“You’re telling me Tron is sending the two of us to some tiny territory at the southernmost point? Tron, that brat has grown bold.”

“Tron’s judgement is correct. If only one of us goes, that Montana bastard won’t listen.”

“Ha! That unruly punk. She’s always causing trouble.”

Okota Way, a young man with short hair and sunglasses, exuded a delinquent aura.

Vasco Way, trying his best to hide his body with a hat and coat but standing out due to his height exceeding two meters, gave off a very different vibe.

The atmosphere between the two seemed so opposite that they didn’t look like they’d get along, but surprisingly, they didn’t seem to dislike each other.

Above all, with their white hair, pale skin, and red eyes, they gave off a familial impression.

Okota Way grumbled while looking at a map.

“Keh! We have to go all the way to Bixoro? That’s such a damn hassle!”

“Don’t complain so much. On the way back, we can have some seafood barbecue.”

“K-hat! Like that Montana guy would ever agree to sit and eat with us.”

At Okota’s words, Vasco replied in his blunt manner.

“If we bring his head back, things will be quiet.”

“…”

For a moment, there was silence.

Okota stayed quiet for a bit before bursting out laughing.

“K-hat! Bro, sometimes you really are scary!”

“I don’t treat people badly if they do their job right, even if they usually behave poorly like you.”

“Was… was that a compliment?!”

The two exchanged light banter.

Inside the train they were riding, dozens of people sat with their heads pressed to the ground.

All of them were humans infected by White Noise.

“Well, Montana is one thing, but it seems like someone else has touched our organization.”

Okota adjusted his sunglasses, a sly smile appearing on his lips.

“We’ll have to smash them.”

“Did you hear anything about the enemy’s characteristics?”

At Vasco’s question, Okota raised his eyebrows.

“Green hair and blue eyes, right? They said something about him being like a wild beast. Maybe even at least master-level, I think.”

“You heard correctly.”

“What, was that a test? You think I’m a kid?”

Okota bristled with indignation.

Vasco slowly shook his head.

“If I really thought you wouldn’t know, I wouldn’t have asked.”

“… Hmph. You sure talk big.”

All in all, the two seemed to get along well.

As they chatted, the train arrived at the mining city of Bizen.

“What the—? It’s a wreck.”

Only the train station barely seemed functional, and once they stepped out a little, the city looked almost destroyed.

“It’s certainly not ordinary. Stay alert, Okota.”

“Ha! Even if you hadn’t said it, I’d be fine on my own!”

Somewhat excited, Okota pulled out a pair of daggers.

Vasco also readied his weapon, a massive hammer slung over his shoulder.

Heading toward the city, they came to a stop at the sight of someone standing in the middle of the street.

“That’s…”

Okota lowered his sunglasses to take a better look and grinned.

“Hey, bro. He has green hair and blue eyes, sure… but he doesn’t look like a beast to me.”

A boy stood in the middle of the street.

He had mysterious deep green hair and eyes shining blue like a lake.

It was Luca.

“Don’t judge by appearances… is what I’d like to say, but you’re right. He’s a bit odd.”

“K-hat! This is way beyond just odd!”

Okota and Vasco wore conflicted expressions as they looked at Luca.

No wonder, as Luca was far too beautiful to be called a wild beast.

Above all, Luca had the sort of build that looked skinny no matter what he wore.

“A wild beast? That?”

“Certainly. He’s way too small.”

“…”

At Vasco’s words, the boy furrowed his brows.

“What did you just say?”

At his icy tone, Okota burst out laughing.

“Hahaha! Looks like he’s mad. Now what?”

“Calm yourself. You mustn’t underestimate a—”

Chill!

Okota’s laughter stopped cold.

Vasco’s eyes grew sharp.

“I’ll ask again. What did you say?”

That trembling fighting spirit.

A gaze so fierce it felt as if he might tear their throats out any moment.

It was an overwhelming pressure, completely at odds with his beautiful appearance.

“Hey now. Is that for real?”

Okota fixed his grip on his daggers, adopting a serious expression.

Vasco, too, was holding his hammer with both hands at some point.

“I was mistaken. That really IS a ‘beast’.”

Luca had already crossed the line between life and death several times.

Those experiences had resulted in both his body and mind growing immensely.

And now, all his injuries were healed.

His bones were no longer broken, his life force wasn’t lacking.

In other words, he was in perfect condition.

Naturally, his presence was completely different.

‘I’m feeling good. I could fight all day like this.’

Shhiiing.

Luca nonchalantly drew his sword, expression blank.

He felt his mental state becoming ever more elevated.

His focus was honed to a razor-sharp edge.

“This is going to be fun.”

Okota’s eyes glittered.

Like some display of skill, his daggers danced between his fingers.

“Okota, fall back.”

At that moment, Vasco put a hand on his shoulder.

Okota glared at him.

“Hah? Bro, what are you talking about?”

“If you charge in headlong out of excitement, we’ll only lose. With this many men, there’s no need to fight fair and square.”

“I get that, but…”

Annoyed, Okota clicked his tongue, but Vasco shook his head again.

“We have to consider the possibility of an ambush. First, we send our men in, then we move.”

“Tch. Fine, bro.”

Okota clicked his tongue and stepped back.

At that, Luca scoffed.

“You talked so big, only to tuck your tail and run in the end?”

“Hah?”

Okota glared at Luca, flipping up his middle finger.

“Don’t make me laugh. I’m not an idiot who won’t use the cards I have. Your taunts won’t work.”

“How dull. Montana Way was more entertaining.”

“… What did you just say?”

Okota’s face chilled over.

Luca, meanwhile, pulled Montana’s subordinates, who were hidden out of their sight, out with ropes and spoke.

“I said, Montana Way was more interesting. Is there a problem?”

“Mmmpf! Mmmpf! Mmmpf!”

“Mmph!”

Montana’s men came to their senses and tried to say something, but with their mouths gagged, they couldn’t speak.

But Okota and Vasco could sense Montana’s White Noise within them.

“You… are you serious…?”

Okota’s eyes twitched.

Even without Montana’s White Noise, those subordinates were always following him around.

—Hey. Why do you guys follow Montana around?

—Uh… well, probably because he doesn’t really order us around?

—Kha-hat! What’s that supposed to mean?

—Just kidding. He takes care of us more than you’d expect.

—That’s partly because of White Noise, but he never sends us somewhere dangerous. It’s sort of reassuring.

—Hmm. I see.

Okota was certain, since he’d talked with them before.

Something had happened to Montana.

“Damn it! Attack!”

Okota ordered his men to attack and moved to charge alongside them.

But again, Vasco stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Hey! Vasco!”

“Don’t get excited. That’s what he wants.”

“But still!”

Okota looked at Vasco and hesitated.

“Bro…?”

Vasco was usually emotionless.

But right now, his eyes brimmed with barely contained fury.

“I told my men to check for any ambushes. Once that’s done, we attack together.”

Seeing Vasco speak coldly, Okota regained his composure too.

“… Alright, bro.”

They watched as Luca fought their men.

‘I can’t use the power of lightning. If I do, they’ll definitely flee.’

Luca took a deep breath as Okota’s men charged.

Without lightning, Luca was at best expert intermediate.

He couldn’t even unleash sword energy.

‘But that was before I came to the Academy.’

In a short period, he’d experienced a lot.

The foe created by the dust devil, the demonic eye master Martin Curves, and the Marquis Kisen’s eldest son, Miros.

Those experiences had certainly helped him grow.

‘And though I can’t use lightning’s power…’

Luca’s eyes grew calm.

Something hazy began to radiate around his body.

“Uraaa!”

Crying out, Okota’s men surrounded Luca and brandished their weapons.

Their weapons—

Whoosh!

“?!!”

Passed right through Luca without touching him.

At the same time, his figure vanished.

He dissipated like smoke.

Thud! Thunk! Shhk!

“Argh!”

“Who the hell are you swinging at?!”

“Look who’s talking!”

Okota’s men began attacking each other.

Appearing a little ways away, Luca chuckled.

‘It’s fine to use the power of clouds.’

From there, it turned into a bloodbath.

Admittedly, Okota’s men possessed expert intermediate to advanced strength.

In terms of power, at least.

The White Noise residing in their bodies gave them force equivalent to the magic power of expert intermediate to advanced users.

But Luca’s skills couldn’t be measured by magic power alone.

He didn’t wield sword energy through sheer force, but his sword flowed around attacks and struck back to decapitate, using technique.

He’d only learned the fundamentals, but those basics rivaled those of the imperial secret weapon, the Moonlight Knight, one of the Night.

“Kraak! What are you doing stabbing me?!”

“D-damn it. Where is he?!”

On top of that, his power of clouds allowed him to create afterimages and cause his enemies to fight each other.

‘Though it’s not real inside the Different World, just illusions, tricks are enough.’

While Luca dealt deftly with Okota’s men, he sensed deadly danger in a flash.

He instantly shielded himself with the power of clouds.

Thunk!

“Grk!”

Luca’s body was sent flying sideways by a giant hammer, rolling along the ground.

After rolling several times, he broke his fall and quickly swung his sword.

A dagger slashed for his neck.

Clang!

“Hmm? What’s this? You talked big, but you’re weak as hell!”

Without hesitation, Okota and Vasco unleashed their killing intent.

Having checked that there was no ambush, they now joined the fight.

“No ambush, huh. He really is alone? What is he thinking?”

Vasco clicked his tongue, unable to comprehend why someone would be alone in this situation.

“Ha-ha! You strutted around with this level of power?!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Okota gleefully flicked his daggers.

Luca struggled even to parry them.

‘Definitely mid-level officer.’

From mid-level officer and above, Albino were master-level.

Okota and Vasco, right here, were around that strength.

As an mid-rank expert, Luca was no match.

Thunk!

“Guh!”

Just then, Vasco’s hammer struck Luca in the back.

Luca’s body floated into the air and then crashed limply to the ground.

“Kha-hat! This is hilarious. And you think you killed Montana with just this?”

Okota laughed, approaching Luca.

Vasco stopped him.

“Okota. Don’t let your guard down. That may be how Montana died.”

“Tch. Alright, bro…”

Squirm, squirm!

Okota clicked his tongue and drew out the White Noise inside him to protect his body.

He then grabbed Luca’s head and lifted him up.

“Talk. Where is Montana?”

“…”

“You won’t talk? Doesn’t matter. I can check myself.”

As he said that, Okota pressed his palm toward Luca’s face.

The Feast.

What Montana had done to the guards—he tried to do to Luca.

Tap.

“…?”

Then Luca placed his hand on Okota’s outstretched one.

Okota hesitated, and Luca grinned.

“Got you.”

—Space.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep