"Thank you for your help as always, Hayui."
"And thank you for paying me, granny."
Hayui opened his hand and received 50 Fran. He put the 50 Fran away into his pocket before turning around and leaving the Nursing House. Hayui walked through the streets of Joten, carrying a katana at his hip. Most people couldn't walk around with a katana unless they were Hunters… or Blanks like him.
After a short walk while humming a song, Hayui finally got back home late at night. He opened the door and turned on the lights. He walked to the table, sat on a chair, and began to count the money he just earned.
Jingle-jingle
"25 Fran for helping someone find their cat, 80 Fran for killing a monster hiding under a bed, 50 Fran for helping move crates, and 50 Fran for taking care of the old people in the Nursing House for the entire day. That's 205 in total. Wow, I scored big today. Enough to pay for tomorrow's electricity bills." Hayui nodded to himself.
"It seems being a Blank is really a good choice."
Creak....
"I'm home...."
"Ah, big sis. You're back, how's work?"
"Tiring."
Meryui dragged herself to the couch and dumped herself on it.
"Hayui, I'm sorry I've come home late, I didn't prepare any dinner."
"Don't worry, big sis, I'll cook today!"
Hayui grabbed an apron and put it on. He reached out for the pan and grabbed two eggs.
While Hayui is cooking, Meryui is watching TV.
"Tonight, another person has been reported missing after they were last seen in an alley. Additional information found that in the alley where a missing person is, a silk theorized to originate from a spider was found at the scene. Over the last month, the number of missing persons has steadily increased. Citizens are advised to stay in-doors during midnight and avoid empty alleys. We move on to-"
Meryui pressed the remote and changed the channel. The TV showed a midnight show, a children's show where a silver giant was fighting a giant monster. Meryui wondered, "Why is this show starting at midnight? Isn't this a children's show? They'll be sleeping already."
"Dinners ready, sis!"
Meryui stood up and stretched her body. Not even taking off her coat, she walked towards the table. She grabbed a spoon and started to take a seat.
"Take off your coat first, big sis."
Meryui took off the coat and handed it to Hayui, who took the coat and hung it on a hook. Afterwards, Hayui took a seat opposite Meryui.
Afterwards, they started to eat.
....
The atmosphere is quiet, each focusing on eating.
"Big sis."
"Hmm?" Meryui was still munching on her food, but she still paid attention to her little brother.
"Can we go to Jokumita Park on Sunday?"
The two stopped eating.
Meryui smiled at Hayui.
"Sure. Anything for my sweet little brother."
"Hehe. Thank you, big sis!"
Afterwards, they finished eating, and Hayui went to bed first.
Meryui opened the door and entered Hayui's room quietly, and placed a box on top of the drawer. But right before she was about to leave the room, her little brother turned around, causing the blanket to fall off. She thought she got caught by her brother, but fortunately, he's still asleep.
....
Meryui grabbed the blanket and put it on her brother slowly, and adjusted it a little bit.
"Have a good dream."
Meryui then kissed Hayui's forehead.
__
"It's 6 in the morning! Time to rise and fight under the name of justice! It's 6 in the morning! Time to rise and fight under the name of justice! It-"
Hayui poked at the silver robot clock and woke up. He got rid of the blanket and jumped off the bed. Yawning, he stretches his arms, body, and legs.
"One, two, one, two. One, two, one, two."
Just as he was about to continue,
"One, two, one-"
He noticed a box on top of his drawer. The box is striped and has a yellow ribbon on it.
"Is this....?"
Hayui took a closer look and read the note.
"Happy Birthday."
Hayui immediately opened the present. And the gift inside is....
The silver giant action figure.
...
"Silly, big sis, you're giving it late. I'm not a kid anymore, and I barely have time to watch that show ever since it started at midnight."
Hayui hugged the action figure before putting it on a shelf. Afterwards, Hayui took a shower, ate breakfast Meryui prepared for him, and carried his katana, ready to head to the guild.
It's morning, and the air is still fresh around here. Hayui took a deep breath and enjoyed the morning fresh air.
But before he reached the guild....
"How may I help you?" The Cashier asked with a smile on her face.
"I would like to pay for the electricity bills for three days."
"May I know the code, Mr.?
"It's XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX"
....
"The total will be 200 Fran! Here's the code for your electricity! Have a nice day!"
"You too, miss."
Afterwards, Hayui went back home and entered the code.
Tut tut tut tut tut.
After that, Hayui continued his way to the guild. Walking for a few minutes, Hayui was greeted a few times by the residents.
"Hayui, good morning!" A man with a police hat greeted Hayui and waved his hand.
"Good Morning, sir!" Hayui bowed towards the policeman before continuing his way.
"Keep that politeness, kid!"
An old shopkeeper waved at Hayui. "Hayui, are you going to the guild?"
Hayui once again bowed toward the elderly. "Yes, I intended to go to the guild."
"I see. Then have this, a baked potato. A youngster like you must eat more to become stronger." The old lady handed Hayui a baked potato. The potato still emits steam and is still hot.
"Thank you, granny! I'll be on my way." Hayui accepted the baked potato and continued on his way.
"Always so polite. I hope nothing bad ever happens to that boy."
__
After another few minutes, Hayui finally arrived at the guild. Hayui entered the guild and sat on a vacant desk.
"I hope I have more clients today."
An hour later....
Hayui was asleep for an hour. He's been waiting for an hour, but still, no client. Waiting for a client had made him bored, which caused him to take a nap. He originally wanted to go around and search for a client after he woke up, but it seems he doens't have to search for one.
"Hey." A man woke him up from his slumber.
"Ah? Are you a client?"
With a sleepy face, Hayui asked the man. Hayui rubbed his eyes, yawned, and stretched his arms.
"Yeah. I have a contract for you."
"What is it?"
"Help me mine for Astelmite. I'll reward you with 100 Fran and even throw you a bonus Astelmite. So, wanna take the job?"
Hayui stood up. "I'll take it."
"Neat."
Right before the man and Hayui left the guild to head to the mine, the man turned around.
"Oh yeah, forgot to ask you this. What level are you?"
Hayui pointed at himself. "Oh, I'm level 1."
The man did not show any surprised face, but he didn't say anything either, which made the situation awkward.
"Whatever, it's just mining." The man extended his hand, offering Hayui a handshake.
"The name's Tony. What's yours?"
"Hayui!"
"Assyrian, huh?"
Tony and Hayui walked out of the guild together.
"Let's rent some pickaxes first."
__
At the house near the Miyabu mine....
"Kid, how old are you?"
"I'm 15. I just had my birthday a few days ago."
"15, huh. Hehe, a minor miner. Hehehe."
"Let's get going, Hayui."
Hayui walked out of the shop and followed Tony to the mine. They both hold a pickaxe that they rented. If they lose or break them, they have to pay for the damage. But thankfully, Hayui knew a trick to make the pickaxes stronger.
"Reinforce."
Hayui put both of his hands on the hilt of the pickaxe and used a Divine Spell on them. Reinforce, a Divine Spell exclusive for the God of Smithing followers. This Divine Spell is the first spell a follower of the God of Smithing can learn.
"I didn't know you're also a follower."
"Hehe, that's because you didn't ask. Now let's go."
They both entered the mine and started to walk deeper. As they walked deeper, the sound from the outside started to get smaller and smaller; every step they took echoed throughout the mine and grew louder. Occasionally, some bats would show up and frighten Tony, but not Hayui. It's as if Hayui is already used to bats.
As they continued to walk, they finally found Astelmite. With this discovery, they started to swing their reinforced pickaxes.
"So, Mr. Tony. Can I ask you a question?"
"What is it?"
"What are you going to do with the Astelmite?"
"Ain't it obvious? To make a weapon, of course."
"Are you a hunter?"
"Nope, I'm a Blank, just like you. Just starting, though."
"Oh! You also just started? I also started a few weeks ago."
"Then that means you're my senior."
"No, no. You seem to be a lot older than me. It will be inappropriate if you call me, who is younger than you, a senior. "
"Well, a polite one are you? I'm actually still 19."
"People won't believe you're 19 if you don't shave those, Mr. Tony."
TIK, TIK, TIK
"Well, actually. I already had a weapon. A bat. I only wanted to have a reason to meet with that lady again. She's really beautiful and strong. She's also a follower of the God of Smithing, just like you."
"Does she have a tired look?"
"Yeah, wait- how did you know?"
CRUMBLE
"Mr. Tony, do you feel that just now?"
CRUMBLE
"I think."
CRUMBLE
"Whatever that is, I don't like the sound of it. Let's get out of here."
"I agree."
BOOM!
Hayui and Tony were blown away by the shockwave, sending them flying, crashing into a rocky wall.
"Ugh!"
ROAR!!
The one that just suddenly appears and blows away both Hayui and Tony is a black eight-legged spider.
"The hell!? I thought there was no monster in this mine!?"
Hayui recovered himself and stood up. The spider and Hayui's eyes were staring at each other.
"This is..."
Hayui remembered something from last night. When he's cooking for dinner, he remembers his sister turning on the TV and watch a news. The news said about a missing person, and the alley that those missing people just entered is filled with spider silk. Could this be....
"Mr. Tony! You have to run and call for help! I'll hold the spider!" Hayui tossed the pickaxe and unsheathed his katana.
"Are you crazy?! You'll die! We should run!"
Hayui inspected the spider.
"With those eight legs, it would be impossible for both of us to run away. I'll distract it, then you run. I can do this just fine, I just have to find the right moment! After all, you don't have a weapon."
Although hesitating, Tony nodded and began to run away.
SHAAA!
The spider began to turn—
A rock struck the side of its head.
Hayui stood several meters away, another stone already in hand.
"Alright," he muttered under his breath.
"Reinforce."
The spider shrieked and lunged.
A strand of webbing shot toward Hayui's face. He twisted sharply to the side, the silk whipping past his ear and splattering against the wall behind him. The creature didn't slow. Its massive body barreled forward, legs pounding against the ground as it tried to crush him beneath its weight.
At the last second, Hayui pivoted and slipped past it. As the spider thundered by, he sprinted behind it and brought his katana down in a clean arc.
Steel met chitin.
One of the spider's legs split open with a sickening crack.
The creature let out a piercing roar, its body rearing and thrashing. It spun violently—
Too fast.
One of its massive legs slammed into Hayui's ribs.
The impact lifted him off his feet and hurled him into the stone wall. The air exploded from his lungs as he hit. His katana clattered across the floor.
"Gah—!"
He slid down the wall, vision swimming. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as his fingers weakly scraped against the ground, searching for his weapon.
The spider steadied itself.
Then it turned.
Slowly.
Each step toward him echoed through the chamber.
Hayui's breathing grew ragged.
"Ugh… not good…"
'I have to get out.'
Hayui forced himself to stand up and grabbed his katana once more, but that act was futile, as the spider immediately grabbed him. The spider bites Hayui. Feeling a paralyzing sensation in his body, Hayui can only give up in his situation.
Surprisingly, the spider stood up with two legs, and a pair of slender hands appeared on its body. Afterwards, the upper body of a woman appeared and opened its mouth.
'Is it trying to eat me?!'
"Ah, there you are, you slick."
Suddenly, a voice appeared not far from where Hayui and the spider stood.
SLASH!
In an instant, a green-haired young man with his eyes closed suddenly appeared behind Hayui. The young man wields a bloody kitchen knife, but as Hayui was about to turn his head around to see the person behind him, he could feel him and the spider falling, but most importantly....
His body felt really hurt and he felt really dizzy.
"Finally, one golden seed..."
The young man turned around and saw Hayui with his upper body being separated from his lower body.
"...."
"Uhh... shit."
"Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!"
As the young man kept cursing, Hayui could feel his consciousness disappearing.
"Sera! Can you help me!? I just killed a kid!"
"Leave him be, he doesn't have anything to do with the contract. What is most important is returning."
"But still! I just killed a kid! I can't just leave him there! Can you use your archive to revive him somehow?! If you can, just do it!"
"My archive did not have something that could revive someone. But I can store his body so that he may survive and search for ways to revive him."
"Dammit!"
As the young man contemplated what to do, Hayui began to close his eyes. The young man crouched to hold Hayui's body. He checked Hayui's chest and nodded. He took out a golden gem that shone vibrantly.
"If the golden seed has infinite energy, then I can surely-"
"Don't even think of using that, that's our client's."
"If I don't do it now, it'll be too late!"
"Don't you dare-"
The young man stabbed the golden gem into Hayui's chest.
Chapter 1, end.