I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life… So Why Do Heroes Worship Me?

The night was unusually silent.

No wind. No insects. Even the sanctuary's usual hum felt muted, as if something in the world was holding its breath.

Rei felt it before anyone else did. A thread of intent—not hostile in the way swords are, but cold. Calculated. A presence that came not to fight, but to probe.

He didn't stand.

He didn't rush.

He simply looked out the window and said, "We have a guest."

Auron straightened from his scrollwork. "Another traveler?"

"No," Ellyn said quietly, already gathering her sigils. "Something's off."

Lynna stepped out onto the porch, hand instinctively brushing her sword hilt. "Do I get to hit this one?"

Rei rose slowly. "Let's wait and see."

They didn't have to wait long.

From the treeline, a figure stepped forward. Dressed in matte grey, faceless behind a smooth mask. They moved like water—silent, trained, lethal.

The kind of presence that left no footprints but too many questions.

Lynna narrowed her eyes. "Assassin?"

"No," Rei said. "Worse."

The figure raised a hand, and the air shimmered. A scroll unfolded midair—thick parchment, black ink.

REQUEST: SURRENDER THE HYBRID BEAST. OR FACE CONSEQUENCES.

Zephyr, resting nearby, let out a low growl that rumbled like thunder under skin.

"They think we'll hand him over," Auron said, half in disbelief.

Rei stepped forward. Alone.

The masked figure held out a crystal. "You have been flagged. Interest Level: Crimson. Sanctuary status: revoked. Compliance requested within five seconds."

Lynna scoffed. "You think he takes orders?"

The figure didn't respond.

Rei didn't either.

He just exhaled.

The ground shifted.

Not a quake. Not visible.

But real.

The masked figure straightened as if sensing it—and suddenly every spell they carried fizzled. Every charm dimmed. Even the scroll burned into ash midair.

Then the sanctuary spoke.

Not with words.

But with presence.

Rei hadn't raised a hand.

Hadn't flared magic.

He just stood there, and the world bent slightly to avoid him.

The masked figure's feet skidded an inch back without moving.

They hesitated.

Then drew a blade—not to strike, but to reassert control.

Mistake.

Fluff appeared behind them with a growl far too large for his size. The air snapped. Zephyr took position at Rei's side without command. The plum trees tensed.

Rei looked up.

Just once.

And in that single glance, the masked figure faltered.

Their posture cracked.

The aura around Rei was still calm—still quiet—but dense. Not like a storm. Like the center of one. Heavy enough to silence intent. Too vast to challenge.

Then he spoke.

Soft.

Measured.

"You came to threaten something under my protection."

The figure didn't answer.

"You thought power made you immune to manners. Or mercy."

Still nothing.

Rei tilted his head.

"You were wrong."

The figure's knees buckled—not from force, but from pressure. From being seen.

Utterly.

Wholly.

And dismissed.

They turned to run.

But the sanctuary didn't let them.

The ground itself reknit around their legs, not to trap, but to humiliate. The grass wove a circle beneath them. A sigil lit—a harmless one—but it pulsed with mocking precision: Intrusion logged. Spirit flagged. Welcome denied.

The figure scrambled, finally breaking free, and fled without a word.

No fight.

No glory.

Only failure.

Lynna watched, wide-eyed. "What… what was that?"

Rei turned back toward the porch, voice level. "Just a warning."

Auron whispered, "They'll tell others."

"Good," Ellyn said, arms crossed. "Let the message spread."

Lynna sat heavily on the stairs. "You didn't even touch him."

"I didn't have to," Rei said.

Kreg emerged with soup.

"Well," he said cheerfully. "That looked exhausting. Who's hungry?"

Laughter followed—tense at first, then real.

The night lightened.

Later, under the lantern glow, Lynna lingered by Rei.

She didn't speak at first.

Then quietly said, "You could have crushed him."

"I did."

"No, I mean crushed. With force."

"I know."

"But you chose… that. Why?"

Rei sipped his tea.

"Because fear fades. But humiliation lingers."

She blinked. Then snorted.

"That's... terrifying."

Rei didn't deny it.

But the look in his eyes was gentle.

Almost fond.

And beside them, Fluff curled up—purring softly, like nothing had happened at all.