Under the scorching midday sun, the atmosphere felt frozen, suffocated by the overwhelming tension.
All the usual noise of the area seemed to have been swallowed by the heavy silence that blanketed the surroundings.
The nearby players instinctively took a few steps back, keeping a safe distance from the confrontation unfolding in the center.
No one spoke. No one interfered. They merely watched in silence, as if observing a chess game with an already determined outcome, yet still waiting, just in case something unexpected happened.
Ren tightened his grip around the hilt of his sword, feeling the cold texture of the metal pressing against his skin.
He wasn't one to seek out fights, nor someone easily provoked into meaningless conflicts.
But that didn't mean he would back down. That he would allow himself to be trampled just because his opponents were greater in number, or stronger.
No...
If he retreated now, how much further would they push next time?
The man in front of him stepped forward, closing the remaining gap between them. He didn't attack immediately. Instead, a slow, contemptuous smirk curled on his lips, his eyes gleaming with mockery.
"Alright then," he drawled, stretching each word as if savoring the moment. "You wanna be stubborn? I'll make sure you regret it."
Then, he swung his sword.
Ren reacted instantly.
He shifted his body just in time, moving with the fluidity of the wind.
The sharp blade sliced past his shoulder, missing by less than an inch, leaving a faint trail of light in the air before striking the ground with a dry clang.
In that split second.
Ren had already drawn his sword.
CLANG!
The deafening clash of metal rang out as he twisted, countering with a swift strike. His attack was so quick and precise that his opponent barely had time to raise his weapon in defense. Even then, the sheer force of Ren's blow sent him staggering back a step.
Dust scattered beneath his feet.
The onlookers held their breath.
The leader of the opposing group raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected Ren to be that fast.
But the fight was far from over.
The staggered opponent quickly regained his footing. With clenched teeth and eyes burning with fury, he pushed off the ground and lunged again, this time twice as fast.
Ren didn't retreat.
He sidestepped the thrust, twisted his wrist to pull his sword back, then swung upward in one swift motion.
Steel flashed beneath the midday sun.
His blade cut cleanly through the air.
The opponent couldn't react in time.
A sharp gash appeared on his shoulder, and fragments of red pixels scattered like glimmering dust before vanishing into the air.
He stumbled, his steps faltering from the pain. Fighting in a safe zone wouldn't endanger anyone.
But pain...pain was still very real.
A solid hit.
But Ren had no time to celebrate or even observe the results.
The moment he stepped back to regain distance, another attacker rushed in from the side, the dagger in his hand gleaming with a deadly glint under the fading sunlight.
An ambush.
Ren gripped his sword tighter, feeling his heartbeat accelerating in his chest.
He could take on one. But if they all attacked at once.
What would happen then?
Just then.
A sharp voice rang out from the distance, cutting through the tense air like a blade.
"Stop."
Heavy footsteps followed, the sound of metal armor clanking against itself echoing with an undeniable authority.
A group of black-armored guards emerged, stepping into the standoff with cold, piercing gazes sweeping across those present.
The watching players immediately backed away further.
No one wanted to get involved with the guards. These NPCs didn't care who was right or wrong, cause a disturbance in their jurisdiction, and punishment was swift.
The man who had attempted to strike Ren froze in place. He and his comrades stepped back, tightening their grips on their weapons but hesitating to make any reckless moves.
Their arrogance from before had dimmed, replaced by a flicker of unease.
One of the guards stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword as if ready to draw it at any moment.
He was tall, solidly built, with a stern face that radiated unwavering authority. His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried enough weight to keep anyone from daring to resist.
"What is going on here?"
No one answered immediately. The troublemakers exchanged glances but remained silent.
The guard shifted his gaze to Ren, his eyes briefly scanning the sword in his grip.
"Are you the one who started this?"
Ren didn't blink. He didn't want to be misunderstood, but he also had no intention of giving lengthy explanations. Instead, he simply tightened his grip on his sword and shook his head.
A pause stretched between them.
The leader of the troublemakers clenched his jaw, as if weighing whether to take his chances.
But in the next moment, he exhaled sharply and raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Nothing happened. Just a misunderstanding."
The others quickly echoed him.
"Yeah, just a little misunderstanding."
"Nothing serious at all."
One of the guards exchanged looks with his comrades, then let out a short, unimpressed huff.
"Whether it's a misunderstanding or not isn't for you to decide." He waved a hand. "Get out of here before I change my mind."
No one hesitated. The group of troublemakers lowered their heads and turned away, leaving without further argument.
A few of them glanced back at Ren, their eyes flashing with lingering resentment and hostility.
Ren didn't mind.
He simply stood still, waiting until the group disappeared from sight before finally relaxing his shoulders.
The tense atmosphere gradually settled, and the curious onlookers around them began to disperse.
The guards said nothing more, only confirming the situation one last time before leaving.
At that moment, a voice rang out behind Ren.
"You really know how to stir up trouble, don't you?"
Ren turned around.
Kibou stood there, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze calm yet sharp.
Ren narrowed his eyes as a thought crossed his mind.
…No way.
He looked at Kibou, then glanced in the direction the guards had gone. Their timely arrival was too perfect, almost as if someone had called them beforehand.
Lowering his voice, Ren asked,
"Did you… call them?"
Kibou didn't deny it. He merely shrugged, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"I didn't do much. Just gave them a little heads-up."
Ren looked at Kibou, his expression darkening. He wasn't sure whether he should be grateful or not.
But Kibou didn't give him time to think.
"Next time, if you're not sure you can win, don't be an idiot and stand your ground. Knowing when to step back is worth more than a pointless fight."
His voice dropped, losing its usual half-joking, indifferent tone.
His words weren't sharp enough to be a reprimand, but there was an unmistakable hint of irritation in them.
Ren frowned slightly. He understood Kibou's point, but that didn't mean he liked hearing it.
Being called out on his weaknesses always made him uncomfortable... especially when he was already aware of them himself.
Kibou didn't lecture him further. He simply turned away, walking off with an air of casual ease, yet every step carried a decisive sharpness.
Just as he was about to pass by Ren, Kibou paused for a brief moment. A light breeze swept through, ruffling the sharp, spiky strands of his brown hair.
Without turning his head, Kibou shifted slightly, casting Ren a sidelong glance from the corner of his keen brown eyes.
There was something unreadable in that gaze, part scrutiny, part contemplation, and a flicker of something else, fleeting and indistinct. As if he wanted to say more, but ultimately chose to hold his tongue.
"I'm not always free to clean up the messes you get yourself into."
His words came out casually, not too harsh, yet carrying a certain weight.
It wasn't just a complaint. It felt more like a warning or perhaps a quiet reminder.
Ren didn't respond. He simply stood there, watching as Kibou's figure faded into the crowd.
Another gust of wind passed through, carrying the lingering chill between the old buildings of the Starting Town.
Ren tightened his grip around his sword's hilt, the cold metal pressing into his palm, grounding him.
He exhaled slowly. The tension in the air had dissolved, but a faint discomfort still lingered within him, a subtle, unclear feeling that made his steps feel just a bit heavier.
It wasn't because Kibou had reprimanded him.
Nor was it because Kibou had saved him.
It was because Kibou had seen through him so effortlessly.
Ren lowered his gaze to his hand, his fingers still unconsciously gripping the hilt as if clinging to something.
He knew he wasn't strong enough… not yet.
He knew he had acted recklessly, simply because he couldn't stand the way those people had looked at him.
But knowing something and accepting it were two completely different things.
As much as he hated to admit it, Kibou was right. If the guards hadn't arrived when they did, what would have happened?
Ren wasn't sure he could have beaten them.
He was outnumbered, and his skills weren't sharp enough to completely dominate the fight.
If he had stubbornly pushed forward, he might have lost, and what could be more humiliating than being trampled in front of all those other players?
A cold wind swept through the streets, carrying the scattered chatter of passersby.
Life in this town moved on. No one cared about the scuffle anymore. To them, it was just another minor incident, nothing worth remembering.
But to Ren…
He bit his lower lip, then released his grip on the sword and turned to leave.
He couldn't keep going on like this.
If he didn't want to be crushed underfoot, if he didn't want to rely on anyone's help… he had to get stronger.
Faster.
More decisive.
And most importantly, he had to learn how to fight properly. Not with recklessness. Not with sheer willpower. But with skill. With real strength.
Ren quickened his pace, blending into the flow of people along the main street. He had no idea where Kibou had gone, but he had no intention of following him.
Right now, the only thing he needed to do was keep moving forward.
…But which way was forward?
He had stayed in the Starting Town longer than any other player he'd met.
Klein's group had already left. The other players were gradually moving on, seeking larger hunting grounds and better opportunities.
The thought of leaving this place took root in Ren's mind, like a tiny seed just beginning to sprout.
Perhaps… it was time for him to leave as well.