Am I really strong? I was lying in the mud like a pig… after losing!
The memory burned inside him.
The rain.
The humiliation.
The weight of defeat pressing down on his chest like an unseen force.
Then—
Other memories surfaced.
Victories.
Countless victories.
Battles against the strongest opponents he had ever faced.
Each one had been overwhelming.
Decisive.
Crushing.
They were sweet.
Too sweet.
Sweet enough to make him sick.
Another victory… another empty taste.
That same feeling again.
That same nausea.
That same hollow satisfaction that never lasted.
Victory had once defined him.
Victory had shaped him.
Victory had given him meaning.
And yet—
It had also given him a name.
The Nameless King.
He sat on a chair, his body still, his posture rigid.
Across from him, Eli watched.
Her gaze—
Sharp.
Piercing.
Unwavering.
He lowered his head slightly.
In my entire life… I only lost once. I always believed that defeat would mean my death… but that wasn't what happened.
Click.
His tongue snapped softly against the roof of his mouth.
He raised his arms and covered his face.
"You're just going to stay like that?" Eli's voice cut through the silence. "Calling yourself weak over one thing? Or are you going to face yourself? What are you going to do?"
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then—
He stood up.
His posture straightened.
It looked like confidence.
But it wasn't.
It was empty.
A hollow shell pretending to be something real.
Without saying a word, he began walking.
Forward.
Away.
"W-Wait!"
Eli's voice trembled.
Her eyes followed him.
Did I… go too far?
She pressed her hand against her chest, gripping her shirt tightly.
Her cheeks flushed slightly as a thought crossed her mind.
Wait… why do I even care about this?
She paused.
Thinking.
Searching for an answer.
But—
Nothing came.
Letting out a quiet breath, she returned to her chair and resumed eating.
Meanwhile—
The Nameless King climbed the stairs.
Step by step.
His head lowered.
His thoughts began to flood his mind.
Fragments.
Comparisons.
The difference between his life and Eli's.
Between chaos and peace.
Between war and quiet.
Words.
Meanings.
Concepts he didn't fully understand.
A world of tranquility…
The thought lingered.
But it clashed violently with his memories.
Blood.
Violence.
Bodies torn apart.
Enemies split in half.
Heads severed in an instant.
Those moments—
They had once filled him with power.
With adrenaline.
With purpose.
But it never lasted.
It was always fleeting.
He needed another victory.
Then another.
Then another.
Faster.
Stronger.
More brutal.
Just to feel something again.
And yet—
There had been moments.
Rare moments.
Moments where he felt calm.
Still.
A strange sensation he couldn't explain.
Peace.
It had been addictive.
Irresistible.
But now—
Now that he had it…
…it wasn't the same.
It felt different.
Weaker.
Incomplete.
After reaching the top of the stairs and turning left, he saw Eli's mother standing there.
"Well, well… what a surprise!" she said, opening her arms slightly.
Placing her hands on her hips, she smiled warmly.
"So? Did you like the food?"
He nodded.
A genuine smile formed on her face.
Warm.
Sincere.
His expression—
Didn't change.
Without saying anything, he walked past her.
Didn't look at her.
Didn't acknowledge her.
Just ignored her.
Standing in front of his door, a voice echoed inside his mind.
"You don't even know what a name is… imagine what a family is."
That voice—
Rough.
Fading.
Close to death.
Another followed.
A figure with a blood-covered mouth.
"You are no longer the King of the Wall… you are a Nameless King."
Nameless.
What did that mean?
Why had he been called that?
He ignored the questions.
For now.
Turning the handle, he entered the room.
Inside—
A bed.
Shelves.
Basic furniture.
Nothing more.
He sat down on the bed.
Head lowered.
Arms resting on his thighs.
Sunlight streamed through the window, cutting across the room in soft golden lines.
He stayed there.
For hours.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
Only thinking.
Nameless King…
The words repeated.
Over.
And over.
And over again.
Nameless King.
What did it mean?
Why had he been called that?
The questions attacked his mind relentlessly.
Until—
Knock.
Knock.
The sound pulled him back.
The door handle turned.
The door creaked open.
Eli entered.
She was wearing different clothes now.
A white shirt made of thin fabric.
Black pants, slightly loose.
Her hair was tied back, exposing her face more clearly.
She looked more serious.
She didn't look at him.
Not even once.
Looking to the side, she spoke:
"Let's go out… to buy you some clothes."
Silence.
No response.
Her eyebrows tightened.
"You coming or not?" she asked, her tone more irritated now.
Still—
Nothing.
Eli turned sharply, frustration rising.
"Fine! Whatever!"
She was about to leave—
Then—
"I…"
Her body froze.
His voice.
It was different.
Smoother.
More natural.
"I don't understand what you say. To be honest… sometimes I don't even understand my own thoughts."
Her pupils trembled slightly.
Slowly—
She turned toward him.
He continued:
"Even so… I will only stay here for two more days. After that, I will leave. Don't worry."
This is not my place.
His expression remained empty.
Cold.
Detached.
"Why?" Eli asked, her voice trembling. "Why are you leaving?"
"Because I don't belong here."
"But… but—!"
She lowered her head sharply.
Her emotions clashed inside her.
Confusion.
Frustration.
Something deeper she couldn't name.
She searched for words—
But found none.
He remained still.
Expressionless.
Yet—
Something bothered him.
A discomfort.
Small.
Subtle.
But real.
Something he had never felt before.
He ignored it.
"Alright…" Eli said quietly.
She lifted her head slightly.
There were tears in her eyes.
He noticed.
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
His mouth opened—
But no words came out.
What…?
He didn't understand.
Why were her eyes filled with tears?
Why was the discomfort in his chest growing stronger?
It was coming from his chest.
From inside.
She turned and left.
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
The sound echoed through the room.
He exhaled slowly.
Now that I think about it… I had trouble speaking before. But this time… I spoke quite a lot. I never thought it would be this easy.
He frowned slightly.
Her reaction—
Made no sense.
Why had she looked like that?
Why did she care?
It's obvious. I don't belong in peace. I belong to war.
The word returned again.
Nameless…
No.
What does a name truly mean? Does it matter? Do I need a name to exist… to live… to kill?
He lay down on the bed.
Staring at the wooden ceiling.
Even with all those thoughts—
Something remained.
That discomfort.
His chest tightened.
The feeling grew stronger.
Stranger.
Unfamiliar.
His mind began creating images.
Him—
Holding Eli.
Comforting her.
Speaking gently.
Warmly.
"Ha… ha… haha…"
A sudden laugh escaped him.
He couldn't stop it.
There was no reason to stay here anymore.
Things he had never felt before—
Were appearing.
Suddenly.
Overwhelmingly.
Was that why he was laughing?
No… that's not it.
There was another reason.
What is it?
Why couldn't he understand the tears falling from her face?
Or was it—
His defeat?
That pathetic, humiliating loss against the King of Death?
No!
He already knew the answer.
But he refused to accept it.
Eli… this discomfort… this laughter… all of it is because of her.
What is this feeling?