Ren looked back with an irritated, "Now what!"
No one was there. Just empty space.
"Who the hell…?" he muttered, ready to walk away—then a voice stopped him. Cold. Childish. Yet… somehow serious.
He looked around. "Where?"
"Sir… here," the tiny voice said from below.
His gaze dropped. A little more. And there she was.
A small girl, barely up to his waist. Short black hair brushing her neck, messy but sharp. Black eyes glinting, mischievous, like she knew everything.
A sly grin revealed tiny sharp teeth, just enough to look dangerous.
She wore a black vest over a crisp white shirt, short skirt with subtle snake-scale patterns, dark stockings, tiny gold buttons, and a small snake hairpin—cute, tiny.
Even small, her presence made the bunny girl and staff freeze. She tilted her head, hands on her hips, staring at Ren like she owned the place.
There she stood—tiny, sharp-toothed, impossible to ignore little devil.
At that moment, only one thought kept looping in his mind.
Instinct took over.
He lifted her into the air, holding her mid-flight as his eyes gleamed like stars, a bright smile plastered on his face.
I fucking hate kids… but… but… she's damn cute… kawaii… kawaii… just too KAWAII[1]…
"Are you lost, little girl?" he asked, teasing.
She frowned, voice cold but blunt. "Sir… can you put me down?"
Cute… yet mature. Her tone carried authority despite her tiny frame.
Ren's grin faltered slightly as he slowly set her down, disbelief written all over his face.
It didn't take long for him to put the pieces together.
"…Are you by chance a lolico—"
"Stop right there," she cut him off immediately.
He blinked, expression sheepish. "Sorry…about that"
She turned her eyes slightly aside as she spoke, speaking calmly. "Don't worry. Most people say that first, so—"
Ren's eyes flickered with a hint of undesirable pity.
He muttered, trying to get past this new trauma, "So… what do you want, litt—" He corrected himself quickly, "…miss."
Before she could respond, a staff member snapped, voice shaking with anger. "Boss! We can't let him leave! If he leaves now we are—"
But before he could finish, the loli cut him off, face cold and sharp. "How dare you interrupt me, when I'm in the middle of a conversation."
Her tiny hand shot toward him.
Shadows began crawling across the floor, claw-shaped, writhing, twisting toward him. The air thickened, the darkness radiating pure authority. It completely subdued him.
Ren's mind raced. Is… is that an ability?
"S-SORRY BOS—!" he shouted, panic in his voice—
But before he could finish, darkness swallowed him. He slumped unconscious.
She tilted her head, expression icy. "It better be, or else."
Then, as if nothing had happened, she regained her composure. Bowing slightly, voice polite: "Sorry about that. My… minions don't know how to speak to a guest. I apologize on their behalf."
She straightened, gaze calm and commanding at the same time. "Let me introduce myself first. I am Tia. I directly serve under the Snake Empress."
Ren's eyes flickered slightly. So she's the one controlling the light system of the city the old man mentioned…
He gave a small smile. "Nice to meet you."
Then his tone shifted—still smiling, but colder. "So… what does someone serving directly under the Snake Empress want with me?"
Tia's lips curved into a grin. "Not bad. But don't worry, I'm not here to chew you up… or take your money back."
She tilted her head slightly. "It's just that after seeing you, I can tell… you have no idea where to even spend that money."
Ren leaned closer, a mischievous smile forming. "And if I do?"
She didn't even blink. "Even if you do… you won't be able to refuse my offer."
She handed him a few cards.
"Spend more," she said with a small smile, already turning away. "Come back when you're empty."
She waved her hand lightly and walked off toward a table, as if everything was already decided.
The staff stood frozen.
One of them gathered courage. "B-Boss… if we just let him go—"
Tia's eyes turned cold.
"…Do I need to repeat myself?"
The man instantly dropped to his knees. "N-No, boss! I'm sorry!"
---
Ren watched the whole thing, slightly amused, slightly excited.
"…Now that was something."
He glanced at the cards in his hand.
If she's this strong… then how strong is the Snake Empress…
She probably has a skill too.
He shrugged lightly. "…Not my problem for now."
A small sigh escaped him, but a grin slowly returned. "Let's go spend some money."
But that excitement didn't last long—one by one, the shops started closing.
"…What the heck…?"
He clicked his tongue in annoyance. "How am I supposed to even tell day from night here… damn this place…"
With a disappointed look on his face, he turned back and headed toward the hotel.
---
Ren was on his way back to the hotel when a group blocked his path.
He glanced at them once and sighed. "…Oh, it's just you losers. Didn't get enough last time?"
One of them stepped forward, face twisted. "Don't act cocky, brat. This time you're not walking away."
Ren scratched his cheek, clearly uninterested. "Yeah? I don't really have time to play with you."
More people started gathering behind them.
Ren glanced over… then paused.
"…Oh."
There were a lot more this time. Easily over fifty.
A small grin formed. "…Well, this looks a bit exciting."
Then he exhaled. "Still… I said I don't have time."
I wanted to save this for later but…
He murmured under his breath, "…Use Martial Art King for 10 minutes."
[ Activating skill — Martial Art King (10 minutes) ]
A faint shift ran through his body.
Right… what was the description…
[ Can use top-level martial arts of any kind, even impossible ones, for 10 minutes ]
His grin widened. "…This will be fun."
"Are you crazy, kid!? Don't you see how many we are!?"
"HAA!"
The first man charged.
Ren stepped forward instead of back—his body twisted slightly—a clean palm strike to the chest.
Thud—
The man flew back like he got hit by a truck.
Before the others could react, Ren was already moving. He slipped between two attackers, grabbed one by the collar, used his momentum—hip throw—
Bam—
The second one got dragged down with him.
Another rushed from behind—Ren didn't turn. His leg snapped back—heel kick straight to the stomach—
Ugh—
He dropped instantly.
"…Too slow even for losers like you."
Three came together. Ren shifted stance—low, grounded. A quick step in—elbow to the jaw, knee to the ribs, sweep to the legs—all three collapsed in one motion.
The crowd froze. "…What the hell…!?"
Ren didn't stop. His style changed mid-fight. Now lighter—faster. He weaved through punches, barely getting touched. A finger jab to the throat—down. A precise strike behind the ear—another one gone.
One guy swung wildly with a rod. Ren caught it mid-air, twisted his wrist—crack—the rod dropped, and Ren spun it once before smashing it across another's legs.
Thwack—
Screams spread like wildfire.
"He is... Demon!!"
"Back off!!"
"RUN!!!!"
Ren stepped forward again, almost casually. A spinning kick—two bodies flew at once. A grab, twist, and shoulder throw—another slammed into the ground.
Someone tried to tackle him—Ren jumped slightly, planted his foot on the guy's back, and used him as a step—flipping over—landing behind another—
Chop—
Down.
"…You guys really don't learn."
Panic kicked in. Some tried to run, but it was too late.
Ren blurred through them, every move clean, efficient, almost effortless. Within minutes, the street was filled with groaning bodies.
Ren stood in the middle, rolling his shoulder slightly.
"…That's it?"
He dusted his hands casually. "What a bunch of losers… didn't even last six minutes."
Without another glance, he turned and walked toward the hotel like nothing happened.
---
What's even the use of money if I can't spend it… he thought, irritation clear on his frowning face.
He reached the door of his room and pushed it open—
Creak—
But what he saw left him completely stunned.
…Why does this feel familiar…?
Lucia stood there, a towel wrapped around her as she was changing.
Ren blinked.
…Is this because of the skill?
"…Nah, no way."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
It's just my damn good luck these days… heh…
Lucia let out a small sigh. "Why does this always happen…"
Ren didn't even hesitate—he rushed forward with excitement. "Don't blame me, blame my damn luck!"
Gyu—
[1] Cute