Chapter 11. Hehehe. Yes, you look expensive at a glance (1)
Saber Tiger.
This giant magical beast was currently enjoying a leisurely nap in the shade of a tree in the forest.
In the ecosystem of mother nature, the weak always keep their senses sharp and survey their surroundings.
To be able to sleep in a place that is not one's home is proof that the creature is positioned as a predator at the top of the ecosystem.
In fact, in this area, there were not more than ten types of creatures that could do anything to a Saber Tiger.
A massive body that rivaled five meters including its tail, and two fangs longer and sharper than a grown man's forearm.
Brute force that could 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.
However….
Kuuuung!
Something fell in front of him.
The Saber Tiger opened its eyes.
At first, he thought it might be a small monkey, but upon closer inspection, it was different.
That creature, holding pieces of metal in both hands, was undoubtedly a human.
A delicacy with tender flesh and sweet fat.
The portion was a bit small, so it wasn't filling, but it was still a delicious treat when caught occasionally….
“Hehehe. Yes. You look expensive at a glance. You cute thing. Hehehehe….”
Huh? What's this?
Something seems quite different from the humans in its memory.
Is it a new species?
As the Saber Tiger was bewildered, Patrick spoke with a murderous smile.
“Now, come here. If you behave, I'll kill you painlessly.”
-Grrrrrrr….
He didn't know the reason.
The moment that creature, less than half its size, took a step forward, the Saber Tiger's fur stood on end, and it quickly got to its feet.
Seeing this, Patrick held the longswords in both hands, licked his lips, and said.
“Hoh? My little kitty wants to put up a fight?”
-Kraaaaaang!
The roar of the Saber Tiger, bellowing loudly to threaten.
At that moment, all the beasts of the forest that heard the roar were startled and began to flee frantically.
But Patrick, the direct target of that threat, didn't even blink an eye and smiled.
“Hehehe. You've got good spirit. Do you happen to have something like an inner core? If you do, spit it out. Then I might spare you.”
-Keoheoeong!
“If you don't want to, then don't!”
In an instant, the two males clashed head-on.
“He's crazy. Crazy. This is really crazy.”
Brian was hiding, trembling all over.
Hiding like this, the Saber Tiger's keen senses would probably know he was hiding here, but he felt like he would go crazy if he didn't do at least 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 fiefdom, he was not confident they could win even if they mobilized all their military forces.
At best, they could only hope that the Saber Tiger would eat its fill of the fiefdom's residents and leave.
In fact, even while guiding Patrick here, he had thought.
That vicious devil of a bastard was talking nonsense because he hadn't actually seen a Saber Tiger yet, but if he saw it in person, he would come to his senses and back down.
So, they had approached cautiously, and the moment they reached the Saber Tiger….
Patrick had shouted, ‘Found it. My money!’ and ran straight out in front of the Saber Tiger.
And now, he had started a head-on fight with that giant magical beast.
“Crazy bastard. No matter how strong he thinks he is, how can he beat a Saber Tiger? To beat that thing, you'd need at least a 5-star knigh— to come…. huh?”
Brian's mouth, which had been speaking, gradually fell wide open.
And he rubbed his eyes several times, looking again at the scene unfolding before him.
This is a common reaction when an unbelievable sight unfolds before one's eyes.
“Euraaaachaaaaa!”
-Kraaaaaang! Kahaang!
The Saber Tiger's molars, which could chew and crush rocks, bit into the air.
The Saber Tiger's front paw, which could kill a bear in one blow, also futilely cut through empty space.
Even with the sharp motor skills unique to felines that far transcend humans, not a single attack managed to land on Patrick's body.
In contrast to that….
“Taaat!”
Peopeopeok! Ppeoeok!
Patrick's fists and kicks rained down relentlessly and evenly all over the Saber Tiger's body.
This wasn't the Marrow Cleansing and Acupoint Opening he performed on the soldiers.
Nor was it the power control he used on Brian, thinking, ‘You can't die yet. You must suffer more.’
The Saber Tiger's bones and muscles screamed from the fists and kicks that were thrown purely to bring down the opponent.
“Haap!”
Ppeoong!
Patrick's spinning back kick landed squarely on the Saber Tiger's head.
And the Saber Tiger's massive body flew back a great distance, destroying several trees.
-Grrrrr….
But the Saber Tiger that had been sent flying shook its head for a moment, then got up again and ground its teeth at Patrick.
Seeing this, Patrick clicked his tongue and said.
“Tsk, it's annoying that I can't use a blade because I don't want to damage the hide.”
-Gr…. Grrrrr….
“Ooh. Still have fighting spirit left? Kuuuuh…. my little kitty has good durability too.”
-Keoheoeoeong!
The Saber Tiger roared loudly again, threatening, but such threats only work on opponents weaker than itself.
“But let's end this soon.”
Patrick's stance changed.
Should one say that the strength drained from his whole body, and his body went limp?
He took on a relaxed stance that looked like it would be blown away by a mere gust of wind.
And the next moment….
Ssssk.
Without a sound or presence, Patrick's body closed in right in front of the Saber Tiger.
-Keoheong!?
The startled Saber Tiger reflexively swung its front paw, but….
Jjeoong!
Before that, Patrick's right hand struck the Saber Tiger's body from below, sending it upwards.
Rising Dragon Palm.
One of the few palm techniques of the Twin Dragon Sect, it is a palm technique that launches the enemy upwards from below.
It was also a technique that Patrick personally favored a lot in his past life.
To be more precise….
“Who told you to be so noisy, you bastard!”
Should one say he enjoyed the follow-up combos after launching the opponent into the air?
Infinite Hell Chain Fist.
“Adadadadadadadadada!”
Peopeopeopeopeopeopeopeopeopeokpeok!
Patrick's fists created countless phantoms as they poured down on the body of the Saber Tiger, which was floating in the air.
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 faction, Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon, after serious research with the goal of ‘How can I mess someone up more painfully and miserably?’
To make the one being hit suffer miserably.
To make the one watching tremble in fear.
To make the one hitting enjoy the satisfaction.
This was the combo that satisfied all three of these tasks at once.
“Th-… that madman.”
Brian saw it.
The sight of the magical beast, the object of fear and despair in the forest, being beaten mercilessly by fists.
The Saber Tiger, launched into the air, couldn't even fall back to the ground and was suspended in the air, being beaten one-sidedly.
For about three to five seconds?
“Hwaaaaaap!”
Jjeooeoong!
As a finisher, Patrick's leaping axe kick slammed the Saber Tiger into the ground.
And the fallen Saber Tiger did not move an inch.
And Patrick, alternately rotating both arms, said with a satisfied expression.
“Mmm, my mind and body feel refreshed after throwing some punches with intent and without holding back for the first time in a while.”
Is he even human?
But the effect was certain.
Seeing this and hearing his words, Brian realized from the bottom of his heart.
In fact, Patrick had said it before.
[You should be grateful that I'm not really beating you. Huh? If I really hit you, a weakling like you would just die with a squeak in one shot. Got it?]
At the time, he had thought, ‘Bullshit. As if you’d go easy on me, you devil bastard.’ But….
‘He was really going easy on me?’
That's right. The truth is often surprising when you learn it.
To Brian, who was frozen in fear and shock, Patrick said.
“Rookie?”
“Yes? Yes!”
“What are you doing? Skin this thing, pull out its teeth, and pack up anything else that might be worth money.”
“Yes. I understand.”
Brian answered with a voice full of discipline and moved like a well-trained rookie.
‘I’ll die. If I get on that man's bad side, he'll really kill me.’
He didn't want to go to the underworld and, when the god of death asked, ‘Why did you die?’, have to answer, ‘I was beaten by a devil.’
‘I should just do as I’m told.’
Rookie Brian's obedience level went up.
* * *
“Wow….”
“Ooh…. what on earth is that?”
“It's a Saber Tiger, isn't it? Don't tell me they caught that thing?”
The residents of the fiefdom were very surprised.
Even for the residents of the Schneider fiefdom, which was teeming with monsters, it was difficult to see a big catch like a Saber Tiger.
And they never thought they would see the corpse of such a Saber Tiger.
“They caught that?”
“Really? How did they catch it?”
“It would be tough even if all the soldiers of our fiefdom worked together.”
“Tough? We’d all just die.”
“That's true. But then how did that corpse get here?”
“Heh…. hehehe….”
Seeing the murmuring residents, Patrick simply ignored them with a bored expression.
Whether people found it amazing or not, right now, the only thought in his head was, ‘How can I sell this hide for even a little more money?’
At that moment, Brian, who was groaning as he carried the hide, suddenly put it down and spoke to the crowd.
“Ahem, everyone listen up.”
People paid attention to him.
And Brian said confidently in a loud voice.
“This Saber Tiger was caught by our fiefdom's heir, Young Master Patrick Schneider.”
“What? The Young Master?”
“No way. How old is the Young Master?”
“Nah, that's impossible.”
To 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. This Saber Tiger was caught by the Young Master in a one-on-one fight.”
When he mentioned staking his honor as a knight, the residents of the fiefdom murmured even more loudly.
Then there was a high possibility that what he said was true.
A young boy who had just turned ten had caught that monster, which could annihilate a village overnight.
Brian puffed out his chest and said with a proud face.
“Everyone, please spread this fact far and wid— Ack!”
“The amount of bullshit you spew comes in all shapes and sizes.”
Brian, who was speaking, was hit on the back of the head with a scabbard by Patrick and staggered forward.
At that sight, the citizens of the fiefdom's eyes widened.
They were people who still didn't know the fact that Brian had been demoted.
So, they were people who couldn't have imagined that he would do such a thing to the one and only precious knight in the fiefdom, no matter if he was the lord's son.
But….
“Hehehe, Young Master, I was only speaking out of loyalty to spread your achievements far and wide. Please understand my heart.”
“This bastard suddenly changed his life's path to that of a sycophant. Aren't you ashamed?”
“Hahahaha….”
Even at Patrick's scolding, Brian was busy just laughing foolishly like a simpleton and bowing his head.
Seeing Brian, who was suddenly blatantly flattering and watching his every move, Patrick looked at him as if he was dumbfounded.
‘Right. Kids like you with no pride live a damn long time.’
It seemed that the rebellious spirit that had remained deep in his heart had completely vanished after seeing Patrick beat a Saber Tiger to death.
And with the rebellious spirit gone, the only feelings Brian had left for Patrick were fear and obedience.
In a situation where an insurmountable monster held his life in its hands, what could he do?
He had no choice but to thoroughly submit and obey.
“Alright. Well, do as you please.”
Of course, Patrick detested humans like this who had no pride and had sold off their guts and gallbladder.
But it was a different story if the object of that obedience was himself.
‘It's good to think that he's become easier to use.’
What was important right now was not the change of heart that occurred within a small fry like Brian.
Isn't the most important thing in life, after all, money, money, and more money?