tavern with my presence. All of you are lucky to have this opportunity to gaze upon the handsome me.¡± Kei said. The eyes of the adventurers went bloodshot and some of them stood up in anger. They¡¯ve seen shameless people before, but they never saw someone this shameless. It would had been fine if he really is as handsome as he proclaim to be. But, someone with a face that is slightly better than a goblin dares to call himself handsome? Even if the gods allow it, they will not allow it! The adventurers were raring to give Kei a good beating. Seeing the situation play out the way it did, Kei raised his chin arrogantly and spoke. ¡°I know the handsome me have a drop dead, gorgeous, sexy body, but I only like women! I don¡¯t like men! So all of you boys can just vent your frustrations on each other!¡± With a shout of anger and frustration, a teenage adventurer ran towards Kei¡¯s direction with a wooden chair in his hand. The teenage adventurer screamed, ¡°You bastard! If you¡¯re handsome then there¡¯s no handsome men in this world! The other adventurers followed suit and ran toward Kei with the intention of beating him to a pulp. ¡°You-You crazy guys I just said I don¡¯t like men!¡± Kei said. ¡°Just roll over and die you bastard!¡± the teenage adventurer was about to smash the chair on Kei¡¯s head when he was sent flying with a kick by Tifa. ¡°Handsome young master, please step back.¡± Tifa said. ¡°Let us handle the rest, handsome young master.¡± Milfa stood in front of Kei and glared at the adventurers. Kei sighed and crossed his arms on his chests. Mmm, go get them girls. Bane of Men, Envy of Women The adventurers stopped in their tracks and stared at each other. They don''t want to hurt the girls, they just want to teach Kei a lesson. The adventurer with above average looks stepped forward to mediate between the two parties. "Ladies, we don''t want to hurt you so please step aside." Tifa raised one of her beautiful eyebrows and looked at him. "If we refuse?" "Why must you girls be like this? We only want to teach that brat a lesson." A skinny adventurer said. "How about you accompany us instead of that guy? If you do, we will forget about this little incident." A middle aged man spoke from the side. "That''s a great idea! Our party is looking for new members. Join our party instead!" A suave looking adventurer leered at the two of them. "Hmmp! I thought you were righteous men, but all of you are just horny dogs." Kei said. "The handsome me is disgusted with all of you! Pitui!" His spittle flew far and hit the suave looking adventurer''s face. "You Bastard!" The suave looking adventurer lunged at Kei with a vengeance. He was met with Milfa''s fist and flew to the other side of the room hitting tables as he passed by. "Don''t try our patience little girls! If you want to play rough, this daddy will accompany you!" The middle-aged adventurer swung his broadsword. "Guys, let us all calm down! How about I give all of you my autograph? Sounds good right?" Kei said. All the adventurers including the bartender glared at him. "You know, this wouldn''t have happened, if you weren''t envious of my handsome looks." Kei paused and gave everyone a smile. "I mean, I know I''m good looking, but what does it have to do with you people?" The adventurers flinched at Kei''s question. They tried to recall what happened when Kei''s party entered the tavern. All he did was say that "he was handsome" and nothing more. He might only be slightly better looking than a goblin, but so what? Can''t someone with those kind of looks call themselves handsome? If they can''t call themselves handsome, then who will? They got agitated because of the twin beauties by his side. They felt like it was a waste that they were accompanying someone like him, instead of someone like them. They all glanced at each other in dismay. Even the bartender was deep in thought. They all realized that the one who was in the wrong was them and not Kei. "Handsome young master, you don''t have to say anything. These men won''t understand." Milfa said. Kei tapped her shoulder with his hand and shook his head. "Master, I''ll pay for the damages I''ve caused in your establishment". Kei stepped forward and headed towards the bartender. Tifa and Milfa stood in place and remained vigilant.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. The adventurers made a path for him. They felt ashamed of themselves for getting riled up because of envy and jealousy. They went back to their tables and resumed their drinking. Kei arrived at the counter and placed a gold coin on top of it. The bartender almost choked when he saw the single gold coin on top of his counter. The bartender muttered something in a low voice that only Kei can hear, "You expect to pay the damages in my tavern with a single gold coin? Do you want me to slap you?!" Kei chuckled and added another gold coin. He smirked at the bartender as if saying "See? I added one more, I''m not only handsome but generous as well." The bartender snorted, "You call this generosity? It will cost me ten gold coins to repair all the damages your party has done to my store, and you only give me two gold coins?" Kei''s lips twitched. He pondered for a bit and added eight more gold coins and one copper coin on the counter. The bartender didn''t know whether he should laugh or cry at this young man''s "generosity." He grudgingly accepted the compensation and sighed. "So what will you be having?" The bartender asked. "Give me your specialty of the day. Please make it good for three people. No wine, but fruit juice will do." Kei said. The bartender nodded and left. Tifa and Milfa occupied a vacant table and Kei sat beside them. Kei winked at the two ladies in front of him. "Mmm, we always get in trouble because the two of you are beautiful. It might be a great idea if both of you wear veils or masks the next time we go on a trip." "Handsome young master, most of the time we get into trouble because of you." Tifa said, smiling. "Yes, handsome young master you are a troublemaker." Milfa supported her sister. Kei rolled his eyes at the two of them and brushed his eyebrows with his finger. Tifa and Milfa are identical twins and the only way to differentiate the two of them are their eyes. Both of them have light-brown eyes, but if you look close enough, you''ll see the difference. "Excuse me, here is your order." A young man in his teens accompanied by the bartender gently set down a tray of sandwiches on their table. His eye lingered on the twins for a few seconds, before he turned around and went back to the kitchen. The bartender, on the other hand, set down a small tray of salad, and a jug of fruit juice. He gave Kei a brief nod and went back to the counter. "Poor lad, I bet he''ll be dreaming of the two of you tonight." Kei said. Tifa chuckled and Milfa gave Kei a wink. The twins are simply the bane of men, and their curvaceous body is the envy of women. Kei can''t recount the number of incidents, that had transpired during their journey because of the two women accompanying him. He knew that there will be a few more incidents along the way and it gave him a headache. "Later, we''re going to buy masks for the two of you." Kei commented. "As you wish, handsome young master." the twins said at the same time. Kei grabbed a sandwich and took a big bite. "Mmm, roast pork and pickled cucumber sandwich, not bad." Kei said. He briefly glanced at two ladies who were eating their sandwich. He can tell that the cook gave them special treatment and prepared "smoked salmon salad sandwich" just for the two of them. He decided to turn a blind eye on the cook''s discrimination and asked Tifa a serious question. "Will we meet Little John in the next town?" "Yes, handsome young master. One of the messenger hawks arrived yesterday while you were writing letters. Little John and his sister Little Daisy will be waiting for our arrival in the next town." There was a tinge of excitement in her voice when she mentioned Little John''s letter. Tifa has liked Little John for years, but he''s too dense to understand her advances. Kei decided to just watch from the side and let nature take its course. He hoped that Tifa won''t get impatient and beat the crap out of Little John for being a dense protagonist. ''I hate dense protagonist the most.'' [A/N: I hate them too.] Kei asked, "Oh? He brought Little Daisy as well?" "Yes, he''s too worried about leaving his sister alone." "He did the right thing. I too will be worried if he left Little Daisy alone." Milfa listened to the conversation while eating her sandwich. It didn''t take long before the three finished their breakfast and leave the tavern. Kei headed to a craft artisan''s shop and bought the twins suitable masks to hide their faces. He pondered for a bit and decided to buy a few expensive masks with special abilities. Kei had a nagging feeling that they would be needing them soon. The Harkon Brigade Back at the Tavern¡­ The suave looking adventurer slowly opened his eyes. ''That ugly bastard¡­I''ll make him pay.'' He checked his body for injuries and was surprised when he found out that he didn''t receive as much damage as he initially thought he would have. ''Looks like that b*tch held back a bit.'' He sighed. He stood up using his body''s inner strength and wiped the dust off his clothes with his hands. His chest was still in pain, but it doesn''t hinder him from moving. ''I better tell the boss about this incident. No one messes with the Harkon Brigade and gets away with it.'' He moved towards the exit. The adventurers in the tavern glanced at him with interest. The Harkon Brigade is notorious in this part of the Kingdom for being one of the top adventurer guilds. They didn''t have a bad reputation. In fact, they were a famous guild that helped others in need. They were known for being a tight-knit group of people, and anyone who harmed one of their members in any way, became the enemy of their entire guild. The adventurers had amused expressions. Clearly, they were itching to watch a play unfold. The suave adventurer walked out of the tavern and headed toward their guild''s headquarters. The city of Amaranth has three major guilds. The Exodus Knights, Harkon Brigade, and the Terra Riders. ----------------------------------- In the Guildmaster''s quarters of the Harkon Brigade, a middle-aged man was reading the reports that were submitted to him by his special agents. Their guild had a special team dedicated in getting the latest news from all over the kingdom of Edelweiss. His name was Jack Megan, the guildmaster of the Harkon Brigade and one of the most charitable person in Kingdom. There was a smile on his face as he read a particular report about the orphanage that their guild has built in the city of Amaranth. "The orphans are fed and clothed properly. The caretakers are doing their job properly, this is good." Jack muttered. He opened another letter and his smile grew wider. ''The headmaster of the Academy has accepted my proposal to give the orphans a 30% discount on their tuition fees. This is good news indeed. I guess I''ll have to make a trip to the Academy so I can personally thank him for his generosity.''Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Jack leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes. He still has a lot of things to do and more report to read. Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the door. He opened his eyes and fixed his posture. "Come in." Jack said. "Guildmaster, sorry to disturb you." The suave adventurer entered the room. "Oh, it''s just you Nick. Did you perhaps have a hard time in the dungeon?" Jack noticed the disheveled state of one of his core members. "Guildmaster, someone beat me up in the tavern." Nick replied. Jack narrowed his eyes, "Tell me everything that happened." "Sir, this is what happened." Nick gave an honest narration of what happened in the tavern. Jack frowned while listening to the story. "So, basically, you got jealous and decided to create trouble?" "Yes¡­" Nick lowered his head in shame while Jack tapped the surface of the table with his finger. He knew that his subordinate was in the wrong, but he is also curious about the identity of the people that beat him up. Each member of the Harkon Brigade carried an emblem that they pinned on their clothes. It gives them the identification that they belonged to the guild. The emblems could only be acquired by passing a rigorous test that is personally given by the guildmaster. ''The Harkon Brigade was well-known in the city of Amaranth and for them to attack one of my members can only mean one thing... they are not citizens from the Dukedom of Windsor,'' Jack concluded. "You say that the lady is an expert warrior?" Jack asked. "Yes sir. I''m sure that her fighting ability is on the A-Class. If we can invite her to the guild, then it will be a big boost to our fighting force." Nick replied. Jack kept on tapping the surface of the table. He was weighing the pros and cons of acquiring new A-Class warriors for their guild. Having A-Class fighters is a great addition to any force in the Kingdom. "You know you were in the wrong yes?" Jack asked. "Yes, sir." "But, you still want to get revenge right?" "Yes, sir." Jack sighed. He knew that this may not end well, but his guild couldn''t suffer any grievances or the other two guilds would look down on them. "Try to settle this peacefully. If the other party apologizes, just ask for a small compensation. If he refuses, then you can beat him up. But, make sure that you don''t kill, maim, or give any severe injury to him. After all, you didn''t receive a heavy injury. Understood?" Jack said. "Yes sir." "Arnold, accompany him and make sure that my orders are followed properly." Jack glanced at the wall on his left. "As you command, guildmaster," A man wearing purple clothing slowly emerged from the wall, "Can I take the 3rd battalion with me?" he added. "The 3rd battalion has been idle as of late. You can do whatever you want with them. Also, try to invite the lady to join our guild." Jack said. "If she refuses?" "Then, let her be. The Harkon Brigade doesn''t force anyone to join our ranks." "As you command, guildmaster" Arnold replied. Arnold and Nick left the room in a hurry. They needed to make sure that their targets would not be able to escape their pursuit. Jack stood up and glanced at the city outside the window. He wished that the peace of the Kingdom would last forever, but he knew that it was impossible. The king was getting old and one of the princes must be crowned before he retired. The ascension of a king had always been filled with struggle. He hope that the fight for the throne would not drag their guild into the middle of the storm. He didn''t want to sacrifice his men, just to please one of the princes of the kingdom. "I hope nothing goes wrong." Jack muttered. Old Ginger is Spicier Kei and the twins are headed towards the main attraction of the city, the Dungeon of Greed. The city of Amaranth is one of the few cities in the kingdom that is built around a dungeon. Dungeons bring wealth and opportunities to people who are brave enough to enter its depths. Of course, it also bring danger. Anyone can lose their life, especially when they''re going to the lower floors, but the temptation of riches outweighs the risks involved. "Handsome young master, there seems to be a group of people following behind us," Tifa said. "Mmm? Ignore them. We''ll lose them once we enter the dungeon." "Handsome young master, I recognize one of them. It was the adventurer that tried to attack you earlier," Milfa whispered. "Mmm? You''re right. Oh, F*ck, he brought a hundred men with him. Girls, let''s hurry and enter the dungeon!" Kei ordered. The three of them hastened their pace and entered the portal leading to the first floor of the dungeon. Not far away from them, a group of adventurers arrived at the portal leading to the entrance of the dungeon. "Wow! Those twins are gorgeous!" "Did you see their bodies? Damn so hot!" "Boss, I''m liking this job more and more!" "Shut up! We didn''t come here for a picnic!" Arnold said. He regretted bringing these horny rookies to help him finish this mission. "It would be best if we leave half of our men to guard the entrance," Nick suggested. "That way, even if they find a way to escape our pursuit our men would be waiting for them here. "Very well," Arnold agreed. "Let''s do that." "Half of you stay here, the rest will follow us inside the dungeon." Nick ordered. "Boss! Let me go inside the dungeon with you!" "Pick me boss! Pick me!" More than sixty adventurers volunteered to enter the dungeon with them. Arnold hollered, "Shut up! You bunch of horny brats!" He spent five minutes forming a fifty-man team to join the dungeon exploration. The rest encircled the only entrance and exit of the dungeon. ----------------------------------- Inside the first floor of the dungeon¡­ Kei handed the twins the "Special Masks" that he bought from the craft artisan shop. The masks has a special enchantment that will change the appearance and body structure of anyone who wears it. A high grade monster core is consumed to make the enchantment work, and the effect only lasts for ten hours. Kei tried to bargain with the shop owner, but the latter refused to lower the prices. With no other choice, he bought five masks for 5,000 gold. "Girls, let''s go with operation [Spicy Ginger]," Kei said.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "Understood handsome young master!" the twins replied. The three took off their outer clothes and wore plain traveler clothes. They wore their masks and their transformation took place in less than a minute. The twins turned into old women with different facial features. Milfa had a crooked nose while Tifa had a big mole on her cheek. The two of them glanced at each other and giggled. Kei turned into an old man with average features. He did some basic stretches to get used to his new body. It didn''t take long before the three of them heard sounds of uniformed footsteps in the distance. Kei gave the twins a wink and the two nodded in acknowledgement. Kei howled, "Aiyo~ my back hurts!" "Dear! What happened to you?!" Milfa embraced him from behind and supported his body. "Darling! What''s wrong?!" Tifa said, looking distraught. The footsteps arrived at their location and the band of adventurers looked at the old folks with concern. "Excuse me seniors, what happened? Can we be of assistance?" Arnold asked. The years of being a good Samaritan was engraved in his bones. He had developed a habit of not turning a blind eye to people in need. "Ah, what a good child you are. We''re fine, my back pain is just acting up again," Kei replied. "Gramps, you shouldn''t go inside the dungeon at your age. It''s very dangerous here," Nick said. "Why don''t we escort you outside?" The adventurers all nodded at Nick''s suggestion. They looked at their seniors hoping that they would accept their captain''s goodwill. "Dear, we should listen to them. We''re not that young anymore," Milfa advised. "Our years of adventure is far behind us." "No! I gave you my word that we would spend our honeymoon on the 20th floor of this dungeon!" Kei howled. "I will not go back on my word!" "Darling, we could just go to a peaceful place to have our honeymoon. We don''t need to risk our lives here." Tifa argued. "Sister is right dear. We can make love under the moonlight and let the heavens witness our undying love for each other." Milfa said. Arnold and Nick almost spat blood at the same time. They can''t believe that the old man''s reason for going inside the dungeon is to spend a honeymoon with his wives. The two looked at each other in dismay. "But, there is a flower in the 20th floor called the [Flower of Passion]. It will give us the vitality to have twenty rounds of hot, steamy, and vigorous lovemaking. Are you sure you don''t want to experience that before we pass away? Kei lamented. "Dear!" "Darling!" "I know that this may sound far-fetched, but I''m hoping that the two of you can bear my children one more time." *HISSSSSSS* The fifty-man team sucked in deep breaths as they bear witness to the old man''s shameless declaration of love. "Hisss! The old ginger is still spicy!" "Damn! This old man''s libido is second to none!" "Fck! He dragged his wives inside the dungeon for a honeymoon? So hardcore!" "Such shamelessness! But, it''s romantic in it''s own way!" "Che! If I can only get a loyal wife, I''d die a happy man!" "Dungeon play is very common among adventurers, but this is the first time I''ve heard of old couples doing it!" "Bro! They even plan to do it on the 20th floor! That''s the 20th floor! That''s insane!" The adventurers have mixed feelings about the determination of the old couple in front of them. Nick and Arnold were touched by the old folks love for each other. "Bro!" Nick stared at Arnold with a look of pleading. "Say no more brother! I understand!" Arnold wiped a tear from his eye. He was touched by the display of affection by the seniors in front of him. Nick shouted, "Men! What say you?!" "For Honor! For Glory! The Harkon Brigade Will pave the path to Victory!" The adventurers roared. "Seniors, please allow the Harkon Brigade to escort you to the 20th floor!" Arnold said. "Huh?! No, it''s fine. We just need to take a little rest. You don''t have to trouble yourselves with old people like us." Kei replied. "Don''t worry Gramps we got your backs covered!" "Anything that stands in our way will be beaten to a pulp! You can leave the rest to us Grandpa!" "We will make sure that your honeymoon will be a success gramps!" "Yes! We''ll make sure that the two grandmas get pregnant!" Tifa and Milfa almost choked when they heard the adventurers'' cheerful encouragement. "No! You don''t have to do this! I feel better now! See?" Kei did some basic stretches in front of the adventurers. Nick roared, "Men! If our seniors lose even a single strand of hair in this expedition, all of you will undergo hellish training!" "Sir! Yes! SIR!" The adventurers replied in unison. The three "seniors" glanced at each other. Kei didn''t know whether to laugh or cry at their current situation. ''I got carried away in my acting again...'' Kei sighed and allowed the adventurers to escort them to the lower floors of the dungeon. Alarming News The Harkon Brigade decided to help their seniors reach the 20th floor. They were touched by Grandpa Cloud''s undying will to get his two wives pregnant. "The entrance to the 4th floor is clear!" "All the mobs had been cleared out sir! "Very well, let''s proceed to the 5th floor," Arnold said. "Continue to be vigilant men!" The adventurers were very motivated. They made sure that their seniors are securely protected in the center of their formation. "Gramps are you tired? Do you want me to carry you?" "No child, I''m fine. Don''t worry about me." "Gramps, are you hungry? We have meat buns here. Do you want some?" "No child, I just ate. Thank you for the offer though." "Gramps, are you thirsty? We have fruit juice!" "No child, but I am very grateful for the offer." Kei refused for the umpteenth time. He was sweating buckets from the attention he is receiving from the adventurers. Some of them even brazenly asked him questions on how to seduce women. Tifa and Milfa giggled from the side. They find the scene in front of them very amusing. "Grandpa Cloud, we are about to enter the 5th floor of the dungeon. Please stay in the center of the formation, this area has minotaurs appearing from time to time." Nick cautioned. "Thank you young man. You and your guild are the role models of this generation." Kei replied. He was genuinely impressed by the sincerity and dedication of the Harkon Brigade. Right now, he is feeling guilty for hurting one of their members. Nick gave a sincere smile, "Don''t worry Grandpa Cloud. We''ll make sure that you and the grandma''s are safe." Nick entered the passageway to the 5th floor and the rest of the adventurers followed behind him. The 5th floor of the Dungeon was a typical labyrinth. The maze had a span of six kilometers and various monsters-- like poison spores (poisonous mushroom monsters), Drainlairs (vampire bats), black spiders, and minotaurs-- spawned here. The adventurers of Amaranth had this floor memorized from top to bottom. If there were no monsters present, they could easily clear it with their eyes closed. "The scouts are clearing the path ahead. So far, we haven''t seen any minotaurs." Arnold informed them. "Thanks for your hard work." Kei said. "The 3rd battalion also needed the training experience Grandpa Cloud. It''s a win-win for the both of us," Arnold replied.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Kei smiled and nodded his head. He knew that it would be impolite to turn down their offer at this point, so he decided to let nature take its course. Their advance inside the labyrinth was smooth. This is the first time that Kei witnessed a disciplined battalion in action. He was impressed by their teamwork The adventurers smoothly moved inside the labyrinth while the vanguard clear the monsters on the way. The rear guards were not being idle either. They were vigilant against sudden monster spawns behind their formation. One of the scouts shouted, "Drainlairs up ahead! Magicians prepare your spells!" "Mages, use Tiger Formation!" Arnold ordered. The vanguard joined the main battalion and activated their defense talismans. The mages, on the other hand, charged their spells and waited for the right moment to strike. Drainlairs liked to attack in groups, and sometimes they attacked in swarms. They were very resistant to physical attack, and only magic could deal heavy damage to their bodies. A swarm of Drainlairs descended upon the adventurers. Their screech echoing across the whole labyrinth. They gazed at the adventurers with bloodshot eyes. "Open Fire!" Nick ordered. "Fire Bullet!" "Earth Bullet!" "Wind Blade!" "Water Ball!" The barrage of spells rained down on the Drainlairs. The mages of the Harkon Brigade had been rigorously trained by Arnold himself. The volley of spells didn''t stop, and the Drainlairs were dropping like flies. Kei was impressed by the firepower of their mage squad. He determined that the rank of the mages are not lower than B-Rank Mages. He watched as the Drainlairs were decimated right in front of his eyes. ''Mmm, not bad.'' Kei mused. "Collection Team, pick up all the monster cores!" Arnold ordered. A team of adventurers deftly separated the monster cores from the dead Drainlairs. Drainlairs are C-Class monsters, and they drop C-Class monster cores. Monster cores below the B-Class are used as currency in some parts of the Kingdom. Nick commanded, "Scouts, resume your duties!" The scouts acknowledged the order and advanced forward. The vanguard followed closely behind them. It didn''t take long before they reached the passageway of the 6th floor of the dungeon. "Grandpa Cloud, the 6th floor of this dungeon is a safezone. We will rest for three hours, before we proceed in our expedition." Arnold said. "Sounds good." Kei replied. He learned a lot from this experience, and he couldn''t wait to use this information to train his own private army. The 6th floor of the Dungeon of Greed had a forest setting. No monsters spawn in this floor. Because of this feature, the three major guilds decided to transform this floor into their base of operations. There were inns, taverns, and even merchant shops on this floor. The adventurers of the Harkon Brigade headed straight to their guild residence on the western side of the forest. The adventurers standing guard of the residence saw their superior officer and gave a salute. "Open the Gates!" The giant gate creaked open, and the 3rd battalion entered while still in their battle formation. "Nick, please lead Grandpa Cloud and his wives to the guestroom." Arnold said. "Grandpa, Grandmas, please follow me." Nick gestured for them to follow him. Kei and the twins nodded and followed behind him. One of the guards approached Arnold and whispered alarming news that they received from the other guilds a few hours ago. "Sir Arnold, the 6th floor had a Minotaur outbreak." The guard whispered in his ear. "The captains of the other guilds are calling for an emergency meeting in the "Hall of Pride." Arnold frowned as he heard the news. The Dungeon of Greed has fifty floors, and it was very rare for a monster outbreak to happen. When a monster outbreak occur, it means that the floor boss has left its boss room. It also meant that the floor monsters suddenly acquired a leader that could command them like an army. "Very well, tell the members not to leave the residence until my return." Arnold said. "I will head toward the Hall of Pride and discuss this with the officers of the other guilds." "Sir, Yes Sir!" The guard saluted, and went back to his post. ''Such bad timing.'' Arnold sighed and walked out of the residence. He knew that this was a serious matter, and depending on the outcome of the meeting, they may have to postpone their dungeon expedition. Monster Variant Rayfield shouted, "Men, hold your ground! Don''t give them time to regroup!" He dashed toward a minotaur cutting off its head with a single slash of his broadsword. "Transmute!" Arnold said, slamming his hand toward the ground. Earth spikes appeared and impaled three minotaurs at the same time. The two leaders gave each other a glance. They knew what the floor boss was thinking. The boss is sending cannon fodder to tire them out while saving the strength of his elite army. Rayfield spat on the ground, "Tch, what a smart-ass." "I hate it when Ethan''s prediction is spot on," Arnold said. The members of the Harkon Brigade and the Terra Riders were fighting courageously against the horde of minotaurs. Their teamwork allowed them to confront the first wave of monsters with ease. Nick led the elites of the Harkon Brigade and headed toward the minotaur captain at the back of the monster army. Nick roared, "Everyone use [True Men Formation!]" The Elites of the the Harkon Brigade spread out in a straight line and hacked everything in their path. The Minotaur captain raised his giant axe. The Elite minotaurs that were guarding him stepped forward to stop the advance of Nick''s party. Nick took the lead, "[Use Striking Arrow Formation!]". The adventurers formed an arrowhead with Nick at the tip. The front-runners blocked the attack of the Elite Minotaurs, while the other members advanced ahead. Nick lunged at the minotaur captain, "You''re Mine!" The minotaur captain snorted. There was a hint of mockery on its monstrous face as if telling him that all his efforts were futile. Men and minotaur clashed. Nick was pushed back due to the difference in strength. The minotaur captain didn''t waste the opportunity and unleashed furious blows meant to cut him in half. Nick side stepped and dodged the repeated assault of the minotaur captain. He knew he wouldn''t win in a contest of strength so he decided to wait for an opportunity.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Finally an opening appeared. Nick stabbed with everything he had towards the chest of his adversary. "Chink!" The sound of his sword bouncing off the minotaurs chest brought Nick back to his senses. He barely dodged the swing of the Minotaur Captain by rolling to the side. Nick cursed at the monster, "F*cking variant!" [A monster variant is a monster that is stronger than the monsters of its own kind. Some of them have unique skills that gives them an edge from the rest] He backed away to put distance between the two of them. The minotaur stood still and snorted at him. The disdain in its eyes was evident. ''This monster probably has the skill [Steel Body] or [Physical Deflection], this is bad.'' Nick were contemplating his next move when a loud shout was heard behind him. "Nick! Lie on the ground!" Nick recognized the owner of the voice, and immediately lied down on the ground. A barrage of spells soared over his back and hit the minotaur captain in front of him. The minotaur was blown away and slammed into the wall of the dungeon. "Are you alright?"Arnold asked. Nick stood up and brushed the dirt on his leather armor, "I''m fine." The two of them glanced at the minotaur captain and was surprised to see that it was still alive. The minotaur captain stood up slowly. Its eyes turned blood red and it released a blood curling roar. Arnold felt something was off and immediately grabbed Nick. He dragged him toward the center of their formation. The minotaur captain glared at the two of them while the injuries in its body regenerated at an alarming rate. "I was wrong in my assumptions. That variant has [Greater Elemental and Physical Resistance]," Nick said. Arnold scoffed from the side, "You forgot [Greater Regeneration]." "Why did you drag me back?" "Because sh*t is about to happen." A man wearing red armor appeared beside the two of them. Rayfield, the Captain of the Terra Riders had a worried look on his face. "Arnold, did you feel it too?" "Yes, powerful presences are ascending from the lower floors." Nick gulped, "Don''t tell me¡­" "That monster variant is just a captain of their main force, but that is the least of our worries," Rayfield said. Rayfield, and Arnold froze for a moment. The two of them glanced at each other and their faces turned grim. Rayfield shouted, "Retreat!" "Men fall back to the fifth floor!" Arnold commanded. "We need to get out of here now!" The members of the Harkon Brigade and Terra Riders didn''t question the order of their captains. They entered the passageway leading to the fifth floor while keeping their battle formations. "Nick, you go to the front and act as vanguard," Rayfield said. "Arnold and I will cover the rear." Nick nodded his head, "Understood." The two captains spoke in low voices to prevent others from listening to their conversation. "Arnold, how many strong presences did you sense?" "It was only brief, but I managed to feel at least six of them." "This is a disaster." Arnold wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, "If we can get back to the surface and rally our guilds, then we will stand a chance. But¡­" "But, if this is a full dungeon outbreak with all the boss of the lower floors rallying their monster army¡­," Rayfield said, frowning. "Then the city of Amaranth will cease to exist," Arnold said. The two of them decided not to tell anyone about their conclusion. They were afraid that the news would be too much for their men to handle, and cause mass panic and hysteria. They could only pray that they would be able to reach the exit of the dungeon and send the news to their guildmasters before it was too late. Reaching the Surface "[Blast!]" Ethan conjured a spell towards a swarm of black spiders coming their way. A powerful explosion shook the dungeon and the spiders were burned to a crisp. The evacuation were going smoothly and they were near the exit on the fifth floor of the dungeon, but the pressure that was pressing down on him was getting stronger. ''Don''t tell me this is a full dungeon outbreak. If it is¡­'' Ethan wiped the sweat on his forehead. He had to remain calm in order to lead everyone to the surface. One of the scouts sent him a report using telepathy, "Sir, the monsters have been cleared. The passage to the 4th floor is secured." "Very well," Ethan said. "Secure the perimeter and wait for our arrival." "Yes, Sir!" The scout replied. Ethan made a gesture and the vanguard marched forward to enter the fourth floor. The evacuees were not far behind. Ethan stayed until only the rearguard remained. He gave the fifth floor one last glance before heading towards the fourth floor with the rest of his men. ------------------ A minotaur''s head flew in the air as Nick brandished his sword. The battle had been going on for half an hour and he was nearing his limits. He glanced at Arnold and Rayfield who were currently battling the Variant Minotaur. He turned in time to see the head of the Minotaur Variant getting pummeled by Arnold''s 4th level spell [Gilgamesh]. It was a spell that summoned a storm of homing stone bolts. For Arnold to use this spell, it meant that he was forced to take drastic measures. The powerful barrage broke the Minotaur Variant''s defenses and smashed its head like a watermelon. After making sure that the the monster was really dead, Arnold and Rayfield approached the body to collect the monster core. Arnold took out the monster core from the Variant''s body. Variant cores were highly sought by mages because of their special properties. When these cores were used by expert craftsmen like dwarves or giants, they could make enchanted weapons and equipment that had additional effects. Rayfield had a complicated look on his face as he watched Arnold retrieve the monster core, "That''s one tough variant." Arnold surveyed the battlefield. The monster horde was finally defeated. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing that they didn''t suffer any casualties. There were people who were seriously injured, but their guild members manage to save them in the nick of time. "Sir, more than thirty people have suffered heavy injuries, fifty others have minor injuries." The captain of the support team gave his report. Arnold nodded his head, "Thank you, please resume your duties." "Yes Sir!" The officer left and returned to tending the wounded. "More than a quarter of our combined forces suffered injuries." Rayfield said, sighing. Arnold made some hand seals and used the spell [Impasse] on the passageway leading to the 6th floor of the dungeon. The spell Created a gigantic, near-impassable wall of indescribably hard rock. Maintaining the spell for a long time would drain him of his mana, so he decided to use some high quality monster core as substitute to maintain it. He also added a defensive talisman on the earth wall to reinforce it''s toughness. "It won''t be long before the second wave arrives." Arnold looked at the members of the Harkon Brigade and the Terra Riders. He could see the exhaustion on their faces, and knew that they were nearing their limit.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. "This wall of earth, won''t hold them for long," Arnold said. "Our new mission is to reach the surface and warn the city of Amaranth of this disaster." Rayfield stepped forward and glared at them, "Until then, none of you bastards are allowed to die. Do I make myself clear?" "Sir, Yes Sir!" All the adventurers replied in Unison. "Let''s go," Arnold said. The Harkon Brigade and the Terra Riders hastened their pace. They all knew that it is just a matter of time before the second wave of monsters break through the Earthen walls behind them. ------------------ Ethan and the Exodus Knights arrived at the second floor. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief because they were a step closer to the surface. Ethan, on the other hand, was shivering from time to time. The powerful presences he felt coming from the lower floors were giving him goosebumps. "Hasten the march! We need to hasten the march!" Ethan said to his Vice Captain. "Sir, we are already going as fast as we can." "It''s not enough, we need to reach the surface before it''s too late!" The vice captain was shaken by Ethan''s attitude. His captain had always been a calm and charismatic person. This was the first time he saw him this agitated. He realized how serious the situation was, so he followed his orders immediately. "Vanguards, join the scouts," He ordered. "Make haste, kill all the monsters that block our way as fast as you can!" The ground suddenly shook after he gave his order. A horde of Kobolds appeared out of nowhere and their numbers were over five hundred. A Kobold Leader was leading them, which means that his initial assessment of a dungeon outbreak was true. All of the Kobolds were brandishing small knives and hell bent to slaughter everyone in their path. Ethan threw four magic scrolls in the air, "Sharp as as knife, swift as the wind, let the fury of the elements fall upon the unworthy! [Summon Wind Elemental!]" Four Wind Elementals appeared and unleashed a barrage of spells to the Kobold Army. Magic scrolls are very expensive and therefore not something to be used casually. The four scrolls Ethan used were his trump cards. The Wind Elementals would only last for half an hour after they were summoned, but he knew that he couldn''t waste anymore time dealing with the Kobold Army. Howls of pain and agony arose while death descended on the Kobolds. The few stragglers were taken care of by the adventurers. Ethan personally dealt the killing blow to the Kobold Leader with his [Blaze] spell. The fight only lasted for a few minutes, but Ethan didn''t give the order to pick up monster cores. Instead, he ordered everyone to increase their pace. He commanded the Air Elementals to act as vanguards and destroy everything that stood in their way. ------------------ The Exodus Knights, with the help of the Air Elementals, managed to clear out the monsters on the second floor of the dungeon with ease. They breezed through the first floor and finally returned to the surface. The members of the Harkon Brigade that were standing guard at the entrance of the dungeon were surprised when the Wind Elementals appeared. They unsheathed their weapons and raised their guard. Fortunately, Ethan came out not long after and explained the situation to them. "Tell all the guilds that a full dungeon outbreak is upon us! Tell the Mayor to evacuate the citizens to a safe place!" Ethan almost roared while giving his orders to his men. He didn''t wait for their reaction and immediately used another scroll to teleport to their guild headquarters. The news needed to reach the Duke immediately, and only the guild leaders of the Three Major Guilds could contact him personally. The evacuees panicked when they heard the news. They ran towards the city shouting "Dungeon Outbreak!" in order to warn the populace of the upcoming threat. "Grandpa Cloud, we need to return to the guild to inform our guildmaster. Please evacuate the city as soon as you can." The leader of the escorts gave Kei a brief bow before running with his men towards the Harkon Brigade Main Headquarters. Kei and the twins watched them go. The entrance of the dungeon was now void of people except for the three of them. "Handsome young master, your orders?" Tifa asked. Kei closed his eyes and pondered a bit. The twins waited patiently by his side. They knew that their young master was weighing the pros and cons of helping the city of Amaranth. However, the two of them believed that even though it would put their young master at a disadvantage, he would not turn a blind eye and watch the citizens of Amaranth perish before his eyes. Kei sighed and took off his mask, "Are you girls interested in a honeymoon on the 20th floor of this dungeon?" "I''d love to!" Milfa said in a heartbeat while taking off her mask. "No," Tifa replied playfully as she took off her mask as well. With their masks gone, the three of them returned to their original appearance. Kei smiled and took out a hair brush. He brushed his hair, brushed his thick eyebrows, and applied lipgloss on his lips. When everything was done, he faced the entrance of the dungeon. "Let''s go girls," Kei said. "We''re going to gatecrash this party." ""As you command, Handsome young master!"" Have no fear, your Daddy Kei is Here! Ethan appeared at their headquarters and immediately rushed to the Guildmaster''s quarters. "Sir! We have an emergency!" Ethan said almost knocking the the door off its hinges. The guildmaster of the Exodus Knights, Jeff Wilson, was busy writing a letter to one of his acquaintances when Ethan came barging in. He looked at his Vice Guild Master and immediately understood that something was terribly wrong. He decided to cut to the chase, and asked the most important question first. "What happened?" "A full dungeon outbreak is upon us!" "Crack," The pen in Jeff''s hand snapped into two as he listened to Ethan''s reply. "Ethan, are you sure about this?" "Sir, I am willing to put my position and life on the line," Ethan said. "Please, contact the Duke, time is of the essence!" Jeff didn''t waste any more time and retrieved a small box from his drawer. He tapped it twice and the box started to transform. [Commencing Identification¡­] A beam of light scanned Jeff''s eye pupils. [Identification Confirmed¡­] [Guildmaster of Exodus Knights: Jeff Wilson] [Special Privilege Activated] [Long Distance Communication Commencing¡­] ----------------------- Capital of Windsor Serenis¡­ The Duke of Windsor, Thormund Windsor, was standing in front of a communication crystal in his office. An emergency communication was established from the city of Amaranth and it came from the guildmaster of the Exodus Knights. He was about to accept the call when two more notifications from Amaranth arrived. Thormund waved his hand to activate the [Conference] feature to better understand the situation. The faces of the three Guild Masters appeared before him. All three of them had grave faces which made Thormund frown. ''Something big must have happened in Amaranth.'' "My Lord, a full dungeon outbreak is about to fall upon Amaranth," Jeff said, anxiously. Jack Megan, the Guild Master of the Harkon Brigade sighed, "Please, send the Army of Windsor to help contain the outbreak." A beautiful woman in her late thirties gazed at the Duke. She was the guildmaster of the Terra Riders, Sarah Haven. She had a reputation for being a fearless woman in the battlefield. "We will hold the outbreak for as long as we can in order to give the citizens time to evacuate," Sarah said. "Make sure to send reinforcements as fast as you can." Thormund almost didn''t believe what he heard. If not for the fact that all three of the top Guild Masters in Amaranth were telling him that a full dungeon outbreak was about to happen in his Dukedom, he would never believe it.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "Try to hold for as long as you can," Thormund said. "I will send the army at once!" The three Guild Masters nodded and cut off the connection. Thormund activated another communication crystal. It was a crystal that allowed him to communicate to all the cities within this Dukedom. "Citizens of Windsor, today I greet you with grave news. The Dungeon of Greed in the city of Amaranth is about to unleash a full dungeon outbreak." He paused for a few seconds to allow the citizens to digest the news. "I am calling for all the Mayors in each city to send reinforcements and assist in protecting Amaranth from this disaster," Thormund said. "The Army of Windsor will be dispatched, but it will take some time before they arrive at the city of Amaranth." The citizens of the Dukedom listened to their Duke, and waited for his next words. "Until then, pray to the Gods to bestow their mercy upon the citizens of Amaranth." Thormund cut the communication and immediately had an emergency meeting with the general of his army. Orders were issued and more than half of the army was mobilized. They started their march in haste and headed towards the city of Amaranth. Thormund and the General both agreed that an Elite Squad should be dispatched ahead of time. Their mission was to assist the guilds in confronting the monster army that would soon appear from the Dungeon. Thormund decided to personally take command, and gathered the Elites of the army. They used teleport scrolls in order to reach the city as soon as they could. Even so, they would only arrive at City Amaranth after two hours. ----------------------- Sounds of weapons clashing against each other echoed on the third floor of the Dungeon of Greed. It didn''t take long for the monster army to break through the Earthen Wall that Arnold used to block the exit of the fifth floor. The monster horde rushed to the lower floors and caught up with them on the third floor. All the able bodied adventures blocked their advance, while the injured ones continued their escape to reach the surface. "Retreat!" Nick ordered. "Bring the injured to the surface!" Nick was taking deep breaths as he forced himself to stand his ground. He couldn''t even lift his left hand due to exhaustion, and he was barely able to fight using his right. Rayfield and Arnold were not far away from him and keeping the strong monsters at bay with a barrage of spells and sword skills. [Gilgamesh!] A barrage of homing stone bolts pelted the advancing monsters and obliterated them. Arnold was close to his limit and he could already feel the side effects of mana exhaustion. He clenched his teeth and gulped another mana potion. This was his last mana bottle, and at most he could only cast two more third tier spell, or one fourth tier spell. [Air Time!] Rayfield used his signature move and wrecked havoc to the battlefield. [Air Time] allowed him to freely fly and move five times faster than normal. It was his ultimate move and a Master Swordsman with this ability was a terrifying enemy to meet on the battlefield. Unfortunately, this ability only lasted for ten minutes and he wouldn''t be able to use it again for an hour. He hacked all the monsters in front of him and kept them at bay. The monsters hissed at him, but didn''t continue their advance. Nick, Arnold, Rayfield, as well as a dozen adventurers who decided to hold the line glared at the monster army in front of them. "Do you think Ethan reached the surface?" Nick asked. Arnold coughed and massaged his chest, "You don''t have to worry about him. He knows what he needs to do." "I''m sure that all the guilds have been informed by now," Rayfield replied. "They''re probably making a defensive line at this very moment." Nick laughed, "I guess, this is where we make our last stand huh?" Arnold and Rayfield simply chuckled. They knew that there was no hope for them to escape their fate. The other adventurers also laughed in the face of eminent death. They planned to take as many of these bastards to hell with them. The two parties were raring to clash with each other when a screech was heard behind the monster army. A giant winged serpent appeared from behind the dungeon monsters. It was like a crossbreed between a Serpent and a Dragon. The adventurers subconsciously stepped back the moment they saw it. "Bakunawa, the boss of the 20th floor of the Dungeon," Nick cursed. "Fck¡­" Arnold made hand seals and charged his final spell [Last Stand]. Rayfield brandished his sword and readied his sword skill [Man and Sword]. The Bakunawa snorted and was about to command the monster army to advance when it stopped in its tracks. Its pupils narrowed at a spot a hundred meters away from the adventurers. The adventurers were surprised by the sudden action of the Dungeon Boss. They also turned their heads in the direction the boss was looking. They saw a man with black hair, thick eyebrows, and thick lips in a pose that would want to make anyone, even monsters, spit at him in disgust. "Have no fear, for I your daddy Kei, the handsome young master is here!" Dungeon Rescue "It''s you!" Nick said, surprise written all over his face. Arnold glanced at Nick, "Is he the one you were talking about?" Nick nodded and glared at Kei. He still held a grudge about the incident that happened back at the tavern. Rayfield appraised the newcomer, "Who are you?" Kei changed his pose while flipping his hair, "To protect the world from monster infestation!" He spun around, took another cool pose, and pointed at the ceiling. "To unite all people in the Eastern Federation." He winked at the adventurers and the monster army which annoyed the hell out of them, "To denounce the evils of handsomeness and love." He paused for a bit and blew them a flying kiss. "To extend my reach to the Goddesses above." Kei said, posing one more time. Arnold wasn''t able to take it any longer and roared, "Enough you bastard! What will you do if we get copyright issues?!" "You idiot! What will you do if the readers think of this as a fanfic?!" Rayfield said, anxiously. Kei raised his chin and walked arrogantly towards the adventurers. He paid them no heed and stood at the front lines. He looked at the Bakunawa and snorted in disdain. "You''re just an overgrown snake with wings," Kei said. "Do you really think you''re scary?" The boss of the 20th floor screeched at him. The Bakunawa had enough of this farce and commanded the monster army to attack. The dungeon monsters shouted their war cries and charged forward. "Water that flows unabated, let your power unleash upon the hated," Tifa said, opening her palm facing the monster army. Milfa imitated her gesture, "Let the torrential waves roar in fervor, let them know the meaning of true terror!" The two of them shouted in unison, [Maelstorm!] ---------------- [Maelstrom] ¨C Engulfs a large area in a violent torrent of water that drags all units to the center and inflicts stun, stagger, disorient, silence and extinguishes all fire. Deals damage per second. Lasts 30 seconds. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.---------------- Kei turned his back at the struggling monster army behind him and faced the adventurers. He gave them an arrogant smile and made another irritating pose. "What are you all waiting for?" Kei asked. "RUN!" Kei didn''t wait for their reply and immediately ran towards the passageway leading to the second floor of the dungeon. The adventurers gawked for a few seconds and immediately ran after him. "Fck! Oi! Wait for us!" "Damn! To think I was moved by how cool he was a minute ago!" "Shameless! Acting like a hero and leaving us behind!" "Don''t let me catch you!" The adventurers cursed Kei, but they didn''t stop running. They were prepared to die just a few minutes ago, but now they were using their remaining strength to escape. The monster army behind them was stranded because of the Maelstorm and some of them perished due to the power of the spell. "Tifa, Milfa are you ready?" ""Ready!"" The twins began to chant an ancient spell and the magic enveloped all the people that were running for their lives. "Glide like there''s no tomorrow, leave behind all the pain and sorrow." "Give us the power of flight, aid us in our current plight!" [Zephyr!] ------------------------- -Bloodline special ability ¨C Grants additional 200% movement speed to all targets and allows flight for 5 minutes ------------------------- Kei jumped and flew in the air. The adventurers imitated him and everyone flew towards the passageway leading to the second floor. "Such a strong bloodline ability," Arnold said. Rayfield breathed a sigh of relief, "It looks like we''re not dying inside this dungeon today." "Dying outside is better?" Nick wiped the sweat on his forehead. While he wouldn''t admit it, he still held the hope that he would be able to survive this calamity. The effect of the Maelstorm faded, but the monster army was still paralyzed by the status effects of the spell. Only the strong monsters were able to recover quickly and run after the fleeing adventurers. "GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" The Bakunawa roared in anger. It couldn''t believe that a bunch of small fries managed to escape under its watch. It flew after the adventurers with a vengeance. It was hell bent to rip Kei and his party to shreds. With the help of the spell, the adventurers were able to reach the passage towards the first floor with ease. The roars of the Bakunawa could be heard behind them, but they knew that it will not be able to overtake them. They looked at their saviors who were flying in front of them, and remembered their faces. A debt of life must be repaid no matter what. This is one of the unspoken rules of being an adventurer. Even Nick who held a deep grudge against Kei decided to forget his grievances. Arnold and Rayfield looked at Kei''s party with admiration. Not everyone will be willing to put their lives on the line to save strangers. "Plea--Please¡­Sa-save m-me¡­" "Mmm? Did you say something Tifa?" Kei asked Tifa who was flying beside him. "No, handsome young master." Kei looked at Milfa, and she shook her head. Kei scratched his cheek in confusion, he thought he was just hearing things when he heard the voice again. "I-It hurts¡­H-Help. Ple-Please, Help¡­" Kei frowned, he definitely heard the voice of a young girl asking for help. He could vaguely tell that she was in pain, but he couldn''t find the source of the voice. ''Grandma Sophie¡­'' The ring on Kei''s finger vibrated and the voice of an old woman spoke directly in his mind. {Speak no more child, you''re not imagining things.} ''Where is that voice coming from Grandma?'' There was a short pause before the old voice spoke once again. {That is the voice of the Dungeon Core,} the old voice said. {A dungeon core that had been corrupted¡­} Keis Dilemma ''A corrupted Dungeon Core?'' Kei frowned as he listened to Grandma Sophie''s explanation. The sad and pitiful voice that was asking for help was still fresh in his mind. {I know what you''re thinking, but it''s too late,} Grandma Sophie said. {For now, focus your attention on escaping the dungeon.} The pleading voice spoke again and Kei clenched his fist in frustration. He knew that grandma Sophie was right, but the voice filled with suffering and pain was so heartbreaking that he had the urge to turn back and look for the dungeon core. As if understanding his thoughts the ring on his hand vibrated. Grandma Sophie sighed, {Child, there are things that you can change, and things that you can''t.} ''I understand Grandma Sophie.'' It didn''t take long before the adventurers reached the exit of the dungeon. They flew towards the portal and appeared at the surface. What they saw outside gave them hope. A defensive line by all the guilds of Amaranth could be seen from in front of the city wall. The guild masters were surprised to see more survivors escape from the dungeon. Jack, the guildmaster of the Harkon Brigade was overjoyed to see that Nick and Arnold were safe. Kei and the adventurers landed on the city walls. The effect of the spell [Zephyr] wore off the moment they landed. "Nick! Arnold!" Jack hugged the two of them with unrestrained joy. Kei smiled at the touching reunion and glanced at the two other guildmasters of Amaranth. The two of them were looking at him with admiration. He thought that they were just overwhelmed by how handsome he was, and decided to turn a blind eye to their respectful gazes. Kei looked at Jack and made an inquiry, "Did you inform the Duke?" "Yes, the army of Windsor is on it''s way." "Mmm, that''s good." Kei scanned the members of the different guilds of Amaranth and frowned. He didn''t need to be a genius to know that this line-up would not be able to hold the monsters at bay for long. Jack saw the concern on his face and sighed, "I wish that we could have met each other at a much earlier time, handsome young master of Ravencourt." "Oh, you know of me?" "Of course, your fame spreads far and wide in the Eastern Federation."Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Nick and Arnold were dumbfounded at this sudden discovery. They glanced at each other and shook their heads helplessly. To think that their target was the famed ''handsome young master'' of Ravencourt. Even if they had thousands of men in their battalion, they wouldn''t dare touch a single strand of hair on his body. Capture one of the Overlords of the Federation? Couldn''t you choose a less painful way to die? This was the thought that was going through their heads as they looked at the famous young master of Ravencourt. Noticing that the two were staring at him, Kei smiled and gave them a wink. Nick and Arnold smiled like two idiots that had just received a pardon from the Gods. Arnold glared at Nick as if saying ''You bastard, just wait until all of this is over, and I promise not to skin you alive!'' Nick returned his glare with an innocent look as if saying "Bro, don''t look at me like that ah! I didn''t know ah! I was not informed ah!'' "GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!" The loud screech of the Bakunawa coming from the dungeon snapped everyone to attention. The magicians began to chant their spells in preparation for the battle. The guildmasters returned to their posts and gave out orders. Everyone was looking at the entrance of the dungeon with bated breath. "Handsome young master, your orders?" Tifa stood on his left side, and Milfa positioned herself at his right. The two of them waited for their master''s order. "We will stay here and help hold the line until the army of Windsor arrives," Kei said. The guildmasters of the different guilds were paying close attention to him. When they heard his words, they felt excited. Fighting side by side with one of the Overlords of the Federation was a very rare opportunity. They became more motivated and decided to give their best in order to give him a lasting impression. Kei arrogantly raised his head to look at the sky. The adventurers were mesmerized by how cool he looked. "Damn, that is his signature looking down at his enemy pose." "To be able to see one of the Overlords in action! I have no regrets even if I die!" "If only he didn''t look like a goblin, I wouldn''t mind becoming his girlfriend!" "Che! With your looks? Dream on!" "I now understand why he has two gorgeous twins by his side. Damn! I''m so jealous!" "That arrogant look, that arrogant pose! Too arrogant! Too awesome!" The adventurers looked at his pose with admiration while Kei was having a serious dilemma. ''I need to take a dump, but I can''t leave now¡­'' Sweat was forming on his forehead as the feeling of release crept closer by the second. He maintained his intimidating pose and gently caressed the ring on his right hand with his thumb. {Just take a dump, why are you holding it in?} Grandma Sophie said, anxiously. {Make sure not to use your right hand when wiping it do you understand?} ''Grandma, can''t you think of something? People are looking at me right now, I need to act cool!'' {You bastard! Just find a place and get it over with!} ''Grandma, I can''t move,'' Kei was sweating buckets. ''If I move now¡­it will come out.'' Grandma Sophie didn''t know whether to laugh or cry the moment she heard his reply. She thought hard, but no solution came to mind. {Can''t you just¡­do it while standing up?} ''.¡­'' While the two of them were arguing the Bakunawa and the dungeon monsters finally made their appearance. They roared and shouted their war cries towards the adventurers. More powerful presences appeared as the other dungeon bosses made their way outside the portal. "Hmmp! No matter how many of you appear, as long as handsome young master is here we have nothing to fear!" A middle-aged man shouted at the monsters. "That''s right!" "Come here you big snake! This daddy will hack you to pieces!" "Fight! Fight!" Kei wasn''t paying attention to his surroundings because he was busy keeping the call of nature at bay while arguing with Grandma Sophie. {Aiyo! I have a great idea!} ''Really?! You''re a life saver grandma. Please tell me, hurry!'' {This is what you need to do¡­.} Grandma Sophies Suggestion "Grandma¡­" Kei almost choked as he heard Grandma Sophie''s idea. {Hmmp! If you have any better ideas then go ahead!} Kei thought long and hard. He weighed the pros and cons of other options, but Grandma Sophie''s idea was the best among the rest. He clenched his teeth while thinking of other ideas. The battle was raging as the adventurers on the city walls bombarded the monster army with spells, arrows, and other projectiles. The Bakunawa was being forced back by the combined efforts of the top three guild masters of Amaranth. "Don''t let them climb the walls!" Jack said while casting fireballs left and right. "Kill them all!" A mage that had been tasked to monitor the entrance of the dungeon shouted, "Sir the floor boss of the 30th floor, ''Dark Snake Lord'' has appeared!" The nine meter tall dungeon boss hissed at the city and conjured shadow serpents to join the battle. These serpents were fast and able to dodge magic spells with ease. They crawled the wall effortlessly and unleashed chaos on the adventurers guarding it. Sarah, the Guildmaster of the Terra Riders, managed to cut a few of them down. She was using an upgraded version of [Air Time] that allowed her to freely fly and move ten times faster than normal. This effect lasts for half an hour, but the downside was that she wouldn''t be able to use it again for five hours after the spell ended. Jeff Wilson, the Guildmaster of the Exodus Knights sighed in frustration, "Ethan, I hate it when you''re right." "Sir, there are times when I hate myself for being right," Ethan said while blasting a Shadow Snake from the city wall with a spell. ------------------------------- "Tifa, Milfa listen to me," Kei said. "I need your help." "What is it young master?" Tifa replied. Milfa waited patiently by his side. "I need the two of you to catapult me towards the Bakunawa using a spell." "As you comm¡­huh?" Tifa was dumbfounded by her master''s unreasonable command. "Can you please repeat your order, handsome young master?" Milfa asked, anxiously. "Mmm, I want the two of you to use a spell to catapult me towards the Bakunawa," Kei said. "I want to fight it one on one." The twins shivered at the same time. This was not the first time their young master ordered them to do something crazy, but fighting a dungeon boss alone? They glanced at each other with worry.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "Relax girls, don''t you trust me? I promise I''ll be safe." "Handsome young master, this¡­are you sure?" "Please reconsider, handsome young master." Kei smiled at the two of them to ease their worries. "Fine, I''ll compromise," Kei said. "Cast [Zephyr] on me." The twins anxiously looked at each other. They nodded their heads and chose to believe their young master. ''Please hurry girls, I don''t know how long I can hold it in¡­'' Grandma Sophie chuckled, {Aigoo~ this is funny!} Tifa started to chant, "Glide like there''s no tomorrow, leave behind all the pain and sorrow." ''Yes, I want to leave the pain and sorrow behind¡­please hurry!'' Milfa finished the spell and pointed at Kei. "Give him the power of flight, aid him in his current plight!" {Your plight! Hahahahaha! Very funny!} [Zephyr!] Kei felt his body became lighter. He didn''t wait for a moment longer and flew towards the Bakunawa. The adventurers gasped at his action. They watched as he dodged the other flying monsters and fearlessly headed towards the Bakunawa alone. "So fearless! As expected of one of the Overlords!" "Maybe this battle was too boring for him, so he decided to single-handedly fight the boss monster?" "Too badass!" "Did you see the expression on his face? It was like he was constipated or something¡­" A young adventurer voiced out his opinion. "Bah! What do you know?! He uses that expression when he feels pity towards his enemies!" "Really? It doesn''t look that way to me¡­it''s more like he wants to take a dump." "Hmmp! That''s the reason why you''re still a Rank D Adventurer! You don''t understand Awesomeness!" "Uh¡­maybe you''re right." "Yeah! Just survive this battle and learn newbie!" The adventurers watched in admiration except for the young Rank D Adventurer. His name was Alexander, an orphan who wanted to be an adventurer. He was being sponsored by the Harkon Brigade because of his talent in magic. Kei flew and zoomed in on the Bakunawa. The boss monster recognized the one who is approaching him and roared in fury. It flapped its wings in a frenzy, it couldn''t wait to vent its frustrations on him. The Boss and one of the Overlords was about to collide in mid-air. All the adventurers, even the monsters paused to see the result of their collision. The Bakunawa opened its mouth with the intention of ripping Kei to shreds. Kei waited for the right moment and exponentially increased his speed, catching the Boss in surprise. Instead of ripping him to shreds with his teeth, the Bakunawa unintentionally swallowed him whole. The adventurers had a look of disbelief on their faces as they watched their idol get eaten in front of their eyes. The Bakunawa recovered from its surprise and looked at the adventurers mockingly. The mirth in its eyes couldn''t be hidden by its monstrous appearance. ----------------- Meanwhile inside the Bakunawa... "Hah! Stupid snake! You think you can outsmart this handsome young master!" Kei said, chuckling. "You are a hundred years too early!" Kei was stuck in the throat of the Bakunawa using hooks that his best friend, Little John, had made for him. He secured himself in place and decided to finish his mission. "PURURURURURUT!" He shivered in ecstasy after the long awaited release. He never thought that the feeling of doing a ''number two'' inside a boss monster would feel this good. He was not in a rush to finish his mission. His only thought right now was to properly empty his bowels. The Bakunawa was still mocking the adventurers when it felt a burning sensation in its throat. It tried to ignore it, but for some reason its instinct was telling him that something disgusting was happening inside him. It''s strong sense of taste and smell identified the source of its worries. The boss monster''s face turned blue then green from the discovery. If it could imitate human speech, only one word would be coming out of its lips at the moment and that word would be¡­ "Sh*t!" Exceed Break Activate! The Bakunawa began to squirm in the air. Its erratic movement was similar to an earthworm that was sprinkled with salt. The adventurers roared in glee as they saw the monster trying to claw its throat in agony. "See?! I always believed in the handsome young master!" "That arrogant snake thought that he already won! What an idiot!" "As expected of one of the Overlords! He planned on destroying that monster boss from within!" "So Awesome! So Cool!" ''I think that he''s just taking a dump inside the monster''s throat¡­'' Alexander scratched his head. He knew that if he voiced out his opinion the other adventurers would just scoff at him. So he decided to stay mum and watched the battle from the city walls. ------------------- Inside the Bakunawa¡­ Kei was holding on for dear life as he tumbled inside the throat of the Boss Monster. It was a good thing that he secured himself with grappling hooks before he started doing his business. Kei shouted and cursed the Bakunawa for being an unreasonable host, "Damn! I still haven''t wiped yet!" {Oi! Don''t you dare use your right hand to wipe it! I''ll fight you to the death!} "Grandma¡­you''re already dead!" {You unfilial boy! Oi! I told you not to use your right hand!} Kei grudgingly complied and used his left hand to wipe himself clean. It was hard, but he managed to properly do it despite the tumbling caused by the Bakunawa. Once his business was done, he decided to move to the second phase of the plan. "Grandma Sophie, are you sure this is going to work?" {Quit your nagging and just do it you bum!} Kei took out a small hand grenade from his storage pouch and firmly gripped it in his hands. This was another invention of his best friend, Little John, called the "Extra Spicy Super Hottie!" It''s a hand grenade filled to the brim with refined extract of the most exotic spice in the continent of Edelweiss called the "Angry Bird." It was called the Angry Bird because this ingredient was the favorite food of Thunder Rocs, and only grows on the cliffs near the forbidden areas of the continent. If there was someone foolish enough to pick it up, a swarm of Thunder Rocs would descend from their nests and rip the intruder to shreds. Their angry screech could be heard for miles and thus the name Angry Birds came to existence.Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. "Hah! Let''s see if you''ll be able to resist the power of my Extra Spicy Super Hottie!" Grandma Sophie cackled in delight, {Aiya~ This gonna be good!} "Oh wait, I need to wear my protective mask first!" Kei wore his protective mask and activated the [Fresh Air] feature using a high grade monster core. He aimed towards the tonsil of the Bakunawa and threw the hand grenade with all his might. "Fire in the Hole!" The hand grenade hit its designated target and exploded in a shower of super spicy mayhem. The Bakunawa''s eyes rolled in its sockets as the spiciness over-rode its ability to think. It thrashed, swiped, flailed, and squirmed in agony hitting nearby monsters in its wake. It slammed down on the Dark Snake Lord and attacked it with unbridled fury. The Dark Snake Lord was caught by surprise and received heavy damage from the rampage of the Bakunawa. It fought back and both boss monsters battled like two blood thirsty gladiators in the arena. The adventurers cheered at this unexpected turn of events, and some of them even used this opportunity to place bets on who would win. Kei on the other hand was breathing through the mask and thanking the high heavens for this invention. If he threw the hand grenade without this breathing mask, he would have suffered the same fate as the Boss Monster. The adventurers became more motivated and attacked the monsters climbing the city walls with gusto. Their blood was boiling from the heroism that Kei had shown them. "Look at that! Do you still insist that the handsome young master is merely taking a dump?!" Alexander lowered his gaze in shame, "I-I was mistaken. I should have known that an Overlord like him doesn''t think like a normal person." A middle aged adventurer patted his shoulder, "At least you know when to admit your mistakes." "Yeah! You''re going to be a great adventurer someday! Hahahaha!" Alexander sighed and helped the adventurers clear out the monster army by casting spells from the safety of the city walls. The two boss monsters fought with everything they had. In the end, the Dark Snake Lord stepped over the corpse of the Bakunawa and roared towards the heavens. It didn''t know that Kei was busy extracting the monster core from within. "Hahahahaha! Boss Monster Core Get!" Kei said, happily. "Mmm, Grandma Sophie, your ideas are the best." {Ahem! Back when I was younger, I even trampled a horde of¡­} Kei coughed in order to cut her off. Grandma Sophie liked to boast about her adventures and her story telling could last for hours. He doesn''t have that leisure at the moment and decided to finish what he started. "Grandma Sophie, please activate the first seal." {Very well, but only for ten minutes,} Grandma Sophie said with worry. "Understood." Kei crawled and positioned himself right under the Dark Snake Lord. Grandma Sophie guided him to this location because she had the ability to sense everything in a one mile radius. {It''s now or never, remember only ten minutes!} Kei raised his hand and channeled his meager amount of magic power into the ring on his finger. "Exceed Break Activate!" [Voice Recognition Confirmed] [Scanning Current Status] [Kei Frieden | Human] [Body Physique: D] [Magic Power: D] ------------------------------ [Activating First Seal] [Kei Frieden | Child of Thunder] [Body Physique: A] [Magic Power: A] ------------------------------ Kei felt power surging through his body and small sparks of lightning danced on his fingertips. He wasted no time and channeled mana into the palm of his right hand. He chanted a spell that he hadn''t used for a long time and felt exhilarated. "The power I wield would obliterate one and all. Pierce through the darkness and hear my call!" [Thunder God''s Wrath!] Said West, Only My Perfection! "The power I wield will obliterate one and all. Pierce through the darkness and hear my call!" [Thunder God''s Wrath!] A powerful lightning nova exploded with Kei at the center. He pierced through the body of the Bakunawa with a spear made of lightning. The Dark Snake Lord didn''t even have time to react before its head was severed from its body with a single strike. If it was in its prime condition, Kei wouldn''t have succeeded with his sneak attack. It was quite fortunate that the Boss Monster was already heavily injured, and the single blow from his lightning bolt was enough to kill it. Kei took the severed head and immediately placed it inside a storage bag. Everything within 10 meters of him was burned to a crisp by stray lightning bolts that freely roamed his body. {Retreat back to the city walls hurry!} [Lightning Steps!] Kei conjured a lightning bolt in his hand and jumped. Sparks of lightning appeared under his feet which allowed him to hover in mid-air. He zigzagged through the Monster Army shooting down enemies with bolts of lightning as he passed by. The adventurers were awed by the overwhelming display of power he unleashed upon his foes. Kei was like a God of War wielding lightning bolts that obliterated everything in his path. He safely reached the city wall and landed right next to his retainers. Tifa and Milfa shot him worrying looks, but they both knew that they could not approach their young master right now. Kei smiled at the two of them to ease their worries before looking back at the Monsters Army. He channeled the remaining mana in his right hand and chanted another spell. "Heavenly bolts that bring ruin and death, smite them all till their final breath." [Chain Lightning!] A powerful lightning bolt shot from his hand and it transformed into a lightning dragon. It roared once and slithered on the battlefield reaping countless lives as it passed unhindered. It successfully killed a fifth of the monster horde before a powerful monster stopped it in its tracks. The lightning dragon disappeared in a shower of sparks when a feathered serpent blocked it using its hand. Kei raised an eyebrow and appraised the new monster that appeared on the battlefield. Their two eyes met and the feathered serpent snorted in disdain. Clearly, it was not impressed by Kei''s show of power. "My God! The boss of the 50th floor has appeared!" Arnold said while the hands holding his staff trembled. "Quetzalcoatl!"This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The three Guildmasters flinched at Arnold''s announcement. The legendary boss monster of the Dungeon of Greed had finally made its appearance. No one had been able to clear the 50th floor, and everyone who dared to challenge it never returned alive. There was only one exception, and that was the current Duke of Windsor, Thormund Windsor. He brought over two hundred elites in order to fight the boss monster, and he was only able to survive because of their sacrifice. He was heavily injured and was bedridden for three months. When he opened his eyes, the first thing he did was to tell the tale of this Mythical Beast that showed overwhelming power against an army of elites. He cautioned everyone to never step on the 50th floor unless they had a death wish. The Duke personally painted a portrait of Quetzalcoatl. He donated it to the Museum of the City of Amaranth. The top guilds of the Kingdom were invited during the exhibition, so that they could create copies of the painting. Now, the monster on that painting had come to life and stared at them in disdain. Its overwhelming presence could not be ignored and the adventurers felt genuine terror for the first time in their lives. Nick gulped and looked at his guildmaster, "Sir¡­" "Say no more," Jack said, frowning. The adventurers felt despair, they knew that this monster was not something that they could beat even if all the guilds worked together. Some of them were already running for their lives the moment they saw the boss monster appear. Only the members of the top three guilds in Amaranth stood their ground. They waited for the orders of their Guildmasters because they knew that they would not sacrifice them, and be used as cannon fodder. Jack, Jeff, and Sarah, the Three Guildmasters of Amaranth, simultaneously looked at their only hope. Kei Frieden, the fourth son of the Earl of Ravencourt, and one of the Overlords of the Eastern Federation stood arrogantly on top of the city wall. He was having a glaring competition with the Quetzalcoatl and the boss monster looked at him without blinking. A minute passed and one side of his lips curled up to form a sneer. "Hah! You dared to fight me in a staring match?!" Kei said, mockingly. "You are a hundred years too early!" The Boss Monster roared in defiance. There was a hint of unwillingness in its roar proving that what Kei said was right. Another form appeared beside it and it was none other than the boss of the 40th floor, Lamia. "Another troublesome foe has appeared," Sarah said while making a gesture for her members to wait for further instructions. "Handsome young master, I think we should retreat," Tifa said while looking at her young master with concern. Milfa anxiously stood by his side and pleaded, "Handsome young master, you still haven''t recovered from last time¡­" {Listen to them Kei,} Grandma Sophie said. {We''ve already bought enough time for the evacuation. The citizens were able to escape safely.} ''Grandma Sophie, can you hear it?'' {Hear? Hear What?} ''The cry of a young girl asking for help,'' Kei said while closing his eyes. Grandma Sophie strained her ears to listen within the ring on Kei''s right hand. {I can''t hear anything...} Kei sighed and opened his eyes. He caressed the ring on his finger and looked at the two Boss Monsters in front of him. There was no fear in his eyes, only determination. "Grandma Sophie, please activate the last seal." {NO! I will not!} "Grandma¡­" {No! No Means NO!} Grandma Sophie shouted in exasperation. {You still haven''t fully recovered since the last time we unlocked the last seal!} "Sorry, Grandma Sophie, I made up my mind," Kei said. "I will unlock it, with or without your permission." {Kei STOP!} Kei made an arrogant pose and closed his fist. He extended his middle finger at the Quetzalcoatl and shouted. "Said West, Only My Perfection!" Battle Through the Heavens [Part 1] "Said West, Only My Perfection!" The ring on his right hand vibrated and Grandma Sophie cursed Kei for being reckless. {Damn you! You little bastard!} ------------------------------- [Voice Recognition Confirmed] [Scanning Current Status] [Kei Frieden | Child of Thunder] [Body Physique: A] [Magic Power: A] ------------------------------- [Activating Last Seal] [Kei Frieden | Child of Thunder] [Body Physique: SSR] [Magic Power: SSR] ------------------------------- Dark clouds appeared above the city of Amaranth. The sudden weather change caught everyone by surprise. Peals of thunder echoed in the heavens, and the tingling sensation of electric currents coursing through their bodies made them gasp. "Kzzzzzzzzt!" Tendrils of lightning surrounded Kei. They were similar to snakes that slithered within a five-meter radius from his body. Tifa and Milfa retreated to a safe distance and waited for their master''s order. His eyes glowed as the power of lightning flowed through his [Lightning Spirit Veins]. It was as if every fiber of his body waited for this day to arrive. The power sleeping within his body stirred as the overflowing mana moved unhindered. The feeling of Euphoria made Kei shiver. It was like a drug that he couldn''t get enough of. He knew the consequences of using this power, and the price he had to pay was steep. However, he didn''t hesitate because he knew that this was the only way for everyone to survive. He raised his hand and the brewing storm above him rumbled in delight. Thunder answered his call and roared with fury. Lightning danced in the heavens awaiting his jury. "Tifa, Milfa, please evacuate from the city," Kei said without turning his head to look at the two of them. His attention was focused on the Lamia and Quetzalcoatl in front of him.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Understood, handsome young master," Tifa replied. There was a tinge of hesitation in her voice, but she knew that her young master need to fight freely without thinking about their safety. "Handsome young master, please be careful," Milfa said, anxiously. "Don''t worry, these small fries are not even enough for my warm-up." Kei glanced at the adventurers, "All of you leave the city and stay as far away from here as you can." "Let us fight with you handsome young master!" Jack Megan said. His blood boiled in anticipation to fight side by side with one of the Overlords of the Federation. A soft cough was heard a few meters away from him and Sarah, the guild master of the Terra Riders, stepped forward. "Please let us participate in this battle as well. Amaranth, is our home, and it is our duty to protect it." "We too would like to participate in this battle, please allow us to do so," Jeff Wilson, the Guild Master of the Exodus Knights, expressed his intention to fight. Kei admired their bravery, but he knew that he wouldn''t be able to fight using his full power if they were around. He steeled himself and did what he had to do. "Fight with me? Aren''t all of you being delusional?" Kei said, mockingly. "All of you are merely ants that would die instantly if I were to lightly step on you." His overbearing words made the adventurers flinch, and some of them flared in anger. They knew that what he said was right, but they had their pride as adventurers. Kei looked at their unwilling expressions and sneered at them. "Know your place you pieces of trash!" He waved his hand, causing a powerful shock wave which blew everyone away from the city walls. They were like dust in the wind that fell a mile away without the strength to resist. The adventurers gasped in shock. They believed that the handsome young master of Ravencourt, one of the Overlords of the Federation, was a powerful existence. However, they were not aware that he was this powerful! The outrage that they felt earlier for being mocked and ridiculed was replaced with awe and reverence. They finally understood that this battle was not something they could participate in. They would merely get in the way if they stayed in the city and Kei was kind enough to bring them to a safe place. The three guild masters commanded their members to retreat another mile away from the city. When they thought they were far enough, all of them looked back and waited. They waited for the great battle that would be etched in their memories for the rest of their lives. "Handsome young master, we will go now." Tifa said while half-dragging her sister. She knew that Milfa was very worried about their young master, but they would only hinder him if they stayed. Milfa also understood this, so she turned her back to him with regret. The two of them chanted the spell of [Zephyr] and flew away. "It''s just you and me Grandma Sophie." {Hmmp!} A powerful gust of wind formed when the Quetzalcoatl flapped its wings and flew in the sky. Red Lightning enveloped its body and its intelligent eyes locked down on Kei. It paid no heed to the storm brewing above. It was a creature born from a lightning tribulation, so it was not afraid of thunder and lightning. In fact, it could also wield lightning to a certain extent. The red lightning that enveloped its body shone in defiance. Kei closed his eyes as the pleading voice once again whispered in his ears. ''Pl-ease¡­.elp¡­it¡­urts¡­'' "Wait for me¡­ I''ll come for you soon," Kei whispered, hoping that the source of the voice would be able to hear him. He took a step and instantly appeared in the middle of the battlefield. The Boss Monsters voiced out their command and their minions charged at Kei fearlessly. Kei flexed the fingers in his hand and chuckled. "Heaven''s will to destroy all living¡­ descend now and do my bidding!" [LORD OF VERMILION!] Battle Through the Heavens [END] "Heaven''s will to destroy all living¡­ descend now and do my bidding!" [LORD OF VERMILION!] Thunder rumbled in the heavens, and lightning rained down from above onto the monster army. The adventures that were two miles away from the city saw the spectacle and felt goosebumps all over their body. If Kei didn''t blow them away, then they would have also found themselves in the center of that killing zone. They praised him once again for showing his benevolence and mercy upon them. Tifa and Milfa looked at the battle from the sky, this was not the first time they saw their young master fight using his full power. There were no signs of amazement, nor reverence in their eyes. There was only worry, and helplessness, for not being able to stand by his side during this difficult time. The monster army was decimated and burned to a crisp, the lightning bolts that fell from the heavens were like the harbingers of death. No one was spared, and those who were not strong enough immediately turned to ash the moment a lightning bolt fell upon them. Kei waved his hand and a whip made of lightning coiled around the Lamia. He gave it a gentle tug and the Lamia found herself heading in his direction. A sneer appeared on Kei''s face as he delivered a heavy kick to her abdomen sending it hurtling towards the sky. The Quetzalcoatl immediately moved to catch his companion in mid-air. Kei took a step forward and appeared behind the boss monster. He casually placed his hand behind his back, and whispered to the ear of the Boss Monster. "Ants should know their place," Kei whispered, mockingly. The Boss Monster didn''t have time to react as a strong kick hit it from behind. It slammed towards the ground helplessly. The impact was strong enough to form a dust cloud, and Kei looked down in disdain. "So, the Legendary Boss of the Dungeon of Greed is only this strong? Pathetic." The Quetzalcoatl heard his words and howled in rage. It flew towards the sky to fight him. The red lightning in its body formed a giant spear. It charged fearlessly to confront his nemesis with the intention of impaling him. Kei yawned as he watched the boss monster approached him in fury. The look of indifference in his face made the Feathered Serpent angrier, but he didn''t mind. In his eyes, the Boss Monster was just like a baby trying to fight an adult. How can a baby possibly win?The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The two were only ten meters apart when the Quetzalcoatl stabbed his spear forward. His spear craved for blood, and he craved for this person''s life. This was the first time that someone dared to humiliate him in his long years of existence. He needed to wash away the shame and only the death of this man would pacify his anger. It stabbed with all its strength and waited in anticipation for the blood shower that would immediately follow. Kei smiled and raised his index finger. The point of the spear and his finger collided. The scene that the Boss Monster anticipated didn''t happen. Instead, it stared wide-eyed at the scene in front of him. Kei''s index finger completely blocked his attack with ease. The Quetzalcoatl''s gaping jaw made Kei chuckle. He deftly moved his thumb and pinched the spear to hold it in place. The boss snapped out of its daze and pulled its weapon. However, no matter how hard he pulled, his spear was firmly locked in place. {Impossible!} "Oh? So you can talk using telepathy, impressive." {Who are you?!} The Quetzalcoatl said using telepathy. {What are you?!} It refused to believe that an ordinary human could make it suffer defeat this easily. He glared at Kei and demanded an answer. "Me? I''m your Daddy Kei, and I''m here to spank you for being a bad kid." {What are you?! Answer ME!} Instead of answering, Kei smirked and arrogantly raised his chin. "A Quetzalcoatl is born from a lightning tribulation so that makes you resistant to lightning right? Let''s put that resistance of yours to the test." Kei pinched the lightning spear and it disappeared in a shower of sparks. The Boss Monster immediately retreated a hundred meters away from him. It thought it was safe when it heard a voice from behind. "I am the conqueror of the Heavens," Kei said and a black lightning bolt descended from the sky. It hit the Quetzalcoatl on its chest making it scream in pain. The Boss Monster realized then and there that it had no hope of winning against Kei. The feeling of fear gripped its heart and for the first time in its life, the thought of escape crossed its mind. He was a mythical beast, a blessed creature born from the powers of the dungeon core. It was the Supreme King, the lord of the dungeon. Unchallenged, unsurpassed, and had everyone at its beck and call. It was content living inside the dungeon, but it had no choice but to leave because the dungeon core had undergone corruption. If it stayed, it would had been corrupted too. {If only my master didn''t undergo corruption¡­} Kei''s arrogant voice brought him out of his daze. "I need no introduction." A chain of purple lightning coiled around the Boss Monster and held it in place. Kei looked at the Lamia on the ground and bound it with purple chains as well. "Equal of Heaven, loved by the Gods." Peals of thunder rang out from the sky. Their thunderous roars were enough to deafen anyone who were close enough to hear them. It was as if they were shouting in joy to proclaim the name of their lord. "I am Kei Frieden, the Child of Thunder!" Black Lightning fell down from the sky and caressed Kei''s body in a loving embrace. The Quetzalcoatl stared at him without blinking. It had surrendered itself to its fate. The only thing that it wanted to do right now was to engrave Kei''s face and voice in its memory. "You can rest. I will save your master for you." Those arrogant and overbearing words were the last thing it heard before the Wrath of the Heavens descended and bathed him in a shower of lightning bolts. Shino Alstroemeria On the 50th floor of the Dungeon of Greed the dungeon core was pulsating. A small golden glow was located on its center and glowing with all its might. The rest of its body was covered in black stains, and only that small part remains untainted. A sigh was heard from the ring on Kei''s finger as Grandma Sophie gave her analysis. {It''s 97% corrupted¡­} Kei stared with pity at the dungeon core that was on the brink of total corruption. He approached it and put his palm on top of it. The black stains tried to invade him too, but the electric current kept them at bay. A soft pleading whisper was heard from it, "el¡­p¡­ea..se." "Grandma Sophie, I can''t stay in this form for much longer," Kei said. "Please tell me the way to help her." A few seconds passed before Grandma Sophie gave her a reply. {There is a way, but can you pay the price?} "What price do I need to pay?" {You won''t be able to use the power of "Exceed Break" for a year and I have to go to hibernation for a few months. } Kei knew that there were more conditions so he just waited for Grandma Sophie''s explanation. {You will also have to pay a fifth of your lifespan because a dungeon core is a special existence that is created by the laws of this world,} Grandma Sophie sighed from within the ring, {Kei¡­is this dungeon core worth it?} The dungeon core''s glow was getting faint, it wouldn''t be long before it was consumed completely by the darkness. Kei gently caressed it and gave his answer. "I don''t know if it''s worth it," Kei said. "But, I want to save it." {I knew you''d say that. Very well, we don''t have much time. The process needs half a day to complete, we should not be disturbed during that process.} Kei turned his head to look behind him and issued his orders. "Guard the entrance of the dungeon, make sure no one will disturb me," Kei said. "Do I make myself clear?" ""As you command, handsome young master."" Tifa and Milfa obeyed his orders and headed to the teleport gate that would instantly take them to the entrance of the dungeon. "The two of you, stand guard on the entrance of the 50th floor. If anyone dares to enter, you have my permission to go for the kill." {Yes, master} {I hear and obey, my Lord.} The Lamia and the Quetzalcoatl bowed their heads and left. The two of them had sworn allegiance to him after their battle. Kei thought that it would be a waste to kill the two of them, so he spared their life. He was also not dumb enough to accept their allegiance at face value, and used a soul contract to bind them. If any of them disobeyed his orders, their souls would cease to exist.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Kei was left alone in the dungeon core room and waited for Grandma Sophie''s instructions. {You are almost at your limit and I doubt you will remain conscious until the end. So pick up the dungeon core, hug it, and lie down. I will do the rest.} He obeyed without question because he was indeed nearing his limits. He hugged the dungeon core firmly in place and closed his eyes. Grandma Sophie used a special binding spell and enclosed Kei and the dungeon core into a cocoon. Not long after, Kei lost consciousness and Grandma Sophie performed the cleansing ceremony. The dark blight that had stained the dungeon core suddenly moved in frenzy. It felt a great threat coming from the ring on Kei''s finger. {Hmmp, so it was the work of a Devil King. It seems that some had escaped the purge from a thousand years ago.} The ring glowed and a powerful beam of light hit the center of the dungeon core. The spiritual form of Grandma Sophie materialized and established a connection. {Child, can you hear me?} "H..elp¡­ea¡­se" {Do you have a name?} "Shi..no" {Shino was it?} Grandma Sophie said, gently. {A beautiful name, do you have a last name?} "No¡­" Grandma Sophie sighed, {Shino, I''ll be honest. I don''t want to save you.} "..." {Unfortunately, a stupid boy will be sad if I don''t.} Grandma Sophie glanced at Kei. He looked exhausted and his breathing was labored. She felt guilt in seeing his current condition, so she averted her gaze and spoke to the dungeon core. {I''m not a charitable person, Shino, so I''ll give you a choice. Devote yourself to him or cease to exist,} Grandma Sophie said, indifferently. The spirit of the dungeon core looked at the man who held her in his embrace. For some reason, she felt safe in his arms, and something deep inside her stirred. "I..wi¡­ll..de..vote¡­myself¡­to..him." {Very well, but you will no longer be a dungeon core. You will inherit my name and be reborn as my daughter.} The ring glowed and a drop of blood flew from it. It gently landed on the center of the dungeon core where the final vestige of radiance remained. The blood merged with the dungeon core, and the black stains writhed in agony. The dungeon core shone brilliantly one last time before it slowly disintegrated. A corporeal body floated from its remains. It glowed and pulsated like a beating heart. {It''s time for me to take your life force Kei.} Grandma Sophie placed her spiritual hand on Kei''s forehead and chanted a spell. The ancient spell forcefully sucked the life force from his body. The only saving grace was that Kei was unconscious during this process, or else he would be writhing in pain. Some of the strands of hair on his head instantly turned white as the life drain took its toll on his body. When Grandma Sophie deemed it to be sufficient, she removed her hand. She made a gesture and the corporeal body of the dungeon core floated towards her. {I now bestow upon you new life. From this moment on, your name is Shino Alstroemeria!} With a touch, she transferred Kei''s life force to the corporeal form. It glowed and slowly transformed. Grandma Sophie watched in anticipation as the final radiance died out. The form of a young lady appeared before her. She had long blond hair and her budding beauty was enough to make everyone fawn upon her. Grandma Sophie had no doubt in her mind that when this young lady matured, she would be a peerless beauty that would cause the downfall of a nation. She gave a brief nod and praised herself, {As expected, my genes are good!} If Kei was only able to hear her boasting, he would have rolled his eyes at her shamelessness. The young lady''s eyes slowly opened, her adorable mouth parted to intake a breath of air. Her beautiful scarlet eyes gazed at Grandma Sophie unwavering. Not long after, she bowed her head and spoke her greetings. "Thank you, Mother, for giving me new life," Shino said, respectfully. {Oh, I forgot to ask earlier, but how old were you before you were reborn?} "Two hundred years old." Grandma Sophie chuckled, {I see, a legal loli. Not bad!} "Legal loli?" {Hush dear, we don''t have much time. Let''s talk about that later,} Grandma Sophie said, mischievously. {For now I''ll teach you the art of seduction while that little boy is still sleeping.} Grandma Sophie started to lecture her daughter on all the ways on how she could make Kei fall in love with her. Shino listened to her teaching and nodded her head. Grandma Sophie didn''t know that even without her urging, Shino has no intention of leaving his side. The shameless mother and daughter pair hatched a plan that would make Kei fall in their hands. ''Hmmp! My daughter deserves the best. I will only approve of Kei and no one else!'' Cooked Rice Cannot Be Uncooked! Kei stirred from his sleep. He winced in pain as a throbbing headache assaulted his senses the moment he regained consciousness. He tried to open his eyes, but he found that he was unable to. He tried to move his hand, and other parts of his body, but it was to no avail. More like, he couldn''t even feel his body. ''Sleep paralysis?'' There was a possibility that this condition was caused by sleep paralysis. However, he had not experienced this sensation before, so he could not be certain whether this was accurate. He organized his thoughts and another conclusion came to mind. ''Side effects of using the Exceed Break¡­'' {Eh? Not really.} Kei''s consciousness trembled the moment he heard Grandma Sophie''s voice. He didn''t think that she would be able to hear him in his current state. ''Grandma Sophie, what happened?'' {I took some of your life force, so your body is still recovering from the life drain.} Grandma Sophie''s voice was tinged with exhaustion. {The cleansing ceremony was a success, the dungeo- I mean, Shino is safe.} ''Shino?'' {Ahem! She''s my newborn daughter! She''s a real beauty you know!} ''I see, then we succeeded. That''s good.'' Kei felt relieved when he heard the news from Grandma Sophie, and decided to wait until the side effect of the Life Drain came to an end. {Kei, I''ll leave her in your care,} Grandma Sophie said, mischievously. {I will be sleeping inside the ring for a few months, so make sure to take good care of her.} ''Of course, you can count on me.'' {She was 200 years old before she was reborn, so despite how young she looks, she''s perfectly legal!} Kei wasn''t stupid. The way Grandma Sophie addressed her newborn daughter was like a merchant trying to sell her wares to her customers. He had the impulse to grab a broom and slap her for being an irresponsible parent. Unfortunately, his paralysis prevented him from doing so. ''Grandma Sophie, are you trying to play matchmaker?'' {Hmp! You got a problem with that?} ''You already know my current circumstances¡­''Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. {Aiyo~ of course I know!} Grandma Sophie said in annoyance. {You already have a Fiancee, then you have Milfa, and that little sister of yours is making her moves on you as well. Even though she tried to hide it, it wasn''t able to escape my eyes!} Grandma Sophie started cursing him for being a womanizer, playboy, lady-killer, lady''s man, and so on and so forth. {I forgot, you also have that slave in the Central Empire of Sparta. You lolicon!} ''Oi! Grandma, I''m not a lolicon! I''m a member of the Lolita no Touch Faction!'' {Hmp! Your fiancee, your sister, and that slave of yours were all fourteen-years old.} Grandma Sophie said, indignantly. {If that''s not being a lolicon then what the hell are you?! A new breed of rabbit?} ''I didn''t do anything ah! This is unfair ah! I didn''t make any moves on them ah!'' {All of them are underaged¡­but, my daughter is 200 years old. Perfectly legal yo~} If Kei had full control of his body, he would have already spat a mouthful of blood at Grandma Sophie''s shamelessness. She berated him for his fiancee, his sister, and his slave, because they were all under-aged. Yet, she pushed her daughter on him like it was perfectly normal. ''Ai~ being handsome is a sin.'' {Hmp! I will admit that you didn''t do anything and yet those girls pushed themselves onto you. However, that doesn''t change the fact that you didn''t reject any of them! Silly boy, do you think I don''t know that you''ve always wanted to have a harem?} ''You''re forgetting something Grandma, my fiancee agreed that I can have three wives. I''m also waiting for her to be of legal age before marrying her.'' {Hehe, three wives you say?} Grandma Sophie said in disdain. {You have your fiancee, your sister, your slave, and Milfa. That''s already four! Since you already have four¡­adding one more wouldn''t make a difference!} Kei wanted to roll his eyes at Grandma Sophie''s shameless attempt to push her daughter on him. He sighed knowing that her words held truth in them. His fiancee agreed that he could have three wives. He still didn''t count his sister, and his slave as bride candidates, because they were still too young and Kei believed that they still didn''t understand what love really was. He intended to wait for them to grow up, and perhaps they would realize that the love they felt for him was the love towards a family member. Right now, there were only two ladies that he intended to have a serious relationship with, his fiancee, and Milfa. Not to mention, Grandma Sophie was hell-bent to add her daughter to the mix. {Kei, you don''t have to worry. Back in my days, having three wives and four concubines was very normal.} ''Grandma Sophie¡­'' {Fine, since you don''t want the soft approach time for plan B!} ''Plan B? What Plan-'' Kei was not able to continue what he was going to say because he suddenly felt his sense of touch return to him. Something soft was caressing his chest and Kei focused all his attention on that feeling. He could tell that it was a pair of small hands and they were clumsily groping his body. ''Oi! Grandma Sophie! Wha-What are you planning?!'' {Hehe, Kei, do you know that cooked rice cannot be uncooked?} ''Oh Shi-- Don''t tell me!'' {Just lie down and enjoy, you don''t have to do anything yo~} Grandma Sophie said, chuckling. {Your sense of touch has returned, so you understand what''s coming up next right?} Kei was unable to see and unable to move, but because of his current condition, the sensitivity of his body was heightened. His sense of hearing chose that time to return to him and he was just in time to hear Grandma Sophie talking to someone. {Yes, that''s the way to do it. Slowly, but surely.} Kei felt soft hands caress his body in a gentle massage. The soft hands felt good and the warmth they brought made him shiver. Her movements were clumsy, but the comfort they brought seeped through his very bones. He realized that the reason why his sense of touch returned was because of this clumsy massage. He concluded that Shino was trying to revive his body and Grandma Sophie was only teasing him. Kei relaxed and before he knew it, he drifted back to sleep. Ill be Your Hug Pillow Kei didn''t know how long he slept, but it was the most comfortable sleep that he ever had since he started his journey away from home. He was still half asleep when he felt something soft in his embrace. He opened his eyes to see the source of this softness and what he saw jolted him fully awake. He was cuddling a young lady and the latter was sleeping peacefully with a smile on her face. Kei started to organize his blurry thoughts and remembered the conversation he had with Grandma Sophie. Looking at the adorable beauty sleeping beside him, he concluded that this must be the former dungeon core, Shino. The gears on his head started to churn and he realized that he overlooked something important. With great regret, he gently shook the sleeping beauty beside him. Shino slowly opened her eyes and looked at him in a daze. She blinked once, then twice before smiling. "Good Morning, Master," Shino said, happily. She cupped his face and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Kei wasn''t able to resist her cuteness and kissed her forehead before standing up. "Your name is Shino I presume?" "Yes, Master." The two of them stared at each other creating an awkward silence. Kei scratched his head and decided to ask a few questions since Grandma Sophie seems to have started her hibernation. "How many days have I been asleep?" "Two days, Master." "Did Grandma Sophie leave behind any message for me?" Shino held the side of her face and blushed. Kei was taken aback by her reaction and he knew that Grandma Sophie said something to her while he was sleeping. "Mother said that...," Shino said, shyly. "from now on, I''ll be your hug pillow." Kei tilted his head before asking, "Hug Pillow?" "Un! It''s something you hug when you sleep." "Hug when I sleep?" "Yes!" Shino said while nodding her head.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "You don''t have to listen to your mother. She''s just being silly." Kei said as he cursed Grandma Sophie in his heart. Shino remembered the advice that her Mother told her and put it to good use. --------------------- {Remember this, Shino. Kei is weak against tears, especially if it''s the tears from a girl!} "Tears?" {Yes, it''s the ultimate weapon you can use against Kei, so make sure to use it when needed!} --------------------- Shino looked down and after a few seconds a teardrop fell on the ground. Kei stood in shock as he saw the young lady in front of him start to cry. "Wa-Wait, why are you crying?" "Master didn''t want me." Shino sat on the ground and covered her eyes with her hands. She started to cry and her tears flowed freely down her face. "Who said I didn''t want a hug pillow?! I''ve always wanted to have one!" Kei said, anxiously. ''What is a hug pillow anyway?!'' He tried his best to calm the crying loli by giving her headpats and hugs. In time, Shino''s tears stopped and the two of them walked hand in hand and headed towards the entrance of the 50th floor. The Lamia and the Quetzalcoatl saw their arrival and knelt before them. The two Boss Monsters, stared at Shino and she in turn smiled at them. Kei introduced her to the two of them. "Her name is Shino, and she was the former dungeon core of this dungeon." "Hello!" {Mistress, it''s good to know you''re safe!} {Mistress, Praise the Gods!} Kei gave a soft cough and the two monster bowed their heads and waited for his orders. "Quetzalcoatl, you will be assigned as my personal bodyguard." {I hear and obey my Lord} "Lamia, you will be guarding Shino from now on." {Yes, Master.} "Can the two of you change your forms?" Kei said, frowning. "Your current forms are too eye catching." Shino tugged Kei''s clothes from the side. "Master, leave this to me." Her scarlet eyes glowed and the two boss monsters became smaller. The Quetzalcoatl became a colorful bird of prey, and the Lamia turned into a white serpent. The Quetzalcoatl landed on Kei''s shoulder and the Lamia coiled around Shino''s arm. The four of them returned to the dungeon core room and entered the portal that would warp them to the entrance of the dungeon. The first thing they saw when they appeared were the relieved faces of Tifa and Milfa. The two noticed the streaks of white hair on Kei''s head and frowned. Kei shook his head and gave them the ''I will tell you later look.'' The two of them shifted their attention to the young lady who was holding their young master''s hand. Kei smiled and introduced her to the two of them. "Her name is Shino, Shino Alstroemeria," Tifa and Milfa both nodded their head in greeting and Kei continued his introduction. "The two of them are my most trusted subordinates, Tifa and Milfa Lionheart." "Nice to meet the two of you," Shino said, smiling. ''So, this is the girl Milfa my mother told me about.'' Shino sized up Milfa and the latter did the same to her. Both of them nodded at the same time as if to affirm something that only the two of them understood. Kei was watching from the side and a hollow chuckle escaped his lips. "Ah, before I forget, these are my new servants. Luke and Lily. I hope you guys will work together from now on." Luke chirped and Lily hissed her greeting. Tifa and Milfa nodded their heads in acknowledgement. "Now that the introductions are done, let''s have a talk with the Duke of Windsor." Kei smiled mischievously. He intended to milk the Duke of Windsor dry as the reward for preventing a dungeon outbreak in his Dukedom. Their party headed towards the city of Amaranth where the army of Windsor made their camp. Do As You Wish Thormund Windsor had a headache. The person responsible for saving his Dukedom was in front of him and enjoying a feast of delicacies. His lips twitched as he watched the shameless display of affection between Kei and his entourage. "Master, say ah¡­" "Ah¡­" Kei chewed the buttered prawns in delight. Shino was using her hands to feed him and he enjoyed the feeling of intimacy. "Handsome young master, please say ah¡­" "Ah¡­" The delicious taste of crab soup assailed his taste buds. It had been a while since Milfa volunteered to feed him. The affectionate look in her eyes warmed his heart. Tifa was looking at her young master with a smirk. She noticed that all the food that Shino and Milfa were feeding him were all crustaceans. She decided to keep mum about it and waited in anticipation for the night activities that would follow after. When the feast finally ended, Thormund''s eyes were bloodshot. He sighed in relief and gestured for the servants to clear up the table. The time to talk business had come and he waited for Kei to take the initiative. Kei leisurely cleaned his teeth using a toothpick and gave the Duke of Windsor an arrogant look. He was seated like a king with Shino and Milfa by his side. Kei held their waist and dragged the two of them closer to him. The two complied and snuggled beside him. It made him look like a hero protagonist. Unfortunately, his facial features--which were only slightly better than a hob goblin--ruined this picture perfect setting. "Let''s cut to the chase, Duke of Windsor," Kei said with arrogance written all over his face. "How much are you going to compensate me for saving your Dukedom?" "How much do you want?" Thormund said without batting an eye. "I want a city." "Which one?" Kei grinned and winked at the Duke, "Amaranth." The Duke frowned and organized his thoughts. He knew that without the Dungeon of Greed, the city of Amaranth wouldn''t have much value, but Kei wanted it. That meant that there is more to this city than met the eye. Thormund stared at the young man in front of him. He knew that this Overlord was the most devious among the Five in the Eastern Federation and dealing with him required careful thought and planning. ''There must be something in this city that has piqued his interest, but what could it be?'' "Of course, you can refuse my offer," Kei said with indifference. "But, I will let the entire Federation know that the Duke of Windsor refused to compensate the hero that saved his Dukedom." Thormund snorted because he knew that he couldn''t take this threat lightly. If Kei was going to use this incident to blackmail him, then the consequences could be unimaginable. Besides, making an Overlord his enemy was a very stupid thing to do.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Kei was being aloof and he ignored the Duke who was staring at him. He patted Shino''s head and caressed Milfa''s waist while waiting for Thormund''s decision. He was the hero of Amaranth and this fact couldn''t be denied. The King of Edelweiss would also need to pay lip service and award him with a few treasures. The King needed to do this to show the citizens that he was fair and generous to those who did meritorious service to the kingdom. Nobles and Royalty care about their reputation, and Kei is an expert when it comes to taking advantage of others. Thormnund heaved a sigh of frustration, "If I were to agree to your condition, what would you do with this city?" Kei didn''t reply and merely chuckled. ''Tell you what I''m going to do with this city? Dream on.'' The Duke held the bridge of his nose and thought long and hard. A few minutes passed before he finally agreed to Kei''s demand. "Very well. I will turn-over the deed of the City to you." "Excellent." Thormund took a scroll from his storage ring. It was the deed for the City of Amaranth and although he had mixed feelings about turning it over to Kei, it was a small price to pay for stopping a dungeon outbreak. Kei gazed at the worn out scroll and examined it carefully. He estimated that it was over a thousand years old and the writing had almost faded with time. He carefully placed it inside his own storage ring and smiled at the Duke. "Since our business is done, I will now take my leave," Kei said. "Have a good day, Duke of Windsor." Thormund stood up and approached Kei to shake his hand. "I hope that the two of us can be close friends, Kei of Ravencourt." ''Why the hell would I want to get close to you?'' Kei returned the handshake with a grin. ''Sorry, I don''t like old men.'' The two parted, not knowing what each other was thinking. Kei and his entourage looked for an inn to stay in because he still hadn''t fully recovered. The City of Amaranth didn''t receive much damage from the battle because Kei tried to minimize the damage as much as possible. The city walls may have been destroyed, but the core of the city was still intact. The citizens of the city had also returned after the Duke announced that it was safe. He met with Tifa and Milfa two days ago and confirmed that the crisis had been resolved. Although he was curious about what Kei had been doing inside the dungeon, he decided to not pry any further. ---------------------------- Kei took a bath in order to relax and wash away the fatigue in his body. He spent the whole day writing letters because he needed to inform his family and a few others about what transpired in the City of Amaranth. He was worried that it was the prelude for something bigger and without his powers, he would not be able to offer his assistance. He wanted the other Overlords of the Federation to be wary of possible dungeon outbreaks in their respective territories as well. It didn''t take long before he finished bathing. When he returned to the bedroom, Milfa was there waiting for him. She helped dry his hair with her magic and helped him wear his pajamas. For some reason, she didn''t leave the room as if waiting for something. Kei thought that she was waiting for him to fall asleep so he decided to lie down on the bed. As if waiting for that moment, Shino entered the room. She was wearing a one piece, black, frilly lingerie. It looked good on her. Kei gulped when he saw the young lady approach him. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and lie beside him. "Master, I am your hug pillow," she said with an adorable smile. "You need to hug me when you sleep." ''Grandma Sophie¡­you and your little schemes,'' Kei sighed internally. He didn''t want to make her cry again so he decided to play along for now. He hugged Shino and was surprised by how soft she was. She had a sweet floral scent and Kei assumed that she just finished taking a bath herself. It took a while before he found a comfortable position and closed his eyes. Not long after, someone hugged him from behind. He almost melted when he felt two soft peaks press against his back. They could only belong to the other person that was still in the room with him, Milfa. "Master, I want to be your hug pillow too." Her sweet voice tickled his ears and Kei wasn''t able to reject her proposal. A blush appeared on his cheeks. He was a healthy young man and to be sandwiched between two beautiful ladies made him feel embarrassed and happy at the same "Do as you wish." He barely managed to make an audible reply, but Milfa was able to hear it. She smiled and hugged him tighter. Kei relaxed and allowed the two ladies to do as they pleased. The two in turn, snuggled closer to him. ''Hug Pillows are the Best.'' This was the last thought in his mind before he finally closed his eyes to sleep. Being Handsome is a Sin Kei was awakened by a pair of soft hands that were gently caressing the sides of his face. When he opened his sleepy eyes, the first thing he saw was Shino and Milfa smiling down on him. Noticing that he had awoken, the two giggled before giving him a kiss on the cheek. This was a new experience for Kei, and the sweet sensation of being kissed upon waking up jolted him fully awake. A blush appeared on his face as he remembered what transpired last night. His expression earned him another giggle from the girls, and the two gave him another round of kisses. ''This could get addicting,'' Kei mused as the two snuggled close to him. "You girls were taking advantage of this young master while he was sleeping!" Kei said, while the corner of his lips curled into a grin. "What will you do if I get pregnant? Will the two of you take responsibility?" "Master, Shino had been a bad girl. Please, discipline Shino." "Handsome young master, this servant has overstepped her bounds, I will accept my punishment." "Hmmp! You think you can get away with just that?" Kei said. "Kiss me again and don''t stop until I tell you too. If you do that, I''ll overlook this incident!" "Yes, Master." "As you command, handsome young master." The two of them showered Kei with kisses while the latter had a silly grin plastered on his face. ''Ai~ being handsome is a sin.'' The two girls became bold and their kisses became more sensual. They kissed Kei''s cheeks, his ears, his eyebrows, his nose, and they took turns kissing his lips. Kei was a willing victim to their advances and the two of them kissed him until he was satisfied. Kei hugged their waists and kissed both of them on the cheeks. "Very good, I hope the two of you learned from this lesson." "Yes, Master. I learned a lot from this lesson." "Handsome young master, what about tomorrow''s lesson?" Kei patted their heads with a smile. "Let''s put that on hold for tomorrow, until then the two of you be good." Shino and Milfa didn''t say anything else and helped Kei change his clothes before going to the other room to get changed themselves. Kei scratched his cheek as he pondered on how he would handle his current relationship with the two beauties that would be staying by his side. He opened the window in his room and allowed the gentle breeze to caress his face. The warmth of the sunlight seeped through his bones as the chirping of birds heralded the start of a new day.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It was a sunny day just like this when he met his fiance for the very first time. It was two years ago when she escaped from the temple in order to see him. For some reason, she knew which inn he was staying at. She also managed to convince the innkeeper to hand the spare key to his room and waited for his arrival. Kei was surprised when he found her waiting in his room, but he used this as an opportunity to have a serious discussion with her. The two of them had a heart to heart talk. Kei tried to convince her that she was still too young to understand what love was, but she was hell bent to make him her fiance. Her ''Guardian'' was in cahoots with her and Kei wasn''t able to reject her sincere feelings for him. He compromised and told her that after four years, if her feelings doesn''t change he would agree to marry her. Fiona accepted the condition without batting an eye. The two spent the afternoon with Kei telling her stories about overpowered protagonists who only knew how to collect women and add them to his harem. ------------------------ "Kei, I will allow you to have three wives." Fiona said. "Only three? How about four?" "Three!" ------------------------ Kei grinned as he remembered this scene from two years ago. His Fiance only allowed him to have three wives and he agreed to it because he thought that he would not get the opportunity to have more than one wife in his lifetime. The only problem now was that... there were more than three girls who were aiming for his drop dead gorgeous body. "Ai~ It''s not my fault for being born handsome." His murmuring was heard by two ladies passing on the street below. They were about where the sound was coming from and saw him standing by the window. The two of them gave him a long, hard look before spitting on the street in disgust. It''s not your fault for being handsome? Have you ever looked in the mirror? The two ladies hastened their pace as if staying another second in the vicinity would rob them of their chastity. If Kei heard their words, he would have answered, ''Yes! I''ve looked at mirrors countless times, but they all break after a few seconds!'' Kei shook his head at the two ladies that looked at him in disgust. He watched their backs disappear from his view before returning to his ruminations. He couldn''t be bothered to think about two ugly ducklings right now while his two beauties were waiting for his decision. When Milfa confessed to him, she insisted that she would not fight for the position of his legal wife. As long as Kei made her his concubine, it would be enough for her. Kei was shocked when he heard her proposal because he didn''t realize that Milfa felt that way about him. Back then, he wasn''t able to give her an answer and Milfa didn''t pressure him to give one. The two of them resumed their Master and retainer relationship and kept mum about the incident. Now that a new love rival had appeared, Milfa didn''t back down and instead, stepped forward. She was now openly showing her feelings for him through words and actions. If Kei still refuse to answer her feelings, he would not be able to consider himself a man! He remembered Grandma Sophie''s senile mumbling when they were still in the dungeon. {Kei, you don''t have to worry. Back in my days, having three wives and four concubines was very normal.} Kei scratched his head anxiously. "I need to talk to Fiona about this." He was still deep in thought when two sweet voices brought him out of his daze. "Master." "Handsome young master." Kei turned his head to look at the two beautiful ladies in front of him. Shino and Milfa moved closer and patiently waited for his orders. He smiled and held their hands before leaving the room. The two girls held his hand firmly as if not wanting to let go. The cloudy haze in Kei''s head disappeared as he made his decision. ''Ai~ being handsome is a sin.'' The Weight of a Promise With the deed of the city of Amaranth securely in his hands, Kei held a meeting with all the adventurer guilds in the city. The officers of the different guilds--including the major guilds like the Harkon Brigade, Terra Riders, and Exodus Knights--went to the Estate of the City Lord to answer his summons. Some of them already had intentions of leaving the city and going to the other ''dungeon cities'' in the Kingdom of Edelweiss. However, they were also curious about what the new Lord of Amaranth had to say, so they decided to postpone their plans until the meeting was over. Kei stood on the terrace overlooking everyone who heeded his summons. He could see the admiration, worry, anxiousness, fear, and contempt on their faces. He knew that time was of the essence, so he cut directly to the chase. He cleared his throat and started his speech. "As you may already know, I destroyed the core of the Dungeon of Greed," Kei said while looking at them in an arrogant manner. "That also means that this city''s main attraction is no longer here." The adventurers had grim looks on their faces. They knew that without the dungeon, their means of livelihood was also gone. Faint murmurings were heard every now and then, but the guild masters of the Three Major Guilds didn''t say anything and waited for Kei''s next words. The side of Kei''s lips curled up. He knew what the adventurers were thinking, so he decided to throw a bait. "Two months ago, the Earldom of Ravencourt discovered a dungeon." He paused for a while before taking a pose and flipping his hair. "It is fairly new and we need experts to explore it." The moment the adventurers heard the phrase "discovered a dungeon" all of them closed their mouth to listen. There was a pin drop silence and even Kei was surprised by how attentive they were. Their eyes were bloodshot like they were high on aphrodisiac and Kei was a beautiful, naked, girl that was enticing them to ravage her. His original goal in Amaranth was to talk to the three major guilds in order to convince any of them to migrate to their Earldom. The dungeon outbreak was truly unexpected, and Kei now had a perfect opportunity to get not only the three major guilds, but the other adventurer guilds as well. He arrogantly raised his chin and roared at the crowd. "Those who are willing to explore this new dungeon, raise your hand!" He looked at the crowd before him and his smile grew wider. ''Interesting.'' The adventurers stood straight, but none of them raised their hand. They stared at their guild masters waiting for their decision. Kei was very impressed by their discipline, and he was now more determined to bring them under his wing. "A very interesting proposal," Jeff Wilson, the Guild Master of the Exodus Knights said in a relaxed manner. "Are you perhaps trying to recruit all of the guilds of this city, Your Excellency?" "I am," Kei said without batting an eye. Jeff nodded and stepped forward. "The Dungeon Core has been destroyed, and the Dungeon of Greed had ceased to exist¡­" He stared at the new City Lord with a calm gaze. "If I didn''t see your excellency''s heroism in the battlefield, then I would say that everything that has happened here¡­ was just one big coincidence." The hidden meaning behind his speech created a spark and the murmuring from the crowd started once again. Kei ignored these murmurings and yawned before giving his reply.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "So you''re saying that the Dungeon Outbreak was all part of my plan?" Kei asked with an amused look. "I wouldn''t dare your Excellency," Jeff said while shrugging his shoulders. "After all, I can''t possibly accuse one of the Overlords of the Federation." He paused before spreading his hands helplessly. "Nor can I say that his Excellency destroyed the Dungeon Core for his own benefit." Tifa, Milfa, and Shino were standing behind Kei. They glared at Jeff, but the Guild Master was unperturbed. He even gave the three of them an arrogant smile which ticked the three of them even more. ''Luke, Lily, make sure to teach that guy and his guild a lesson when they leave the city.'' Shino was still the one who created the two boss monsters, so she could communicate and give orders to them directly. ''Don''t forget to steal their guild treasures too!'' Kei added. {Yes Mistress!} {I hear and obey, My Lord.} The murmuring from the crowd of adventurers became louder. Jeff Wilson turned his head to look at the officers of his own guild. All of them nodded their heads and Jeff gave them a brief nod before glancing back at Kei. "The Exodus Knights will go to the Dukedom of Sepiroth. I apologize for not ''falling into your hands'', your Excellency." Kei rolled his eyes at Jeff''s reply. An old face appeared in his mind and he couldn''t help but curse the Old Fox for being two steps ahead of him. ''He sent an invitation while I was still unconscious inside the dungeon. He got me really good.'' Kei narrowed his eyes and observed the other guilds. He was now sure that some of them received similar invitations from the other lords of the Kingdom. "Very well, I pray for your success in all your endeavors," Kei said while magnanimously waving his hand. ''I pray that you get athletes foot too!'' Jeff frowned. For some reason he felt an itch on his foot, but he decided to ignore it. He left the estate of the City Lord with his men and some of the other guilds followed behind him. Kei watched them go with indifference, but deep inside he was still cursing the Old Duke of Sepiroth. A sudden movement brought him out of his daze as he saw a beautiful woman stepped forward to give him a greeting. It was none other than Sarah Haven, the Guild Master of the Terra Riders. "Your Excellency, I am interested in your offer," Sarah said. "My Guild and I will head to the Earldom of Ravencourt if you promise to answer my question honestly." "Only one question?" "Yes, only one question, your Excellency." Kei nodded his head. "Ask your question." Sarah narrowed her eyes and used [Telepathy]. {The young lady standing next to you. The one with blond hair and scarlet eyes,} Sarah glanced at Shino with a smile. {Is she the former Core of the Dungeon of Greed?} Kei raised his head to look at the heavens. He was tempted to say ''No'', but he gave a promise and the promise of an Overlord carries weight. He stood their gazing at the sky as if the clouds passing by were beautiful ladies waving at him. He neither affirmed nor denied anything. "I like men with principles." Sarah said while sighing. "I, Sarah Haven, humbly accept the invitation of the Fourth Son of Ravencourt." Kei''s body trembled. He looked at Sarah with a look of confusion. The latter smiled and gave him a wink. "Please take good care of me, and my guild, handsome young master." Kei''s jaw dropped at the playful look that Sarah gave him. There was a subtle invitation hidden behind the words and Kei understood her intentions. He grinned at her and didn''t notice the two hands that landed on his waist. A sudden pain brought him out of his daze when the two hands pinched and twisted the side of his waist with a vengeance. Kei almost yelled out loud, but managed to hold it in just in time. "Master, there was an insect. I killed it for you" "Handsome young master, please be more careful from now on¡­" Kei''s body went stiff. He didn''t dare turn his head to look at the two ladies beside him. He focused his attention on Sarah and cleared his throat. "I am very happy to welcome you and your guild to Ravencourt. I will do my best to assist you in any way that I can." Sarah didn''t reply but covered her lips with a hand. The slight tremble on her shoulders was enough to tell anyone that she was trying to hold back her laughter. She gave Kei another wink before turning her head. Her men followed behind her and left the Estate. Only the members of the Harkon Brigade remained and Kei was very interested in hearing their reply. "The Harkon Brigade will head off towards the Earldom of Ravencourt after we make the necessary preparations," Jack Megan, the Guild Master of the Harkon Brigade said with a smile. "Handsome young master, we are in your care from now on." "I promise you that you will not regret your decision," Kei said. The two shook hands to finalize their agreement. Kei was smiling ear to ear when all the adventurers left the estate. Although he didn''t manage to get all the guilds in Amaranth to explore the dungeon in their Earldom, he was very satisfied with the results. Later that night, two jealous hug pillows ignored Kei and left him alone to sleep. It was their way of protesting his fickleness. Kei helplessly shook his head and lie down on the bed alone. It was one of the coldest nights he experienced during his travels away from home. The Price He has to Pay "I''ll leave Amaranth in your very capable hands," Kei said. "Don''t let me down Nicholas." Nicholas Roge, the Branch Manager of the Roge Merchant Guild, who was once stationed in the City of Aster bowed his head to pay respect to his new employer. "Sir, are you sure you want me to be the Mayor of Amaranth?" "Are you saying that I made the wrong decision?" The merchant rubbed his hands together and chuckled. "Sir, I''ll be completely honest. When I first met you, I never thought we would be seeing each other so soon. [A/N: Nicholas is the merchant that Kei met in Chapter 2] "Indeed, Lady Fate is such a fickle lady," Kei said while gesturing for Nicholas to come closer. "Make sure to complete my request as soon as possible," Kei whispered. Nicholas nodded. "I will not let you down, handsome young master." The two chuckled and gave each other a knowing look. Kei couldn''t stay in the City of Amaranth because there were pressing matters that he had to attend to. When the deed of the city was handed to him, he immediately sent a letter to the Roge Merchant Guild requesting that Nicholas be sent to Amaranth to hold the position of Mayor. The Merchant Guild was more than happy to comply. They even had the plan to drag Nicholas to the City of Amaranth tied in chains if he doesn''t agree to Kei''s invitation. It''s a good thing that the fat merchant was quick witted and immediately understood the prospects of being a Mayor of the City. Even though Amaranth lost its dungeon, it doesn''t mean that the city had lost its only means of livelihood. Merchants were experts when it comes to trade and gaining profit. Kei understood this and with his plans to develop Amaranth he needed someone that was cunning and flexible at the same time. Tifa appeared beside Kei and respectfully bowed her head. "Handsome young master, the carriage is ready." "Mmm, good job. I''ll be there shortly." "Understood, handsome young master." Tifa took a step back and returned to the carriage.Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Kei took a small box from his storage ring and gave it to Nicholas. The merchant carefully opened it and saw a crystal inside. He recognized it as a long distance communication crystal. He closed the box and waited for Kei''s instruction. "If anything happens, contact me immediately," Kei said. "Also, pay special attention to the movement of ''that'' person." "You can count on me, handsome young master." The two of them bid their final farewell and Kei climbed the carriage. Shino followed behind him and sat by his side. Tifa and Milfa, on the other hand, were handling the carriage. Their next destination was the City of Freyport. They would be meeting Kei''s best friend, Little John, and his sister, Little Daisy. Kei looked at the scenery outside the window while deep in thought. He still needed to inform his parents and his fiance about his decision. It might take some time for them to accept it, but he hoped that they would eventually give him their blessings. Shino rested her head on his shoulder while the latter held her waist. The two of them had become close in the few days that they had been together. Kei had accepted Shino and Milfa as his lovers and the three of them had an agreement. He knew that if he doesn''t accept her, Grandma Sophie would make a fuss when she woke up. There was also the fact that he didn''t dislike Shino. She was a very sweet girl and she was very attentive to his needs. Kei glanced at the beautiful young lady beside him. She was like a porcelain doll with her pale complexion and silky blonde hair. He wasn''t able to resist and patted her head. Shino, on the other hand, gave him a hug and snuggled closer. Their journey was uneventful, but Kei didn''t mind. He was a person that preferred peace instead of conflicts. If he was given a choice, he would rather spend his time traveling the continent and seeing the wonders of the world. Unfortunately, there was a great unrest within the Kingdom and his family needed him. Shino suddenly felt Kei lean on her. She raised her head to see that Kei had his eyes closed and was breathing deeply. "Master?" She tried to gently tap his cheeks in order to wake him up, but Kei didn''t respond. Milfa''s anxious voice was heard outside the carriage. "Did he fall unconscious?" "Yes," Shino replied. "Let''s travel for a little while longer," Tifa said. "We will pitch camp once we find a suitable location." Shino didn''t respond and gently laid Kei''s head on her lap. There was a sad look on her face and her scarlet eyes had a tinge of guilt in them. Grandma Sophie told her that Kei would ''faint'' without warning for the next two to three months as one of the side effects of unlocking the last seal. His body physique had degenerated; and his lifespan was sucked out of him. Kei would also lose some of his memories as compensation for tapping into the powers of Exceed Break. The last time he used its power, he lost all his memories about his parents and his mother cried for days because of it. She became overprotective of him and spoiled him rotten as if to make up for the memories that were lost. It had been a year since then and Kei still felt sad about the memories he had lost. He could tell how much his parents loved him; especially his mother. However, if time were to turn back again, he would have made the same decision. After all, he did it to save the life of his precious little sister, Chloee. The only daughter of the Earl of Ravencourt. Fated Encounter [Part 1] Tifa and Milfa found a good spot to make camp and made the necessary preparations. Shino was with Kei and made sure that he was sleeping comfortably. She ordered Luke and Lily to scout the surrounding area to see if there were bandits that lurked within the forest. After a few minutes, the two returned and gave their report. {Mistress, aside from a few Spirit Beasts there are no other creatures that pose any threat to our party.} {Mistress, should we continue to scout or should we remain here and guard the camp?} "Good work the two of you," Shino replied. "Please guard our camp. I give you permission to subdue any threat that comes our way." {As you command, Mistress!} The two disappeared and Shino resumed her duty of watching over Kei. A soft rustling was heard and Milfa walked over carrying two bowls of soup. "How is he?" Milfa asked. Shino accepted the bowl of soup that Milfa offered. "Still the same." Milfa sat beside Kei and caressed the side of his face. Her hand moved upwards to gently brush the white strands of hair on his head with her fingers. "Are you not going to ask me what happened inside the dungeon?" Shino asked. "No." "You''re not curious?" Milfa raised her head to look at Shino. "Since the young master didn''t tell me anything that means that he doesn''t want me to know." Shino stared at Milfa and the two ladies nodded both their heads in understanding. They quietly ate their dinner and resumed their vigil. Shino laid down beside Kei and decided to start a conversation. "Can I ask you a question?" Milfa gently poked Kei''s cheek and felt its roughness. "Go ahead." "How did you and your sister met Master?" "That is a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it?" "Yes, please!" Milfa laid down beside Kei as well and snuggled close to him. If Kei was awake, he would be smiling ear to ear knowing that two beauties were by his side.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "It all started eight years ago," Milfa said. "The young master was only ten years old at that time and we were twelve." Milfa closed her eyes as if trying to recall that fateful day that changed their lives forever. "Our village was attacked by a group of bandits and all the people were killed except for the women and children¡­" ----------------- "Tifa! Milfa! Run!" An old man with graying hair hacked a bandit using a broadsword. "No! We will stay with you Grandpa!" Tifa insisted with all her might. "Listen to me!" Their Grandpa said while looking at her in the eye. "Take your sister and leave the village! No matter what happens, don''t look back and run!" "Grandpa! Come with us!" Milfa cried while grabbing his hand. "Let''s run together!" The old man hugged the two of them and kissed their foreheads. "I will only drag the two of you down. I will stay here along with the other adults to give all of you time to escape." "You are the oldest, so take care of your sister," Their Grandpa said while taking out a storage bag and gave it to Tifa. "No matter what happens, don''t let them find you or else the two of you will suffer miserably because of your bloodlines." "Our bloodlines?" "Yes, the two of you have¡­" A loud shout was heard outside the house and the sound of weapons clashed not far away. "Go! Take the hidden passage!" Their grandpa said as he ran outside the house without looking back. ''Goddesses, please have mercy on my grandchildren I beg of you!'' "No! Grandpa!" Milfa wailed and tried to run after him, but Tifa grabbed her waist and dragged her to the hidden passage. "We have to go!" Tifa said with tears flowing down her face. "Don''t let Grandpa''s sacrifice be in vain!" Milfa bit her lip and unwillingly nodded her head. The twins entered the hidden passage and closed the entrance firmly behind them. It was dark, but they had used it so many times in the past that they could navigate their way in the darkness. A few minutes after they left the door was smashed open and a burly man carrying a great axe came in. He observed the scene in front of him and sniffed the air. "Two rats were able to escape," The burly man said while looking at the entrance of the hidden passage. A woman carrying a staff appeared beside him. "The fighting force of the village has been subdued, but there were a few children that managed to run away," the woman with the staff said with a smile. "This village is a treasure trove for hidden bloodlines. Although we lost half of our men, the gains were worth it." "Did you find anyone with the bloodline of the Vanari in them?" "No. There were rare bloodlines, but none had the bloodline of Myths." The man with the great axe turned his head. "Release the hounds, let''s try to get as many stragglers as we can." "Very well." ----------------- "We have reached the end," Tifa said while tapping the walls of the passageway. Her hands were able to touch a lever and she gave it a tug. The sound of a wall sliding open was heard and light broke through the darkness. The exit of the hidden passage was a cave that was a mile away from their village. The twins ran out from the cave and immediately headed to the forest. They knew that they were still in danger and their only hope was to reach the nearest town of Veritas. "Do you think Grandpa is safe?" Milfa asked. "Yes," Tifa said. "Grandpa is strong, he will be able to protect himself." Both of them knew that they were lying to themselves, but they still held to that small ray of hope. Tired and hungry, the two of them made their way to the forest while their pursuers where hot on their trails. Fated Encounter [Part 2] "Milfa, just hang on for a little bit longer." "Don''t worry about me, Sister. I can still go on." The twins had been running for more than two hours inside the forest while heading to the direction of the Town of Veritas. Their Grandpa allowed them to accompany him once a month whenever he went to the town to buy some supplies for the village. So, they were familiar with the path they needed to take. Tifa knew that her sister was nearing her limit so she made a gesture with her hands. Milfa nodded and the two climbed the biggest tree in front of them. They rested for a few minutes while listening to the sounds of the forest. Aside from the occasional roars of Spirit Beasts the forest was peaceful. "Eat this for now," Tifa said while passing some dried meat to her sister. "We will rest for a short while then we will continue our journey." Milfa accepted the meat and ate in silence. Her sister passed her a waterskin and she drank in small sips. She looked back at the direction of their village and saw smoke rising in the distance. "Sister, do you think they sent someone to pursue us?" Milfa asked. Her voice and body language did not mask her anxiousness. Tifa stared at her younger sister and nodded her head firmly. "Although I have no evidence, I''m very sure they will not give up so easily." Milfa sighed helplessly. "Sister, let''s go." "Have you recovered?" "A bit, but we can''t stay here for long or they might catc-" Sounds of barking sounded in the distance and the two of them froze for a second before immediately descending the tree in haste. They only knew of one creature who could make that sound and it terrified them. "Spirit hounds!" Tifa said while running. "They have a powerful magician in their ranks." "There are at least a dozen of them. We can''t outrun them sister!" "Follow me!" Tifa remembered that there was a river not far from their location and headed to that direction. Soon the two arrived at a small cliff overlooking a raging river. It was at least ten meters deep and the current was moving fast.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Milfa gulped because she understood her sister''s intention. The sound of the barking was getting closer and they knew that they had no other option. "Milfa, are you ready?" "Yes!" "At the count of three. One, two, three, JUMP!" The twins jumped unto the river and the barking of the spirit hounds was drowned out by its raging fury. They were carried away by the current and they had to use all their strength to keep themselves afloat. The river was unforgiving and the two gritted their teeth in order to survive. Time passed swiftly and the two of them were exhausted. Their bodies felt numb due to the cold and their teeth were chattering non-stop. When they thought that their situation couldn''t get any worse, they heard a loud roar in front of them. A soft cry of despair escaped Milfa''s lips as she realized that they finally reached the river''s end. It was a waterfall and the two of them no longer had any strength to resist. The only thing they could do was scream; and they screamed with all their might. Both of them closed their eyes as they fell with the gushing current. Tifa waited for the impact that would end her misery, but it never came. Instead she felt something warm enclose her in a protective embrace. She opened her eyes and saw a handsome man holding her in a princess carry. She thought that she died and this was the afterlife so she decided to ask the man for confirmation. "Is this the afterlife?" Tifa asked. The handsome man looked down at her with a confused expression. "Afterlife? What are you talking about older sister?" "Afterlife, the place where the dead go?" "Oh, I don''t know where that place is, but can living people go there?" "Pfft!" A peal of laughter escaped her lips and Tifa laughed. It was a very hoarse laugh and the man carrying her frowned. "Sister? Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?" "I''m fine," Tifa replied. "Your face just looks so silly that I wasn''t able to..." A sudden realization made her shudder and she looked around in panic. "Milfa! Where are you?! Answer me!" "Hey sister! Stop moving! Or you will fall!" "My sister!" Tifa said while panicking. "Where is she?!" "Your sister? Ah, her?" The handsome man looked at a direction not far away from them. "Oi! Kei! Did you manage- Pffft!" The handsome man laughed and Tifa glanced at the direction were he was looking at. Not far away, a young boy was sprawled on the riverbed with her sister on top of him. "Ah! Little John! Help me ah! This girl is heavy ah!" The handsome man laughed one more time, and this time, he laughed so loud that Tifa had to cover her ears. "What kind of man are you? You can''t even carry a girl?!" "I''m just a boy ah! Not a man ah!" the young boy replied with a depressed expression. "She''s heavy ah! Like a pig ah! Help ah!" Milfa was unconscious and was not aware of the insults that were coming out of the mouth of her savior. If she was awake, she would had slapped the young boy silly and yelled, "Who are you calling heavy ah! I''m light ah! You are the pig ah!" The handsome man walked towards the young boy and her sister in large strides. It was then that Tifa realized that the man holding her was over 4 meters tall. "A giant¡­" "My name is not a giant. My name is Little John." Fated Encounter [Part 3] Milfa screamed as they neared the waterfall. She looked at her sister and found her trying to reach out to her. She stretched out her hand, but Tifa was a few meters ahead of her. She watched helplessly as her older sister fell over the waterfall right before her eyes. "Sister, don''t worry, I''ll be with you soon," Milfa said as a tear fell from her eye. ''Sorry Grandpa, we failed.'' Those were her last words before she fell face first over the waterfall. She closed her eyes and surrendered herself to her fate. She estimated that the height of the waterfall was over a thousand meters. Halfway down the waterfall, she heard a youthful voice that was carried by the wind. "Glide like there''s no tomorrow, leave behind all the pain and sorrow." "Give us the power of flight, aid us in our current plight!" [Zephyr!] Not long after, she felt something grab her waist and playful voice of a boy whispered in her ears. "Hang on tight." Milfa forcefully opened her eyes and saw a young boy that looked similar to a goblin grinning at her. She instinctively knew that it was a ''human'', and she hugged him as if her life depended on it. "Don''t worry, you''re safe now," The young boy said. They floated down the waterfall and Milfa felt her consciousness fading from the relief and exhaustion that she had experienced. She unconsciously hugged the young boy tighter which made him yell in pain. "Sister! Not so tight! I can''t breathe!" Milfa wasn''t able to hear his voice as the darkness caught her in its embrace. The young boy gritted his teeth and softly landed on the riverbed. The moment his feet landed, Milfa''s weight pinned him down and he fell unto the ground. He tried to push her away, but she held him in a death grip. "Sister! Wake up!" The young boy gently tapped her cheeks, but nothing happened. ''Why are you so heavy? Are girls supposed to be this heavy?'' The young boy didn''t know that her clothes were made from a special material that was as sturdy as a leather armor. The only downside was that it got heavier when soaked in water. He was gasping for breath when he heard a voice not far away from him. "Oi! Kei! Did you manage- Pffft!" Kei looked at his best friend who was laughing at his misfortune. He was holding a girl in a princess carry that looks similar to the one that was on top of him.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Ah! Little John! Help me ah! This girl is heavy ah!" Little John''s reply was another round of laughter. "What kind of man are you? You can''t even carry a girl?!" "I''m just a boy ah! Not a man ah!" Kei said. "She''s heavy ah! Like a pig ah! Help ah!" Little John walked over in large strides, and Kei even heard him introduce himself to the girl he was carrying. "My name is not a giant. My name is Little John." Kei watched him carefully help the girl stand on her own before coming to his aid. Little John looked at the current situation and scratched his head. "I''m afraid I can''t help you Kei." "Why?" "She is holding unto you too tightly. I might break her bones if I used too much force to separate the two of you." The other girl approached Kei and looked at her sister anxiously. "I''m sorry, she has this habit to hold on tight to something when she''s feeling scared." "What''s your name sister?" Kei asked. "My name is Tifa, and the one holding you is my little sister Milfa." "So this pig sister is called Milfa." "Pfft!" Tifa covered her lips with both of her hands. This was the second time she laughed after escaping their village and she felt the relief and exhaustion wash over her. She fainted and fell on top of her sister. "Nooooo!" Kei screamed. "Little John Help! I''m gonna die! Help!" Little John chuckled and carried the unconscious Tifa away. "I''m afraid you need to stay like that until she wakes up." "At least, bring me back to our camp. I can''t stay here." "Alright." Little John picked up Kei and Milfa like a sack of grain and carried them on his shoulder. He placed Tifa on his other shoulder and headed towards their camp. ------------------------ Three hours later¡­ Milfa slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was a goblin drooling in his sleep. The gears on her head started to turn and she realized that she was holding unto him. She hastily released him and pushed him away. The young boy rolled off the bed and banged his head on the floor. "Ouch! What?! Where?!" the young boy shouted in surprise. "What''s Happening?!" Kei grudgingly stood up and looked at the girl who was still in the bed looking anxiously at him. "Who are you?" Milfa asked. "Where am I? Where is my sister?!" "First and foremost, please calm down sister. I''m not a bad person. Do you want a lollipop?" Kei asked. "Mine is long, sweet and delicious! If you taste it once you would be begging me for more." Milfa looked at the boy in front of him and remembered that he was the one who saved her. She blushed in embarrassment and averted her gaze. "I''m sorry for pushing you away." "Also, thank you for saving me," she added. The young boy scratched his cheek. "It''s fine. My name is Kei and you don''t have to worry about your sister. She''s safe." Milfa glanced at him and her face still had a tinge of redness. "Thank you, I promise to repay this kindness in the future." "You don''t have to do that." "No, I insist!" Kei was at a loss of words. He could see the sincerity in Milfa''s eyes so he decided to just talk about something else. "How did you and your sister end up falling in the waterfall?" "Th-That was¡­" Milfa wanted to tell the truth, but she doesn''t know if it would be appropriate to drag other people into their problem. While she was pondering on what to do next, the flap of the tent opened and she saw a familiar face. Milfa jumped off the bed and hugged her sister. "Sister, I''m glad you''re safe!" Tifa hugged her back and patted her head. Kei quietly left the tent. He knew that the two girls had some catching up to do and was tactful enough to give them space. A handsome young man was busy tending the fire and preparing their dinner. He was none other than Little John who returned to his normal form. He was only ten years old, just like him, and yet he was already six feet tall. The reason was because Little John had the Titan Bloodline running through his veins. Bloodline Hunters [Part 1] "Oh, you''re finally awake Kei," Little John said with a smile. Kei sat beside him with a pout. "That pig sister pushed me out of the bed." Little John chuckled and handed him a stick of freshly grilled fish. "Careful, it''s hot." "Thank you." Kei blew and made sure that the fish was not too hot before taking a bite. A crisp sound followed as he chewed his food with gusto. "The food you make is really delicious! Is this really just grilled fish?" "It is." "Then why is it so delicious?" Little John took out a bottle from his storage bag and showed it to Kei. "I used the seasoning that my little sister gave me before we left on our trip." He beamed with pride as he mentioned his sister. Kei nodded his head in acknowledgement. Little John''s sister, Little Daisy, was an amazing cook. She was only nine years old-- but her skill when it came to cooking food-- would not lose to the master chefs of the kingdom. "Ai~ Her future husband is going to be lucky," Kei said while eating his grilled fish with relish. "Huh? Are you saying that you''re not going to marry my sister?" Kei choked while eating his food and he thumped his chest in panic. Little John hurriedly gave him a waterskin and Kei drank in big gulps in order to push the food down his throat. "Pwah!" Kei massaged his chest and looked at Little John with a face that was suffering from injustice. Little John coughed and averted his gaze. "I''m serious you know." Kei didn''t pay attention to him and the two of them ate their dinner in silence. Little John was about to take his second helping of grilled fish when the sound of footsteps from behind caught their attention. The twins walked hand in hand in their direction. Little John gestured for the two of them to take a seat. The two girls sat properly and they were rewarded with two freshly grilled fish from the campfire. They gave their thanks and ate. The moment they sank their teeth on the fish they were awed by how delicious it was. The two ate with fervor because they were really hungry. Little John handed them a second helping and they happily accepted. When they were done, they stared at the campfire in silence. Kei lightly coughed to catch their attention. "Now, can you tell us what happened? Did the two of you fall on the waterfall by accident?"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The twins glanced at each other before looking back at Kei. "We were being chased and had no other choice but to jump unto the river," Tifa said. "Can we stay with you for tonight? I promise that we will leave when morning comes." "Leave? Where will the two of you go?" Little John asked. Milfa tugged her sister''s clothes and Tifa nodded her head. She looked at Little John with a smile. "We will head to the town of Veritas," Milfa answered. "Our Grandpa will meet us there." "Oh? What a coincidence! We are also headed to the town of Veritas," Kei said. "Why don''t we all go together?" The twins trembled when they heard Kei''s suggestion. They didn''t know how to react to his good intentions. The two were worried that their pursuers might still be hot on their trail and they didn''t want to involve their saviors in their problem. Little John sighed and took out a piece of wood. He then used a small knife and started to carve. "Are there perhaps bad guys after the two of you?" The twins didn''t reply, but their silence gave Kei and Little John the answer they were looking for. Suddenly, the silence of the night was broken by barking sounds from the distance. Tifa and Milfa immediately stood up. The two of them wanted to run away, but they couldn''t leave their saviors behind. They would never forgive themselves if anything bad happened to the two of them. The two unsheathed the daggers on their waist and waited. Little John glanced at Kei and the latter gave him a thumbs up. "Spirit Hounds," Kei said in amusement. "The ones after the two of you are quite persistent." Tifa stood beside Little John. "Don''t worry," Tifa said while taking a battle pose. "We won''t let anything happen to the two of you." Milfa positioned herself near Kei and looked anxiously at the darkness. The barking sounds were getting nearer. Little John stood from his seat and patted Tifa''s head. "I''ll handle this." "No! There''s too many of them." "You don''t have to worry," Kei said while taking another grilled fish from the campfire. "Even if there''s a hundred of them, they won''t stand a chance against Little John." Little John walked a few meters away from them. With every step he grew taller and the twins stared with mouths agape at his transformation. The six foot tall Little John was now over twenty meters tall. He casually grabbed a tree and uprooted it with ease. A few moments later, the spirit hounds appeared. Their eyes eerily glowed in the darkness and they growled fearlessly at Little John. "Need some help?" Kei asked. "No need, I can handle these small fries." "Alright. Go get them, Little John." With a deafening roar, Little John charged at the pack of spirit hounds and brandished the tree in his hands. With each swipe, tens of spirit hounds turned into particles of light. The ground shook as Little John went into a frenzy. Sounds of destruction echoed in the forest and everything that stood in his path were smashed to pieces. Kei cheered from the side while the twins had looks of disbelief on their faces. In just a span of three minutes all the spirit hounds had been eliminated. Little John casually walked back to their camp while the effect of his Titan form slowly faded. A handsome man standing six foot tall smiled at the two girls. "We will accompany the two of you to the town of Veritas tomorrow," Little John said. "Any complaints?" The twins shook their heads in unison. There was a slight blush on Tifa''s cheeks as she stared starry eyed at Little John. Milfa, on the other hand, looked at Kei and understood why he looked so calm. Kei noticed her staring at him and gave her a wink in return. "I know that I am good looking, but you don''t have to stare at me like that sister Milfa." Milfa stuck out her tongue for a few seconds before rolling her eyes at him. ''You look like a goblin and you still dare to call yourself handsome?'' She sneakily glanced at Kei one more time. ''I guess, you are kinda cute for a goblin.'' She was not aware that a tinge of red was creeping up her face. She was lucky that it was dark and Kei was not able to see her expression. Otherwise, he would have teased her again. Bloodline Hunters [Part 2] "Interesting¡­," the woman with the staff said while looking at her crystal ball. "Titan Bloodline. We caught a big fish." The man with the great axe moved closer to take a peek at her crystal ball. "We would be able to sell him for a good price." "Indeed. The boss will be pleased with such a specimen." "How about those two girls?" "There''s not much to tell. I didn''t see them use any abilities during the fight," the woman said. "Perhaps, they still haven''t awakened yet." The two looked at the map in front of them and tried to pinpoint the location of the battle. It was faint, but the woman was able to tell the general direction where her summoned creatures perished. The woman narrowed her eyes. "I see. It''s very close to the town of Veritas." "Oh? Then that will make things easier." "Indeed. I''ll send word to the boss." The man walked towards the window. He saw his men tying the women and children with enchanted ropes to ensure that none of them would be able to escape. He turned his head to look at the woman. "I want some of the Titan''s blood." "Greedy, aren''t yah?" The man smiled and and headed to her direction. He gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. "I need it." "Mmm, very well," the woman said while caressing his chest. "I''ll see what I can do." ---------------------- Kei, Little John, and the twins were riding a carriage headed towards the town of Veritas. Little John and Tifa sat on the coachman seat while Kei and Milfa were on the passenger''s seat. "So you''re meeting your Grandpa in the town of Veritas right?" Kei asked. Milfa hesitated for a while before nodding her head. Kei didn''t say anything and looked outside the carriage window. It was a bit cloudy and the wind was cold. Kei closed his eyes and felt the humidity in the air. ''A storm is approaching.''Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. He returned his gaze to the anxious girl in front of him. "Where do you plan to meet your Grandpa?" "Th-That¡­" "Do you know the reason why you''re being chased?" "No." It was only a few hours since they left their camp and started their journey towards the town of Veritas. It would take them roughly six hours to reach their destination. Kei was trying to get as much information as he could from the sisters, but they only gave him vague answers. He sighed and scratched his head. The only thing he was sure of was that the twins were being chased and their pursuers were not ''ordinary'' people. The fact that they can use spirit hounds to track people made them more dangerous. "Can I ask a question?" Milfa asked while staring at him with an amused expression. "Sure." "Are you a human or a goblin? Perhaps a goblin half breed?" "I''m human," Kei answered. ''Maybe.'' Milfa tilted her head. "You really look like a goblin, especially when you smile." "Hmp! Don''t you know that my smile can make babies cry from a hundred meters away?" "Wow! Is that true?" "Yes," Kei said and nodded his head firmly. "That is how amazing I am." Kei chuckled and began to tell her about his adventures with Little John. Milfa listened to his story and forgot about their current plight. Six hours passed by and they finally arrived at the town of Veritas. They entered the gate that was reserved for the nobles. The guards didn''t stop them which surprised the twins. Little John maneuvered the carriage inside the city and headed to an inn called ''Robin''s Hood''. It was the most popular inn in Veritas and Kei decided to stay there for a while. "It would be best if the two of you stay with us until you meet with your Grandpa," Kei said. "I''ll get three rooms. You and your sister can share a room." "You really shouldn''t bother," Tifa replied. "We can find an inn for ourselves." Milfa nodded her head. "We have money." Kei chuckled and raised his chin in arrogance. "I have more money than the two of you combined." The two girls were at a loss on how to proceed with their conversation. They argued with Kei, but in the end he managed to convince the two of them. They grudgingly accepted his generosity and the four went inside the inn to book some rooms. Unknown to them, a man was watching them from a parked carriage across the street. "Oh the irony!" the man said. "For my targets to enter my base of operation on their own is truly an interesting twist of fate." He took out a crystal ball from his storage ring and smirked. "Come to Veritas, our guests have arrived." "Yes, My Lord." "Did you find a suitable candidate?" The woman on the crystal ball smiled. "Yes. We will be arriving before the sun sets My Lord." "Very well. We will proceed with our plan as soon as you arrive," the man said. "Make haste." "As you command." The man returned the crystal ball to his storage ring and stepped down from the carriage. He leisurely entered the inn and walked towards the manager. The manager saw him and immediately bowed his head to pay his respect. The man gestured for the man to come closer and whispered something in his ear. At first the manager was surprised, but he nodded his head. The man climbed the stairs and headed to the VIP room of the inn. He need to make the necessary preparations in order to welcome his guests with open arms. Bloodline Hunters [Part 3] "This room is pretty decent," Kei said. "As expected of the best inn in Veritas." He sat on the bed and closed his eyes. Kei like to meditate when he was tackling a problem that needed immediate action. He sat there for half an hour before a knock on the door brought him out of his stupor. "Come in." The door opened and Little John entered the room. He has a frown on his face and Kei knew that something was wrong. "Something doesn''t feel right," Little John said. "This feeling, I''ve felt this before." Kei made a gesture and Little John nodded his head. The two of them took out identical bracelets from their storage bags. This was an invention that was made by Little John''s father. It was an artifact that allowed two people to talk via telepathy. However, its effective range was only 5 meters. Little John''s father called it a failure because he was aiming for something that could be used to communicate with another over great distances. Although it was deemed as a failure, it was more than enough for the two young boys to talk without worrying about others overhearing their conversation. {Explain,} Kei said. {What do you mean that you have felt this feeling before?} {Do you remember ''that'' time before we met?} {That time, are you saying¡­} Little John crossed his arms on his chest and looked at him seriously. {We may be dealing with those kinds of people.} {Bloodline Hunters,} Kei clicked his tongue. In his mind, Bloodline Hunters were all scum that should be wiped out from the face of Eleison. They started as a bandit group and later became an organization that spanned the entire continent. They were always looking for rare bloodlines to sell at the black market. Some of their captives were turned into slaves, others were used as experimental subjects. However, there were some hunters that took things to the extreme and ''collected'' the true bloodlines from the blood of their captives. The process of blood extraction was a very painful one and only one end awaited those who were unlucky enough to fall into their hands. A slow and painful death. At most, they would be able to collect a few drops and they would sell it to the highest bidder. Those who acquired these rare bloodlines used it to create abominations that only obeyed their command. {If what you say is true then this is going to be very troublesome.} Kei pinched the bridge of his nose. A sigh escaped Little John''s lips. {Kei, we need a plan.} The two talked for more than an hour and Little John left the room with a troubled expression. Kei, on the other hand, left the inn and went to the Adventurer''s Guild of Veritas. Unknown to the two of them, Tifa and Milfa were having a very important discussion in their own room. "What do we do sister?" Milfa asked. "Should we leave without telling them?" Tifa sighed. She knew that they couldn''t stay with the two boys who saved them, but where should they go? What should they do? There were many questions on her mind and the answers were nowhere to be found.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. "For now, let''s wait," Tifa said. "We''ll decide on our next move when morning comes." Milfa nodded her head. She knew what her sister was thinking; and the only thing she could do was trust her. "The sun will set in an hour. I wonder what that little goblin is doing," Milfa muttered absentmindedly. Tifa heard her sister''s careless words and smiled. "Do you like him?" "Huh? Like who?" "Like Kei." "Wh-What do you mean?" Milfa said while stuttering. "Who would like someone like him?" Tifa covered her lips with a hand and suppressed her laughter. Milfa pouted and pinned her down on the bed. The two rolled on the sheets and their laughter reverberated in the room. Milfa lightly pinched her older sister on the cheek. "Don''t think that I don''t know that you''re interested in Little John." "I am interested in him." "Because he is handsome?" "Yes, very handsome," Tifa replied while grinning. "How about your little goblin? Why do you like him?" Milfa blushed and averted her gaze. "I don''t know." "You don''t know?" "He make me feel safe for some reason." Tifa raised an eyebrow at her sister''s reply. There were a few boys back in their village that liked her sister, but she just ignored them. ''Makes her feel safe¡­'' Tifa thought about the young boy who looks like a goblin. Indeed, there was something about him that was different from the other boys she had met in their village. He had a certain charm that was hard to describe. The way he moved, the way he talked, the way he presented himself. Tifa''s lips curled into a smile because she found the reason why Milfa was smitten with Kei. ''Confidence. That boy is radiating an aura of confidence.'' "Why are you smiling sister?" Milfa asked. "Don''t tell me that you like him too?" "Who knows? Kei is cute so¡­" "No! You can''t like hi-" Milfa covered her mouth with her hand. She was surprised that she raised her voice against her sister. For some reason, the thought of her sister liking Kei made her heart ache. ''Is this jealousy?'' Milfa thought. ''I''m jealous of my sister?'' Tifa was taken aback by her sister''s sudden outburst. This was the first time she acted like this and it was because of a boy. ''It seems that she likes him more than I thought.'' Milfa fell sideways on the bed and covered her face with her hands. She was blushing and she didn''t want her sister to see her face. Tifa knew that now was not the right time to poke the hornet''s nest and let her sister be. Sounds of knocking were heard on their door and Tifa approached it carefully. "Who is it?" "Sorry to disturb you our esteemed guests," the manager of the inn said. "Dinner is ready. Would you like to have them in your room or would you rather have them in our inn''s dining room?" Tifa opened the door and looked at the manager. "There were two boys with us¡­" "Two boys?" the manager said with a frown. "There was only this handsome man in the dining room. I believe his name was John or something." "Little John." "Ah! Yes, it was young master Little John," the manager said. "The young boy that came with the three of you left the inn a short while ago." Milfa approached the door and stood beside her sister. "He left?" "Yes. I don''t know where he went, but he''ll probably be back soon." "Very well, we will follow you to the dining room." The twins followed the manager to the inn''s dining room reserved for special guests and marveled at how luxurious it was. Little John waved at the two of them. "Let''s eat. I''m hungry." Tifa sat beside Little John while Milfa sat across them. "Where is Kei?" Milfa asked. "There are a few things that he needed to take care of," Little John answered. "Don''t worry he''ll be back soon." Little John gestured for the manager to serve the meal. The staff of the hotel moved efficiently and soon the table was laid out with delicious dishes. They left after finishing the task; leaving only the manager behind. "Please enjoy your meal," the manager said. "Call for me if you need anything else." He bowed to the three of them before leaving the room. "Let''s dig in," Little John said while heaping piles of food on his plate. The twins were more reserved, but they chose the dishes that looked delicious. The three ate their dinner until they were full. Meanwhile¡­ "It''s been half an hour. Let''s check on them." "Yes, My Lord." The lady with the staff bowed to the man in front of her. The two of them went to the inn''s dining room. When they opened the door they saw the twins and Little John collapsed on the floor. The man smirked and caressed Milfa''s cheeks. "What a very beautiful girl," the man said without looking at the woman. "I will train these girls as my personal maid servants." The woman with the staff didn''t say anything and passed two black collars to the man. The man gently clasped the collar on Milfa''s neck and did the same to Tifa. When he was done, he pricked his fingertip until blood started to come out. He smudged his finger on the two collars and they glowed bright red. "Sleep my little darlings," the man said affectionately. "The moment the two of you wake up, your new lives will begin."