A-class fighter Balam.

Among fighters ranging from F-class to A-class, he was considered one of the top in terms of combat ability. 

It was just an ordinary day for him, relaxing with a drink at a pub he often visited, as there was no scheduled duel.

Until a nobleman appeared before his eyes.

The nobleman, dressed opulently without trying to conceal his wealth, was strolling through the city for the first time. 

Unsurprisingly, he got caught by Adigo and his gang. Adigo, an A-class fighter of a higher rank.

Even then, it still felt like just another ordinary day. Balam had seen Adigo extort money or goods from merchants or nobles who wandered into the colony several times before.

“Look at those fancy clothes. Jackpot.”

“We’ll make some good money off this one.”

The fighters beside Balam chatted casually as they watched the nobleman surrounded by Adigo’s gang. None of the fighters in the pub or nearby shops had any intention of helping the nobleman. Even though there was another A-class fighter present, they simply watched Adigo robbing the noble with lazy, indifferent eyes, taking no action.

It was only natural. There was nothing to gain from helping that nobleman. Even if the noble offered immediate payment in return for assistance, none of the fighters would step forward. No one was foolish enough to cross Adigo’s gang, or more precisely, the monster Malian, who backed Adigo.

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The fighters knew that Adigo’s arrogance came from his belief in Malian, the monstrous Babayaga, so they all quietly drank their beer, using the situation before them as mere entertainment.

Then, when Adigo lightly smacked the nobleman’s head—

Boom!

Something extraordinary happened.

“Start talking.”

A sudden appearance. One of the four Babayagas in the colony.

“Hey.”

The atmosphere cracked with electricity as Seolrang, the Golden Flash, appeared. Lightning, her signature, crackled around her body.

“Which bastard…?” 

Adigo, who had been knocked into the wall, stood up confidently but was left confused by Seolrang’s sudden entrance.

“S-Seolrang?”

Mumbling in disbelief, it was as if he couldn’t comprehend the situation, though he recognized the person standing before him. 

However—

“What did you do to my Master?”

At Seolrang’s following words, Adigo’s expression shifted from confusion to terror.

“Arrrgh!?”

Before he could react, Seolrang grabbed Adigo’s head and slammed it to the ground.

Crack!

The fighters could hear the chilling sound reverberating in their ears.

But it didn’t end there. Seolrang, with a cold expression, grabbed Adigo’s leg and flung him aside.

Crash!

Adigo was hurled into the pub. As he scrambled to get back up, he tried to speak.

“W-Wait, I didn’t kno—”

Crack!

Seolrang grabbed his head again and smashed it into the counter.

“For real!” 

Over and over.

“Aaagh!”

Over and over.

“If you keep doing this, my boss will—”

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Over and over.

“P-Please spare—”

Crack!

Silence.

All the fighters watched, their mouths shut, staring at the wreckage of the pub. Even the owner, who should have been angry about the damage, stood there trembling, holding his breath in terror. A customer, seated at a shattered table, remained frozen, holding a heavy mug of beer.

And then—

Thud!

Seolrang, covered in blood, finally released Adigo’s head without a trace of interest. At that moment, all the fighters present shuddered in awe. Her speed was beyond their perception, and the way she effortlessly handled an A-class fighter like a mere underling left them in reverence.

As Seolrang, who hadn’t even broken a sweat, glanced at the trembling thugs surrounding Alon—

Boom! Crackle!

In the blink of an eye, she had sent them all flying. They crashed into walls and windows, convulsing before going limp.

The fighters, who had witnessed Seolrang show no mercy and crush every opponent without emotion in the Coliseum, shuddered as they watched the Golden Flash, who had become a Babayaga, once again.

“Master! You’re here!? You should’ve told me!”

Before anyone realized it, Seolrang, who was now smiling brightly and playfully wagging her golden tail, wrapped her arm around Alon’s. Everyone around her froze for a moment.

“I’ve been waiting so long for Master to arrive! I prepared a lot of things, so let’s go quickly!”

Regardless of the fighters’ confusion, Seolrang, still wagging her tail and grinning, pulled Alon along and started moving somewhere. As Seolrang and the nobleman disappeared into the distance, the fighters watching were left with a bewildering question:

“Who is that guy…? Who could make that mad dog…?”

They were left wondering who the nobleman was, the one Seolrang referred to as her Master.

However, Alon, who was being dragged by the blood-covered Seolrang, was just as bewildered as the fighters. Despite feeling grateful and oddly proud, he couldn’t help but wonder,

‘Am I… not going to die?’

***

Since Alon arrived at the colony well into the afternoon, by the time Seolrang led him to a particular building, the sun was already setting.

“This is it!”

Following Seolrang, who perked her ears up and entered the building, Alon thought to himself quietly, ‘It’s big.’

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As he stared blankly at the building, which rose more than nine stories high—unlike most others in the area—he heard Evan’s admiring voice beside him.

“Wow, it’s huge.”

Although it didn’t have the vast feel of Deus’ mansion, tall buildings were rare in this city, making the contrast more striking.

After entering the building with Evan and Seolrang, they headed straight for the top floor.

“Ah, Boss, you’re back.”

“Boss!”

As they approached the top floor, they passed several beastfolk who greeted Seolrang with stiff salutes, all of them, like Seolrang, having golden hair.

“Boss, welcome back.”

When they finally reached the top floor, another beastfolk, who seemed to have been waiting at the door, greeted them with a bow. This one also had golden hair but bore a long scar across one side of his face.

“Yeah, nothing happened, right?”

“Nothing at all.”

Seolrang smiled cheerfully as she chatted and opened the door, walking inside. Alon and Evan followed her in.

While entering, Alon felt the gaze of the beastfolk standing at the door, and as he was about to look back—

“It seems a bit different from the rumors.”

“Rumors?”

Alon couldn’t help but show a puzzled expression at Evan’s remark.

Evan, looking ahead at Seolrang, explained, “Yeah, I’ve heard that Seolrang doesn’t have the best reputation.”

“How so?”

“They say she has an extremely cruel personality. They call her the Mad Dog, I think? Though I’ve also heard that she treats her own kind a bit more gently.”

“…Seolrang?”

Alon glanced over at Seolrang.

“Master! You can sit here!”

Seolrang, wagging her tail excitedly, was already sitting cross-legged on a mat she had prepared in her office. She patted the top seat of the mat energetically.

‘…That earlier scene was kind of terrifying.’

Alon briefly recalled the earlier violent outburst from Seolrang, but seeing her now grinning so brightly, he just shrugged and sat down.

With that, the real conversation with Seolrang began.

***

In truth, Alon had been somewhat worried about how he would carry on a conversation with Seolrang. Although his previous conversation with Deus had ended well, Seolrang was unpredictable, and he wasn’t sure how things would unfold with her.

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However, contrary to Alon’s concerns—

“Great!”

“…What?”

“Great!”

—The conversation with Seolrang turned out to be, in some ways, even easier than with Deus, leaving Alon a bit bewildered.

“Did you really listen to everything I said?”

“Yeah! And you can speak casually with me!”

Seolrang spoke energetically. Even now, she couldn’t seem to sit still. While still cross-legged, she casually placed her hands on the ground and began to do a handstand.

Watching her with a blank expression, Alon commented, “Still, don’t you have a lot to think about? I’ve heard you’re running a guild as well.”

During their brief conversation, Alon learned that, aside from becoming a Babayaga in the colony, Seolrang had also gathered others of their kind and formed a guild, prompting him to ask:

“Hmm…”

Seolrang, now in an odd handstand position, seemed to ponder for a moment.

“It’s fine!”

“…Really?”

“Yes! Even if we’re not family, you’re my Master!”

Seolrang’s enthusiastic response left Alon nodding a bit awkwardly, but deep down, he felt the same sense of pride he had when dealing with Deus. After all, he hadn’t expected Seolrang to go so far to help him, especially since he hadn’t been in contact or even sent a letter.

‘Honestly, I didn’t expect her to help this much.’

From Alon’s perspective, it wasn’t a bad thing to receive such help. He continued their conversation, feeling a paternal warmth growing in his heart. They talked about many things, though most of it was nothing particularly special. Alon asked about how Seolrang had been, sharing stories about Deus, while Seolrang told him about her life in the colony.

Then, as if something had come to mind, Seolrang spoke with a sigh.

“Thanks to you, I was able to gather the scattered members of our tribe!”

“…Because of me?”

“Yep, look!”

Seolrang smiled brightly and showed the glove she wore on her right hand, which Alon quickly recognized as an essence of the Golden Mane Tribe.

“I see.”

‘So there really was something to the saying that meeting the Golden Mane Tribe unlocks their true power.’

Alon began to understand why Seolrang had a favorable view of him. As they continued talking for a bit longer, Seolrang suddenly shifted the topic.

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“Come to think of it, the desert is quite dangerous.”

“Hmm? Why’s that?”

Seolrang tilted her head in curiosity at Evan’s remark.

“We were attacked.”

“…Attacked?”

“Yeah.”

At the word “attack,” Seolrang’s cheerful smile momentarily froze, but Alon nodded in agreement with Evan.

“We were ambushed by the Blood Sand Bandits, even though we moved during the daytime, when they’re usually not active.”

“Really? They’re some bad guys… aren’t they?”

“They’re definitely not people I’d want to meet again.”

Alon shrugged as he recalled the incident and looked at Seolrang. She seemed to be trying to mask her earlier serious expression with her usual carefree smile. After a bit more conversation, Seolrang spoke up again.

“Anyway, for now, take some rest! You must be tired from coming all the way here, right?”

With that, Seolrang gave Alon and Evan each a room just below the top floor. After settling them in, she returned to the top floor and, with a smile, spoke softly.

“Ralga.”

“Yes.”

Ralga, the beastfolk with a scar on his face, appeared instantly at her call.

“Where are those bad guys?”

“The Blood Sand Bandits have set up camp to the northeast, but there’s something else I should mention.”

“What is it?”

“As far as I know, the Blood Sand Bandits are backed by Kalman, one of the other three Babayagas.”

Ralga’s words carried a tone of concern.

“Really? But still—”

Despite the information, Seolrang merely wagged her tail once, showing no sign of hesitation.

“Messing with my Master is not allowed.”

Her response indicated that the news about Kalman would not change her course of action in the slightest.

“If he finds out, I’ll definitely get scolded, you know?”

Muttering quietly to herself, so softly that even Ralga couldn’t hear, she gazed toward the northeast.

“Anyway, just wait here.”

—With a deadly serious expression, her golden eyes flashing ominously, she continued—

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“I’ll kill them all.”

And with that, she vanished, leaving behind a crackling golden flash.