Chapter 15

### The Return from the Plains

"Everyone will be surprised when they hear that the Corant Plains have been liberated!"

Rondait said, his voice tinged with excitement.

"People were truly trembling in fear of the evil spirits that could seep into the city at any moment. Not only are they now free from that anxiety, but the Corant Plains, a valuable resource gathering area, have been reclaimed. Ryuya! Noem! You guys are being treated as heroes on your very first day of adventurer registration!"

"I'm not really... It's Ryuya who's amazing...!"

Noem's voice was tinged with embarrassment. With that, we slipped through the city gates and returned to the Adventurer's Guild. However...

### There, we were met with more trouble.

"...What's that?"

In front of the Adventurer's Guild, a group of ominous figures had gathered. There were about twenty to thirty burly men, and the murderous intent and their armed state made it clear that they were far from ordinary.

Moreover, as soon as they spotted us, they began to stir. Were they here for us?

"Boss! That's him! That's the guy!"

A familiar face stood out in the crowd. It was the adventurer who had picked a fight with me before I left for training.

"That 'Skill-less' bastard broke both my arms! 'Skill-less' and he still did it! Please, avenge me!"

At this, a towering giant with a commanding presence stood up. He was bald, with a menacing face that made it clear he was not someone to approach lightly.

Who is this guy?

...Right, this is the perfect time to try out the Parameter Insight I received from Abinion. Let's see...

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【Name】Doggizer

【Type】Human

【Gender】Male

【Age】30 years

【Lv】24

【Skills】Annihilation Steel Fist

※Skill Effect: Explosive effect upon contact with the fist. Deals additional damage to enemies. Activation condition: Fist attack with both hands unarmed.

【Affinity】×

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Doggizer?

I don't know this name.

But from his level and skills, it's clear he's not a good guy.

And what's with the '×' in the Affinity section?

A cross mark?

Noem and Rondait had heart marks in the same section. Several of them.

Does this mean there's a difference in affinity and hostility?

"You seem to have taken a liking to my underling, didn't you?"

Saying this, the giant Doggizer punched the adventurer with the broken arms, sending him flying.

"Ughh!?!"

"A piece of trash who loses to a 'Skill-less' isn't fit to be my underling. But since my faction was attacked, it's a matter of my honor. I'll have to settle this."

His sharp gaze pierced me, filled with hostility.

"Hold it, Doggizer!"

Rondait, who is also the Guild Master, stepped in to stop the escalating tension.

"Your underling and Ryuya had a fair fight! Bringing it up again and causing a commotion goes against the code of adventurers! Do you want to be officially punished!?"

"Shut up, woman. You're just a woman, don't act so important."

"What!?"

Rondait flinched at the giant's fearless and insolent words.

"I've always found it annoying, a woman being the Guild Master. This is a good opportunity for me to take over. I'll be the new Guild Master. You'll become my concubine."

"What are you saying...!?"

"And you, 'Skill-less.' You've disgraced me. As compensation, I'll break both your arms and legs. I'm sparing your life out of mercy, so be grateful."

He glared at me as he spoke.

"And that little girl over there, you seem to have some good skills. It's a waste, so I'll take them. I'll make you work for me, and you'll be useful to me."

"I refuse...!"

Noem clung to me, clearly rejecting his offer.

"This is a good opportunity. From today, the Adventurer's Guild will be run by me, the mighty Doggizer! Under me, we'll build the strongest group of adventurers, one that even the knights and the church can't match!!"

'What an amusing joke.'

This voice.

I told her to stay hidden to avoid causing a commotion...!

'For a weakling like you to claim to be the strongest? Your sense of humor is so poor, it's almost laughable. I find it amusing.'

Saying this, the Demonic Spirit Abinion appeared. She had been invisible to ordinary eyes due to her illusion.

As soon as she stopped hiding, a mist began to form.

"What is this...!? A woman? A ghost?"

'Kneel, you insects, in the presence of a transcendent being and her master.'

As Abinion spoke, Doggizer and his underlings, numbering in the dozens, all bowed their heads simultaneously. However, it wasn't out of respect. They seemed to have lost all strength and collapsed.

"What...? My legs...! My hands...!?"

They tried to stand up, but couldn't. They could only hang their heads limply toward us.

"Abinion, you used Energy Drain, didn't you?"

'Anyone who disrespects my master will be punished without exception.'

The mist that formed when she appeared was part of her ethereal body. Being in contact with the mist was the same as being in contact with her, and living beings would have their life force drained endlessly.

'Don't compare my power to that of a mere Legion. You insects would be dried up in an instant if I so desired. The fact that I've left you with just enough life to survive is solely due to my master's mercy.'

"What...!? What are you...!?"

Doggizer, now so weakened that even breathing seemed difficult, looked up at the beautiful monster.

"Doggizer. This is Abinion, the Demonic Spirit. She was the leader of the evil spirits that occupied the Corant Plains."

Rondait, unable to bear the sight, began to explain.

"The Ryuya here subdued her and brought her here. Thanks to him, the evil spirits no longer appear in the plains. The Corant Plains have been liberated."

At this declaration, not only Doggizer and his group but also the crowd that had gathered to hear the commotion began to stir. The occupation of the plains by evil spirits must have been a serious problem.

"That's ridiculous...! It's impossible to deal with the evil spirits in the plains! And a 'Skill-less' person...!?"

'"Can't" is a word that defines your limits. You are nothing more than that.'

They were already under Abinion's control, their life force drained to the brink by Energy Drain, unable to even stand.

In this state, if they were attacked, they would be easily wiped out even by a child's punch.

"How...? I, the great Doggizer, so easily...!?"

The giant seemed unable to accept reality. He had become overconfident as an adventurer, believing he could do anything.

I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Ughh!?"

A scream rose immediately.

"Ughhhhhh! It hurts! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! It's breaking! My shoulder is breaking!"

"That's not true, I just gave it a light squeeze."

It was combat strength, of course.

I could feel the creaking of his bones through my hand. Without adding more force, his shoulder would shatter within a few seconds.

"Indeed, I am 'Skill-less.' I have no abilities given by the gods and can do nothing more than an ordinary person."

"Ow! Owowowowowow!! Let go! Let goooooo!!"

His face turned red from the pain, and sticky sweat poured from his body. Still, the giant couldn't shake off my hand. Even if he hadn't been affected by Energy Drain and was in perfect condition, it would have been the same.

"I know this better than anyone. That's why I always think that everyone in this world is better than me."

"It hurts! It hurts so much!!"

"I respect everyone who can do what I can't. But among them, I can't respect those who think they are special and look down on others. Their ugly hearts ruin all their good qualities."

"Ughhhhhh!!"

A sickening crack echoed from Doggizer's shoulder. I hadn't broken it, just dislocated the joint to make it look that way.

"Ow...! Help...! I'm sorry. I won't do it again...!"

"Alright, now the other shoulder..."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, 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