His Ent munched on a chip, watching the chaos unfold.
"That damn bastard," it muttered.
Ahrie made his way down the tower, hands in his pockets.
At the exit, a man in armor blocked his way. Shoved a pouch into Ahrie's chest.
Ahrie blinked. "...The hell is this?"
"This is from the chief," the armored man said, tone flat. "Buy whatever you need. Your lodging's near the training grounds. Head there once you're done looking around the village."
Ahrie weighed the pouch in his hand, gave the man a nod, and kept walking without another word.
As he walked, his head wouldn't shut up.
Flashes of the trial. The gacha room. That cursed scroll.
Too many voices, too much noise, all grinding together in the back of his skull.
His feet dragged him without thinking. Straight toward the medical facility.
Time to patch himself up.
"Hi, welcome… how are you?" a gentle voice greeted.
Ahrie lifted his mangled arm, pointing at it with the other.
The healer's smile faltered. "Oh…"
She rushed behind him, hands on his shoulders, forcing him down into a chair before he could say a word.
She pressed her palms over his shattered arm.
[Healing Touch]
A faint glow wrapped around him—warm, steady.
His arm bending back to normal, skin closed, cuts faded like they were never there.
In seconds, his arm looked brand new.
"So… how are you adjusting?" she asked softly.
"Great," Ahrie said, rolling his shoulder and flexing the freshly fixed arm.
His thoughts flickered back to the scroll.
"We… kinda have similar skills," he muttered.
Her eyes brightened. "Ohh, you're a healer too?"
Ahrie froze.
His mind flashed back to the tower, to the faces he'd punched.
He scratched his cheek, forcing a crooked smile.
"Y-yea… kinda."
"Wow… that's great!" she beamed.
He slipped off the chair and headed for the door.
Just as his hand brushed the handle, the healer called out.
"If you ever reach any cities, remember to apply for a healer's license. You'll need it for identification."
Ahrie waved half-heartedly. "...Got it. Thanks."
The door shut behind him.
"Hey, he didn't pay," someone muttered from inside.
"Don't worry about it. Healers heal each other for free," she said with a smile.
"You serious? You didn't even confirm if he was one."
"...Oh."
The village buzzed around him—vendors yelling, kids darting, the smell of roasted meat in the air. Ahrie just wanted to find the damn library.
Then—
Movement in his peripheral vision.
He turned slightly. Daiki.
The bastard was puffing his chest, trying his best to charm a girl with sprouts out of her head.
Ahrie kept walking, pretending not to notice.
But as he passed, the words slipped out, clear enough to hear.
"I'm one sixty-four."
Ahrie's Ent spat out its drink, choking on laughter. Ahrie couldn't hold it in either.
He burst out laughing.
Ahrie's gaze locked with Daiki's
Both froze.
Daiki forced a crooked smile. "Hehe… y-yo, Ahrie, what's up?"
Ahrie turned away, walking faster.
"Oi!" Daiki darted after him. "You madafuc—why are you ignoring me?"
Ahrie snorted, "Didn't know you were into grandmas…pff."
"Shut it! I-I DIDN'T KNOW!" Daiki barked, too loud, too defensive.
Ahrie's gaze dropped to Daiki's gear.
Greatsword strapped across his back, new light armor glinting.
"Guess I need to get some gear too…" he muttered.
Daiki tilted his chin. "What'd you get?"
Ahrie blinked. "Got what?"
"Skill," Daiki pressed.
Ahrie sighed. "Healing."
Daiki burst out laughing. "Healing? That's rich."
Ahrie smirked… "why? You want a taste of it?"
"Tsk. If I had a skill, I'd beat your ass right here."
Without a word, Ahrie shoved the coin up to his face.
"Then go get yours."
Daiki's eyes flared wide. He snatched the coin and bolted toward the tower without looking back.
Ahrie Arrived at the library.
He pushed through the library doors.
The librarian's eyes locked on him—five seconds, unblinking.
Then he moved.
Ahrie frowned, not sure what that was about.
Moments later, the man returned and dropped a map and a slim, weathered book into Ahrie's hands.
The book's title was barely legible, but it looked like a monster guide.
Ahrie unfolded the map. The man's finger tapped the parchment.
"We're here. Closest kingdom's this way. Got it?"
Before Ahrie could answer—
He was already outside.
"???"
Ahrie went straight for the blacksmith's shop.
Pulled his pouch open and saw a bunch of bronze coins in it…
He counted it all… about thirty in total.
The blacksmith's shop smelled of soot and hot iron, racks of armor and weapons lined up.
Ahrie ran his fingers over a few before setting on light armor and a slim rapier.
Transaction done, he stepped outside and checked his pouch again.
Coin rattled. Three… Six… Eight…
"I've got eight left," he muttered, strapping the rapier to his side.
Ahrie made his way to the training grounds.
The place was alive—steel clashing, skills flashing, shouts cutting through the air.
As people tested their shiny new skills. Some cheered at their progress, others wore grim faces, sharpening their blades… honing their techniques because they knew this "safe zone" won't last long.
Ahrie sat off in the corner, arms folded, watching the chaos unfold.
Then—
BOOM!
A blast rattled the air.
"Oh my god… I-I'm sorry! It got out of control!" a panicked girl cried out.
On the ground nearby, another girl lay unconscious, her body scraped and burned.
"Quick, get her to the medical facility!" someone shouted.
"I–I don't have any bronze coins left…" the panicked girl muttered, guilt drowning her voice.
"Anyone with a healing skill, please! Help her!" a man begged, looking around the crowd.
Everyone stayed frozen. No one stepped forward.
Ahrie scratched the back of his head, let out a long sigh, then pushed himself to his feet.
He walked straight toward them, the crowd parting slightly as he approached.
The panicked girl looked up, wide-eyed. "A-Are you… gonna help her?"
Ahrie brushed past her. His voice dropped low.
[P.A.I.N.]
His hand lit up, glowing faintly.
The girl's eyes shimmered with hope.
"T-Thank you so mu—"
WHAM
Ahrie's fist slammed into the unconscious girl's stomach.
The entire crowd tilted their heads in unison.
"EEEHHH??"
The injured girl's body jolted.
Then the burns began to fade, cuts stitching back together.
Ahrie pulled his fist back, nodding with relief. His chest felt lighter.
"I helped someone… feels good," he thought, a small smile tugging at his lips.
He pushed himself up, brushed the dust from his pants. His gaze locked on the girl, still frozen in shock at what just happened.
"Tell her… she owes me one."
Then he turned, walking away without another word.
The crowd silently cleared a path for him, whispers trailing after him.
"... A damn psycho."
"Scary…"
"Yeah… definitely."