---
Kaito’s routine of crafting and survival became his anchor in the new world. Each day, his essence thrummed faintly, a constant reminder of its fragility and potential. The merchants now flocked to him, eager to procure his weapons, though he remained cautious, observing their greedy smiles and whispered schemes. His work was the talk of the market, yet he refused to let success soften his hardened demeanor. His essence had grown to 7 units enabling him to craft more weapons. Although he did not know why it increased he just decided to continue crafting and he will figure it out later. He was happy of this progress no matter how small.
---
The merchant who usually bought his weapons entered the inn his eyes searching every corner of the inn as he spotted Kaito his eyes brimmed with joy and anticipation.
"Kaito," he exclaimed walking towards where Kaito was having his breakfast.
"Ooh I see" Kaito thought an idea coming to his mind.
"So about the deal from yesterday i've been having a lot of demand lately have you crafted any new weapons?" the merchant asked revealing a smirk.
"Well I do but how much are you willing to pay for them?" Kaito asked noticing his smirk.
"How about 25 silver a piece?" the merchant responded almost instantly.
"Not interested" Kaito said. "You want to rip me off try again" Kaito thought. "I won't take anything less than 50 silver a piece"
"Deal but how many weapons are we talking about?" he asked curiously.
I can make 7 weapons everyday now what do you think.
He went to his room and brought a number of weapons and received his payment. The merchant left happily knowing he had made it big. Kaito was satisfied with the trade as it saved him the trouble of selling himself.
Yet, amidst the relentless grind of survival, Yumi lingered in his thoughts.
---
Yumi’s POV
From the corner of the inn’s bustling common room, Yumi observed the man who had been occupying her mind since their first encounter. There was something about him—a haunting familiarity she couldn’t place.
He wasn’t like the other adventurers or merchants who frequented the inn. His demeanor was colder, his presence quieter, yet his gaze carried a weight that made her feel seen in a way she wasn’t used to.
“Why can’t I stop thinking about him?” Yumi asked herself, clutching the serving tray tightly. She had served countless travelers, heard endless stories of bravado and tragedy, yet this one man seemed to pull at her as if they shared a history she couldn’t remember.
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
She shook her head, brushing off the thought. “It’s probably nothing. Just a passing fascination.” Still, her eyes wandered back to Kaito as he worked, his fingers deftly sketching designs in his notebook.
---
Kaito’s POV
Kaito sat at the inn’s corner table, scribbling in a worn notebook. Each sketch was a blueprint of potential—a weapon, a tool, a concept born from his growing understanding of this world. His mind worked relentlessly, piecing together the properties of essence, materials, and design.
Yet, even as his thoughts raced, his gaze occasionally drifted toward Yumi. There was something about her—a familiarity that tugged at the edges of his memory.
“Do I know her or do she know me?” he wondered, the thought unsettling. He quickly dismissed it. He had no time for distractions. Survival was paramount, and distractions could be fatal.
But as he watched her move gracefully between tables, a strange sense of calm settled over him, almost against his will.
---
The Bond Begins
One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the inn’s common room buzzed with life, Yumi found herself walking toward Kaito’s table, her heart inexplicably racing.
“Are you always this focused?” she asked, placing a steaming bowl of stew before him.
Kaito glanced up, startled by her sudden approach. For a moment, he didn’t respond, his mind struggling to reconcile the odd familiarity he felt with her presence. Finally, he muttered, “It helps.”
“Helps with what?” Yumi pressed, her curiosity genuine.
“Staying alive,” he replied bluntly, returning to his sketches.
Yumi blinked, her chest tightening at the coldness in his tone. But she refused to let the conversation die. “You don’t seem like the typical adventurer.”
“I’m not,” Kaito said, his gaze still fixed on his notebook. “I’m just trying to survive like everyone else.”
Something in his voice caught Yumi off guard—a vulnerability hidden beneath the stoicism. She leaned closer, lowering her voice. “I think there’s more to you than just surviving, isn't there?.”
Kaito finally looked up, his piercing eyes meeting hers. For a brief moment, the world seemed to fall away, leaving only the two of them. But then he broke the gaze, his walls snapping back into place. “Even if there is, it doesn’t matter.”
Yumi straightened, a mix of frustration and intrigue bubbling within her. “You’re not very good at talking to people, are you?”
Kaito shrugged. “People usually don’t want to talk to me.”
“Well, I’m talking to you,” Yumi said firmly, her tone softening. “And I think you could use someone to talk to.”
Kaito’s lips twitched, almost forming a smile, but he quickly masked it. “Maybe.”
"Does he think am weird?" Yumi's thought as she walked towards the counter. "I don't feel like a nuisance do I? I wish we could talk more but maybe tomorrow since we've only known each other for a day and a half"
"What is wrong with me?" Kaito asked himself." Am I satisfied with this? Is this my purpose for living countless... No it's not i'll create my own path and story-- I won't let fate dictate where I stop" Kaito finished clenching his fist as he walked into his room.
---
That night, as Kaito lay in his rented room, his thoughts lingered on the conversation. Yumi’s words replayed in his mind, challenging his carefully constructed defenses.
“Why does she care?” he wondered, staring at the ceiling. “Why does she make me feel like I’ve known her forever?”
For the first time in years—perhaps centuries—he allowed himself to entertain the idea of connection, of letting someone in. But the thought was fleeting, crushed beneath the weight of his past.
“No,” he whispered to the darkness. “Attachments are dangerous. They only lead to pain.” Katio's heart began to ache as he recalled his past lives, nobody knew humanity better than him. He had seen and experienced the cruelty of the dark side of humans. Humans although not seen as threats become terrifying beings for benefit. One particular memory stuck in Katio's memory it was when he was sold of as a slave by his own father as collateral for debt.
Yet, despite his resolve, he couldn’t shake the image of Yumi’s smile.
---
Amidst all this, the news about the demons gathering at the borders of the continent began to spread. The Kingdom decided to summon a "hero" from another world since the last one did not summon hero material. This didn't matter to Kaito but he couldn't help but feel something big was gonna go down.
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End of Chapter 4