"Master, please be careful."

Nina suddenly called out. I turned to see her gripping a short sword tightly, stepping beside me. Her expression was deadly serious.

Seriously? Was this girl for real? Did she actually think I’d have him cut people for me?

I couldn’t help but smile wryly. Just in case, I casually cast a Holy Shield spell on her. Instantly, a transparent light barrier enveloped her like an eggshell.

"Listen up, Nina. Stand here and don’t move. After I defeat the enemies, shout ‘666’. Understood?"

"Huh? ‘666’?"

"That’s right. It’s crucial to me. It concerns my very life. Got it?"

Nina looked utterly confused. Her little head probably couldn’t grasp ‘666’. But hearing how vital it was to me, she immediately accepted without hesitation.

Just then, strange cries echoed from the fortress. The gates swung open. A horde of fully armed men charged out—about fifty of them. They wielded all kinds of weapons: swords, spears, halberds. Especially the burly leader swinging a double-bladed axe. Every piece of his gear radiated magic. He had to be the bandit chief.

The bandits froze the moment they burst out. Dead silence fell. After scanning carefully, they confirmed it was just Nina and me. Then, the whole group burst into hysterical laughter.

"Hahahahaha! Am I seeing things?"

"A wet-behind-the-ears kid and a maid! Here for a picnic? Hahaha!"

"Kid, we won’t kill you. Leave the maid and scram back home for milk!"

"Gods, is the Adventurers’ Guild scraping the bottom now? Hahaha!"

"I can’t breathe! I’m gonna die laughing! Hahaha!"

Wave after wave of mockery hit me. I felt a flicker of anger. Guess my mindset still needs work. Getting mad at ants’ taunts? Pathetic.

I took a deep breath. Steadied myself. Gave the bandits a noble’s greeting bow.

"A pleasure to meet you. I’m Coburn William. My apologies for being just a child. To make amends, allow me to send you all to the afterlife."

"I bestow death upon you."

My words cut off their laughter instantly. Everyone froze like scarecrows. Black cracks spread across their bodies. A gentle breeze blew. They crumbled into black ash, drifting away.

The fifty-plus bandits vanished. Only the leader remained, standing dumbfounded, watching his men turn to dust.

If any hero saw this, they’d be shocked. The Demon King’s ultimate move, "Word of Death," used on mere bandits. This skill could reduce even a mighty Dragon to ash instantly.

The leader survived because my anger wasn’t fully spent. I deliberately spared him.

"Nina!"

"Huh? Oh, right! Master, 666!"

Nina, standing nearby, had no clue what happened. She only saw me bow, and the bandits turned to dust. Hearing my call, she snapped to attention.

"What did you do?"

The bandit leader’s arrogance vanished. He stared at me like he’d seen a ghost.

"Just cleaning up excess trash."

I smiled faintly.

"Hmph! Whatever trick you pulled, not killing me was your biggest mistake!"

"Demonic Transformation!"

He misunderstood. Thinking my skill couldn’t kill him, he activated the Demonic Transformation I’d been eyeing. His body swelled like a balloon. In seconds, the two-meter-tall man became a three-meter-tall monster. Black fur covered him. Bull-like horns sprouted from his forehead. A terrifying, repulsive aura radiated from him. To me, it was like a kitten’s hiss. But ordinary people would crumble under that pressure.

I used the Appraisal skill on him. Sure enough, his stats skyrocketed.

Name: Hank Delas

LV: 60

Class: Bandit

Race: Half-Demon

HP: 874

MP: 443

STR: 522

CON: 632

DEF: 300

RES: 40

Skills: [Demonic Form], [Dual Axe Mastery], [Brutal Strike], [Low-tier Physical Resistance], [Abomination]

You even changed your race after transforming? No wonder this quest failed multiple times. With stats like this, it’s no task for low-level adventurers.

But to me, still just small fry.

I strolled leisurely to the transformed leader. Looked up at his already ugly face, now even uglier.

"What’s wrong? Attack me?"

"Die!!"

Feeling utterly underestimated, he unleashed his full power. He swung his double-bladed axe down at me.

Boom~

The ground cracked under his force. Even if hit, I’d be unscathed. But I lightly turned aside, dodging his strike. Then, I leaped up and punched his abdomen.

A dull thud echoed. His upper body exploded like a bomb. The force shattered his body and didn’t stop. A shockwave reduced half the fortress to rubble.

"666"

Nina, sitting on the ground nearby, scared out of her wits, still remembered her duty.