Ero Saint: I Created An Ero Massage Parlor In Another World
Chapter 17: Choked

Chapter 17: Choked

[Peter Morris]

[Age: 35]

[Race: Human]

[Stats]

Strength: F

Agility: F

Intelligence: D

Stamina: F

Charisma: F

’Fuck! He’s trasher than I thought!’

"Did I just get freaked out for nothing?"

[Additional Information:

Target experienced genetic collapse due to consuming a potion, resulting in severe physical deformation. The Potion, however, granted him a supernatural ability that allows him to communicate and tame animals.]

’Genetic collapse? A potion? Is that why all his stats, except Intelligence, are stuck at F-Rank? His body got wrecked in exchange for a strange ability... and that D-Rank in Intelligence... maybe it’s related to his animal-controlling ability?’

’Hmm... Even if I hadn’t taken the pill, I probably could’ve beaten him. My base physique stats are a rank higher. Damn, I started to regret using it so early...’

’Hold on... I’m really getting ahead of myself, aren’t I? Just because his stats are low doesn’t mean he’s weak, or that he’ll automatically lose to me. When it comes to real combat experience, Peter’s probably dozens of times better than mine. Even if I combine my 25 years’ worth of experience back on Earth with the original Aiden’s memories, my actual street-fighting experience is still just a drop in the bucket compared to his.’

’I might have superior hardware, but my software is severely lacking.’

’So no, using the pill wasn’t a waste. If anything, it was a smart call.’

Never judge a book by its cover. Never underestimate your opponent. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse.

Those proverbs existed for a reason!

I tightened my grip on the talisman’s ashes and exhaled.

I stepped out from behind cover and strode confidently into Nolan Street.

I immediately saw Peter lock his gaze onto me. His slightly yellow eyes narrowed into slits, like a snake sizing up its prey.

Even though I knew I was far stronger than him, at least stat-wise, I couldn’t stop the fear from creeping in.

His gaze was nothing like the two thugs I’d seen at the city entrance.

It was the eyes of a true, seasoned criminal who had done many horrible things, probably including killing!

For a second, I felt frozen in place.

However, almost instantly, I forced myself to be calm. I simply reminded myself that my stats were four ranks above his. There was no need to fear someone so terrifyingly outmatched.

’I’m stronger than him... I’m stronger than him...’

I repeated the words like a mantra.

To distract myself from his predatory gaze, I simply closed my eyes. As darkness enveloped me, the fear gradually receded, replaced by a growing sense of calm.

All the while, I never stopped walking.

By the time I opened my eyes again, I had closed a good chunk of the distance between us.

After going through a few more steps, I finally arrived in front of him.

"Do you know who I am?"

I heard him asking the question.

Without meeting his gaze, I replied calmly, "Yeah. You’re ’Rat’ Peter, right?"

"So you do know me, and you still walk up to me like this? Either you’re brave... or just plain stupid."

He spoke with a harsh, arrogant, and truly menacing tone, exactly the same tone that most thugs used when they tried to intimidate their victims.

My body froze again, fear seizing me before I could even fight it off. I closed my eyes once more, pretending not to hear his words, hoping to stave off the terror. When I opened them, I deliberately avoided his gaze, an easy feat, given that I was much taller.

"I don’t know what you’re trying to pull by walking up to me, but I’m busy right now. So I’ll let you off... just this once."

Then, suddenly, he reached for my robe.

Before I could think, my body moved on its own.

Just like when I caught a fly earlier, out of instinct, I slapped his hand away.

Pa!

Before I could fully register what had just happened, Peter dropped to his knees, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"A-AHHH! My hand! My fingers!"

"Ah, sorry, I’m still not used to my new power," I blurted out, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Then I blinked. Wait... why the hell did I just apologize? And wait, I’m actually this strong already? A single slap from me just crushed five fingers of a notorious criminal?

Then why the hell did I freak out twice earlier from his gaze? He’s weaker than me! I’m stronger than him! There’s no reason for me to be afraid of him and his kind anymore if I possess this power!

While I haven’t reached that manhwa-level power where a flick of my wrist can shatter mountains, this is already seriously impressive!

"A-asshole! Bella, get him!"

I was still stuck in my thoughts when my danger senses kicked in, like an alarm going off in my brain.

I hurriedly looked up.

That’s when I saw it, a snake lunging toward me.

But the strange thing was... in my eyes, it was moving slowly. Ridiculously slow, like it was trapped in a muddy swamp.

’So slow?’ I raised my eyebrows in puzzlement.

The snake in my vision moved so terribly sluggish, making me wonder if it was weighed down by a full stomach. But as I watched, I saw it was thin, almost starving, as if it hadn’t eaten in days.

It was easy to catch its head right in the middle of the air.

I was never a fan of snakes, but I wasn’t such a hater that I’d kill one without a second thought if it were right in front of me. So, I gently moved my fingers, intending to stroke its head and calm it down.

But again, still unfamiliar with my new strength, I underestimated myself. Like... underestimated myself too much.

Splat!

Its skull burst like a crushed watermelon, spraying blood and brain matter between my fingers.

My eyes widened as I stood there, startled.

’Well, that was unexpected.’

Peter was equally stunned. Bella was his secret weapon, his hidden trump card. He’d always believed no sane person would ever expect him to hide a snake up his sleeve, making it a deadly trap for anyone who dared to approach.

Yet, his hidden trump card had just been neutralized just like that, so effortlessly...

How could he not feel utterly stressed? How could he not be terrified? All that was left by his side was his foolish pigeon, which was good only for an observation job, not for a fight. How was he supposed to battle this monster now, alone and with five broken fingers?

"W-what... what exactly are you?"

"Are you... a monster?"

"Me? A monster? Maybe..."

Even I wasn’t sure anymore. With strength like this, could I still call myself human? My power had definitely gone way beyond a normal human’s limit.

Watching the color drain from Peter’s face, I felt a strange sense of Schadenfreude bloom within me.

Perhaps it was all those years of being bullied, but seeing a notorious thug, a genuine criminal and bully like Peter, cowering in fear brought me a deep satisfaction.

My lips couldn’t help but curl into a slow, genuine smile.

Then a thought struck me.

I reached up and pulled back my hood, revealing my face.

Just as I’d predicted, Peter’s already pale complexion leached away even further, turning paper-white as if he’d just seen a ghost.

My smile stretched wider.

"A-Aiden Edwards!"

"You... you’re still alive?!"

"Peter, where’s your boss?"

As much as I wanted to continue having fun, I knew time was of the essence. I couldn’t waste it on such a meaningless action; moreover, flaunting power was typical behavior of criminals. The last thing I wanted was to start thinking or acting like one of them.

"W-why are you asking about my lord?!" Peter hissed, reacting like a cat whose tail was getting stepped on.

"Can’t you tell? I want my vengeance! Why else would I bother returning from the dead?" I let my grin spread wider.

Before Peter could even stammer a response, I crouched slightly, my gaze locking onto his. "Tell me where your boss is, or else..."

My eyes dropped to his broken fingers.

Peter flinched instantly, his body breaking out in a cold sweat.

"You’re smart. You should know exactly what I’m capable of. I’ll give you one minute to decide your own fate. In the meantime, I’m going to clean those rats out of my house."

Thanks to my enhanced hearing, the commotion inside my home was as clear as day. And it wasn’t like they were trying to be quiet anyway. I was curious what they were actually searching for, and almost asked Peter, but decided to save that question for later.

I gave Peter one last glance before turning away and entering the house. I didn’t bother knocking him out or tying him up. I just left him there, in the middle of the street, completely free to move.

When Peter realized I was gone, he looked a little lost. "What... did that monster leave? He just left me? Ha... haha... he didn’t even try to tie me up! Is he really that confident I won’t run? Is he retard? I can just walk away, like... literally right now, right, Agul?"

Peter looked at his pet pigeon, which had remained like a statue on his shoulder ever since Aiden came up to him.

"Haha, even if he did claw his way back from the dead, it seems he’s still a complete idiot. I don’t know what’s wrong with him, but his brain must’ve been eaten by crows. I’m leaving... I’m leaving right now! I’ll report this to my lord immediately. And if my lord doesn’t want to deal with it, we can always take it to the Church! They’ve got to be interested in an undead, right?"

"As for those fools inside his house? Let them keep Aiden busy! They could probably stall him for a minute or two, but that’s more than enough time for me to flee."

"Flee where?"

"Pfft!"