A Life Too Vast to Fill with Trivial Stories

From the moment she embraced the grand life that could not be filled with mere trivial stories.

'I want to train. I want to push myself to the limit. The other graduating students are probably pulling all-nighters even now.'

Had coming to Galliant been a mistake?

Amy shook her head.

Even if she could turn back time, she would have made the same choice.

'He should be back by now.'

Why was Shirone late? No doubt he had gotten himself caught up in some unnecessary commotion.

From an omniscient perspective, the world had no shortage of people in need of help.

'Hmph, was he trying to imitate a hero? I…'

If she thought about it, the reason Amy had come all this way for Jis wasn't all that different.

Even after countless thoughts passed through her mind, the drinking party showed no sign of ending.

Amy was getting annoyed.

'What is their game?'

If things got forceful, she was ready to resort to using her skills. But contrary to her expectations, Falcoa wasn't picking a fight. He merely apologized for what had happened during the day and offered a drink.

'Should I make the first move? But in this atmosphere, outright demanding Jis's release seems difficult.'

Falcoa glanced sideways at Amy.

'Heh, I can practically hear her brain working.'

No matter how much of a drug dealer he was, he wasn't foolish enough to openly threaten a noble.

More precisely, he had a weapon that could ensnare even nobles.

That weapon was Loop.

'Whether they're nobles or kings, one dose of this and they're done.'

In reality, many high-ranking nobles were already slaves to Loop within the temple. Even the alcohol being served here contained powdered Loop.

'It should be taking effect soon.'

With that thought, Falcoa raised his glass high.

"Come on! Let's toast! Cheers!"

"Yes! Cheers!"

Just before the glasses could clink, a loud crash sounded from outside the door, followed by the shouts of the employees.

"Y-You! What are you doing? Ugh!"

"Hey! Stop them! That's the boss's room!"

As the words ended, the doorknob twisted and snapped with a sharp crack, and three figures stepped inside.

"...Huh?"

Jis jumped to his feet, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

They were Amy's friends from the harbor.

Falcoa's expression darkened.

Rowdy customers could be tolerated if they paid extra, but a forced intrusion into the temple was a completely different matter.

"Who the hell are you?"

Falcoa's underlings began rising one by one, while the savvy women in the room discreetly slipped away.

No one was more surprised than Amy.

"Shirone? How did you—?"

Seeing that Amy was unharmed, Shirone withheld his response and instead glared at Falcoa.

The man sitting arrogantly at the highest seat, legs crossed. He didn't look particularly monstrous, but Shirone could feel the killing intent oozing from him.

'He's strong… this man…'

Revealing killing intent was easy. But the overwhelming presence that sent chills down his spine was something only seasoned killers possessed.

'Why is Amy with someone like this…?'

Just the sight of a liquor glass instead of a tea cup in front of Amy, who usually enjoyed tea and coffee, made him feel guilty.

"Let's go, Amy."

"..."

No response.

Perhaps because there was something she had wanted to hear from Shirone if they met again.

Shirone's gaze shifted to Falcoa.

"Let my friend go."

"Pfft! You make it sound like she's been kidnapped. Hey, kid. Do you even know where you are? Even nobles need to be careful in places like this, especially in a high-class underground establishment."

Falcoa gestured with his chin.

"What are you waiting for? Send him off."

"Where should we send him, boss?"

"To hell."

Falcoa's underlings advanced with dangerous eyes.

Unlike anyone they had faced before, these men were on another level.

Tess's hand moved toward the hilt of her sword.

"Shirone, be careful. They're all Schema users."

Shirone's eyebrow twitched.

If Tess said it, it had to be true. But for a gang of thugs living on an island to all be Schema users was definitely unusual.

'Who are these guys?'

At that moment, a powerful wave of emotion surged from one of Falcoa's subordinates, striking Shirone's mind like a hammer.

"Ugh."

Tess spoke up.

"Stay calm, Shirone. It's Pressing."

A technique classified as an 'Eye Technique' within the Schema system, Pressing used intense killing intent to disrupt the opponent's metabolism.

The victim would feel as if an arrow was pointed directly at them, an overwhelming pressure that could even cause suffocation in extreme cases.

Shirone had experienced it before from Adell, the head butler of the Carmis family, so he didn't panic. However, the nature of this killing intent was on a different level.

Adell might have been stronger in skill, but these men were genuinely trying to kill him.

Rian, who had studied the effects of Pressing at the swordsmanship school, hurriedly drew his greatsword.

"These bastards…!"

"Rian, wait."

The surprising calmness in Shirone's voice caught even Falcoa's subordinates off guard.

Pressing from ten men at once. Normally, one wouldn't even be able to breathe, let alone speak.

But Shirone remained completely unshaken, even scanning the room with a defiant air, as if mocking them.

'It won't work on me.'

Only Amy, who knew Shirone's level, understood the situation.

'This won't shake the Indomitable Mind. In a way, it's similar to my Crimson Eye.'

As Shirone stepped forward, the subordinates instinctively backed away as if repelled by an invisible force.

'Haa.'

It wasn't easy for Shirone to ignore the Pressing either.

It felt like being bound to the ground while watching a carriage speed toward him from afar.

No, it was more precise to say the carriage had already arrived, and the moment its massive wheels filled his vision, terror struck.

But he could endure. He was Indomitable precisely because he wouldn't waver even one percent.

'This fear is merely an external emotion.'

As long as he did not break from within, he could overcome any fear imposed upon him.

Shirone kept walking at a steady pace.

"D-Damn!"

As the subordinates backed up to the table, Falcoa's face twisted in fury.

"You idiots! What are you doing? Cut him down!"