Chapter 70
Chapter 70
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 70
Chapter Title: Mad Fire's Intrusion
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Life in this world throws all sorts of troubles your way.
And among those, you sometimes run smack into a disaster.
The man currently facing off against the Half Dark Elf.
From the large guild, Flame Butterfly.
Guild master, Banbeck.
Nickname: Mad Fire.
A madman whose solution to every problem was consistent—fire.
And now, disaster had come for Banbeck.
But disasters are uncertain in their existence, making them hard to recognize right away.
"A Half Dark Elf?"
That was why Banbeck, failing to notice the disaster, furrowed his brow.
"One of Rafila's underlings, I take it. Who the hell do you think you're blocking?"
"You're the one barging in and causing a scene. As someone connected to this place, isn't it natural for me to stand in your way?"
"Connected?"
Banbeck raised his thick eyebrows.
He eyed Leyzon with a strange look.
"You from the Steel Wolf Guild?"
"No."
He was the owner of the guild's owner.
Leyzon had no intention of sitting idly by while his subcontractor got roughed up.
"Then why the hell are you helping Rafila?"
Of course, Banbeck hadn't thought that far.
In his eyes, Leyzon was just a pioneer at the 9th Ascension level.
Banbeck was a hero-grade pioneer at the 15th Ascension, same as Rafila.
He wasn't hiding his presence at all; it was on full display.
Leyzon knew that much.
And yet, he showed no fear, boldly standing in Banbeck's path.
"We're acquaintances."
Banbeck fell silent for a moment after hearing that.
Then a slow grin spread across his face.
"I had no idea Rafila had an acquaintance with balls this big."
The audacity to charge at a hero-grade pioneer over something as simple as being acquaintances.
Not to mention, Banbeck bore the moniker Mad Fire.
Anyone who challenged him ended up burned to ash—which was why even the Steel Wolf Guild members were fleeing like cowards.
Yet Leyzon stared him down without a hint of running.
Banbeck didn't hate this kind of boldness.
Quite the opposite—he loved it.
"I like you. What's your name?"
Of course, that was purely from Banbeck's perspective. Leyzon felt the exact opposite.
This guy had stormed into Steel Wolf, threatening to burn everything down, and now he was asking for Leyzon's name like they were buddies.
Mad Fire.
Leyzon had heard the name while gathering intel.
He had no idea what kind of lunatic the man was, but...
The real issue was that he'd touched Leyzon's property.
Leyzon slowly rolled up his sleeves.
"Name? Who cares."
Leyzon aimed his staff at Banbeck's head.
"Why's a guy about to get smashed asking so many questions?"
A chilling smile crept across Leyzon's face.
His signature grin, one he flashed in any situation.
But to Banbeck, it looked entirely different.
A man who could smirk so arrogantly right in front of him.
Leyzon appealed to him even more; fire lit in Banbeck's eyes.
"Good! All these damn mages lately are cowards. We need more guys like you!"
Flames began flickering around him.
The firepower of a hero-grade pioneer mage.
The wooden floor beneath him started charring from the intense heat.
"Whoa!"
"Mad Fire's lost it! He's seriously gonna burn us!"
The guild members were in total chaos.
Unlike them, Leyzon's eyes showed no change.
He'd clashed with foes stronger than Banbeck countless times.
No way he'd flinch now at a mere hero-grade pioneer.
Instead, battle lust boiled in Leyzon's gaze.
He'd just reached the 9th Ascension moments ago.
With the ascension, his power had surged by the amount of his increased stats.
How much stronger had his explosion become this time?
Leyzon couldn't hide his excitement.
But without a proper chance to test it, he'd been holding back.
Until now.
A hero-grade adventurer had waltzed right into his lap.
Leyzon's eyes curved into a manic grin.
Anticipation gleamed in them.
'This is perfect for a test run. He showed up begging for it himself.'
The staff in Leyzon's grip trembled like a patient addicted to something.
He'd been pent up without a chance to unleash it for so long.
Now, he didn't have to hold back anymore.
[Leyzon, this guy's got no fear! Blast him away!]
Syria egged him on.
Iwen perched on Leyzon's shoulder in doll form, watching the scene.
Hanok slowly backed away from Leyzon's side.
He'd witnessed Leyzon's explosions up close more than anyone.
Every time Leyzon grew stronger, the blasts did too.
Glass cannon build.
Just like that archetype demanded, Leyzon chased ultimate destruction.
And this time, the power had surely amplified again.
Hanok read the emotion in Leyzon's eyes.
'His eyes are spinning again.'
Leyzon had an unnatural obsession with explosions.
Hanok had even sensed a manic edge to it at times.
And now, his fuse was lit once more.
'This place is toast.'
The whole building would get caught in Leyzon's blast.
Whoosh!
Hanok bolted for safety, convinced of it.
"You brought this on yourself."
"Hahaha! This is fun. I really like you!"
The fellow lunatic aimed his staff right back at him.
Fire versus explosion.
The moment they tested which was stronger—
Whoosh!
An axe flew straight at Banbeck.
Clang!
Banbeck twisted and blocked it with his staff.
His deployed defensive spell repelled the axe.
At the same time, Banbeck scowled and stared ahead.
A man was striding forward, catching the rebounding axe.
Blue hair and a massive build that stood out.
Steel Wolf Guild master, Rafila.
He glared at Banbeck.
"Banbeck, do you have any idea where you are? Causing this mess."
Banbeck smirked at his words.
"Where else? Your temporary crash pad."
"You've been playing nice lately like you've reformed, so I came to burn it all down."
The two glared like beasts baring their fangs.
Whoosh!
A breeze blew through the window.
Banbeck's cloak fluttered, revealing a butterfly emblem.
The symbol of his guild, Flame Butterfly.
Rafila's cloak bore the blue Steel Wolf emblem, whipping in the wind.
Rival guilds that tore into each other at every chance.
But Rafila paid Banbeck no mind.
What he focused on most was Leyzon standing beside him.
Leyzon held his staff raised.
He clicked his tongue in disappointment, eyeing the scene with clear annoyance.
Seeing that, Rafila felt a chill run down his spine.
He'd experienced Leyzon's explosions firsthand.
And now, having grown even stronger with time...
This building would be blown away without effort.
Cold sweat beaded on Rafila's neck as dread gripped him.
"...Banbeck, you owe me a hundred thanks."
"You finally lost it? What bullshit is that?"
Banbeck narrowed his eyes, oblivious to the peril.
Rafila let out a long sigh.
"If you have business, do it later. I'm busy now."
"Busy my ass. You slack off year-round!"
"Pensaldor from the Pioneer Association is here."
Banbeck's face hardened.
Pensaldor, aide to the Sword Saint.
"...Then the Sword Saint too?"
After laying down his sword, the Sword Saint had become...
The guild manager at the Pioneer Association.
And one day, he'd swept his eyes over the guild masters.
That day had been a catastrophe for them.
The Sword Saint disciplined every disobedient guild master with his fists alone.
Quick-witted ones tucked tail immediately.
Banbeck had been one who didn't.
He'd gotten beaten half to death for it.
Ever since, Banbeck jolted awake at the mere mention of the Sword Saint, even in his sleep.
Luckily, the Sword Saint didn't meddle much in guild operations.
He had little interest in management itself.
He'd just enforced discipline once.
If you piss me off again, it'll happen next time too.
A warning like that.
"Starting a pointless brawl between guild masters won't end well for either of us, right?"
But clashes between masters would likely draw the Sword Saint.
With Pensaldor here, word would definitely reach him.
Banbeck meekly lowered his staff, face sheepish, and turned away.
"Damn it, consider yourself lucky!"
Banbeck bellowed that as he flung the door open.
"We'll settle this at the next guild master meeting!"
He stormed off with a classic villain line.
Leyzon lowered his staff along with him.
Rafila finally relaxed.
"Leyzon, it's been a while. I trust you've been well?"
Five figures emerged from behind Rafila.
Their appearances had changed from before.
Being hunted by the Empire, the five had deliberately altered their looks.
But Hanok recognized their scents and wagged his tail in greeting.
"Long time no see, both of you."
Leyzon approached the pair.
The guild members who'd fled earlier stiffened.
Realizing Leyzon truly was connected to Rafila.
They paled, recalling their earlier words.
"Teach your guild members some tact."
They still needed to learn more manners and awareness.
Rafila shot a fiery glare at his guild members.
They flinched and bowed their heads.
The pack wolves cowered at their alpha's growl.
"From now on, treat any visitors kindly until you know the situation."
"Yes, sir!"
The guild members responded vigorously to Rafila's warning.
That should do it.
The Steel Wolf Guild members were Leyzon's property now too.
Leyzon gestured for Rafila to stop there.
Leyzon entered the building with Rafila and the five in tow.
The guest room they guided him to was a decent size.
As the five brewed tea, Leyzon passed on the message.
"Rafila, Pensaldor wants you at the Pioneer Association."
"Lord Pensaldor? Leyzon, you know him too?"
It had turned out that way somehow.
"Yeah. Probably checking in since Steel Wolf's been changing lately."
Rafila crossed his arms, lost in thought for a moment.
"We can handle it without issues."
Rafila was sharp enough.
He answered Leyzon's question without hesitation.
"Yes, I'll show him how we've run the guild so far."
He'd handle it fine on his own.
Leyzon nodded and turned to the five.
He had a separate question for them.
"Five, do you know about the Blue Sparrow Knights?"
At the next question, surprisingly, it was Rafila who froze—not the five.
As Leyzon's gaze shifted back, Rafila asked cautiously.
"...Leyzon, why the sudden interest in the Blue Sparrow Knights?"
Leyzon blinked in surprise at the reaction.
He hadn't expected that from him.
"Because I need to find them. Why? You know something?"
"Well, uh."
Rafila looked a bit troubled before answering.
"Do you know Frost Night Guild?"
"Yeah."
A top large guild—ranked number one, no less.
The Frost Night guild master was a 16th Ascension bronze hero-grade pioneer.
"The guild master's older sister is the captain of the Blue Sparrow Knights."
This was news Leyzon hadn't heard at all.