Chapter 51 - The Deal

Calian shushed the man by bringing the knife up to his own lips.

“No need to tell be about things I don’t need to know,” he continued in a low voice.

“I don’t have the money! What do you want me to do?” cried the man. Realising what he had done, he flinched and mumbled softly. “No, I-I mean, it’s just that… I’d appreciate it if you told me what you wanted.”

Calian tapped the desk with the tip of his blade. “I won’t take the money.

It was the best possible news. The man’s face lit up.

However, Calian wasn’t finished. “Instead, I want a man. Monster Eyes.”

To the man, it was like a slap in the face out of the blue. “No! That’s—”

—skrrrk!

“Holy fucking shit!” The man scowled. He was done with the boy’s unreasonable demand. He couldn’t care less anymore.

Calian also noticed the man’s change in attitude. If he allowed him any more time, a fight would start, and the man will realise that Calian is just a powerless boy. He couldn’t let him take his time to think. Calian clenched his teeth.

The man continued, “He only just started earning back what he’s worth, and Master told me that—”

In that instant, the man shut his mouth.

He heard Calian’s knife—not even a sword—reverberate.

A blue aura swelled up and wrapped around the knife, and formed a long blue blade at the tip of the knife. It seemed like it could cut through anything. The man’s eyes became distorted in fear.

Having witnessed with their own two eyes what they had only heard about, the men gasped. They all stared at Calian’s hand in disbelief.

As if to confirm that fact, Calian quietly stood up and raised the knife that was now as long as a sword with the aura wrapping around it. He swung down the knife directly in front of the man’s nose.

“…!” The man flinched and retracted his shoulders.

There was silence.

The knife soundlessly cut through the thick iron table like it was pudding. Only its blue afterglow lingered like a nightmare.

Beneath the table, the man felt a chill between his knees where the blade of aura had brushed. The man jumped back in reflex. His pants were cleanly and vertically cut, showing his bare legs.

“Eeek!”

Calian lowered his head. Blood fought its way up his throat. He grabbed onto the corners of the desk with his both hands and supported his body, swallowing back the coagulation of blood.

He couldn’t pull the same card twice. His heart felt as if it were about to be shred into pieces.

Calian finally managed to open his mouth and feign his strength. “Are 6,000 florens and your life worth trading Monster Eyes for?”

Calian’s voice was trembling in pain. However, all the man could hear was Calian trying to keep in his rage.

Shit! He’s a swordmaster! There could be hundreds, no, thousands of me, and we still won’t be able to win against him!

The man hurriedly finished his calculations and nodded. He gestured the two wide-eyed, shaking men behing Calian to bring him in. The men ran out of the room immediately.

Calian stretched out his arm and retrieved his knife. He didn’t expect the knife to still be in good shape after being sheathed by his aura. It was likely because it was made by a skilful blacksmith, as well as the fact that the aura was only present for an instant.

An empty laugh leaked out of Calian’s lips. I guess I’m weaker than this knife.

Calian sat back down. He lowered his head once again to hide his pain and slowly regulated his breath.

Five minutes felt like five years. His pain subsided to a somewhat bearable level. It was taking much longer than he had expected. Calian impatiently knocked on the desk with his knife.

The man frantically waved his hand around. He felt as if his lifespan was shortening with every knock. “H-He’ll be here soon! Please be a little more patient!”

Just as he finished his sentence, the door burst open and the men who had just left rushed in. However, it was just the two of them and no Kyrie.

The man pressed, “Where is he? Why are you the only ones here?”

“He says… he says that he refuses to leave without Hina…”

Calian’s head jerked up in surprise. His hood almost slid off his head. Hina. He knew that name.

Could it be that girl…?

When Calian looked up, the man shouted in panic. His life was on the line, and this wasn’t the time to be picky. “He wants to leave with her?”

“Yes. Hina is a half-blood like him—”

“It doesn’t matter! Bring both of them! Two, three, whatever! Just bring them over!”

“Y-Yessir!”

They ran out again. This time, it didn’t take them long to come back.

—creak!

The door swung open again, and four people stepped in. Other than the two men, one of them was Kyrie, and the other was someone Calian had seen not too long ago. She was the silver-haired girl who had been delivering him his receipts.

The man’s face lit up. “Here, take them all. Go on ahead.”

Calian stood up. The man and his subordinates flinched and took a few steps back.

“Both of you, follow me,” said Calian as he walked towards the door.

The man placed his hand on his chest in relief. Suddenly, Calian turned around and stepped closer.

“W-What’s wrong?”

Calian opened his hand palm-up. The man jolted in shock. Did he change his mind? Now he wants the money as well?

Calian smiled. “Give me back my entry fee and the money that I started with.”

Five gold coins.

Gotta save up, you know.