"Hahaha, you weakling!"
"That's why you always fail the Hunter exams!"
"Take this!"
The group of young men kept kicking the defenseless boy, who couldn't fight back at all.
Both of his hands covered his head, trying desperately to protect himself from their relentless blows.
Blood spilled from his mouth, yet he didn't beg for mercy — only grimaced in pain as his body trembled.
"How pitiful," Theodore muttered softly, gazing at the boy with pity.
"Ugh, this is boring. He's already half-dead. Let's get out of here!" one of them said, stopping his kicks.
"Yeah, he'll die soon anyway. Let's go!"
With that, they left the boy lying helplessly on the cold ground.
The boy weakly reached out a trembling arm toward Theodore, who stood nearby.
"Are you… an angel? Your body's glowing… please, help me," the boy whispered in a frail voice.
"You can see me?" Theodore asked, crouching beside him.
"Yes… please help me. I have to protect my little sister and my mother," the boy pleaded desperately, as if he already knew his life was slipping away.
"Young man," Theodore said quietly, "I'm afraid you can't survive this… unless you allow me to take your body.
If you do, I will avenge the injustice you've suffered… and protect your sister and mother in your place."
The boy stared at him in shock, coughing blood again — and then, faintly, smiled.
"If that's the only way… then I'm willing," he answered, surrendering his broken body to the radiant being he saw as an angel.
"What's your name?" Theodore asked.
The boy's answer made him smile — the same name as his own.
He took it as a sign of fate — that this body was destined to be his.
"Very well, Theodore… you belong to me now."
Theodore smiled faintly as the boy took his final breath.
Then, he entered the bruised and battered body, feeling a surge of unbearable pain.
"This… hurts like hell," he groaned through clenched teeth.
"Damn it… why is this body so weak?!"
Though he was relieved to have a vessel again, frustration quickly followed.
Theodore sat cross-legged, trying to absorb the energy of nature to heal his wounds.
Minutes passed — nothing happened.
He cursed under his breath, furious at the frailty of his new form.
But then, flashes of the boy's memories flooded his mind — and what he saw enraged him.
"Damn it… even my power doesn't work in this body! How irritating!"
Defeated, Theodore sighed and decided to return home.
He stumbled through a narrow alley until he reached a small, shabby house with a dim light still on inside.
He exhaled softly and knocked on the door.
"Yes! Just a moment!"
A voice called from inside.
Moments later, a little girl opened the door — her eyes widened in shock and panic when she saw Theodore's battered body.
"Brother Theo! What happened?! You're hurt all over! Come in, let me treat you!"
The girl rushed to help him inside, guiding him to a hard wooden chair.
"Mom! Brother Theo's back — he's hurt!" she shouted toward another room while preparing water, towels, and a small first-aid kit.
"So, this is Allita… what a kind girl," Theodore murmured softly, watching her.
"Oh, Theo! What happened to you this time? Did you fight again? Look at yourself — you're covered in bruises!"
A weary woman entered, her face lined with exhaustion and worry. Her sad eyes looked over his wounds.
"I'm fine, Mom. Don't worry," Theodore replied gently.
"Here, let me help!" Allita said, carefully cleaning the wounds on his arms and face.
Theodore winced slightly with each touch, but didn't pull away.
"Sorry, does it hurt? Why do you always fight, Brother? You keep coming home like this — Mom's always worried!" she scolded him, her voice rising with emotion.
"Besides, you don't have to become a Hunter just to earn money! It's dangerous! What if you die?"
Theodore stayed silent, simply listening.
She was right, of course. But he also understood why the boy had wanted that path.
His life had been cruel — weak, poor, powerless. Becoming a Hunter was his only dream, even if it meant death.
Hunters — people who risked their lives slaying monsters for money.
A deadly job, but essential in this world now overrun by creatures rising from beneath the earth.
In response, great Hunter organizations had been formed to protect humanity.
Theodore, seeing these memories through the boy's eyes, couldn't help but smile — which made Allita frown suspiciously.
"Why are you smiling? Are you even listening to me?!" she snapped.
Theodore chuckled softly.
He reached out and gently patted her head, his hand ruffling her dark hair.
"Yes, I'm listening. Thank you, Allita," he said with a warm smile.
Allita blinked repeatedly, confused.
Since when had her brother spoken so softly?
"How strange… when did you become so gentle? Usually you'd yell,
'It's my life! I'll become a Hunter no matter what! Just wait — I'll pass the exams, earn lots of money, and buy us new clothes, good food, and a big new house!'"
She imitated his usual fiery tone perfectly.
Theodore couldn't help but laugh quietly.
The contrast between this sweet girl and her hot-headed brother — now replaced by an ancient immortal — was almost comical.
"Just wait and see, Allita," he said with a small smile.
"Mom! Brother Theo's acting weird!" Allita shouted, pouting.
Theodore chuckled again. Of course he was acting strange — he wasn't the brother she once knew.
Maybe one day he'd tell her the truth… but not tonight.
"Maybe he hit his head," their mother said with a tired laugh, bringing over a cup of warm tea and placing it on the table.
"Drink this, Theo," she said kindly, sitting beside him.
"Thank you, Mom."
Theodore took a sip.
It was sweet — too sweet for his taste — but the warmth comforted him.
After all, it was his first drink in over a hundred thousand years.
"It's too sweet… but it's the first thing I've tasted in ages," he murmured, setting the cup down.
"Brother, why do you talk like you haven't had a drink in years?" Allita asked, tilting her head.
"Don't you like sweet tea, dear?" their mother added, puzzled.
Theodore paused, then smiled faintly.
"I suppose… I've grown to prefer something a little bitter, Mom. It tastes more real."
He looked at her softly, then turned to Allita.
"That's enough, Allita. Thank you for taking care of me."
"I'm sorry for worrying you both. But don't worry — I'll prove that I can do it.
Now, I'll get some rest. Good night, Mom. Good night, Allita."
He kissed his mother's cheek and gently patted Allita's head before heading to his room.
Both mother and daughter froze in surprise, their heads slowly turning toward each other.
"What's wrong with your brother?" the mother asked in confusion.
"I don't know," Allita replied, blinking.
They stared at Theodore's closed door for a moment, then both giggled softly, shaking off the odd feeling — and decided to rest for the night.