Ryuji looked at Saki and Yumiko, who seemed excited to be talking to someone from her race. He could tell by how vibrant her eyes became and her tail swaying behind her.

    Yumiko''s voice echoed with a newfound confidence, her words carrying a weight they hadn''t before. "Saki, I''m counting on you from now on!" Her hands confidently rested on her hips, a confident pose as if she wanted to take the lead. Ryuji was more than happy to let her assume this role; a relief to see her finding her voice and smiling so brightly.

    ''Though if it was a male.''

    His thoughts, usually clear and focused, became a little complicated as he pictured the image and felt a surge of violent impulses. The thought of another male, especially one who might pose a threat to him or hold desires towards Yumiko, stirred a primal instinct within him.

    "You don''t need to worry—if I weren''t in this position, I''d give you a discount!"

    "Saki, can I ask you about the tattoo? Did you say it might be a curse?"

    "Well... I''m not an expert on curses, but since they''re magic-related, I think I may know someone who is. I''ll ask them about it, okay? It might take a while because she lives in the beast kingdom and is a member of the owl tribe, and a slave can only send a letter once a month."

    "Don''t worry, Saki! If it costs you too much, let me know, and I''ll help you send the letter somehow!" Ryuji seemed excited with the new knowledge and grasped Saki''s smooth hands. He could feel a slight bit of fur around her wrists, like a silky bracelet.

    Ryuji suddenly realised Yumiko had grasped his wrist and pulled his hands away. Her cheeks turned pink, her eyes narrowed, and she released a small growl from her throat, causing Saki to recoil.

    "Hmph! I knew this guy could only seduce women..."

    Saki didn''t seem bothered by her jealousy and let out a laugh as her eyes turned to Ryuji. "Thank you, Ryuji. I''ll see you soon!" she said with a wink.

    "Haha, I know Saki. It''s fine. We should be here tomorrow, so thanks for the help so far."

    "G-Goodbye Hero Ryuji!" Saki''s greeting to him seemed a little strange as she gazed down at his crotch and body, the same thing Yumiko did after every shower.

    He wondered what the two spoke about while he focused on the kobold tattoo.

    However, the moment Yumiko noticed her gaze, she grabbed Ryuji by the arm and pulled him away. "Come on, Ryuji, we need to go find the others!"

    "Okay. Ah, Saki, next time, I''ll have more questions!" His voice trailed off while the lovely wolf gazed at the pair with an envious gaze.

    ***

    The pair now stood in the food court area of the dungeon plaza, with wooden tables and chairs, the knights at a lower quality meal, but the amount almost doubled from upstairs. It seemed keeping those who dive in the dungeon full was more important than the taste being high quality. Even the knights with D and C class armour all ate here.

    Since the two still didn''t appear, Ryuji and Yumiko bought an orc steak in slime gravy because of their hunger.

    "Were you jealous of Saki?" Ryuji''s sudden question made Yumiko choke on the orc steak and slam her cup of water down.

    "What? Don''t be stupid!"

    "Your tail told me everything, though."

    "!!!!"

    Her eyes traced across the room for help, but the knights looked away, eating their meal, while Ryo was useless. She knew who could have saved her if not for that stupid feeling. It made her feel overwhelmed and say such stupid things in the dungeon.

    Ryuji''s mind returned to that day, when the disgusting teacher placed his hands on his friend, threatening her with a video of Ryuji and her betraying Alex, his best friend.

    He lost himself in the different images, the world he wanted to see, the world he saw and the truth of the world.

    Then she heard Ryuji''s voice before a sudden snap and howling of the wind.

    "It''s your fault."

    "Pardon?"

    "I don''t know who the fuck you are, but I''ll kill you if you ever put your filthy hands on her again." His tone was ice cold as his fist sank into the knight''s chest armour, cracking the ribs as they caved inwards.

    However, the power didn''t stop; Ryuji''s fist penetrated the cheap iron and even through his chain mail and chest. Ryuji felt a bit of resistance after the ribs had given way and pierced the flesh and heart. He pulled his fist out of the dying man''s body, splattering the red liquid on the floor.

    [You have Killed a Human being]

    [Gained Title Murderer]

    Damage dealt to humanoid and humans increased by 10%

    Depending on the situation, the situation can decrease relationships with human factions.

    ''...''

    "Were humans always this pathetically weak?"

    Ryuji didn''t feel any remorse or emotions.

    He looked at the trembling knight, now drowning in his blood, with a sharp gaze. The knight tried to speak, but his lips only fluttered before collapsing dead.

    "YOU KILLED A KNIGHT!?"

    "HOW DARE YOU!"

    The shout of various knights of all grades resounded while Ryuji''s ice-cold gaze, now dark with red pupils, snapped towards them as he swiped his left arm, removing the Blood Drinking Great Axe from the tattoo and swinging it violently before taking a stance.

    Ryuji''s gaze felt terrifying. He became like a demon king who appeared in the centre of the capital!

    "Do you have a problem?"

    With an enormous axe over his shoulder and facing over twenty knights, there was no fear, only excitement and a huge, wicked smile on his face while covered in the blood of the deceased knight.

    "Yumiko, I order you to stay out of this!"