I paused for a moment in front of the table, my eyes locked on the figure of the woman. The silence in the Tavern grew more intense, broken only by the occasional footsteps of waiters serving other customers. But the woman—she had an aura unlike anyone else, one that seemed to demand attention.
The blonde-haired woman stared at me sharply, as if trying to assess who I was. Her movements were calm, yet full of caution, like someone expecting something to happen. As our eyes met, I knew I was facing a Valkyrie.
"Are you looking for something?" she asked, her voice low and commanding.
"I... was just passing by. Didn't mean to intrude," I replied, my voice slightly stiff.
She raised an eyebrow, as if not entirely convinced by my answer. "Is that so? Then stop staring at me."
I let out a slow breath and sat at the table across from her. Her right hand reached toward the large sword resting on the table. That greatsword wasn't just a symbol of strength—it was proof of fierce battles. I guessed her identity from the silver armor she wore, gleaming under the morning light.
She studied me with an expression that was hard to read. Her eyes swept over my appearance from head to toe, then returned to mine with a look full of unspoken thoughts.
Then, with a slightly lighter tone, she said, "It's rare to meet a man with your build. But you... you just look like an ordinary guy, wearing such plain clothes."
I flinched a bit, although I never really cared about appearances—as long as it was comfortable. The plain black shirt and dark jeans I wore were simple, maybe even boring compared to the people I'd met during my long journey.
"Is that strange?" I asked casually, though a bit of tension still lingered in my voice.
She leaned back in her chair, as if pondering something. "Not strange. But in a world like this, it often feels like there are two sides constantly clashing—the ordinary and the extraordinary. Like the upper zone and lower zone here. You know, in this place, there's a stark difference between those who are 'valuable' and those who are 'worthless.'"
She paused for a moment, her eyes gazing out the Tavern's window, as if she could see a world far beyond what was right in front of her.
"In the upper zone, people have everything they want—nothing stands in their way. They have power, wealth, and the freedom to do anything, even treat the people from the lower zone like garbage. They can rape, steal, and destroy lives. And yet, strangely, it's always the people from the lower zone who get blamed. They're the ones punished. Beaten. Tortured by corrupt police."
I could feel the weight in her words. Something deep and filled with hatred toward the injustice of this world.
"You've... seen a lot of that, haven't you?" I asked.
She nodded slowly, her expression hardening. "Too much. And the saddest part is, the ones up top always get away with it, while those at the bottom are turned into scapegoats." Her voice wavered slightly, though she tried to remain calm.
She studied me for a moment, then motioned toward the empty seat beside her. "Sit," she said softly but firmly, like someone giving permission without the need for ceremony. "Don't hesitate."
I hesitated briefly, but eventually sat where she indicated. Alice picked up her wine glass and took a slow sip, savoring each drop. After a while, she set the glass down and met my eyes again.
"I'm Alice Cuthbert," she said, her voice no longer cloaked in mystery, but grounded in deep simplicity. "Just call me Alice. Rank-A Valkyrie, as you probably guessed."
I nodded in confirmation. "What brings you to this Tavern, especially in the morning? I thought people like you were usually off battling or maintaining the balance of the world?"
Alice gave a faint smile, lifting her glass again and examining its contents as if lost in thought.
"Normally, someone like me wouldn't be seen in a place like this. But sometimes, even a Valkyrie needs peace. The world isn't always about fighting. Sometimes, I just want a moment of silence. And this place—a quiet Tavern in the morning—offers a calm that's hard to find out there."
I couldn't help but keep watching her. My gaze remained fixed on her—her icy blue eyes held a depth that felt endless. But there was a certain emptiness in her stare, as if she was looking into a place only she could see.
Her eyes, her expression—everything about her hinted at a pain she had buried deep inside. I felt like there was something hidden within her, something far deeper than just battles or destiny.
I was still observing her, trying to analyze more deeply, when suddenly her voice broke the silence.
"Why do you keep staring at me?" Her tone wasn't harsh, but curious—like she genuinely wanted to know what I was thinking.
I was startled, and instantly my face grew hot. I got flustered, and suddenly my eyes felt like they had to look anywhere but at her. I felt cornered, unable to pretend nothing was wrong.
"I-I… I wasn't really…" I stammered, trying my best to sound casual. But the hesitation in my voice betrayed me.
Alice didn't seem to mind much. We ended up chatting about other things. It started with small talk, and somehow evolved into a conversation about world peace. I was shocked when I heard the words: Honkai monsters.
Suddenly, the world around me felt quieter, as if all the sounds in the Tavern had disappeared. I looked at Alice, who now sat calmly—but there was something dark flickering in her eyes. Something I'd never seen before, even in a powerful Valkyrie like her. There was suppressed hatred in her gaze—and a fierce determination.
But I, just an ordinary man, couldn't suppress my curiosity. Why? What had happened to her that made her so driven to seek vengeance on the Honkai?
There were so many questions I wanted to ask, so much I wanted to uncover—but I knew I had to tread carefully.
"Why… the Honkai monsters?" I asked, hesitant, but bold enough to voice the question that had surfaced in my mind.
But before Alice could respond, she took another sip of her wine, her throat subtly trembling as she swallowed. She remained silent, as if she hadn't heard—or perhaps chose not to answer.
I waited a few seconds. The longer I waited, the stronger the feeling grew that I wouldn't be getting an answer anytime soon.
Finally, Alice placed her glass carefully on the table. There was no anger or tension in her movements—only silence. Then she looked at me, her expression softer now, though still cold.
"You…" Her voice now felt deeper, heavier. "There are some things in life that can't be spoken of so easily to others. They're too personal. Even for a Valkyrie, there are wounds that words simply can't heal."
I fell silent. Honestly, I wanted to know more about what had happened to Alice—what gave her such unyielding determination to fight the Honkai. But from the way she spoke, I could tell this was darker, more personal than I had imagined.
I opened my mouth, wanting to say something, but the words died in my throat. She had made it clear—this wasn't a topic she was ready to discuss. Not with someone she'd just met.
Instinctively, my hand reached out toward the massive sword lying on the table. The weapon looked solid and gleaming, despite its simple appearance. My thoughts wandered—what did it feel like to rely on such a weapon in battle against the Honkai?
But before my fingers could touch it, Alice's voice shattered the quiet.
"Don't touch that," she said sharply, warning in her tone.
She looked at me with serious eyes—those icy blue eyes now sharper than ever.
"That weapon isn't just a tool of war. It's been with me through countless battles against the Honkai. It's more than metal and steel—it's a part of me."
I nodded quickly, feeling slightly awkward. Of course I should've known.
"How could I not realize that?"
To others, that sword might've seemed ordinary—but to Alice, it carried stories and memories far heavier than I could imagine.
Suddenly, Alice called out loudly, breaking the calm around us.
"Waiter! One more wine!" Her voice was firm and loud.
The waiter nodded and walked over to the bar to prepare the order. Alice exhaled slowly, her eyes returning to me with a look that, while still sharp, was now a little gentler.
"I think we've talked enough about me," she said more casually, as if trying to shift the focus. "Now, I'm curious about you."
"Me?" I hesitated, not quite ready to be the center of attention. "My name's Ethan R. Caldwell," I finally answered, trying to sound more confident. "You can just call me Ethan."
Alice observed me carefully, as if analyzing who I truly was. Still, she seemed rather approachable—despite her empty gaze and cold expression.
That day felt oddly beautiful—with Alice and me sharing a long conversation about the world in a quiet Tavern, while Chloe and Alexa were still fast asleep upstairs, recovering from everything that happened the night before.