Chapter 1 - Abandoned

  “Watch out!”

  “Huh—?”

  Before Nagisa could process the warning, Sora was running towards him. He dove forward, sliding across the dungeon floor in a flash. His blade met the goblin’s dagger at the last possible moment, deflecting it before it could bury itself in Nagisa’s back.

  “Phew! That was close—thanks!”

  “I got your back.”

  Sora flashed a confident grin, as if it were second nature to him. Their teamwork was surprisingly solid—for a pair of rookies. Goblins were bottom-tier monsters, sure, but they made up for it with numbers. Even veteran adventurers knew better than to get careless around a goblin pack.

  “Let’s round ‘em up and head home. I’m starving.”

  “Sure thing!”

  Even with danger closing in, Sora had a way of keeping things light. Nagisa couldn’t help but agree—after spending the entire day in the dungeon, the thought of a good meal sounded pretty great. Eight goblins surrounded them, their beady eyes gleaming with malice. But Nagisa felt no fear.

  Sora is with me. We’ve got this.

  The metallic clang of weapons filled the air as they collided throughout the cavern, the sharp cries of goblins echoing as they fell one by one.

  “I’ll leave this one to you. You deserve the honors—call it round two.”

  “Thanks.”

  Nagisa’s gaze locked onto the goblin that had nearly stabbed him in the back earlier. His grip tightened around his shortsword as he lunged forward.

  The goblin snarled, thrusting its jagged blade toward him.

  Too slow.

  Nagisa slipped past the attack with a swift sidestep, his blade slicing diagonally across the creature’s chest.

  “GRAAAHHH—!”

  The goblin screeched, staggering back. But Nagisa wasn’t done. Without hesitation, he spun on his heel, driving his sword straight into its heart.

  With one final shriek, the goblin’s body dissolved into a dark mist, leaving behind nothing but a small, glimmering crystal.

  “Don’t forget to collect all the magic crystals!”

  “I know!”

  “Or we might be screwed this month!”

  Sora let out a half-chuckling laugh, his voice light despite their situation. The dungeon had been brutal, and the pile of crystals they’d gathered barely scratched the surface of their needs. Rent, city taxes, food—it all added up. New equipment? Only but a wishful thought. Their shortswords were barely holding together, edges chipped and uneven from too many battles.

  The two of them made their way to the guild hall, a familiar path they knew all too well. Inside, the usual reception desk came into view. Behind it stood a girl with short obsidian-colored hair, tied up neatly in a ponytail. Her soft lavender-blue eyes had a way of drawing attention, but it was rare to see anyone approach her. The sharpness in her gaze kept most adventurers at bay, but there was one who didn’t seem to care about her icy demeanor.

  “We’d like to exchange these. Please, Shizu.”

  As always, Nagisa left the business side to Sora. Only he was brave enough to call Shizuka "Shizu", a former level Three adventurer.

  He has a better way with people than I do.

  “Did you two have a good day in the dungeon?”

  Sora flashed a subtle nod, his smile warm and carefree.

  “I’m glad. That’ll be 1,800 Lunara.”

  “Onl—”

  “Thanks, as always!”

  Sora cut him off with a cheerful grin and a swift bow to the guild employee. Nagisa bit his lip, trying to hide his disappointment.

  “Guess it’s just plain bread again...”

  But even as he muttered, Sora’s smile remained unwavering. No matter how tight things got, Sora always managed to lift the mood, and that was something Nagisa couldn’t help but admire.

  After leaving the guild hall, the two made their way to the bustling market. The sounds of chatter filled the air, a constant hum as adventurers crowded the streets. The shops were packed, and even the outdoor tables of the restaurants had customers squeezing in. Nagisa couldn’t help but watch enviously. One day, maybe they’d be able to sit inside a restaurant. But for now, they could barely scrape together enough for a humble meal at one of the stalls near the quaint fountain in the middle of the plaza.

  “One bun of bread, please, Mr. Weir.”

  Sora’s voice was casual as he leaned toward their usual stall. The clerk, a man with a scruffy beard, frowned as he glanced up.

  “For you boys, how about I toss in one extra? Just don’t tell my missus.”

  With a sly look over his shoulder, he quickly slid another bun into their bag before his wife could spot the extra.

  Sora grinned, his smile widening.

  “I think she knows all about your little tricks. She just lets it slide because she finds us adorable.”

  “Shhhh—she’ll hear us!”

  The clerk hissed, his face turning a little red.

  “Alright, alright, we’re done. Others are waiting in line!”

  A woman’s voice called from the back, irritation mixed with amusement.

  Sora winked.

  “Thanks, Mrs. Weir.”

  The boys took their leave, their laughter light as they walked away. It was a small, almost playful routine they’d come to enjoy. The Weirs had always been kind to them, and it was clear they saw a bit of themselves in the two young adventurers. They’d even mentioned once that the boys reminded them of their son, who’d tragically lost his life in the dungeon years ago. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to make their hearts feel a little warmer.

  On their way home, Nagisa accidentally bumped shoulders with a few passing adventurers, while munching on the bread they had just bought from the stall.

  “I’m sor—”

  Before he could finish his apology, a fierce kick to his stomach sent him crashing into the wall of a nearby restaurant, a loud clashing sound ringing through the air.

  “Sorry? Do you even know who you just bumped into?”

  A voice sneered from above. The crowd around them began to murmur. This wasn’t just anyone; this was a member of the Ethelia Familia, one of the city’s most powerful and revered families, led by a goddess herself.

  The man standing before them was a beastkin—a level Four adventurer. His wolf ears, as black as charcoal, twitched above his head, while his sharp tail flicked behind him. His features were rugged, almost majestic in their roughness. The very image of a bad boy who’d steal the heart of any maiden with just a glance. His golden amber eyes bore into Nagisa as he approached with an almost menacing grace.

  “He didn’t mean it!”

  Sora stepped forward without a hint of hesitation, his eyes wide with urgency but his posture unwavering.

  “Please, Ryuu, accept our humblest apologies. Let’s not make a scene on this fine day in Valoriet.”

  The man, Ryuu, let out a low chuckle, his eyes narrowing at Sora’s words.

  “Hoo… you dare speak my name so casually? A mere level One? Fine, then. Consider this ‘done’ after one more blow!”

  Ryuu raised his spear, spinning it effortlessly in his hands with the elegance of a seasoned warrior. The weapon seemed to gleam in the sunlight as he took a step forward, the tip aimed directly at Sora.

  But Sora remained unfazed, his confident smile never faltering. He turned to Nagisa, his grin wide and reassuring.

  It’s fine. I’ll take it. I can tank a hit.

  Nagisa’s eyes welled up, his cheeks flooding with tears.

  “Stop—!”

  In the blink of an eye, the back end of Ryuu’s spear stopped inches from Sora’s face, an almost imperceptible figure emerging from the shadows.

  The cloaked figure leaned in, their voice soft but with a weight that made Ryuu freeze.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  His smile and bravery is irresistible… and he’s brimming with potential. I want him.

  Ryuu’s expression shifted dramatically, his sharp demeanor dissolving into a much more subdued one. His eyes flickered with sudden obedience as he turned away without another word.

  “Consider yourselves lucky. She has chosen to forgive you.”

  With that, Ryuu and his group turned, their departure punctuated by murmurs from the crowd.

  “Was that really her?”

  “What is she doing out here?”

  “No wonder they brought the whole group with them!”

  Sora lowered his head in gratitude, bowing deeply as the group vanished from sight. As soon as they were out of earshot, his posture relaxed, and he rushed to Nagisa’s side.

  “Are you alright? It’s not your fault! Those ignorant high-level family assholes shouldn’t have pushed you like that!”

  “I’m okay, thanks!”

  Upon rising, Nagisa coughed up a heavy amount of blood. In front of him, the bread had been ruined—flattened on the ground, trampled by passing strangers. He had dropped it when that brutal kick sent him flying earlier.

  “You’re not okay after all! Here, take half of mine!”

  “There’s no need for both of us to go hungry! It’s my fault!”

  “Don’t sweat it, we’re brothers, right?”

  Nagisa couldn’t refuse Sora’s kindness. They had been together since the orphanage, two lost kids clinging to each other in a world that had no room for them. Parents lost to the dungeon or abandoned by their own kin, leaving children to fend for themselves—it was a fate all too common. The luxury of a family was a dream reserved for the disillusioned or the rich.

  With Sora’s support, Nagisa leaned on his shoulder, and together they trudged home. The tavern they called home was a dilapidated place on the outskirts, far from the gleaming parts of the city. Still, it was costly for them, a constant reminder of the heavy weight they carried with every day that passed.

  They finally made it back to their room and single bed. Sora wore a mischievous grin, clearly up to something.

  “I’ve got just the thing to cheer you up!”

  A heavy sigh escaped Nagisa.

  "What?"

  What could possibly cheer us up after today?

  “Ta-da!” Sora dramatically pulled two scrolls from the bag with the crystals.

  “Is this what I think it is?”

  Sora gave a nod, confirming what Nagisa had suspected. It all clicked into place. Their hard work couldn’t possibly have added up to 1,800 Lunara. Shizuka had secretly slipped in two scrolls and knocked down their price for them. Nagisa’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

  “Yep, those are stat scrolls! Let’s see how much we’ve grown over the last three months!”

  Stat scrolls were vital. Normally, a goddess would offer this service for free once a week, but for children or non-adopted adventurers, the price was steep. The boost would only take effect once the stats were updated, meaning their previous stats would remain until then. It made the scrolls essential for any adventurer trying to survive in this dangerous world—without an update, there was no real increase.

  The two had made it a habit to avoid buying them too often—it hit their already tight budget quite hard.

  There were five different stat attributes. Three were used for combat.

  Strength (STR): Primarily determined one's aptitude for melee combat, endurance, and health.

  Dexterity (DEX): Primarily determined one’s aptitude for ranged weapons. Intelligence (INT): Primarily determined one’s aptitude for using spells and mana pool.

  The last two attributes determined more utility and chance-based factors.

  Agility (AGI): Determined one’s speed and reaction time.

  Luck (LUK): Determined one’s chances for additional loot or special encounters.

  “Would you like to go first?”

  Sora asked, his usual mischievous grin creeping onto his face. Nagisa shook his head.

  “Don’t mind me if I do then!”

  Sora’s grin widened as he retrieved the scroll and unrolled it. Nagisa couldn’t help but watch, a little jealous of his confidence. To break into Level Two, one had to have at least two stats surpassing 100. Sora’s stats appeared:

  [STR] 82

  [DEX] 41

  [INT] 78

  [AGI] 53

  [LUK] 65

  “Tskk! My stats have barely gone up!” Sora grumbled, frowning at the scroll. “A measly 8 in strength, 5 in intelligence… only 4 in agility!”

  His tone was lightly exasperated, but Nagisa knew better than to take it too seriously. Sora always had a tendency to bottle up his frustrations until they slipped out in moments like this.

  "Let’s see if you made any progress!"

  Nagisa glanced at his own stats, a little nervous.

  [STR] 55

  [DEX] 38

  [INT] 43

  [AGI] 74

  [LUK] 79

  “My stats remain as low as ever.”

  Nagisa sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.

  Both of them chuckled quietly, sinking back onto the threadbare sheets. The dim room felt even smaller with the weight of their shared frustration hanging in the air.

  “Two years and barely any increase in stats... It’s even slowing down. At this rate, it might take us years to reach Level Two.”

  Sora’s voice was heavy with weariness, his usual spark dimmed for a moment.

  Nagisa sat up a little straighter, feeling a wave of determination rise in him. It was his time to cheer his friend up.

  “But we can soon challenge the lower levels of Floor 1!”

  Sora blinked, and then a smile slowly returned to his face.

  “You’re right.”

  His tone brightened almost instantly, and the familiar grin was back.

  And just like that, the moment passed, leaving behind only the sound of the wind rustling through the cracked window.

  The two idly stared out the window, each lost in their thoughts about the day ahead. Was it finally time to dive deeper into the first floor? The idea of tackling a new challenge sent a jolt of excitement through their bodies.

  Sora broke the silence, slapping his cheeks with a grin that could light up the whole room.

  “Alright! Let’s do it!”

  He threw his fist out toward Nagisa, his smile infectious.

  “Yeah, let’s!”

  Nagisa answered, returning the grin and raising his fist to meet Sora’s.

  Just as their fists were about to collide in a celebratory bump, a loud crash echoed through the small tavern, shaking the wooden walls.

  “KYAAAA!”

  “WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”

  “ARGHHH!”

  “NO! PLEASE! DON— GRAAHKK!”

  Panicked screams and the sickening sound of bodies being sliced apart filled the air. The two froze, their fists still suspended mid-air, confusion and concern written across their faces.

  The door to their room was blown wide open, swinging violently with the force of something—or someone—crashing through it.

  The door flew wide open and out the window. Nagisa’s heart raced as his instincts kicked in. It’s my turn to protect Sora. He’s completely frozen with fear…

  The door flew wide open and out the window, sending a cloud of dust into the air, hiding the figure beyond. Nagisa charged forward, disappearing into the haze. But just as abruptly he had disappeared, he was sent flying backward out of it, crashing into the nightstand with a loud impact, breaking it apart in a violent burst.

  Sora snapped back to reality, drawing his blade in a swift motion.

  “WH—AT DO YOU GUYS WA—NT?!”

  His voice trembled, barely masking the fear for both of their lives.

  “Sora…”

  Nagisa’s voice was weak, strained.

  A familiar voice echoed through the mist, cold and menacing.

  “We’ve come for you. Our goddess has taken a liking to your potential. Consider it an honor to be hand-picked.”

  Out of the haze, Ryuu emerged, his imposing figure cutting through the mist like a predator.

  A figure stood behind him, speaking in a low, ominous whisper.

  “We’ve disposed of the rest... Only the two boys remain.”

  “Alright, only one more then.”

  Ryuu’s eyes gleamed with malice as he readied his spear and advanced toward them with deadly purpose.

  Nagisa’s heart sank. At least Sora is safe. I’m glad. His eyes filled with tears as he shut them tight. I was really looking forward to tomorrow…

  “WAIT! I will come willingly, but only under one condition. Spare Nagisa! Please, I beg of you.”

  Sora’s voice quivered, but his eyes—his expression—held a steady, unshakable resolve.

  “Your expression won’t change my orders!”

  Ryuu snarled, launching his spear forward with deadly precision, only for it to halt abruptly. Someone had gripped his shoulder with a force so unyielding it sent a jolt through the air.

  “Spare the boy. What if you ruin Sora’s potential by crippling his mind before the contract is made?”

  A smooth, melodic voice rang out from behind the cloud of smoke.

  Out stepped a woman, her presence slicing through the tension like a quiet melody. Her pink twin ponytails swayed with each step, almost as if they were weightless, casting a soft glow that illuminated the dim room.

  Despite her small frame, she possessed a figure that could rival the city’s most revered goddesses. Her slender waist and legs drew the eye of any adventurer who happened to glance her way. Their gazes were ensnared, as if they had fallen into a trance, willing to tear out their own eyes just to offer them to her on a silver platter.

  Her eyes shimmered like a twilight sky, a mix of soft purple and delicate pink, as though they were two star-crossed colors fighting for dominance. She held a staff with graceful precision, her posture dignified, but it was her aura that made her presence undeniable.

  “Emi, what do you think you are doing?”

  “Do I have to repeat it to you, for you to understand?”

  Ryuu growled, his patience thinning.

  “Fine! Grab the boy and let’s go!”

  Two figures rushed in, seizing Sora and pulling him toward the door. Emi shot a wink toward Nagisa.

  You’re welcome.

  “HOWEVER!”

  Ryuu slammed his spear into the floor with a deafening crack, splintering the boards beneath him.

  “You’re no longer friends. You don’t look for each other. You don’t speak. And if by some chance you cross paths on the streets—you’re strangers. Got it?”

  Nagisa struggled to support himself with the wreckage of the nightstand, blood dripping down one of his eyes, his body shaking with exhaustion.

  “SORA! Don’t go, don’t listen to them!”

  But Sora simply brushed aside the two adventurers holding his arms.

  “I CAN WALK FINE MYSELF!”

  He turned, the coldness in his gaze sending a chill through everyone in the room, but one person.

  “Sorry, do I know you?”

  “HA-HAHA! That’s more like it! No wonder the goddess picked you!”

  Ryuu’s laughter filled the air, echoing in the silence like a thunderclap. The words sent an icy shiver through the air. Nagisa froze, his chest tight, the weight of his helplessness suffocating him.

  Not again. NOT AGAIN.

  Every word he tried to speak caught in his throat, paralyzed by the cold, distant look in Sora’s eyes. A look that seemed to shut him out entirely.

  The group began to leave, and Ryuu, standing by the door, gave one final warning.

  “If you know what’s good for you, uphold your end of the bargain. Consider yourself lucky to be alive.”

  Nagisa’s hands trembled, biting down hard on his lip. Lucky?! How is this lucky?!

  Tears welled up, streaming down his face as he screamed in desperation.

  “AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

  As the sound of his cry reverberated in the air, the roof above cracked open, and the full moon shone down upon him.

  Tomorrow… tomorrow we’ll go together... Sora...

  His consciousness began to fade, his one open eye slowly closing, and all he could hear was the echo of his own heart.

  Tomorrow...

  Blood dripped down his back, splashing onto the skill scroll. It gleamed faintly, its magic reacting, adding a new skill slot:

  — “The Lone, Unblessed.”