The light rain fell on the city, sliding off the wooden rooftops and soaking the dusty ground.

Wrapped in his dark cloak, Kaito walked at a slow pace. His lowered hood concealed most of his face, revealing only the faint reflection of his brown eyes.

In front of him stood a bustling inn. A constant hum of voices and laughter spilled from within.

(An inn, huh… this should do.)

Kaito pushed open the door and stepped inside.

The warmth of the place embraced him immediately. The inn’s interior was packed with people drinking, talking, and laughing loudly. The main hall was of moderate size, and at its far end stood the bar counter.

Beside it, a wooden staircase led to the upper floor. The heavy scent of alcohol mixed with the aroma of food, creating a thick atmosphere.

He approached the counter, ignoring the curious glances from a few patrons eyeing his solitary figure.

"Hey, I’d like a drink."

His voice was flat, devoid of emotion.

The bartender, a man in his fifties with a dirty apron and strong arms, raised an eyebrow at him.

"You look a bit too young for a place like this, kid."

“…I just want some water.”

The bartender remained silent for a moment before sighing. He poured a glass of water and placed it in front of him.

Kaito lowered his hood, revealing his face. Messy black hair, dull brown eyes, and an expression far too somber for someone his age.

The bartender observed him for a moment, noticing something.

(This kid… has a strange look for a seventeen-year-old.)

Kaito pulled out two brish (a currency used in this world) and dropped them on the counter.

"Here. Thanks."

"See you around, kid."

Kaito gave a slight nod and turned to leave.

But something made him stop.

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In the corner of the inn, a group of men was harassing a girl.

"Leave me alone and get lost."

Her voice was firm, but a hint of tension flickered in her eyes.

One of the men, a burly guy with a scar on his cheek, grinned.

"Come on, now. Dressing like that, you must be looking for attention, huh?"

The others chuckled. One of them reached out and grabbed her wrist.

Kaito felt a slight irritation rise within him. A mix of annoyance and… disgust.

The bartender stepped forward, his face tense.

"Leave her alone and get out of my inn."

The scarred man stared at him, then smirked.

"And who do you think you are to be giving us orders, old man?"

His fist shot forward, slamming into the bartender’s stomach, making him double over.

"Now, come with us, sweetheart."

"Don’t touch me!"

The girl struggled to break free. The man tightened his grip.

But something stopped his movement.

A hand had clamped around his wrist.

A strong, firm hand.

The man spun around.

Behind him, Kaito was staring at him with lifeless eyes—cold as ice.

"Let go of the girl."

"And who the hell are you, brat? Looking for trouble?"

Kaito didn’t answer right away. His expression didn’t change.

"I won’t repeat myself."

The scarred thug burst into laughter.

"Listen to this guy! You want me to show you your place, kid?"

His fist shot forward.

But it only struck air.

Kaito moved swiftly, ducking under the attack. With a single movement, he leveraged the man’s arm and slammed him to the ground.

A sudden silence fell over the inn.

The patrons watched in disbelief.

The thug got up, his face twisted in rage.

"You bastard…! Get him, boys!"

The other two men nodded and lunged at Kaito.

He sighed.

In an instant, he moved. He jumped, using their backs as stepping stones, and landed behind them. With a few precise strikes, he sent them crashing to the floor.

The three men, groaning in pain, struggled to stand.

"You still want to continue?"

Kaito’s voice was low, cold.

One of them clenched his teeth.

"Let’s get out of here."

"Damn brat… this isn’t over! We’ll kill you!"

They staggered away.

Silence fell over the inn once more.

Kaito remained still for a moment, then decided to leave.

"Wait!"

A hand grabbed his wrist.

He turned sharply.

In front of him, the girl was staring at him. Long black hair with bangs that slightly covered her forehead, and deep violet eyes.

"Please… don’t go."

Kaito looked at her, confused.

(What does she want from me?)

"You helped us. Let us repay you."

Kaito didn’t seem interested. And yet…

"Fine… I’ll stay for a while."

He accepted reluctantly, not even sure why himself.

A small smile formed on the girl’s face.

"Thank you."

The bartender, equally grateful, offered Kaito food and lodging for as long as he stayed, giving him one of the inn’s finest rooms.

Kaito followed the girl up the stairs. The wooden floor creaked under their steps, while the chatter of the patrons faded below.

"This will be your room while you’re here. I hope you like it."

The girl, whom the bartender had called Yume, stopped in front of a door, looking at him with a somewhat uncertain expression.

Kaito observed her for a moment. She looked younger than he had expected.

(She can’t be older than eighteen.)

Then he turned the doorknob and stepped inside.

The room was simple but cozy: a bed, a nightstand, and a small television. Nothing fancy, but definitely better than some of the places he had slept in lately.

"Do you like it? It’s the best we have."

Yume seemed nervous.

"It’ll do," Kaito replied, placing his cloak on the chair beside the bed. "Even a less luxurious one would have been fine."

"We just wanted to show our gratitude."

For a moment, silence filled the room. Then Yume took a step forward, lowering her gaze.

"And… I’d like to know your name."

She spoke with slight hesitation, as if unsure whether to ask.

Kaito hesitated, then answered:

"My name is Kaito."

Yume smiled softly.

"That’s a nice name."

"…Yume, right?"

"Yes?"

"I wanted to ask… this town doesn’t have any Spirit Holders, does it?"

Yume looked surprised, then shook her head.

"No. As you’ve probably noticed, we’re very poor here… Unlike other cities, we don’t have the funds to improve the roads or modernize the buildings. Because of that, Spirit Holders aren’t interested in living here."

Kaito noted that she said it without any anger or sadness.

(It doesn’t seem to bother her much…) he thought.

"I see. I figured as much."

He turned toward the bed and sat down, crossing his arms.

"Well then, good night."

Yume stared at him for a moment, as if she wanted to say something else, but in the end, she simply nodded.

"Good night, Kaito."

She closed the door and left