The surrounding soldiers fell silent for a few seconds upon hearing the conversation, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"This kid really knows how to do the math, huh?"
"Paying off debt? At his age? I haven't even figured out how to cover my drinking bill for this week!"
A soldier clapped Ren on the shoulder with a look of deep sympathy, his eyes sparkling as if he had just found a kindred spirit. "Hey, kid, tell me, who did you borrow from? Is the interest high? Or are you being chased by loan sharks? I've been through that myself!"
Ren shot the man a deadpan look. "Do I look like someone who gets interest-free loans?"
The commander sighed, crossing his arms, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Alright, kid. Taking down the Alpha is quite a feat. But as for extra rewards…"
He deliberately trailed off, as if contemplating something profound, before curling his lips into a smirk.
"…Only those with the most significant contributions get them."
Ren reacted immediately. "Didn't I just slit the wolf's throat?"
"But did you see how big that thing was? That strike of yours probably did barely anything," the commander stroked his chin, looking deeply philosophical. "And what about the others? I'm pretty sure that purple-haired girl over there contributed the most. And that brown-haired swordsman, too. We can't reward everyone now, can we?"
Ren took a deep breath, restraining the irritation rising within him.
"Fine. Just give it all to me. They weren't even part of this mission anyway. I don't even know who they are."
But his response was only met with the commander's unimpressed stare.
A round of laughter erupted from the soldiers.
Another soldier patted Ren's shoulder as if consoling a man who had just lost his entire fortune. "Don't be too down, kid. We're all equally broke here."
Another one cackled, "Come on now, at least you got some real combat experience! That's priceless!"
Ren was speechless.
Experience didn't pay for a place to sleep.
The commander dusted off his battered armor, revealing a gaping hole in the chest plate where he was still wounded. The man sighed as if he had aged ten years after the battle.
Sweeping his gaze over his men, each of them looking like they had been chewed up and spat out by the wolf, he waved his hand decisively.
"Alright, that's it! Everyone, back to town! If I see anyone loitering around here for another minute, I'm docking your pay tomorrow!"
The soldiers nodded vigorously, none of them eager to test whether he was joking. The clanking of iron filled the air as they hastily gathered their things and marched off.
Ren, still standing there, blinked. "What about my reward?"
The commander turned, raising an eyebrow. "Your reward? You're still standing here talking about your reward? Kid, it's pitch black already. I just want to go have a drink to get rid of this headache! Come to the quest office tomorrow and claim it."
Ren frowned, clearly dissatisfied. "So you're not planning to add a little extra for the fact that I risked my life to take down that monster?"
The commander scoffed, clapping him hard on the shoulder. "Listen, kid. My men almost got their heads bitten off, the town was nearly torn apart by those wolves, and you think I have extra money to give you? Ha! I'm still debating whether I should cut salaries instead."
Ren exhaled sharply. "At least cover the medical expenses."
"You're still alive, that's more than enough compensation." The commander smirked, then gestured with a lazy flick of his hand. "Go get some sleep, kid. I'll pay you tomorrow. But if you oversleep, then that's on you."
Ren narrowed his eyes at him before huffing. "Fine. But if I show up tomorrow and my reward isn't there, I'm wrecking your entire quest office."
The commander roared with laughter. "Go ahead and try, then! I'll personally throw you out of the barracks like a sack of potatoes. And for the record, that place is government property. Break it, and I'll visit you in jail every week."
Ren rolled his eyes and turned on his heels, walking away, leaving behind the commander's hearty laughter and the tired groans of soldiers dragging themselves back home.
After hearing the commander's grand declaration, "Come claim it tomorrow!"
Ren could only sigh and shake his head in resignation.
He didn't have the energy to argue anymore. There was nothing he could do except turn away and leave, his body still smeared with crimson pixel fragments from the battle.
Mud clung to his boots, making an unpleasant squelching sound with every step, but Ren didn't care. He just wanted to get back to town, find a place to rest, and...
"Hey, kid."
The voice made him stop. He hesitated for a moment before turning to look in its direction.
Under the dim, flickering light, Argo approached with an unreadable smile, followed closely by Mito and Asuna.
The information broker crossed her arms, her sharp eyes glinting with amusement. "We risked our necks together in that fight, and yet, you still haven't told us your name?"
Ren blinked at her in confusion. "…Huh?"
Argo tilted her head, her grin turning more mischievous. "I mean, doesn't everyone here already know each other's names? Except for you, that is."
Asuna nodded, her voice gentle but carrying a hint of reproach. "You fought alongside us, but we don't even know what to call you."
Ren was silent for a few seconds, his gaze shifting between the three of them. Finally, he shrugged, speaking in a flat tone. "Ren."
Argo raised an eyebrow. "That's it?"
Ren nodded. "That's it."
Mito snorted, giving him a firm slap on the back, so strong it almost made him stumble. "Well then, nice to meet you, Ren.
But next time, don't just throw yourself into the fight like that. Watching you charge in recklessly nearly gave me a heart attack."
Ren sighed, looking off to the side. "No promises."
Argo narrowed her eyes at him, as if pondering something, then unexpectedly extended her hand. "Either way, Ren, thanks for not running away back there."
Ren stared at the hand offered to him, slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Argo to be the type to do something this sincere.
But after a brief hesitation, he reached out and shook it.
Her hand was smaller than he expected, but the grip was surprisingly firm.
Asuna, standing beside them, smiled softly. "Do you have any plans for tomorrow?"
Ren thought for a few seconds, then replied in the most matter-of-fact tone in the world, "Getting my reward."
The three of them paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Under the starry night sky, beside the dying embers of the battlefield, that laughter wasn't loud, but it was enough to wash away some of the lingering tension from the fight.
—
Ren dragged his exhausted body back to the inn, each step feeling heavier than the last. He quietly climbed the stairs, opened the door to his room, and collapsed onto the soft bed.
After an entire night of fighting, his body ached so much that he didn't even want to lift a finger.
Ren closed his eyes, taking a slow, deep breath, feeling every strain in his muscles—the aftermath of battle still etched into his body.
He wanted to sleep for an entire day. A sleep with no dreams, no monsters, no screams, no blinding flashes of attacks.
But before he could do that, there was still one thing he needed to check.
Ren mumbled something incoherent before slowly raising his hand, gliding it lightly through the air.
A translucent menu appeared in front of him, reflecting a faint glow in the dimly lit room. He navigated to the inventory section.
There were a few new items already inside...something that had never happened before.
'Hmmm… well, it was a boss, after all.'
Ren skimmed through the list, his eyes stopping on the newly acquired items. This was the first time he had ever looted something from a defeated monster. Until now, everything he owned had been bought from others, he had never once obtained a worthy trophy of his own.
He recalled someone he had encountered in the plaza a few days ago, a lucky guy loudly boasting about a rare piece of equipment he had picked up from a monster.
A gleaming sword with outstanding stats, something Ren couldn't even dream of.
And what about him?
Empty-handed.
If he wanted gear, there was only one way, spending money.
But today, things were different.
[Item: Broken Oath.]
Description: "When the rusted crown was stained with blood, four swords shattered."
All that remains is a fragment, a broken blade covered in the dust of time.
Though the brilliance of its former glory has faded, deep cracks still mar the surface of the blackened steel, like wounds that have never healed.
Durability: ??
"A blade... how strange." Ren was surprised by the item in his hands. It was a blade without a hilt.
No… it was just a fragment of a blade.
Ren stored it back in his inventory and moved on to the next item:
[Item: Wolf Fang Pendant]
Description:
A long, sharp wolf fang, carefully polished and attached to a thin silver cord. When touched, its cold surface seemed to tremble ever so slightly, as if it still carried the lingering breath of the beast that once owned it.
Durability: 45/45
+6 AGI
+2 STR
Special Effects:
Survivor's Instinct – When HP drops below 20%, movement speed slightly increases, and dodging becomes more effective for 5 seconds. (Cooldown: 3 minutes)
Beast's Resilience – Increases physical damage resistance by 2%.
'Jackpot.'
Ren's eyes lit up with excitement at the fantastic stats of the new item. He liked it even more because it was an accessory.
Wearing it would boost his stats!
Moreover, accessories weren't affected by armor, so he could use it without any drawbacks.
Without hesitation, Ren dragged the necklace into the equipment slot. A wolf fang pendant, adorned with rugged yet mysterious carvings, materialized against his chest.
He was so happy that he could probably smile in his sleep.