As time passed, the castle descended further into chaos.
Flames flickered everywhere, accompanied by piercing screams and cries for mercy.
Along the way, Levi encountered a soldier dragging a blonde maid into a room, clearly intending to have his way with her.
Though he was long accustomed to life and death, he still felt revulsion and disgust toward rapists like this.
He sent the man flying into a wall with a single kick.
With his strength, a broadsword weighing over a hundred pounds felt as light as an embroidery needle in his hands. Even a casual kick was more than this Guard could withstand; the single blow turned him into a pile of mangled flesh.
The maid, having suffered a double shock, could only stammer out a "thank you," her face pale and trembling.
Levi paid her no mind and continued on his way.
He had killed the Guard purely because the man's actions disgusted him, not because he had any intention of saving the maid.
What surprised Levi, however, was that Liya, whom he was carrying, showed no reaction to the scene. She didn't ask him to save the maid; instead, her expression remained calm.
"I thought you were going to ask me to save her."
Levi chuckled dryly.
"Things like this are happening all over the castle right now. It's impossible to save everyone."
Liya shook her head.
"Looks like you're not as foolish as I thought."
...
Levi was one-ren-eight tall (1.8 meters), with a towering, well-proportioned build. Liya, at only about one-ren-six, was like a large doll in comparison.
Holding her wasn't much different from holding a slightly large stuffed toy, except she was soft, supple, and warm.
Liya had already recovered enough to move on her own, but Levi found her too slow and simply continued to carry her.
They encountered Guards trying to block their path, but unfortunately for them, none could last a single exchange with Levi.
A simple swing of his sword was enough to slice them, Armor and all, in two.
This was thanks to the Longsword in his hand, which was forged from Mithril—a fine product that only the Elf Race could create.
Levi had won the sword in a duel. It was originally named "Gentle Breeze on the Face," the heirloom Treasure Sword of some unlucky Baron. Levi disliked the name, so after it came into his possession, he renamed it "Holy Sword."
Ever since then, no one dared to wager valuables against him in the Gladiatorial Arena.
His plan of getting rich through dueling was thus dead in the water.
The sword's ability to cut through iron like mud was no exaggeration. Combined with his terrifying strength, it made little difference whether his enemies wore Armor or not—it just meant he had to use a bit more force.
A normal Longsword, even one made of Fine Steel, would have long since chipped and broken from the way he abused it.
Its only downside was that it was too light. The blade was slender and engraved with exquisite patterns, making it look like something a woman would use.
For him, wielding it felt like using an embroidery needle.
If he weren't still searching for a more suitable weapon, Levi would have long since tossed it into his item bar to collect dust.
When he had time, Levi planned to commission a custom-made Broadsword, three or four ren long and half a ren wide.
Even unsharpened, all he would need to do was hold it and spin; no one would be able to get near him.
A graze would wound, a touch would kill. It would be a veritable meat grinder on the battlefield.
With Liya giving directions, Levi didn't get lost this time. He quickly broke out of the castle and ran toward Kolon City below.
The castle was perched atop a small hill. A main road wide enough for two carriages to pass side-by-side led down to Kolon City at the foot of the hill. The road was flanked by meticulously maintained lawns and several gravel paths.
Some areas of the lawn were planted with tulips and shrubs trimmed into various shapes.
The small hill was enclosed by an iron fence, three ren high and painted with some unknown dye.
Without a doubt, this citadel of the Iseley Clan was Kolon's most magnificent and luxurious structure.
It was also a testament to the prosperity of Kolon and the wealth of the Iseley Clan.
After all, nobles in Debei who could afford to build a citadel within a city were few and far between.
Most nobles didn't even have a decent castle to their name.
The perimeter was swarming with soldiers carrying torches. Under the cover of darkness, Levi carried Liya and leaped out from a secluded spot.
With his current ancestor-level physique, he cleared the three-ren height with a single crouch and jump.
He was very familiar with Kolon City, having knocked around here for several years. He didn't need Liya's directions as he ran toward the city's Gladiatorial Arena under the cover of night.
He had a subordinate in there.
He definitely had to take him along when he left.
After a long night of turmoil, the sky was beginning to show the first light of dawn.
Arriving at a stable outside the Gladiatorial Arena, Levi set Liya down.
"Hide here for a bit. I have to go inside for something, and it's not convenient to take you with me."
Liya nodded. Levi was her only support now, so she had no choice but to obey.
"Kolon City is crawling with patrolling soldiers right now. Remember, don't wander off."
After another warning, Levi stealthily slipped over the wall and into the Gladiatorial Arena.
This Gladiatorial Arena was where he'd gotten his start, so he knew the layout like the back of his hand. After knocking out a few Guards, Levi made his way to a dungeon.
This was where the Fighters that the arena depended on were held. Levi's subordinate was one of them—a Green-skinned Orc he had won over.
Back when he first came to Kolon from the Western Territory, he had nearly run out of money, so he fell back on his old trade: dueling other Fighters in the Gladiatorial Arena.
And his magnificent, god-like martial prowess had won over this Beastman of the arena.
Once inside, Levi didn't even need to search; he just followed the deafening snores to one of the cells.
Inside, a Beastman—a full two-and-a-half ren tall and weighing an estimated six hundred pounds—was fast asleep.
His body was a mass of gnarled muscle, and his arms were thicker than Liya's waist.
His immense weight made the bed boards creak, groaning as if about to break.
This was a Giant Beast; a single punch could undoubtedly flatten a man into a wafer.
Compared to him, the one-ren-eight Levi looked as frail as a young child.
Before Levi arrived, this Beastman was the undefeated king of the Gladiatorial Arena.
But after Levi showed up, he got his ass kicked daily.
After all, the stark difference in their sizes made for a great spectacle, easily getting the nobles' adrenaline pumping and making them roar until their faces turned red.
So, the arena's owner relentlessly fleeced this golden goose, pitting them against each other until Levi left.
The iron door, made of thumb-thick iron bars, was a mere formality for both Levi and this Beastman.
With just a slight effort from Levi, the door bent open with a grating screech, creating an opening large enough for one person to pass through.
"Zat."
Levi called out as he stood beside him.
But the lout just scratched his ass, rolled over, and went back to sleep.
Without hesitation, Levi delivered a huge slap across his face.
SLAP!
A crisp sound echoed.
"Who the hell is blind enough to hit the great Zat?!!"
The Beastman shot awake, roaring in fury.
Zat's face stung, feeling as if it had been smashed by a giant stone.
When he came to his senses and saw Levi standing beside him with a grin, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"Boss..."