Chapter Three: The Demon Lord Makes a Fortune

"Luina, I'm done."

In the early afternoon a week after appearing before Luina, who was

currently harvesting crops with Marie's help, Anima went outside to report

that he had finished filling the water tank in the kitchen.

The three of them were wearing matching straw hats they'd received as

gifts from one of the vendors in Garaat. Anima had crossed the Desert of

Perish unguarded, so the sunlight couldn't do any harm to him, but he felt

like wearing matching clothes would bring them closer together. The horns

on his head made if feel more like the hat was thrown on than actually being

worn, but that didn't change the sense of belonging it gave him.

"Thank you, Anima. That's very helpful."

"I'm glad to be of help. Is there anything else I can do for you? I'll have

any physical labor done in the blink of an eye!"

He wanted to help her any way he could. Taking care of the physical

labor surely lessened the burden on her body, made obvious by the noticeable

change in her complexion. When they'd first met, Luina had been awfully

pale, but her face was regaining its color little by little. The amount of food

they'd received as presents helped too, of course, but Anima prided himself

on lessening the burden on her body and helping her become healthier.

"You've been working a lot lately. You helped us repair the roof, made

the house sparkling clean, and fixed the broken fence, so go and get some

well-deserved rest."

"Well, I couldn't let it stay broken." Seeing the destroyed fence must've

reminded her of the terrible attack. Anima had wanted to bolster the house's

defenses with his spells so Luina could feel safe, but the house was made of

wood, so his spells didn't work on it. "Anyway, you don't have to worry

about me. Let me help you with something. Ah, I know! You must be tired

after all that harvesting! Should I rub your shoulders? Are you thirsty?"

"You spoil me."

Page 61 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"D-Does it bother you?"

"No, not at all. I'm happy to have married such a kind man."

Luina's gentle smile warmed his heart.

"That's good to hear. I'm happy as long as you're happy."

"I'm happy as long as you're happy as well. I'll try to cook something

super yummy again as my way of thanking you for all your hard work!"

"You always cook something yummy. I can't wait for dinner."

"Daddy, are you hungry?" Marie asked while playing in the mud.

"Mm-hmm, I sure am!"

"Lemme help!" She scooped up a bit of mud and began kneading it

together. From the looks of it, she was making a mud pie. "'Kay! Dinny's

ready!"

"Is this… Did you make this for me?"

"Uh-huh! Good job, Daddy!"

Marie's brilliant, ear-to-ear smile was too cute for Anima to take.

"Luina, look! Marie… Marie made me dinner!"

"That's wonderful!"

"It… It really is. I'm so happy." Anima had dreamt of the day when

Marie would grow up and have a delicious feast waiting for him at home, but

he didn't expect that day to come so soon. "Can I dig in?"

"You gotta say thank you, 'member?"

"Thank you for dinny!"

Moved to tears, Anima brought the mud pie to his mouth.

"Wait, you shouldn't—!"

Luina frantically tried to say something, but Anima took a big bite of it

and fervently gulped it down before she could finish.

"Is it nummy?"

"It is! You're an incredible cook, Marie!"

"I'll make s'more!"

Driven by Anima's praise, Marie immediately jumped into making more

mud pies. While he was excitedly waiting for seconds, Luina leaned in and

whispered to him.

"Umm, Anima… Normally, you'd just pretend to eat it. Didn't it make

your stomach hurt?"

"I don't feel pain. My body is used to this sort of thing."

"Is that a reason to have eaten it, though…?"

Luina was thoroughly confused, but Anima knew that mud pies weren't

Page 62 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

edible. Marie had gone out of her way to help her hungry daddy, though;

she'd dirtied her hands and made the best pie she could just to make him

happy. In his eyes, that more than qualified it as a proper meal. Because of

the gentle love and care she put into it, he found even a pie made of nothing

but mud tasty.

"More's ready! Daddy, here comes the cabbage!"

His little daughter was trying to feed him. Such a gentle, adorable

gesture sent him over the moon with joy.

"Ahhhnmh…"

When he opened his mouth, Marie stuffed the whole pie into it, sending

Luina into a panic.

"Can you breathe?"

"Ah cin bwfhh!" Anima answered her with a smile. The pie was too big

to eat in a single bite, but it wasn't big enough to make him choke. He simply

stuffed the whole thing into his cheeks. There were a couple small pebbles

mixed into the pie, so he crunched on them for a while, then gulped it all

down and stood up. "Okay! My tummy is full, so it's time to do some more

work! Should I bring in the laundry?"

Luina had hung it out to dry in the morning, so it should have been

ready to fold and put away. The weather was clear all day, so there was no

reason for any of it to be still wet.

"No, I'll take care of it. I'm sure you're tired."

"Not at all. Besides, I've watched you do it before."

Luina always took responsibility for doing the laundry. Anima offered

his help every time, but she told him to do something else every time.

However, Luina must have been tired from a long day of work at the field.

Her hands were all dirty, making it impossible for her to collect the laundry,

so it was the perfect chance for Anima to learn how to do a new chore and

lessen the burden on her even further.

"B-But…"

"I'm telling you, don't worry about it. I'll take care of the laundry, so

take this chance to get some rest." He went over and picked up the basket

from under the clothesline, then started taking the clothes off and putting

them into the basket, but his hands stopped after taking the first piece off the

line. "Th-This is…"

The soft, smooth fabric in his hands was none other than a pair of

panties. He glanced at Luina, only to see her bury her beet red face in her

Page 63 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

hands and sway her body around, trying to rid herself of the embarrassment.

He finally understood why she tried to keep him from doing the laundry.

"I-I mean, we bathe together every day, and I see your underwear in the

dressing room all the time. There's no reason to be sheepish about it!"

He tried to defuse the situation, but it completely backfired on him;

Luina was getting even redder.

"You meanie!"

Luina dragged herself over to the clothesline and plucked a large pair of

underwear off it. It was a pair of Anima's underwear that he'd gotten as a

wedding gift from the tailor. Luina stretched it out in front of his eyes with a

smug look on her face.

"E-Embarrassing, isn't it?!"

She seemed to have been upset about him unintentionally embarrassing

her. Her cute little plot for revenge put a smile on his face, and seeing his

underwear made him feel grateful.

"Thank you."

"Wh-Why are you thanking me?"

"For always washing my underwear." In his old world, Anima was

treated as the scum of the earth. Not a single soul would willingly touch his

underwear. Not only did Luina touch it, though, she even washed it after he'd

worn it all day. That simple act was enough to have his heart overflowing

with gratitude. "Isn't it embarrassing for you to touch my underwear,

though?"

"Well… It is…"

"You don't have to force yourself. Let me wash my own underwear

from now on. I wouldn't want you to soil your hands with it."

"I-I'm not soiling them! I would never consider my beloved husband's

underwear dirty. I'll keep washing it for you."

"Luina…"

Tears welled up in Anima's eyes. Luckily, he had a piece of cloth in his

hand, which he promptly used to wipe those tears.

"Kyah! Anima, th-that's my—!"

"S-Sorry. That was careless of me."

Anima handed Luina her underwear back, who bashfully threw it into

the basket.

"I got s'more!" Marie ran up to them with a mud pie in her hands. Her

newest creation was her magnum opus; the warm rays of the sun reflected off

Page 64 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

its polished edges. "Daddy, here comes the cabbage!"

"Ahhhnmh!"

"I'll start cooking dinner, could you bring the laundry inside?"

"Shfuwe!"

After Luina left, Anima gulped down the mud pie and got back to

gathering the laundry.

"Lemme help!" Marie chirped.

"Good girl, I appreciate it. But first, wash your hands."

"I'll make 'em sparkly!" Anima took her to the well and pulled up the

bucket. She stuck her hands into the water and splashed around while

washing them. "'Kay, all sparkly!"

"Good job!"

He pet her head, then picked her up so she would be able to reach the

clothes.

"There!" Marie shouted, pointing toward some of the laundry "There!"

"I'm going, I'm going."

After moving where she was pointing, she grabbed the swaying piece of

clothing. It was a fluffy little pair of Marie's underwear.

"Rghhh!" She tugged at it earnestly, but to no avail. "It won't come

off!"

"You have to take the clothespin off first. Here, let me show you."

He took off the pin while holding onto Marie.

"It's off! Daddy, it's off!"

She proudly presented her underwear to Anima. He praised her, then she

happily reached out toward the next piece of clothing on the line, taking

clothes off the line one piece at a time until Anima finally put her down.

"Missed me, didn't ya?!" A high-pitched voice washed over the field.

"Fear not, for I have returned!"

Anima turned around in search of the source of that voice, and found a

small girl standing outside the house. Her young face contained powerful,

crimson eyes, her small body was covered with patched-up clothes, and her

long red hair swayed in the wind. Looking smug, as if she owned the place,

she set off toward the garden, but was taken aback the moment she spotted

Anima.

"H-Hey. who are you?" she asked.

"I'm—"

"Aahhh! Myukeyyy!"

Page 65 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

Marie cut Anima's response short. She ran through the garden with a

huge smile on her face and hugged the small girl, Myuke, with so much force

that she knocked the straw hat off her own head.

Page 66 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

Page 67 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"I'm home, Marie," Myuke said as she gently pet Marie. "Did you miss

me?"

"Hug! Hug!"

"There, there. Jeez, you're so spoiled."

Myuke must have been enjoying the attention she was getting. She

joyfully tried to pick Marie up, but she didn't have enough strength to hold

her. Marie simply slipped out of her arms.

"…Whatcha starin' at?" As Anima admired the sisters' heartwarming

reunion from afar, Myuke shot him an irritated glance. She let go of Marie,

picked up the straw hat, and stared straight into his eyes. "So, who're you?"

"I'm Anima."

"As far as I'm aware, Luina doesn't know anyone by that name. Are

you here to kidnap Marie?! I'll end your life if you even try to touch her!"

In an attempt to intimidate him, she thrust her right hand out. On her

slender ring finger was a ring with a blue crystal embedded in it. Anima

recognized it as a magic stone, even if he had no idea about its powers.

"What sort of magic stone is that?" he asked in an attempt to calm her

down.

"The kind that can wipe you out in an instant!"

"Really? You must be strong."

"You bet I am! I make a killing with this stone!" As she said that, she

suddenly remembered something. "Ah, right! Tell me, Marie, where's Luina?

I want to tell her I'm back and give her the money."

She presented the leather pouch hanging from her waist in a boastful

manner. Marie looked at the bloated pouch in awe.

"Full! It's so full! Wow, you're so good!"

"You bet I'm good!" Myuke smugly puffed out her chest. "I'm your big

sister, after all! I'll keep making tons of money so you can eat delicious food

every day!"

"You were working?"

Anima had been under the impression that she was at a friend's place or

something, but in reality, she was out earning money for her family. From

what he had heard from Luina, Myuke was only twelve years old; the fact

that she was working at such a young age proved how much she loved them.

She was obviously very kind, a quality Anima admired. He hoped that she

would be quick to accept him as her new father, and that they could start their

cozy family life together.

Page 68 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"That's right. I'm a Hunter, and a strong one at that! One wrong move

and I'll blow you to smithereens!"

"Daddy's strong too! Super strong!"

"'Daddy'? Who's that?"

"Daddy, up!"

Myuke had been looking around in complete confusion while Marie ran

over to Anima and hugged his leg, but that confusion quickly turned to panic.

Seeing him pick Marie up made her tremble.

"H-Hang on a minute! A-Are you 'Daddy'?! What?! What the hell

happened while I was gone?!"

"Daddy beat a scary monster!"

"What 'scary monster'?"

"A goblin."

"Seriously?! What are the Hunters doing, letting a demon wander all the

way out here?! Did you get hurt?!"

"No."

"Not you! Marie, are you okay?! What about Luina?! Don't tell me she

got killed by the goblin!"

As a proof of her endless love for her family, Myuke was frantic at the

mere mention of possible danger. Anima hoped to be the subject of her

worries in the future.

"Don't worry, neither of them is injured. I checked them thoroughly in

the bath."

"Excuse me? Okay, wait. Why did you take a bath with Luina?!"

"Because I'm her husband."

"Great, now I have more questions than answers!"

Just as she started to stomp around in frustration, someone walked up to

them from the back entrance of the house.

"What's all the ruckus? …Ah."

Luina's eyes flew open at the sight of Myuke. Slowly but surely, tears

began rolling down her cheeks.

"Myuke!" Luina hugged her tightly. "I'm so happy you're home! Are

you hurt? Did you get into any danger? I was so worried about you!"

Anima had started to worry for Myuke's well-being too. He'd come to

realize that being a Hunter must have been a dangerous occupation. She

prided herself on her strength, but Anima didn't want to let such an adorable

little girl face any danger.

Page 69 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

There wasn't much he could do about it, though. Based on their

interaction, it seemed like that Myuke became a Hunter against Luina's will,

so it was unlikely that she would quit just because Anima said so. If she

wouldn't listen to Luina, there was no way she would listen to a 'suspicious

intruder', and forcing her to quit would create a huge rift between them,

which was out of the question.

"You're such a worrywart. Anyway, I heard you were attacked by a

goblin. Is that true?"

Luina let go of her and nodded.

"The day after you left, a goblin showed up late in the afternoon.

Fortunately, Anima saved us."

"Okay, if that's true, then is it also true that you married Anima?"

Luina's cheeks flushed.

"Yes. We're married."

"I didn't hear anything about that!" Myuke cried, aghast. "Have you

been seeing each other behind my back?!"

"No, we met on the day of the goblin attack. Then, he proposed to

me…"

"Don't you mean 'forced'?"

"No, he did nothing of the sort. I decided of my own free will to marry

him. He's a really kind person who loves children and cares for me. I felt like

he'd be the perfect match for me."

"I see… I-I guess you're the right age to get married, so I can't really

complain… By the way, how much are you bringing in every month?"

"Nothing."

"Huh?! Why aren't you working?! Hey, why's this guy such a

deadbeat?!"

"You shouldn't be so harsh on him. He helps a lot around the house!"

"But he isn't making any money! I'm not working to support some

bum! I take back everything I said; divorce him right away!"

"Fighting's bad!"

"Exactly. Anima saved us."

Being rebuked by both Marie and Luina, Myuke's face went red. She

glared at Anima, her eyes filled with rage and frustration.

"You're crazy if you think I'd share a house with you."

"That's a shame… I'll sleep in the garden, then."

"Please don't. I wouldn't want you to catch a cold. Sleep in the bed like

Page 70 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

everyone else."

"But as I understand it, Myuke would hate that."

"That's right! Never in a million years would I share a bed with you!"

Anima was dejected to learn just how much Myuke hated him, but he

decided not to voice his concerns. If at all possible, he'd have preferred to

spend his nights under the same roof, but the garden was close enough that it

didn't make a difference.

"Why can't you be friends with Anima?"

"I won't be friends with a freeloader!"

That statement gave Anima an idea.

"Would you be my friend if I made money?" he asked, prompting her to

scan him from head to toe.

"You look strong," she stated.

"I am."

"Good. And you not working means you don't have a Hunter license,

right?"

"I don't."

He didn't even know what a Hunter's responsibilities entailed. From

what he had gathered, it was a high risk, high reward job, but that was as far

as his understanding went.

"Then come with me. I'll take you to the Hunters' Guild."

"Where's that?"

"In Garaat."

"We goin' on a trip?" Marie asked with twinkling eyes. She clearly

wanted to join them.

"We are! Can you watch the house for us?"

"I wanna go too! Daddy, up!"

"Sorry, Marie. Could you help me with the chores today?"

"You won't go?"

"She won't, and leaving her alone would be sad, wouldn't it? So could

you please stay here with her?"

Marie nodded and squeezed Luina's hand, who then gently pet her head,

putting an adorable smile on her face.

"You seem to be on top of your dad game despite being a bum."

"Will you call me Daddy as well?"

"Not a chance. No matter how much like a father you may act, I'd never

call a freeloader 'Daddy'."

Page 71 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"I see. Then I'll be sure to make a good living."

"Paying for your food and room is the least you can do. Now then, let's

get going."

As Myuke turned around and prepared to set off, Anima put his straw

hat on her head, to which she turned around in surprise.

"Wh-What are you doing?"

"The sun's strong today."

"Worrywart."

"Of course I worry about you! You're my precious little daughter. I

don't care how much you despise me; I'll always love you."

"And you're my beloved husband." Luina stretched out her arm and put

a straw hat on Anima's head before looking into his eyes. "Anima, please

protect Myuke."

"Don't worry. I won't let her get so much as a scratch."

Luina smiled after hearing Anima's confident words. The first time she

ever spoke about Myuke, she had looked incredibly anxious. Now that

Myuke had come home, though, her first reaction was to tearfully embrace

her. It was easy to see that Luina didn't want Myuke to work. At least, not as

a Hunter.

The fact that Myuke was a strong-willed, independent girl was also

abundantly clear. There were countless other avenues to establish an income,

so it was a mystery why Myuke had chosen to be a Hunter, but that was

beside the point. For as long as she put herself in harm's way, it was Anima's

duty to protect her.

"All right, let's go. We'll be back before dinner!"

"Take care!"

"Bye-bye!"

While his youngest daughter and wife waved goodbye, Anima set off

with Myuke for Garaat.

◆◆◆

Relaxing on a sofa at a bar in Garaat, Krain was enjoying the enamoring

aroma of the group of women tending to his every need. They all wore

alluring clothes, their breasts almost completely uncovered, yet he had

something completely different on his mind: if he wasn't able to dispose of

Anima by midnight, he would have to face Malshan's wrath. Failing his

Page 72 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

mission was not an option—not if he wanted to keep his wealth, his status,

and his life.

I have to sneak into Luina's house. There's no other way.

Doing so would give him a chance to fight Anima. The goblin hadn't

even been able to scratch him, but Krain was certain that the magic stone

Malshan had given him would make the fight trivial.

Unfortunately, however, there were other factors he had to consider, the

biggest of which being that killing Anima would land him in a heap of

trouble. He could sweep assault and rape allegations under the rug with ease,

but he couldn't talk his way out of having used that magic stone. The

capital's best Hunters would surely be notified of someone using such a

monster for murder, and they would sniff him out and capture him.

Such a fate could have been avoided by leaving no witnesses, and while

he had the liberty to dispose of the children, he couldn't lay a finger on

Luina. She was supposed to become Malshan's wife; Malshan would no

doubt have his head if any harm came to her. Instead, he decided to fabricate

a reason he could give the authorities to justify murdering Anima in cold

blood.

If I can bait him into going on a frenzy, I can write off using the stone as

necessary to subjugate a violent criminal. Killing him would simply be an

"accident".

In order for his plan to work, he would need at least one eyewitness who

could corroborate his story. Simply put, he needed Anima to go on a rampage

in a well-populated area—an area like the middle of Garaat.

He already had the bait to enrage Anima at the ready; all he had to do

was wait for his arrival. Much to his dismay, however, Anima was nowhere

to be found. With the deadline approaching at an alarming rate, a cold drop of

sweat rolled down his cheek.

"How about a refill, sweetie?" The girl sitting next to him leaned on his

shoulder and whispered into his ear with a sweet, soft voice.

"Do not speak to me!"

"I-I'm sorry!" She trembled in fear as Krain kicked the table.

"I told you not to speak!"

"I-Is everything okay, Lord Krain?"

The manager came rushing out in a panic while Krain lifted the girl's

chin with his finger.

"This girl is an eyesore. Fire her this instant."

Page 73 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"B-But—"

"You dare talk back to me? Do you have any idea who I am?!"

"M-My deepest apologies, Sir. You, get out of here. Quickly."

"B-But I didn't do anything wrong!"

"Get out of my sight! Now!" Upon Krain's enraged shout, the girl

stormed out of the bar in tears. "Dammit!"

Normally, he would calm down after such an outburst, but the seething

rage clouding his mind kept eating away at him. In such a confused state,

he'd stand no chance against Anima. He had to do something about it, so he

let his eyes drift over the shocked women present in the bar, stopping at the

one with the largest breasts.

"You. Come with me."

The woman whose arm he grabbed looked at the manager for help, who,

after a moment of hesitation, nervously opened her mouth.

"M-May I ask why you're taking her with you?"

"Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

"W-With all due respect, Sir, we don't provide such a service…"

"Then I'll pay you a full gold piece after the fact! Are you still against

coming with me?"

"S-Stop…" the girl whispered.

Krain usually reveled in his sadistic nature when he felt women's

disgusted stares piercing him, but his rage overshadowed any semblance of

pleasure.

"Stop? Why? You seriously think you're worth more than a gold coin?

Huh? Listen here: you'd better watch your mouth. The girls who dare to

reject me tend to mysteriously end up getting beaten to a pulp in the middle

of the night."

The woman trembled in fear hearing Krain's menacing threats.

She slowly got up from the sofa without fighting back, when a bald man

stormed into the building.

"Krain!" he, one of Krain's underlings, shouted.

"What do you want?"

"Well…"

The man whispered into Krain's ear, causing a grin to blossom on his

face.

"Good," Krain said. "He's finally here."

"Indeed. He's currently with the Hunter who returned earlier today."

Page 74 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

In the nick of time, luck found its way to Krain. With his mood turned

around, he looked at his subordinate.

"Get me all the booze and all the girls! We're throwing a party! Go

ahead and pick a girl for yourself; otherwise you'll be left hanging when the

rest of my people arrive."

"Understood!" The bald man looked through the bar with a lustful gaze.

"That girl is mine, though. I hope you're not planning to escape,

gorgeous. You know what will happen if you do."

At the pale, terrified woman's reluctant nod, Krain left the bar.

◆◆◆

Walking through a bustling district of Garaat, Anima noticed that the

streets were dotted with a number of adult establishments where attractive

women were trying to lure in potential customers.

"Ooh, you're quite the hottie, white hair! Why don't we have some fun

together? Come, I'll show you inside."

A scantily-clad girl wedged herself between Anima and Myuke,

approaching him with a seductive smile—an unthinkable scenario in his

original world. Her friendly demeanor made him happy, but he firmly stood

his ground.

"I'm married. I would much sooner die than be unfaithful."

"G-Goodness, is that so…?"

The girl was completely dumbfounded; she had probably never been

rejected so bluntly before. Anima was starting to feel bad for her.

"What're you dragging your feet for? We have places to be!" Myuke

chided him before he could say anything else. Assuming that she was afraid

of walking through the red-light district alone wasn't far-fetched, and Anima

couldn't have his precious daughter feel unnerved, so he hurried to her side,

only to be thanked with a doubtful glare. "You were flirting back there,

weren't you?"

"I don't care for other women. I have Luina."

"How about making some dough if you love her so much?"

"Don't worry, I will. I'll make enough that you can relax back at home

without worrying about money."

He didn't know for sure, but it seemed like Hunters fought demons for

money. The only demon he'd faced had been more fragile than a stick, but

Page 75 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

given how Luina had reacted to seeing Myuke, they clearly posed a threat.

She was worried to death for her and had broken down in tears. Anima

simply couldn't allow his daughter to do something so dangerous.

"You make it sound simple, but making a living as a Hunter is no easy

task. I gave it my all last week, and I basically made pocket change."

"Really?" Anima glanced at her leather pouch, but she quickly moved

her hand over it.

"Point is, making it as a Hunter is tough! I'm actually working as a

Hunter, so you'd better believe me!"

"Oh, I see. Then please, pass on the secret teachings of Hunters to me,

Master."

Myuke's lips twitched ever so slightly.

"Wh-What did you just say?"

"I asked for your expertise as a Hunter. You're the only one I can ask,

Master."

"R-Right… 'Master', huh?" She suddenly put on a smug smile and

placed her had proudly on her chest. "All right, listen up! I, your kind,

dependable Master, will teach you the ropes! Everyone begins their journey

as a one-star Hunter, but at that rank, you're not allowed to work alone. In

other words, if you want to make money, you'll need me by your side!"

"I also want to stay by your side. I promised Luina I'd protect you."

"I-I'm not so weak that I need a bodyguard! Then again, I don't want to

make Luina worry, so I'll keep you company! By the way, what sort of magic

stones do you use?"

"What do you mean?"

"If we're gonna work together, it's better if I understand what you're

capable of. I can see that you're using a minotaur stone, but what else do you

have up your sleeve?"

Anima's horns were hidden by his straw hat, but Myuke had gotten a

glimpse of them when he'd given her his hat. She believed that they were a

byproduct of using a minotaur's magic stone, but since she was someone he

cared about, loved, and wanted to be accepted by, he had no reason to keep

up that facade.

"I've had these horns since I was born."

"Are you making me out to be stupid just because of my age?"

"Not at all. I was summoned from another world."

"You have some nerve, playing pranks on your Master!" Myuke pouted.

Page 76 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

The fact that she didn't believe him proved that she didn't know about

the existence of the Harbinger stone. He probably needed to be careful about

mentioning it in the future; a unique, one-of-a-kind magic stone would no

doubt attract some unwanted attention. One slip of the tongue could easily

put a target on their backs, and yet despite that, Luina had chosen to share

such valuable information with him.

To anyone else, she probably played off her pendant as a simple

accessory. Keeping secrets from family was not to his liking, but he couldn't

reveal something to Myuke that Luina had deliberately kept hidden from her.

"Anyway, I don't have any magic stones."

"I see… Well, not like it matters when you've got the strength to take

on a goblin all by yourself. By the way, didn't the goblin drop a magic stone?

Selling that would be a good start to covering your living expenses."

"It didn't. It exploded from the impact, so maybe the stone was

destroyed along with it."

"Breaking a magic stone… Just how strong does that stone make you?!"

Myuke said under her breath, completely astonished. As far as Anima had

gathered, a minotaur stone enhanced its user's physical abilities, so it was in

line with her suspicions.

"By the way," Anima began, "what kind of magic stone are you using?"

"Th-That's a… secret." Myuke glanced away awkwardly.

"Why are you keeping it a secret? Didn't you say it'd be better to know

each other's strengths?"

"Don't talk back to your Master! I do things my own way!"

"I understand. I apologize for my rudeness."

"G-Good." She increased her pace while trying to shrug the topic off,

before suddenly stopping in front of a stone building far taller than any other

along the street. "We're here. This is the Hunters' Guild."

"What is the Hunters' Guild, exactly?"

Words gushed forth from Myuke like a waterfall. She loved it when

Marie clung to her, so it was safe to assume that she enjoyed being relied on.

According to her, the Hunters' Guild was responsible for

communicating to Hunters the requests they or the country at large received.

In order to make a killing, one had to take on difficult and dangerous

requests, but one-star Hunters could only do simple jobs. For their own

safety, they couldn't even accept jobs on their own. They could technically

join high-ranking hunters on their quests, but they were viewed as nothing

Page 77 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

but dead weight, so that option only existed in theory. Therefore, one-star

Hunters were almost always stuck with other one-star Hunters.

After climbing the ranks or being recognized by the state, one would

earn the rank of eight-star Hunter and would gain access to the highestpaying contracts. In exchange for such wealth, however, eight-star Hunters

were unable to turn down requests from the state. All in all, becoming an

eight-star was an incredible honor, and was pursued by all beginners.

"So, if I've got this correct, once I become an eight-star Hunter, I can

dispel all of Luina's worries."

"That's exactly why I'm aiming to become an eight-star Hunter,"

Myuke said, nodding in agreement. "But the climb isn't easy by any means.

Plus, I don't think Luina would be thrilled if you became an eight-star."

"Why is that?"

"Because she'd be worried about you. Her father was an eight-star and

had a contract with the state itself, but he passed away two years ago."

From what Anima had heard, her father had been killed by a demon, but

he didn't know that he'd died fulfilling a contract as a high-ranked Hunter.

"Myuke, why are you working as a Hunter?"

"It's the fastest way to strike it rich."

"Is money really that important?"

Luina may have been broke, but she cared more about her family than

material gains. She would never want one of her precious daughters to pull

her out of poverty by risking their life, and it was unlikely that Myuke would

overlook that.

"It is. If Luina had money, she could live the way she wants to. I'm sure

you know the house we live in is an orphanage."

"I know that, yes."

"Only Marie and I are there now, but lots more children used to live

there too. Marco, Lui, Miiru, Leo, Koru, Karma, Kurara, Ema, Luna, Lion,

Teo, Rose… But two years ago, when Luina's father passed away, paying to

keep the orphanage running got a lot harder. I've been living with Luina

since I was six, but I've never seen her more heartbroken than she was back

then."

Luina loved Myuke and Marie to bits, and she probably loved the other

children who'd lived there just as much. He didn't even want to imagine the

look in her eyes as her beloved children left one after the other, and Myuke

probably felt the same way.

Page 78 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"That's why I'm working hard to make money. If I don't, then… maybe

one day she'd have to watch Marie disappear from her life too."

Myuke hated Anima because he was a freeloader. With one more mouth

to feed, the cost of living a quiet, peaceful life drastically increased; he could

become the catalyst for losing Marie.

That didn't sit well with him, of course, but he also couldn't allow

Myuke to put her life on the line. If she still wanted to work as a Hunter, it

was his duty to protect her from any danger.

"I'll take care of the expenses," he told her, "so make sure you stay with

Luina and Marie."

"Why?"

"Because I'm worried. It's only natural for a father to protect his

daughter. Even if you despise me, I'll always be looking out for you."

Anima looked at her with determination in his eyes, only to find that she

had been staring at his face all along. After looking into each other's eyes for

a while, Myuke sighed exhaustedly.

"All right. I promise to stay with them if you can make enough. I don't

like making her worry either. But I'm still your Master until you become a

proper Hunter! Don't worry, you'll be safe with me!"

"I'll work hard and quickly become a proper Hunter."

"Just make sure you don't get hurt—safety first. Anyway, we should go

inside. But first, do you have any money on you?"

"I don't. Do I need money to take requests?"

"Only the very first time. You need to pay a registration fee to become a

Hunter, but I'll be nice and cover it for you. I hope you actually make some

money so it doesn't go to waste."

"I would never waste your hard-earned money."

In response to Anima's strong nod, Myuke turned around and took a

couple of coins from her leather pouch.

"Oh, if it isn't the loser Myuke herself!"

"Come to mooch off someone again?"

Just as she pulled the coins out of her pouch, two men called out to her.

"Are they your friends?" Anima asked.

"Not in a million years," she replied coldly, trying to keep him from

getting involved. "Ignore them."

"Don't think I've seen you around before," one of the men told Anima.

"Did Myuke bring ya?"

Page 79 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"Run while you still can, compadre. This girl's a loser—a parasite that

leeches off high-ranked Hunters!"

Myuke hung her head. He couldn't see her expression, but her ears were

getting red.

"For real, she's even worse than I heard she was! We partied up with

her 'cause Krain asked us to, but she couldn't even carry our gear! She

doesn't even make a good mule!"

"Right? I almost regret paying her that five copper! Actually, pay me

back, will ya?"

"No!" Myuke quickly pulled the pouch away from the man as he

reached his hand out toward her, but in doing so, it slipped from her hand.

When it hit the ground, countless pebbles and a handful of copper coins

spilled from it. "Ah!"

With burning red cheeks and tears flowing from her eyes, she started

picking the pebbles and coins up off the ground. Watching her do so, the men

exploded with scornful laughter.

"Hey, what's this?! You can't use pebbles to pay, stupid!"

"You mean that good-for-nothing, ex-noble peasant didn't even teach

you that?!"

Myuke suddenly stood up, wiped her tears, and glared at them.

"Insult me all you want, but make you regret it if you say anything bad

Luina again!"

"A one-star nobody like you has some nerve to go up against a four-star

like me!"

"Big talk from someone who only has a splurting slime stone—"

"Eep!" Both men suddenly screamed in terror.

"You would dare speak ill of my family?"

Page 80 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

Page 81 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

Anima seethed with rage as he witnessed the men mocking the family

he so deeply loved. He wanted to kill them where they stood, but he had to

avoid resorting to violence. He wouldn't have hesitated if they'd been in a

secluded place, but there were a number of onlookers around them; word of

their brutal deaths by Anima's hand would no doubt spread like wildfire,

leading to terrible rumors about him and an abundance of trouble for his

family. He had to keep his rage in check to avoid making trouble for his

family. He had to, but he couldn't stand to let them be degraded any longer.

"Apologize to Myuke or die by my hand; the choice is yours," he

continued, the thick, overwhelming bloodlust in his eyes turning the men

pale. Anima, waiting for their apology, hadn't laid a finger them, but not a

word came from their panically flapping mouths. He took a deep breath. "I

see, so you would choose death over a simple apology. Then I shall—"

"What's going on here?!"

Just as he clenched his first, someone angrily shouted at him. The

brown-haired man the enraged voice belonged to pushed through the

onlookers and approached the four. When he finally managed to reach them,

the two men let out sighs of relief as if they'd just been dragged back from

death's door.

"You won't believe this, Krain! This man threatened us!"

"He almost killed us!"

"Oh, is that so?" Krain sneered as the two men snitched on Anima.

"This white-haired bastard must be the scum that has been assaulting women

under the veil of night!"

"Wha—?! Just what are you accusing him of?!"

"We've received reports of an ill-tempered man assaulting innocent

citizens on the empty streets at night! As a Hunter, it is my responsibility to

uphold peace and safety in this town!"

Krain spoke theatrically, as if he were the main character of some

drama, while Myuke stood dumbfounded by the outlandish claims.

"H-Hold up! This must be a misunderstanding! He… Anima isn't like

that!"

"Silence! I don't want to hear another word from the daughter of a

criminal! I, Krain, shall dispose of the filth threatening the peace of our

precious town! I will teach you pain while keeping our innocent citizens safe!

I'm so angry that I might end up accidentally killing you!"

He raised his voice even higher and touched the jet-black stone dangling

Page 82 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

from his neck, causing Myuke's eyes to pop open with shock.

"I-Is that…?! Anima, run!"

"Why?"

"'Why'?! Are you blind?! That stone is—"

Myuke fell silent as sand began to cover Krain's body. Moments later,

that sand expanded to the size of boulders. With his whole body covered in

sturdy rocks, he had become a tall, magnificent statue.

"C-C'mon, we gotta run!"

Myuke grabbed his hand as she screamed. From the looks of it, both

Myuke and the bystanders were liable to get caught up in the inevitable duel.

"Stand back, Myuke. I'll show this man his place."

"Y-You can't win against that thing! He… Krain is using a golem stone!

He'll crush you!"

"Oh, wow. Thank you for worrying about Daddy, Myuke."

"Why wouldn't I be worried about you?! What else should I do when

you're up against a golem?!"

"I'm so happy. Your kind words have filled me with strength, so you

have nothing to fear. I won't be defeated." He took off his hat and handed it

to Myuke with a powerful smile. "Please hold on to my hat. I wouldn't want

it to get torn."

"Wh-Who cares about your hat?! You're out of your mind if you're

gonna fight a monster like that! Turn around and run al—"

Myuke was cut short by the humongous shadow stretching over them.

She looked up, but her field of vision was filled with nothing but rocks. It

was as if a mountain were about to fall on her head, when in reality, it was

the golem's foot; Krain was going to crush both Anima and her.

The leg slowly, steadily descended toward them—until Anima stopped

it with one hand. His legs sunk into the ground under the unbelievable

weight.

"…What?"

Terror appeared on the crouching Myuke's face as grains of sand

trickled off the golem's foot and gracefully danced around her in the air. As

she began to realize what had just transpired, the terror was replaced by pure

astonishment.

"N-No way… He stopped a golem's attack… Just how much mana do

you need to have for such superhuman strength?"

In reality, Anima wasn't using magic; he was just insanely strong.

Page 83 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

Myuke, however, attributed the strength to take a golem's strike head-on to

having a minotaur stone filled with vast amounts of mana.

"Myuke, get back."

"A-Are you running out of mana? Let me help! I won't let you be

crushed here alone!"

Her legs were trembling, yet she bravely offered her help. She was

under a mountain of pressure, yet she was trying to protect Anima. That

gesture alone was enough to fill his heart with a fuzzy warmth.

"Don't worry. Daddy won't lose to this weakling."

"R-Really?"

"Really really. I fought some incredibly powerful enemies and defeated

them without taking a single blow. Compared to them, this is practically a

joke; I'd be surprised if he could even put a scratch me. So please, believe in

Daddy!"

"O-Okay…"

"Good girl."

He smiled gently at Myuke as she stepped back to safety, then pushed

back against the golem. Accompanied by a deep rumble, Krain toppled over,

causing the ground in the vicinity to crack and the stone pavement to

overturn, its fragments scattering at high speed. The place Myuke had been

crouching in moments earlier was buried under the debris.

As Krain struggled to get back on his feet, Anima jumped onto his

abdomen and ever-so-gently kicked him in the gut with his toe. A moment

later, small cracks ran through his stone armor before it completely shattered,

falling from his body.

Buried under the rubble of his own creation, his arm, bent at an

unnatural angle, was the only thing sticking out. Anima pulled on it, fishing

Krain out from the remnants of his golem. After holding onto him for a

moment, Anima tossed him aside like a piece of trash. He tried desperately to

get up from the ground, but his struggle was for naught.

"You… mon…ster…"

Krain was trying to crawl away, but Anima wasn't a benevolent saint to

let him go after what he'd done. He jumped in front of Krain, who screamed

in fear and buried his face into the dirt.

"F-Forgive me! Spare me, please! Spare my life!"

Krain was begging for his life, and Anima would have been willing to

let him go if he had been the only one in danger, but Krain actively tried to

Page 84 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

hurt Myuke. Such a grave offense would not be absolved even if he tore

Krain apart limb from limb, but he couldn't do that. Killing him on the spot

would lay the groundwork for horrendous rumors. His rage would fade over

time, but he would never live down exposing his family to harassment. Even

so, letting him go unscathed didn't feel right.

Trapped in that predicament, Anima finally came up with a solution. He

put on a menacing look and opened his mouth.

"If you swear never to come near my family again, I'll let you go."

"I-I swear! I swear on my life!"

"Good, but not good enough. Words are one thing, but you have to

prove your resolution."

"Y-You want me to prove it? How?"

"Let's see. I either tear your limbs off so you can never physically come

near us again, or you give me that magic stone. Which will it be?"

"I-I'll give you the stone!"

He hurriedly took his pendant off and threw it to Anima, who caught it

and looked down at him.

"I'll let you off the hook today, but don't you dare show yourself before

me or my family ever again. If you do… Well, I'm sure you know what will

happen."

All the blood drained from Krain's face when Anima threatened him.

"U-Understood! I swear you'll never see me again! In fact, I'll leave

town today!"

Krain crawled away on all fours while screaming in terror. He was to

live the rest of his life in Anima's shadow, terrified of the world around him.

While Krain scurried away, Anima approached the two men who had

caused the incident. They were afraid for their lives; their faces were

completely pale, but they didn't try to run.

"P-Please forgive us!"

"We were just following Krain's orders!"

They begged for their lives before Anima could get a word out.

"His orders?"

"Y-Yeah! He ordered us to provoke a white-haired man!"

They had been trying to rile him up by insulting Myuke, meaning that

Krain knew doing so would push him over the edge.

They see me as a family man… Anima often worried about being a

proper husband and father, but his deep love for his family being so blatant

Page 85 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

showed that he was doing just fine. The question that remained was why

Krain had tried to get under his skin, but unfortunately, he wasn't around to

confirm any suspicions Anima had. He couldn't have gotten too far, but at the

same time, Anima really didn't want to see that sleazeball's face ever again.

Guess he was jealous of me because I married her or something.

The incident with Malshan the week before proved just how popular

Luina was with men; it was an unavoidable consequence of her marriage to

Anima that some of them would feel jealous.

"Don't show yourselves before me ever again."

The two men scurried off after receiving Anima's off-handed warning.

Just as he was about to make his way back to Myuke to see if she was okay,

someone called out to him.

"Thanks, Ani! That was amazing!"

The man's cheerful voice was followed by a celebration from the rest of

the onlookers.

"That damned Krain was acting all high and mighty just because he was

strong!"

"I've lived here all my life, but I've never seen a man as crooked and

rotten as him!"

"I'm all giddy now that you gave him a beatdown!"

"The bastard actually threatened my little girl! You know what? Visit

my store one of these days; I'll treat you to something!"

Anima had had to resort to violence to protect Myuke, and though he'd

held back, he had been prepared to shoulder the burden of terrifying the

locals. The one thing he hadn't expected was for them to cheer in gratitude.

Krain seemed to have made many enemies in the town, and as such, his

defeat bolstered Anima's reputation instead of destroying it. There was

something much more important than celebrating his newfound success,

though.

"Are you okay?" he asked Myuke.

"I-I'm fine," she replied, "but are you okay? Did you get hurt?"

"That weakling could never hurt me. I'm just happy you're safe."

Myuke glanced at him as he let out a sigh of relief.

"Why do you care about me so much after all the horrible things I said

to you?"

"I don't think you said anything unreasonable. In truth, I was a bit of a

freeloader. Besides, you're my daughter. Isn't it only natural that I care about

Page 86 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

you?" With a warm smile, he showed her the pendant with the jet-black

magic stone. "Do you think we can sell this?"

"We'll have to go to the magic stone specialist, but are you sure you

don't wanna keep it?"

"I'm strong enough even without this."

"Can't argue with that. Follow me."

With Myuke in the lead, they set off to find the magic stone specialist.

◆◆◆

"We're here," Myuke said. "This is the magic stone specialist."

"I expected it to be a bit more imposing." Anima replied bluntly upon

arriving at the small, run-down store.

Magic stones played an important role in the world, from spicing up the

dullness of everyday life to being efficient, highly lethal weapons in the right

hands. He had expected a store dealing with such a precious resource to be a

bit more extravagant, but compared to the Hunters' Guild it was like a shack.

"This is the closest specialist to the Guild, but there are a number of

other stores around town. I can take you to another one if you want."

"Can I sell the stone here?"

"Sure can! They'll be begging for you to sell it to them! A golem stone

isn't something you can find at the store any day of the week. Golems are

super rare, and beating one is really tough."

"You really know your trade. Just what I would expect from you,

Master."

"Th-That's just common knowledge! C-C'mon, we're going inside!"

Hiding her embarrassment, Myuke hurried into the shop, with Anima

following after her.

The interior of the shop was decorated with twinkling, glamorous

ornaments. There were display cases filled with rings, necklaces, and other

accessories, each one inlaid with various crystals. Dazzled by the sparkling

magic stones, they made their way to the counter.

"Welcome. How may I help you?"

"I'm looking to sell this."

Anima tossed the pendant onto the counter. Upon seeing the jet-black

magic stone, the merchant's eyes popped wide open.

"W-Would this happen to be a golem stone? Where did you get this?!"

Page 87 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

"I looted it after a battle. How much are you willing to pay for it?"

"Please wait just a moment!" He rushed to the back of the store,

returning with a fat leather pouch mere moments later. He was surely trying

to seal the deal before Anima changed his mind. "I'm terribly sorry for the

shameful display, but our gold reserves seem to have run out. Would you

possibly settle for three hundred silver?"

"Three hundred silver?!" Myuke cried out in shock.

"Is that a good offer?"

"It's perfect! Like, a family of four can live off of that for three whole

years and not have to work a single day!"

"'A family of four'? Are you counting me as well?"

"D-Duh!" she snorted. "I can't call you a freeloader now that you made

three hundred silver!"

"Does that mean you'll call me 'Daddy' from now on?"

He expected a positive answer, but Myuke's gradually flushing face was

not a good sign.

"W-Well, I guess I will… But I'm not doing it because you made some

money!"

"Then why are you doing it?"

"Because you protected me."

"I love you, Myuke, and I'll always be here to protect you. You can

always rely on me."

Anima gently pet the nervously fidgeting girl through her straw hat, to

which she nodded nervously.

"B-But don't forget, I'm the boss when it comes to work!"

"I know. You're a tremendous help, Master."

"G-Good. That's what I like to hear."

Myuke flashed him a delightful smile, and they left the store.

"This is for you," Anima said, handing the bulging money pouch to the

surprised Myuke.

"Why?"

"You want to keep up appearances around Marie, don't you?"

After staring into Anima's eyes for a moment, she nodded.

"Yeah. To make up for the things I lack."

"What sorts of things do you think you lack?"

"Well, I'm not as strong as you are, and I can't do chores as neatly as

Luina. Marie has no reason to respect me."

Page 88 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

Earning Marie's adoration was the most important thing in the world to

Myuke. In order to do that, she filled her pouch with pebbles to make it look

like it was full of money, yet even that wasn't enough to get Marie to stop

fawning over Anima. Thinking that her beloved little sister was being stolen

from her, she viewed Anima as an enemy.

"You don't have to put on airs around Marie; she holds you very dear.

Just the other day, she asked when you were coming home with tears in her

eyes."

"Really?"

"Really really. So make sure to spend a lot of time playing with her

when we get home, especially since money won't be an issue for a while. Or

would you rather work instead?"

"No, let's go home," she replied, shaking her head. "The sun is almost

down and I'm hungry. I wanna eat and take a nice, warm bath!"

"Me too. Would you like to take a bath together?"

"No way! What are you thinking?! I'm twelve! Jeez!" Anima dejectedly

hung his head at her prompt rejection. "B-But I'll wash your back."

That one line was enough to pull Anima back from the depths of

despair. Myuke didn't outright hate him, she was simply embarrassed.

"I'm so happy to hear that. Thank you."

With a relieved smile, Anima handed her the money pouch. After taking

it, she stared right into his eyes.

"Thank you, Daddy."

"You're welcome," he replied, smiling even brighter. "Shall we go?

Luina and Marie are waiting for us."

He stretched his hand out toward Myuke, who happily linked her tiny

hand with his. Like that, they made their way home under the setting sun.

"Ah! Mommy! Daddy and Myukey are back!"

"Welcome home!"

Seeing them arrive home hand in hand, Luina couldn't help but show

them a warm smile.

◆◆◆

That same evening, Krain was mindlessly dashing through a moonlit

field at superhuman speed. He'd used a centaur stone to strengthen his

muscles, allowing him to reach speeds impossible for normal humans. He had

Page 89 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

left Garaat behind much earlier, but he couldn't let his guard down; relief was

a luxury he couldn't afford at such a critical time. He had to cross the river

that marked the border of the neighboring country. If not, he was as good as

dead.

And so, he ran. Not from Anima, but from Malshan. Killing Anima in

broad daylight would have put a target on his back, so he'd devised a plan:

By using his love for his family to anger him, then falsely accusing him of

horrible crimes, he would paint himself as the hero of the city.

The tables were turned on him, however. He had failed his mission, and

Malshan's wrath was imminent, so he ran. Leaving everything behind—save

for some powerful magic stones and a hundred gold—he set off under the

cover of night.

A hundred gold was more than enough to allow Krain to lead a life of

luxury. The only trouble was that with Malshan after him, he had to lay low.

Arriving at the next big city and buying a mansion would no doubt raise

suspicion, leading his worst enemy right to his doorstep. He had no choice

but to retire and lead a reserved life, and it was all Anima's fault.

You just wait, bastard! I'll make you pay for this!

His rage toward Anima was beginning to overpower his fear of

Malshan. The swelling anger wouldn't subside until he had his revenge, but

he had seen firsthand how powerful Anima was. He was at least on par with

Malshan—facing him head-on was akin to walking into a den of demons

without a weapon—but Krain didn't have to kill Anima to take revenge.

"I'll destroy everything that's dear to him! Mark my words, I'll kill

those brats, have my way with Luina, and get my sweet revenge!"

If there was one thing he'd learned over the past week, it was that

Anima was a family man through and through. Killing the girls and violating

Luina would shatter him.

Imagining Anima's face as it warped with despair and anguish, Krain's

rage began to subside, only to once again be replaced with dread at the

thought of Malshan's wrath. He dashed through the plains while violently

shaking his head.

"Malshan is a pushover!" he screamed into the quiet night, attempting to

combat his fear. "He's a coward who pushed his job on me the moment he

sensed danger! I'm much stronger than that fool!"

"Shall we put that to the test?"

The cold, emotionless voice stopped him dead in his tracks. He timidly

Page 90 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

looked up at the sky, where a horrible crimson beast was gazing down at him.

As if it had risen from a sea of blood, its crimson scales shimmered

under the dazzling moonlight. The flaps of its wide wings pummeled Krain

with an ominous breeze, while its snake-like head twisted and turned in a

hypnotic manner.

The scales that covered the monster's face prevented Krain from

discerning any particular expressions, but he was painfully aware of its true

identity. One creature was feared more than any other for its destructive

might, and only one magic stone existed belonging to that creature, the

Crimson Dragon.

"L-Lord Malshan…" He could barely squeeze those words out of his

mouth—in fact, he could barely even stand. It was as if his enhanced muscles

had instantly atrophied. "Wh-Why are you…"

As he finally managed to string together a few words, Malshan slowly

landed and continued in his chilling tone.

"I've been watching you. To be more precise, I was watching Anima

during your little 'fight'."

"Y-You were watching?"

If Malshan had taken to the skies inside the town, he would surely have

seen Krain run away with his tail between his legs. Krain couldn't talk his

way out of the predicament he found himself in, meaning he had only one

option left: Malshan had to die right then and there.

Such a feat was easier said than done, though. Krain knew stood no

chance of winning a head-to-head fight. He had to focus on lowering

Malshan's guard.

"I ordered you to kill Anima, but you turned and fled. How foolish. Tell

me, are you aware of the fate I sentence traitors to?"

He knew full well what that fate entailed. Malshan lived by the mantra

of "do or die", so Krain had prepared himself for the possibility that Malshan

would try to kill him. That was why he had taken extra time to collect his

most precious magic stones—ones that would help him survive, and ones that

would aid in his escape. He wore a ring on each of his ten fingers, each

bearing one such stone.

"W-With all due respect, Sir, I may have failed this mission, but does

one failure invalidate everything I did for you over the years?!"

"You did a lot. You killed honest, innocent people at my behest, for my

sake. That's exactly why you have to die. You are an obstacle in my path to

Page 91 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

becoming a hero."

Malshan said his parting words. The Crimson Dragon's attack was

rather eye-catching, so he had patiently waited for Krain to arrive at a

secluded area.

Krain, however, had no intention of merely rolling over. He was going

to kill Malshan and take the Crimson Dragon stone for himself.

"Really? I have to die here?" He poured all his mana into the stone

sitting on his right middle finger. It was a hellhound stone, able to produce

the very fires of hell. "You fool! You're the one who will drop dead!"

Suddenly, a trail of black flames erupted from Krain's right hand. It

snaked through the field toward Malshan, charring everything in its path.

"You should know better, Malshan! This will be your final lesson to

never let your guard down around me!"

Krain erupted with laughter as he watched the flames creep up on

Malshan and burn him alive. The Crimson Dragon's scales were revered as

one of the toughest materials in the world, unable to be damaged by simple

swords or arrows; only the most skilled and prepared could scratch them.

Tough as they may have been, however, they were nothing more than

armor. No armor could protect the wearer against the heat of hellfire. It

would only take moments for Malshan scream in agony as his skin melted,

his boiling blood spewed out onto the cold ground only to be vaporized, and

he burned to death.

At least, that was how it played out in Krain's head.

"Insolent whelp."

A fierce gust of wind extinguished the raging flames. With the tiniest

flap of his wings, Malshan blew away the spell Krain had used all of his

power to conjure.

"Th-There's no way… Wh-Why aren't you dead…?"

"Foolish child. Did you truly think your puny flames could hurt me?"

"Why aren't you dead?!"

Krain couldn't believe his eyes. They might have been blown away, but

he had seen the flames eating away at his scales for a good five seconds or so.

The heat of the blazing hellfire should definitely have damaged him in some

way, yet Malshan stood there as if it had never happened.

"The essence of the Crimson Dragon lies in its toughness. By replicating

its powers, I have become the Crimson Dragon of legend, inheriting all its

resistances. Nothing you do can damage me, not even the fires of hell."

Page 92 Goldenagato | https://mp4directs.com

Tired of the farce, Malshan raised both his arms above his head. As he

did, a ball of flame, large enough to swallow a person whole appeared above

his head.

Like a small sun, it banished the night around itself. Light crackling

could be heard as the grass and plants surrounding him went up in flames. A

torrid, suffocating blast of wind carried Krain's terrified scream into the dead

of the night.

"Crimson Dragons may be praised for their toughness, but their

destructive power is not to be underestimated. Be grateful, for your life shall

be snuffed out by the flames of a fabled beast, said to have rained death and

destruction upon the lands."

Malshan lowered his arms, sending the ball of fire barreling toward

Krain. It seemed as though his body would be crushed by the gigantic,

scorching ball, but it swallowed him instead, and he vanished from the world

without a trace.