<CHAPTER 30>
I Didn’t Want to Handle It This Way
“What? Trash?”
The bald man, who somehow perfectly understood her insult, went into a frenzy.
“Brother, calm down! I’ll handle this one!”
The bearded man who tried to calm him stepped forward confidently.
Rek stood in front of Ehilie as if to protect her.
His chin, philtrum, and even his arms were covered in thick hair, and he was nearly as tall and massive as Rek.
Tilting his head, the bearded man raised his fists and lightly tapped Rek’s shoulder.
No, ‘lightly’ would be incorrect—it was more like a solid thump.
“What did you just say?! Huh?!”
“…….”
“Looks like that girl is your girlfriend, huh? Keep up the bluff, and you’ll be finished!”
“…….”
“Huh? You’re standing firm. I see.”
“…….”
“You, you fool! Can’t even open your eyes properly?”
Ehilie, standing behind Rek, could not see his expression.
But she saw him slowly clench and unclench his hands behind his back.
She was certain.
He was restraining his fear.
Anyone in this situation would be afraid.
Clenching and unclenching hands was likely because his fingers had grown cold from tension.
And yet he stands up for me.
She could not just watch.
Summoning her courage, Ehilie stepped forward.
“Stop it! What are you doing to a weak person?”
The bearded man’s name was Hacks.
In his 25 years, he had never been overpowered by anyone.
Born with an unusually robust physique and an insatiable appetite, he had grown monstrously large.
By adolescence, Hacks had the strength to toss most adult men with ease.
But why.
This guy doesn’t budge?
For an ordinary person, just one tap from Hacks would send them flying.
Even a reasonably sturdy knight could be thrown without much effort.
But the man blocking his path did not flinch.
This is… like a rock embedded in the ground.
Moreover, the icy glare directed at Hacks was extremely threatening.
A look as if examining a captured prey.
A calm yet lethal gaze suggesting he could hunt you anytime.
Hacks involuntarily flinched.
Who is this guy?
Rek, was it?
A long-trained knight? Or perhaps someone from the backstreets?
His pale, noble appearance was deceptive.
Fueled by stubbornness, Hacks clenched his fists harder.
Yet his hands ached.
At that moment, Ehilie shouted again.
“Stop it! What are you doing to a weak person?”
Weak?
Hacks paused.
Had he misunderstood the meaning of ‘weak’?
Rek was far from weak.
Just judging by appearance, ‘weak’ did not fit him at all.
“He’s unrelated to this. Don’t touch him.”
Ehilie, frail as she was, stood in front of Rek.
As if trying to protect him.
“Huh.”
Not even a smile.
Like a small rabbit trying to protect a wolf.
Hacks scoffed at the frail woman daring to resist with a single finger.
“Hey, miss. Being brave is fine, but know whether it’s your place. Want to try getting hurt?”
Hacks lightly tapped her shoulder with his thick fingers.
Despite the slight force, Ehilie staggered, losing her balance.
Satisfied, he smiled.
Then he saw Rek, supporting her naturally, quickly wrap one hand lightly around her neck.
Ehilie’s eyes closed. She had fainted.
“Wh-What did you just do…?”
Unlike the flustered Hacks, Rek remained calm.
As if he had been waiting for this moment.
He laid his jacket on the ground and placed Ehilie down.
Like handling the most precious gem, he gently brushed her hair aside and spoke softly.
“Sleep a little, Ehilie. I’ll handle this soon.”
Hacks was furious at this languid voice.
“This guy’s crazy! He knocks her out and says what?”
Rek furrowed his brow.
His red eyes glowed fiercely.
The gentle voice from before transformed into an icy, merciless tone.
“Noisy.”
For the first time, Hacks felt what it was like to be thrown by someone.
Even with four strong men attacking, he was effortlessly lifted and tossed aside by Rek with one hand.
“Ugh?”
Flying without realizing what had happened, he crashed into a tree.
Crack!
The massive tree struck his head.
Before losing consciousness, he realized.
I picked the wrong person to mess with.
Was that even human?
The last thing he saw was a wild, fierce presence unleashed, like a demonic beast.
One down.
What followed was Redemberg Lu Edeltein’s merciless onslaught.
“How dare you fling Hacks like a ball? Die!”
Clang!
“Brother!”
“Ugh?”
The flying axe was effortlessly deflected midair, splitting the blade in two.
“Aaaah!”
He caught swords thrust at him barehanded, holding them like gloves, crushing them.
Everyone trembled at his bloodied, relentless display.
“I’m sorry, brother!”
“Sorry?”
“Yes, yes!”
“If you’re sorry, you must be punished.”
He showed no mercy.
Although he spared their lives, it was a form of leniency.
Initially, he had planned to pulverize them completely, but he stopped.
He didn’t want to make things difficult for Ehilie.
Thud.
“Aaah! My arm! My arm!”
“Noisy.”
“Hmmph, hmmph.”
“You understand well. I didn’t sever anything, so fix it yourself later.”
His indifferent manner, breaking humans like toys, instilled absolute terror in everyone present.
If I spare them, word will spread. They’ll never dare approach Ehilie again.
In an instant, Redemberg Lu Edeltein defeated all the men and extinguished the fire with magic.
But Ehilie’s small house was already ruined.
Its shape remained, but it was uninhabitable.
Ehilie will be sad.
Seeing her blue eyes glistened with tears, he exhaled a calm breath.
I didn’t want to handle it this way!
He did not dislike her crying.
He preferred her smiling, but no matter the emotion, if it was Ehilie, it was fine.
If they grew closer, he might even see her teary-eyed and clinging at night.
Anyway.
What disturbed him now was that she would soon wake and cry.
And the reason for her tears would not be him.
Using magic, he could have restored everything instantly, but he refrained, not wanting Ehilie to suspect anything.
While stretching his stiff wrists and neck, Herond, who had been watching from afar, flew over.
“I’ll tidy things up right away, Your Highness.”
Familiar with such situations, Herond immediately returned to human form and began cleaning.
He stacked the scattered humans and cleared broken weapon fragments.
Upon seeing the house, he was astonished.
“Since the house is in this state, we must prepare a separate place for Ehilie to stay while repairs are made.”
Redemberg Lu Edeltein realized something.
This way, I can move her to a larger house without her noticing.
“Right, that works.”
With the house in this condition, there was no other choice.
He smiled contentedly.
“Herond.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Go and tidy the house.”
“Huh?”
“One hour should be enough. Make sure Ehilie’s room is spotless.”
Herond blinked in surprise at the sudden order, then nodded.
“Understood, Your Highness. I’ll make sure there isn’t a speck of dust left in the Demon King’s Castle!”
“Demon King’s Castle?”
Redemberg Lu Edeltein frowned.
Herond hesitated, then asked carefully.
“…Didn’t you say to clean the Demon King’s Castle?”
For a fragile human, the demon realm was dangerous.
A weak human could fall ill or die if exposed to demonic energy.
Of course, Ehilie had strong divine power, so it should not be a problem.
But better safe than sorry.
Her health mustn’t worsen in the demon realm.
“We’re going to Kadeldot.”
“Kadeldot… you mean the villa Lucy mentioned before?”
“Yes.”
“…Hasn’t it been abandoned for decades?”
“Yes.”
Redemberg Lu Edeltein remembered that Lucy had told him the villa was neglected and run down since her mother purchased it.
“You want it cleaned in just one hour…?”
Hmm, one hour might be too short.
He graciously added.
“I’ll give you 30 more minutes.”
“…….”
Redemberg Lu Edeltein even opened the portal to Kadeldot himself.
“What are you waiting for? Go.”
Tears welling, Herond flew through the portal.
