CHAPTER 16: FIRST FIGHT AGAINST A BEAST TAMER (2)

His fist shot out, striking Butler Jain in the chest. He planted his feet firmly into the ground and twisted his waist to add rotational force to his fist. This single attack contained all the strength he could muster!

"Foolish," Butler Jain thought.

In his eyes, a commoner’s fist could never harm his body as it was enhanced to a monstrous level by his tamed spirit.

His confidence was so immense, he didn’t even bother dodging, desiring to show the clear difference between a knight of the kingdom and a mere commoner.

However, the very next moment—

Crack!

The sound of bones shattering echoed as Ray’s fist made contact with Butler Jain’s chest.

"How could he be so strong?" Butler Jain’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets in shock as the powerful force transmitted from Ray’s fist shattered his ribs and sent him flying.

Bam!

He burst through the shop’s door and crashed heavily into the floor, cracking it. Blood trickled out of his mouth as he laid in the center of the cracked floor. His spirit beast left his body as his body was too injured to remain within.

With the support provided by his tamed spirit gone, Butler Jain shrank back to his original size.

Simultaneously, a chime rang in Ray’s head.

[Congratulations, Host. You have defeated a Beast Tamer. You have gained 40 EXP!]

[You have levelled up. You have gained +2 Stat Points.]

Ray had believed he could only earn EXP by killing, but now it was clear that wasn’t the case. His heart swirled with happiness, and a smile popped onto his face.

Butler Jain saw it and spat out another mouthful of blood, feeling as though he was being looked down upon by the very class of people he had always disdained!

The irony was impeccable!!!

Whoosh!

A slender and attractive silhouette fell from the first floor of the shop. Attracted by the commotion, Selena landed beside Butler Jain.

He was deeply injured, spewing blood from his mouth, and there was a wide crack on the expensive ground floor, but she didn’t immediately take offense, preferring to better understand the situation before taking action.

"Can anyone tell me what happened here?" she asked, looking at the crowd gathered outside the shop, her eyes stopping on Ray.

"He tried to kill me, but it backfired on him," Ray said.

"Is that the truth?" Selena asked the crowd, who nodded like chickens pecking grain, their heads bobbing up and down in unison.

Selena turned her gaze towards Butler Jain. "Why did you try to kill Ray?"

"I—I—" Butler Jain repeated the same word like a broken recorder.

He didn’t dare say the truth, as that would get him punished or killed, but he also couldn’t come up with a lie fast enough to not raise the shadows of doubt and suspicion in Selena’s heart.

Thinking that whatever that would come out of his mouth following his hesitation would be a lie, Selena turned to Ray for the answer to the question she had asked Butler Jain.

"You tell me," she said.

"Long story short, he wanted to never see me around you again for some ridiculous reason," Ray replied, completely aware that he was digging a grave for Butler Jain with his words.

Selena was Butler Jain’s master, yet he tried to interfere with her life and dictate what type of people should be allowed to interact with her. It was enough of a sin to warrant a punishment, if not death.

"That’s not the whole truth. He is not telling you everything!" Butler Jain dug his own grave deeper.

Ray thought that he had smacked him stupid.

"So you admit it’s true that what Ray said really happened. You went behind my back and did things you shouldn’t have, daring to dictate who I should interact with. It seems like you have forgotten your station, Jain." Selena felt her anger rise at Butler Jain for his audacity was unprecedented.

"It’s not like that—"

"I don’t want to hear a single word from you." Selena shot him a glare, and Butler Jain shut up immediately,

"Wait for your punishment," Selena again spoke to Butler Jain, who nodded obediently.

Turning toward Ray, she offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry for my servant’s unsightly behavior. How can I make it up to you?"

"Just help me with the favor I requested earlier, and that would be enough." Ray met her gaze, his tone calm but edged with meaning. "Also, raising a dog is good, but if it bites the hand that feeds it... it’s better to cull it."

"I will consider your advice," Selena said sincerely.

Butler Jain gulped sadly.

With the bloody argument between a knight and a commoner ending in an unexpected way, the crowd dispersed.

Ray also went away to answer the growls of his stomach.

"You are alive."

When he entered the tavern where he was promised a free meal, the master there was happy to see him alive.

"I am not going to die until I have my fill of your cooking, boss," Ray said to Barron with a cheeky smile.

"Haha! Then you won’t be dying before I do," Barron replied equally cheekily, so confident in his cooking that he believed Ray would never get tired of it.

Ray went and sat next to the counter, placing the thick leather bag slung over his shoulder on the chair beside him. Inside it was Deep Blue, the armor he had purchased from Fang & Fang. If he had been wearing it while fighting Butler Jain, defeating him would have been even easier.

"It seems like you have made a killing."

The bag was slightly open and the armor’s blue radiance leaked out of it. Barron could tell it wasn’t something ordinary.

"I got lucky," Ray said as his stomach growled so loudly it bounced off the four walls of the tavern, echoing like the roar of a beast.

Ray felt embarrassed while Barron laughed.

"Haha! I will cook you the thing I promised."

"Please do."

Just thinking about perfect steak Barron would cook for him, Ray salivated, his mouth watering like a starving beast who had seen a prey.