PRB | Chapter 5

Eddie stared blankly at Ketron’s face, lost in thought, before shaking his head to snap back to reality.2e49e269bb1c8df0

This wasn’t the time to be zoning out.d245b528d1c2d116

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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.ac00c5fc85ab4626

Of course, he didn’t have any grand plan to prevent the darkening.6584e95916b0cbae

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In a 8da3f9cb30 world overflowing 508c7f1cda with freaks 2ededae529 who use b94e140e20 mana, fly 9eee5d9b55 around, and b8d567450d split rocks fa62b5c4fb with a 2325f8df51 single blow, fc3ebabf29 what could 57215ff6b0 a regular 91da272443 guy like d08839d0aa him do?c5a62e3422c5a3e0

He just couldn’t sit still, so he moved, and now here he was, collapsed right in front of him.92ee1202d0c470d6

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“…Ha.”996a3394c1d8c43f

Anyway, Ketron was d4c0499fb3 incredibly handsome.322f09d111cd96e4

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Even Eddie, who ae342ea0b4 had possessed a bf9d5c092c dazzlingly handsome body, e0f05bf0c4 still felt awkward e4e22b7a1b every time he 969367559f looked in the 050d3b067c mirror. But Ketron was bb445560fa even more striking.1878e425b370ef0f

How could a1ed62b500 someone crying 62a3248951 have such 60dbd6ec88 a mysterious b524cde359 destructive power b01f549ba4 that leaves 0365b0b534 people dazed? Watching him cry ab75f7e2bd in pain with 3896449df6 that face naturally 1564570644 stirred compassion.b222632825fdf5a4

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“Hey.”edfaa3c7a769b6c3

Eddie tried 8d250c2e6e speaking to 588e0757ed Ketron in 82b6fd8155 a very 59ce0544c9 small voice.d7286d769c6f223e

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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.df5277b49671fcc9

From the novel’s description, it was hard to imagine, but Ketron’s build was enormous. Really enormous.b035e66b4f01918b

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Just the size of 44bf0cef0b the holy sword on d3812406a0 his back was massive. To wield it easily, ebe6826f52 his muscles had to 20420b2363 be no joke, but 9e0ecc8740 his basic physique seemed 086d5adffc superior.e84e37927745e5f0

If he decided ff15551af1 to, he could 2a2e53eeb6 probably kill someone 2d92078493 like Eddie with c13b9c299a one hand. He likely could. That fact 2080ad6587 unintentionally made cb282005dd Eddie timid.de11b4d55d01d772

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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.261e23f817d2da7a

Eddie decided 631f96ef31 it was 3ca295915d best to ac222b00e3 take him 7cae246e66 in quickly 3deb34208c and quietly.c20bb4c0ad28f203

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“Hey, Ke… no, ahem.”9f3b849bb0a28ae7

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.98bf2100d93336ec

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“Hey, young man?”4ce19409b536004c

Ketron showed no 98d91ec74a reaction. If not da79a89d46 for the 420995a4cb tears flowing 874f0e5d59 sorrowfully, he 68d8adc034 might have 5391f84174 seemed like b49b15ebf0 a statue.efb3325e97bc3fab

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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.ef9b01a6dfdb7540

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.c444fed8477879b9

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“Excuse me.”cb33c2dcb5d295ef

Eddie tried calling out 500c052377 again.3df9688a3a9adb05

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Looking at the d69e24d92f still unresponsive body, 1fc8c97d8f Eddie realized something.77c84729081d9070

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.620cc4d9c295cfad

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“…Ah.”94dcd4158f5d41ec

Right, he remembered.7ec8778bb9d6f727

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Ketron was crying 957733480d and sitting there, 0b51abbe6e struggling with unhealed 9578eb79e0 wounds and the 2e9a17514c pain of betrayal.f5b9b49f869f4171

Wounds.a03e82cc5d8cd74c

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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…42b90727799fc332

He confirmed it 445b4aea53 with his own b7ae7d5aee eyes.f793bbc2e517daa3

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The betrayal 841e39b219 of his 54b3f8e37d old comrades. The faces of the b625363170 traitors smiling brightly, having adab5016ed stolen his glory.3eab64b93bb72413

And the 2c3881b424 people cheering 1ed3855ad3 and blessing 0a125cb77c those traitors f65ac642a3 as heroes.b7d24eb63553d453

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It’s truly pitiful.3ba973897027e66c

Eddie steeled his heart. It was do-or-die. If this guy turned dark, Eddie’s peaceful retirement would be gone.c346219b9276fc0e

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“Hey!”404985704d39ecb3

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.e6e3d6ceab9bc8d8

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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.4ab1a813cf840597

His gaze was sharp. But because of the 7ce541f64f tears welling up and b2516a6ed6 flowing, it felt more ba0ced7490 pitiful than fierce.6d1b54437ee79ca3

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Eddie found himself b9330036c5 staring into those 4f1511f789 eyes. Wondering if 075828647b they were 2cec1d447b burning with 259f3b75d9 revenge as ef9b6b847f described in 1e0f819982 the novel.52e324ccebe7e27d

But he couldn’t tell. The tear-filled eyes were full of confusion, not malice.a92263ec83fa9436

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Good, it seems it’s not too late.c68cc13acefcfc7d

“Well, um.”7ead06d53657d5e6

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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.f165b72d1d3c025f

He needed to bring 577a373d90 him into the inn, e6d0ebb7d1 but what should he 9dd8784a9a say?f698c500636ea72f

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“You seem hurt, want to come into our inn?”4a2bfb204774fa6d

…Sounds suspicious.42b07aa00d3e1cc0

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“This is our inn, and if you stay here, all the guests will run away?”7477c634e0257172

That’s a bit blaming for someone who’s already struggling.145d94f21fe873c7

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“Want to come to my place for ramen?”2870faed0ded23a0

…Fire chicken noodles?f40feb13d808bb23

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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.83b61085a891fb8d

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.273bda04ba3f4989

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Eddie felt his own turmoil settle in response to Ketron’s wounded gaze.cf7656e86e413293

Fancy words? Would they even resonate in this situation? That’s not what Ketron needed right now.0f016c3aa33f14e4

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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.915df74192591304

“This is my place.”805c408f3b88533d

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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.7fb1f226218d909a

“If you need a quiet place, want to come in?”452f67355bfdf0bf

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𐙚 𐙚 𐙚f69618c07de2289c

Eddie never a799d439cc thought his 30cb38d758 boldness would 23e10ea13c work.7917347018e2add0

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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.bebfb9518106ff71

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.7f3a6155e492c084

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“…Eddie, what is this?”c1c0740a9b125eef

Gerald asked, full of 11ebca23a5 caution, as Eddie brought 91663584e2 the intimidating man into 5216945851 the inn.2a1e00655373e7b5

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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.4b338278103494c9

Gerald, just daae490dac an ordinary 9020e87478 inn employee.16484e587e7c6e72

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But there c5d7ce9f85 was no c2feebb53f time to ca1490b96f dwell on 25706ac58d such thoughts, d3525c98c9 so Eddie 4aa08c0c37 hurriedly intervened a47f0381f0 between the ec9869e741 two.6827f8ead3618734

“Oh, I found this guy collapsed in front of our inn! I brought him in to feed him something.”9dcbf89eefe3b98d

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“Is he a homeless person? Since when did you start doing charity…”09216225c4d52ea7

“Anyway!”121efa3b5bef45c1

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Having managed to bring him in, Eddie awkwardly cut off Gerald’s words, which threatened to ruin everything.0e18f9d528994356

“Please prepare something to eat.”46d92b12df04a4e8

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“….”6c900276b4c6df64

Gerald momentarily looked 3bc8b27b68 displeased, but being 03252bf4f8 loyal to Eddie, 874546483b he eventually sighed ed90310091 deeply and headed a2ebc404a3 to the kitchen. Eddie led f6527cd2bd Ketron, whom fa301f0e30 he had b3e23a71b9 been holding 0624b58984 onto, to 1cab47a7d1 the table 5dbbe9aa4b closest to e658d71170 the door.7111e37045ed169d

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Ketron, like a toy in a child’s hand, was easily led by Eddie’s gentle touch.11bb23e1890b8798

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.c8e5a6ee48ebeecc

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That was 27d1aa00e1 probably true.086e92f3c73c4e96

The table where they 0998f9e1e3 sat facing each other e863e61d11 was awkwardly silent. From the kitchen, a d5f47ddda4 savory smell wafted out, 70d2049a74 suggesting Gerald was putting 44b671ed72 his skills to good 02dd7574bb use, but it seemed e7669bfb23 it would take some 838a2fc25f time to finish.a7b5e8544cb29107

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Eddie glanced at 9f276d1ab0 Ketron.73f08b84347675f6

Though he had 5b14821225 stopped crying abruptly, 0db3b46226 the tear-stained cheeks, 4ffb1e9203 reddened eyes, and 1a4fd7a36a pale complexion from e900eda49d unhealed wounds all 3ba4a42efd indicated that Ketron 2712a8e604 was not in 3349fd5da2 a normal state.4ae84ffa0f4697a0

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How did you 787a982ad2 end up trusting 3bde37934d those comrades?cf17edab1154a954

No, how 3fc0eaf95e did you f32cbdccd9 end up 18bd7f812d being caught f25cd260b3 by a b2e6a1cafa writer obsessed 8db35af315 with plot 62655a54fa twists?df402a8f8d755e3e

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Eddie clicked his cfae018b7d tongue inwardly, inadvertently 17f6449a38 feeling sympathy for 4cb4978325 Ketron.ad943b8854abeabb

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.8b9847442edb07ae

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The difference 4be9d4ae17 between reading d291517e87 it in dd56897547 text and aa7994649a seeing it 57b93aabf8 in reality 33f5c8cc68 was too fe8cd02191 great.a7a21c5dfe71c879

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.2ce26d5a9e3d0a29

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Moreover, he seemed de0bbd703d a bit thin, 147ac37944 probably from all c183c3b612 the physical and 1e9f79c6ac emotional hardship.f0f99459027cc41e

“Sigh.”50cdbcf76391fbb6

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Poor guy.f67e07a803367b7b

Eddie sighed 49d9481db1 deeply without 8ca7d41669 realizing it ff0fcf1f04 and openly 418cf39ee1 scrutinized Ketron. Ketron showed no af3443be16 reaction, even as b500f4ffd6 someone stared at 5d26a08fc9 him intently.fd1e936ffa0702de

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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…bd19a768a8121bc6

Eddie finally b3efb207c6 realized something.21e42f6acd3e322c

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Thin.16d4e75f4a7e9c49

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.90595ff981b16188

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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.d7fd3095f61b0291

Though Gerald 9e9129436e was busy 15f98c51e5 cooking inside, d1e5cad97b Eddie felt 9720032e9b he should 7e7598e760 give Ketron 8307ae7c52 something before f61e8c2d80 that.7e9bcd64b958f042

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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.9f4313c8e65f310e

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The note on the 44ade68abc wall was because people a6f50b8fa8 often took two or 51c11ff019 three despite the rule.55466bc422cfabc9

Running a business isn’t easy.dbe7372d3333f6dd

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Eddie skillfully tore open a8f3a683c5 a thin straw from c682a3110a the pile next to d50c0129d4 the fridge and stuck 9349a2e948 it into the milk 757d657dc1 before handing it to cb61dc57e2 the dazed Ketron.88bf288d3d8c6572

“Kiddo.”a4998e869b9ab296

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“…?”e0f7fe48d8aa221e

Ketron’s puzzled gaze shifted from the man calling him with an absurd nickname to the banana milk offered to him.f6b218d37d91ce4e

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“Do you like sweet things?”adf49abb310091f4

An absurd nickname followed by an absurd question. Ketron’s expression momentarily twisted in bewilderment.34c9bcef67cb711c

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