Chapter 50

People definitely looked down on me. Then again, considering my little and benign persona, I guess that made sense. The people after me had a real problem for going after the boyish little princess.

Mr. Creaky was still planted where we were by the middle of the road. It was still most likely mourning its two horse pals that were defeated minutes ago. Getting near it, I paused, folded my legs, and lowered my stance a little, then bolted up. With the wind running through my hair, I figured even with such speed I wasn't nearly as good as the old man when it came to jumping up. I was sent flying upward in the air nonetheless.

Flying high enough, I landed on top of our sorry chariot. There, I looked down on everyone, chuckled heartily, widely stretched my arms out, satisfied, and declared I was the highest. If the old man was here, he would have been happy to see his grandson still could be childish at times.

Stomping my foot on the carriage's top, I laughed some more, trying to get the people's attention. The few adventurers who weren't in the middle of fighting looked up at me and grimaced. What the heck was the kid doing? This was no place for such a display of behavior. But I scoffed at their remark and continued shouting I was the highest and strongest, and that I was the boss of everyone here. Seeing the two elves had safely retreated into the orcs' formation, I mentally congratulated White-haired for being of use to the orc leader as it earned them a place with them.

That's when I started to look for a place in the playground. In all this ruckus, I quickly spotted where I'd go and fight. My head cocked to the side, and deciding I would go there, I jumped in the air with a wild cry, getting nearer to my spot. Unfortunately for myself, I landed back on the earth like a fool who hadn't even thought about how to drop down safely to the ground after a three-meters fall. A cloud of dust rose up and I cursed. When I quickly got myself up, a group of humans started to circle me.

"What are you guys looking at? If you want to laugh... do so," I clicked my tongue. "Though I'm very strong, you see. Stronger than... your mom. Plus, there are only two, three of you humans."

"Sh-Should we— Is that an enemy too? You guys think she speaks the tongue?" "I mean, that's just a young girl and all. And she just did speak it to us. Are you dumb?" "She must be lost or something! ...I'll get her away."

Listening to their words, I wasn't just going to stand and do nothing. They spoke of me as a lost little lamb. Like I needed their protection. My brow was raised as I grimaced at them. "I want to play too, humans. Are you saying you're taking that away from me?"

From up the carriage, I had jumped quite far enough behind. To the people who didn't see me jump, it would have looked like I just arrived on the scene. These three saw me, though. What the hell were they thinking about?

The female among the three knelt down and urged me to her with waving hands. The two other adventurers nodded to her and proceeded without their comrade to the battle. Aren't they looking down, like, way too much on me, I thought, exasperated. I scoffed, shrugged, and thought I'd get all the eyes who stared at us a sample of what I tasted like.

Giggling, the boyish princess skipped to the lady with a happy smile, sheathed out her dagger, and cut her down on the spot. With a Thud, she fell to the side and passed away quickly. And with that introduction, I turned back to the other adventurers, theatrically bowing deep to the gentlemen, telling them such was the monster. They wouldn't drop their guards down anymore. That was if they saw me, however.

The other two adventurers' backs were turned on me after they departed. In all the noise of the playground, they didn't hear their comrade fall. Using Quick Pace, I thought maybe my introduction wasn't wrapped up yet and dashed at the two boys in front of me. My dagger went through one. I fell onward with the adventurer's weight. The last guy, then, yelled, trembled, and stepped back, yelling at his beloved friend to stand back up, "please...!"

Only I stood back up. "The orc leader," I nonchalantly started to explain, "when his blade was all bloody and yucky..." The adventurer in front of myself roared at me, mustered up all the strength in the world, and made to kill me. "He just did this!" After a jerky movement of my arm, I darted back, avoiding the sword that came at me. "And see, the blood went away." Darted back to the boy, I cut him down too and confirmed my theory about human anatomy. The heart had been my target with the three adventurers, and it sent them all quick to sleep.

And now anyway, that was a good entrance and introduction. I had been presented to them as the rarest item in an auction. Bringing forth good results with my little introduction, every customer, all at once, raised their hand to bid on me. One after the other, they each bid more money than the other. And with a grin on my face, I welcomed them all to me. "Let's play together then~"

I entered a battle stance. All the guys who had gathered around me gulped, exchanging bewildered glances with each other. And they just... did nothing. Like a lion surrounded by a pack of hyenas, I kept turning around, gauging them all up, with my dagger at the ready.

A whole five seconds passed. Then— "Aaaargh!" One of them opened the dance. "Kill them! Don't be fooled by their innocent looks! They're a general enemy for sure!"

A general? Was that a compliment? I thought it was. If I had enough time to pause, blush, awkwardly fidget, and stutter a thank you, I definitely would have. Unfortunately, five of the enemies rushed at me at the same time. I breathed in and out, bracing myself for impact—

From the black swordsman I first met, I learned two combat skills, among which there was <Chain Attack>. I thought of using it. Mana enveloped my dagger and leaked off me. The atmosphere grew tenser and colder in an instant. I was used to it. When I bared myself, people feared 'it'.

They feared whatever was inside the Receptacle, whatever was inside the innocent princess who fought them. All five of these guys didn't stop anyway, so spinning around, I drew a circle with my dagger. The dark bluish slash of energy cut through all five adventurers. It was too easy. Except for one.

A blade managed to at least meet mine with a Clang. But that adventurer couldn't withhold my blow either. The spear was blasted off his hand so much the blow was mighty. As my skill, Chain Attack, was a combo of slashes, my blade quickly turned to him again and chopped off a hand. Rushing in, I assigned a last cut and scoffed.

"Do not yell. I hate noise."

From this up-close, the roars and shrills of the enemy were way noisier. I didn't like it. Anyway. Upcoming soldiers came at me again. That was another wave. I counted five of them again. For some reason, however, when the monster laid its eyes on them, they all came to a halt. Beads of sweat rolled down their forehead. A second passed and they weren't looking at me anymore.

From behind me, in the distance, a group was coming to meet me, the general enemy. When I said the human forces were neatly organized, I was right. Did they actually see me from a distance and reorganized their groups again? Was I given a fair share of their battle? The thought was exhilarating. I didn't know what a 'general enemy' was, but it must have been a fierce opponent.

My eyes quickly darted backward. That's when I saw them. A sharp-looking man leisurely strolled toward us. As he did so, all of the other disorganized adventurers, the ones who I presently fought, all backed away in fear. If Sir Paladin's group got involved with me, the general, when they're already so much busy with the orc group, it only meant the fearful group of adventurers weren't cut for taking me down at all. They were actually very far from it.

"Join us who might! Listen up, boys! We're taking that underhanded piece of crap down!"

"Is that what you say to someone you just met?" I shrugged and sighed.

"We're not revising the plan! Unit C! All men in formation!"

The man's team cheered at his words. Pumping their fists in the air, clenching weapons, they roared in one voice. Thus some hyenas went away, and some decided to stay. Promptly adding their strength to the tiger which had just arrived, they were all filled with confidence and willpower. Their shoulders and back were straight. What a proud team.

They were only strolling toward me, now their footsteps quickened. They jogged with their weapons pointed forward. Their leader roared to cheer them on, and they roared after him. He did that again and again. "Haaah!" he hollered. "Haaaaah!" they replied. I felt like I was assaulted by a bunch of stray and famished wild dogs.

Seeing their eagerness from so up-close, I exhaled deeply and extended my arms wide out, I decided I would roar at them, too. They were clearly growling at me so I would feel weaker. If they attacked in such a way first, I would respond to their roar and hope to scare them too. Baring my fangs to them, I brought 'it' forth from deep within me. Only I knew what was hidden within the Receptacle the System got me.

Only I knew a monster hid there. I planted my feet in the earth, then roared, all by myself, and half of the enemies froze on the spot. The soldiers who proudly marched onward were stopped by the monster's immense pressure. A wall of mana appeared in front of them, it was ice-cold and chilly. Their senses screamed at them to turn back and run. They briefly saw death. And that's how half of them just fainted on the spot. I never had expected that mental attack to work so well. That was laughable... but at the same time, I only felt scorn and disgust for the ones who fell.

We didn't even start clashing our swords together, but that little army was drained from its strength. Not totally, but almost.

"What?" I stared at them and shrugged. Stepping aside, I listlessly cut the adventurer who tried to sneak up on me from behind. "I know how to bark too, humans."

...Ring! ❮ The Player has reached level 42! ❯

"Oh, is that so?" I swung my dagger, getting the blood off of it. "It's been a long time anyway. How've you been, System?"