The Mad Dog Ruins the Party
Parties were best when ruined, be it the Efer Empire, a kingdom, or even the heteroraces. Everyone created their own class systems and clung to them desperately. Denying that meant threatening the system itself. Those who shattered the class order were guilty of the gravest sin of all: treason.
So what about what had just happened? A Border Count granted independent authority directly from the emperor. A direct royal born not from a concubine, but from the queen herself. No one, not even the imperial family, considering diplomatic fallout, could lay a hand on them carelessly.
And yet, that absurd event had unfolded right here. At the hands of a mere commoner, no less.
"So."
No one dared open their mouth or step forward recklessly.
"Before I get suspicious. Shut your traps and go drink quietly like good little boys."
The Empire's Mad Dog, who bit anything that annoyed him indiscriminately. A man with a track record of even chewing up an imperial prince in the past.
"This bastard's gone too far…."
"How dare he!"
Prince Prints and Evan trembled with rage and humiliation. To these honor-obsessed men, it was an unforgivable insult.
"Gone too far. How dare I. So what? What're you gonna do about it?"
But their opponent was that mad dog. Cain.
If he were simply insane, they wouldn't be treading so carefully. That man transcended common sense—a human God had botched in the making.
"That's the rumored Demon Slayer, right?"
"Collapsed demon armies single-handedly several times. I didn't believe the stories at first, but after seeing him myself, I steer clear just in case our sleeves brush."
"He’s probably killed more demons than the entire Continent Alliance combined."
Demon Slayer. The human who’d slain the most demons. A monster even the hellspawn demons feared. Death itself dared not claim him.
"Never thought I'd see that man here."
"I-I’m leaving. I don’t want to stay at this party anymore. Just looking at him reminds me of all the heads rolling."
"Me too! I’ll go with you."
Executioner. A merciless butcher to any who colluded with demons. An impartial enforcer who heard no excuses or pleas.
The only commoner in continental history to kill the most nobles and live.
"Lord, we see Your trace here."
"Heard the Holy Kingdom offered him a spot in their Holy Knight Order?"
"More than deserved. He accomplished what even they couldn’t."
God's Right Hand. The holy executor of blows that crushed demons. A virtue that never yielded or bowed before evil. Proof that even the divine grew suspicious.
"…."
"…."
The two men bit their lips, clenched their fists, faces twisted in frustration. They stole glances at a certain lady standing in the distance.
Their pride was scarred. As nobles. As royals. Their dignity tarnished.
They wanted to shove this man aside right now, prove to her how great they were.
But….
…Impossible.
This man, Cain, was a living myth of the demon wars. Tales of him single-handedly halting demon hordes still circulated.
For over ten years, he’d killed demons relentlessly. His myriad titles were proof of the past—and a promise for the future.
No one could rival him when it came to demons. The 'suspicion' he voiced wasn’t mere doubt. It was the crushing burden of making an enemy of this mad dog from here on out.
"We’ll sort today’s matter out later. Border Count Evan."
"Anytime, Prince Prints."
Thankfully, no further cracks formed in the alliance’s unity. Both Prints and Evan tabled the conflict for another day.
Everyone sighed in relief, laughter and chatter resuming—
"Heh."
Demons were better, honestly. At least they got the point right away.
Cain stepped forward again, grabbing the two men by their collars. Before the guards could even pry him off—
"Not later. Settle it clean right here and end it."
They’d barely caught their breath, and these idiots were already sowing division. Fucking romance-fantasy male leads with your flower-filled heads.
In the end, he slammed the Border Count and the prince into the floor.
Sis. Just one question. I don’t get it.
Why do romance-fantasy protagonists always itch to stir up trouble with each other?
Because that incident lets them grow inwardly. Romance always needs trials and endurance!
They’re in positions where causing problems is a no-go. And they can’t even grasp their own status? Slapping 'capable guy' tags on them?
They solve it themselves in the end, so yeah, capable guys. Better than folks relying on templates or status screens!
"Yeah. Pretty capable."
He’d smashed them hard enough to knock them out for hours, but they came to in minutes, staggering back up.
He expected fury. But no.
Instead, both stared off at the same spot, as if by prior agreement.
Following their gaze, there she stood—a lady in the distance.
The moment Cain saw her, it clicked. Ah, that girl. The romance-fantasy heroine who’ll be the start and end of everything.
Name’s… fuzzy. …Pastel? Was it Pastel?
Some kind of 'tel,' that’s for sure. Damn it. Her name’s slipping away.
When he’d first fallen into this world, he remembered everything. Story, settings, names. PD habits die hard—kept it all in his head.
But it all got soaked in blood and scrambled. All because of the demons.
Demons really all need to die.
His hands itched suddenly. Any demons around?
"Couldn’t hold it together for the few minutes I was gone and caused another mess."
The one-eyed woman approached, pinching her brow. The empire’s Special Forces Captain, Yuris Colhen.
"Opponents were a Border Count and a foreign prince."
"So?"
"So? Look at those guys’ eyes right now."
She glanced toward the clustered nobles. The whispering group startled and scattered like roaches. Frozen solid at the thought of meeting Cain’s gaze.
"What?"
"They’re all cursing you out. A commoner hurting nobles. Hurting royals."
"Long as none step up to my face."
People could curse even God behind His back. Cain himself had ripped into the emperor plenty on the battlefield. Backtalk? He could take it.
"I can’t stand it."
Yuris saw it differently.
"We’re even having a party like this because of you. And instead of thanks, they badmouth you."
"Yuris. One question."
"Don’t change the subject. Promise you’ll be careful."
A regular commoner would’ve been torn limb from limb alive. They tolerated it only because it was Cain.
Flip side: show weakness once, and they’d swarm like bees to kill him.
Yuris prayed that never happened. If it did, she’d stand by Cain first.
"That girl over there. Know who she is?"
Yuris turned, scanning the ladies. As Special Forces Captain, she’d memorized the entire attendee list.
She quickly matched the face and outfit.
"Hm. Lady Estelle Lunarian from the Kasen Kingdom."
"Ah."
Estelle. Right. Not Pastel—Estelle.
Memory jogged. Yeah, that was the name.
"Estelle. That’s the name, huh."
"Didn’t peg you for that type. A fragile lady as your ideal…."
There, she trailed off, gauging his reaction.
Cain’s eyes blazed, promising death for one more word.
"Not that?"
"Never."
Estelle. Romance-fantasy heroine. The woman at the center of every storm.
A kind-hearted protagonist with decent skills. But in this world, unconditional kindness was uglier than blatant evil.
Doubt trumped trust. Vigilance over embrace.
That’s why she gets tossed around. Male leads clean up her messes. Innocents die for it.
The world’s mad, so people need to stay sane. Right, sis? Possible?
To survive a mad world, go madder. Love built on innocent blood ain’t beautiful.
Just write the romance-fantasy. Why toss in demons and make it hell?
Just entering the early plot, huh….
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. Muttering."
Originally, the alliance commemorative party wouldn’t have been this lavish. Without Cain, the war was still raging in the original story.
They hadn’t ended the first demon war in victory like now. Kingdoms half-ruined, empire barely breathing.
Still, the heroine’s arrival kicked off the male leads’ rivalry.
Bang!
Wished I could’ve wiped out even the Seven Deadly Sins Demons before the protagonists hit the main stage.
Regrettably, no trace of the Seven Deadly Sins Demons until the protagonists appeared.
Real demons showed only when protagonists did.
So Cain’s job: kill other demons. Kill and kill and climb high.
And now I’ve made it here.
Qualified to join the main stage, as desired. See? Smashed the Border Count and prince, still fine.
Even in a romance-fantasy with solid class mechanics, a mere commoner like him faced no repercussions.
"Special Forces Captain gig treating you okay?"
"Same as always."
"Must be nice without me."
"Hate it without you, Cain."
"Whoa. Confession?"
"Yes."
Hard to tell if joking or serious, their banter flowed.
Man and woman. Commoner and noble. Old captain and subordinate.
"Yuris."
"Yes, Cain."
"Sudden thought. Any Contractors here?"
Contractors. Traitors who shook hands with demons for rebellion. Gained immense power and wealth in exchange.
Rumors said they even granted impossible wishes.
Sometimes Contractors were viler than demons. Sowing division. Assassinations. Sabotage.
One of Cain’s many epithets: Executioner. Born from slaughtering them all.
"Demons were masters at swaying nobles, yeah."
"You know a hound by the meat it’s tasted. Easier to tempt those who’ve had a taste."
"Too many traitors in league with demons. Always felt eyes on my back. But not here. Investigation’s done—each nation swears it’s impossible."
"Yeah?"
Something felt off, though. Cain had a vague hunch.
Just typical romance-fantasy male leads? Maybe. But he didn’t rule out more.
What if someone fanned conflict among the male protagonists? Whispered those odd words to spark today’s rift?
"Yuris. Ever hear this one?"
Ta-da. There’s no such thing as absolute.
"Cain?!"
In one leap, he closed the distance instantly.
Toward the romance-fantasy heroine.
Estelle.
And swung his fist.