The marketplace was alive with noise and movement. Stalls lined both sides of the streets, some made of wood, others simply blankets spread on the ground with goods neatly arranged. Merchants called out their wares, bargaining with customers, while others carried baskets of food or water for sale. The scent of fresh produce, roasted meat, and spices filled the air.
"We're almost there," Kina said, pointing toward a small wooden stall a few meters ahead. "Come on, let's go."
Ryojin followed her gaze and observed the stall—a simple structure with a wooden table supported by four sturdy legs and a slanted roof for shade. He stepped forward, placing the tomato boxes down with a sigh of relief. Kina arrived shortly after, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face.
"Thanks for your help," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. "Now, time to set up these tomatoes."
She crouched down and pulled a mat from one of the boxes. "This should do." Carefully, she spread it across the wooden table before reaching for the tomatoes. Ryojin observed as she started arranging them.
"In what formation are we placing them?" he asked, reaching into the box for some tomatoes.
Kina chuckled. "Formation? This isn't a battlefield, Rio. We're just arranging them like this."
She picked up a few tomatoes, separating them into groups. "The bigger ones go in sets of three, while the smaller ones go in sets of five. The price difference between the two groups is only one silver coin in favor of the big ones."
"I see," Ryojin said, nodding thoughtfully. "This is a smart strategy. That way, the customer will feel inclined to buy the bigger tomatoes—"
"—because they'll realize that even though the smaller tomatoes are more in number, they aren't the same quality as the big ones," Kina finished.
"So they'll end up spending an extra coin for the better quality," Ryojin concluded.
"Exactly," Kina said, placing her hands on her hips as she examined their setup. "I hope business goes well today."
They spent the next ten minutes carefully arranging the tomatoes and placing price tags. When they were finally done, Kina stretched her back, letting out a tired sigh. "Wow, that was exhausting. I'm going to buy some water. Be right back."
Ryojin simply nodded as she disappeared into the crowd. He turned and sat on a small bench behind him, stretching his arms. "Even my arms feel light after doing that," he thought. "Who knew manual labor was this tiring?"
He leaned back, letting his gaze wander across the bustling marketplace. As he did, his eyes widened slightly in shock. Floating beside several people were strange beings—some resembling humans, others animals, and some with unidentifiable, ever-shifting forms. Their bodies were composed of ethereal light, some taking on a solid appearance while others flickered like mirages.
A massive eagle-like creature, its form shimmering like a constellation of stars, perched beside a woman not too far from him. The creature's glowing eyes locked onto his. Ryojin's breath hitched. He felt as if an unseen force was gripping his throat, preventing him from speaking or moving. The eagle tilted its head in curiosity, studying him. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
Then, as if by instinct, he shut his eyes and lowered his head. He took a slow, deep breath before reopening his eyes. The creatures were gone. The marketplace was the same as before, bustling with people—yet now, it felt eerily normal.
"What the hell is happening to me?" he thought, clenching his hands. "Why do I keep seeing these hallucinations? Did I hit my head during my fight with Darius? Or…"
He glanced down at his trembling hands. "Is this the side effect of the Abyssal energy inside me?"
Moments later, Kina returned, holding two plastic pouches of water. She handed one to him. "Here. It's so hot today."
"Yeah," Ryojin muttered, barely registering her words as he took the water.
Kina sat beside him on the bench, brushing her hair back as she studied his face. "I know it's not my place to ask, but… what do you really want here in this kingdom?"
Ryojin remained silent, dropping his gaze.
"It's okay," Kina said softly. "You don't have to answer."
After a long pause, Ryojin finally spoke. "As I told you before, Kina, you don't have to worry. I'm not here to hurt anyone. Especially not you."
He smiled slightly. "What would the kids do without their hero?"
Kina quickly looked away, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Stop that. I'm no hero," she mumbled.
"The kids and Mister Kenny don't know that most of the money I use for the orphanage comes from stealing," she admitted. "I'm no hero."
Ryojin exhaled. "At least you don't steal for selfish reasons. You do it for the sake of others. And in my eyes, that's an example of a hero."
Kina's face flushed red at his words. "But that doesn't mean you should continue," he added, his tone firm. "You might get caught. And I'm pretty sure the kids would be heartbroken if that happened."
She sighed. "You're right."
A gentle breeze swept through the marketplace, carrying the scent of freshly baked bread and spices. For a moment, neither of them spoke.