This is a rare chapter in third perspective.
"See? Like this."
"Gah...ugh!"
A man was being forcefully pushed back by another, almost like a sumo wrestler shoving his opponent out of the ring.
But this wasn’t raw physical strength—it was mana doing the pushing.
“P-Please, stop…! I-I’m at my limit!”
The man being pushed was drenched in sweat, while his opponent, wore a smirk that showed no intention of easing up.
“Whoa!”
The overwhelmed man was finally sent flying, landing flat on his backside. The cronies watching from the sidelines erupted in cheers.
“Well. That’s how you do it”
The victor sported a grand smile while looking down on his defeated opponent.
The spectators were almost fight to get close to the man who won.
“Way to go, Hyuho-san!”
“Another overwhelming victory today, huh!?”
Their words were flattery were aimed at keeping Hyuho in a good mood, but there was genuine awe behind their praise. After all, the man Hyuho had just defeated was wearing a newly developed Mana Amplifying Bracelet, a tool that significantly boosted mana.
Even against an opponent with that enhancement, Hyuho had triumphed using nothing but his innate mana.
“Hyuho-san, have you gotten even stronger lately?”
The defeated man, wiping his sweat, got back up on his feet. He was a certified mage, recognized by the kingdom for his high level of magical power. In contrast, Hyuho wasn’t a certified mage—just a magic-user.
“Hehehe… The power of magic is just a question of how much mana you have, right?”
Hyuho’s smirk deepened, his voice dripping with condescension.
He wasn’t one for academics and had failed to become a certified mage. But his natural talent and incredible growth rate were enough to overpower even those who had received formal recognition. That’s how Hyuho held sway over his group.
“No matter how much knowledge you gather, a single powerful strike can bring it all crashing down. Sandbags might hold back a river, but a tsunami? They’re helpless.”
In his mid-thirties, Hyuho was slightly overweight and always sporting a smug grin. His confidence came from his magical prowess, and his well-fed appearance was thanks to a life of indulgence.
But Hyuho wasn’t a noble—he was a commoner.
An yet his pockets were always full.
He wasn’t rich because of his intelligence or a wealthy family. No, Hyuho had his own unique way of making money.
“Hehehe. Well, time to get to our work that’s so important for our community and the people who live in it.”
With his trademark slimy grin, Hyuho headed toward the shopping district, his lackeys trailing behind.
“Hello there! Working hard as always, I see?”
“Oh... Hyuho... san.”
A shopkeeper’s face went pale as Hyuho and his cronies entered the store uninvited. Hyuho placed a heavy hand on the shopkeeper’s shoulder, his grip firm.
“We’ve come to reaffirm our friendship today.”
“Wh-What? Again?”
“Of course! Friendship is a beautiful thing, isn’t it? It’s something you want to reaffirm over and over. A life without friendship is like a barren desert—dry and lifeless. Now, I can’t turn your life into a lush forest, but I can at least help make it a little oasis, don’t you think?”
Hyuho’s grip tightened, and the shopkeeper winced in pain.
“I may only have my strength as a combat magic-user, but if it ever comes down to it, I can put that strength to use for you. After all, we’re friends, aren’t we?”
Hyuho’s smile widened, dripping with false sincerity. It was obvious what he wanted in return. This was his business model.
Hyuho collected friendship fees from select shops, promising to “step in if anything ever happened.”
They didn’t just take money—they also ran up huge tabs for food and drinks at local establishments. These were also considered part of the friendship fee.
Occasionally, if troublemakers showed up, Hyuho and his cronies would intervene. But it wasn’t out of obligation or loyalty—it was simply an opportunity for Hyuho to flaunt his strength. And when they did act, they always went out of their way to hurt their targets far more than necessary.
“Hey, shopkeep! Hyuho-san is doing you a favor by even showing up here!”
“You’re not going to tell him you’ve got nothing for him, are you?”
The cronies handled the threats, leaving Hyuho to play the “kind and generous friend.” He never directly demanded payment—he left that up to the shopkeeper’s “Own free will”.
With that, their first friendship visit of the day was complete.
Hyuho, a man with an abundance of friendship, had plenty of other “friends” to visit, so they couldn’t linger too long.
“Hyuho-san, should we head to that shop next?”
“No, no. Let’s swing by over there first and grab a bite to eat while we’re at it.”
“Wait! What about that other place—”
The lackeys each suggested different businesses, but Hyuho shook his head at all of them.
“Friendship is a wonderful thing. They get our protection, and we get a little something in return. But I want to spread this joy even further! Let’s expand the circle of friends.”
This was code for “finding new targets.” His lackeys had no objections; the more friends they made, the more they could benefit.
“How about hitting up some of the larger merchant houses next?”
“Or maybe the places where the elves hang out? Those elves are quite a sight, aren’t they? We might get lucky and get closer to them.”
The lackeys chuckled, but Hyuho shook his head.
“Elves are tempting, but not this time. Their security is tight. Even if I tried to make friends, they’d likely turn us away.”
“Then should we stick with smaller shops?”
“Yes, let’s keep making some new friends among the small stores for now.”
Hyuho glanced at the magic-user with the bracelet, silently asking if he had any suggestions. The man raised his hand.
“What about a shop that deals in magic tools?”
“Oh? A magic tool shop, you say?”
“Yes. Magic tools are useful and fetch a high price. Instead of money, our friendship fee could be the tools themselves.”
Hyuho’s grin widened even more.
“Now, that’s a splendid idea. With some powerful magic tools in my arsenal, I’d be even better equipped to protect my friends.”
And just like that, their next target was decided.
“Okay, let’s visit a few stores first, and then in the afternoon, we’ll start building new friendships. Once they see my strength, I’m sure they’ll be eager to befriend us.”
With that, they set off in search of new friends and new opportunities.
