Nyr and Senna both started their journey early in the morning, before the sun rose in its full glory.
On the way, she didn't speak a single word. Maybe she wasn't very talkative.
They kept moving along their path and didn't encounter a single monster—probably because of the bloodline suppression of the fox girl, Senna.
So he told her to stop suppressing her bloodline, and soon they encountered some food.
They continued moving for three days, and Senna started to open up, even if it was just a little.
They reached the city in the evening of the third day.
"Oh! We can see the city from here. We're really close,"
"I know, you don't need to say that out loud."she said in annoyed tone.
He scratched his cheek and spoke again. "So, Senna, what are you going to do from now on?"
She didn't say anything for a while, but I patiently waited. Finally, she spoke.
"I don't know. For now, I need money and a place to live. Some food would also be appreciated."
He looked at her, then turned his gaze toward the city ahead and offered some advice.
"You could join the Adventurers' Guild."
" thanks for advice, but I am already B rank adventure."
"Oh!"
Nyr thought 'So, she isn't runaway slave."
We didn't exchange any more words and continued our journey. After completing a few formalities, we entered the city.
He ran toward the market and sold parts of the monster we had killed. After that, he offered to get Senna a room.
But she declined, asked for some money, and we parted ways.
He immediately collapsed into bed after checking into the inn—mind you, he hadn't slept for almost three days.
...
Tasty, really tasty. I wonder how they made this so delicious," Nyr muttered while walking through the crowd, munching on a meat stick glazed in a sweet, honey-like sauce.
It had been a day since he parted ways with Senna. After a full night's rest, he began wandering around the city.
No one recognized him anymore—his appearance had changed ever since he gave up being a Hero.
All Heroes were known for their golden hair and golden eyes, a result of the divine energy they wielded.
Thanks to that divine energy, Nyr had once defeated even S-rank monsters despite only being ranked A.
But now, the divine energy was gone. His hair had returned to its original shade of blue, and his eyes were once again a striking, beautiful purple.
He was still undeniably handsome—there was no denying that.
Nyr: Nope, I am way more handsome than before (Nyr thought)
Suddenly, he heard a man's scream—chilling and raw, the kind of scream that spoke volumes of unbearable pain.
He ran in the direction of the scream and came upon a horrifying scene.
Four men lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies mutilated—limbs severed, flesh torn, as if they had been tortured to death. They were almost certainly dead.
In the middle of it all stood Senna, the fox-kin he had encountered not long ago. She was drenched in their blood, her expression calm—too calm.
She was torturing the last remaining man.
Her tail, once soft and fluffy, had transformed into something terrifying. It was now sharp like a blade, piercing in and out of the man's body in various places.
That man couldn't even scream—one of her tails had wrapped tightly around his neck, cutting off both air and sound.
Suddenly, her eyes turned toward me.
Eyes once full of emotion now flickered with a hint of panic. Her lips parted—she looked like she wanted to say something, maybe to explain what had happened—but no words came out.
He looked at her calmly and said, "Finish him. I'll help you clean up later if you need me."
Her eyes widened slightly, surprise flashing across her face. Then, without another word, she turned away and resumed torturing the man.
In the end, she finished it with fire magic. The purple flames roared to life, consuming the bodies in an instant. Not even a trace of blood remained.
Then she walked toward me, as if she wanted to say something. But before any words could leave her mouth, I spoke first.
"Follow me."
Without another word, Nyr and Senna made their way to a small restaurant tucked away in a quiet alley.
"I was a little hungry, you know that, right?" Nyr said casually as they sat down.
Senna heard his words, but she didn't respond. Her gaze was distant, her expression tense. She looked distracted—probably wondering how she should explain what he had just witnessed.
They sat across from each other at a small wooden table. The smell of grilled meat and spices filled the air, but Senna didn't seem to notice. She kept her eyes low, her fingers lightly fidgeting with the edge of her cloak.
Nyr took a bite of his food, chewed slowly, then glanced at her.
"You going to eat?" he asked, not unkindly.
She shook her head. Her voice came out quiet, almost hesitant. "You should be asking… why I did that."
"I figured you'd tell me if you wanted to," Nyr replied calmly.
Senna's ears twitched, and her tail, now back to its soft and fluffy form, curled slightly behind her. She looked up at him, searching his face for judgment—but there was none.
"I didn't mean for you to see that," she finally said. "But… I couldn't let them go. Not after knowing who they are."
"Who they are?" he asked, his tone still even.
Senna's lips pressed into a thin line. Her gaze drifted to the side, staring at something far beyond the wooden walls of the little restaurant.
"They are Umbra Claw."
I looked at her and spoke. "Oh, those sons of bitches. Always stirring up shit here and there. But… I can tell this was personal. If you want to tell me, go ahead. If not, I can understand."
She looked at me, eyes searching mine, unsure at first. Silence stretched for a few seconds, heavy with unspoken words.
Then something shifted in her expression—a quiet resolve.
"I… I don't mind telling you," she said softly.