Side Quest

James was wandering the city.

"Get your fishballs, delicious fishballs."

"Hey handsome, wanna have a good time?"

"What do you mean your wallet is stolen!"

"Get lost asshole."

Everywhere he went, he heard noises.

He went out of the city to escape from the noise.

It was a cloudy day and it was just a few hours until night falls.

The outskirt of town was barren and filled with makeshift houses. The inner city looked luxurious and the outer city looked poor. It was a stark contrast.

James closed his eyes and time slipped past him.

And noises filled his head.

He opened his eyes when he heard a distressed boy shouting at the sky. His voice was coarse from shouting so much.

"Curse you!"

"Hey kid, what's the matter?"

The kid turned around and saw a man in dark cloak.

"They took it away from me?"

"What did they take from you?"

"My money and my woman."

"And how did they take it away from you?"

"I owed a huge load of debt. So they just stormed into my house and robbed away all of my possession."

James didn't know what to say.

"God, why is god is so cruel. Why am I born into such a life? If only I am born rich…"

As someone who believed in God, James did not how to answer this kid's answer. He's not a kid by the way. He looked like one but he may well be just a young adult.

So is being born poor the fate of this kid? If it is so, then why would God give him such cruel fate?

James asked God and there was no answer. As expected.

So how about this God. Since I have this power, do you think I can change the fate of this young kid here?

"I don't think I can do anything about your money but I don't think it is right for them to take away your loved ones. Tell me, young kid, where is your beloved being taken to?"

"The Red's Gentlemen Club. That's where she is being taken to."

"Promise me one thing, young kid. Once I have helped you, escape from this city this instant and start another life elsewhere."

"Yes, I will. Oh, thank you."

James got the description of the young girl he is looking for and he went on a hunt.

And it was pretty simple to spot her.

"You don't seem to enjoy yourself here," asked James as he casually approached the girl he is looking for.

How did he do it? Well, he just went into the gentlemen club and asked for the girl. Pretty simple.

"Who…are you?" asked the girl.

"Your boyfriend wants to save you. Come on, let's go. I can get you out of here."

"No!" she shouted.

"Why? Aren't you being forced to be here?"

"Yes, even so, I will not return to live with that scumbag!"

James has gotten curious. He thought he was lending them a helping hand but now everything turned confusing.

"I don't see any perk of you doing here."

"You don't understand mister. Even if you do get me out of here, the people will search every corner of this world to hunt us down. But still, that piece of shit has never made my life peaceful anyway. He will beat me up whenever he loses a match and proceed to do whatever he desires whenever he feels like it. I was just a toy to him."

James is good at killing monsters but what is this situation. Who is the evil person now and what is he is going to do about this? Why did he even offer to help in the first place?

Then James realized. Everything is complicated. Nothing is as simple as you think it is. Everyone has a story. Everyone has their reasons. This girl refused to escape from this hell. Because if James helped her to escape, another gloomy hell awaits. Everything in this world has become a living hell for her.

"So please, I don't know why you are helping him, but I don't want to return to him. So please, just don't…"

James sighed.

"Besides, I think I have accepted my fate. If this is how it supposed to be, then so be it…I can only curse myself from being born in this state."

A place where everyone belongs. Does this girl belong in this place? Does everyone working here willingly want to belong in this place, in this city?

James does not know. 'I guess it was a stupid idea after all."

James stood up from his seat.

"Well, sorry to butting in. Since you insisted on not having me saved you, I will not. I hope everything works out well for you. I will pray for you."

The girl bites her lips and James walked out.

In the end, the girl does hope that one day a savior will come and sweep her out from her misery but this is reality. There's no way such a fantasy will come true.

"I'm sorry I can't be your hero. I'm sorry that you have to suffer, young lady. I truly am." That was inside James thought.

"Hey, you.."

A courtesan was standing outside with a smoke pipe in her hand.

"I rarely see a customer leaving here with a sad face on them."

She tapped the smoke pipe to let the ash out. She took another breath and savor it.

James paused his steps and looked at the courtesan smoking her pipe.

"That is bad for your health."

"So what. I don't see any benefit of people like me living a long life in this world."

She breathe out a puff of smoke.

"Just kidding. You looked really gloomy. Are you here because one of your loved ones are being forced against their will here?"

"No, I'm not."

"I see, then other than that, I couldn't think of other reasons why you would wear such a sad face. Our customers are normally quite satisfied with the service we provide them."

"I was just here to help out a guy. That's all. And I thought people will jump at the chance of being able to be rescued from their predicament."

"Haha, I see. You are a kind person. But kindness is no use in this city. And kindness is often being exploited in this city, so don't be too kind or else you will find yourself being robbed of everything that is valuable to you, including your sanity."

She puffed out another smoke. "Don't be too sad, stranger, we might provide those types of services but the management here treats us quite well actually. Well, as long as we can help them make money that is. So, don't worry about us being treated harshly here."

"Duly noted. Thanks."

"For?" the courtesan looked at him, surprised.

"For your assurance. And I am sorry for not being able to do anything about it."

"Why are you apologizing. It's not like you are God or anything. Well, I guess the only thing we can blame here is…. I don't know…God? Heck, what is left for us to blame the fellow upstairs anyway. He is a busy man, after all, trying to manage the world and looking after us. As far as I can tell, he seems to be more of a long term guy than a short term guy. So I bet he is right now planning some long term goals that will benefit the world. That's what I hope at least and tell myself to make myself feel better. But, in the end, you have to depend on yourself, you have to wait a long time for God to answer your prayer, we are not the only one suffering here. That's what most important."

The courtesan let out a laugh.

"But still, we probably are just some side characters in his grand scheme of things. Nobody will pay attention to the side character and side characters are just there to fill in the blanks for the so-called Chosen Ones to continue his journey. Jeez, how depressing."

James was looking at this chatty courtesan. She seems to be enjoying herself talking her frustrations out.

"Oh boy, I sure talk too much. I hope that didn't bother you, stranger."

"It's fine. It's nice hearing your thoughts. But whether are you a side character or the main character, I bet you still have a reason for existing in this world. Everyone has. That's what I believed in. Anyway, I have to go, it is nice talking to you, young lady."

"My pleasure."

James walked out of the city and the courtesan looked at his back.

"A soul that belongs to someone else and not himself. Such naivety. But at the same time, so pure and innocent. What a contrast to the humans here. I pray that you will not be tainted by the darkness of this world, stranger. I pray. Hmm, it��s been a while that I have last prayed. Oh boy, how naïve of me to think that God will grant my wish a long time ago. But this man does not belong here and I hope he will not belong here. God, you messed it up when you are dealing with me, please don't mess it up even further."

James returns to the boy to find it being beaten up by a group of people. James quickly intervened.

"Hey!" shouted James.

"What do you want? Screw off!"

"Leave that man alone?"

"This piece of shit tried to cheat when gambling with us and he stole our money. We are just taking back what is ours and reminding this boy what is the outcome of cheaters."

"Then I think you have done enough. Leave!"

"Tsch, let's go."

"Urgh…." Groaned the boy.

"Are you okay?"

"Urgh….do…you…find…her?"

"Yes…" said James.

"Then...?"

James looked down at the boy who was looking at him with hope and anticipation.

"I couldn't save her. I'm sorry."

The boy's eyes started to fill with rage.

"Then you shouldn't have given me hope!"

He coughed.

"We need to find someone to look at your wounds."

The kid refused.

"Just let me lay down here and die."

The kid closed his eyes and he fell unconscious.

James picked him up and bring him to a doctor.

"Look after him please." He gave the doctor money and left.

It was almost time for him to meet with the leader and so he went to the mansion gate and waited for Mr. Smith.