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Chapter 292

In any continent where human life is as cheap as a fly’s, snatching someone and selling them off can be surprisingly profitable.

So, if someone like Lispa Elde—a strikingly beautiful woman who draws attention wherever she goes—happens to be walking around in plain sight and doesn’t seem all that strong?

That’s the perfect prey.

Previously, Luna had deliberately wandered into the back alleys to lure in such types, but human psychology is funny—if the bait is too obvious, some people get suspicious instead.

However, I’d heard that in the past, people of the Eastern Continent often didn’t see those from the Central or Western Continents across the sea as the same human race, but as a different species altogether.

“Well, well… what are these foreign dogs doing here?”

Especially if the target’s appearance suggested there’d be no consequences for messing with them.

As for me, I didn’t stand out much.

But Lispa Elde, wearing plain clothes now torn in multiple places from battle, didn’t exactly look like a young lady from a noble house.

In short, we were perfect prey for the sort of criminals that skulked in alleys—

and they were perfect prey for us.

* * *

“Not as impressive as I expected.”

I’d have to test things, but I was also curious.

After all, when would I ever get the chance to experience Eastern Continent cuisine from 500 years ago?

“Welcome—oh? Foreigners?”

As soon as I entered the large inn, a bright-faced waiter greeted us.

I spoke to him directly.

“Somewhere quiet for the two of us to eat.”

The waiter hesitated for a moment, then cautiously asked:

“Um… sir? Do you have money…?”

That told me all I needed to know about how people here viewed foreigners from the Central or Western Continents 500 years ago.

I pulled out the purse I’d taken from some thugs earlier and tossed it to him.

Turns out those bastards had been carrying quite a bit of cash.

“Help yourself to a few coins.”

“Oh! Right this way, to the finest seat in the house!”

Foreign or not—merchants always valued money above all else.

Lucky for me, some customers in a good, quiet spot had just left.

Carrying the sleeping Lispa Elde on my back, I followed the waiter to the room.

Of course, along the way, we drew plenty of stares.

“First, we need to restore your energy and… do something about your appearance.”

I’d need to get her a change of clothes, maybe one of those Eastern straw hats called a juknip.

“Nngh… Where are we?”

Lispa Elde slowly raised her head, apparently woken by my movement.

“On the way here, I tried one of those apples. It filled my body with a foreign kind of energy.”

“Yes. Physical objects might not work here, but since this is a world made of energy, you can absorb it.”

She slowly slid down from my back.

“I see… Was that for my sake?”

“For now, yes.”

“Thank you. Honestly… my recovery’s been so slow… ugh…”

She staggered as if in pain, so I helped her sit down.

“Eating something might speed up your recovery.”

“You’re right.”

She looked around, then asked:

“But… how did you even get in here? It’s not like you’d have money.”

Naturally, real-world gold wouldn’t be worth anything here.

So I told her the truth.

“I mugged some idiots whose eyes nearly fell out when they saw your legs.”

Her face flushed red as she covered the torn part of her skirt.

“You really know how to kill the mood.”

For a great archangel, she could be surprisingly bashful.

Fascinating.

Soon, the food arrived.

I had been curious about Eastern Continent dishes, especially after hearing recommendations from the Cheon siblings.

The noodles and meat dishes here weren’t exactly as they’d described, but considering the time gap, that was understandable.

“Aren’t you eating?”

When she noticed I was quietly watching her eat, Lispa Elde asked cautiously.

“I’m not exactly in need right now. I don’t really feel hunger, so you go ahead and have it all.”

“For the record, I don’t usually eat that much.”

“It’s fine. My fiancée loves eating, too.”

“…”

She pouted, then began slurping down the noodles.

I could see her energy increasing with each bite.

Even stripped of her title as a great archangel, her core nature hadn’t changed.

Most of her overwhelming power and authority were gone, but her strength was still far beyond what most beings could ever dream of.

And so, I was quietly tasting a bit of the food while mostly watching her eat—

“Ah—! N-no, you can’t do that!”

“Hey, you! Do you even know who this man is?!”

A loud crash sounded as the door to our room slammed open.

In walked a group of sword-bearing warriors, along with a few young men who clearly came from wealthy families.

An elderly man who looked like a merchant hurried in after them, as if trying to calm them down.

“Didn’t I tell you this is my reserved seat?”

“W-well… we heard you wouldn’t be visiting today, so—”

“So just because I said that, you gave away my table?”

Hilarious.

Seating is the innkeeper’s decision.

Unless… were these guys the innkeeper’s sons?

“B-but still…”

“Silence! How dare a lowly innkeeper talk back to the future head of the Muyeol Clan, Young Lord Gu Hwan!”

Gu Hwan, huh…

I’d heard of the Muyeol Clan before.

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The Eastern Continent was divided into four regions, named after the Azure Dragon, Black Tortoise, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger.

The Four Great Clans I’d clashed with before—along with the Namgung Clan—were from the White Tiger region, but if I recalled correctly, the Muyeol Clan was from the Vermilion Bird region.

On the map in my memory, that region was far from the Black Tortoise territory.

In short, these weren’t innkeeper’s sons—they were just spoiled young masters drunk on their own importance.

Lispa Elde seemed uninterested, still focused on eating—

either because she didn’t care, or because she wanted to recover quickly to avoid being a burden.

I, meanwhile, was watching with the same anticipation as if I had popcorn.

“B-but…”

“I was going to stay quiet for the branch meeting, but now you’ve angered me. That was a mistake, wasn’t it?”

The tavern owner trembled, and the handsome young man who appeared to be the leader of the youths added a mocking smile.

Then, he turned his gaze toward us.

After glancing at me, who was watching leisurely, and at Lispa Elde, who was paying no attention and simply focusing on her meal, he gave a look of contempt.

I didn’t know the exact reason why the Central and Western continents had looked down on the Eastern continent for so long.

Whether it was due to invasions or something else, there must have been reasons. Normally, they shouldn’t have even acknowledged our existence, but such conditions had long since been broken.

“Oh my, I didn’t realize there were people eating here.”

At last, the young man called Gu Hwan approached us.

After giving me a quick glance, he turned to Lispa Elde, and his eyes widened slightly.

It must have been then that he finally noticed her beauty.

After a moment of silent contemplation, Gu Hwan curved his lips into a sly smile.

“My apologies.”

“If you know you’re being rude, then would you leave? My companion hasn’t finished her meal yet.”

At my calm request, he snorted.

“Sorry, but that won’t do. You see, this seat was actually reserved. Could you perhaps give it up?”

When he gestured, one of the warriors behind him pulled out a large pouch and handed it over.

Gu Hwan took the pouch and stepped closer.

“I’ll pay for your trouble.”

Then—

He poured the coins from the pouch all over the table where we were eating.

“Surely, this is enough for you to take your leave after such a small meal.”

Speaking in a chilly tone, Gu Hwan placed his hand on my shoulder, applying pressure, and smiled.

“Oh, but I suppose it would be rude to kick all of you out. Leaving one person behind is fine. Ideally, that young lady over there would stay.”

“Haha, will the young master be protecting her? Well, the law and order in the Black Tortoise Territory really is lacking. But if the genius ranked as the top of the younger generation is by her side, there’s nothing to fear, haha.”

The other young men beside Gu Hwan chattered away, flattering him.

Ah.

The stories I’d heard from Cheon Ryeong and Hwa Ryeong about the past came flooding back like a panorama.

So, the Eastern continent had been just as barbaric back then.

This was only a scene from the past anyway.

Even though our involvement had already caused some changes, it was still just a natural simulation—nothing real.

There was no need to get worked up about it.

If I stirred up trouble, that pure-white goddess, Eve, would surely take notice.

Clashing head-on would be foolish, so I made my decision.

Smiling, I met his gaze.

Then, I flicked up my middle finger and said—

“Get stronger, then come back and bark.”

Sometimes, one scratch is more effective than a thousand words.

Cheng! Chae-chae-cheng!!!

In an instant, the sound of swords being drawn rang out in all directions.

“Heeek!”

The tavern owner, who was no martial artist, shrieked and collapsed to the floor in fright, while Gu Hwan and his companions all scowled.

Meanwhile, Lispa Elde still seemed uninterested, continuing to focus on her meal.

The more she ate, the more I could see the injuries on her body slowly healing.

She was probably focusing entirely on recovery while leaving the problem here for me to handle.

While she did that, I turned my attention back to Gu Hwan, whose hand was still on my shoulder.

“What are you looking at? Aren’t you going to move your hand?”

“Y-you bastard!!!”

At the same time, a violent aura burst from his whole body, and the pressure on my shoulder increased.

As the young master of a martial clan, he must have grown up receiving good medicine, training, and special treatment from an early age.

And with his talent, it was only natural he’d become the young master.

In his own eyes, he was probably soaring high without limits… but—

Why do you think the Eastern continent uses the term “younger generation” to distinguish between youth and the older generation?

Because the people who made that distinction were the older generation themselves.

And I’d already crushed quite a few of those so-called “great” older generation warriors.

In short, no matter how great they think they are, they’re still chicks.

That’s just how the world works.

Still, at his age, it’s only natural he’d think nothing in the world could scare him—simply because the impossible rarely happens.

But just because the other side acts like a beast doesn’t mean I need to do the same.

I lightly grabbed the wrist resting on my shoulder and smiled.

“Gu Hwan, was it?”

He frowned at the sound of his name and started to say something, but I spoke first.

“How about eating prison rations instead of dinner?”

A dark necromantic mana began to quietly flow from my body, seeping into him.

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