Usually, it was hunters from Vedan going outside to hunt, not the other way around. That aside, given Vedan’s unique geographical location, people can’t just come and go as they please. To see an outsider, a hunter to boot, in the town was indeed a surprise.

“Don’t be a busybody, you poor lout,” The green-haired man hissed. He pointed his index finger at Nel, condensing another beam of light. “Just be on your way.”

Nel narrowed his eyes. He had now confirmed that this man was definitely from outside the town. The way he spoke and the fact that he brazenly threatened him was enough proof. He turned towards the girl he saved and found her still there, leaning against the tree and looking at them like a fool. He ground his teeth in anger.

“Idiot girl! What are you standing there for like a fool? Run!” Nel screamed. After this brief bout, he had already confirmed one thing—he might not be able to protect her while fighting him. More importantly, that beam ability of his was quite troublesome. It had quite a long reach and was deadly enough to bore a hole on a tree. That time when he attacked, Nel saw it going through a few trees in an instant.

In conclusion, even while fighting him, that man could kill her quite easily.

“Ah! What about you?” She stammered. Looking between her savior and would-be killer, she hesitated, not knowing what she should be doing.

“Haha! Such a naive girl!” The man laughed. “As expected of country bumpkins!”

The light on the tip of his finger grew to the size of a grape. Nel knew it was ready to shoot at the man’s will. He even had his finger aimed at the girl. It was a blatant taunt.

“Just run and save yourself. Don’t bother about me,” with that said, Nel tensed his legs, circulated his mana, and rushed towards the green-haired man. In just one step, he had already entered his spear’s reach.

Both the man and Nel were surprised at how fast he moved. It happened in an instant. ‘Is it because of my new skill?’ Nel allowed his mind to wander for a moment before gathering himself. Taking advantage of his newfound speed and the green-haired man’s surprised state, he initiated his spear in an upward arc.

“Shit!” The green-haired man cursed. His opponent accelerated too fast, giving him no time to react. Before he knew it, his enemy’s spear was dangerously close to his neck. His whole life flashed in his eyes in an instant. ‘Am I going to die in this backwater place and to this country bumpkin!?’ He roared in his heart.

Clang!

“You underestimated your enemy again, Mark.”

The sound of metal hitting metal echoed, followed by a smooth male voice. Nel saw a red-colored sword between his spear tip and the man’s neck. The wielder of the said sword was a man around the same age as him, with long black hair, an angular face, and a pair of black glasses above his eyes. He also wore silver skull earrings.

Suddenly, a chill went down Nel’s back. He appeared right between them, yet he hadn’t sensed him at all. He was like a ghost that appeared out of nowhere. Moreover, he also found himself unable to move his spear no matter how much strength he used. The sword was like an immovable mountain, blocking his spear from going forward. Nel used some more strength, but the result was the same.

‘This guy is strong!’ Nel concluded. He pulled the spear back and circulated his mana before retreating. His instincts were going haywire the moment this young man appeared. There was a deadly aura around him that chilled Nel’s bones. He felt like he was standing in front of that minotaur again.

‘Who are these guys?’ Nel wondered as a frown appeared on his tanned face. This young man with the red sword also wore similar clothing as the green-haired man.

The red-sword man sheathed his sword and turned his head towards Nel. A spine-chilling coldness enveloped him, making him feel like he was standing naked in a blizzard.

‘What the hell is this? What is this man doing?’ Nel gritted his teeth as he endured the feeling with sheer willpower. Gripping his spear shaft tightly, he shot a glare at the man who had his eyebrows raised.

“How surprising,” He hummed. The cold feeling vanished as if it was never there, leaving Nel gasping for breath. Nel used his spear as a support to stop himself from embarrassingly falling. His knees had turned jelly.

“You endured my mana pressure with sheer willpower! Interesting! To think there is someone like you in this backwater place,” The red-sword-wielding man said. His voice was calm and collected, with a hint of baritone mixed in. There was an odd charm to it as well.

Warning bells went off inside Nel’s head. Fear gripped his heart as he found himself unable to open his mouth or make a sound. A smile appeared on the man’s face, “remember this feeling well. In the future, think twice before jumping in to help someone”. Then, he turned around and began walking away, “Mark, take me to where those two are.”

“Y- yes master,” the green-haired man, who stood frozen like an ice sculpture since the sword-wielding man’s arrival, stuttered and followed after him. His expression looked solemn and dreadful.

On the other hand, Nel slumped to the ground, sweating furiously from all his body. Terror filled his heart when he recalled that man’s face. Seconds felt like years to Nel when he was there. “Since when did such a dreadful character appear in our small town?” He mumbled under his breath. The feeling that man gave him was unforgettable. In fact, Nel was sure he had developed a trauma. Even now, his heart was pounding miles per minute.

“H, hey! Are you alright?” Nel snapped out of his trance when he heard a shaky feeble female’s voice. He turned to the badly beaten woman, who was limping to his side wearing a worried face. Nel nodded at her, “I’m alright. You should leave, though. You don’t look good at all.”

“What about you?” She asked, and Nel could see concern for him in her only working eye.

“Sigh! I’ve things to do. I’ll stay here.” Nel said. In fact, he also wanted to go home. His heart was in a mess, and his mana flow had become a mess. More importantly, his mental state was not optimal. Unfortunately, he was not in a position to take a rest. In fact, he wouldn’t be able to eat anything if didn’t earn money today. He had 0 credits in his account.

“Will you be alright? If those guys come back, what will you do?” She pressed on. Nel frowned and started to feel annoyed. What the hell is wrong with this woman? He complained in his heart.

“They won’t come back. At least, not for now. I’ll return in a few hours too,” Nel shook his hands. “You should get going, though. They were after you in the first place, not me. You are the one who is in danger. You still have time to worry about me?” Nel was speechless at the woman.

“Ah! You are right! Then, I must run! Take care of yourself, mister. My name is Amelia. Please, don’t forget. Thank you for saving me today. I’m forever grateful to you. Next time if we meet, I’ll treat you to a meal,” After introducing herself, the girl ran away, leaving Nel alone in his thoughts.

“Sigh!”