The marketplace fell silent.
The merchant tightened his grip around my wrist.
His eyes weren’t looking at me.
They were fixed on the bronze coins resting in my palm.
“Where did you steal those?”
His voice echoed through the street.
Within seconds, curious eyes gathered around us.
A woman carrying vegetables stopped walking.
Two children hid behind their father.
Several merchants quietly shook their heads.
“A thief…”
“Look at his clothes.”
“He probably killed someone.”
The whispers spread faster than fire.
I tried to pull my hand back.
“I… didn’t steal…”
The unfamiliar language still felt awkward on my tongue.
The words came out broken.
Making me sound even guiltier.
The merchant snorted.
“You expect anyone to believe that?”
He grabbed one of the coins and held it high.
“This currency belongs to the Northern Frontier.”
“The nearest border is over a thousand kilometers away.”
His sharp eyes narrowed.
“A beggar arrives from the Forbidden Forest…”
“…carrying Frontier coins?”
“Impossible.”
⸻
My heart sank.
I hadn’t even considered that money would differ from region to region.
On Earth, I barely thought about currency.
Here…
Even coins could betray me.
Footsteps echoed behind the crowd.
Heavy.
Rhythmic.
The people immediately moved aside.
City guards.
Four of them.
Unlike the gate guards, these men wore dark steel armor decorated with crimson patterns.
Each carried a long spear whose blade shimmered with faint spiritual energy.
The leader looked at me.
Then at the merchant.
“What happened?”
The merchant bowed respectfully.
“This boy is carrying stolen Frontier currency.”
“He refuses to explain where he got it.”
The guard extended his hand.
“The coins.”
I slowly handed over the pouch.
If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
He opened it.
His expression changed.
Inside wasn’t just money.
There was also the wooden token I had taken from the dead young man.
The moment the guard saw it…
His face became serious.
“Where…”
“…did you get this?”
I hesitated.
Should I tell the truth?
That I had found it beside a corpse?
Would they believe me?
Or accuse me of murder?
“I…”
Before I could answer—
A loud voice interrupted.
“Hmph.”
“So much noise over a hungry child?”
The crowd instinctively stepped aside.
An old man slowly approached.
He barely reached my shoulder.
His back was bent with age.
His beard was so long it nearly touched the ground.
His clothes were stained with flour, grease, and countless years of work.
Several teeth were missing whenever he spoke.
Yet…
There was something strangely intimidating about him.
Even the guards straightened their posture.
“Master Borin.”
They bowed slightly.
The old man ignored them.
Instead…
His cloudy eyes landed on me.
No.
On my back.
On the cloth covering the Black Devil.
His expression froze.
For only the briefest moment.
Then…
He smiled.
“What an interesting child…”
⸻
The captain spoke respectfully.
“This boy is under investigation.”
The old man waved his hand dismissively.
“Investigation?”
“He looks like he’ll starve before your investigation finishes.”
Several people laughed awkwardly.
The old man walked toward me.
Without warning—
SMACK!
His palm crashed across my face.
The world spun violently.
“What the—”
Everything became dark.
⸻
…
…
…
A strange smell reached my nose.
Herbs.
Smoke.
Cooked meat.
I slowly opened my eyes.
Wooden ceiling.
Warm fire.
Shelves filled with bottles.
A large cooking pot bubbling over glowing coals.
“…Where…”
I tried sitting up.
Pain exploded through my head.
“Lie down.”
The familiar old voice spoke calmly.
I turned.
The old man sat beside the fire, grinding green leaves into a stone bowl.
“You faint easily.”
“I slapped you too hard.”
“…You admit it?”
He laughed loudly.
“Hahaha!”
“At least you’re alive.”
I stared at him.
“Where am I?”
He ignored the question.
Instead…
He picked up three small green pills.
Without warning, he shoved them into my mouth.
“Eat.”
“They taste terrible.”
He wasn’t exaggerating.
The bitterness exploded across my tongue.
It felt like chewing poison.
I almost spat them out.
A wooden cup suddenly pressed against my lips.
“Drink.”
The liquid inside was even worse.
Sour.
Bitter.
Thick.
I nearly vomited.
The old man nodded with satisfaction.
“Good.”
“If you can swallow that…”
“You won’t die today.”
⸻
Several minutes passed in silence.
My body slowly became warmer.
The unbearable hunger that had haunted me for days began fading.
Even the dizziness disappeared.
“…Medicine?”
The old man nodded proudly.
“My own recipe.”
“Tastes awful.”
“Works well.”
I couldn’t argue.
I genuinely felt better.
Much better.
Then…
His smile disappeared.
His gaze slowly shifted toward the corner of the room.
Toward the cloth-wrapped sword leaning against the wall.
“So…”
He said quietly.
“…Would you like to explain…”
“…why someone like you…”
“…is carrying that?”
My heartbeat quickened.
He knew.
Not exactly what it was.
But he knew it wasn’t ordinary.
I remained silent.
The old man sighed.
“I’ve lived a long time, boy.”
“I’ve seen cursed weapons.”
“I’ve seen divine relics.”
“I’ve even seen Emperor-grade treasures.”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“But that thing…”
His voice became almost a whisper.
“…It shouldn’t exist.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
The fire continued burning.
Yet neither of us could feel its warmth.
Outside…
The city remained lively.
Inside the tavern…
An old man and a boy stared at one another.
Both understanding…
That the conversation about to begin…
Would change both of their lives forever.
End of Chapter 9