I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist - Chapter 103

Chapter 103: King’s Limits

“You can rest easy, Miss Minerva,” King said. A faint smile on his lips. “We’re here to handle this.”

“Can you even handle it?” Diana asked, her arms crossed as her gaze swept over the group, as though assessing their capabilities. “That despicable man has killed every Hunter who’s gone after him so far.”

“Every Hunter except me,” King replied.

Diana’s eyes narrowed as she studied him. Was this confidence genuine, or was he simply trying to impress her and Minerva, just as he had just an hour ago?

“You can trust us,” King spoke up. “There’s no need to involve other Guilds for a third-rate criminal.”

“We’re not calling Guilds to handle this,” Diana shook her head. “We’re reaching out to private Hunters to ensure the job gets done. After that, we’ll leave.”

‘This is worse’, King thought.

“What exactly do you mean by ‘private Hunters’?” Reynold asked politely.

“We’ve enlisted a few A-Rank Hunters,” Diana said flatly, then added, “and one S-Rank.”

“That much for a bandit?” Lua blurted out in surprise. It seemed like overkill for a single target.

“It wasn’t my decision…” Diana said, glancing toward Minerva, who was still comforting the girl with a gentle, reassuring smile.

Minerva had made the call. She wanted Davon Crook dealt with immediately, and she wasn’t willing to take chances. Connections and money weren’t an issue for her; all that mattered was seeing justice served swiftly. Her determination to wait for the Hunters to arrive stemmed from her desire for absolute certainty that Crook would face the consequences of his actions.

“Well, he’ll be dealt with long before your private Hunters arrive.”

King stepped forward, his focus shifting to the little girl. She instinctively shrank back, intimidated by the mask obscuring King’s face.

“Hey there, sweetheart,” King said softly, his tone kind as he knelt to meet her gaze. “Can I ask you something?”

Hearing his voice, which lacked any hint of menace, the girl peeked out from Minerva’s embrace, her wide eyes watching him cautiously.

“I just need to know if you have any idea where they might be,” King said gently. “Or maybe you can tell me how you managed to escape? It’s to help save others like you. You want to help them, don’t you?”

At his final words, the girl’s eyes brightened. She nodded slowly, her small hands gripping Minerva’s sleeve for reassurance.

“I—I ran from them because some big wolves attacked,” the girl said, her voice trembling. “I ran… and kept running…” Her words faltered as tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks.

“A pack of wolves, you say? Interesting,” King said, unfolding the map of the forest he’d been given. His eyes scanned the lines denoting rivers, trees, and elevations. “Did you see any rivers? Or maybe landmarks—something that could help me pinpoint where you were?”

The girl, still shaking, hesitated before lifting a small, trembling finger. She pointed towards a cluster of symbols near a winding blue line on the map. “There… there was a big oak tree… near the river, I think…”

King followed her direction, tracing the river’s serpentine path with his finger. He noted its tributaries and bends, mentally triangulating the possibilities. The mention of an oak tree gave him a vital clue, narrowing his search. Still, it felt like hunting for a needle in a haystack.

“Why were you surrounded by wolves in the first place?” King asked.

“U–Um…” The girl’s voice faltered, her expression tightening with fear.

King’s eyes softened as he crouched closer, meeting her gaze. He didn’t need her to say it aloud; her hesitation told him everything. “Did they leave you somewhere? A cave, perhaps?”

The girl nodded hesitantly, her lower lip trembling. “Yes…” she whispered, her voice breaking as she fought back sobs.

Her admission confirmed his suspicions. Wolves, while opportunistic predators, rarely attacked humans without reason. Their presence near her captors likely indicated proximity to water and shelter—key hunting grounds for them. King narrowed his focus on the map, his eyes zeroing in on a cluster of caves marked ‘Wolf’s Den’. The site, located between the River and a steep, rocky incline, was an ideal territory for a wolf pack.

The Hideout of Davon Crook shouldn’t be really far from there.

‘Hiding behind wolves, what a coward.’

“This is it,” King muttered to himself, a smirk curling his lips as he folded the map shut. The location wasn’t explicitly marked for this kind of search—likely intended for hunters tracking game—but it was proving invaluable now.

Turning back to the girl, King placed a gentle hand on her head, smoothing her hair. “Thank you, little one. Your help is invaluable. Now, rest. We’ll find them,” he promised.

As his hand brushed her hair, his fingers grazed the bruises on her neck. His gaze darkened instantly. The brilliant azure of his eyes faded to a cold, steely hue, his entire demeanor shifting in a heartbeat. Minerva, standing nearby, felt the sudden change and instinctively glanced at him. Though she couldn’t see his face behind the mask, the intensity of his anger was clearly visible, like a suffocating wave that sent a shiver down her spine.

She blinked, unsure if she’d imagined it, but the air around King felt charged. The typically laid-back and carefree man seemed transformed.

What Minerva didn’t know was that King’s anger stemmed from a deeply personal place. Memories of his own daughter, whom he hadn’t seen in what seemed to be years, stirred within him. Children were King’s one unshakable limit, his ultimate line in the sand. While he was often nonchalant, playful, even irreverent, there were rare moments when something truly got under his skin. This was one of them.

Still crouched beside the girl, King extended his closed fist toward her.

The girl blinked in surprise, her tear-streaked face softening with curiosity. Slowly, King opened his hand, revealing a delicate, crystalline ice flower resting in his palm. The unique design caught the sunlight, refracting it into shimmering patterns that danced across her wide eyes.

Her mouth fell open in awe at the beauty and fragility of the creation. Hesitantly, she reached out, then paused, glancing at King as if asking permission.

“Take it,” King said gently.

The girl nodded and carefully picked up the flower. Its coolness soothed her small palms, but it wasn’t uncomfortably cold. She turned it in her hands, marveling at its level of details. Even Minerva was surprised.

“When the flower melts completely. All your friends will be freed. I promise.”

The girl’s gaze snapped to him, her eyes brimming with hope. As she clutched the flower, King moved stealthily, producing a slim, near-invisible needle crafted by Adam Crane. The tool was designed to deliver medication with minimal discomfort, a marvel of craftsmanship.

King gently pricked the back of the girl’s neck, administering a solution that would ease her pain and accelerate her recovery. She barely felt a thing, her attention still fixated on the flower.

“It’s going to melt?” She asked softly. “But it’s so beautiful…”

“I’ll make another for you,” King replied with a small smile. “Once I’ve brought your friends back, you’ll have another flower to keep and one which will never melt.”

“Really?” She asked widened her eyes.

“Promise,” King said, standing and ruffling her hair lightly to which the girl smiled.

With a final reassuring smile, he turned to his companions. “Let’s go, team,” he said, his tone taking a sadistic edge each time he was tasked to assassinate a scumbag “Time to take out the trash.”

“You bet!” Reynold replied, slamming his fist in his palm. He was even more fired up for the task now while the three girls smiled.

Minerva, watching the exchange closely, glanced at the little girl. She was now hugging the ice flower tightly, a smile lighting up her face for the first time since they’d found her.

Turning her gaze back to King, Minerva made her decision. “I’m going with them,” she said standing up.

Diana let out a sigh, seeing this coming from miles away. “Sister…I knew it.”

“Can you take care of her?” Minerva asked, nodding toward the girl.

“I’m not letting you go alone with these strangers,” she said, signaling to one of the guards.

“Milady?” The guard asked, awaiting orders.

“Keep her safe,” Diana said. “We’ll deal with the problem ourselves.”

“But—” The guard began concerned.

“We’ll take the other three with us. There’s nothing to worry about,” Diana said.

Though reluctant, the guard eventually nodded. “Yes, Milady,” he said, his tone resigned.

With their plan in place, Minerva raised her hand. The ring on her index finger gleamed brilliantly before transforming into a magnificent bow with a regal design. Diana mirrored the motion, summoning a beautifully crafted green-sheathed sword.

“May we accompany you?” Minerva asked.

King turned to her, his azure eyes gleaming as a wide smile spread across his face. “That would be my greatest pleasure, Lady Minerva.”

Before Minerva could respond, Diana stepped forward, her arms crossed. “Let’s be clear. We’re here to help, nothing more. Our relationship stops right there. Don’t try anything strange or overstep your boundaries.”

King turned his glowing eyes toward her. “I wouldn’t dare, Lady Diana.”