[70] There's always something II

When Levi reached the reception desk, his steps came to a halt. His sharp, cold gaze emitted an aura that made everyone around him feel insignificant. With calm composure, he placed the large horn of the monster he had just defeated on the reception desk. The heavy thud of the horn drew the immediate attention of everyone in the guild.

"Tusked Tuna extermination quest, completed," he stated in a voice that was cold and unyielding. His tone revealed no emotion, as if what he had just done was nothing more than a routine task.

The monster's horn, nearly the size of an adult human head, was still drenched in fresh blood. The signs of the recent battle were clearly visible on its surface. The female receptionist stared at the massive horn with wide eyes, momentarily speechless before stammering, "T-thank you, Levi. This is truly remarkable..."

Levi gave a slight nod without saying much. His gaze remained cold and unshakable. The other adventurers who witnessed the scene could only admire him in silence, realising that this boy was no ordinary adventurer.

Amidst the admiration felt by most of the adventurers in the guild, there was one person who felt provoked by Levi's presence. An adventurer who had earlier complained about the lack of extermination quests available stepped forward with an arrogant attitude. He looked at Levi with a dismissive glare, and his voice echoed throughout the room.

"Oh! So you're the one who left no extermination quests for the rest of us!? Hey, you brat!" he sneered mockingly.

Levi, who had been standing calmly, now trembled slightly. But it wasn't out of fear or anger. His gaze slowly shifted towards the adventurer, looking at him with eyes that now burned coldly. He waited for the receptionist to finish the process of awarding him the bounty for the quest he had just completed, but his aura began to change.

The other adventurers who witnessed the scene could feel the shift in the atmosphere within the guild. Levi's usual unshakable calm now felt like a storm gathering its strength. The arrogant adventurer seemed unaware of how dangerous the boy standing before him truly was, but those who knew Levi, those who had seen his abilities, could only exchange worried glances. They knew that provoking Levi was a dangerous act, something that could end poorly for anyone foolish enough to try.

Levi's calm demeanor, usually unflappable, now felt like a brewing storm gathering strength. The arrogant adventurer, with all his bravado, seemed oblivious to the danger standing before him. But those who knew Levi, who had witnessed his abilities, could only exchange worried glances. They knew that provoking Levi was a fool's errand, something that could end disastrously for anyone who dared to try.

"Are you talking to me?" Levi asked, his voice steady, almost indifferent, but his gaze sharp.

"Hah!? How dare this brat talk down to me! Do you even know who you're speaking to?" the adventurer sneered, his voice full of anger and arrogance.

Levi tilted his head slightly, appearing puzzled but remaining calm. "Who?"

That simple question made the adventurer's face flush with anger, his brows twitching as his patience wore thin. "I'm Fallad, one of the disciples of the Northern God! You little bastard!"

At the mention of the "Northern God," Levi's eyes narrowed slightly, showing a newly sparked interest. 'The Northern God, huh,' he thought to himself, recalling the legendary reputation of the disciples from that swordsmanship school. Yet, despite his curiosity, there was no fear or hesitation within him. Instead, Levi felt a growing urge to test the abilities of someone claiming to be a disciple of one of the strongest swordsmanship schools in the world.

With a movement that was almost imperceptible, Levi subtly shifted his stance, as if merely adjusting his position. But for those with keen combat instincts, the movement had an extraordinary impact. Levi's aura changed instantly, from controlled calm to lethal pressure. It was as if the air around him became heavier, more oppressive, causing anyone sensitive to danger to feel it.

Fallad, who was seasoned in various battles, felt an eerie sensation as if his throat had just been slit by an invisible blade. His body reacted instinctively, leaping back quickly to avoid the unseen threat. Cold sweat began to pour down his temples, and he reached for his neck with a trembling hand, ensuring that he was still alive.

He stopped a few steps away from Levi, still feeling his heart pounding hard in his chest. "Y-you...!" Fallad stammered, his eyes wide with shock. He couldn't believe that the young boy before him, whom he had initially underestimated, was capable of instilling such real fear. The sensation of death he had just experienced still lingered in the air, making him realise that Levi was no ordinary child.

Levi remained standing where he was, his gaze cold and sharp, showing no signs of emotion. He merely stared at Fallad with a blank expression, as if the action just now was nothing more than a simple reflex, requiring no significant effort. The silence that followed the moment only heightened the tension within the guild, and the other adventurers who witnessed the scene could only remain silent, both amazed and terrified by the power that this young boy possessed.

They all knew one thing for certain: Levi was not someone to be underestimated, not even by those with a grand reputation like Fallad.

As Fallad's hand inched towards the hilt of his sword hanging by his waist, the tense atmosphere in the guild was suddenly broken by the cheerful voice of the receptionist. With a bright smile, she dropped a bag of coins onto the desk. "Levi, here's your reward!" she chirped, as if the tension that had just gripped the room had never existed.

The receptionist's cheerful tone immediately lightened the heavy atmosphere, causing the adventurers who had been on edge to relax a little. Fallad also felt a deep sense of relief, though he didn't show it. For a disciple of the Northern God, acknowledging fear in front of others was a disgrace, but in his heart, he knew just how close he had come to danger.

Levi, who had been prepared for a possible confrontation, relaxed his stance. His sharp gaze returned to its usual calm, and he was no longer interested in continuing the interaction with Fallad. To him, the earlier incident was just a small test, and Fallad, despite his arrogance, had shown reflexes worthy of some consideration. "At least he's not all talk," Levi thought to himself, feeling a slight admiration for the abilities Fallad had displayed.

Without saying another word, Levi took the bag of coins as his reward from the previous quest. He gave a brief nod to the receptionist as a sign of thanks, then turned away from the desk, leaving Fallad and the other adventurers in a silence filled with respect and admiration. The atmosphere that had been tense earlier was now replaced with a sense of reverence, as everyone in the guild now realised just how extraordinary this young boy truly was.