The elf resisted.

  From the moment they dragged her from the cage, she fought.

  The collar crushed every attempt before it could form—but with her body, her teeth, her nails. She kicked, twisted, and bit hard enough to draw blood from one of the handlers.

  Her reward was a spell.

  A sharp crack split the air as a rod of condensed mana struck her back, slamming her to the ground.

  “Enough,” the noble buyer snapped, irritation flashing across his face. “Damage lowers value.”

  The handler pressed a boot against her shoulder, grinding her into the stone until her breath left her in a broken gasp.

  Finley watched from across the street.

  Every muscle in his body screamed.

  Finley see himself from that slave.

  Just like me, a voice whispered—his own self, cornered and able to do nothing.

  The man leaned down, gripping the elf by her hair and forcing her head up.

  “You’ll behave,” he said calmly, almost gently. “Or I’ll remind you why resistance is pointless.”

  The collar flared.

  The elf screamed.

  It wasn’t loud.

  It was thin—strained—like something tearing apart inside her.

  “Just hold a little longer, I'll get you out of this mess.”

  He followed them.

  The transport left the city—an armored carriage reinforced with runes, drawn by two mana-bred beasts. Four guards rode alongside it, and one walked behind.

  The strongest one.

  Finley could tell without the system’s help.

  The man’s presence distorted the air slightly, mana coiling around him like a restrained storm.Muscular build, scar every part of his body, Greatsword resting against his shoulder.

  A veteran mercenary.

  They passed through the southern gates of Vareth Dominion, and the place slowly faded behind them.

  Fields replaced stone. Roads narrowed. Watchtowers grew distant.

  Finley waited.

  His senses stretched outward, calculating distances, routes, terrain.

  Further, he decided. Far enough that no one hears.

  The carriage rolled on.

  When the road curved between two hills—

  Finley stepped onto the path.

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  The beasts halted instantly, snorting.

  “Trouble,” one guard muttered.

  The strongest guard’s eyes narrowed.

  “Who goes there?” he called.

  Finley pulled back his hood.

  Golden hair caught the dying light.

  Golden eyes lifted.

  The guard froze.

  For half a heartbeat, the world held its breath.

  Then—

  The noble buyer leaned out of the carriage, “Who are you!?, What is your business!” He shouted as if already getting annoyed.

  Finley did not respond.

  “Handle that crazy bastard.” the noble buyer said, trying to calm himself.

  The mercenary raised his sword, mana flaring violently.

  [Enemy Detected — Elite Combatant]

  Finley inhaled slowly.

  “I’m only here for the elf,” he said quietly. “Let her go. and walk away.”

  The man laughed—sharp and disbelieving.

  “You think you can command us?” He stepped forward. “Monster or not—”

  He swung.

  The blade screamed through the air, tearing space itself as it descended.

  Finley moved.

  He caught the blade between two fingers.

  The impact sent a shockwave rolling across the hills, grass flattening, stones lifting from the ground.

  The mercenary eyes widened in horror.

  [Damage Received: 0]

  Finley twisted his wrist.

  The greatsword shattered.

  The guards stumbled back in panic.

  “What—what are you?” one screamed.

  Finley stepped forward.

  The mercenary roared and lunged again, fists blazing, striking with enough force to level buildings.

  Finley blocked.

  Once.

  Twice.

  Each blow sounded like thunder—but his body didn’t move an inch.

  [Regeneration: Active]

  [Damage Converted to Mana Absorption]

  Finley felt it then.

  The difference.

  He placed a hand against the mercenary's chest and pushed.

  The man flew away—skidding across the ground until he struck the hillside hard enough to carve a crater.

  The remaining guards dropped their weapons and ran.

  The noble buyer screamed.

  “Kill him! Kill him, damn you!”

  Finley turned slowly.

  The noble buyer had fallen back against the carriage, hands shaking so violently the rings on his fingers clinked together. His silk robes were smeared with dust and sweat, his earlier arrogance replaced by naked panic.

  Finley turned to face him.

  Slowly.

  Deliberately.

  Golden eyes met the man’s gaze.

  The noble buyer screamed.

  “No—no—no—no—!” He scrambled backward, tripping over himself, dragging uselessly at the ground.

  Finley said nothing.

  The system pulsed softly at the edge of his vision.

  [Fear Resonance — Passive Aura Active]

  [Effect: Psychological Pressure]

  The noble buyer clutched his head, sobbing.

  “I—I never did anything personally!” he babbled. “I paid for her! That’s all!”

  Finley took a single step forward.

  The man flinched so hard he slammed his head against the carriage wheel.

  “Please,” he begged. “I’ll give you gold. Gems. Anything!”

  Finley knelt in front of him.

  Just close enough that the man could see his reflection in those golden eyes.

  The noble buyer froze.

  “I know what could you possibly gonna do to her,” Finley continued. His voice never rose.

  “I know what kind of people you are.”

  The elf stood behind him now, arms wrapped tightly around herself. She watched in silence—eyes wide, unreadable.

  He raised one hand.

  Getting ready to throw a punch.

  The noble buyer screamed again as the air bent.

  The ground cracked beneath them, pressure slamming down like an invisible mountain. The man collapsed flat, gasping, lungs refusing to draw breath.

  [Authority — Partial Release]

  “I could kill you,” Finley said calmly. “Right now.

  He sobbed.

  The man looked up, eyes bloodshot, gasping for air.

  “I know what you do to slaves,” Finley said. “I’ve seen it.

  That wasn’t true.

  And the noble buyer believed him.

  “I know the rooms you keep them in, The collars. The chains. The screams you pretend not to hear.”

  Every word Finley says is getting heavier and heavier.

  His one hand that was readying to punch with,was trembling.

  The noble buyer shook his head violently. “I–i di– dn’t—! I— i– swe–ar—!”

  Finley leaned closer.

  “Do you want to die so badly?”

  Finley's eyes widened, glowing.

  Then—

  “I–’ll take yo–u the–re,” the noble buyer gasping. “M–my esta–te. Sou–th qu–arter. I’ll sh–ow you eve–rythi–ng—please—please—”

  The pressure eased—just enough for the noble buyer to breathe.

  Finley stood.

  “Good.”

  The man looked up, hope flickering weakly.

  Finley crushed it.

  “If you try to run,” he added, “I will find you. If you lie, I will return. And if you ever touch another slave—”

  His eyes glowed faintly

  .

  “I will erase you so completely even the world will forget you existed.”

  The noble buyer collapsed, nodding frantically.

  “Yes—yes—anything—”

  Finley turned at last to the elf.

  She flinched when his gaze met hers.

  Because she didn’t know if he was safe after what she saw.

  Finley approached slowly to remove her collar.

  “Don't worry I won't hurt you” Finley said softly.

  Finley carefully grabbed the collar putting enough force to break them.

  “The elf flinched”

  “Did I hurt you?” Finley asked.

  The elf shook her head.

  And Finley breaks the chains on her hands.

  “Here you're free now,” Finley smiled.

  Finley knelt again toward the buyer.

  Then he grabbed the buyer by the collar and hauled him to his feet with terrifying ease.

  “Drive this carriage,” Finley commanded.

  Hesitantly, the elf drew near Finley and pointed at the unconscious mercenary.

  “This elf girl, even though she was treated unfairly, she was still worrying about others” Finley thought to himself while looking at the elf.

  “Don't worry that guy is tough he can survive, he is just sleeping” Finley smiled.

  The elf looked away as if embarrassed.

  Then–

  “My name is Lumielle,” she said softly.

  She reached out her hand, looking rather awkward about it.

  Finley didn’t expect that.

  “My name is Ryusei”

  “From now on Ryusei is gonna be my name in this world – just like the protagonist from my favorite novel that I read in my world. He said to himself.”

  Ryusei also shook hands with Lumielle.

  "Don't worry, Lumielle – this man won't hurt you anymore. And no one will be able to harm you as long as I'm here.”

  Then Ryusei shifted his attention to that noble buyer.

  “Eek!” the noble buyer was startled. “w–whatt!?”

  “Let's go now.” Ryusei said as he changed into a cold demeanor.

  The warmth that had there moments ago vanished.