Following his master's steps, Jay walked absentmindedly. That strange dream still lingered in his mind.
'That dream… something's off about it. It felt like… that version of me with Saint Clarice wasn't really me. That's weird.'
"Watch out for the treeee—"
Snapping out of his thoughts, Jay looked at his master, who wore a strange expression.
A mischievous smile. Eyes that seemed to crave chaos.
Jay raised an eyebrow—
Thud.
His head slammed straight into a tree.
Pain exploded across his forehead as a bump quickly formed.
"Ow—ow—ow!" Jay grabbed his head. "Dude! Why didn't you warn me I was about to hit a tree?!" he shouted angrily.
"Because I wanted to see it," Beijamim replied casually, continuing to walk.
'Something's off with this kid… He's way too distracted. He's always a bit like that, but this? This is different.'
While Beijamim thought that, Jay kept grumbling behind him.
After a while, the scenery began to change.
The leaves of the trees turned orange.
'Why do I feel like I've seen trees like this before…?' Jay thought, raising an eyebrow.
Beijamim's lips curled slightly.
"We're close to our destination."
"Seriously?! Already?" Jay tilted his head, eyes wide.
Beijamim instantly deflated, his shoulders dropping.
"Just because it only took two days? You ungrateful brat!"
Jay sighed.
"But it was fast—and…" he pointed at his master. "When exactly was I ungrateful? Do you have proof?"
"…No, I don't."
"Then I—"
"Yes! For the first time in your life, my disciple has defeated me! Hahaha!"
Jay closed his eyes, smiling proudly with his hands on his hips.
Then—
Beijamim's expression changed.
A giant was approaching.
The creature was wounded. Blood ran down its arm. Its posture was broken, dragging a sword across the ground.
And its eyes…
'Empty.'
Its clothes were soaked in blood. The trail left behind by the dragging blade made it clear—it had just come from a battle.
"Jay, look behind you," Beijamim said calmly.
Jay frowned, but obeyed.
When he turned—
He saw it.
A massive figure, around eight to nine meters tall, covered in blood. A hot, crimson liquid dripped from its worn clothes.
Jay's body reacted instantly.
His hair stood on end.
A cold sweat ran down his spine.
The giant slowly raised its sword.
The ground split beneath it.
Jay drew his sword.
The smell of blood filled the air.
His hands trembled.
His sword trembled.
His heart pounded violently in his chest.
'It's obvious… it just fought someone. This'll be a good experience for the kid… wait—did I explain powers and species to him?' Beijamim thought.
The fight began.
The giant swung its bone blade.
Jay jumped to the side as the earth burst apart.
Rolling across the ground, he dashed forward—
But the giant dragged its blade through the dirt, sending a wave of earth slicing toward him.
Dust filled Jay's vision.
He leaped back instinctively.
'Damn! No openings… so this is what fighting a giant is like?!'
He tightened his grip, teeth clenched, and charged again.
The giant swung horizontally.
Jay jumped—barely noticing the attack.
Watching from afar, Beijamim felt sweat trickle down his forehead.
'Idiot.'
He stepped forward, ready to intervene.
Before it was too late—
Jay suddenly sensed it.
He turned—
A bone blade was already coming straight at him.
It almost felt eager… to cut him in half.
He raised his sword just in time.
Clang!
The impact sent him flying into a tree.
He crashed to the ground, grimacing in pain.
'I think… I strained something in my right arm…'
Groaning, he forced himself up.
Facing the giant—
Like a lion refusing to lose its territory.
Biting his lip from the pain, he charged again.
The giant roared, red particles spilling from its mouth as it raised its weapon.
The blade came down.
Jay dodged.
Before the giant could react, he stepped onto the blade—and ran along it.
Up the arm.
The giant didn't resist.
Didn't move.
The trembling arm vanished from his awareness.
Jay reached the shoulder.
The giant closed its eyes.
Accepting its fate.
Jay didn't hesitate.
His sword moved.
One clean strike—
The head fell.
Beijamim exhaled in relief, wiping sweat from his forehead with a smile.
Standing atop the giant's body, Jay looked at his hand.
Then—
Pain.
A sharp, brutal pain shot through his arm—his shoulder.
He dropped to his knees.
His sword fell from his grip.
Clenching his teeth, he grabbed his shoulder tightly.
'It hurts…!'
The price had come.
"Jay!" Seeing him collapse, Beijamim rushed toward him.
Jay's vision blurred.
His strength faded.
"JAYYYYY!!!"
Darkness.
A dim light flickered from a single lamp.
Gabriel stood there, expression cold and unshaken.
In front of him sat a man on a worn chair.
"So… you killed him?" the man asked in a cold voice.
Gabriel nodded.
"Yes. I did as you requested."
The man let out an unpleasant laugh.
"Ha… ha… ha… Excellent. I can always rely on you for these… 'jobs,' you know?"
"…"
The man pulled out a suitcase.
"Here's your reward."
Without a word, Gabriel took it.
He turned and walked toward the door.
"Hm."
Gabriel glanced back, his expression asking what?
"In two days—no, tomorrow—you'll have another job."
"Understood."
The sound of the door opening and closing echoed through the room.
A crackling fire pulled him back.
Jay slowly opened his eyes.
Above him—
A dark sky.
'Why… have I been having these strange dreams lately?'