The streets of the border town were far calmer than before.

Weeks ago, the entire place had been drowning in fear. People screamed every night whenever beast roars echoed from the forests beyond the walls. Merchants rushed to leave before sunset. Families locked themselves inside their homes while praying the gates would survive until morning. Even the soldiers looked exhausted back then.

Now everything felt different.

The massive walls surrounding the town stood firm beneath the afternoon sun. Workers moved across the stone roads carrying lumber, tools, baskets of food, and newly forged weapons. Merchants shouted loudly while advertising monster materials and fresh meat gathered from slain beasts outside the borders. Children ran across the streets again without trembling every time they heard movement near the gate.

Clay slowly walked through the middle of the town while Maid Cy followed half a step behind him.

His hands rested lazily behind his back.

His expression looked calm.

Relaxed.

Satisfied.

This is more like it.

The warm breeze brushed against his face while he looked around casually. Unlike before, nobody dared approach him recklessly anymore. People recognized the Valmont crest on his clothes almost immediately, and the moment they did, they respectfully moved aside to clear a path for him.

Some lowered their heads.

Some looked at him with admiration.

Others looked nervous.

Clay liked that balance.

Fear mixed with respect was comfortable.

Not too troublesome.

Not too annoying.

At least nobody was trying to drag him into unnecessary drama anymore.

He glanced toward a nearby stall selling roasted beast meat.

The smell was surprisingly good.

"Young master."

Maid Cy’s voice came softly from behind him.

"Would you like to eat?"

Clay looked at the stall for a moment before nodding once.

"Sure."

The old merchant nearly panicked when Clay approached. His hands shook so badly while preparing the food that he accidentally dropped one of the skewers into the fire.

"S S Sorry!"

Clay stared at him silently.

The merchant immediately became pale.

"I did not mean to disrespect young master!"

Clay blinked.

Then he sighed.

"You’re overreacting."

"Huh?"

"You dropped meat, not a kingdom."

The old merchant froze.

Meanwhile, several nearby townsfolk stared in disbelief after hearing those words. Their expressions almost looked confused.

Probably because rumors about powerful nobles usually involved cruelty, arrogance, or unnecessary punishment.

Clay simply took the newly prepared skewer afterward and bit into it casually.

His eyes widened slightly.

"Oh."

He looked at the meat again.

"This is actually good."

The old merchant looked like he was about to cry from relief.

"T Thank you, young master!"

Clay waved his hand dismissively before continuing his walk.

Maid Cy quietly followed him while holding the remaining skewers.

From time to time, Clay noticed people secretly glancing toward them.

More specifically toward Maid Cy.

Well, that was understandable.

Even while hiding most of her presence, she still attracted attention naturally. Her black hair, calm eyes, and elegant movements stood out too much compared to ordinary people.

Several young men nearby quickly lowered their heads the moment her gaze passed over them.

Clay noticed it immediately.

His lips twitched slightly.

Good.

At least they know their place.

Then suddenly—

He paused.

His footsteps stopped in the middle of the street.

Maid Cy immediately noticed.

"Young master?"

Clay did not answer immediately.

Instead, he narrowed his eyes slightly while staring ahead.

There was a small toy stall beside the road.

Nothing unusual.

Wooden carvings.

Cheap necklaces.

Animal dolls.

Children laughing nearby.

Normal.

Very normal.

Yet for some reason—

A strange feeling crawled inside him again.

That same uncomfortable feeling he had been experiencing repeatedly these past few days.

Like something invisible was quietly waiting for him somewhere ahead.

His brows slowly furrowed.

Again...

Why again?

Maid Cy carefully observed him.

"Young master?"

Clay finally looked at her.

"...Do you feel anything strange lately?"

Her eyes flickered for a brief moment.

But only for a brief moment.

"No."

Clay stared at her for a few seconds longer before looking away.

"...Maybe I’m thinking too much."

He resumed walking afterward.

Still, the strange feeling remained inside him.

Not disappearing.

Not weakening.

The two continued deeper into town afterward until they eventually reached a quieter district near the outer walls.

Compared to the lively market area, this place felt more peaceful. The roads were wider, and fewer people walked around. Some guards stood near watchtowers while blacksmiths hammered weapons in the distance.

Then—

Boom.

A loud sound echoed somewhere far outside the walls.

Clay stopped again.

Several guards immediately looked toward the distance nervously.

Maid Cy’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Clay looked toward the direction of the sound.

"...What was that?"

One of the guards hurriedly bowed.

"Probably another beast conflict outside the outer traps, young master."

"Probably?"

The guard stiffened.

"We are investigating it already."

Clay stared toward the horizon for a few moments.

Then—

Another boom echoed faintly.

This time stronger.

His expression slowly became strange.

Not fear.

Not nervousness.

Just confusion.

Why do I feel like trouble always appears the moment I start relaxing?

Beside him, Maid Cy quietly observed the distant horizon too.

Inside her mind, countless thoughts moved rapidly.

Could it be another evolved beast already?

No... impossible.

Unless...

She quickly stopped her thoughts before they went further.

Because if Clay noticed her becoming too alert, he might start asking questions again.

And right now, she absolutely did not want that.

Clay suddenly sighed heavily.

"I knew it."

Maid Cy blinked once.

"Knew what, young master?"

"That peaceful life is fake."

"...Fake?"

Clay nodded seriously.

"Every time I start relaxing, something explodes somewhere."

He looked genuinely disappointed.

Maid Cy stared at him quietly before lowering her head slightly.

"...Young master dislikes conflict that much?"

Clay looked at her like the answer should have been obvious.

"Of course."

Then he frowned.

"Fighting is exhausting."

Maid Cy became silent.

Because those words sounded absurd coming from someone who punched the former Bersuka Warchief to death physically.

Yet somehow—

When Clay said it, it sounded sincere.

He truly looked tired of trouble.

Tired of chaos.

Tired of things dragging him around.

The more she stayed near him, the more difficult it became to understand him completely.

A person terrifying enough to make Warchiefs kneel before him.

Yet also someone who complained about wanting peaceful sleep and comfortable meals.

It was strange.

Very strange.

Then suddenly—

Clay spoke again.

"Maid Cy."

"Yes, young master."

"If another annoying problem appears..."

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"...handle it before it reaches me."

Maid Cy nodded immediately.

"As you wish."

Clay seemed satisfied by that answer.

Good.

That was exactly why having a competent maid felt comfortable.

He no longer needed to personally deal with every irritating little matter himself.

The two eventually continued walking again.

As they moved across the streets, more and more people secretly watched them from afar.

Some whispered quietly.

Others quickly moved aside.

A few children even pointed toward Clay excitedly before their parents hurriedly lowered their hands.

"Young master."

"Hm?"

"The townspeople seem to admire you greatly."

Clay looked around lazily.

"...Really?"

"Yes."

He stared toward a nearby group of workers carrying stones.

"...That’s troublesome."

Maid Cy blinked once.

"Troublesome?"

"If people admire you too much, expectations increase."

He sighed.

"And expectations become responsibilities."

Maid Cy quietly listened.

Then Clay continued speaking.

"I already have enough problems."

More than enough.

Maid Cy suddenly felt something strange in her chest after hearing that.

Because despite all his ridiculous strength, despite all the fear he inspired in others, there were moments where he sounded unexpectedly human.

Almost ordinary.

Like someone tired from carrying too many things alone.

She slowly lowered her gaze.

Young master...

Meanwhile, Clay kept walking while remaining completely unaware of her thoughts.

Then—

He suddenly paused again.

This time longer.

His eyes slowly narrowed.

Maid Cy immediately became alert.

"Young master?"

Clay looked ahead silently.

Far away near the northern road, several travelers were entering the town gates.

Merchants.

Soldiers.

Carriages.

Nothing unusual.

Yet among them—

For a brief moment—

Clay felt an uncomfortable sensation crawl across his spine.

Like something dangerous had quietly brushed past his instincts.

His brows slowly furrowed deeper.

"...Strange."

"What is it?"

Clay kept staring toward the distant crowd.

"...Nothing."

But inside his mind—

Why does it feel like something is coming closer?

The feeling was faint.

But it was there.

And for some reason—

It annoyed him deeply.