A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

"Go straight back to the end, then turn left, then turn right again at the end, go straight to the second intersection and turn left again." Alice saw that Bray was not moving, so she gave him directions.

After Alice gave him directions, Bray raised an eyebrow, turned around, and left.

So decisively, Jonathan didn't even have time to try and persuade them to stay.

"That guy really doesn't know the way..." The colonel was speechless.

"Isn't this normal?" Alice wasn't surprised.

"Also, Colonel, your hands are shaking. Are you sure you're not scared?"

“What a joke, Captain.” Eric curled his lip.

"How could I possibly have such embarrassing hand tremors?"

But the next second Alice's hand was on Eric's hand.

"See? It's really shaking." "No, it's not shaking," Eric said, stubbornly denying it even though his hands were clearly trembling.

“You’re shaking,” Alice said. She wouldn’t allow Colonel Eric to be stubborn; it would make her very unhappy.

"That's much better, isn't it?" She finally let go of his hand, but emphasized it again before doing so.

"Well, that's much better." Eric's hand holding the gold coin did indeed become steady.

It would be a lie to say there's no pressure, but Eric isn't afraid of it.

It was precisely because of this pressure that he took the gamble on Bray's behalf.

He didn't want Bray to end up not even being able to hold a sword properly because of this stupid game.

Eric still remembers Bray's "Grim Reaper" slaying the so-called "god" monster.

If we're talking about who can clean up these used silver items, then it's only Bray.

Eric would never place his hopes on any reclusive master.

He preferred to trust this adventurer rather than believe in a powerful figure whose very existence was uncertain.

It might be a bit much to place the entire burden of saving the Empire on Bray's shoulders.

But only Bray can withstand it.

Even the emperor of that empire couldn't do it.

In terms of trust, Eric's trust in Bray surpasses that in Carrasco.

"Colonel, if you don't abandon me, I will."

"Don't look so eager, it's not your turn." Eric, covered in sweat, glanced at Alice.

“Oh dear, you two really should get married,” Jonathan interjected.

“Shut up,” Eric and Alice said in unison.

“Okay, I’ll shut up now.” Jonathan quickly covered his mouth with his mask.

"But are you really not planning to get married here? You all don't have much time left." A muffled voice came from under the mask.

Eric used all his strength to flick the gold coin onto Jonathan's mask.

If he could, Eric would love to punch a gold coin through Jonathan's mask.

Unfortunately, the gold coin bounced back and landed head down on the table.

“Take care of one.” Eric said coldly to Jonathan, holding Alice’s hand behind him.

Alice was taken aback, and her usually cold face flushed slightly.

"Stop talking nonsense, we have plenty of time."

“Someone suggested three characteristics that a monster should have,” Eric said to Jonathan, toying with a gold coin between his fingers.

"Oh? Please tell me exactly what the three points are."

"First, monsters shouldn't be able to speak human language, so that there is an inescapable fear of being attacked."

"Secondly, the monster should not have a clear form, so that it can evoke a sense of fear from the inability to understand it."

"Third, the monster should not die, so that there will be an insurmountable fear."

These are the characteristics that a true monster should have.

People call it a "monster" for these three reasons.

Of course, many of the monsters people talk about, upon closer examination, do not entirely fit these characteristics.

"Those hundreds of monsters, judging from these points, aren't that terrifying."

"I heard that demigods can speak human language, so there will be no fear of not being able to communicate."

"You demigods are either majestic and handsome or disgusting, and you inspire fear not only because of the unknown."

"Most importantly, isn't there someone now who can defeat them?"

As they spoke, one gold coin after another was tossed into the air.

"Is that so? That's really troubling."

"After all, demigods can speak human language, have a clear form, and can be defeated."

"Looking at it this way, it's a huge mistake to describe them as monsters," Jonathan murmured, stroking his chin with his mask.

"However, I have always felt that it is very impolite to refer to you demigods as monsters."

"It might be better not to call it a monster."

"So, Colonel, what do you think would be a better way to address these demigods?"

“That’s easy.” Eric’s lips curled into a smile.

"Of course it's called 'miscellaneous food'." The gold coin landed head down.

"Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!" Jonathan burst into laughter, laughing so hard that his waist involuntarily leaned back, eventually forming an arch.

"It's just trash?" Jonathan used his cane to support himself, preventing himself from collapsing to the ground.

Wow, that's so easy to make people laugh.

However, don't misunderstand, Jonathan wasn't mocking Eric's ignorance, stupidity, or arrogance.

I just found Colonel Eric's statement particularly interesting.

That tone wasn't just a casual "scumbag" uttered by a thug.

"Colonel, if the Silver Seeds find out about this, you won't be spared."

"He might die a horrible death."

"So what? If I didn't say that, would they have been kicked out of the Middle Continent?" Eric said sarcastically.

"No, that won't happen."

“Then they’re trash,” Eric said.

"It doesn't matter if they come after me, as if they're not slaughtering people right now."

"Anyway, one day I will become a member of the massacre."

"So I don't care if I emphasize it again, they are scum."

Before they knew it, more than half of the gold coins had been thrown away.

And they won 80% of those games.

Jonathan stared at the gold coins on the table, remaining silent immediately.

"The colonel is quite courageous, and he has the ability to match it."

“He’s a very outstanding person,” Jonathan said softly.

"And it seems the Colonel is quite lucky, isn't he?" His tone suddenly changed, becoming unusually cheerful.

“The one behind me is very lucky.” Eric pointed to Alice, who was standing behind him, keeping her achievements hidden.

"Should we replace the colonel?" Alice's cool voice rang out as she calmly took Eric's hand.

"No way, this is just the beginning of the excitement."

“Yes, I’m starting to feel excited.” Jonathan nodded quickly.

"Originally, I thought that Mr. Bijing was very rich, so I planned to play a game with him."

"But now it seems that, in this situation, the Colonel is more interesting."

"No wonder he's a man who can withstand 'Divine Source' for a few seconds."

“Heh.” Eric sneered. He didn’t know exactly what “Divine Source” was, but he guessed it was related to the bullets that had appeared in front of him before.

He took it as Jonathan mocking him, since he had been bewitched by that thing in just a few seconds.

“I was absolutely not making fun of you; I genuinely respect you.”

"You should know that a normal person can't even last a second, let alone your emperor."

"How about we finish this bet and then go to a coffee shop that's still open and have a hot coffee?" Jonathan said seriously, he really meant it.

"After this bet, I'm not in the mood for coffee, but I'm more in the mood to shoot you." The tossed gold coin reflected Eric's cold eyes.

One gambling spree is not yet over, while another battle is nearing its end.

“You’re no good, Marek.” Betley kicked away the gun Marek had dropped, mercilessly mocking the smiling man in front of him.

“I can’t argue with that.” Marek clutched his severed left arm, managing a weak smile.

The battle may have seemed evenly matched at the beginning, but as it intensified, Marek began to be suppressed and eventually utterly defeated.

As expected, Marek is still a human, no matter how strong he is. Humans struggle against characters like Beatrix.

Speaking of which, nowadays, which lower species can rival Betley?

“I also think you can’t refute that.” Betley grinned menacingly, and in the next instant, he was next to Marek and shoved him in the heel.

"Boom!" Marek was sent flying like a doll, without even a chance to grab his gun back.

This is not the first time this has happened.

Marek calculated that this might be the eleventh time he had been knocked away like this.

This is truly... a complete mess.

Marek lay on his side on the ground and straightened his military uniform.

He couldn't even stand up, let alone escape to anywhere.

All routes were blocked, and all means of treatment were taken away.

All of this seemed to mock Marek's self-inflicted trap.

“What interesting things have been going on outside since just now?” Betley stepped on Marek’s wrist, preventing him from adjusting his clothes.

"Did you and that clown agree to this?" Betley asked, his eyes shrouded in shadow as he looked down at the utterly defeated Marek.

“Even without discussing it, we both know the situation perfectly well,” Marek said with a smile.

"It's just a game where the Silver Race officially tramples the Iron Race's land."

"And you're here to drag me along?" Betley clenched Marek's wrist.

Unfortunately, Marek did not utter the screams and cries that Betley had expected.

"To hold you back?" Marek's smile softened further.

This gentleness feels incredibly out of place in this scene.

There are several reasons for this.

"But more than anything, it's aimed at you, Mr. Beatty."

Marek's wrist snapped with a crack.

"Then tell me, how are you going to target me now?"

“I’m all ears.” Betley kicked Marek up and then punched him into the wall.

The brutal actions gave one the illusion that Beatrix was the villain.

However, in a sense, Beatley could indeed be considered a villain.