Before cockcrow, a fair skinned stout with a pair of big lips could be seen dragging sacks toward a lonesome restaurant near the edge of the torrid forest.
'We made sure to spread herb powder that scare high stage profound beasts, so why did that fucker get killed? No beast in this vicinity should be able to do it, unless that fucker wanted to get himself killed!' Katsura complained in thought, his expression turning austere, 'Who is going to help me call the low stage profound beasts to attack the mortals, now that he is gone?!'
The Bushi grimaced. Ignoring the leaf that landed on his solar panel, he enters the restaurant, his brows knitting up more. The air, thick with the stench of egesta, overwhelming the rot on his unwashed body, made his fist clench.
'Couldn't they go outside? Didn't they notice the girl hidden among them?!'
Gnashing his teeth, the corpulent man looks at the sleeping maiden hidden in the crowd —she isn't supposed to be here.
In this New Age, women are the ones with the highest social power —because of the Tama they can use. Even though the girl is a mortal, she has enough power to get Academy Failures like Katsura killed for mistreating her, if she knows the right channel. With her around —near this part of the forest—, Katsura is restricted from acting as brutal as he should.
"Tsk, I'll get her when we reach the camp."
The Bushi shrugged with a grumble. Not only the girl, but everyone in the restaurant needs to be taught a lesson on who the Tama-Artists are. Keeping his dark thoughts, he walks over to the only person awake, dropping his sacks at him.
"Hand over the food."
Two seconds after his cold words.
"Okay."
Tree barks grew on katsura's forehead. Sighing, he turns back, advising the stoic man.
"Arrogance won't help you, Silver Hammer. We, Tama-Artists, are in power here. When we reach the camp, I'll beat the arrogance out of you."
"You're right."
"Tch."
On the other hand, Lucien was in good spirits —didn't show it. He had counted the heads of everyone in the restaurant —he can't read, but can count—; with the amount of food Katsura brought, everyone would get a lavish share. However, as a person born in a corrupt village, he took the biggest share, before going to prepare tea, in which, he took two kilograms of sugar for himself.
Everything is good for him, if you remove the fact that his mother isn't here; her body is laying in an alley ready to be dog food!
Sunrise arrived, and the mortals woke up to the tantalizing aroma of tea entering their nostrils. Their faces lit up with surprise and gratitude; to some this was the first time having breakfast. With saliva dripping at the corner of their lips, they ate like hungry dogs.
As the mortals enjoy the artificial heaven, the Bushi brought bundles of weapons, throwing them at Tento's discharged chill spot. Once done, Katsura, whose head reflected the purple sunlight sipping from the holes in the ceiling, steps on top of a table, his lips curled upward.
"Play time is over fuckers. Grab your weapons and go out to kill the beasts we've brought outside. Do not fear: none of them have any Tama, so it will be easy for you to end their lives."
While the mortals exchanged nervous glances, Lucien stood up, his gaze directed at the nodachi that would work well for someone with his height. Before he could reach it, nonetheless, a deep voice whispered in his ear at heartbeat sound:
"Take the human-length, silver, claw hammer. It's the best weapon for you, right now."
"..."
Lucien blinked, recognizing the proprietor. Turning his head, he finds the Main Character blended with the surrounding mortals. Indifferently, he performs a pantomime with his fingers, thanking the youth.
Grabbing the hammer, he walks outside, thinking: 'Why do the words 'silver hammer' keep following me?'
Meanwhile, Girashi frowns at how the mortals were slowly, and reluctantly walking. Taking matters into his hands, he unsheathes his nodachi, inciting five heads to roll in seconds.
'Tch, I'll leave the last three kills when they rebel later today.'
Oblivious, the mortals, rushed to pick up weapons in a frantic stampede. However, when they emerged into the bright sunlight, their hearts almost abandoned their bodies at the sight before them: small, slender wild cats with long legs, lean bodies, short bodies, and long necks, their sharp canine gleaming with malevolence.
Seeing the profound beasts approach, the mortals' expressions became more lurid.... well, some fainted.
"Just look at those long canine coming out of their mouths! They're so scary; they can kill me in one bite!"
"No, did you all see their claws? They're like daggers infused at the tip of their fingers!"
"Just what kind of beast are they?!"
"Stage 1 Servals..."
Tento muttered, his mien nonaligned. He had killed 4 of such beasts by a stroke of luck on his precarious adventures —well, he was lost. That said, he knew that fighting them now, when worse lay ahead, would waste the meager energy his stalk-like-body has.
Meticulously looking for a spot the Tama-Artists staring at the distance wouldn't notice, Ten rolls on the ground, escaping.
On the other hand, Lucien had finished exchanging glares with two of his friends in the crowd, sighing at the nonsense he was hearing.
'Is this their first time meeting harmful stage 1 profound beast?'
Lucy didn't entertain his thoughts, walking to the person complaining the most. Now, that his mother is gone, there is no need for him to be kind, and entertain those who talk a lot. Grabbing the scumbag's head, he shuts him up, throwing him forward with a swift motion.
Ahhh!! YOU MOTHERF-!!
The boy's screams rang in the air, but the moment he touched the ground, the profound beasts were already digging their teeth into his tender flesh.
Lucien didn't waste the chance, charging forward, leaving the mortals in their ineffable states. Increasing the grip on his silver hammer, he vertically swings the weapon to the ground, killing both the boy and the two servals on top of him.
'These guys are nothing compared to the beasts my mother could order.'
Following the crude motion of the giant hammer, Lucy kills other servals in the next second with the weapon's claws. Expressionless, Lucien smiles in his heart.
'The Main Character of the story was right, this weapon goes well with me.'
With the help of his mystic eyes, Lucy could see the servals twisting their muscles in preparation to jump. Holding the weapon straight, he rotates 360 degrees in one place, killing one, scaring the rest.
'My body is adjusting to the hammer. No, killing is making me stronger somehow.'
Lucien shakes his head, stepping back. His gaze turns to the mortals who were watching from the distance. Looking back at the profound beasts growling at him, a dark glint emerges from his eyes.
'Although killing seems to be making stronger, I'm fighting for you guys to gain confidence. However, it seems like you want to put all the work on me. Well, I'll make the work come to you.'