“…Wha?”
There’s nothing beasts hate more than to have their territory invaded.
It looks like the elf in front that feels like their leader is a beast to the core, and he’s staring at me with the sharp eyes of a bird of prey. That said, that wouldn’t intimidate a single person in Zenith. Maybe it would here in Anheim, I don’t know.
I look at Ririi, who’s sitting next to me dangling her legs while looking at the elf leader with a puzzled look on her face. She’s not scared at all. She did grow up in Zenith after all.
“The hell are you!?”
“Don’t ya know this here’s our bro’s place!?”
A few of the ones in the back sense their leader is looking at me with enmity, and form a line in front of him to protect him.
Elves are typically intelligent, proficient with magic, live long lives, and are better looking than most. Basically, it’s a great race, but I don’t get any of that from any of these guys’ faces. What luxurious lives they must lead, to throw away their innate good luck like that.
“I’m pretty sure it’s her place, isn’t it?”
I face the counter again, and see the elf girl is completely quiet and sneaking peeks towards the entrance. She’s clearly troubled. I’m pretty sure at this point that her problem is related to them.
…I wasn’t planning to get involved, but they’re dragging me into it, so I have no choice.
“…Hey, can you tell me your name? I’m Weiss, and this is my daughter Ririi.”
“…!? Me?”
Ririi hears her name, and thinks I’m calling her.
“Ah, hum… I’m Fuuka… But more importantly…”
So her name is Fuuka.
It looks like Fuuka is too preoccupied with the ruffians, as she keeps peeking towards the entrance.
That level of threat really is nothing to be worried about. Anheim must be really safe. Except for this place, of course.
“Don’t ignore us!”
“We’ll kill you!”
I ignore the noisy underlings and continue.
“Fuuka, who are they?”
“Eh…”
“It’s because of them that you were making that face, right?”
“…Well…”
Fuuka’s eyes keep traveling between me and those people.
She keeps going for a bit, until she gives me a tiny, really tiny nod.
“…Ririi, can you go with this lady and wait for just a bit?”
“Wah.”
I pick her up and hand her over to Fuuka on the other side of the counter. Fuuka looks bewildered, but reflexively takes Ririi and holds her tightly.
“…Hey…”
I turn around after that sharp sounding word, and see the leader is now right in front of me.
He’s taller than me, and his eyes on the back of that deeply chiseled face remind me of a hungry beast. He has a big scar on his cheek, and I can tell he’s been a very naughty boy.
The quality of the magic energy I’m feeling isn’t particularly high, and I’d go as far as to say it’s below average for a magic using elf.
He doesn’t look like a big deal.
“The hell are you? Why are you sitting around in my place like you own the joint?”
“I heard this is Fuuka’s place. I didn’t know I needed your permission to be here.”
I spread my arms in a provoking way, and a big vein pops up in his forehead. But he’s not letting his emotions take over and coming at me.
It’s like he’s holding back his desire to strike me. He might be picking up something from the way I’m sitting here, not moving at all.
“Bro, please get back!”
“We can deal with this gangly guy!”
The minions run this way while yelling.
Unlike their leader, there’s nothing menacing about their faces. They’re just your average town punks.
“Come outside!!”
“All right, don’t pull me.”
One of the minions grabs me by the collar and starts walking towards the door.
As these guys start crowding around me, I’m sure they’re already thinking about what nice drinks they’re going to have to celebrate their victory. There’s not a shred of fear or insecurity on their faces.
They don’t have the ability to tell their opponent’s strength, meaning they’re also desperately lacking when it comes to being able to sense danger. If I had to find a difference between them and common beasts, that would be it. At least the leader can feel something’s off.
“Daddy…”
I turn around and see Ririi looking at me with a worried expression. She wasn’t scared before, but she’s afraid now. I smile at her and gesture that it’s fine.
She gives me a little nod, but Fuuka still looks worried.
“Don’t worry ’bout it. We’ll take real good care of that kid after we’re done with you.”
“I see, that’s reassuring.”
We’re now outside.
This place is in a corner of the main street, but it’s not really visible from it, so this volatile situation isn’t causing a fuss. The few people that pass by only peek this way, and don’t stop. Could it be that they’re used to seeing these people cause trouble here?
“Get ready… You’re gonna regret not takin us seriously!”
“Are you people ready?”
In Zenith, fighting means risking your life.
A guy whose breaks are broken could always end someone’s life because of a small quarrel.
People over there are always ready. They know a fight is a two way street.
But I don’t feel that from these guys. They think fighting means beating someone up and not getting any back.
I’m going to have to make them understand.
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Thanks for the chapter Hidamarisou! Wonder what kind of background these thugs have to run rampant like that here.