TENSURA: But It's Murim?

Ch 8 - The Underground lord of Falmuth

"Has it been three months since you left the county?" I asked in a cheerful tone that belied the deadly intent radiating from me. The Zakar family, merchants who had purchased their baron titles, had somehow managed to obtain sponsorship from the Ashford family.

"A-AHAHAHA! Pardon me, young lord... I've shown you something embarrassing. When did you arrive? I-I heard you were kicked out of the county, but I thought that was impossible---" He straightened up immediately, clearly anxious not to antagonize a powerful count's family. His sudden shift to politeness was evident, a tactic to curry favor with someone of higher status. I released his hand, which he promptly used to bow like a proper nobleman, though his shameful behavior betrayed his facade.

"Oh, that? Well, it's true though. I did get kicked out," I replied, the words coming out flat stupid, and almost comically straightforward.

"...Huh?"

I tilted my head slightly, a bright, flowery smile spreading across my face.

"I've been disowned~~✨" Despite my cheerful demeanor, my statement left everyone stunned. The waitress, the boy, the girl, even the third-rate villain—they all seemed taken aback. Anthony, however, reacted most dramatically.

Gone was his deferential posture. The polite facade he reserved for those of higher status dissolved into open hostility. His gaze now held nothing but anger and contempt, glaring at me as if I were beneath him, mere vermin.

"The fuck?! Are you messing with me?!" he shouted angrily, his grip on the wine bottle tightening as he took on a hostile stance. "If that's the case, you're just a measly commoner, you—!!" With a fierce swing, he aimed to strike me with the bottle.

But this time, I made no move to stop him.

Crack... SHATTER

The bottle collided with the left side of my face, the impact sending shards of glass flying as it shattered into pieces. Yet as the dust settled, one question hung in the air for Anthony. "What... the fuck?" 

My calm smile remained unwavering, not a single bruise or cut marring my skin, not even a hint of blood. Only the excess wine, shattered everywhere, soaked my face. Finally, I leaned in slightly, my face reflected in his wide eyes. "Are you done?" I asked, my voice steady. The subtle smile on my lips contrasted with the dangerous glint in my now widened crimson eyes.

Anthony began to tremble, his grip weakening. The shattered remnants of the wine bottle slipped from his hand and clattered to the floor with a loud clank, as fear drained the strength from his body. He instinctively took a step back, eyes wide with terror.

"R-ryn! come here!" Nox called the girl frightened on the bed. He takes her and now Nox has his sister hidden behind him, the waitress takes a look at Ryn and tells her to come with her, assuring she will give her something else to wear, as of now her clothes were damaged.

"I-I'm... Young lord, I... I was wrong, I was a little bit drunk so—" His fearful words were cut short as my right hand clamped down on his left shoulder with a resounding thud.

"Ah~? You were drunk, was it~?" I asked in a sing-song tone. Without taking my eyes off Anthony, I addressed Nox, "Nox-kun, do you see those bottles of liquor on the table? Why don't you fetch them for me? All of them."

As the girls stepped outside, distancing themselves from the commotion inside the room, Nox quickly responded to my command, "Y-yes!" He seemed to realize that I had some connection with Anthony but asked no further questions. He moved swiftly to the table laden with expensive wine bottles and began relocating them to the single bed in the room.