CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45

Clayton never expected that simply watching an argument would drag him into trouble.

Bravus, seeing Clayton fall silent, assumed he had intimidated him. Emboldened by his imagined superiority, he grew more arrogant and aimed to humiliate him further.

Without warning, Bravus’s fist shot toward Clayton.

But Clayton, snapping out of his daze just in time, shifted his expression and easily dodged the punch. In a swift counter, he struck Bravus squarely in the solar plexus.

Thud!

Bravus’s smug grin vanished instantly, replaced by a pale, sickly expression.

Unable to stay on his feet, he collapsed, gasping for air—sweating profusely, his face drained of all color.

Barely able to speak, Bravus pointed a trembling finger at Clayton. "Clayton, you bastard! Are you trying to break the city’s laws?!"

"What a rebel! If you dare, go ahead and kill me! Let’s see how ’great’ this Young Master Clayton really is!" he shouted, repeating the same words he once hurled at Arthur.

Clayton sneered. Without a word, he kicked Bravus hard in the chest, like punting a ball.

Thud!

Bravus was stunned. He had thought his words would make Clayton hesitate—but instead, the retaliation was even more brutal.

Is he insane? Bravus panicked. Isn’t he afraid of being punished by the city officials?

He was sent flying, crashing into the dirt. His senses only returned when his backside slammed into the cold ground.

Dazed, Bravus struggled to his feet and pointed weakly at Clayton. "You—!"

"You what? Gonna say I broke city regulations?" Clayton cut him off coolly.

Bravus paused, his face twisting into a smug grin as if to say, Isn’t that obvious?

Clayton snorted.

"Bravus, you’re really good at twisting things. Sure, the city forbids murder within its borders—but it allows self-defense. Otherwise, this place would be a lawless jungle full of scum like you."

Bravus’s expression shifted. He was beginning to understand, though the truth only irritated him more. He had clearly come out the worse in this exchange. His ribs felt broken, and one arm was completely numb.

Even though Clayton had held back, his physical strength as a Knight trainees was well above average. Injuries like this were inevitable.

"But, Young Master Clayton... wasn’t that a bit excessive? My ribs are broken! My arm’s barely working! Isn’t that a violation of city law?" Bravus asked slyly.

Clayton chuckled.

"Heh... Bravus, you’re naive. Who decides what counts as ’excessive’ in self-defense? Isn’t the point just to not kill someone?"

A heavy silence fell. Bravus and the others stood frozen.

Sensing his point hadn’t sunk in, Clayton repeated with emphasis:

"As long as they’re still breathing, it’s not my problem—whether they’re mildly injured, badly hurt, or on the brink of death. Don’t mess with me, Bravus."

He gave a cold, chilling smile that made Bravus’s hair stand on end.

Terrified, Bravus fled with his lackeys, afraid Clayton might change his mind and actually beat him into a pulp.

Even if he didn’t fully believe Clayton’s logic, that cruel stare was enough to keep him from gambling with his life.

Clayton scoffed as Bravus ran off.

"Heh... as always, Brother Clayton handles even the trickiest problems with... remarkable efficiency," Arthur commented with a wry smile.

Clayton laughed. "Haha, don’t exaggerate, Brother Arthur. I’m just a passionate young man—maybe a little reckless at times."

Arthur shook his head. "If only I could be reckless like you..."

Clayton chuckled, then asked, "By the way, what was that all about? I heard the commotion from inside the house."

"Oh, nothing too serious. I kicked him out of the group. You know how he is—I didn’t want him putting us at risk," Arthur replied.

"At first, I tried to be civil, hoping we could part ways peacefully. But half the group left with him..." he added with a sigh.

"It’s alright, Brother Arthur. It may seem like a loss now, but in the long run, this will benefit you. The ones who stayed are the loyal ones. You’ve removed a hidden threat."

Arthur nodded, then changed the subject.

"Hey, do you know why Bravus wasn’t punished by the city?"

Clayton frowned. "Hmm... that is strange. Usually, the city cracks down hard on murder."

"I don’t know the full story," Arthur said, "but apparently, it’s because he didn’t kill anyone inside the city. Still, I doubt that’s the only reason."

Clayton raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh? Go on."

"Monster hunts inside city limits have become more frequent. A lot of people have died from starving beasts wandering in from the frozen forest. I think the city’s turning a blind eye because Bravus’s enchanted perfume helps attract monsters—it’s useful in those hunts."

Clayton nodded, agreeing with the analysis.

Clayton remembered that they had been outside the city at the time.

"Are there really that many casualties from monster attacks?" he asked.

"Plenty. Just in our farming district, nearly a dozen people have died. The city is now sponsoring several hunting parties—including ours. We’re better equipped now."

Clayton nodded thoughtfully, then muttered to himself, In that case, I should stay home more often. The cold is awful anyway. Isn’t it better to stay in bed and sip hot tea?

But his cozy daydream was interrupted when Arthur asked:

"So? Want to join our next monster hunt? Don’t worry—I won’t make you do much!"

Clayton declined instantly. "Ah, no thanks. I’ve got a lot on my plate—farming... making magic scrolls..."

Arthur rolled his eyes. "In this weather? Not even a dedicated farming mage would plant anything right now."

Clayton defended himself, "Hey, don’t underestimate me! Technology’s come a long way! You can grow crops anytime now! We just have to believe in... science!"

"Science?" Arthur raised an eyebrow. "Who’s that? A famous wizard?"

Clayton coughed awkwardly. "Ahem... Not exactly..."

Arthur rolled his eyes again.

"Anyway, are you coming hunting or not?"

"Nope!" Clayton replied instantly.

Arthur sighed. "Fine... But we still need those scrolls of yours. They’re incredibly useful."

"Don’t worry, Brother Arthur. I’ll make some for you," Clayton said confidently.

Arthur nodded, then seemed to remember something.

"Oh right, are you attending the upcoming mage exchange conference hosted by the Academy of Water and Fire Magic?"

Clayton raised a brow. "Huh? Exchange conference? Academy of Water and Fire Magic? What kind of event is that? Is it something special?"