Chapter 311: Simon Says Fight
Simon pulled a green vial from his pocket and downed its contents in one gulp.
Although the liquid was lighter in color, it shimmered as though tiny stars were suspended within it, exactly like the mystic potion Yohan had drunk when he first arrived in the past.
’Could it be?’ he wondered.
But Simon’s reaction was nothing like Yohan’s had been.
Instead of collapsing unconscious, Simon’s veins bulged beneath his skin as the green liquid coursed through his body. Even his pupils changed, a faint green glow emerging behind them.
"Was that also made by the Baker?" Yohan asked. He was used to seeing the man’s creations in the form of food, so this was new.
"You’re familiar with him?" Simon asked, genuine interest flashing across his face. "No wonder you managed to take down everyone downstairs."
He held up the nearly empty vial.
"Well, it doesn’t matter. This is something you’ve never seen before."
He rotated the vial between his fingers.
"This is called the Mystic Upgrade Potion. It’s one of a kind, and the most expensive item the Baker has ever produced."
Simon tossed the empty vial aside and pulled out a short military dagger.
"It doesn’t matter what you’ve obtained or how you managed to get this far. You’re dying today."
Yohan’s eyes lingered on the vial as Simon slipped it back into his pocket.
’I guess there’s only one way to find out’
Suddenly, Izumi grabbed his arm.
"Yohan... be careful."
She spoke so softly that, for a moment, it almost sounded like she actually cared.
"Lady Izumi, you’re rooting for the wrong side," Simon said, "I’m here under your grandfather’s orders."
"I would never root for you, you murderous bastard!"
A small grin appeared on his face,
"I suppose it’s better that you’re soft," he said. "When your grandfather eventually hands you over to me, I’ll appreciate it even more."
Izumi clicked her tongue in disgust.
"There’s no way that will ever happen."
"Oh, darling," Simon replied smoothly, "it already has."
"Enough," Yohan interrupted. "Let’s get this shit over with."
"Don’t be so eager to die," Simon said, lowering his stance. "I was letting you enjoy your final moments."
Then he shifted his weight onto his back foot and charged forward.
His dagger sliced through the air but stopped mere inches from Yohan’s eye.
Yohan had caught Simon’s wrist. His expression didn’t change, he didn’t even blink.
Izumi threw a hand over her mouth in shock.
Even Simon’s eyes widened as he stared at his trapped arm, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
He recovered quickly and released the dagger, intending to catch it with his free hand.
But Yohan yanked him forward.
His knee smashed into Simon’s face in one fluid motion.
A sickening crack echoed through the hallway.
Still gripping his wrist, Yohan controlled Simon’s movement as he staggered backward, blood pouring from his nose.
Then Yohan pulled him in again.
This time, he drove a straight punch into Simon’s face.
Simon crashed to the floor.
By the time Yohan lifted his fist, Simon’s nose had twisted out of shape, and several teeth lay scattered across the ground.
His eyes remained open as he mumbled incoherently. Whether from shock, pain, or disbelief, his mind seemed to have drifted somewhere far away.
Yohan didn’t care.
He reached into Simon’s pocket and pulled out the vial.
He had still been curious about it, but after witnessing Simon’s speed and strength firsthand, he felt mostly disappointed.
He examined the remaining liquid carefully and even tasted a drop.
’This definitely feels similar... but the texture and taste are all wrong’
It was an imitation.
A lesser version.
’Too bad his most expensive item turned out to be such a disappointment’
He sighed.
Though, knowing the Baker, this was probably far from his true masterpiece. The man seemed like the type to always keep his strongest card hidden.
Yohan turned toward Izumi.
She still had a hand over her mouth, she was trying to process what she’d just witnessed.
She had known Yohan was strong. She had seen him fight before.
But defeating Simon in less than ten seconds?
That wasn’t strength.
That was domination.
"Come on," Yohan said calmly, extending his hand. "Let’s keep moving."
She glanced once more at Simon’s broken body before taking his hand.
As she felt the warmth of his palm, the fight replayed itself in her mind along with all the special moments they had shared together.
It was hard to reconcile that gentle version of Yohan with the man who had just crushed another human being without hesitation.
The strangest part was that she wasn’t afraid.
If anything, he looked even more beautiful to her.
Like one of the legendary warriors from the stories she had grown up hearing, a knight capable of cutting through mountains to protect the person he cared about.
Before she could stop herself, she pulled him closer.
"Izumi, what are—"
She kissed him.
Her hands wrapped around his neck as her lips met his.
Yohan froze in surprise.
But only for a moment.
He pulled her closer by the waist and returned the kiss.
They remained that way for what felt like an eternity, though it was probably less than a minute, before finally pulling apart.
"What was that for?" Yohan asked.
Izumi lowered her gaze.
"I don’t know," she admitted.
"Well," Yohan said with a smirk, "I’ll be happy to put a pin in that and continue this conversation later."
"Yohan..." she said hesitantly. "What are you planning to do to my grandfather?"
The smirk disappeared.
His expression turned cold.
"On second thought," he said quietly, pulling away, "maybe you should wait here."
He turned to leave, but she grabbed his hand.
"Please don’t hurt him," she said softly. "I know he’s done terrible things. I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve whatever is coming to him, but... he’s still my family."
Yohan was silent for a moment.
"My uncle tried to burn down the last thing my parents left me," he finally said. "He was family too. That didn’t stop him."
He looked down at her hand gripping his.
"When a man is consumed by greed, he stops seeing family. He stops seeing anything except what he wants."
His voice remained calm, but there was a bitterness beneath it that Izumi had never heard before.
"You should be grateful his greed was never directed at you."
She lowered her gaze, "Yohan..."
He gently removed her hand from his arm.
"Izumi," he said, meeting her eyes, "I can only promise you one thing."
He paused.
"Hatoru will get exactly what he deserves."
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