Caught In The Eye Of A Predator

“I agree! There is no way for a nobody like yourself to have legitimately won!”

The two contestants still on stage with Yechen were clearly not very happy about their crushing defeat, and were going to try bringing down the winner even if they had no evidence whatsoever to back up their frivolous claims…

Yechen obviously knew that they were making things up. He hadn’t cheated, after all. Using one’s natural and intrinsic traits was not cheating, in the same way that using one’s hands was not cheating. It would be nonsensical to exclude such things from a run-of-the-mill tournament.

“How about you back up your claim with some evidence? You are an apprentice, and yet you claim to have noticed something that the judges–Veteran Alchemists–Failed to notice? I do hope you have proof”

The azure-eyed alchemist was not a very confrontational person, but he couldn’t just stand still when being slandered so outrageously.

His words caused the first one to level the accusations, to flinch and glance at the judges. Indeed, claiming something like this brazenly might be possible in many situations... But this one? If he couldn’t explain himself properly, this could end very badly for him.

“Well… I-”

“Keep quiet, you idiot”

The young alchemist almost seemed to shrivel up. Immediately going silent as an old man with a white beard and a chemical burn across his face spoke.

“Please excuse my disciple. He is mentally challenged. I will make sure to teach him manners”

Yechen had no idea who this man was, but the judges seemed to greatly respect him, as the matter was instantly dropped.

The tournament proceeded as normal, and everyone received the rewards that had been promised. The young alchemist received the furnace he had been eyeing from the very beginning. With this, he could truly begin to make a name for himself as a genuine alchemist.

He had worked hard to be able to afford a carriage to carry it back to his small home–Which was just a basement he was being lodged in for a few Copper Leyens a month. It wasn’t great, but it was something at least…

Unfortunately, sore losers are an especially annoying species.

After driving the carriage for a little while, the foolish one who had attempted to levy cheating accusations against Yechen showed up, accompanied by his master. They say that the apple never falls far from the tree, and indeed… It seems like the old and supposedly wise master was just as much of an annoying brat as the actual whiny youth.

“Young man. You’ve humiliated my disciple, and by extension me, in front of an entire room of people… In front of my peers, customers, and potential customers! You’ve committed a great offence. Offer up the furnace if you desire to apologise”

“Yes! You filthy chea-”

“You shut the fuck up! If you knew how to stay quiet, this wouldn’t have happened! You will regret what you did today”

“Y-Yes, Master…”

Yechen narrowed his eyes at the pair.

“What if I refuse?”

The elder’s eyebrow twitched.

“Refuse? You can’t refuse”

“I can. I am doing it right now, listen carefully: I refuse”

“You… You dare, impudent child?!”

“I am not the one throwing a tantrum right now”

“...If you insist on living a short life! Die-”

Yechen recoiled. He had not expected an old man to be so quick to anger to the point of doing something so reckless in broad daylight... Yet, he raised his hand, and what appeared to be a blade of condensed water manifested in his palm. He was clearly a spell cultivator on top of being an alchemist.

The azure-eyed alchemist covered his face with his arms, blocking his vision as he attempted to lean backwards to dodge... However, instead of experiencing pain, he heard the sound of something snapping, followed by a shrill cry of agony.

“Huh?”

He lowered his arms, only to see that the old man’s arm was now twisted the wrong way. His bone was visibly sticking out, pushing against his skin… The pain had made him cancel the spell without delay and fall to his knees.

“You… You are…”

Somehow, the clearly broken arm wasn’t what preoccupied the man the most at the moment. His eyes were filled with fear so profound that Yechen couldn’t help but be afraid as he looked at the person who had most certainly caused the injury.

It was a man larger than he had ever seen before–Easily over two meters tall, with shoulders so impressively wide that it felt strange to even call him human.

Alongside the huge man was a smaller, but still impressively tall woman. She was probably at least two meters tall…

They contrasted one another quite nicely. The former had raven black hair and was dressed in all dark clothing, while the latter had bright white hair and was dressed in all white.

“I- I pay my respects to the Elt clan…”

The old alchemist grovelled before the two people despite his mangled limb, putting his forehead against the ground without a shred of hesitation, growling at his stunned disciple to do the same.

“I don’t want to hear you licking my boots, you ugly old man. You’re a third-rate alchemist and have no other use to me. Get out of my sight before I cook your internal organs well done”

The woman sent them on their way as the man approached Yechen.

“We saw your performance at the tournament. You have caught our eye. Follow us”

Yechen rubbed his nape.

‘Isn’t the Elt clan like… Bad news?’

He looked around at the two of them.

“Can I… Can I swing by my place first?”

“Sure, you can take all your stuff and load it in that carriage, if you want”

‘Oh, so this is basically an abduction?!’

There wasn’t much Yechen could do about it, though. He had thought that the old man and his disciple could be made to leave. He had been wrong on that, so there was definitely no way that he could somehow convince two members of a great clan to just leave him alone.

As such, he went to his basement to gather his stuff. The two Elts stayed outside in the meantime.

“Good eye on this one, Zixu. You spotted him before he had even done anything, and while getting your shaft slobbered upon! I am not usually that alert when getting mine polished”

“I mean… He does have a very atypical appearance, doesn’t he? I often hear not to judge a book by its cover, but it's actually surprising how accurate it often is to do so”

Lui chuckled a bit upon hearing this.

“I never understood this expression. It might have a good point in some contexts, but it teaches an abysmally stupid lesson. Covers should definitely be judged… Anyway, do you think this guy will agree to play the role of a woman for me in bed?”

“Hard to say right now… But if he agrees, just go for it. You just need to make sure he wants to stay at the clan and offer his services to us”

“Heheh…”

It seemed like Edrick wouldn’t even have to keep a close eye on the alchemist. He was already on Lui’s radar… This poor fool.