Leaving his master to rest and tend to her wounds, Breeze made his way back to the Monster Extermination Society (MES). Their equipment, left at the maintenance department, needed to be retrieved. As he walked through the bustling streets of the Bastion, a familiar aroma caught his attention—a savory scent that tugged at both his nose and his memories.

He paused, letting the tantalizing smell guide him. It was the scent of freshly baked meat buns, something he'd dreamed of tasting during his harsher days. Though the aroma was familiar, the taste had always eluded him.

"Now that I finally have the means to treat myself… How I wish I could buy some for my father," he murmured.

Pulling out the small pouch of coins he'd earned from the mission, he was surprised to find three silver coins inside.

"Huh? Wasn't the quest's payment supposed to be two silvers? Where'd the extra come from? Maybe it's a bonus for rescuing the agent? Lucky me!"

Smiling to himself, Breeze followed the scent to its source—a modest bakery tucked into the corner of a lively street. The middle-aged couple running the shop greeted him warmly, their faces lit with the kind of smiles born from decades of honest work, though their eyes seemed to weigh his coin pouch more than his presence as if he was a walking bag. Behind them, a sign hung prominently above the counter:

"Only for Clean Customers!"

Beneath it, in bold letters, another sign declared:

"YES, THIS MEANS YOU, MES MEMBERS!"

Breeze chuckled, glad he'd cleaned up and changed into fresh clothes before venturing out. He stepped up to the counter with confidence.

"Excuse me, how much for the meat buns?"

"Two copper coins each," the man behind the counter replied cheerfully.

Breeze calculated quickly. "One night at the inn costs a bronze coin, a whole day costs 2 bronze coins, and I've got plenty left over. Yeah, I can afford this."

Note: A gold coin equals ten silver, a silver equals ten bronze, and a bronze equals ten copper.

"Give me five, please," he said, smiling.

The baker instantly filled a bag giving it to him.

"Thank you, we look forward to your next visit!"

The moment he stepped outside with the steaming buns, Breeze tore into one, savoring the warm, savory filling. The rich flavor danced on his tongue, a luxury he hadn't dreamt of tasting. As he continued walking, he noticed a young boy sitting by the side of the road, shivering and hungry, looking like a shadow of his past self. Breeze stopped in his tracks, observing the boy.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

He crouched in front of the child, who flinched at the sudden shadow looming over him. The boy's wide, wary eyes met Breeze's, but he didn't move or beg. Breeze reached into the bag, pulled out a bun, and held it out to the boy.

When the boy hesitated, Breeze tore the bun in half, exposing the filling. The child's mouth watered at the sight, his hunger betrayed by the drool pooling at the corner of his lips. With a gentle smile, Breeze took one half and carefully placed it into the boy's hands.

"Listen," he said softly, his voice steady and warm. "You didn't beg. You didn't ask. I like that. A year and a half ago, I was exactly where you are. Life was brutal but look at me now. I'm not showing off—what I want you to understand is this: Work hard, but don't ever sell yourself cheap. Life will knock you down again and again, but you have to fight back. You won't survive alone, but if you keep going, you'll meet kind people who'll help you."

Standing, Breeze gently ruffled the boy's hair. "When you do rise up, remember this moment. Come find me if you ever do. I'll give you the second half, but it will be your turn to eat it or share it with that poor kid you'll find on the side of the road."

Without waiting for a reply, Breeze walked away, his heart lighter, though his face burned red with embarrassment.

"'A kid teaching another how to live life,'" he muttered under his breath. "What am I, a wise old man?"

His tomato-red face deepened as he reached the MES. Just as he entered, Breeze collided with a wall—or so it felt. Staggering back, he looked up and realized the "wall" was a massive, muscle-bound man towering over him.

"Ouch," Breeze winced.

The man sniffed the air and narrowed his eyes. "Sniff, sniff… Normally, I'd smash your face for not watching where you're going, but I'm feeling generous today. Hand over your buns, and we'll call it even."

"We could just smash his face and take the buns, boss," chimed in a wiry, smirking man standing beside him.

Breeze froze, thinking quickly. Then, with a sly grin, he said, "With muscles like yours, sir, I'd say you've more than earned a whole bun, a big one that fits your caliber. As for him…" Breeze shot a sharp look at the wiry man. "A half is doing him a favor. If you weren't here, boss, he wouldn't deserve even a crumb."

The big man burst into laughter, slapping his thigh. "I like this kid! who Knows how to treat his seniors. You're my little brother now. See you around, younger brother."

"See you, big brother," Breeze replied smoothly.

The wiry man glared daggers at Breeze but followed his boss without another word.

"Phew," Breeze exhaled, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow.

'Sadly, I saved the best till the end but ended up losing it, however, it's worth the loss, probably.'

"Thankfully he is stupid."

"Good job there, young man," came a familiar voice. Breeze turned to see the MES receptionist, Brother Oak, smiling at him. "Quick thinking. Though you've got guts, taking that route with Arnold."

"Arnold? Who's he?" Breeze asked.

"Arnold the Butcher. Tier One Hunter. He looks like someone who'd die as a minor villain, but don't be fooled—he's as strong as your master."

Breeze's jaw dropped. "Tier One? What does that mean?"

Brother Oak chuckled and explained the MES ranking system, from fourth-tier rookies to the legendary Elite Division.

"Starting by:

4th Tier: The entry-level rank, consisting of novices who have yet to accomplish any significant feats.

3rd Tier: Seasoned individuals capable of handling Wild Monsters effortlessly and matching the strength of Feral Beasts.

2nd Tier: Operating on a completely different level, a single Tier 2 agent can outclass ten or more individuals from lower tiers and face Dread Beasts with ease.

1st Tier: The pinnacle of standard ranks, these exceptional individuals far surpass the other tiers and are capable of dealing with the formidable Horror Beasts.

Elite Division: Beyond all tiers, this rare and highly revered division rivals the power of Terror Beasts, their presence seldom witnessed.

As for the Monster's type, they are a bit tricky to handle, giving you a live example; The Mad Hyena, Dread Monster, that your master hunted is too strong and cunning even for the 1st tier Hunters"

Breeze listened intently, piecing together how he fit into the grander scheme of things, at the same time feeling proud of his master.

Handing Oak a warm bun, Breeze watched the giant man devour it in a single bite. "Thanks, Brother Oak."

Collecting his and Sayah's equipment, Breeze headed back toward the inn, savoring the last of his buns. But the taste lingered on his mind, so much so that he turned back to the bakery, ready to treat himself to more.

As he stepped inside, however, the baker and his wife glared at him.

"What?" Breeze asked, startled by their sudden hostility.