Chapter 5
Dane’s words made the mercenaries flinch, but not a single one retreated.
Seeing that, Dane let out a short sigh and gripped his wooden sword properly.
“Very well.”
“Then you all need a beating.”
The moment he finished speaking, Dane kicked off the ground and charged.
The mercenaries roared as they swung their weapons, but not a single attack found its mark.
Cesare watched the one-sided slaughter unfold before his eyes in a daze.
Even as countless blades flew toward him, Dane remained utterly calm.
“Ghk…!”
One mercenary collapsed after taking a blow to the throat.
Before long, not a single mercenary was left standing on his own feet.
Standing alone beneath the moonlight, Dane quietly lowered his wooden sword.
Then he turned toward Cesare.
Cesare instinctively scooted backward on his rear.
“W-What?”
“Don’t be afraid.”
“I was only looking at you.”
Was that really something the man who’d just beaten me half to death should be saying?
Even so, Cesare wisely kept his mouth shut.
Dane sat down beside him and silently looked toward the doors of the Domus.
“Cesare.”
“I asked you before.”
“What are you planning to do from now on?”
His expression was tranquil as he turned to his disciple.
His quiet voice drifted beneath the moonlight.
“I’m going to bring all of my disciples back.”
“…”
“I’ll need your help, Cesare.”
“I can’t find everyone by myself.”
“…Me too?”
“Even though I’m an alcoholic and a complete screw-up?”
Unable to meet his master’s eyes, Cesare asked quietly.
Now that he’d accepted the fact that his master had truly returned…
All he could see was the pitiful state he’d fallen into.
Dane looked at him and calmly replied,
“And you’re still my disciple, Cesare.”
Cesare’s eyes trembled.
“…Of course I am.”
“I’m your disciple.”
Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he grinned.
“So…”
“Are we operating out of the Domus again?”
“Looking for everyone?”
“Yes.”
“But before that…”
“There’s one thing I need to settle.”
Dane lightly nudged one of the unconscious mercenaries with his foot.
No response.
WHAM!
“GAAH!”
After a powerful kick, the mercenary sprang upright with a scream.
Squatting down, Dane met his eyes.
“You.”
“I have an errand for you.”
“…Huh?”
“Go.”
Moonlight reflected in Dane’s eyes like murderous intent.
“Bring me the owner of the brothel.”
Before Dawn
Under the fading moonlight, someone walked leisurely through the streets.
The brothel owner.
Accompanied by his bodyguards, he strolled as though out for a pleasant walk.
Looking displeased at one of the mercenaries beside him, he asked,
“So…”
“You killed him?”
“…Yes.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Tsk.”
“I told you to bring him back alive.”
After sending the mercenaries out, the brothel owner had simply waited for them to return with Dane in chains.
Instead…
They came back claiming they’d accidentally killed him.
“He was stronger than expected.”
“We made a mistake.”
“And the body?”
“…We buried it nearby.”
If the city guards discovered it, things would become troublesome.
Still, he wasn’t particularly worried.
People died in the slums every day.
At least he’d gotten his establishment back.
The important thing now was reopening for business tomorrow.
As he walked toward the building…
His brothel gradually came into view.
Without a care, he opened the front door and stepped inside.
Then he froze.
“…Why is he here?”
Dane was standing calmly in the center of the first floor.
Didn’t they say he was dead?
Click.
The door shut behind him.
Turning around, he found Cesare and the mercenary standing there.
The mercenary stammered,
“I-I brought him.”
“Good.”
“Well done.”
Dane stepped forward.
The bodyguards immediately moved to stand between him and the brothel owner.
And at that instant…
Their blood seemed to freeze.
Dane himself felt like a blizzard.
Like an unstoppable natural disaster that no ordinary human could oppose.
“I hear you stole the Valanus Domus from a group of children fifteen years ago.”
Dane’s voice was chillingly cold.
Cold sweat ran down the brothel owner’s back.
Despite his fear, he shouted,
“Who told you that nonsense?!”
“I bought it legally!”
“Then what’s this?”
Dane held out a single document.
It was the original deed to the Domus—the land and the building itself.
He had found it hidden in the Domus basement.
Back when he was alive, Dane had stored all important documents—including the property deed—beneath the building.
The brothel owner’s face stiffened.
Unable to locate the genuine deed, he had forged one years ago.
Until now, that hadn’t been a problem.
But once the original surfaced…
Everything changed.
“So.”
“Here’s proof that you’re a fraud.”
“You occupied the building illegally.”
“And when I removed you…”
“You retaliated.”
The moment Dane stepped closer, one bodyguard drew his sword and lunged.
At exactly the same moment—
CRACK!
Dane’s wooden sword struck each bodyguard cleanly on their vital points.
They collapsed before even managing to scream.
Pale with terror, the brothel owner turned to flee.
But Cesare was already blocking the exit.
“Where do you think you’re going, bastard?”
THUD!
Cesare drove his fist straight into the man’s solar plexus.
As the brothel owner doubled over—
A wooden sword came crashing down from behind.
Dane beat him mercilessly.
The brothel owner screamed and begged.
Dane never stopped.
“P-Please…”
“Stop…!”
His pleas fell on deaf ears.
Every strike landed where it hurt most, as though determined to break every bone in his body.
Then—
CRUNCH!
“UAAAGH…!”
Dane stomped squarely between the man’s legs.
The brothel owner’s vision instantly turned white as foam spilled from his mouth.
“You’ve spent fifteen years making money…”
“…inside the building you stole from my children.”
“I-I’m sorry…”
“Sorry?”
Dane pressed down even harder.
The man writhed on the floor like a crushed frog, sobbing.
“You think saying ‘I’m sorry’ is enough?”
“I-I’ll return the building!”
“I’ll give it back immediately!”
“That’s all?”
Dane looked down at him coldly.
“You’ve been profiting from it for fifteen years.”
“You’ll pay interest as well.”
Then the tip of the wooden sword was aimed directly at the man’s face.
It looked every bit as deadly as real steel.
Keeping him pinned beneath his foot, Dane said,
“Tell me yourself.”
“How much interest do you think you owe?”
“If the amount satisfies me…”
“I’ll let you leave here alive.”
There was nothing in his voice except genuine killing intent.
It was sharp enough that one careless word felt as though it would cost the man his tongue.
The brothel owner’s face turned deathly white.
He looked as though Death itself stood before him.
Horn Whale Inn
Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows.
As I waited for Cesare, I slowly sipped my water.
It wasn’t dinner time yet, so the inn wasn’t particularly crowded.
Even so…
I could feel everyone’s eyes on me.
Several mercenaries who had arrived earlier kept stealing glances in my direction.
Eventually, even the innkeeper approached me.
“So it’s true?”
“You really beat up all those mercenaries?”
“Huh…”
“You don’t look the type.”
A day had passed since dealing with the brothel owner.
It hadn’t taken long for rumors to spread.
I simply smiled.
“Cesare helped too.”
“By the way…”
“You look way younger than him.”
“So why do you call him ‘Cesare’ instead of ‘older brother’?”
“Because I’m stronger.”
“So we agreed to speak casually.”
Calling Cesare hyung would’ve been awkward.
Explaining that I’d died and come back to life would’ve been even worse.
The innkeeper gave me an odd look.
“You look so gentle…”
“But you’ve got quite the rough side.”
“Oh—welcome!”
Just then, the door opened.
A customer entered.
The innkeeper greeted him politely.
“First time here?”
“What would you like to order?”
“Why’re you suddenly talking so politely?”
“Just bring me some food.”
The innkeeper’s eyes widened.
He stared at the newcomer.
“…What?”
“Cesare?”
“Where’d your beard go?”
Cesare looked like an entirely different person.
His shaggy hair and unkempt beard were neatly trimmed, completely changing his appearance.
Still looking stunned, the innkeeper muttered,
“I’ve known you for five years…”
“And this is the first time I’ve realized you’re actually handsome.”
“I’ve always been handsome.”
“I’m starving, so hurry up with the food.”
Leaving the dumbfounded innkeeper behind, Cesare sat across from me.
“The haircut suits you.”
“That’s a relief.”
“I quit being a mercenary too, so I figured I’d clean myself up.”
“Feels weird, though.”
He rubbed his now smooth chin.
“By the way…”
“I ran into those mercenaries earlier.”
“They were furious.”
“They said they never got paid by the brothel owner.”
“He went to prison.”
“So they never will.”
The brothel owner had repaid fifteen years’ worth of debt with money.
He emptied his entire fortune.
Of course…
That wasn’t enough.
He had forged legal documents to steal the building.
He’d attempted murder.
Those crimes were enough to send him to prison.
He’d likely spend years behind bars.
And even after getting out…
He’d never recover.
Not while I remained here.
As Cesare and I talked, the innkeeper returned carrying our meals.
He also placed a cup of alcohol in front of Cesare.
Cesare glanced at it.
“I didn’t order that.”
“You always drink with your meals.”
“You’d complain if I didn’t bring you booze.”
“I quit.”
“I’m not drinking anymore.”
The innkeeper looked utterly shocked.
Grabbing both of Cesare’s cheeks, he stretched them hard.
“You’re really Cesare?”
“You’re not some impostor?”
“Ow!”
“Let go!”
“Can’t a man change?!”
“You mean ‘turn over a new leaf,’ idiot.”
“Still dumb as ever.”
“So I guess you really are Cesare.”
Still looking suspicious, the innkeeper finally let go.
As he reached to take the drink back, Cesare suddenly grabbed his wrist.
“Come on.”
“You already brought it.”
“Just leave it there.”
The innkeeper gave him a knowing look.
There he is.
Then he walked away.
Cesare didn’t drink.
He simply closed his eyes and inhaled the aroma deeply.
“Why aren’t you drinking?”
“You told me to quit, Master.”
“…Damn.”
“It smells incredible…”
He stared at the alcohol with longing before looking back at me.
His hands trembled violently.
Yet…
He still didn’t touch it.
Seeing that, I couldn’t help but feel proud.
“So, Master…”
“What are we doing from here?”
“We’re going to look for the others, right?”
“Yes.”
“We have to.”
I thought of my five disciples.
Those tiny children who had once gathered beneath the roof of Valanus.
“After all the masters of Valanus died…”
“…how did all of you live?”
“And where did the others go?”
