No one dared to speak, make a sound, or even glance at the person who entered the pub.
He was bathed in a tremendous aura of death—a chilling sensation, as if everyone's neck was pressed against a guillotine.
Despite the silence, a faint mumble came from the upper floor. A pair of round, crimson eyes peeked down, darting toward him.
"…my protagonist…" the voice whispered.
Kaiser glanced back nonchalantly. The figure quickly ducked out of sight, though a puff of pink, fluffy hair remained visible.
He didn't bother with it and went straight to business.
Grabbing a waiter by the collar—one who had been approaching with a tray of four beers—he asked coldly, "Calix, where's that woman?"
The waiter, clearly older than him, found the gesture rude. But after locking eyes with the young man's obsidian stare, he didn't dare oppose—or lie.
He answered calmly, "Oh, young sir. If you're looking for the owner of the pub, she's upstairs." He bowed slightly, gesturing that Kaiser was welcome to go up.
Without a word more, Kaiser headed upstairs, leaving behind a wave of relieved sighs from Calix and the customers.
Still, Calix couldn't help but wonder… the way that young man called his name so casually—it left an impression.
Upstairs, Kaiser immediately noticed the number of empty wooden cups scattered across the table, along with untouched dishes of meat now going cold. A woman stood nearby, wearing a surprised expression.
With a dull thud, he dropped a bag of coins onto the table. The sound made her finally register his presence.
"Oh! Forgive me, dear customer," she said quickly, rubbing her hands together like a common merchant. "How can I help you?"
"Take off the mask, Shayn Granduza," Kaiser said flatly, without a hint of warning.
The woman froze. Her surprised look darkened into something grim.
No one was supposed to know her identity—only a few trusted members of her guild. The name Shayn Granduza was infamous, but her face remained a mystery. Just moments ago, she'd tricked another customer with ease.
So how—how did this young man see through her disguise?
"Who are you?" she asked cautiously, now on guard.
But instead of replying, Kaiser opened another pouch—more gold coins spilled onto the table, clinking and rolling across the surface.
Her grim expression melted into a wide, eager smile. She was easy to please—as long as money was involved.
"Well, you're quite the generous one, sir," she said sweetly. "Much more interesting than the customer I had earlier."
Shayn had only come down to the southern region to visit her brother and kill time, yet somehow she'd bumped into two lucky clients in one day.
"So, what's your request, dear sir?" she asked, still smiling.
"Teleportation scroll," Kaiser said without hesitation. "Deliver it within one day. Destination: Annonno-os Forest."
Shayn raised an eyebrow. A single scroll? And that much gold? That forest was only about a week's ride from Hewarava Town—why spend a fortune for something that could be reached by horse?
She was curious, but she had a rule: never pry beyond the job.
"One day is impossible," she replied bluntly. "It takes months to craft a decent scroll. But…" She paused. "I do have a subordinate who might manage it in three days."
"No," Kaiser cut in. "One day. No later."
Shayn chuckled at his stubbornness. "Alright then… that's what your money's worth. But I won't guarantee your limbs will still be attached after using it."
Kaiser's expression didn't change. He calmly reached into his cloak and placed another small pouch beside the others—silent, heavy, final.
"I don't care," he said coldly. "As long as I get there in time."
For a moment, Shayn saw something flicker in his eyes—not desperation, but something heavier. Urgency rooted in purpose.
"…Understood," she said, her voice losing its playful edge. "It'll be ready."
Shayn found herself intrigued by the young man. He had a strong presence, a quiet charisma wrapped in layers of mystery.
Receiving no reply, she continued, "Well then, meet me here tomorrow evening. I'll have your request ready by then."
Kaiser gave a slight nod. Shayn couldn't help but smile at how he didn't even question her—no doubts, no conditions.
It was as if he trusted her completely.
'How amusing,' she thought. She wanted to get closer to him. Becoming his acquaintance might prove useful one day.
Just as he was about to leave, Shayn called out, "Do you have any other requests? I feel ashamed accepting your money without offering more."
Kaiser paused mid-step. He glanced back at her slightly, obsidian eyes sharp beneath the shadows.
"Keep your pub open," he said simply, then continued down the stairs.
His words sent a chill through Shayn. Her nerves tingled with excitement—not from fear, but from anticipation.
Something was coming.
She could feel it in the air, see it in his eyes—rage, tightly held back, barely contained. His murderous aura had already begun to leak.
"Tomorrow night," she murmured, a small grin forming, "something big will happen in the Annonno-os Forest."
The next night, down the road of Annonno-os Forest, a man sat on an extravagant chair, draped in fine velvet.
Rings covered every finger, making his hand look like a walking jewelry box. He casually wiped his mouth with a pristine white cloth after finishing a fancy plate of well-seasoned steak.
He took out a golden, gem-studded pocket watch and checked the time. With a wave of his hand, one of his subordinates stepped forward and stood beside him.
"Where's Jack?" he asked, voice calm yet laced with irritation.
"Boss, he hasn't arrived yet," the subordinate replied carefully.
A vein popped on the man's temple.
"I told him to retrieve them before I finished my dinner!"
With a thunderous slam, he smashed the table in half.
The subordinate remained still, even as splinters flew. Another quickly stepped in and respectfully placed an elegant coat over his shoulders as he rose to his feet.
His brows furrowed as his gaze swept over the now-empty cage. This was the first time some of his captives had managed to escape.
And the one responsible?
A young man from Nivas Village who had only recently joined them.
"I can't believe that plain-looking brat could use magic…" he muttered, voice low with irritation. Then, narrowing his eyes, he added darkly, "That damn brother of his never mentioned this."
Remembering the situation only worsened his temper. No one could explain how they managed to escape.
Three days and two nights—that's how long it would take to reach the nearest city, passing through the wrapped gate, and then connecting to other cities before finally reaching the capital.
The boss glanced at his pocket watch again. He couldn't afford any more delays, not now, especially with a client residing in the Royal Palace.
His patience snapped. He gestured sharply to one of his subordinates.
The man was massive, his bulky frame covered in scars that told stories of countless battles. He looked like someone who could crush a lion's skull with his bare hands.
"Yes, Boss?" the subordinate responded in a low, gravelly voice, stepping forward.
"Go tell Jack his time's up," the boss ordered coldly, tucking his pocket watch back inside his coat. The phrase was more than just a command—it was a death sentence to his underlings.
He stood near the cages of his captives, lost in his delusions of being showered with riches and women, his thoughts far from reality.
But before he could fully indulge, a sudden shout and a groan echoed from the direction his subordinate had left.
As he turned, a figure in black appeared—Kaiser—his dark cloak billowing as he stepped into the dim light. His obsidian eyes glowed faintly, cutting through the shadows like a predator's gaze. The weight of his presence alone seemed to suffocate the air. He dragged the lifeless body of the subordinate behind him, the corpse leaving a trail of blood across the ground.
Without a word, Kaiser tossed the body toward the boss, who dodged it with a sharp movement.
The boss's irritation spiked. How dare someone confront him like this?
"Who are yo—?" he began, but Kaiser silenced him, his voice sharp and unwavering.
"Where's Eane?"
"Who?" The boss asked, watching as Kaiser's eyes briefly scanned the slave cages. His lips curled into a sly grin. "...Oh, he's one of my slaves."
Before Kaiser could respond, a group of slavers—former mercenaries turned money-hungry thugs—closed in around him. The air grew thick with the clanging of blades and the sickening sound of flesh being cut.
Kaiser's urgency intensified. He needed to find Eane—alive. His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, and as he glanced at his would-be attackers, they flinched and hesitated. Being surrounded by enemies was nothing new for Kaiser.
Without another thought, he swung his sword with deadly precision. A rain of red poured down, and within moments, the only one left standing was Kaiser himself, facing the boss.
A slow clap echoed through the silence. The boss didn't seem to care about what had happened to his underlings—they were easily replaceable, after all.
"That was a wonderful sight, young man," he said, amusement dancing in his voice. "Feel free to check the cages if the person you're looking for is here. I'll give him to you for free, as long as you work under me." His smirk deepened.
He wanted this man's talent. Kaiser was worth a hundred B-Rank mercenaries.
Kaiser's gaze hardened. "A person's life is not for sale. You're not even worthy of my sword."
With a swift motion, Kaiser bit the glove on his left hand and pulled it off, exposing his jade-like fingers, each movement deliberate and calm. On the back of his palm was an insignia, glowing faintly in the dim light. He tapped the black feather mark on his neck, and in an instant, magic swirled around him.
A creature slowly began to materialize, its form shadowed at first, but then solidifying into a massive raven that perched on his finger.
The boss's eyes widened. "That! You're His—!"
Before he could finish, Kaiser gave the command.
"Devour!"
The raven spread its wings with an eerie, deafening flap, its form shifting into the head of a dragon in mid-air. In a single, swift motion, it lunged, swallowing the boss of the slavers whole.
The creature landed back on Kaiser's hand, its form returning to the raven, and nothing remained of the boss but an empty space where he once stood.
The captured slaves, watching in horror, shuddered. The fear in their eyes was palpable—they could be next.
Kaiser slipped his glove back on, and the raven returned to its place, the mark on his palm glowing faintly. Without wasting another moment, he walked to the cages, scanning the prisoners.
"He's not here."
The slavers' former captives flinched as Kaiser swung his sword. With a single, swift strike, the bars of their cages and the chains binding them were cut cleanly. The speed and precision of his attack left them stunned.
Kaiser tossed the keys he found at them, the metallic sound echoing in the silence.
One of the children, eyes wide with innocence, asked, "Are you the grim reaper of death?"
Kaiser said nothing, his silence heavy and unreadable.
Before the child could ask again, a woman stepped forward, instinctively shielding the boy with her body. "Young man," she said, voice trembling but firm, "If you're looking for a child with white hair and blue eyes..."
Kaiser immediately turned toward her, his focus sharp. "Where is he?"
The woman's finger trembled as she pointed deeper into the forest. "They ran in that direction. They're being chased... hurry, before it's too late."
"Thank you." Kaiser gave a brief nod, then turned and sprinted towards the forest.
The woman watched his retreating form, her heart heavy. She would never forget this young man.
"He wasn't a Reaper of death," she whispered, her voice soft but filled with gratitude. "He was our savior."