'It wasn't the plan... but I did do it, didn't I?'
Whether it was the expression on my face or not, I heard the thugs gasping for air as they rolled on the floor.
"Th-this was all planned? From the very beginning?"
"Th-that's impossible. Were we just chess pieces moving in the palm of his hand?"
"The entire Deviathan organization... by a single person?"
I watched them spew out cookie-cutter lines.
Creeeeeak—.
An ominous groan echoed. I looked up to see the chandelier swaying, threatening to fall at any moment.
'Argh! If I leave it like this, everyone might die..!'
As I stepped further into the room in a rush, the people cowering on the floor flinched and crawled backward. They looked up at me with faces drenched in cold sweat.
'Keep them from being on guard... Right. Smile.'
***
Atan, the boss of the Deviathan organization, felt goosebumps erupt across his skin, trembling the moment the slaughterer flashed a charming smile.
'We were dancing in the palm of his hand...'
Since when? How far did his plan go?
He couldn't even fathom it, no matter how hard he tried. The blood-red Demon Sword in the boy's hand glinted eerily, as if it were about to claim their blood right then and there.
The mountain of corpses visible behind him seemed to foreshadow their own futures.
'He wasn't just some hunting dog.'
Standing about sixteen, with a youthful face and eyes that curved slightly downward, he looked like a docile, obedient child.
Perhaps they had been deceived by that appearance.
'That is a monster... The monster of Nest. He must be the true master of Nest.'
A man who looked like he had swallowed a snake couldn't possibly be a subordinate of a small organization like Nest. It was logical to assume this man was the real master, and the one known as the current boss was merely a puppet.
Deviathan was different from other organizations in size alone. It was only natural that all information in Kardishan flowed into Deviathan's ears.
But no one knew that a monster like that was in Nest!
How much power must one possess to hide everything about themselves? Atan's pupils grew increasingly terrified as time passed.
'Why did he do this? To destroy the Deviathan organization?'
No, that wasn't it. If this man had wanted to erase Deviathan, it would have already collapsed.
As all sorts of thoughts crossed Atan's mind, Rian opened his mouth.
"You must be wondering why this happened. Well, to put it simply, it's because Deviathan threatened me."
"....!"
The words 'How dare you' echoed in Atan's mind. Rian hadn't said it, but that was how it sounded to him.
"The solution is simple. You just need to stop threatening me."
Rian literally meant for them to stop the threats so he could stop using his Authority, but to the others, it sounded completely different.
'A-are you telling us to bow our heads and submit right now?'
'Gulp, was all of this prepared to swallow Deviathan whole?'
No one believed Rian's words at face value. 'Do not threaten me' was synonymous with 'Become an existence that cannot threaten me.'
In a fight between organizations, what must one do to stop being a threat? An alliance? A treaty?
In this place where betrayal ran rampant, those were all useless words. To perfectly eliminate a threat, one had to annihilate or swallow the opposing organization.
Therefore, Rian's words sounded to them like, "If you don't want to die, shut up, get under me, and become a loyal dog."
The executives and the boss froze at the implication that he would gobble up the Deviathan organization.
'It really looks like it's going to fall....'
Rian glanced at the ceiling repeatedly and stepped further inside. At that, they crawled on the floor and retreated further back. Rian smiled even more gently to signal them not to be on guard. The executives and the boss turned even paler.
"We don't have time. It's not that difficult of a task."
Since their defeat was already determined, he was telling them to hurry up and submit, which made the executives and the boss tremble.
Humiliation and fear filled their minds, yet they couldn't find an answer.
Creak, screeech..
The chandelier swayed violently, about to fall at any moment. Rian looked at the ceiling and said.
"....Answer later, for now, get out of there -.."
The moment he was about to order them to flee.
Crack!
The ceiling collapsed completely, and the chandelier began to fall. The executives and the boss stared at the chandelier with eyes wide as saucers.
'Ugh.. that's why I told them to hurry up!'
Rian changed the Demon Sword into the form of a long spear and threw it in an instant.
Clang!
The spearhead passed through the chain hole securing the chandelier. The protrusion connecting the blade to the handle caught the chain.
Boom!
As the spear embedded itself in the ceiling, the chandelier stopped in mid-air. Hanging down by the length of the spear, it swayed precariously right in front of the executives and the boss.
"Aaaack!"
"Uheeeheeeheee!"
The executives, having finally come to their senses, crawled on the floor to escape from under the chandelier. There were even some who had wet their pants.
It wasn't scary enough to make them piss themselves, but due to the Gag Filter, their bodies were overreacting. Rian, noticing this, looked at them with a pitying gaze and said.
"I told you. I told you to say you wouldn't threaten me."
Those swallowed by fear trembled as they looked at Rian.
"If you don't give me an answer soon, this will keep happening."
He sounded full of compassion, as if he were truly worried about them, but the words leaving his mouth were nothing but chilling threats.
"I'm not a pushover, you know. If you keep threatening me, well..."
Rian shook his head lightly and reached toward the ceiling. The spear returned to Rian's hand easily.
Crash! Clatter!
As the spear was pulled out, the chandelier fell to the floor. Glass and metal shards flew everywhere. Amidst the beautiful sparkle, the executives and the boss felt a profound fear.
"Well, if you want to live, just think that you won't threaten me anymore, anytime. Got it?"
He couldn't stay here forever, so after telling them the solution, Rian turned around and left without hesitation.
"Huk, huuuuk..."
"Uheuu..."
Only after Rian left did groans of fear echo from here and there. Atan stood up unsteadily with a pale face.
'Damn it, damn it!'
Atan could not hide his rage at the fact that he had been played by a brat like that. No, he had no choice but to be angry. If he wasn't, he felt he would be swallowed by fear.
'I must inform them. That there is a massive mastermind behind Nest.'
And so, the moniker 'Hunting Dog of Nest' evolved into 'The Mastermind of Nest'!
It was an unfair situation for Rian, who had tried to help the people who threatened him, but he would only find out about this much later.
***
I left the land of Deviathan, which had fallen into chaos, and headed toward the land of Nest in the west.
I didn't forget to loot the shops of Black Magic users or slave traders that had become abandoned houses along the way. It was work I had done in the Arena, so I could gather all sorts of items without difficulty.
It was good that I arrived in the west with a heavy pouch, but...
'Hmm... I wonder where Noah is?'
I knew she was in the northwest, but I didn't know exactly where. After thinking for a moment, I decided to just ask.
"Excuse me, do you know where the Nest organization is?"
"Wh-what? Why are you asking me that!"
When I took out a silver coin and offered it to the flustered person, they suddenly became kind.
"Go straight that way, turn right, and you'll see a restaurant called Nest. It's a shop run by the Nest organization, so you should try going there."
"Thank you."
As expected, there was nothing that couldn't be solved with money.
***
"H-heee... smells delicious.."
As I approached the building marked as Nest Restaurant, a delicious smell wafted over. Jess's eyes went wide as saucers, and she gulped repeatedly. Her tail was wagging so hard I could see her robe flapping.
'Should I grab a meal before meeting her?'
Thinking that, I headed inside the restaurant.
"Welcome!"
The shop clerk was much younger than I expected. 12? 13? It was a young child. It wasn't strange in this cruel world that considered young children excellent laborers, but... even in the kitchen where cooking was in full swing, I could only see young children.
'Uh.. is this okay?'
While I was blinking in confusion, I was guided to an empty table. As the smell was incredible, the shop was packed with customers.
"One more bowl of braised meat here!"
"Here too!"
"When are you giving me my beer?!"
It was as noisy as a marketplace, given the number of rough-looking people. Seeing quite dangerous-looking individuals eating, worry washed over me.
'Isn't this too dangerous?'
Even if they were serving in a normal shop, I would be worried, but seeing young children serving in such a menacing atmosphere made my concern swell.
As if my worry wasn't unfounded, someone spat out a rough curse and said.
"How many times do I have to ask when the food is coming out!?"
"Hey, you! It hasn't even been a minute since you ordered! There are many tables waiting ahead, so shut your mouth!"
"What?!"
As the atmosphere tensed, as if they were about to draw their swords, the gazes of those around them turned toward them.
'This... I think I should stop them.'
The moment I thought that and tried to stand up, something flew in from the kitchen.
"Oh..!"
A book of a familiar shape unfolded with a rustle.
[ Which bastard is causing a ruckus without fear? ]
Juliana, Noah's mentor, had appeared.