Ren stood in silence for a long time after Kibou left, his eyes unconsciously following the fading figure of the man until only a vague emptiness remained among the bustling crowd.
That feeling… a quiet, unspoken disappointment crept into him like a small scratch, not painful enough to demand immediate attention, but persistent, lingering, and discomforting in a way he couldn't quite explain.
He was no stranger to hatred, to skeptical gazes, or even outright hostility from other players.
Since stepping into this world, he had seen all sorts of reactions, wariness, jealousy, resentment...all directed at those who held an advantage in this battle for survival.
But what Kibou had just shown wasn't exactly the same.
It wasn't blind anger seeking an outlet, nor was it burning hatred poised to erupt into conflict.
It wasn't even deliberate contempt meant to belittle others and assert superiority.
It felt more like… a statement of fact, already tested and proven.
Like a disappointment long ingrained, having seen enough, accepted it, and merely repeating itself once more.
Ren clenched his fist slightly, feeling the atmosphere around him grow just a little heavier.
Kibou's words weren't entirely baseless. Looking at the bigger picture of Aincrad as it stood now, it was easy to see an invisible divide between those who had participated in the beta test and the new players.
The beta testers, armed with information and experience, had quickly risen above, securing the best resources to strengthen themselves.
Meanwhile, those who had never set foot in this world before were left struggling, trying to find their footing amidst the confusion.
The highest-value quests, the rarest equipment, the crucial survival knowledge, all had been monopolized from the very beginning.
And by the time the average players realized it, it was already too late. The gap had grown too wide to be bridged easily.
Not everyone was like Kirito or Argo. Not everyone was willing to help or at least share a bit of knowledge.
And more importantly, Ren himself had once held the same thoughts.
He knew what it felt like to be left behind.
To be trapped in the fog of uncertainty while others had already moved far ahead.
To stumble in the darkness, groping for answers, while the silhouettes of the strong disappeared beyond reach.
And then, when he finally caught up, when he began to understand how this world worked, everything worth having was already gone.
That was why he understood Kibou.
But that was also why he couldn't entirely agree with him.
Not everyone chose that path.
Not everyone turned their backs on others.
Though selfish beta testers did exist, there were still those willing to help.
There were still those who chose to stay, to share, to stand alongside other players, even knowing it might slow them down.
There were still those, like Kirito, like Argo, or even newcomers like himself, Klein, Dynamm, Issin, Dale…who refused to let this world become a place where only the strong trampled the weak.
Ren took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to dispel the weight in his chest.
He had no obligation to prove anything to Kibou.
No need to justify himself, nor to convince him to change his mind.
But if given the chance… perhaps he wanted to show Kibou something different.
That not everyone was selfish.
That in this world, not everyone abandoned others just to survive alone.
And maybe...even in a ruthless place like Aincrad, there was still room for those who didn't want to walk this path alone.
Ren stood still amidst the rushing crowd, letting hurried footsteps pass him by.
No one paid him any mind, just as he didn't particularly care about them. But despite his outward composure, the feeling in his chest hadn't entirely settled.
Kibou's words still lingered, creeping into his thoughts like a tiny thorn stuck somewhere, not sharp enough to cause immediate pain, but impossible to ignore.
They hovered in his mind, like an unanswered question… or perhaps an accusation he couldn't fully deny.
Ren let out a quiet sigh, shaking his head as if to clear away unnecessary thoughts. Now was not the time to dwell on a brief conversation, especially when he still had things to do.
He reached for the hilt of his sword, feeling its familiar weight.
Still the same.
The solid, reliable feeling, like the one thing he could count on in this world.
Ren took a deep breath, then looked up at the quest board before him.
Though he had been standing there for a while, he hadn't actually chosen a quest yet. It wasn't due to a lack of options, the board was covered with old parchment slips listing various missions, from hunting monsters and gathering materials to escorting NPCs. But for some reason, his gaze drifted over all of them until it stopped at a familiar name.
Alpha Boar.
The short but powerful words struck him, pulling his mind back to the present.
A difficult quest, but the rewards were more than worth it. Previously, he had considered teaming up with Kibou to take down this boss, but now that Kibou had left…
That meant if he wanted to complete this quest…
He would have to do it alone.
Ren pulled his hand back, leaving the Alpha Boar quest untouched on the board, its edges curling slightly from being read by many before him.
In the end, he abandoned the idea.
Fighting a field boss was something he wasn't ready for.
Especially after barely surviving a life-or-death battle with the wolves just a few nights ago, a battle where, had he made even one wrong move, he might not be standing here now, thinking about his next hunt.
The panic, the fear, and the helplessness of being cornered hadn't completely faded.
Even though he no longer let fear control him, recklessness didn't equate to strength.
He took a slow, deep breath, letting his thoughts settle.
If he rushed into a battle he wasn't prepared for, the outcome might not be any different from that night.
And with no one around to help this time, the cost would be even greater. A single mistake could lead to an irreversible end.
He let his eyes sweep across the quest board, searching for more practical options. After the wolf attack, the number of quests related to hunting them had noticeably decreased.
Perhaps most of the pack had already been wiped out, or maybe other players had quickly taken the remaining quests.
Whatever the reason, it significantly narrowed his choices.
There were still other tasks, hunting weaker monsters, gathering materials, escorting NPCs, small jobs that stronger players rarely paid attention to.
Ren knew these wouldn't bring much Cor or experience, but at this moment, he didn't need a big leap forward, just slow, steady progress.
In the end, he selected a few simple extermination quests, targeting creatures that weren't too dangerous but were still enough for him to hone his combat skills and earn some Cor for his expenses.
There was no need to rush. He understood that he was still weak, and moving too fast would only make him stumble.
He pulled a quest sheet from the board, skimmed through its details, then slowly left the bulletin area.
A hint of hesitation lingered in his mind, but that was fine. He had time.
Step by step, he would move forward.
Ren walked away from the quest board, his stride steady, though a trace of contemplation remained in his eyes.
The stone-paved streets of the Starting Town were always bustling, groups of players gathered to discuss strategies, merchants called out their wares, and NPC guards patrolled the pathways.
The sounds of conversations, the clinking of weapons, and hurried footsteps blended into the familiar rhythm of life in this place.
Yet, amidst the lively atmosphere, Ren still felt like an outsider.
No party to accompany him. No teammates to discuss plans with. No one to rely on if things went wrong.
Just him, alone, in a sea of unfamiliar faces.
But perhaps, that wasn't entirely a bad thing.
He lifted his gaze toward the town gates, where the hunting fields stretched endlessly toward the horizon, where real challenges awaited.
If he wanted to grow stronger, to survive in this world on his own, he had to learn to walk forward on his own two feet.
No relying on anyone. No expecting help from other players.
He opened the quest sheet, scanning its details. His target this time was a type of small monster scattered throughout the southern forest, not too dangerous, but not to be underestimated either.
They were the perfect prey for him to gauge how much he had improved through his recent battles.
Ren glanced down, checking the sword at his hip.
The steel blade caught the soft afternoon light, sharp and ready for the fight ahead. He tightened his grip around the scabbard, feeling its familiar weight.
Without further hesitation, he stepped forward, merging into the flow of people, heading toward the town gates.