If the atmosphere could be cut with a knife...
That knife would have shattered.
Although the house they were in was quite spacious, the new guest made them feel different. His enormous figure made his lungs grab for oxygen, his heart make his heels run away. Such tall creatures were rare to see in Lugnica. A giant indeed. Dressed in very colorful clothes whose appearance synergized strangely with this man. A red shirt-like garment embellished in some sort of pattern.
White pants that looked like snow, and expensive-looking shoes. On his face were some kind of glasses, because the inhabitants of Lugnica had not seen such glasses, where instead of lenses were black things. The man's hair was lush and long, all the way down his back. Golden, like Felt's. But unlike Felt, this man's hair gave him some other kind of presence. It was like the mane of one of the legendary creatures that stories are made of. And even with that long beard on his chin, this man was like a Lion, majestic and predatory.
The man in front of them, however, did not look like a demihuman. At least a standard one, though his presence said that they were in front of a predator.
However, only Subaru knew about the Hawaiian shirt, knew that those dark gold glasses were extremely expensive, and those huge shoes were made of the finest leather. Everything he saw in this Lugunica was in the style of medieval Europe: The houses, the inhabitants, the knights, the castle he saw on a huge hill. But in all that European style, this huge man stood out in all that, in terms of clothing. Just like Subaru.
Natsuki didn't know about the clothing designs behind the lugunica, and perhaps this man's clothes were not unusual, but the possibility that this tall man was from his world gave him hope. Maybe he had been given some kind of ability when he was summoned to this world. Maybe it had something to do with his inhuman stature? Subaru could only guess, and a mere glance was all it took for him to have these thoughts.
"Oh my~ what a man?" said Elsa sweetly, focusing her full attention on the blond colossus. She completely lost interest in Subaru and the others, turning her back to them. Subaru with this moment was able to exhale weakly and step back slightly. Taking slow steps back and keeping his eyes on Elsa's back to be ready in case he threw his blade at him. Behind him he heard a rustle and a slight drop in temperature. If the faint chill was a sign of Emilia's work, the noise was more likely to be old Rom trying to get up. He also heard Felt and his full of emotion, "Grandpa!"
Yes, old man Rom was trying to get up from his lying position. Despite his wounds and the possibility of him falling back. Subaru didn't know what he was trying so hard to get up for, after all, help had already arrived, he hoped...
"I didn't think there were any more Giants in the capital, I thought you were almost extinct~ One's almost dead, I'll have to get the other one too~" Elsa mumbled as she stared at the man in front of her. Pumped up body, arms like her entire head, beautiful hair and handsome facial features.
She couldn't see his eyes as they were hidden behind those dark glasses. The design of the clothes was odd, and he didn't recall seeing anything like that anywhere else. But it was clean, it was neat. Even though the outfit was strange, it spoke volumes about the man. And she could tell this man wasn't poor, he could have been a nobleman.
And yet a demihuman? There was a high probability that he was from Volachia Empire, but the borders of Lugunica were currently closed, and then how did this Giant end up in the capital? Another question that intensified her interest in this man. And unlike this old giant man with disproportionately large hands, it was the nobleman giant in front of him who looked more like an ordinary man, which was a rarity for beastmen. He was handsome, neat, smelled pleasant and was clearly strong. If it weren't for his height, she would have mistaken him for a retired knight.
But she knew nothing about him, and if it weren't for her assignments, she'd set aside a little time to observe him and find weaknesses. Well, for now, she'll have to find out the problem firsthand. Elsa would hope that this giant would cheer her up a bit.
"A girl, a child, an old man and a boy mangled. Your handiwork?" the man asked, raising an eyebrow behind his glasses. The stance was his calmly, and his hands in his pockets. His voice was low, imbued with sternness, but also with a kind of nonchalance, as if he didn't realize he was a Bowel Hunter.
" Hmm?" she asked just as casually, looking back lazily. The black haired kid back to the half elf, the petite thief and the old giant man who despite his wounds had raised himself from his lying position but resting on his mace. Looking at the old man she again noted the difference in him and the new giant, the two were similar only in height. Maybe giants have some sort of qualification she didn't know about? Because if there was, the blond one was clearly from a higher caste.
The four of them stiffened at her gaze, which brought a creepy smile to her face. How she loved those facial expressions, and all that was missing was their guts and ripped open stomachs. With that smile, she turned to the man again. She had nothing to hide." Sure you like it~? "
" Needed your confirmation, now I can work. " Replied the man taking his hands out of his pockets.
Everyone got ready, even Elsa. But that didn't stop her from making a snide comment. With her blades ready she held out her hand. "Oh, you're working on something? Please keep your organs safe until I let them free, I'm dying to see you in your own blood. I'm gonna kill not one, but two giants today. It really is a beautiful day~!"
He didn't say anything. He just moved.
The giant man stirred from his spot, and it felt like the room shifted with him, as though the very air around him bent to his will. His enormous hand curled into a fist, muscles rippling beneath his skin, and his eyes locked onto Elsa. There was no hesitation in his movement. One step forward, and his massive fist arced toward her head with terrifying precision. The force behind that punch could easily crush her skull like a watermelon.
"WOAH!" a startled voice rang out—likely from Subaru—but it was drowned out by the sheer presence of the behemoth moving to strike.
Elsa, quick as a viper, reacted just in time. With a graceful leap, she dodged the blow, her body twisting mid-air, landing where the giant had been standing moments before. In a blink, the positions were reversed—Elsa now stood near the door, and the enormous man was where she had just been.
The punch had missed her by a hair, but the wind from the swing ripped through the room with violent force. Subaru and Emilia staggered, their faces stung by the gust, while Felt clung to Old Man Rom, not out of fear but with a protective instinct.
The sheer speed of the strike was incomprehensible. For someone so large to move with that kind of velocity—it defied everything they knew. The ground beneath his feet had trembled, yet his attack had been lightning-fast.
And Elsa, sensing this, felt her excitement grow.
"My, how impressive," she purred, her voice dripping with twisted delight. "So big, and so fast..." She lifted a hand to her lips, brushing them with her fingers before licking them slowly, eyes gleaming with perverse fascination.
Obscene thoughts flickered in her mind. "Imagine how beautiful your bowels would look spilling out," she whispered, her grin widening, thoughts of violence clear in her twisted expression.
The giant now stood with his back to the others in the bar, his towering form casting a long shadow that seemed to envelop everyone behind him. Subaru, Emilia, Felt, and Old Man Rom could do nothing but stare at the sheer size of the man before them. His broad back, a wall of muscle and might, seemed almost impenetrable.
Old Man Rom, battered and bruised but showing a new glimmer of strength, pushed himself to his feet. All eyes turned to him instantly, especially Felt's. "Grandpa, please lie down, your wounds!" she pleaded, her voice trembling with concern.
But Rom didn't seem to care about his injuries. Even as Emilia rushed over, ready to use her magic to tend to his cuts, his focus remained on the giant before him. "I never thought I'd see a human so huge," he muttered, exhaling tiredly. "Almost mistook you for one of my own kin."
The room fell into a stunned silence.
Elsa's brow furrowed in confusion. Subaru, his eyes never leaving the giant, felt his heart begin to race. Emilia, who had paused mid-step to heal Rom's wounds, glanced again at the figure that now stood between them and Elsa. A human shield of unfathomable strength. Felt, too, stood frozen, her wide eyes locked on the man as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing.
And yet, Thomas Andre, the giant in question, simply raised an eyebrow, a flicker of amusement crossing his face. He hadn't expected this reaction.
"Grandpa, are you saying he's not a giant like you?" Felt blurted out, voicing what they were all thinking.
Rom's reply was brief but firm. "No. He's not."
Subaru felt the faintest hint of a smile tug at his lips. Maybe his can be right. The hope in Subaru's chest began to grow, flickering like a flame in the dark.
Elsa's frown deepened, but then, to everyone's surprise, it morphed into a smile of wicked intrigue. "Oh my, how fascinating," she purred, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "I never would've guessed. So, may I know the name of this statuesque man who dares stand in my way?
Her voice was sweet, almost playful, but the malice behind it was unmistakable. She wanted to know the name of her next target.
"Thomas Andre," he said, his gaze never wavering. "Better known as Goliath."
Elsa's eyes sparkled with interest. "Elsa Greinhart," she responded, her voice dripping with twisted pleasure. "Better known as the Bowel Hunter."