My hand trembled.
A cold chill crawled up my spine.
But the fear wasn't from killing a human — no.
It was the realization that I had almost become like him.
Something had been controlling him.
And for a moment… it had tried to control me too.
If I hadn't acted fast, I would've become someone else's puppet.
Just like him.
"Calm down... goddamn it, calm down."
I screamed the words in my head as I stared at my bloodstained, trembling hands.
After several deep breaths, I forced myself to stay steady.
I needed to move. Now.
Whoever had been controlling that man... they would have sensed the connection break.
They could be on their way already.
I knelt beside the corpse, quickly searching it for anything useful.
I wasn't disappointed — he had a few folded bills in his coat pocket. I pocketed them.
After wiping the blood off my hands and knife using the dead man's clothes, I turned and slipped out of the alley.
---
A few streets later, I found a small food stall.
I bought a bottle of water and a warm bowl of stew.
Almost a quarter of the money was gone just like that.
Night let out a sigh, staring at the few bills he had left.
If this Nightmare lasted much longer, he'd definitely need more.
---
By noon, I had managed to gather some intel.
This place was called The City of Dawn.
To the west of the city stretched a vast forest — one said to be crawling with nightmare creatures.
If I was right, then the brown-haired man I had killed… was under the influence of one of them.
And not just any monster.
It had to be an intelligent one — possibly a Devil-class Nightmare or higher, with mind and soul-affecting powers.
Which meant...
The city was already infiltrated by nightmare creature.
---
"My luck's always been good..."
Night muttered under his breath as he ate, frustration rising in his chest.
"...But it looks like that streak just ran out."
He wanted to curse out loud but forced himself to stay calm.
Still, he took another bite and gave a small nod.
"Damn… the food here's actually amazing."
After finishing his meal, Night made sure to memorize the shop's location. The food here was surprisingly good, and if the rest of the city's cuisine didn't measure up, he'd return.
Standing up, he dusted off his clothes and began strolling through the streets.
Even as he walked, his vigilance never dropped. In a place like this, letting your guard down meant death.
He moved through the crowd like a shadow — quiet, unnoticed — occasionally picking a pocket here and there.
With [Insight], it was easy to choose the right targets. People distracted, careless, vulnerable.
"Most of them will die eventually," Night thought.
"What good is money to a corpse?"
As for shame?
"What is shame going to do — feed me? Keep me alive?"
He didn't think so.
---
Once he had a decent stack of cash, he decided it was time to buy a weapon.
He stopped a few people, asking for directions to a weapon shop.
One finally responded — a young man around 18 or 20 with messy green hair and an overly friendly grin.
"Weapon shop? Yeah, I'm headed there too. You can follow me," he said with enthusiasm.
"I'm Alex, a swordsman."
"Night. Thanks for the help," Night replied, giving a polite nod as he discreetly scanned Alex for danger.
He was definitely strong. Possibly even an Awakened.
Still, nothing seemed malicious.
Even so... Night remained prepared for the worst.
"Haha, it's nothing! I'm going that way anyway," Alex said, waving his hand and walking confidently into the distance.
---
Two minutes later, Night regretted every life choice that led him here.
"Wait... wasn't it supposed to be right here?" Alex mumbled, looking around in confusion.
Night followed him in silence, the corners of his eyes twitching from suppressed irritation.
"This idiot can't even walk straight without getting lost.
And he had the confidence to tell me to follow him?"
Night took a breath.
"Alex," he said flatly. "Let me ask you something. Do you know what your flaw is?"
"Huh? No idea. Also, that's kind of rude, you know — asking people about their flaw. Not cool," Alex muttered as he continued to look around aimlessly.
Night sighed. He was done.
"I bet your flaw is called [Lost].
Because in my entire life, I've never met anyone more hopelessly directionless than you.
You've truly expanded my perspective. I used to think flaws had limits."
"huh I'm not lost — the city's just built wrong!"
Alex folded his arms. "At least I talk to people instead of creeping in alleys like a thief."
"just believe me I an not that bad with direction "
A Few Minutes Later...
"You're clearly lost again. Just shut up and follow me," Night snapped as he grabbed Alex by the collar and dragged him forward.
A kind passerby had just given him accurate directions — and he'd had enough of Alex's creative navigation.
"Hey! Stop dragging me, you bastard! I can walk normally!"
Alex struggled behind him, but Night didn't even flinch. His patience was long gone.