Aj, Neo, and the vamp girl stepped through the great gate.
Their worn-out clothes and weary faces immediately drew suspicious glares from the armored soldiers stationed nearby.
Inside the walls, the passage narrowed into a tunnel-like alley. The stone walls rose close on either side, damp and oppressive, echoing every footstep.
At last, they emerged—and the world changed.
Morning had arrived, marked not by sunlight but by the faint yellow glow of lanterns strung along the crowded street. Vendors shouted over one another, their voices mixing with the clatter of carts and the shuffle of people. Vegetables, fruits, sizzling food, cheap fabrics, and tools filled the square. Some sellers leaned on their stalls, others sat cross-legged on the ground, while peddlers pushed heavy carts through the throng.
Aj and Neo slowed for a moment, taking it all in. Aj's face broke into visible joy, while Neo allowed only his usual faint smile.
Inside, Aj screamed with excitement: Yeeaaah!
The vamp girl, however, recoiled, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"So crowded… disgusting. I hate this."
Her body lifted slightly, beginning to float above the ground.
"I'll just pass over this mess."
Aj's hand shot out, gripping her wrist. His smile was calm, but a sharpness lurked behind it.
"How dare you—how dare a mere slumboy touch me?" she roared, fury flashing in her eyes.
Aj leaned closer, keeping his voice low but steady.
"My queen… if you float here, you'll get us all killed. These people don't tolerate what they fear. If you want your tasty meat… you'll have to endure."
For a long, tense moment, her pride bristled. Then she clicked her tongue, pulling her hand back with clear reluctance.
"…Tch. Fine."
Neo's voice was calm but heavy.
"This world… it holds more than what we expect. We thought it would just be the three of us—me, you, and Garbage. But the world had her in mind too."
Aj's expression soured.
"Why'd you bring up worse memories? As for Garbage… I think he—"
Neo suddenly interrupted.
"Wait. Where is she?"
Aj blinked, looking around. The vamp girl was nowhere to be seen.
Before they could search, a group of soldiers pushed through the gate from outside.
"Why the hell are you standing here, weaklings?!" one man barked.
They hurriedly moved aside, muttering apologies.
At the head of the formation strode a man who looked more beast than human. Nearly seven feet tall, his frame was monstrous, with a thick mustache and cropped black hair. His sharp gaze alone was enough to make ordinary men piss themselves.
Neo glanced at Aj.
"Are we ever gonna be like that?"
Aj's thoughts ran wild, his eyes sparkling.
To compete in this world, to find the sun, to fight the demon lord she spoke of… thank God I'm here.
"Aj! Aj!" Neo shook him back to reality.
Suddenly, someone appeared behind them, making both boys jolt. Their hands darted toward their weapons.
"Really? You're such scaredy cats."
It was the vamp girl— casually, holding a paper bag greasy with fried meat.
Aj gawked.
"Where the hell did you get that?"
She smirked, biting into a piece.
"Just took it."
Neo crossed his arms, frowning at her.
"Next time, don't leave without telling us."
Her eyes glowed faintly, voice sharp.
"I need your permission to leave?"
Before the tension grew, Aj quickly cut in, his tone playful.
"Hey, hey—forget that. Just tell me… that meat you're eating, what animal is it?"
She cooled down a little and answered between bites.
"Wild deer. Very tasty."
Aj leaned into Neo, poking his arm with a grin.
"You hear that? Even in crowded towns, she gets better food than us."
Then, straightening up, Aj asked more seriously,
"By the way… where's the Adventurer Guild?"
Neo puffed his chest.
"Follow me. I know the way."
They trudged through the crowd for nearly an hour, only to stop in front of a row of shops.
Aj groaned.
"Neo… we're back where we started. Even a blind goat has better sense of direction!"
Neo glared.
"At least I try! You think smiling like a fool will get us anywhere?"
Aj smirked.
"Well, it already got us here—lost!"
Their bickering drew stares until the vamp girl snapped.
"Pathetic. I asked this woman—she knows the way to your guild."
The boys turned. A woman stood in front of a clothing stall, folding garments into neat piles. She smiled warmly.
"Yes, I know the way. I was just about to head that way myself. Come, I'll show you."
Grrrroooowl!
Aj's stomach let out a monstrous growl. His face went red while Neo raised an eyebrow.
The woman chuckled softly.
"Poor things… you kids must be starving." She closed her stall shutters and picked up her keys. "The guild can wait a little. Come to my home. My husband will be glad to share a meal."
Aj's eyes lit up instantly, nodding fast.
"Yes, thank you!"
Neo gave his small, quiet nod of agreement.
The vamp girl folded her arms.
"I am not a child to be fed."
"What was that, dear?" the woman asked kindly.
Aj waved his hands nervously.
"Nothing! She's definitely hungry too."
The woman laughed and led the way, locking up her stall. As they followed her through the crowded streets, the scent of baked bread and stew seemed to drift toward them already.
For a fleeting moment, Aj thought: Maybe this world isn't all cruelty
The woman led them through narrow lanes until they reached her house. It wasn't large, but it was neat and warmly decorated — curtains stitched with careful hands, a few clay pots painted in bright colors, and a wooden frame hung with dried flowers. It spoke of love more than wealth.
She pushed the door open and called out, "I'm back."
A small girl darted out from within and flung her arms around her mother. "Dad! Mom's back!" she cried, before noticing the three strangers. Her voice shrank, and she slipped behind her mother's skirt, peeking at them with wide eyes.
"Come in, sit at the table," the woman said kindly, waving them inside.
Neo hesitated. "Is that really alright…?"
Aj cut him off with a grin. "Of course it is! She invited us herself. If we don't, she'll feel bad."
The woman smiled at his words and nodded. "Make yourselves at home." She called toward the kitchen, "Paul!"
"I'm busy in here!" a man's voice called back.
"I'll help you," she answered, then turned to their guests. "Please, sit. I'll be right back." With that, she disappeared into the kitchen, her daughter scampering after her.
The three sat down at the dining table. For a moment, silence hung. Then Aj leaned toward Neo, eyes shining.
"After our adventure—finding the sun and lighting up this world—we'll be rich, right?"
Neo snorted. "You're such a daydreamer. You talk about conquering the hundredth floor of a dungeon when you've never even seen the first."
Aj puffed out his chest. "And you're a sadist for crushing dreams. But listen—" his grin softened into something almost tender— "we won't need a mansion. Just a house, big enough for us and our slumfolk to live in peace. That's all I want."
Before Neo could reply, the girl in the fur cloak cut in, her tone cool, almost amused.
"That is… if you live long enough to see such a day."
Her words struck like a shadow across the table. Aj and Neo stiffened, the warmth of the moment dissolving as reality pressed in again.
Just then, the woman returned, her husband and daughter following close behind. Paul carried a steaming pot, the aroma of herbs and roots filling the air. Sara set bowls before them with a gentle smile.
"Here," she said, "eat while it's hot."
The stew was steaming, fragrant with herbs and fat chunks of root vegetables. Aj and Neo's faces glowed with pure joy before they even lifted their spoons. The first sip was enough to make them forget the world.
"By the gods…" Aj muttered between gulps. Neo said nothing, but his closed eyes and quick pace said it all.
Across the table, Vamp girl leaned back in her chair.
"This is fine, but where's the meat?" she demanded, voice sharp.
The woman of the house, gave her husband a look. Her husband nodded silently and stepped out.
Moments later, while the boys devoured their bowls, a small voice piped up. The couple's daughter, stared at them curiously.
"Why are your clothes all torn… but that girl has such a nice fur coat?"
Aj choked on his stew, grinning to hide the awkwardness.
"Maybe the world thought she should go first in the line of fortune?"
That woman chuckled at his clever deflection.
"I'm Sara, this is my daughter Rasa, and my husband Paul is—well, he's a tailor."
Aj snapped his fingers.
"Ah! Makes sense. Husband stitches, wife sells. Perfect couple!"
Sara laughed, shaking her head.
"You are a funny boy."
Just then, Paul returned with a plate piled high with roasted meat. Vamp girl's eyes gleamed as he set it down. Even Paul couldn't help but smile at the sight of the boys eating like they hadn't eaten foods for weeks.
"Tell us," Paul said kindly, "are you adventurers?"
Neo put his spoon down, straightening.
"Not yet… but soon."
Aj thumped the table proudly.
"Very soon!"
Vamp girl smirked.
"Yea, yea…"
Sara's smile softened.
"And you will. I can see it in your eyes."
There was a moment of warmth, of fragile belonging. Then Aj spoke up.
"I'm Aj, this is Neo… and she is—"
Vamp girl cut him off smoothly, almost like a queen granting her name.
"I am Ruth."
For the first time, Aj and Neo blinked, realizing they had never even known her name until now.
Sara beamed.
"That's a beautiful name."
Her tone was gentle, curious, as she asked:
"And you children… where are you from?"
Neo's eyes widened. He tried to catch Aj's arm under the table, shaking his head.
But Aj, grinning between mouthfuls, answered carelessly:
"The Slums."
The room went silent.
Sara's smile froze. Paul's hand tightened around his cup. Rasa's wide eyes darted between her parents.
The warmth at the table chilled like a fire doused with water.