Longing to Become Strong

Late at night. A narrow alley. A burly man.

Just putting those words together gave off a pretty gay vibe, but right now, Jack felt nothing but sheer terror.

After returning from the dungeon, he'd immediately tried to run away, only to bump into one of Sackman's acquaintances. The man had sensed something was off, and then—

That was how Jack had ended up here.

"Where are the others?" Sackman asked. With his broad, brutish face, he radiated an overwhelming sense of Pressure just by standing there.

They were all shrewd people. Some things didn't need to be said; one look at someone's face was enough.

And Jack's face showed fear and avoidance. That meant things hadn't gone well for the people who'd entered the dungeon with him.

"Boss, I was just about to come report to you," Jack said, steeling himself. "I just revived, and the dungeon monsters scared me half to death. My memories are a bit jumbled, so—"

"Bullshit. I checked the Revival House records. You never died."

Sackman snorted in disdain. "What are you trying to hide from me? Where are the others?"

"Where are they?" the other burly men roared in unison, making Jack tremble uncontrollably.

"D-dead. They're all dead."

"No shit. I figured they died in the dungeon. But where are they now? Where did they go after they revived?"

Jack hesitated, but finally said, "They're still in the dungeon."

"Hm? They dared to go back in after reviving? That's not like them. Wait, are you saying—"

Sackman suddenly realized.

"They didn't revive!?"

Jack nodded with difficulty.

A pair of large hands suddenly clamped around his throat and hoisted him up like a chicken. Sackman, his eyes blazing with Burning Jealousy, filled Jack's entire field of vision!

"Talk. Tell me everything you know!"

Sackman wanted to strangle Jack to death right then and there.

That old bastard had volunteered to lead the group into the dungeon, promising he'd bring back a huge Harvest. And now?

Everyone was dead, and that old bastard still had the nerve to be alive!?

Besides, Sackman didn't believe it. He didn't believe those men were dead. Exploring a dungeon meant bringing enough Teleportation Crystals. That was a rule every adventurer had to follow. Nobody would deliberately go without them, especially not his companions. They all valued their lives.

"I-I-I—" Jack stammered in terror.

"You fucking chicken!" Sackman slapped Jack across the face, knocking out his front teeth.

He shoved Jack into the hands of another burly man. "Interrogate him. I want answers as soon as possible."

"Heehee, I love interrogations," the burly man said with a silly grin. To Jack, that smile was scarier than ten billion serial killers.

Jack wanted to tell them, but—but—

The dungeon's gargoyles had suddenly gained intelligence and stolen their Teleportation Crystals before killing them. Nobody would believe that if he told them!

Worse, Jack had helped kill people, then ended up a monster's slave. If he confessed, he'd probably be executed as a monster sympathizer the very next second.

Jack's teeth chattered nonstop. He desperately wished someone would come save him, even if it was—

The image of the gargoyle, played by Gong Qiying, suddenly flashed through his mind.

If I had power like that, I wouldn't have to let scum like Sackman threaten me anymore. I'd never have to live by reading other people's expressions or use sweet talk to deceive them.

Damn it, I want to become strong, too.

Damn it.

"Stop."

A cool voice came from the mouth of the alley. Sackman turned around impatiently and muttered, "Why's someone sticking their nose into other people's business in the middle of the night? Got a death wish?"

He took one look and was stunned. The moment he saw who it was, he froze.

He'd never seen a girl so beautiful.

Those bright, watery eyes were like precious blue gemstones. Her silky black hair fluttered in the breeze, perfectly complementing her black-and-red travel outfit. It made him want to praise her sense of style.

But one thing threw off the balance of her beauty: the sword on her back.

Calling it a sword seemed like an understatement. It was huge, heavy, broad, and crude—practically an Iron Block. He couldn't imagine how her slender arms could swing it. The Great Sword was taller than she was, and even bigger.

Sackman figured getting hit by that Great Sword even once would leave him badly injured, unless the girl was just bluffing.

"She's trouble," he said with a click of his tongue. "Don't meddle. This guy made several of our brothers disappear, so we need to find out where they are."

Then he added, "We've got permission from the guards. What about you? There's a curfew on, and you don't want me reporting you to the guards, do you?"

Nobody wanted trouble with the guards. Sackman was confident he could scare the girl off.

"Oh? You got permission from the guards? I wasn't aware of that." Another silver figure appeared. "Would the lowly guards dare deceive me? I doubt it. That can only mean you're lying."

Sackman took one look at the newcomer and was too scared to speak.

"S-S-Sali!"

The newcomer was Sali, the third young master of House of Bede!

Why was he here?

"Friend, could you do me a favor?" Sali asked the girl beside him. "Please help me catch these criminals. I'll treat you to a feast afterward."

"Okay."

The girl drew her Great Sword with a backhanded motion. Her every movement stirred the air, and the blade struck the ground with a metallic clang, like the Death God tolling a funeral bell.

"Are you going to kill them, friend?" Sali asked helplessly. "It wouldn't look good if people heard that a Brave Hero killed someone."

"Oh."

With a sharp shing, the girl plunged her Great Sword into the stone-paved ground and raised her empty fists in a Fighting type stance.

Cold sweat ran down Sackman's forehead. He waved his hands frantically. "It's a misunderstanding. All of this is a misunderstanding. We were just—"

"Cut the crap."

At some point, the girl had moved right in front of him. She casually threw an uppercut.

Sackman's consciousness went black.

"Wow, amazing."

Jack knelt to the side, eyes wide as he watched the one-sided beatdown.

The girl effortlessly cleared away Sackman and his gang like she was taking out the trash. Sali gave a cheeky whistle. "I'll call the guards to clean up here. Come on, let's go eat."

"Okay."

The girl's response was as emotionless as before. She casually picked up her Great Sword and followed Sali.

Neither of them looked at Jack again.

Clink.

A potion bottle rolled to Jack's feet. Sali waved to him, then disappeared down the street with the girl.

"I ran into a benefactor."

Jack stared blankly at the potion. It took him a while to come to his senses.

"Does this mean I don't have to run anymore?"