A shadow flashed, hopping from rooftop to rooftop.
His figure was transparent; with his stealth magic, he was undetectable to the naked eye.
Judas paused, landing on top of a building as his purple eyes reflected the streets of Orario.
"She should be fine, right? After all, she's the protagonist... she has plot armor."
He glanced at Belle in the distance before shifting his gaze to a group of shady adventurers quietly tailing her.
"I should be minding my own business..."
He turned away, leaving everything to fate.
However, the more steps he took, the louder the nagging feeling in his chest grew.
His conscience... it was telling him to help her.
"This is a trial she must overcome on her own."
Judas tried to convince himself.
But despite his words, his feet moved without thinking.
"Dammit, Belle... even after switching genders, you still attract trouble everywhere you go."
When he looked down, he counted almost a dozen people stalking her.
But among them, he recognized two faces.
"Lili... and the guy with glasses... is that Zanis?"
"A familia full of addicts and scum... of course it's the Soma Familia."
His figure flickered as he vanished on the spot.
"Since this involves an entire familia, I should warn the Ganesha Familia just in case."
After finding a member of the Ganesha Familia and warning them about what was happening, Judas rushed back.
...
Zanis froze on the spot.
Not because he couldn't move, but because the tension in the air was so thick his instincts screamed at him not to make a single sudden move.
'This pressure...'
A drop of sweat rolled from his chin as his gaze couldn't help but wander to the figure hidden in the dust.
'At least a level 2 or higher.'
He analyzed the strength of this unknown individual with intuition.
As a level 2 himself, he knew from experience just how terrifying adventurers with higher levels than him could be.
'Think... how do I get out of this mess?'
His mind raced, his eyes darting back and forth, until he heard footsteps approaching.
When the dust finally settled, a boy with black hair and purple eyes appeared.
Who else could it be but Judas Spade?
He stared at the bodies scattered on the ground.
Then shifted his gaze to Lili, bleeding heavily, and then to Belle, groaning in pain.
『Heal』
A green light spread, illuminating the alley.
Belle and Lili were wrapped in a warm glow, relief washing over them as the pain vanished and wounds closed.
The gash in Lili's chest sealed shut.
"Ah..."
Lili stared at her healed wound, then looked at the young man who had saved her.
She recognized him instantly.
"I-it's you... again... you saved me again."
Tears welled in her eyes.
"T-thank goodness... there's actually a kind adventurer in this damned city."
Her voice cracked as she nearly choked on her words.
Belle's reaction, however, was different.
"It's you..."
A blush crept onto her face.
'Those enchanting purple eyes... I get to see them again.'
Her heartbeat quickened, almost as if it were going to burst from her chest.
'Is this... is this one of those moments where the hero saves the damsel in distress?'
Her eyes grew hazy, her head spinning in fantasy.
But for Zanis, panic set in.
'Dammit, I can't think of anything!'
He didn't underestimate Judas because of his young age.
In this city, there were plenty of terrifyingly powerful adventurers who looked young.
Ais Wallenstein, the Sword Princess, only sixteen, yet already a level 5 powerhouse.
The Amazon twins, Tiona and Tione, only seventeen, but both first-class adventurers.
Lefiya Viridis, just fifteen, but already a level 3 with terrifying magic—hailed as the greatest achievement in the school district's history.
'Dammit... who is this guy? Why did he have to butt in now of all times?'
Zanis grit his teeth, his face twisting.
Although the name Judas Spade had already spread through Orario, his appearance was still largely unknown.
Which was why Zanis failed to recognize him.
'I have no choice but to gamble again.'
He stood up, forcing himself to smile like he'd just met a long-lost friend.
"Thank goodness you arrived on time."
He rushed forward and grabbed Judas by the shoulders.
"That woman with the white hair... I don't know why, but she came at us and started beating up my familia members!"
He pointed to Belle, who was still dazed but snapped out of it at his words.
"Eh? You're lying! You surrounded me and tried to take my money!"
Belle was honestly shocked at Zanis' shamelessness.
To lie through his teeth so easily was a talent in and of itself.
"You're saying I'm lying? Look at them—look at how badly you beat up my people, they're practically half-dead!"
Zanis spoke with righteous indignation, pointing at the bodies as if he were the victim.
Conveniently forgetting that two had been taken out by Judas himself.
'As long as there are no eyewitnesses, we can make it out of this without facing consequences. If I play it right, it's my word against that rabbit bitch.'
Zanis thought, fighting back a grin.
Some Soma Familia members had already woken, but after hearing Zanis' words, they stayed down.
One even stuck his tongue out, pretending to be dead.
"Hey, supporter, you agree with me, right?"
Zanis turned to Lili. Making sure Judas couldn't see his face, he flashed her a terrifying glare.
Lili shivered.
"I—"
She opened her mouth, hesitating.
"Supporter!"
Zanis barked, holding back his fury.
Lili's eyes shook. She looked between Belle and Zanis, torn.
Tell the truth? Or protect her captain?
'I have to save Mister Zanis... or else he'll hurt me.'
In the end, after years of abuse, her mentality was nearly broken, and her trauma clouded her judgment.
Just as she was about to say something in her captain's defense, Judas spoke up.
"It's okay... everything is going to be fine now. Just tell the truth. I promise no one will hurt you."
'Ah.'
Lili looked at the young man with purple eyes, who was now wearing a reassuring smile.
That was enough. Those words gave her the courage she needed.
"Mister Zanis is lying. He wanted to rob that lady with the white hair and ganged up on her."
Veins started bulging in Zanis' neck. He looked at Lili like he wanted to tear her apart.
Unfortunately for him, Lili — as if she had gained all the courage in the world — met his gaze and continued to speak.
"But he didn't expect that the white-haired lady was very skilled and beat every single one of his minions."
She paused to take a deep breath and continued.
"This isn't the first time this has happened. He has been doing this for a long time now, exploiting weaker adventurers for his own gain."
With every word she uttered, her voice grew louder and more passionate.
"A scum of the earth who held the entire familia in a chokehold and used us as tools."
"Zanis Lustra is a criminal!"
The last part, she shouted with all her strength.
Then everything became silent.
Zanis trembled, dark lines forming on his forehead.
Meanwhile, Belle smiled brightly before letting out a sigh of relief.
"You heard that, right? Miss Shakti?"
Judas said as he turned around.
The sound of footsteps entered everyone's ears as an azure-haired woman walked into the scene with her arms crossed.
"I heard them loud and clear."
It was then Zanis realized that everything was over.
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