"So, Lily… you finally decided to come home."
Michael's deep voice carried both relief and anger.
Before Lily could reply, her father reached forward and tugged her ear.
"Dad! Stop—it hurts!" she yelped.
"You're grounded," he said firmly, his face stern.
"Dad! You're embarrassing me—in front of my friend!"
Michael blinked, finally noticing the pale-haired man standing silently behind her.
"…And who exactly is that?"
"You didn't notice him either?" Lily asked, a little surprised.
The stranger stepped forward with a hesitant smile. "Good evening, sir. My name is Zaino. It's nice to meet you." He extended his hand politely, though his grin seemed slightly awkward.
Michael's expression hardened. He ignored the handshake and narrowed his eyes.
"Who are you—and what do you want from my daughter?"
"Dad!" Lily cut it. "He's not dangerous! He saved me today… from a wyvern."
Michael frowned. "…You saved her? How much money do you want? Take it and leave."
Zaino scratched the back of his head nervously. "No, no. I don't want anything.
She… invited me to stay."
Michael turned to his daughter in disbelief. "So you invited him for dinner?"
Lily shook her head. "…No. I want him to stay here. For a while."
He pulled her aside, lowering his voice.
"Why would you bring a stranger into our house? He could be dangerous."
"Dangerous? Sure, he looks like he could kill a few men if he wanted—
They both looked back,At him
Yes he looks like he killed someone just now,
but he's not. He has nowhere to go, Dad. He doesn't even know where he's from. His memory is broken. I thought… it would be best if he stayed with us."
Zaino what has got himself into,
Michael crossed his arms. "And what's his goal? What is his life goal then?
Lily hesitated. "…He said he wants to kill the gods of this world."
Michael nearly choked. "What kind of ridiculous goal is that?"
As Michael wrestled with the thought, Zaino stood silently. The whispers were not subtle—he could hear every word.
"This is… awkward. Maybe I should just leave," Zaino said quietly.
"Wait." Michael raised a hand. "…You can stay. But no funny business."
First of all you need a shower you stink,
Lily shows him the way to the bathroom,
And he takes a shower, his body feels refreshed,
---
Dinner
"You two sit at the table," lily said. "I'll prepare something quick."
The atmosphere was heavy as Zaino and Michael sat across from each other in silence.
"Could someone bring the plates?" lily called from the kitchen.
Both man stood at once.
"Zaino, sit down," Michael said sharply.
"But sir, I should help—"
"I said sit down!"
Zaino lowered himself instantly. "…Yes, sir."
Soon the table was filled with steaming dishes. Zaino's eyes widened as though he were staring at treasure.
"They look… amazing. But… what is this?" he asked.
Michael's brow furrowed. "…You really don't know? Lily, you were right. His memories must be gone."
Lily shook her head. "Not all gone. He just doesn't know where he came from."
Michael sighed. "This is called soup."
Zaino took a spoonful. The moment the taste hit his tongue, tears streamed down his face.
"Zaino? Why are you crying?" Lily asked softly.
He lowered his spoon. "…This… this is the first real food I've had in… forever."
Lily blinked. "…It's really that good?"
He finished the bowl in moments, then gulped down water like it was vanishing.
"Please… may I have more?"
Michael handed him another serving, raising a brow. "How long has it been since you last ate?"
Zaino tilted his head. "…Maybe a few million years ago."
Both father and daughter spat their soup out at once.
"A million?!"
Michael slammed a hand on the table. "How old are you?"
Zaino shrugged. "A few million… maybe more. I don't even know what comes after a million."
The table went silent.
---
As they ate, Lily suddenly asked, "Zaino… when that wyvern bit off your arm, how did you grow it back?"
Michael's eyes shot open. "What?! You regrew an arm? What kind of magic is that?!"
Zaino's expression darkened. "…It's not magic. It's the curse of hell. That's why my body regenerates."
Father and daughter exchanged glances. "I… see."
Inwardly, Zaino frowned. Why are they so calm? Normal people should be terrified. He wanted to ask—but held back.
---
Evening
After dinner, the three moved to the living room. Lily tossed herself onto the sofa and grabbed the remote.
"Today is race day. No one touches the remote."
"Wait," Lily protested. "I wanted to watch my show!"
"I called dibs first," Michael shot back.
Meanwhile, Zaino sat cross-legged on the floor, staring wide-eyed at the glowing box.
"Why are you sitting on the floor?" Lily asked. "Sit on the sofa."
Zaino hesitated, then slowly lowered himself onto the cushions. His eyes widened. "…So soft."
The TV roared to life. Michael leaned forward excitedly. "This is F1. Look at those cars go!"
Zaino's jaw dropped. "…How is that black box showing so many things? Why are there so many tiny people inside? What kind of magic is this?!"
Both Lily and Michael looked at him blankly.
"…It's not magic," Lily said at last. "It's called a television."
Michael immediately launched into a long explanation about F1. Lily groaned. "Dad, stop. He doesn't understand a word of what you're saying."
They watched the race until it ended late at night.
"It's time to sleep," Michael declared.
Lily guided Zaino to a spare room. "You can stay here as long as you want."
Zaino touched the bed cautiously. "…So soft. Not like the ground I used to sleep on." His voice dropped. "But… why are they being so kind to me? I can't let my guard down."
That night, he lay awake, his strange black book floating silently beside him. No one else seemed to notice it.
Why? Why does no one question anything?
He didn't sleep all night
---
The Next Morning
"Breakfast is ready!" Lily knocked on his door.
Zaino devoured the food like a starving beast.
"Where's your father?" he asked between bites.
"He went to work at dawn. He's at a restaurant nearby."
Zaino tilted his head. "A restaurant?"
Lily smiled faintly. "Yeah. I told him he doesn't need to work, but he insists. He'll be back in the evening."
---
At the Guild
Later that day, they went to the Adventurers' Guild.
"Zaino!" Frank, the guild receptionist, grinned. "I thought I'd never see you again. Glad you're back."
He handed Lily a commission slip. "Today's request is for herb gathering."
"No thanks," Lily said quickly, glancing at Zaino. She pulled him toward the quest board. "We'll take something else."
Her eyes landed on one notice: Eliminate the Giant Man-Eating Flower. Threat Level: Silver.
"This one."
Zaino nodded. "Let's go."
---
They got out of town and they walked through the forest together and they both talked about many things.
The two arrived at the forest clearing. A massive flower with gaping jaws towered before them.
"It's weak to fire magic," Lily muttered, readying her bow. "Zaino, are you ready?"
"Yes."
He straightened his arm from his book—and from it, pulled out a sword.
Without hesitation, he charged forward and slashed the monster in half.
"Idiot!" Lily shouted. "I told you to use magic!"
Behind him, the flower stitched itself back together, its vines snapping around his legs. Acid hissed as it tried to dissolve him.
Zaino tore himself free, though half his body melted in the process.
"Zaino!" Lily cried. "Your body—"
He stood firm, expression calm. "It doesn't hurt."
His flesh regenerated instantly.
She asked why didn't you use magic in first place and aimlessly acttaked the flower.
He said I actually don't know how to use magic.
"You don't know magic?" Lily asked in shock.
"I don't," he admitted. "I thought you would use it."
Before they could argue further, the flower screeched and lunged again.
Zaino shielded her from the attack.
"Hurry!" get out of the way he shouted.
Lily pulled out a spellbook and began chanting. Sweat poured down her face.
She started chanting it takes a few minutes,
Zaino was distracting the flower,
"Then he said to hurry it up"will blocking its acttaks,
A blazing fireball finally erupted, crashing down onto the monster and burning it to ash.
Her knees buckled.
"Lily!" Zaino caught her in his arms.
"I… used up all my mana," she whispered weakly.
"Can you walk?"
"No… but I'll try."
He crouched down and offered his back. "Get on."
She blushed furiously. "N-no!"
"Come on. Don't be stubborn."
After a pause, she climbed onto his back.
---
Return
As they walked back, she murmured, "You really don't know magic?"
"No."
"Then how do you heal yourself like that?"
"…I told you. The curse of hell. That's why I can't die."
She fell silent.
After a while, she asked, "Can you take my phone from my bag? I need to call Dad."
Zaino pulled out the device, staring. "Ah, the strange clock. How can you call someone with it?"
"It's not a clock," Lily sighed, realizing again how little he knew. She explained as they continued.
By the time they returned to town, she could stand again. They reported to the guild, collected their reward, and returned home.
They both got home lily said go sit I will make lunch for us,
Michael came rushing in, panic on his face. "Lily! Are you hurt?!" His eyes locked on Zaino. He grabbed his collar. "I trusted you!"
"Dad, stop!" Lily pulled him away. "He protected me. He saved me."
Michael let go reluctantly.
At lunch, Zaino set his spoon down and looked at them seriously.
"…I want to talk. Both of you—sit down."
They exchanged glances, then obeyed.
Zaino's voice was steady. "Why are you both acting so strange? When I ask questions, you go silent. When something abnormal happens, you accept it without reaction. It… bugs me."
Lily froze. Michael frowned.
"I mean… Lily, you never noticed my floating book. When I healed myself, you barely questioned it. The same with Frank. It's like… none of you want to know the truth."
A strange shiver passed through the room.
Lily blinked rapidly. "…Wait. Something just… clicked. I feel like… I was missing something all this time."
"Me too," Michael whispered.
"…Missing what?" Zaino asked.
"A desire," Lily said softly. "The urge to question. To know."
Michael's voice was firm now. "Zaino… what did you do to us?"
Zaino shook his head. "Nothing. I don't know what I did ."
Michael leaned forward. "Then tell us who you are. All of it."
Zaino hesitated, then took a deep breath.
"…I don't remember everything. But I'll tell you what I can."
The room fell silent.
And so, Zaino began his story.
continues.......