In the darkness—
A giant stood.
His skin was gray, decayed, as if rot had claimed him long ago. His armor was rigid, but worn down by countless battles, scratched, dented, and stained.
In front of him—
Another giant.
The Nameless King.
The pale giant grabbed him by the collar, lifting him slightly off the ground with effortless strength.
"You are nothing more than a flower trying to bloom on its own."
His voice was deep.
Dry.
Empty.
His lifeless eyes stared directly into the Nameless King's.
Pulling him closer, their faces inches apart, the pale giant continued:
"Don't you think a flower needs a gardener?"
The Nameless King, his face bruised and bloodied, said nothing.
He simply nodded.
The grip tightened.
"Then why are you without one?" the pale giant growled. "Fighting to the death over and over, relying only on your talent… thinking you will su-pe-r-pass me?"
Silence.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Then—
"Idiot."
The grip became even tighter.
With one hand, he lifted the Nameless King completely off the ground.
Rain crashed against his face, cold and relentless. His eyes widened slowly, his breath caught somewhere between fear and defiance.
Time seemed to slow—
Then—
He was thrown.
BOOM!
His body slammed into the mud.
Water and dirt splashed violently in every direction.
Pain erupted.
Sharp.
Overwhelming.
It spread through his entire body like fire.
Before he could react—
A kick.
Straight into his stomach.
The force sent him flying backward, crushing everything in his path.
His vision blurred instantly.
The metallic taste of blood filled his mouth.
…
Knock.
Knock.
Eli stood outside the door, tapping it lightly at first.
No response.
Her expression shifted into annoyance.
"Seriously… what is he even doing in there?"
She blinked a few times, then clicked her tongue softly before grabbing the handle.
With a firm push—
The door opened.
Bang!
Even with the loud noise—
The Nameless King slept peacefully.
Completely undisturbed.
Eli froze.
…How can he sleep like that? Without a single worry? Even with that noise?
She scratched the back of her neck, sighing.
Wild giants really are something else…
Turning around, she began walking toward the door again—
But then—
A sound.
A low groan.
Painful.
She stopped.
Slowly turning back, her eyes focused on him.
His body—
Was moving.
Restless.
Tense.
As if something was tearing him apart from the inside.
Then—
His eyes snapped open.
His breathing became heavy.
Sharp.
Irregular.
Sweat dripped down his face.
He felt it.
A gaze.
Watching him.
Slowly—
He turned his head toward Eli.
"Uh…!"
Without saying anything, he stood up from the bed.
And began walking.
No direction.
No hesitation.
Just movement.
He passed right by her—
Without even looking.
Eli's eyebrows twitched.
The Nameless King stepped into the corridor.
He tried to remember—
How to leave this place.
He stopped between the hallway and the stairs.
Everything was made of wood.
The walls.
The floor.
The furniture.
The frames.
All of it—
Brown.
Uniform.
Unfamiliar.
Then—
A voice broke through his thoughts.
"HEY!"
He turned his entire body sharply.
One hundred and eighty degrees.
Raised an eyebrow.
"…?"
"How can you ignore the person who saved your life, gave you shelter, and even clothes? How could you just walk past me like that?!"
Eli's voice rose at the end, her fist clenched tightly.
The Nameless King stared at her, completely lost.
Huh…?
In his mind—
A memory surfaced.
A couple arguing.
Voices raised.
Tension—
Then suddenly—
They kissed.
…Will she stop being angry if I do that?
Without hesitation, he walked toward Eli.
Step by step.
He placed his hands on her shoulders.
Looked directly into her eyes.
And slowly leaned in.
"Huh? W-What… what are you doing?" she stammered, her face turning bright red.
He saw no resistance.
Only confusion.
Then—
Their lips met.
Silence.
Stillness.
After a moment—
He pulled away.
Eli lowered her head, completely stunned.
The Nameless King smiled faintly.
It worked.
…
Later—
In the kitchen.
The mother was preparing something.
The room shared the same tone—
Brown walls, brown furniture.
Only the stove and sink broke the monotony.
Strange… why isn't she looking at me?
The Nameless King stood still, watching Eli eat as if nothing had happened.
"Hey, boy!" a more mature female voice called out.
He turned his gaze toward her.
Dark brown hair.
Wearing a red shirt and simple pants.
A woman in her thirties.
"Hm?"
"Aren't you going to sit?"
"…What… is… sit?"
The woman laughed softly.
Then demonstrated.
He followed.
Sitting down.
In front of him—
A small plate.
Two pieces of bread.
He glanced at Eli.
She picked one up and ate it casually.
He copied her movements, though his eyebrows remained slightly raised.
He took a bite.
Crunch.
His eyes widened slightly.
It was—
Good.
No.
Delicious.
The best thing he had ever tasted.
For the first time—
He wasn't eating to survive.
He was eating because he wanted to.
The woman watched him closely.
Her expression changed.
There was something familiar.
His posture.
His gaze.
In her vision—
A silhouette appeared.
A giant.
Messy hair.
The same eyes.
He looks like… him.
Her hand rose to her mouth.
Tears formed in her eyes.
Eli noticed.
"Mom?"
She stopped eating.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
The woman quickly wiped her tears.
"No… it's nothing. Mom just needs to step out for a moment, okay?"
Eli nodded.
The woman walked into the hallway, leaning against the wall.
Covering one eye, she exhaled deeply.
"They're not the same… his aura is different," she whispered.
"Even so…"
They were similar.
Too similar.
She let out a quiet laugh before heading upstairs.
Back in the kitchen—
Eli stared at the Nameless King.
He was devouring the bread.
Crumbs covered his mouth.
"Ew!" she said, making a face.
He didn't react.
Just kept eating.
Eli frowned.
He looks like an animal…
Then—
A memory surfaced.
Her mother's voice.
"The way your father was… he was a savage, Eli! Did you know that? Your father wasn't like this at all!"
A younger Eli had looked up and asked:
"Then what was dad like?"
Her mother had laughed nostalgically.
"He was rough. The most uncivilized, blunt man I had ever seen."
Eli blinked.
This giant without a name… the way he eats… it's disgusting, like an animal… they're almost the same!
Her eyes sparkled now.
Focused.
Locked onto him.
He grabbed another piece of bread—
Then suddenly stopped.
It slipped from his hand, falling onto the table.
His gaze—
Frozen.
Empty.
Eli slammed her hands onto the table and stood up abruptly.
"What happened? Are you feeling something? Did the bread make you sick?"
No response.
"Answer me!" she shouted.
A weak voice emerged from his mouth.
Rough.
Broken.
"I…"
Time passed.
Each second felt heavy.
Eli's heart pounded loudly in her chest.
Then—
"…I am weak."
Silence.
Eli froze.
Her expression blank.
Confused.
"Huh…?!"