Flashback to a few minutes earlier, inside the "Adventurers Guild."

"200 silver coins task… Where is the 200 silver coins task…?"

Young warrior Hushang murmured, eyes locked on the task board, body shifting with his gaze.

Normally, adventurers checked a subjugation task’s rank first—whether it matched their level—then reviewed the target and details to assess capability. Only last did they glance at the reward.

But to repay Suran for saving their lives and help her gather 200 silver coins, the F-rank newbie trio flipped the script: they started with the reward amount.

As the sums climbed—from 20 to 50, then 100 silver coins—Hushang moved a good stretch down the board.

Glancing around, he realized he was nearly alone. Almost all adventurers clustered where he’d just been, thickest around the 50-silver E-rank section.

"Hushang, you made it here too?" Ruby approached.

"Ruby… I’ve got a bad feeling. I can’t bring myself to check the rank here. You look first?" Hushang swallowed hard.

"Ugh, what’s to fear? I’ll check."

Ruby scanned the board. "Reward… 200 silver coins! But… it’s a C-rank subjugation task."

"W-what’s the actual content?"

"Um… Head to the Misty Swamp west of Lobet City. Eliminate ten 'Venomous Mist Giants' and retrieve their purified magic cores…"

"…"

Silence fell between them.

Just the name "Venomous Mist Giant" sent a chill through them. This was far beyond their reach.

Even knowing Suran would help, the thought of stepping into such a monster-infested place stirred deep fear.

They skimmed other C-rank tasks—locations and targets equally daunting, names alone making them flinch.

"I… I suddenly think slimes are super cute…" Hushang stammered.

"Stop that! We’re taking this task. We have to trust Maid Suran’s strength!" Ruby insisted.

"Right." Hushang nodded and tore the "Venomous Mist Giants" task sheet from the wall.

As they turned toward the counter, a group strode up.

At the front stood a burly young warrior, face grim, radiating displeasure and a raw, vicious aura. Even his golden adventurer insignia seemed faintly blood-tinged.

Hushang and Ruby knew seasoned fighters carried a killing aura—but this man’s brutality felt innate.

It was Hankus, freshly humiliated by Suran.

They ducked their heads and hurried past.

Hankus scanned the C-rank board, frowning. "Where’s the 'Venomous Mist Giants' task?"

Then he remembered—the pair who’d just passed him held a sheet.

He spun and marched over.

Hearing heavy footsteps, Hushang turned—just as Hankus seized his wrist and snatched the sheet.

"So it vanished because *you* stole it, huh?" Spotting Hushang’s gray-iron token, Hankus’s fuse lit. He yanked Hushang up and slammed him hard onto the floor.

*Thud!*

*Cough—*

Hushang hit the ground, coughing blood, ribs likely cracked.

"Eek!!!" Ruby shrieked.

All eyes on the guild’s first floor snapped toward them.

"Damn it! An F-rank scrap dares snatch *my* task? Don’t you know I’m the expert on 'Venomous Mist Giants'?" Hankus roared, dumping all his rage on Hushang. "Look at your scrawny arms—you call yourself a warrior? F-rank scum should stick to trash tasks! What’re you doing here? Bored? Or provoking me? Huh??"

"You… that’s too much! We’re fellow guild members—violence isn’t acceptable!" Ruby protested, voice trembling. "A-and this task was *ours* first! 'Snatching' shouldn’t mean brute force—"

Hankus cut her off with a glare. "You two F-rank wastes actually plan to take this?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" Ruby met his eyes squarely, pointing at the sheet. "Give… give it back!"

Hankus blinked, barked a laugh—then his face darkened.

He raised a hand to strike her cheek.

Guards and adventurers rushed closer, but too far to stop him.

Ruby squeezed her eyes shut, trembling, frozen in dread.

But the slap never landed.

Footsteps slowed.

"…Huh?"

Ruby peeked—and her eyes lit up.

The elegant black-haired maid now stood between them.

One hand gripped Hankus’s wrist firm and steady. No matter how he strained, muscles bulging, he couldn’t break free.

"As a grown man, bullying a girl—aiming for her face. Aren’t you ashamed?" Suran’s icy gaze extinguished his fury, replacing it with shock.

"G-guh—let go! L-let—*urk!*" Hankus groaned, trying to swing his other hand—but pain locked his body stiff.

Just like Elsa before.

"L-let go! I… I apologize!" Desperate, Hankus—the assault captain of the guild’s "Hand of the Goddess"—knew his hands were his life. Facing ruin, he could only beg.

"An apology isn’t enough here," Suran said, each word sharp. "You need to feel it yourself."

She kicked the back of his knee—forcing him to kneel—then drove a heel into his spine.

*Cough————*

Hankus screamed, bones snapping. Blood and a dislodged tooth spilled from his mouth as he collapsed heavily to the floor.