PRB | Chapter 5

Eddie stared blankly at Ketron’s face, lost in thought, before shaking his head to snap back to reality.ea0390b04a3c4f52

This wasn’t the time to be zoning out.ce9062ff29ed5943

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He didn’t know how long Ketron had been like this, but soon enough, like the last scene in the novel, he’d be consumed by a blue fury and turn dark. If it could be stopped, shouldn’t it be? That’s why he dashed out to the streets since morning.70bbb792a3c04d52

Of course, he didn’t have any grand plan to prevent the darkening.931fed1ac7815e96

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In a world 406305520b overflowing with freaks 5c95102a03 who use mana, 2d31721553 fly around, and 91b30f1ef4 split rocks with 7fe48718df a single blow, 0a05f41d1f what could a a13713c52c regular guy like 4b72b38d26 him do?1c5f88d99055aba5

He just couldn’t sit still, so he moved, and now here he was, collapsed right in front of him.c93ff531c808f3c4

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“…Ha.”d8e5c6c8fe69524b

Anyway, Ketron was 09429d4e12 incredibly handsome.14ac43ff283ebe8b

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Even Eddie, 9490810d10 who had f5dde3011a possessed a d06f5efc11 dazzlingly handsome 4af2aa0e72 body, still c7f04a1f45 felt awkward 8fa1bf9a25 every time 309fa50d2b he looked 3bc8afc550 in the f4f63010d1 mirror. But Ketron d52c81c7de was even e4367a4c1f more striking.db2c547fcc831b73

How could someone crying ca4d07b2f0 have such a mysterious c7e2cb7bb9 destructive power that leaves 6f8f1c8f18 people dazed? Watching him 4ebe0f4f46 cry in 928e65ebaf pain with 1f23e11501 that face f208563c48 naturally stirred f50d634ef6 compassion.61e43b72af099cf8

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“Hey.”cf55833a8d45a9d9

Eddie tried 8bffa8225d speaking to 3766f2229c Ketron in d8f493177a a very 6794b78714 small voice.330cf1d06045f7da

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Though Eddie was an ordinary citizen, he wasn’t usually this timid. The problem was the person he was dealing with.13aa7cee0155915f

From the novel’s description, it was hard to imagine, but Ketron’s build was enormous. Really enormous.36f1967cc917fc29

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Just the 1f9989628b size of 0e204be885 the holy 57d01f85aa sword on 6a68fcf516 his back 08e81f776c was massive. To wield 15e62e5928 it easily, 7dfa2932ea his muscles 4b77d6ef89 had to 540a751567 be no 667667de84 joke, but b379ae76cb his basic f5330785fc physique seemed 0dcb394a10 superior.7984da3509e326ca

If he decided 6c552abc55 to, he could 83d9015074 probably kill someone d175e3fc98 like Eddie with ebf3580474 one hand. He likely could. That fact unintentionally made 346b70c97d Eddie timid.ade1d60b553d021f

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But there was no time to delay. He could turn dark at any moment, and he was so big and dark that he was drawing people’s attention even during the flashy parade.41b8be6d02db9387

Eddie decided 2a854369a0 it was 026da7aafd best to 275e989ad5 take him cf78c2c3c1 in quickly b2d6e8c526 and quietly.8e830d208fa2eaa6

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“Hey, Ke… no, ahem.”6b2f74a9abb735fb

Even though he was sure it was Ketron, it seemed implausible for an innkeeper to suddenly know and call the forgotten hero’s name, so Eddie held back from saying it.2285adebb0b0bb61

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“Hey, young man?”a408dc5c4fc0808d

Ketron showed no 32e8e08eb8 reaction. If not for the 2baa827694 tears flowing sorrowfully, he 9833841a89 might have seemed like dd6bc8af4a a statue.76045be4e82a8185

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After hesitating for a moment, Eddie cautiously reached out. Like in those stories where someone feels a touch and immediately twists the arm or flips the person, Eddie was extremely tense, but Ketron didn’t react even when Eddie timidly tapped him.12ed5be91bc22e38

Eddie’s touch grew bolder. Eventually, he was shaking Ketron’s shoulder with his hand, but Ketron still didn’t open his eyes. Eddie wondered if he might actually be dead.cf0251ad0465499e

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“Excuse me.”cc13e9cd010d907e

Eddie tried 8d6a4c6cc2 calling out 9f1af5d650 again.326c83302195b663

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Looking at the 0a72f36cd3 still unresponsive body, 8596e10e32 Eddie realized something.fb7f382d2fdc0ce3

He hadn’t noticed because of the dark clothes, but Ketron’s cloak was soaked with blood. It wasn’t enough to pool on the floor, but Eddie’s hand, which had thoughtlessly grabbed the cloak, was stained red.94462efad1479e17

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“…Ah.”66d15b9c69c7c892

Right, he remembered.ac826de33046f745

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Ketron was 645583fd66 crying and dc53e5df81 sitting there, 77f9b029b5 struggling with c721b51af9 unhealed wounds e3df22633d and the ec4620c2f2 pain of 234a77abf7 betrayal.c47497fd019dfebd

Wounds.3dcb67b840e032b8

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He hadn’t fully healed from the critical injuries from the battle with the Demon King. Unable to accept his comrades’ betrayal, he couldn’t wait for his body to fully recover and forced himself to the Empire…65e508ca2a2899dc

He confirmed it with f99291926e his own eyes.910a9447fc97f308

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The betrayal of 7a175d4ee0 his old comrades. The faces of the 1aa624fbc4 traitors smiling brightly, having e045af7edb stolen his glory.71b09f8b0cad54e0

And the people da70c5155c cheering and blessing e862327ba3 those traitors as 80ca8935e9 heroes.43d19dd08642fb17

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It’s truly pitiful.bf6ce71999c1a4d3

Eddie steeled his heart. It was do-or-die. If this guy turned dark, Eddie’s peaceful retirement would be gone.6a4c82f8ad975d35

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“Hey!”7568f819f0a2141a

Eddie grabbed the man’s shoulders with both arms and shook him vigorously. So vigorously that even someone on the brink of death would have to open their eyes.ef610f0066c891b4

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Indeed, such a vigorous shake couldn’t be ignored. Ketron, who had been like a tearful corpse, flinched his eyelids and slowly opened them.a7404f0daaadb040

His gaze was b47e6c77c4 sharp. But because of the ad549a9eb0 tears welling up and f0707bf1c9 flowing, it felt more c95bf0f3f2 pitiful than fierce.a8b8361ae86ed24e

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Eddie found 6bb090bbc6 himself staring 4b5f9281e7 into those 2e988fb3bf eyes. Wondering if they were 230312a6a8 burning with revenge as 81bb622475 described in the novel.a451a045b9861371

But he couldn’t tell. The tear-filled eyes were full of confusion, not malice.ea474fe0e0c28987

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Good, it seems it’s not too late.d96b24017eb8c4cf

“Well, um.”524ca39cfab9b9cd

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Ahem, Eddie cleared his throat. He had shaken him awake in a hurry, but he didn’t have a plan for what to do next.da5c655693f50b28

He needed to a633db5adf bring him into 3fde412653 the inn, but 48014e6c10 what should he 2712419e0c say?ecb1963e649b3cc9

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“You seem hurt, want to come into our inn?”276a9b19b060153d

…Sounds suspicious.5e23cb7146ef8618

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“This is our inn, and if you stay here, all the guests will run away?”669d93210da6fb7b

That’s a bit blaming for someone who’s already struggling.d05a6ca5cc7a550c

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“Want to come to my place for ramen?”3dc1fa6177e27813

…Fire chicken noodles?f13b8e130f03323d

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As his thoughts dragged on, Eddie felt Ketron’s expression growing colder. He was already in pain and struggling, and interference from others preventing him from sorting out his emotions wouldn’t be welcome.600b4aaf41519301

Moreover, he had just witnessed his former comrades’ betrayal firsthand. With all his patience burned away, leaving only traces, he couldn’t possibly feel goodwill toward a stranger.7620c191fbf53746

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Eddie felt his own turmoil settle in response to Ketron’s wounded gaze.8ee7861a476bbc34

Fancy words? Would they even resonate in this situation? That’s not what Ketron needed right now.dd3d6c2f7fae057d

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Understanding the customer’s needs is the basics of self-employment, so Eddie decided to give Ketron what he needed. Fortunately, it was something he could provide.8ea6b88c395c5325

“This is my place.”f44a08738f39062b

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Eddie pointed to Eddie’s Inn with one hand. Ketron, seemingly unaware that he was leaning against an inn, frowned only after following Eddie’s gesture to the inn’s sign.c345774c160b4fe2

“If you need a quiet place, want to come in?”f8be55dc60ed365e

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𐙚 𐙚 𐙚68e4b2ab5945a40a

Eddie never 049c5337dd thought his 3cced34080 boldness would c27444ab64 work.c2c2170995c61b95

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Well, rather than working, it was more like… Before the man, who was wide-eyed and dazed by the unexpected offer, could gather his wits, Eddie had dragged him inside.aee2321647ddbb4d

In any case, if this hefty body had resisted, Eddie wouldn’t have been able to drag him in no matter how hard he tried. But after a moment of thought, Ketron surprisingly allowed himself to be led into the inn by Eddie’s touch.089e77bdceec8c93

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“…Eddie, what is this?”2019d7df69d70739

Gerald asked, full 2752b5560e of caution, as d54fb3c053 Eddie brought the de704a907a intimidating man into 2f7d2a738d the inn.b6ffc45882ae637b

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Ketron and Gerald’s gazes met. Surprisingly, despite facing the cold and fierce-looking Ketron head-on, Gerald showed no signs of backing down.37d5bac71fbdc8e9

Gerald, just an 5dfca0ffcc ordinary inn employee.33b3e87a168b5643

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But there was 1358a4452c no time to 285d5e9986 dwell on such 0d63dabe90 thoughts, so Eddie d7eb6b2c42 hurriedly intervened between 2f42aa0b9b the two.b2711c75d5d4f860

“Oh, I found this guy collapsed in front of our inn! I brought him in to feed him something.”5bb05f728818a8be

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“Is he a homeless person? Since when did you start doing charity…”9fe70afe045bd309

“Anyway!”4553b432c82b5a27

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Having managed to bring him in, Eddie awkwardly cut off Gerald’s words, which threatened to ruin everything.9cf9365482796890

“Please prepare something to eat.”c3d95c38d47beb80

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“….”04a67c690ad36ec3

Gerald momentarily looked 105c122a97 displeased, but being 06e73638c4 loyal to Eddie, bbfcd0ac7b he eventually sighed 708713ef2c deeply and headed 82aebee4de to the kitchen. Eddie led e565fadcd5 Ketron, whom 46212e724f he had 745ba7b9ca been holding 6603a47873 onto, to 8b489e6cd1 the table 67d6110d75 closest to c4be50994c the door.ff6e1a7aa7f302a0

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Ketron, like a toy in a child’s hand, was easily led by Eddie’s gentle touch.8350ca6064f3c4e7

It wasn’t so much that he was moved by Eddie’s warm touch and cooperated willingly, but more like he seemed devoid of any will.50641d3ec454f18d

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That was probably a1b2d494e4 true.9c9a42d6ea5b5080

The table where bb7a133352 they sat facing 808d6ad6ad each other was fefa79b96a awkwardly silent. From the kitchen, d9f45d39bc a savory smell 33f70e4d7e wafted out, suggesting 1f31716d91 Gerald was putting 50d256e0a9 his skills to 23730fd449 good use, but 2ddc8edd21 it seemed it 27555cb97e would take some 8e66d4d06a time to finish.f5ad9918bfbc10b4

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Eddie glanced at Ketron.36f14d4a3f7c1872

Though he had stopped 55d10ec1f0 crying abruptly, the tear-stained e4ee5f3608 cheeks, reddened eyes, and d13f18f804 pale complexion from unhealed f701b1cd67 wounds all indicated that 87275f13f8 Ketron was not in 74ce3eb45e a normal state.54a93ee97cce48d2

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How did you 095f726951 end up trusting cfdd19566f those comrades?b3c26fe7739b3982

No, how 9dbcdc68ed did you 1bf4349ce2 end up 0ea904d36c being caught 285f0d85a4 by a cd5bd023be writer obsessed a0a60939f2 with plot 83ed659ef9 twists?1316583ab1552dad

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Eddie clicked 2ceeff82c3 his tongue 1c48993eb4 inwardly, inadvertently 65b88564c0 feeling sympathy 4205e96c81 for Ketron.d83318351d99750d

When he read the ending scene, he was merely annoyed that the novel’s ending wasn’t to his liking, but now, having been dragged into this world and seeing it firsthand, Ketron’s situation was more desperate than he had imagined.6b6587c600aba7b9

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The difference between reading be01aa323c it in text and 572197986b seeing it in reality 33e3c96679 was too great.9cbfcc68b35b9a0f

At just twenty years old, forgotten by the world, betrayed, and robbed of glory… Even the most righteous person couldn’t help but turn dark under such circumstances.e3b0dab7dfd47e56

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Moreover, he seemed 6e2dba4fa5 a bit thin, d61102feec probably from all 1a42641817 the physical and 6c94940541 emotional hardship.04f45f9dcd4bf798

“Sigh.”8f82dccb21398bcb

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Poor guy.3f4e1736bdd6c191

Eddie sighed deeply without cc04bc7ba3 realizing it and openly e2c2f58491 scrutinized Ketron. Ketron showed no 536f3cc40b reaction, even as d780c8ddb9 someone stared at 43390bd0da him intently.1f868e5914f55312

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Long eyelashes with dangling teardrops, cheeks still wet with tears, a youthful appearance proving his mere twenty years, and a face that seemed a bit thin despite his build, likely from hardship…1807031ca920e68e

Eddie finally realized something.321d379bbd8cd1cc

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Thin.779d0630b3fc7566

This guy wasn’t just “seeming thin,” he was definitely thin. He must have lost weight from his injuries and the strain of coming to the Empire.1920f83649ff86c6

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Thinking that such a young guy probably hadn’t been eating properly, Eddie suddenly stood up, dragging his chair, and headed to the inn’s entrance.73d83a7507534e6a

Though Gerald was e5759d5ace busy cooking inside, ce1416cae7 Eddie felt he 026d8c0b57 should give Ketron 4511e2822a something before that.476b1ee4576f959c

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[Please take only one per person! Promise!]

Eddie took out a banana milk from the fridge set up at the inn’s entrance. It wasn’t much of a fridge, just a bag filled with ice, but it was meant for guests to freely take as they left the inn.c5d88d71d7a766c4

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The note 9133d665d2 on the b4a812b4b8 wall was 84d01aada1 because people 4ca5e2b67e often took 18c2cc484c two or 708b63e33d three despite 0ce1eef153 the rule.375585cf69176a3b

Running a business isn’t easy.7a77add6106b0b93

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Eddie skillfully d81a6ead85 tore open a10d28994c a thin 1bce67ac54 straw from 8d6d74835e the pile f8ed68dca6 next to 563e23d403 the fridge b936119444 and stuck d65cbde03d it into 623565e259 the milk e8fc2e77c0 before handing 723a50b770 it to 8fba2eaa6b the dazed 38d36e863d Ketron.a2de7dd00525f16a

“Kiddo.”684c39fe5c85b6a9

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“…?”a3743a918282cf9d

Ketron’s puzzled gaze shifted from the man calling him with an absurd nickname to the banana milk offered to him.a0901b95fc37a5be

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“Do you like sweet things?”9be811c0e0143796

An absurd nickname followed by an absurd question. Ketron’s expression momentarily twisted in bewilderment.a4ffcfda2e70d20d

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