Chapter 61: The Big Man

Chapter 61: Chapter 61: The Big Man

The dining hall went silent.

Every head turned. Every conversation stopped. Every eye was on the massive man standing in the middle of the room. His voice had echoed off the walls. His rage was palpable.

The serving girl from before was standing behind him. Her eyes were red. Her face was puffy. She was crying. But there was something else in her expression. Something satisfied. Something smug.

The big man looked around the dining hall. His eyes swept over the adventurers. Over the tables. Over the food.

"Everyone," he said. His voice was lower now. But no less threatening. "Get out."

The adventurers hesitated. They looked at each other. They looked at the man. At his size. At his rage.

"Now," he added.

Chairs scraped against the floor. People stood up. They grabbed their food. Their drinks. Their belongings. They hurried toward the door. Within moments, the dining hall was empty.

Except for Daniel’s table.

Daniel sat still. His bread was halfway to his mouth. He looked at the big man. Then at the serving girl. Then back at the big man.

Lyra was tense beside him. Her hand was under the table. Resting on her gun.

Paul was standing. His hands were raised. His posture was calm. But his eyes were sharp.

Fluffy was frozen. Her ears were flat. Her tail was tucked.

The big man looked at them. At Daniel. At Lyra. At Paul. At Fluffy.

"Which one?" he asked. He didn’t look at the girl. He just asked.

The serving girl stepped forward. She pointed. Her finger was steady.

"Him," she said.

She was pointing at Daniel.

The big man’s eyes locked onto Daniel. His face twisted with rage. His fists clenched.

"You," he growled.

Daniel put down his bread. He stood up. Slowly. Carefully.

"Me," he said. "What about me?"

The big man didn’t answer. He just teleported.

One moment he was across the room. The next, he was in front of Daniel. His fist was already moving.

Daniel didn’t have time to react.

The punch connected with his chest. The impact was thunderous. Daniel flew backward. He crashed through a table. Then another. He hit the wall. The stone cracked. He slumped to the floor.

"Daniel!" Lyra screamed.

The big man stood where Daniel had been. His fist was still extended. His eyes were still burning.

"You think you can hurt a woman’s feelings?" he said. "You think you can reject her? Humiliate her? Make her cry?"

Daniel groaned. He pushed himself up. His chest ached. His head spun.

"What are you talking about?" he said. "I just told her no."

The big man’s face twisted. "You think ’no’ is an answer? You think you can just dismiss a woman like that? Do you know how fragile their feelings are? Do you know how much pain you caused?"

Daniel stared at him. "Are you serious?"

The big man teleported again. He appeared in front of Daniel. Another punch. This one to the stomach.

Daniel doubled over. The air left his lungs. He gasped. He choked.

"Female feelings are precious," the big man said. "They must be protected. They must be cherished. And you... you trampled on them."

Fluffy moved.

She appeared behind the big man. Her daggers were drawn. She slashed at his legs.

The big man didn’t even flinch. He turned. His hand shot out. He grabbed Fluffy by the collar. He threw her.

Fluffy flew across the room. She hit the wall. She cried out. She fell.

Daniel’s vision went red.

He activated Blink.

He disappeared. He reappeared where Fluffy was falling. He caught her. He held her close.

"Fluffy," he said. "Are you okay?"

Fluffy looked up at him. Her eyes were wet. Her ears were flat. She was shaking.

"Fluffy is okay," she whispered. "Fluffy is sorry. Fluffy couldn’t help."

Daniel’s jaw tightened. He set her down gently. He stood up.

He looked at the big man. His eyes were cold. Dead.

"You hurt her," he said.

The big man shrugged. "She attacked me. She got what she deserved."

Daniel’s hands curled into fists.

Paul stepped forward. His hands were raised. His voice was calm.

"Everyone, please," he said. "This is a misunderstanding. We can resolve this peacefully."

The big man looked at him. "Stay out of this, pretty boy. This doesn’t concern you."

"It concerns all of us," Paul said. "We’re guild members. We shouldn’t be fighting each other."

The big man laughed. "Fighting? This isn’t a fight. This is punishment."

Lyra moved.

She had been watching. Waiting. Her hand was on her gun. But she didn’t draw it. She had a better idea.

She walked toward the serving girl.

The girl saw her coming. Her eyes widened. She took a step back.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

Lyra didn’t answer. She kept walking.

"Stay away from me!" the girl shouted.

Lyra reached her. She grabbed her by the collar. She pulled her close.

"You started this," Lyra said. Her voice was cold. "You lied. You manipulated. You used that man to hurt my family."

The girl’s face went pale. "I... I didn’t..."

Lyra punched her.

The girl’s head snapped back. Her eyes rolled up. She collapsed. Out cold.

The big man saw it. His face went red. His eyes bulged.

"GILF!" he screamed.

He teleported toward Lyra. His fist was raised. He was going to hit her. He was going to hurt her.

Daniel moved.

He switched classes.

[Class Change: Shadow Scout]

He activated Blink.

He disappeared.

He reappeared between Lyra and the big man. He switched classes again.

[Class Change: Harem Overlord]

He caught the punch.

The big man’s fist stopped inches from Daniel’s face. Daniel’s hand was wrapped around it. Holding it. Squeezing it.

The big man’s eyes widened. His mouth fell open.

"How...Did you... " he started.

Daniel looked at him. His eyes were cold. Dead. His voice was quiet. Flat.

"Am going to kill you."

He said with a flat and angry voice.