NOVEL NEXT Chapter 139
139. No One Takes What’s Mine
“Luca Abasta, the Frostblade, huh? It’s been a while. Since the joint subjugation quest a year ago, I suppose.”
Rudolph turned to face us.
Luca was usually expressionless, but today felt different.
How to put it—there was an almost unsettlingly mechanical air about her.
As if all traces of emotion had been entirely stripped away.
“Haruto Riva. Alice Lafiel. Lilith Lafiel… All of you seem to be promising up-and-coming adventurers.”
Rudolph’s gaze swept over us one by one.
His dark purple eyes held a certain scrutinizing gleam.
A light devoid of kindness or malice.
There was no trace of emotional warmth.
Just a cold, detached stare.
It was more like a machine than a human being.
“I look forward to working with you on this quest.”
“Hey, that’s Luca, the Frostblade, isn’t it?”
“No way. Two of the Big Three are here?”
The murmur of adventurers around us grew louder.
“She’s smaller than I thought. Didn’t even notice her presence until now.”
“…How rude.”
Luca murmured softly, perhaps having caught their careless comment.
She wasn’t particularly short, but standing next to Rudolph, who was enormous,
the contrast made her appear almost diminutive.
“Luca, calm down.”
Alice said soothingly.
“I’m only slightly below average height…”
“I think it’s charming.”
“…Really?”
“Yes! Being strong and cute is the best combination.”
Alice beamed, and for a moment, Luca’s stoic demeanor softened.
“If that’s the case… being small might not be so bad.”
Her cheeks relaxed ever so slightly.
“So, Luca’s one of the Big Three too?”
“It’s not an official ranking or anything.”
Luca replied casually to my question.
“Luca, you’re amazing!”
“…It’s not that big of a deal.”
“Oh, you’re blushing, aren’t you?”
“No, my expression hasn’t changed at all.”
“Yes, it has! The subtle angle of your eyebrows and the faint twitch of your lips—these are clear signs of embarrassment!”
Alice insisted passionately.
“I can’t see it at all…”
“To be honest, neither can I.”
“Me neither.”
“What are you all talking about? The difference is obvious, absolutely obvious.”
Alice kept arguing, directing her passion toward me, Lilith, and Sarome.
“I have no interest in small talk. I merely wanted to greet my old acquaintance Luca and you rising adventurers.”
Rudolph interrupted in his usual cold tone.
He wasn’t mocking or annoyed—just detached and methodical.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
He turned away, the heavy armor of his massive frame swaying as he left.
Then, just as he was about to go,
“One more thing. A word of advice.”
Rudolph turned back, his eyes locking onto us.
For the first time, there was a spark of emotion in his gaze.
Unlike the icy stare from before, his eyes now burned with fiery intensity.
“Don’t take what’s mine. Whether it’s a demon or a beast—once I’ve set my sights on my target, it’s mine to kill. No exceptions.”
“Among all adventurers, he holds the top record for defeating demons.”
Luca explained after Rudolph had left.
“The top record…”
In other words, he had slain more demons than anyone else in the adventurer ranks.
As expected of someone called one of the Big Three.
“They say he’s usually calm and emotionless, but during battles, he becomes a raging beast.”
Alice remarked.
“Sounds a bit like you, Luca.”
“…No, he’s not like me. He doesn’t fight out of a sense of satisfaction or joy.”
“And don’t forget—what he said wasn’t a threat. If you get in his way, he really will cut you down.”
“T-that’s terrifying…”
“He almost cut me down once. It happened during that joint quest with him and the other S-Rank adventurers last year.”
“You were almost…”
Alice looked at Luca with concern.
“Were you okay at the time?”
“If I had reacted even a little slower, I would’ve been killed.”
…Rudolph might really be a dangerous man.
Maybe it’s best to keep my distance on the battlefield.
Though I have defensive skills, so I’m probably safe. But if Lilith or the others got caught up in something…
“Lilith and Alice, you should stick close to Haruto so he can protect you.”
Sarome suggested with a sweet smile.
“And me too, if possible.”
She added, leaning against me suggestively.
“Hey, don’t just cling to him like that!”
“Oh? Jealous, are we? Why not cling to him too, then?”
“Mmm… I won’t lose!”
For some reason, Lilith took up the challenge, pressing herself against my other side.
Then—
“Haruto, Lilith, Alice—fancy seeing you all again.”
Four adventurers approached us from a different direction.