Hard Enough - Chapter 203: Throwing down the gauntlet

“Compared to our time, the current generation just aren’t as reliable” they said, “Still, isn’t he the son of the Hero?” How annoying.

It’s been over ten years since the battle between mankind and the demons ended. The children of the heroes who saved the world are all grown up.

One of them, Earth, was a talented man, and everyone expected him to succeed his father as a warrior and defend his country, but Earth was always wary of his father’s title.

One day, Earth is shocked to find his father’s sword, which was used to overthrow the Demon King, sealed in his family’s mansion.

Because trapped within was the ghost of the Great Demon King who was unable to pass on and continued to roam the world.

For some reason, only he could see the spirit of the Demon King, and the Demon King possessed him through the sword.

Every day, forced to coexist with the spirit of the Demon King, they live a strange shared life, when the Demon King whispers to Earth on a whim.

“I have a grudge against your father. If you want to get back at your father and the world, I’ll train you. I’m free.”

Earth receives special personal guidance from the Demon King just to get back at his parents and the world.

Then, in the coming days. The hero’s parents, the heroes of the past, the first love, the princess childhood friend, the geniuses of the era, and the world will tremble.

In a world transformed by dungeon gates and awakened classes, Hunters fight monsters to earn power, fame, and fortune.Frank? He awakened as a Trader. F-Rank.No spells. No sword skills. Just one system window… and 500 dimensional tokens.Everyone laughed. Told him to quit. But Frank didn’t need fireballs—he had something better:『Dimensional Trading System Online』Connects to other worlds. One trade per day. Limited inventory. Unlimited potential.He sold candy to bug warriors. Swapped solar chargers for alchemy potions. Bought a sword technique with instant delivery.Then, he opened a booth beside a dungeon gate… and started outselling real vendors.Now, the same Hunters who mocked him line up to buy.Guild-backed merchants want him gone.And Frank? He’s just getting started.He’s not hiding. He’s not cheating.He’s building a business—and a blade arm to match.When monsters strike, Frank fights beside his customers.When dungeon loot drops, he flips it across worlds.From a broke rookie to a cross-realm powerhouse, Frank isn’t just surviving—he’s becoming the most dangerous F-Rank in the business.

*Slow Burn Historical Fantasy Novel*

Elise had about to change into the dress that was lying on the corner of her bed when she heard a knock lightly calling from her door. Curious, she turned the door knob only to have a tall man towering in front of her.

“Master Ian!” She called.

Ian smiled with the usual mischievous smirk that he always used. His crimson eyes trailing a little over her room and spotted the black dress over her bed and shifted his eyes over to the woman in front of him. He stepped forward and spoke. “Where did you acquire that dress?”

“Mr. Harland gave it to me.” Elise replied and strained her neck to see Ian’s brows knitted in its elegance.

“Do you know why a man would love to give a woman a dress?” He gave the riddle that she always had to think twice before replying. But this time, she found no answer and instead shook her head. “I don’t know.”

His grin grew bewitching as though something had stirred deep inside the scarlet eyes that he had. He slowly slid his hand over the collar of her dress, sending a cold shiver that startled her for a moment due to its freezing temperature. After unbuttoning the first two buttons on her collar, he tilted his head down, whispering to her ears. “Because they want to be the one to undress the cloth.”

He paused and kissed her neck, turning the pale skin to red before retracting his move to fix his eyes on her and leisurely replied. “Unfortunately, you can’t wear the dress over there with this.” He chuckled and passed a box over to her hand. “And the fortunate news is I prepared a dress for you.”

Elise was a cursed little girl who could see ghosts. Her family hated her and threw her from one adoptive family to another. However, misfortune didn't act alone. When she was brought up by her aunt, she was sold as a slave. When she had thought she would become nothing but a sacrifice to the sorcerer, she was saved by a man whose identity was far different than a normal mythical being.