Chapter 381: Chapter 381

Drakal, the Free City of Auterica.

Located at the crossroads of the Azerion Empire in the central Ion Continent, the Zepia Republic in the east, and the southern desert region, this metropolis bustled with activity.

Despite being built on barren land unsuitable for farming, its strategic location as a transportation hub and the presence of the continent-wide Mercenary Guild's headquarters more than compensated for its shortcomings.

‘So, this is Drakal!’

The group that had just entered the city was also among those drawn here by its reputation.

Merchants, leading several carriages laden with goods, and the mercenaries they had hired for protection.

‘It’s huge. Unlike any city I’ve seen before.’

Billy, a rookie mercenary on his first long-distance journey, away from his hometown for the first time, couldn't help but marvel at the sight of Drakal, his eyes wide with wonder.

The cities near his village, and even the larger ones he had passed through on his journey, were nothing compared to this.

A fellow mercenary, one of his seniors from his hometown, clapped him on the shoulder, snapping him out of his reverie.

He was a large and powerfully built man, a veteran mercenary who had inspired Billy to join this profession.

If it weren’t for his tales of adventure and the allure of the outside world, Billy would probably still be back in his village, tending to the cows and plowing the fields.

‘If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have been hired for this long-distance escort mission.’

Of course, he was still a rookie, hired more as an errand boy than a full-fledged mercenary… but everyone started somewhere.

And it wasn’t a bad experience. It was a chance to see the world and broaden his horizons.

“You look like you’ve lost your soul. Come on! The escort mission is over, we got paid, so I’ll treat you to a feast!”

His senior, perhaps feeling a sense of responsibility towards his fellow villager, had been looking after him, helping him adjust to his new life.

Like now, treating him to a meal at a famous restaurant.

He was a bit of a braggart, but not a bad person.

“You can’t come to Drakal without visiting this place!”

They entered ‘Ogre’s Table’, a restaurant specializing in meat dishes.

And as promised, it was a very satisfying meal…

…but as Billy’s stomach began to fill, his gaze wandered, and he noticed a group of people at a nearby table.

Four men and women, devouring their food at an incredible speed.

He glanced at them curiously, then turned to his senior and asked in a low voice,

“Um… Senior, who are they?”

He had been meaning to ask since arriving in the city, but he had been too busy to think about it.

People in strange, unfamiliar attire, unlike anything he had ever seen before, were casually walking around Drakal.

“…Hmm? Ah, they’re Southern warriors. Don’t stare at them, they’re trouble.”

Billy looked at them again, his eyes wide with curiosity, at his senior’s casual reply.

Bare chests, covered in muscles and tattoos, adorned with beast hides and teeth…

They looked like… barbarians, straight out of a story.

“And don’t call them barbarians in front of them, just in case.”

And as he turned back to his senior,

“Ugh, those filthy barbarians are ruining my appetite.”

“They smell like… unwashed savages.”

“Hehehe— What are those barbarians even doing here…?”

…a commotion erupted from the Southern warriors’ table.

A chaotic brawl, four Southern warriors against over ten mercenaries, the restaurant’s corner turned into a battlefield.

His senior sighed and stood up.

They were done eating, and he didn’t want to get involved.

“Tsk! So you’re finally showing your true colors, huh? Let’s settle this once and for all!”

“You barbarians! How dare you cause trouble in Drakal! Get out of here!”

“Screw you! There’s no ‘your country’ or ‘my country’ in Drakal!”

“I’ll make you shit blood!”

A chaotic brawl, over fifteen people entangled in a fierce struggle, curses and insults flying through the air.

But the other patrons simply shook their heads and moved away, as if it was an everyday occurrence.

After all, Drakal was practically a ‘nation of mercenaries’, and such conflicts were commonplace.

A city filled with hot-blooded warriors with inflated egos and boundless energy… it was a recipe for disaster.

“Let’s go. They’re quite bold, aren’t they? The losers have to pay for all the damages.”

That was the unwritten rule in Drakal, unless it was a clear case of one-sided assault.

‘No weapons’, ‘no intentional killing’, and ‘the losers pay for the damages’… these were the rules enforced by the Mercenary Guild, so they couldn't be ignored.

That’s probably why the restaurant staff didn’t seem too concerned.

Some were even watching the fight with interest, placing bets on the outcome.

And the restaurant owner was also observing the situation, calculating the cost of replacing the damaged furniture and hoping the losers would be able to pay.

But before Billy and his senior could leave,

…the restaurant door opened, and another barbarian… no, a Southern warrior, entered.

“Huh? What’s going on here?”

A massive figure, a head taller than most, his body covered in elaborate tattoos that dwarfed those of the other Southern warriors.

“Tsk, causing a ruckus in a restaurant. What a mess.”

He frowned, observing the ongoing brawl, and clicked his tongue in disapproval.

But that was the extent of his reaction.

“Thirty servings of the special combo platter!”

He casually placed his order with the restaurant owner, who was watching from the side, then walked towards the brawl.

He tapped one of the mercenaries on the shoulder, his tone friendly.

“Hey, buddy? I don’t mind you guys having fun, but I’m hungry, so…”

“Who are you? …Wait, another barbarian!”

But his kindness was met with hostility.

The mercenary, caught up in the heat of the moment, didn't think twice before throwing a punch at the stranger who had interrupted him.

It was a bare-knuckle punch, but imbued with aura, powerful enough to break bones.

It connected with the stranger’s bare abdomen.

And then, a sickening crunch echoed through the air as the mercenary’s arm twisted at an unnatural angle.

“What the—?! What was that?!”

“There’s another barbarian behind us! Rob’s down!”

The other mercenaries, hearing the scream, turned around.

They still had the advantage in numbers.

They could easily deal with another barbarian.

“Huh? Do you know him, Senior?”

But unlike the mercenaries, who were still eager to fight, Billy and his senior, who had been watching from a distance, sensed that something was… wrong.

They had clearly seen what had happened.

“…He broke his arm with a single punch? Just… the recoil? What kind of monster is he…?”

And the mercenary wasn’t a weakling.

He was a veteran, a seasoned warrior who had hunted countless monsters.

And his arm had been broken by a single, casual punch.

“Ugh! What’s happening?!”

And the same thing happened to the other mercenaries who tried to attack him.

One after another, they collapsed, clutching their broken limbs and groaning in pain.

One of them, who had been using his aura, even coughed up blood, his internal organs damaged by the impact.

And then, the warriors on the front lines, who had been too focused on their own fights to notice the commotion, finally realized that something was wrong.

Their attacks became hesitant, and then they stopped altogether, putting some distance between themselves and their opponents.

They glanced nervously towards the source of the commotion, their senses heightened.

Situational awareness was essential for survival on the battlefield.

The Southern warriors were the first to recognize the newcomer.

The elaborate tattoos that covered his body, far surpassing the simple marks they bore on their own chests.

They had never seen it in person before, but they knew what it was.

“The Fighting King’s mark!”

“The Hegemon of Kalcos…?”

Harley, the Fighting King, the newly crowned king of the Southern Tribes, the trendsetter who had revived the ancient traditions of their people.

That was his identity.

‘…Shit… We’re screwed. Why now…?’

And the leader of the mercenary group, finally recognizing his opponent, also paled.

Even if his attire was similar to the other barbarians, his massive physique, his mismatched eyes, and his elaborate tattoos were unmistakable.

He hadn't heard from him in a while… and now, he had suddenly appeared.

His eyes widened in shock, cold sweat trickling down his face, and then he turned to his companions, who were still oblivious to the situation.

“W-what do we do? Should we attack him together?”

“…Are you crazy? If you want to die, do it alone.”

Naturally, the fight ended there.

The noisy brawl ended abruptly as one side surrendered.

“Hehehe… We apologize for interrupting your meal. There was a slight… misunderstanding…”

“Misunderstanding? You were the ones who started it…!”

“W-we’ll compensate you for the damages! The repairs, the food… and for interrupting Harley-nim’s meal… Yes.”

The mercenary leader, forcing a smile, bowed repeatedly, his tone almost pleading, while the Southern warriors behind Harley straightened their backs and puffed out their chests, their voices filled with pride.

Harley, seeing their desperate attempts to appease him, nodded casually.

“Really? Are you sure? I eat a lot.”

“O-of course! Ha… Haha…”

He wasn't going to refuse their offer.

It was a surprisingly lenient punishment, considering that they had dared to challenge him, the Fighting King… but he didn't even consider them a threat anymore.

They were just… flies, buzzing around him as he was about to enjoy a delicious meal.

Of course, if they continued to annoy him, he would just crush them… but there was no need for further bloodshed if they were willing to offer tribute and retreat.

‘I would have just… destroyed them all in the past.’

Harley, once a being of pure rage and violence, a personification of conflict and battle,

…had become… somewhat more discerning after acquiring 「Mad Control Heart Technique (Modified)」 in Ganghwange.

He had also learned to control his aura, suppressing its overwhelming presence.

‘…Come to think of it, they wouldn’t have even dared to approach me in the past.’

His mere presence would have intimidated them, his aura crushing their spirits.

Of course, his temper was still… short… compared to ordinary people…

He glanced at the mercenaries, who were nervously watching him, and smacked his lips.

They weren’t even worth his attention.

He was more interested in deciding whether to have roasted or boiled meat.

“Here’s your special combo platter!”

“Ooh! It smells delicious. And then, the special boiled meat platter!”

Of course, there was only one answer.

‘I wasn’t planning to pay anyway.’

After all, he had… sponsors now.

And there was nothing more delicious than a free meal.

“Another twenty servings…”

“Hmm, excellent. Thirty servings…”

“Don’t bother asking. Just bring out everything you have!”

The remaining mercenaries, who hadn’t been carried away on stretchers, paled as they heard his words.

And after a while, their faces ashen and lifeless,

…Ogre’s Table, the meat restaurant in Drakal, achieved record sales, its entire stock sold out, and the mercenaries, unable to pay, were forced to work off their debt.

“Hmm, I’m still a bit hungry, but I’ll stop here. Thanks for the meal, friends! Hahaha!”

And the incident, witnessed by countless patrons, spread throughout Drakal like wildfire, a grand celebration of the King’s return.