Sel strained her eyes as she hurried along.

If she walked briskly for just twenty minutes through the bustling streets and reached a quieter path, she’d be able to relax for the rest of the way.

Though she could hear the murmur of people, she shut out the sounds as much as possible, focusing solely on what she saw.

Her eyes watered as she moved forward, cutting through the cold air.

The exposed tips of her fingers itched.

She hadn’t managed to grab gloves before Lavi had dragged her out, and now her hands, exposed to the sunlight, had reddened from an allergy.

It must have started a while ago, but the intensity of her time with Lavi had made her overlook it. Bright sunlight was, after all, a luxury that didn’t suit her.

“Where does ther filthy beggar think he’s wandering off to? Rotten luck!”

Had a minute passed? As expected, a sharp voice targeted her.

Of course, the insult had come a bit later than usual, but Sel ignored it and continued walking.

“Hey! Don’t you hear me? As if today hadn’t been unlucky enough already—it’s all because of you, you damn beggar!”

The strong smell of alcohol drew closer. Sel kept her head forward, quickening her pace.

But soon, a firm grip caught the back of her neck.

Sel fought to hold on to the food she was carrying.

“Did you hear me, huh? A beggar like you ignoring me?”

The drunkard, who had been drinking heavily since midday, shoved Sel’s neck, nearly throwing her.

Sel staggered, struggling to regain her balance.

Her ankle twisted painfully, but she first checked if the food in her arms was safe.

“People like you around here…urk.”

As the drunkard raised a finger to intimidate her, a passing bystander intervened.

“Hey, you idiot, knock it off! Haven’t you heard the news?”

“Who are you to tell me? I’m giving ther beggar a lesson! Wandering around in broad daylight, bringing misfortune to everyone. Let me go!”

“Get it together! That beggar, Sel, is an acquaintance of Lord Lavi. They had a meal together and wandered around town.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Look closely at the pendant around her neck, you fool.”

The bystander reiterated Lavi’s name as he pulled the drunkard back. The drunk’s gaze fell on the pendant around Sel’s neck.

The loud, roaring mouth suddenly went silent.

Soon, a soft hiccup echoed in the air.

The commotion subsided. People gathered in small groups, murmuring as they watched Sel, but no one yelled or threw stones.

It felt strange. Sel slowly turned around.

She could see the gray building of the mercenary guild. On the fifth-floor terrace, Lavi was leaning on the railing, looking in her direction.

Lavi, barely visible from the distance, waved his arm from side to side, moving his lips slightly.

“Consider the favor repaid.”

That seemed to be what he was saying. Though, in reality, it was Sel who now owed a debt again.

After watching Lavi’s form for a few slow blinks, Sel turned and began walking home.

As she passed through the town, no one tried to pick a fight.

With each step she took, Sel could feel the weight of the favor Lavi had “repaid” bearing down on her.

The violence that had seeped through the air like a constant threat was gone.

And she was certain it wouldn’t return.

It was all thanks to Lavi, who wore his mask, always smiling confidently as he pushed forward.

“So, this is what it was. Just this.”

Lavi and the small pendant around her neck—these two things had easily pulled her from the depths of hardship and fear she had been drowning in all her life.

The twenty years she’d spent struggling felt like ashes blown into the flames.

A light existence, tossed about by whichever way the wind blew.

The time of her life, the trivial values that fluttered in the cold air, all vanished with one breath from her.

“Truly an honor.”

A small wherper escaped Sel’s lips.

Despite the words, tears rolled down her face, her eyes crumpling painfully.

Was it the sadness of the time she’d spent under those disdainful gazes?

Or perhaps the regret for the pride she’d sold away to these people?

Was it the memories of eroding herself to adjust to that reality?

Or perhaps pity for a life that hadn’t improved no matter how hard she struggled?

Or maybe it was the worthlessness of a life turned over so easily by a single pendant and one man?

A frigid wind from her heart stirred her tears, and as her tear-filled eyes overflowed, they tumbled down.

The goblin mask shielding her from the sunlight also hid her tears beneath it.

Sel walked on and on, passing the edge of town, a small forest, until a lone hut appeared.

The snowy path behind Sel bore her footprints and small drops of tears scattered throughout

***

“In just one day.”

“…”

“Ha-ha-ha!”

Lavi, arms draped over the back of the sofa, tilted his head back and burst into laughter.

His green eyes sparkled as he looked down at the sword on the tea table before him.

Stifling his laughter, Lavi lightly picked up the sword Sel had labored to bring.

He shook it back and forth, examining the blade and its care with a finger.

With keen attention to every small detail of the sword, Lavi’s gaze finally landed on Sel.

Despite her upturned lips, her eyes held a frosty edge.

Maintaining his stare, Lavi aimed the sword at Sel.

As he gave a slight flick of his hand, the mechanism on the blade gleamed with light.

The device attached to the sword amplified his energy, pushing its force out through the sword’s tip.

The sound of something slicing through the air brushed past Sel.

Though her legs trembled, Sel clenched her jaw and barely managed to hold her ground.

The blade that narrowly grazed her continued on, piercing through the rear exit.

Crash!

“Ahh!” Sel, unable to withstand it any longer, screamed and crouched down.

Covering her ears with her hands, she looked back to see the room filled with thick dust and debris.

With a deafening noise, the thick iron door—about a hand’s width—was crumpled like paper, and part of it had even melted.

The hallway wall behind the door had a hole blown through it, revealing the darkened view of the village outside.

“Oh, I tried max amplification, and it held up. Did you get an upgrade?”

Looking at the mouth that casually spoke while launching blades right next to her, Sel bit her lip without answering.

“Sorry for the scare. But your eyes went all wide in shock. Cute for a guy.”

Lavi grabbed Sel by the shoulders, pulling her up from where she was crouched.

Though he apologized, his tone didn’t seem genuinely sorry.

Sel was sure this weasel-like man had played a prank to mess with her.

Wanting to get away from this ill-tempered person as soon as possible, Sel spoke calmly about her business.

“You treated me to a meal last time, so I’ll settle for 80 rubles as payment.”

This amount reflected a deduction from the originally agreed 100 rubles, accounting for the meal she had received.

Though she was irritated by the restaurant meal costing a ridiculous 24 rubles, Sel figured she couldn’t complain, given that she ate most of it and even took some to go.

Of course, she quoted 76 rubles instead, adding a little more.

“Huh, unexpected response.”

“It feels right to pay it back.”

With that statement, Sel confidently extended her hand toward Lavi, as if to say their debt to each other would be settled with this.

“In a hurry, aren’t you?”

But Lavi only hummed a tune while swinging his sword in the air.

Sel grabbed her forehead. She felt she might have encountered a scammer trying to dodge the payment.

***

Upon hearing the explosion, the mercenaries from downstairs kicked in the battered door and entered.

They walked in slowly, showing no concern for the commotion.

If anything, their faces revealed the annoyance of having to clean up this mess.

Walking among them, a man with an expressionless face strolled over leisurely.

The man glanced at the torn door and damaged wall before fixing his mechanical smile and heading toward Lavi.

“What’s this? Was there still some clueless assassin out there?”

He muttered, wondering why anyone would target Lavi when there were more valuable people around. Lavi ignored him, giving a bright greeting.

“Oh, you came at the perfect time, Eric.”

The man Lavi gestured toward was Eric.

Standing next to Lavi, who was nearly 6’5″ with a muscular build, Eric looked smaller by comparison, though objectively, he wasn’t a small man.

With a lean, muscular frame and an inherent poise, Eric had neatly combed brown hair and eyes of the same color that seemed ordinary at first glance, yet they held an unusual dryness within.

Eric quickly scanned Sel from head to toe.

His sharp gaze fixed on Sel’s mask.

Diverting his attention from Lavi, Eric’s steps turned toward Sel.

Apparently finding Sel’s scent somewhat pungent, Eric brought a finger to his nose and observed her calmly.

“Well, interesting find, isn’t he?”

Lavi’s eyes sparkled, like a boy who’d found a shiny stone by the stream.

Eric continued to stare at Sel’s mask.

Typically, people were either startled or repelled by the goblin mask, but Lavi and Eric’s reactions were unique.

Their gaze wasn’t filled with disgust but rather pure curiosity.

“Quite the unique thing you’ve brought back.”

Eric’s tone was dry, like he was appraising an intriguing toy.

“It’s mine. I found him first.”

Lavi drew a line, as if guarding against Eric’s interest.

Eric raised his eyebrow.

“That much?”

Understanding the question—‘Is he really that impressive?’—Lavi swung the sword in his hand, tossing it in the air and catching it repeatedly.

“Yep. He managed to fix this in a day and even upgraded it.”

“I treated him to some steak to lure him in. Clever, right?”

Lavi flashed a toothy grin.

Eric slowly turned his gaze back to Sel, meeting her eyes directly.

“So, he’s a talent that could even get you to treat him to steak? Impressive.”

Sel didn’t shy away from the gaze.

Those emotionless eyes were unnerving, but she’d long since built up her resilience living near the dark forest.

The two locked gazes, neither looking away.

“Not bad.”

It was Eric who looked away first.

He turned his gaze back to Lavi with a slow shift.

Lavi, grinning from ear to ear, tossed the sword toward the wall.

The sword traced an arc through the air and landed precisely in a rack mounted on the wall.

“Does this have anything to do with you not returning the other night?”

“Oh, he’s the one who saved me when I collapsed. I ended up staying at his place, and in the process, I discovered his skills. Took him about four minutes to disassemble and reassemble a manual pistol?”

“I thought you went to retrieve a piece of the moon in the black forest, but it seems you found a treasure instead. I had no idea you had such talent.”

Though the treasure’s a bit smelly. Eric rubbed his nose.

“It’s a little scrawny, but that’s fixable with proper feeding.”

“Understood. I’ll bring the contract.”

Watching Eric’s departing figure, Sel, who had been standing silently, spoke up in haste.

“A contract…?”

She wondered why a contract was needed for receiving her payment. Sel’s puzzled expression contrasted with Lavi’s rising enthusiasm.

“Join us.”

“…What?”

“You’re welcome to join our mercenary group.”