Chapter 39: "Giant" Brian
"Hey, lady! You’re wasting your time partying with that little runt. Why not ditch him and join my party instead?"
The voice came from a towering man with wide shoulders and a slightly round belly. He had the kind of face that could easily scare children. His face was marred with numerous scars, his nose crooked, his head was completely bald, his teeth were yellow, and his eyes were small.
Though there’s a saying that one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, it was obvious that no one would remember such wisdom upon meeting this man.
His voice boomed like thunder, instantly drawing the attention of those nearby.
"Hey... doesn’t that guy look familiar?"
"Are you blind? How could you not recognize him?!"
"Look, he’s definitely not a beautiful girl or a sexy woman. So tell me, why should I bother remembering the face of an ugly guy like him?"
"Shhh! Shut up! Damn it, you’ve spoken the forbidden word, now he’s coming this way. We never met each other, we never spoke to each other, we’re complete strangers. Got it?!"
"H-Hey, where are you goin—?!"
Before the man could finish his sentence, a strong hand suddenly grabbed his shirt. A second later, he felt his feet leaving the ground, his body lifted high into the air as if he were no heavier than a sack of feathers. He felt like a mouse caught in the talons of a hawk.
His eyes widened in shock, struggling to believe what was happening.
How the hell is this guy lifting me so easily?! I’m a grown man and I’m wearing armor right now!
Panic set in as he looked down at the huge, bear-like hand gripping his shirt. His gaze followed the thick, muscular arm covered in bulging veins, until finally, he locked eyes with the "ugly guy" he had so casually mocked just moments ago.
The moment their eyes met, his breath hitched, and his face drained of all color, turning as pale as a sheet. His voice came out in a panicked stammer. "G-Giant Brian...!"
It was only now that it dawned on him—the person he had just insulted was none other than the infamous "Giant" Brian.
No wonder he had found the man’s face to be somewhat familiar!
When he first entered the Adventurer circle in Arsnova, one of the very first things his peers had gifted him was a list of dangerous people that he should avoid at all costs. Among those names, "Giant" Brian was included in the list.
Aside from being infamous for his bad temper, Brian was also known for having a long history of crimes, mostly harassment toward women. Yet, somehow, he always managed to evade punishment. No one knew exactly how, but many believed it was because the Guild saw him as a valuable asset. As a result, they often covered up his misdeeds and cleaned up his messes.
On the list, along with the rough portrait, history, and basic background details about the person, there were also additional notes. For "Giant" Brian, the note was clear: never, under any circumstances, say the words "ugly," "bald," "small," or "yellow" anywhere near him—unless you had a death wish.
And just now, he had called Brian ugly!
To think he had made probably the biggest blunder of his life by offending one of the most dangerous people in the city—someone he was supposed to avoid at all costs!
Damn it! Why did I only remember him now?! If I had realized sooner, I would’ve kept my mouth shut! This damn ape looks like he wants to kill me. Hell, he is going to kill me—and the Guild won’t lift a damn finger to stop him. Shit!
"So, you do know me. Then you should also know what happens to those who call me ugly, right?" Brian’s grin widened, baring his yellowed, uneven teeth like a predator toying with its prey.
The man’s body trembled uncontrollably with intense fear.
"P-please forgive me..." the man choked out, feeling like these might be his last words.
"If you want forgiveness, go to the Church. Why the hell are you asking me?" He sneered, then leaned in closer, his breath reeking of cheap ale and rotten food. "Do you know what they call me?"
Without waiting for the man’s response, Brian continued, his eyes glinted with sadistic delight. "They call me Big Devil. Clearly, you begged the wrong person!"
Before the man could even process the words, Brian’s free hand clenched into a massive fist.
Then came the first punch.
Bang!
A sickening crunch echoed as knuckles met flesh and bone. The man’s head snapped back violently, blood spraying from his nose.
However, Brian was far from over.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Blow after brutal blow, he hammered his fist into the man’s face, each hit heavier than the last. The man’s muffled cries gradually turned into gurgled gasps as blood dripped from his split lips, his face swelling rapidly. His arms hung limp, offering no resistance.
The crowd stood frozen, too stunned and terrified to intervene. They could only watch in silence, their eyes wide with fright. Even though they were adventurer, a group of people that basically spent most of their days fighting monsters, the savage scene in front of them still sent chills down their spines.
Watching Brian beating the poor guy felt like witnessing a starving beast tear apart its prey. And the worst part? It felt like any one of them could be next.
By the time Brian finally pulled his hand back, a few bloodied teeth were stuck between his knuckles. He clicked his tongue in disgust, shaking them off like dirt.
"Tsk. So damn disgusting." He wiped his knuckles against the man’s shirt, leaving streaks of crimson behind.
His gaze swept over the man’s swollen, pig-like face, and a smirk tugged at his lips. "Congratulations. You’re uglier than I am now."
With that, he loosened his grip and let the beaten man drop unceremoniously to the ground like a discarded rag.
Next, he shifted his gaze toward the Guild’s entrance door, exactly where Azalea and Lumien stood a few moments ago. Earlier, he had been about to lay his hands on that beautiful woman, but the moment he heard someone insult his appearance, his attention snapped to the speaker like a magnet. The urge to beat them to a pulp overwhelmed him.
He wasn’t sure when it had started, but certain words now had the power to send him into an uncontrollable rage. Deep down, he felt it was tied to something in his past.
As someone who enjoyed the company of women, visiting the red-light district was practically a daily routine for him. But whenever he was with a woman, they always insisted on complete darkness—no candles, no light of any kind. At first, he thought it was just their preference and didn’t think much of it.
But one night, he accidentally overheard a conversation between his favorite woman and one of her friends.
She said the reason she wanted the room dark was so she wouldn’t have to see his "ugly" face—and that she might even throw up on the spot if there was any light.
Hearing that sent him into a rage. He beat the woman right then and there and almost killed her before the guards showed up and stopped him.
Ever since that day, the word "ugly" had become his greatest trigger. Even if it wasn’t directed at him, the mere sound of it sent him into a violent frenzy.
Back to the present, his expression immediately froze as soon as he realized Azalea was gone. The veins on his bald head quickly throbbed with irritation.
"Where did she go?!" he fumed.
A timid voice spoke up from behind him. "S-she went inside... with that short boy."
Brian slowly turned, his burning glare falling on the speaker—a disheveled young man with brown hair, a torn shirt, and a face that might have been considered handsome if not for the fear twisting his features.
"Why didn’t you tell me?!" Brian growled.
The young man flinched. "I-I tried, but you were... busy beating that guy up."
Brian narrowed his eyes. "So you’re saying it’s my fault?"
"N-no! How could it be? It’s definitely my fault!" The brown-haired man shook his head frantically, his voice trembling with fear.
"Useless trash. You can’t even do one simple thing right."
Before the man could react, Brian’s foot slammed into his stomach. A strangled gasp escaped his lips as he crumpled to his knees, clutching his gut. Moments later, he retched violently, coughing up the contents of his stomach onto the dirt.
"Weak as fuck!" Brian spat in disgust before turning his gaze back to the Guild entrance, clearly itching to follow Azalea inside.
But before he could put his idea into action, he spotted a group of patrol guards approaching.
"What’s going on here?"
"Hey, you! What do you think you’re doing?!
Grumbling in frustration, Brian forced himself to hold back and made a hasty exit.
Before leaving, he made sure to land another brutal kick to the brown-haired young man’s stomach. "If you’re not up in five minutes, don’t blame me for what happens to your little lover,"
The young man clutched his stomach, gasping for air, his teeth grinding together in barely contained rage. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
His eyes darted to the people around him—some watching with awkward looks, some pitying, others amused.
Feeling utterly humiliated, he snapped. "What the hell are you looking at?! Get lost!"
But instead of cowering, most of them merely sneered or rolled their eyes in response.
That only made him feel worse. His face burned with shame. Without another word, he forced himself to stand and hurried after Brian, stumbling at first before picking up speed.
Even as he ran, even as he put distance between himself and the crowd, he could still feel their silent laughter, their mocking stares burning into his back. The feeling was unbearable.
