I woke with a jolt, cold sweat drenching my body. The moment my gaze fell upon the weirdly smiling ceiling once again, I realized it was merely a dream. A fleeting nightmare that had always roused me up from my sleepless night.

Again, and again. Countless nights that I’d experienced it. And countless nights that I suffered from its hands. A simple nightmare that takes different shapes. Yet, at the very end, they always offered me one thing, a cold sweat of dread which deprived me from my night. However, this one perhaps was a little unusual. Like really–

“...-the fuck was that!?”

Covering my face with my palm, I tried to recall the dream that I had. However, no matter how hard I spun around it, I just couldn’t make a sense of it. It was just too ridiculous. And without realizing it, a chuckle escaped out of my mouth. Perhaps, one was born out of exasperation.

“....hehahha..”

And, yes, perhaps, in some way it made sense. In a certain way, yes. Looking back at the right hand that was covering my face, I saw it, my right hand. Momentarily, I let out a heavy sigh. Certainly, a dream was merely a dream. Even if part of it somehow materialized from the deepest of my thoughts or from my far thought experience.

I believed, She wouldn’t die, perhaps not before me. As she was much stronger than me, more sly, and better at the swords, or perhaps dagger, and more crafty. Perhaps, in one of many chances if it were happened like that, it wasn’t my matter as I’d already washed my hands clean off of the matter.

Looking through the curtainless windows by the bed, I could see the night was still brimming high in the sky with its countless stars. Perhaps, a bit of fresh air would do me some good.

“hah..” A leaked sigh escaped.

I pushed my body forward to stand up. The wound on my shoulder ached a bit, feeling numb from the stiffness of the sleep.

The first step I took upon the floorboards was heavy. The slight dizziness overcame me as I almost staggered on my feet, creating a creaking noise under my weight. Nevertheless, I pushed forward, as it was just the usual circumstances.

The door pulled open; there was no key needed as I have no reason to do so. And what greeted me upon opening was the hallway lit by the orange light on the wall. Perhaps someone was still awake.

Squinting my eyes against the harsh light, I made my way to the left, where the stairs resided. One step and another. After turning left again, I descended the stairs. My footsteps echoed alone amidst all the silent noise. In the room below, I found Belaius seated alone at one of many tables in the room. To be exact, he occupied the spot where I had been before, near the door.

His huge figure hunched forward slightly against the table, his expression dour. On the table lay a pair of glasses beside a bottle of liquor. I thought I could sneak past him unnoticed, for I didn’t want to disturb him. However, not even four steps away from the stairs, he noticed my presence, as he lifted his gaze toward me. His cheeks flushed albeit only slightly, likely from the drinks he'd consumed.

“... Couldn’t sleep?” he asked, as I approached closer.

“No,” I replied, considering my response. “I slept like a log. The bed is truly comfortable, the highest end if I could say. But, for a poor man like myself, it makes me kinda restless, you know.”

“Besides, if I were to choose, perhaps, I would consider myself a morning guy.”

“That’s a high compliment, I don’t know how to respond to that. And, it sounds like a lip service to me.” He laughed softly.

“No, no, no. What I said was true, and it wasn’t an exaggeration.”

And, yeah, it wasn’t. And, thanks to that, perhaps, I was able to see an impressive dream, or maybe a nightmare to be exact.

But, yeah? Somehow, I feel kinda jittery today, it’s like there is a high constant energy inside me. I don’t understand why, though. But, perhaps, is it the power of sleep? Is it the power of sleep, right!!? Is this it!!? What a Madness.

I almost reflexively shook my head in awe, but I stopped myself at the last second. What a close call. And, for the record, I didn’t let out any huff either.

“Is that so? But, aren’t you being a little too morning for that, the sky barely has any light out there, you know?”

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Perhaps, but isn't being a little too early better than being a little too late? It's like, you know, the more-earlier early bird catches more worms than the already earlier early bird.”

“I see, that sounds plausible,” he chuckled again. “What do you think, Bobby? Care to join me for a drink?” He raised his glass, and through its transparent looking content, I could see the brown liquid swaying forth.

“I’m sorry, I think, I’ll refuse, I’m not very good with liquor.”

“That’s a shame, I feel like we could have some talks over a drink. By the way, where are you going at this late?”

“I think I’ll take a walk outside a bit.”

“At this late?”

“Yeah, I thought maybe a bit of fresh air will do me good. Is there anything wrong?”

“No, it’s completely fine. It's just an uncommon habit that I have rarely seen in this area. Then, by all means.”

I excused myself at his words. However, as I was about to walk past him, he called me out again, bringing me to a halt in my tracks.

“Bobby? … Right? Speaking of which, is that your real name?”

“What makes you think so?”

“No, I’m just wondering. I mean, the name Bobby itself is not really uncommon around these areas of the empire, and the fact that you introduced yourself with no family name, perhaps you have your own reasons. An adventure custom, I presume. Fortunately, I was blessed to have become acquainted with some of them. Good lads.”

“That’s certainly true; the name Bobby isn’t that strange around these areas of the empire, as I’ve encountered multiple people with that name. And, yes, adventurers rarely use their own family names; the reasons are many, but mostly they just want to avoid the conflict that it can bring, which mostly involves nobles.”

“So, you aren’t denying it? That you’re an adventurer?”

“Is there a reason for me to deny it?”

“No, not quite. But, you aren’t exactly confirming it, either. If that is true, then it strikes me as odd. When I saw you in the Lagorya forest before, the way you handled yourself against the red lychantes can be considered accustomed. And, that’s when I thought you were an adventurer, but then I found no adventurer tag on your neck, nor in any of your belongings.”

“I see. Actually, it’s because I lost it.”

No, as a matter of fact, I actually threw it away. No, to be exact, I crushed it first until it became no shape, and threw it away. There was a chance for an identity theft, but of course the adventurer guild has their own precaution measures to that.

So was it a waste of time, then? Perhaps, yes. Besides the chance of someone stealing it among others one’s probably very unlikely. Better to be safe than to be sorry, I suppose. And, it would feel unfortunate if someone were actually taking my name, even by accident. Or perhaps they deserved it.

Or perhaps, the chance of someone stealing my identity among others one's probably very unlikely. Better be safe than to be sorry, besides I feel bad if someone were taking my name even by accident.

“But, don't you need it to do some quest as an adventurer?”

“That’s certainly true. But at the moment, I’m in no need to do any quests. Besides, it costs quite a bit to make a new one.”

It wasn’t an absolute rule, but rather counts as a necessity. Perhaps, many rules in the adventurer book – if there were any– would count as a necessity instead of absolute.

“I see, I think that’s what I heard too. Maybe, that’s also the reason why I always see them wearing it on the neck every day.”

“Yes, that’s about right,” I said. “Is that all?”

“I think that’s about all. My apologies for delaying you.”

“No, it's not a problem. Then, if you please excuse me.”

As I was about to excuse myself, I was stopped by his voice again. 'Wait up, Bobby!' Before I could give any response, something arced through the air, its trajectory landing in front of me. No, perhaps it would hit me on the head, or, no wait, perhaps it would miss me a few centimeters in front of me, before tumbling to the floor.

Reflexively, I raised my right hand and caught it, though it nearly slipped through the awkward gap left by the missing finger. With a firm grip, I managed to secure it before it could escape. Opening my palm, I examined the object, revealing multiple keys attached to a ring with a keychain bearing the name of the place, or rather, this place – The Twin Blossom Inn.

“Are you sure?” I asked him, but instead of giving a straight answer, he asked back.

“What do you mean?” With an expression that looked like a boy who wanted to prank his younger sibling, his grin widening.

“I see. If that’s then I will take it.”

“Well, I would say you’re not a bad person, but I wouldn’t say you’re exactly a good person either. But, please don’t lose it. It’s the only one.”

“That can’t be right?” I asked, but he only answered with a shrug.

“Oh yes, please lock the door immediately after you leave. I think I’m at my limit,” he said, yawning heavily, before turning his back from me.

“Good night.” Upon hearing it, he nodded and walked off, his steps were a bit staggered, perhaps he was really at his limit. I walked to the door, and pushed it. And the moment the door opened, a chill wind brushed against my face, I tightened my cloak a bit as I surveyed the area around.

The night was still here, the same night that I had experienced before, as if the time had stopped. The same in the distance, two stories building lit by orange light. The same white moon in the same starry night. And, the same me, staring off in the silence.

Toward where?

To what end?

And, from where?

“From where the man begins, and to where shall the man end, huh?” I snickered at that question myself, and immediately began to pick up my feet and started walking. To where, perhaps, I didn’t know myself.

Perhaps to the east, where the sun will soon arise?

Perhaps to the west, where the sun will ultimately set?

Perhaps to the north, where the moon might set?

Or perhaps to the south, where the heart may say so?

However, one thing I knew for certain: this wasn't my place. Perhaps, it was the time for me to go. To where I shall belong.

I think I'm coming.