(1) Saber Tiger.
This enormous monster was currently enjoying a leisurely nap in the shade of the forest trees. In the ecosystem of mother nature, the weak must always keep their senses sharp and survey their surroundings. To be able to sleep in a place that was not its lair was proof that the creature was a predator, high up in the ecosystem.
In truth, there were not more than ten species in this area that could do anything to a Saber Tiger. A massive body that reached five meters including the tail, and two sharp fangs longer and sharper than a grown man's forearm. The physical strength to crush a large bear with a single swipe of its claws.
It was because it was such a Saber Tiger that it could enjoy a pleasant nap.
But then… Thud!
Something fell before it. The Saber Tiger opened its eyes. At first, it thought it might be a small monkey, but upon closer inspection, it was different.
That creature holding pieces of iron in both hands was undoubtedly a human. A delicacy with tender meat and sweet fat. The portion was a bit small, so it wasn't filling, but still, it was quite delicious when caught occasionally....
“Hehehe. Yes. You look expensive just at a glance. You cute thing. Hahaha....”
Huh? What's this?
This one seemed quite different from the humans in its memory. Was it a new species? As the Saber Tiger was bewildered, Patrick spoke with a ghastly smile.
“Now, come here. If you stay still, I’ll make your death painless.” -Grrrrrrr It didn't know why.
The moment that creature, not even half its size, took a step forward, the Saber Tiger’s fur stood on end and it quickly rose to its feet. Seeing this, Patrick raised the longswords in both hands, licked his lips, and said.
“Hoh? So my little kitty wants to resist?” -Graaaargh!
The Saber Tiger roared thunderously, a threatening bellow. The moment they heard the roar, the beasts of the forest were all startled and began to flee frantically. However, Patrick, the direct target of the threat, didn't even bat an eye and just laughed.
"Hehehe, you've got a lot of spirit. By any chance, you don't have something like an inner core, do you? If you do, cough it up. Then I might let you go." -Grooooowl!
“If you don’t want to, then don’t!”
In that instant, the two males clashed head-on.
“He’s crazy. Crazy. This is truly crazy.”
Brian was trembling, hiding his body. He knew the Saber Tiger's keen senses would detect him hiding like this, but he felt like he would go mad if he didn't at least do this. It was a Saber Tiger, no less.
In this forest, unless an Ogre appeared, there was no creature that could match it. If a Saber Tiger appeared in the fief, he had no confidence they could win even if they mobilized their entire military force. At best, they could only hope the Saber Tiger would eat its fill of the fief's residents and leave.
In fact, even as he guided Patrick here, he had thought. That vicious demon bastard must be spouting nonsense because he’s never seen a Saber Tiger in person. Once he actually sees it, he'll come to his senses and back down.
So, as they cautiously approached and reached the Saber Tiger… Patrick had shouted, "Found it! My money!" and charged straight toward the Saber Tiger.
And now, he had started a direct fight with that giant monster.
"That madman. No matter how strong he is, how can he beat a Saber Tiger? To beat that thing, you'd need at least a five-star knight... to come... huh?"
Brian's mouth, which had been speaking, slowly fell agape. He rubbed his eyes again and again, looking back at the scene unfolding before him. This was a common reaction when an unbelievable sight occurred right before one's eyes.
"Hyaaaaaah!" -Graaaaaargh!
Kahaang!
The Saber Tiger’s molars, capable of chewing through rock, bit into empty air. Its forepaw, which could kill a bear in a single blow, also cut through the air in vain. Even with the sharp motor skills unique to felines, which far surpass those of humans, not a single attack managed to land on Patrick's body.
On the other hand…
"Taat!"
Pow! Whack! Crack!
Patrick’s fists and kicks relentlessly exploded all over the Saber Tiger's body. This wasn't the energy circulation and blood activation he performed on the soldiers. There was no power control like when he dealt with Brian, with the thought of ‘You can’t die yet.
You must suffer more.’ His fists and feet flew purely to defeat the opponent, making the Saber Tiger's bones and muscles scream.
"Hap!"
Baaam!
Patrick’s spinning back kick struck the Saber Tiger squarely in the head. And the Saber Tiger’s massive body was sent flying backward, destroying several trees. -Grrrrr.... But the Saber Tiger, despite being sent flying, just shook its head for a moment, then got back up and bared its teeth at Patrick.
Seeing this, Patrick clicked his tongue and said.
“Tsk, it’s annoying that I can’t use my swords because I don't want to damage the hide.” -Grr...
Grrrrr.... “Oho.
Still got some fight left in you? Keee... my kitty has good durability." -Grooooowl! The Saber Tiger roared thunderously again in a threat, but such threats only work on weaker opponents.
“But let's end this soon.”
Patrick's stance changed. Should one say the strength left his entire body, and he went limp? He assumed a loose stance, looking as if he would be blown away by a mere gust of wind.
And the next moment….
Swoosh.
Without sound or presence, Patrick’s body closed in right before the Saber Tiger. -Grah!? The startled Saber Tiger reflexively swung its paw, but...
Craaack!
Before it could, Patrick’s right hand struck the Saber Tiger’s body from below, launching it upward. Ascending Dragon Palm. It was one of the few palm techniques in the Twin Dragon Sect, a technique that sends an enemy flying from bottom to top.
It was also a technique Patrick personally favored a lot in his past life. To be more precise…
“Who told you to be so loud, you bastard!”
Should one say he enjoyed the follow-up combos after launching an opponent into the air? Infinite Hell Chain Fist.
“Atatatatatatatatatatatatata!”
Powpowpowpowpowpowpowpowpowpowpow!
Patrick's fists rained down on the airborne Saber Tiger's body, creating countless afterimages. For reference, this was not a martial art of the Twin Dragon Sect.
It was a unique martial art created by the hero of the righteous path, Radiant Dragon Grandmaster Jin Cheon, after serious research with the goal of ‘how can I beat someone up more painfully and miserably?’ So that the one being hit suffers miserably. So that the one watching trembles in fear.
So that the one hitting enjoys the thrill. This was the combo technique that satisfied all three of these tasks simultaneously.
"That... that madman."
Brian saw it. He saw the monster, the object of terror and despair in the forest, getting beaten mercilessly by fists. The Saber Tiger, launched into the air, couldn't even fall back to the ground, just suspended in mid-air, taking a one-sided beating.
This went on for about three to five seconds?
"Hyaaaaaaaah!"
Craaaaack!
As a finisher, Patrick leaped up and his heel drop slammed the Saber Tiger into the ground. The Saber Tiger, now collapsed, did not move an inch. Patrick then spoke with a satisfied expression, rolling his arms one after the other.
“Mmm, it’s been a while since I punched with all my might without holding back. My mind and body feel so refreshed.”
Is he even human? But the effect was clear. Seeing and hearing this, Brian realized it from the bottom of his heart.
Patrick had said it before.
[You should be thankful I’m not really hitting you. Huh? If I really hit you, a weakling like you would just drop dead in one shot. Got it?]
At the time, he had thought, ‘What bullshit. As if you'd ever hold back, you demon bastard.’
But....
'He was really holding back?'
Yes.
The truth is often surprising when you learn it. Patrick spoke to Brian, who was frozen in fear and shock.
"Maknae?"
"Yes? Yes!"
"What are you doing? Skin this thing, pull out its teeth, and take anything else that might be worth money."
"Yes, I understand."
Brian answered in a voice full of military discipline and moved like a well-trained maknae.
'I'll die.
If I mess with that man, he'll really kill me.' He didn't want to go to the underworld and, when asked by the god of death, "Why did you die?" have to answer, "I was beaten to death by a demon." 'I'll just do as I'm told.'
Maknae Brian's level of obedience had risen.
"Wow...."
"Ooh... what in the world is that?"
"It's a Saber Tiger, isn't it? Did they really catch that thing?"
The residents of the fief were greatly astonished. Even for the residents of the Schneider Fief, which teemed with monsters, it was rare to see a big catch like a Saber Tiger. And they truly never thought they would see the corpse of such a Saber Tiger.
"They caught that?"
"Really? How did they catch it?"
"Even if all our fief's soldiers attacked together, it would be tough, wouldn't it?"
"Tough? They'd all just die."
"That's true. So how did this corpse come to be?"
"Ha... hahaha...."
Seeing the murmuring residents, Patrick simply ignored them with a bored expression. Whether people were amazed or not, his mind was currently occupied with only one thought. How can I sell this hide for even a little bit more money?
Just then, Brian, who had been grunting and carrying the hide, suddenly put it down and addressed the crowd.
“Ahem, everyone, listen well.”
The people focused on him. And Brian spoke in a loud, proud voice.
“This Saber Tiger was caught by the heir of our fief, Young Master Patrick Schneider.”
"What? The young master did?"
"No way. How old is the young master?"
"Eh, that's impossible."
Facing the residents who were murmuring in disbelief, Brian puffed out his chest and said.
“I swear on my honor as a knight, what I say is the truth. The young master caught this Saber Tiger by fighting it one-on-one.”
As he even put his honor as a knight on the line, the residents of the fief murmured even louder. That meant there was a high possibility his words were true. A young boy, who had just turned ten, had caught that monster which could annihilate a village overnight.
Brian puffed his chest out and said with a proud face.
“Everyone, spread this fact far and wide to other peop... Ack!”
"The bullshit you spout comes in all shapes and sizes."
Brian, in mid-sentence, was struck on the back of the head with the scabbard of a sword by Patrick and staggered forward. At this sight, the citizens of the fief's eyes went wide. They were people who still didn't know about Brian's demotion.
So they couldn't have imagined that even the lord's son would do such a thing to the fief's only precious knight.
But…
"Hehehe, young master, I only said that out of my loyalty to spread your great deeds far and wide. Please understand my heart."
"This bastard suddenly changed his life's path to that of a sycophant. Have you no shame?"
"Hahahaha...."
Despite Patrick’s insults, Brian could only bow his head, laughing foolishly. Seeing Brian suddenly being so openly flattering and cautious, Patrick looked at him with an incredulous expression.
'Right.
Spineless people like you do live damn long lives.' It seemed that seeing Patrick beat a Saber Tiger to death had completely extinguished any last embers of defiance left in his heart. And with his rebellious spirit gone, the only feelings Brian had left for Patrick were fear and obedience.
What could he do in a situation where an overwhelming monster held his life in its hands? He had no choice but to bow down and obey completely.
“Fine. Whatever, do as you please.”
Of course, Patrick detested humans like this who had no pride and had sold their guts. But if he was the object of that obedience, it was a different story. 'It's good if I think of it as him becoming easier to use.'
What was important right now wasn't the change of heart occurring within a small fry like Brian. After all, isn't the most important thing in life, money, money, and more money? ************ [Editor: "Maknae" is a Korean word that means the youngest member of a group, such as a family, friend group,]