"Huh? What's with that look, old man?"
The red-haired leader finally noticed the shift in my aura, his brows knotting.
But it was already too late.
For the first time since the day I got laid off, my head was crystal clear—sharp with focus, seething with quiet rage.
A girl no older than my daughter was being brutalized right in front of me. That sight snapped the last string I'd been clinging to.
I never fight head-on.
That's my way.
Which is why my payback is always quiet. Always perfect.
"...Nothing," I murmured.
And with that, I triggered [Skill: Rearrangement (Change)].
Five uses left.
More than enough to wipe out three thugs.
My internal map snapped into place, laying out the optimal three-move checkmate.
First move.
Target: the smirking sorcerer hanging back. Behind him, two torches mounted on the wall.
I warped one directly beside his face, flames licking at his cheek mid-chant.
"Gah—hot!"
He stumbled back, panicked, his spell cut short. The magic threat, neutralized. Now he was just flailing, eyes wide and useless.
Second move.
Target: the hulking vanguard swinging a massive axe.
I yanked a pair of [Sticky Floor Traps] from either wall, planting them perfectly under his boots.
"What the—? My feet!"
Both legs rooted to the floor, the giant could only swing wild, his weapon more liability than threat. A sitting duck.
Third move.
The red-haired leader himself. He snarled, rushing me with blind fury.
Exactly as planned.
I placed a [Falling Rock Trap] in the narrow passage behind him, swapping its trigger with the very stone his foot landed on.
Rumble.
A boulder the size of a wagon dropped from the ceiling, slamming down behind him with a deafening crash, sealing his retreat completely.
"Wh-what—!"
He dodged the direct hit by a hair, but the sound and shockwave blasted his courage clean out of him. His legs gave way, and he collapsed, paralyzed by fear.
It was over in seconds.
In less than half a minute, the B-rank party "Crimson Fang" had been dismantled. Not a single one of them had laid a finger on me.
I strolled up to the leader, slow and deliberate.
"I told you," I said, my voice carrying a weight that surprised even me. "We were the ones who beat it."
His face twisted in terror, all bravado gone.
"W-what the hell are you...?"
"Here's a warning. Don't ever show your faces to us again."
That was all. I turned, extending a hand to Momo, who was still on the ground, wide-eyed.
"Can you stand, Momo?"
"Y-yes..."
She clutched my hand, dazed, and I pulled her to her feet. The three enemies had already thrown down their weapons, scrambling away on hands and knees, all fight drained out of them.
"Sato-san..."
Her voice trembled as she tugged at my sleeve, eyes fixed on me—not with fear, but with respect, and something warmer sparking underneath.
I didn't answer. Just rested my hand lightly on her head.
Yeah, it was trouble. More than I ever wanted.
But for her sake, using my strength wasn't something I'd regret. Not even for a moment.