Romier

"I'm a failure. My Innate Soul Power wasn't high... only level seven."

A young man in his twenties with dark purple hair styled into an upward-spiking punk look, dressed in punk clothing with iron rings hanging from his jacket, held a half-finished glass of wine as he recounted his experiences.

His expression was lonely and sorrowful, as though life had treated him badly, yet what he said made most people feel that he had an exceptionally punchable face.

"I was admitted to Northland Academy, but my classmates ostracized me because no one likes someone who isn't good at talking."

You really aren't good at talking...

That thought surfaced in the hearts of the surrounding listeners.

"Later, I met my teacher. He was an outstanding Hunter. He took me hunting in the Soul Beast Forest.

"His experience was so rich that he could always avoid powerful soul beasts and find prey that was just right... The traps he set never disappointed. He taught me how to provoke wild boars and make them charge into the traps themselves.

"But one day, everything changed. We encountered something incredibly strange in the forest.

"Four black baboons carried a coffin past us, swaying from side to side...

"The cry of a baby came from inside the coffin... That accident was what made me lose my teacher.

"I swear, everything I said is true. You could never imagine what I went through..."

Lei Yin, who had been listening intently, looked at the storyteller, who had suddenly fallen silent, and could not help asking,

"What happened?"

Hearing Lei Yin's question, the storyteller let out a deep sigh at the empty wineglass on his table.

Lei Yin immediately understood and said to the bartender,

"Bring this gentleman a glass of whatever he likes."

The purple-haired young man raised his refilled glass and drained it in several gulps. Looking at Lei Yin, he revealed a teasing smile with a hint of mockery.

"What happened?... Take a guess."

The anticipation on Lei Yin's face gradually faded. Somewhat disappointed, he said,

"You haven't made up the rest yet, have you? What a pity. I wasted money on a glass of wine."

That expression was practically the same as someone looking at an author who had abandoned their story mid-serialization.

"So I didn't fool you after all. I thought there really was an idiot who believed me." The smile on his face faded slightly, and he lost some of his interest.

He pressed together the index and middle fingers of his right hand and extended them to the side.

A pale purple, translucent Barrier appeared at his fingertips.

Bang!

The Barrier collided with an incoming fist, producing a low thud.

"You bastard, who are you calling an idi—... No, you actually dared trick my little brother! Give back the wine money!" Yan Jin hastily corrected herself midway through.

"It's not that serious. It was only one glass of wine." Lei Yin grabbed Yan Jin, saying with a headache.

The purple-haired youth ignored Yan Jin and instead looked at Lei Yin. "Is this your sister? Her intelligence doesn't seem all that great..."

Lei Yin withdrew the hand holding Yan Jin. "I suddenly feel that the price of a glass of wine is still money."

He might not care about being cheated out of a glass of wine, but he could not ignore someone speaking badly of his sister.

"Such deep sibling affection? How touching..." A playful smile appeared on the purple-haired youth's face. "There is one thing I didn't lie about. I really was ostracized by my classmates."

That must have been because of your mouth... Lei Yin grumbled inwardly.

For once, he felt like joining Yan Jin in beating someone up instead of stopping her.

Fwoosh... Flames surged upward, and crimson magma brought waves of heat.

The magma scorched the Barrier, yet it could never break through that thin layer of defense.

"A soul master? At your age, with soul power fluctuations like that, you should be my junior brother and junior sister, right..."

The purple-haired youth looked completely relaxed, paying no attention to the fist covered in magma.

"But if I remember correctly, you should be in class at this time. Don't tell me you skipped class? Which class are you from?

"I promise I won't report to your teacher that you skipped class to come here and drink and eat."

"You're also a student of Northland Academy?" Lei Yin asked with a frown.

The purple-haired youth asked in surprise, "Didn't I just say that? Even a fish's memory should last longer than a few seconds..."

"Big Sp—" Yan Jin was about to use a more powerful attack, but then she remembered how she had burned down Vidal's tavern last time. She withdrew her fist and said coldly,

"Senior? Then why don't you come outside and give me some pointers?"

The purple-haired youth chuckled. "Since Junior Sister is so enthusiastic, let's go."

Once they reached the street, the two assumed their stances. Their surging soul power carried a faint pressure.

The passersby consciously made room and stayed far away to avoid being caught in the crossfire.

The two soul masters in conflict drew plenty of attention, and countless gazes turned their way.

Yan Jin remained on high alert. That brief exchange just now had made her realize that this punchable fellow was not someone she could easily deal with.

"Hm? Isn't that Romier? Who's he fighting with again?" Someone in the crowd recognized the purple-haired youth and spoke up.

"Who knows? With that mouth of his, the people who want to beat him up could line up from the academy gate all the way to the City Lord's Mansion."

The purple-haired Romier flashed Yan Jin a mocking smile, raised his middle finger at her, then turned and ran.

A gust of wind swept by, carrying fallen leaves down the street.

The humiliation of being toyed with made Yan Jin's anger shoot upward. "Don't run!"

She broke into a run and chased after him.

"Big Sis, wait for me..." Lei Yin wanted to follow, but the Boss grabbed his clothes.

"You're students of Northland Academy? You think you can run off without paying?" he said fiercely.

Northland Academy's reputation was fairly good. If its students caused trouble and someone filed a complaint, the academy would handle the matter impartially once the situation was confirmed.

Therefore, the locals were not particularly afraid of the soul master students from the academy.

"Just wait until I file a complaint with the academy!"

Lei Yin helplessly settled the bill... including Romier's share before he ran off... He did not want to waste time arguing with the Boss over such a trivial matter.

But he was still too late. When he turned around, both Yan Jin and Romier had already disappeared.

He scratched his chin with a headache and muttered,

"I just hope they don't make too big a scene."

"Bastard, stop running!" Yan Jin shouted as she chased him.

"Then stop chasing me." The mocking smile on Romier's face never faded.

"If you stop running, I'll stop chasing."

"If you stop chasing, why would I run?"

One chasing and one fleeing, the two ran across half the city and arrived at an open area near Northland Academy.

"You're way too persistent."

It was Romier's first time encountering an opponent as clingy as gum. The smile had vanished from his face, replaced by helplessness.

"Hehe... Can't run anymore? My stamina is great." Yan Jin wore a triumphant smile.

"So, little miss, what will you do even if you catch me?" Romier's nasty smile resurfaced.

"Of course I'll teach you a lesson." Yan Jin's goals had always been simple and clear.

"You can't do it," Romier said calmly.

"How would you know without trying?"

On a small hillside nearby, a thin figure dressed like a merchant sat on a rock, calmly watching the conflict below.

He raised his right hand toward his face, then suddenly seemed to remember something and paused... In the end, he pinched the socket of his right eye and lowered his hand, a faint smile on his face.