Aren was ready to leave.
Properly ready.
One bag 🎒.
One book 📘.
One milk cup Mira had bought just for him 🥛.
And the acceptance letter, folded with care.
He stepped through the guild gate.
Behind him—
"AREN! COME BACK SOMETIME!!" Mira shouted 🎉
Aren raised one hand slightly.
Didn't turn.
Didn't slow.
He walked away.
Ten minutes later—
The road reminded him:
Peace was temporary.
🔥 Roadside Trouble
The forest road was wrong.
Too quiet.
No birds 🐦.
No insects 🐜.
No wind 🌫️.
Aren's irritation rose.
Quietly.
Then—
Noise.
Shouting.
Loud. Dramatic. Unnecessary.
He stepped forward—
And saw everything.
• A noble girl tied to a tree 😱
• Her maid tied beside her, already crying 😭
• Three goons laughing loudly 💀
• And—
A boy descending from the sky.
Covered in sparkles ✨✨✨
He landed.
Hard.
Cape fluttering.
Pose heroic.
Confidence… entirely unsupported.
"FEAR NOT, FAIR LADIES!" he shouted.
"FOR I—THE HERO GALEN—HAVE ARRIVED!" ⚔️✨
The noble girl blinked.
The maid blinked.
One goon blinked twice.
Aren blinked slower than all of them.
Galen drew his sword.
SHIIING ⚔️
Far too dramatic for the quality.
"I SHALL SAVE YOU ALL!"
He charged—
—and slipped.
THUD 💥
Face-first.
Silence.
Even the goons paused.
One scratched his head.
"…Was that part of the plan?"
Galen groaned.
Didn't get up.
The goons shrugged.
Went back to threatening the girls.
Aren stepped out of the trees 🌲.
One goon looked over.
"Oi. You with them?"
Aren shook his head.
"No. I'm traveling."
He walked forward.
Planning to pass.
That—
was the mistake.
Galen suddenly sprang up.
Pointed his sword at Aren.
Eyes blazing with pure imagination 🔥.
"HALT!"
"How dare you interrupt MY heroic moment!"
Aren paused.
"…I didn't."
"LIES!" Galen shouted.
"A TRUE HERO TRUSTS HIS INSTINCTS!" 😤
Aren sighed.
Deep.
Tired.
Hungry.
Still faintly haunted by lizard trauma 💩.
Galen charged.
Aren stepped aside.
Smooth.
Effortless.
Reached out—
THUD 👊💥
Direct hit.
Silence.
Absolute.
Galen's eyes rolled back.
His soul checked out.
He collapsed.
The maid whispered in horror—
"…He won't have grandchildren…" 😨
Aren looked down.
Still annoyed.
Then—
He punched again.
And again.
And again.
Not angry.
Efficient.
When he stopped—
Galen resembled softened dough 🥖.
Unconscious.
Bruised.
Existentially reconsidering life.
Aren crouched.
And took everything.
Sword ⚔️
Armor
Boots
Belt
Coins 💰
Then—
Even the underwear.
Nothing remained.
The noble girl screamed 😱.
Covered her face.
The maid covered her eyes too 🙈.
The goons panicked.
Ran.
Aren moved.
Ten seconds later—
THUD. THUD. THUD.
Three bodies hit the ground.
One had a gold tooth.
Aren took it.
He gathered everything.
Coins 💰
Gems 💎
Daggers
Cloaks
Then walked to the girls.
Calm.
Blank.
"I am not a goon."
The noble girl nodded violently.
"Yes, sir!"
The maid nodded faster.
"Yes, sir-sir!!"
Aren pointed at the pile.
"I protected you."
Pause.
"Reward."
No hesitation.
Money 💰
Rings 💍
Bracelets
A jeweled cloak
All thrown forward instantly.
Aren accepted everything.
Didn't count.
Didn't question.
Then—
He left 🚶♂️.
No speech.
No thanks.
No hero moment.
🌱 The Hero's New Life
Hours later—
Galen woke up.
Soft bed.
Silk sheets.
Bandages everywhere.
Cold air where dignity once lived ❄️
He screamed.
Internally.
The noble girl entered.
Handed him a note.
"A message," she said politely.
Galen opened it.
Hands shaking.
Simple writing.
Calm.
Terrifying.
"Next time will be your last time." — Aren
Something inside him broke.
Cleanly.
That day—
Galen retired.
Sold his sword ⚔️
Sold his armor
Left the city
Moved far away.
Became a cabbage farmer 🥬
Because cabbages—
Don't fight back.
And for the first time in his life—
Galen knew peace 😌