Vangar studied Rory’s reaction, a faint crease forming between his brows.

His Female Master didn’t look pleased to see him. If anything, she looked... afraid.

Was he truly that frightening?

Or had he been too intense just now—enough to startle her?

His gaze drifted to the woman before him—soft, warm, and delicately fragrant. He forced himself to temper the edge in his voice, lowering it as much as he could before speaking again.

"Female Master, hello. My name is Vangar, a beastman of the White Tiger Clan."

"Y-hello..."

Rory offered him a small, tense smile.

She couldn’t be blamed for her nerves. The pressure Vangar exuded was overwhelming. Those eyes alone—just being looked at by them—made her scalp prickle.

"Step back a little." Paros moved forward and shoved Vangar aside, glaring at him with clear displeasure. "You’re scaring my sister."

Vangar’s presence was too imposing, his aura steeped in violence and conquest. Not just Rory—even Vincent and Yuel would feel the weight of it. And now that he had advanced to Rank Twelve, that pressure had only intensified.

Even Paros himself could feel it pressing down on him.

"Marshal..." Yuel stepped protectively in front of Rory, forcing himself to speak despite the tension. "This isn’t the place to talk. We should head back first."

"Alright." Vangar nodded. His eyes flicked once more toward Rory before he turned and strode out ahead.

The moment his back was to her, Rory let out a quiet breath of relief.

Could she... cancel the match with him?

He was simply too terrifying—fear that rose instinctively, from somewhere deep inside her.

"Rory, are you alright?" Yuel gently took her hand, concern evident in his voice.

Rory nodded lightly. "I’m fine."

Up ahead, Vangar’s steps faltered ever so slightly when he heard her answer. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

So... his little Female Master truly was afraid of him.

What was he supposed to do?

He had finally managed to obtain a Female Master—there was no way he could let her slip away.

Once outside the matching center, Vangar immediately summoned his personal warship.

"Female Master, please ride in my ship."

Shameless beasts rule the world.

There was no way he could avoid her just because she feared him—keep his distance and fade into the background. No, he had to stay close. Stick to her.

Perhaps, with time... if she spent more time with him, she would stop being afraid.

Yuel glanced at Rory, his voice soft as he sought her opinion.

"Rory, we can take a public cruiser back instead."

Vangar might be his superior, but to Yuel, that meant nothing compared to Rory.

Rory drew in a steady breath before answering, "It’s alright. Let’s take Vangar’s ship."

They were already matched.

She couldn’t keep fearing him forever.

She needed to understand this man—truly understand him. If it worked, they would bond. If not, she would dissolve the match.

Shrinking away in fear, hiding like an ostrich—that wasn’t who Rory was.

She stepped onto the warship and lifted her gaze to meet Vangar’s.

The fear was still there—but it was something she could overcome.

"Marshal Vangar, Yuel already told me about your identity. I was... surprised the system matched me with you."

"Female Master, just call me Vangar."

He had done his best to soften his tone, but it still carried an undeniable authority—heavy, commanding, difficult to ignore.

"May I ask... what Rank you are now?"

Rory asked the question under that immense pressure, feeling as though she were attending an arranged meeting—except her counterpart was an overwhelmingly powerful figure.

"Female Master, I am currently Rank Twelve."

"Rank Twelve?!"

Rory stared at him in shock.

Beside her, Paros and Yuel were equally stunned.

It had been a very, very long time since the Empire had seen someone reach Rank Twelve.

How had he done it?

Tall.

Fierce.

And unstoppable in battle.

This was the second impression Vangar left on Rory.

The only question now was—what was he like at his core?

If there was nothing wrong with his character as a beastman, Rory would absolutely consider forming a bond with him.

Not for anything sentimental... but because of his Rank Twelve strength.

After bonding, she would essentially gain a top-tier bodyguard.

. . .

The warship soon descended and landed within the estate.

Rory stepped off the ship and turned to Yuel. "Yuel, arrange a room for Vangar. Let him stay here for now."

She didn’t hesitate or act coy. She wasn’t about to send him away just because she feared him.

If she wanted to understand someone, she had to start by getting familiar with them.

And to grow familiar, she needed more contact.

Vangar was visibly surprised by her decision.

He had assumed that, given how afraid she seemed, she would send him away first.

Instead... she was letting him stay.

"Female Master." He looked at Rory, the killing aura around him seeming to soften, just slightly. "May I stay somewhere... closer to you?"

Rory shook her head lightly. "The rooms nearest to me are already occupied. Pick one of the remaining rooms and let Yuel know."

Vangar’s gaze shifted to Yuel.

Yuel felt his scalp prickle instantly.

Avoiding that piercing stare, he turned to Rory instead. "Rory, you should go rest first. I’ll arrange a room for the Marshal."

He knew all too well—being around Vangar must be exhausting for her.

And honestly... what had the Beast God been thinking? Matching a Rank Twelve like Vangar to Rory...

"Alright, thank you."

Rory nodded. She still needed to discuss how to probe Terry with Vincent and Xarion, so she headed upstairs first.

Vangar watched her figure disappear onto the third floor.

Then he turned to Yuel. "Are there any rooms left on the second floor?"

"There’s one at the very end," Yuel replied. "It’s a bit small. Would you like it, Marshal?"

"Show me." Vangar followed without hesitation.

After a pause, he added, "Since we’re both matched to the Female Master, there’s no need to call me Marshal at home. Just call me Vangar."

Yuel almost choked on the thought.

Call him by his name?

This was Vangar—the war god who, at twenty, had stormed the insectoid nest alone and returned unscathed.

The same man who, after the old Marshal’s death, had seized command through sheer force and dominance on the battlefield.

The one who turned the tide, slaughtered millions of insectoids, and carved out a legend of absolute victory.

Why had Vangar dared to enter Beast God Mountain?

Why did every beastman in the Empire instinctively step aside when they saw him?

Because of his strength.

Yuel led him to the last room on the second floor. It was indeed small, but with enough spatial stones, it could be expanded and modified.

Vangar wasn’t particular about living conditions.

Back in Beast God Mountain, he had slept behind the Beast God itself without complaint.

"This one will do."

Yuel nodded. "I’ll have someone come prepare and furnish the room. What style would you like, Marshal?"

Vangar thought for a moment before replying, "Make it the same as the Female Master’s room."

Yuel: "..."

Was he serious?

Vangar lowered his voice slightly and asked, "Yuel... tell me honestly. The Female Master seemed afraid of me earlier. Am I really that frightening?"

Yuel: "..."

How was he supposed to answer that? Didn’t Vangar already know the answer himself?

Seeing Yuel’s silence, Vangar reached up and touched his face.

He didn’t think he looked that bad.

Maybe not more handsome than Yuel, but certainly not inferior either.

At worst, they were evenly matched. So why was she afraid of him?

"By the way," Vangar continued, "how many bonded partners does the Female Master have now?"

He paused, then added, "Besides you... and Paros, whom I met earlier—who else is there?"