Chapter 5
Shin wakes up. the weight in his chest feels heavier than the night before.
Nothing has changed. Not the city. Not the world. Not him.
He realizes that he has not taken a single step closer to his goal.
Everything that has happened so far has left its marks, yet the world itself has not changed.
At that moment, he makes a decision.
He must leave this city.
Shin gets up, gets dressed, and goes downstairs to the inn. Isabella is standing at the counter. He asks her to take a moment and tells her everything about his goal, his dream, and the fact that he can no longer stand by and watch people suffer.
Isabella listens in silence. Then she sighs softly.
"Do you really have to go?"
Shin nods resolutely.
"Yes. If I stay, nothing will change. I don't want to see anyone suffer anymore. Even if my goal demands sacrifices… I will achieve it."
Isabella opens her mouth, then closes it again. In the end, she does not stop him.
"Then you should know this: the beginning of a better world is an independent city. A city without discrimination."
Shin looks at her and nods.
"I know. And I will make it happen. Thank you… for supporting my dream."
As a farewell, Isabella prepares a breakfast for him to take with him. Shin says goodbye to everyone in the inn, then heads to the Adventurers' Guild to report his departure.
Lylia is standing at the counter as always.
"You're leaving?" she asks.
"Yes."
She nods and hands him his identification card.
"With this, you can travel anywhere."
Shin thanks her and finally leaves the city. The gates close behind him.
Shin travels without a destination.
Six hours pass. As night falls and his exhaustion becomes impossible to ignore, he sees a fire in the distance. He walks toward it.
As he gets closer, he freezes.
Someone is sitting by the campfire someone he never expected to see here.
"…Ray?"
The boy jumps to his feet.
"Shin?! Is that really you?!"
The two embrace, sit down by the fire, and begin talking about the past about their training, their childhood, and all the days long gone.
"Where is Arthur?" Shin finally asks.
"And his hero party?"
Ray grows quiet.
"After Arthur formed the hero party, he left the castle. He's now pursuing his own goal."
Shin nods.
"I see."
Ray looks at Shin.
"And what are you doing here?"
"I want to fulfill my dream."
Ray nods slowly. Then he talks about his own goal.
Shin listens and freezes.
"Your sister… was kidnapped?"
Ray nods.
After that, Shin talks about his dream.
"I want to abolish the three-class system. Everywhere. I want equality."
Ray smiles faintly.
"That's a beautiful dream."
They decide to sleep. Shin is completely exhausted.
The next morning, they set out together.
Ray tells him that the king of this land will hold a grand celebration in three weeks.
"Three weeks," Shin says thoughtfully. "Enough time to grow stronger."
Ray nods.
"But the celebration is only for nobles."
"Of course," Shin replies coldly. "Things like this should concern all living beings."
Ray explains that important matters will be decided at the celebration.
Shin waves it off.
"Doesn't matter. At least we can see Arthur and Luna again."
Ray looks at him seriously.
"Don't you want to know how Arthur's sister is doing? Your own fiancée."
Shin freezes. For a moment, he forgets how to breathe.
"Historia… what about her?"
Ray lowers his gaze.
"She is terminally ill."
"What?!" Shin turns pale. "No… I have to heal her. But first, we need to find the cause of the illness."
Ray nods.
"The healers say she has two to three years left."
Shin clenches his fist.
"Then we'll search for herbs. Knowledge. Everything."
Ray agrees.
"Hopefully, we'll learn more at the celebration."
Shin remains silent. Guilt weighs heavily on him.
He never went to see her.
Ray says nothing. He simply stays by his side.
What will they experience in the dungeon?
And what will happen at the celebration?