When I arrived at the town, the streets were full of people.
Adventurers walked past in armor, swords hanging at their sides. Some were laughing loudly, probably just came back from a hunt. Normal townspeople were out too—parents holding their children's hands, merchants calling out prices, and a few street vendors selling grilled meat and bread.
The smell of food filled the air.
It felt lively.
I walked straight toward the Adventurer's Guild.
The large wooden doors were open like always. Inside, adventurers were busy doing their own things—some drinking, some talking about quests, others arguing over rewards.
I didn't pay attention to them and continued walking toward the receptionist area.
The same girl from before was there.
She looked up when she saw me.
"Good day, Renji. How was your hunt today?" she asked with a small smile.
"Ah, good," I answered simply.
"I see. Then are you selling monster cores again?" she asked.
"Yes."
I slowly placed the pouch on the table.
She opened it—
Her eyes widened slightly.
"W-wow… you hunted a lot again. And it's all goblin cores," she said in surprise.
I stayed quiet.
"Alright, I'll start counting," she said and began organizing them one by one.
The sound of the cores lightly clinking against the table filled the space between us.
After a short while, she looked up at me.
"You hunted 25 goblins. That's amazing. Here are 25 silver coins. Good work for today."
She pushed the coins toward me.
"Thank you," I said calmly.
I picked up the silver coins one by one and placed them inside my pouch.
"Oh, by the way," she suddenly said, "I haven't introduced my name yet."
I looked at her.
"My name is Cera," she added with a gentle smile.
"I'm Renji. Nice to meet you, Cera," I replied.
Up close, I finally noticed her properly.
She had soft brown hair that reached just below her shoulders, slightly curled at the ends. Her eyes were light green, calm and friendly. She wore the guild uniform—a neat white blouse under a dark vest, with a small ribbon tied at her collar. Her voice was warm, and her smile felt sincere, not fake like some merchants in town.
She looked kind.
After finishing the transaction, I gave her a small nod.
"I'll see you next time."
"Be safe on your hunts," she replied.
I turned and walked toward the small eating area inside the guild.
It wasn't big—just a few wooden tables and chairs near the corner. The same old lady who worked there was wiping down a table.
I took a seat.
"The usual?" she asked without even looking at me.
"Yes," I answered.
She nodded and went back to the kitchen area.
A few minutes later, she came back and served the food properly in front of me warm stew, bread, and a cup of water.
The smell made my stomach growl slightly.
Today was a good day...
After eating, I left the Adventurer's Guild and wandered around the town.
I've lived here for a long time, so I know every corner, every shortcut, every quiet alley.
Back then… I used to live on the streets.
I stole food from traveling merchants or sometimes from food stalls when the owners weren't looking. If I got caught, I'd get beaten. No one showed mercy to a dirty street kid.
I endured that life for years.
Even now, I still don't know who my parents are.
Things are different now. I can eat warm meals. I have coins in my pouch. I sleep under a roof instead of in an alley.
But everything has a price.
My body.
My soul.
When Pride told me they would visit me every week, fear settled deep inside my chest. That meant I would have to endure that pain again and again… for as long as I live.
I'm only seventeen.
And I'm a man too.
Why do they even want someone like me? Why does it have to be like that?
I kept walking, but my mind wasn't on the road.
I remembered the first time I met them.
The pressure in the air alone made it hard to breathe. My body felt like it was going to tear apart just from standing in front of them. The pain that day… they didn't hesitate. They didn't care if I could handle it or not.
To them, it was normal.
To me, it felt like I was breaking.
And now I know the truth.
This isn't something that will end soon.
This is a price I'll keep paying… as long as I'm alive.
While I was walking, I heard the sound of wheels rolling over stone.
A grand carriage was coming down the road, polished and decorated with silver details. Several armed guards surrounded it, riding on horses, watching the surroundings carefully.
I recognized the symbol on the side of the carriage.
"The nobles…" I muttered and stepped to the side of the road.
People around me did the same. No one wanted trouble.
The carriage continued moving slowly past us.
As it passed in front of me, I couldn't help but glance at the window.
Inside, I saw her.
A beautiful girl with long white hair that fell neatly over her shoulders. She was wearing a violet dress, elegant and refined, with delicate patterns along the sleeves. Her posture was straight, graceful.
For a moment, I was stunned.
She looked almost unreal.
Then—
She turned her gaze toward me.
Our eyes met.
And she gave a gentle smile.
My body froze.
Why…?
Why would someone like her smile at someone like me?
Before I could think further—
A voice echoed inside my head.
Playful. Light. But cold underneath.
"Hey…"
My heart skipped.
"Where are you looking at?" the voice continued, amused. "Have you forgotten that you're ours now?"
My breath caught in my throat.
That voice—
One of them.
I didn't even realize my hands had tightened into fists.
Fear crawled up my spine.
"I—I wasn't…" I whispered under my breath.
The carriage had already moved past me, disappearing down the road.
But the voice lingered.
"You're interesting when you forget your place," it said softly, almost teasing. "Don't make us remind you."
My chest felt heavy.
I quickly looked away from where the carriage had gone and lowered my head.
"I understand," I muttered quietly.
Then I started walking again, forcing my gaze forward.
I didn't dare look back.
Nice choice. This will deepen Renji's character.
Let's continue.
Without realizing it, my feet led me somewhere familiar.
The noise of the main street slowly faded as I turned into a narrow path between buildings. The air felt colder here. Quieter.
I stopped.
This alley…
I used to sleep here.
Against that same wall, near the broken wooden crate. When it rained, I would curl up in the corner and hope the water wouldn't reach me.
I walked further inside.
Nothing had changed.
The cracked stones. The smell. The damp ground.
For a moment, it felt like time hadn't moved at all.
I leaned against the wall and slowly slid down until I was sitting.
Back then, this was my place.
My home.
I used to watch people pass by at the end of the alley. Laughing. Eating. Living normal lives.
And I hated it.
Because I wasn't part of it.
A sudden noise pulled me from my thoughts.
Rustling.
Whispering.
I looked toward the entrance of the alley.
Two small kids—maybe ten or eleven years old—were crouching near a sack. One of them pulled out a loaf of bread, probably stolen from a stall nearby.
"Quick, before someone sees," one of them whispered.
I stared at them quietly.
They looked thin.
Dirty.
Hungry.
Just like I used to be.
One of them noticed me.
He froze.
"Run—" he started to say.
"It's fine," I said calmly.
They didn't move.
They were ready to bolt at any second.
I reached into my pouch slowly.
Their eyes widened.
I took out two silver coins.
And tossed them gently toward them.
They both stared at the coins like they couldn't believe it.
"Buy food next time," I said. "If you get caught, you'll get beaten."
They stayed silent.
One of them slowly picked up the coins.
"W-why?" he asked.
I didn't answer right away.
Because I didn't really know.
Maybe I just didn't want them to grow up the way I did.
"Just don't waste it," I said as I stood up.
As I walked past them, I heard a small voice behind me.
"Thank you… big brother."
I paused for half a second.
Then continued walking.
When I stepped out of the alley and back into the sunlight, something felt different inside my chest.
Not lighter.
But not as heavy either.
Then—
A familiar voice echoed in my mind.
"How kind of you."
The tone was amused.
"But remember… you don't belong to this place anymore."
My steps slowed slightly.
I didn't answer.
I just kept walking forward.
I arrived at the lodgings just as the sky turned dark blue.
The street lanterns were already lit, casting soft yellow light along the road. Most adventurers had returned from their hunts and were heading to their rooms, tired and quiet.
I entered my room and closed the door behind me.
It was small, but clean.
I placed my sword carefully on the table and set the pouch of coins beside it. The faint clink of silver echoed softly in the quiet room.
Letting out a slow breath, I lay down on the bed.
My body felt heavy from the day.
The mattress wasn't luxurious, but it was better than cold stone and damp ground. I stared at the ceiling, listening to the silence of the night.
For a moment, everything felt peaceful.
Then—
"U-ugh… slowly… it hurts…"
A woman's voice came from the next room.
I blinked.
"…Ooh, I like that reaction," a man's voice replied with a low laugh.
My eyes widened.
I froze.
It didn't take long for me to understand what was happening.
A chill ran through my body.
Memories from yesterday flashed in my mind—the pressure, the pain, the overwhelming feeling.
I turned to my side, pulling the thin blanket over my shoulder.
They didn't stop.
The woman's voice grew louder, breathless, not even caring about the thin walls between the rooms. The bed next door creaked against the floor.
I covered one ear with my arm, trying to block it out.
Why now…?
I just wanted to sleep.
The sounds continued for what felt like forever.
Then finally—
"Haa… that was good," the man's voice said, satisfied.
"You really are good at it," the woman replied softly.
Silence followed after that.
I stared into the darkness.
Even though it wasn't my situation… even though it had nothing to do with me…
My chest felt tight.
I turned onto my back and closed my eyes.
Sleep didn't come easily that night.