When I Cleared the Death Game World, I Reincarnated as a Villainous Noble Even if They Talk About Doom Flags, I'm Actually Immortal. - Chapter 31

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!!!”

“S-Stop… Please, stop…!!”

A dull thud echoed through the dimly lit alleyway.

The swordsman bared his teeth like a beast, swinging his leg as if kicking a ball.

At his feet lay the party’s scout. Each time the swordsman kicked, a heavy sound resounded, accompanied by a pained groan.

“We lost because you useless bastards held me back!! A worthless slum rat like you is nothing but dead weight!!”

“I-I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… It’s my fault…”

“Damn it!! Everyone keeps dragging me down!!”

With one final, forceful kick, the swordsman drove his foot into the scout’s ribs.

The scout curled up, clutching his stomach—pathetic, like a helpless insect.

The swordsman looked down at him with cold eyes, exhaling sharply, trying to release the heat of his rage.

“So? Have you come up with a plan to get us back into the adventurer’s guild?”

“N-No… Not yet…”

The swordsman turned to the side, where a mage leaned against the filthy wall, nervously biting his nails.

His body trembled uncontrollably, sweat dripping down his forehead.

“What’s the matter? I thought that brilliant brain of yours—so proud of having attended the academy—would be useful.”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Well, you were expelled for causing trouble. Guess I shouldn’t have expected much. I’m still better off than you.”

“H-Haha…”

“Don’t laugh.”

“….”

Without warning, the swordsman lifted his foot and stomped on the scout’s head.

He twisted his heel as if grinding a filthy rag into the dirt, pressing down with deliberate cruelty.

The scout let out a weak groan, but the swordsman’s expression remained unchanged.

“I don’t belong in a place like this. I’m a noble—I was born into nobility. But because my incompetent parents got caught in some corruption scandal by that bastard Marquis Orion, my family was ruined. If those idiots had done their job properly, I would be attending the academy right now! It’s always the same—always, always, always! Because of other people’s incompetence, I’m the one who suffers!!”

Though the swordsman’s gaze was fixed on the scout, his eyes seemed to be staring at something far beyond.

They gleamed with resentment, as if glaring at an unseen enemy.

A sickening creak came from the scout’s skull.

The scout screamed, “It hurts! It hurts!! It huuuuuurts!!!” but his cries never reached the swordsman’s ears.

“Why does everything go wrong for me?! Why am I always the one getting in the way?! I deserve better—I’m meant for greatness!!”

“Stop! Please stop!! It hurts, it huuuurts!!!”

“Damn it all!!!”

“Oi, that’s enough. Any more, and you’ll kill him.”

A calm, cold voice cut through the scout’s desperate screams.

It wasn’t particularly loud. But somehow, the voice carried an overwhelming presence, silencing everything in an instant.

The swordsman stiffened.

Slowly, like a broken puppet, he lifted his head—and realized that someone else had appeared in the alleyway.

A man with silver hair and tanned skin.

He wore tinted glasses and a red coat, leaning against the wall with a cigarette floating idly between his fingers as he read a book.

He had the air of a noble.

The fine fabric of his clothing made it clear—he was wealthy.

But he was no ordinary noble or rich man.

The sheer pressure radiating from his body far surpassed that of a Landwolf. Even facing a dragon wouldn’t compare to the weight of his presence.

“Who… the hell are you? And how long have you been standing there?”

“Does it matter who I am or when I got here?”

“Don’t move!!”

The man snapped his book shut and stepped away from the wall.

The swordsman instinctively pointed his blade at him.

His instincts screamed—if he let his guard down for even a second, he’d be dead.

Before he even realized it, he had drawn his sword.

But the man didn’t seem the least bit concerned.

He simply yawned, stretching lazily, as if utterly bored.

“Yaaawn… You really wanna fight me? I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“Shut up!! There’s no way I’d trust a shady bastard like you—Wha—?!”

Splat.

The swordsman’s weapon slipped from his grip and hit the ground.

It had melted.

The sword, now glowing red-hot, dripped onto the floor like molten wax, spreading out like a pool of liquefied metal.

If he had held onto it for even a second longer, his entire hand would have been burned to a crisp.

“What… the hell… just happened…?”

“Whether you want to know who I am or how I melted your sword—it’s all irrelevant. I can’t be bothered explaining. There’s only one thing that matters.”

“O-One thing…?”

“You guys just got a ticket to having your wishes granted. Yaaawn.”

The man scratched his head and stifled another yawn.

◇ ◆ ◇ ◆ ◇

The day after rising to C-Rank, Lior finished his adventurer duties early and left the guild.

(I stayed at Ren’s place again last night. I really need to find an inn today…!!)

Though Lior had successfully received his bounty for slaying the Landwolf, all the inns had been full the previous night, forcing him to stay with Ren again.

Apparently, good inns get booked early, so if he planned to stay in town long-term, he needed to secure a room in advance.

Determined, he had finished his work early to go searching for a place to stay.

(Alright, time to find an inn—wait, is that Ren?)

Just as he was about to head off, he spotted Ren running through the streets.

He was coming straight toward Lior.

Maybe he had business at the guild?

Lior stepped aside to clear the way, but Ren ignored the guild completely and ran straight up to him.

Panting heavily, drenched in sweat—it was clear he had been running in a panic.

“Ren? What’s wrong?”

“L-Lior… It’s Luna… Luna…!!”

Ren lifted his head.

His eyes, trembling like those of a lost child, locked onto Lior’s.

“Luna has been kidnapped…!!”