Rinto City

Of the cities in the five cities region, Rinto City had the most traditional aesthetic. In addition to the smooth stone houses with dark red roofs, the citizens were also walking around in their elegant robes.

Tourists were easily spotted, with all of them wearing smiles as they were pleased with their experience, but there were exceptions. Walking down a fairly crowded street in the city, was a young man with a hand over his mouth to restrain a yawn. This was Shui going with his usual disguise of an average male. He had nodded in appreciation when he entered the city, but his circumstances left him too mentally exhausted for any other reaction.

Shui had maintained the mind control long enough to get a good idea of the moon hunting dog's movements, so he was able to take control when things became dire. He was afraid that the sudden change in physical abilities would cast doubt on his slave, but he had no choice since it was either that or letting it die. He had considered using mind control on a surviving beast, but he was pretty far so he chose to stick with the one he had.

Thanks to his interference, the moon hunting dog was able to be part of the surviving five. Both the moon hunting dog leader and scarlet tiger leaders were alive and decided that the mission had failed and that they would return to Malirin Forest to report. They were naturally reluctant to report their incompetence to the silver tiger great beast, but even if this failure cost them their lives, it was better than throwing them away here. Shui hoped that the hunting dog he was controlling would be spared, but there was nothing he could do about it so he focused on his own problems.

"But, this is different from what you promised."

"Huh? Promise? When did I promise you anything? Just be grateful I'm paying you at all."

"But, but-"

At the side of the road, Shui witnessed an impoverished boy being pushed to the ground by a chubby, middle-aged man. It was a dirty scene in this beautiful city, still, it wasn't special. After turning away from the incident, Shui looked for an inn to stay at since it was too late to look for Yur's little sister.

The next day, the impoverished boy was meeting with a young lady on a bench. The young lady looked to be about the same age as him, just beginning to gain the natural weapons of women which allowed them to fell great kings. She was still in the category to be described as cute, but her expression showed a mature resolve as she spoke with the boy.

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Y-yes. If I work a little more, I'm sure I'll have enough to pay him back."

"But, Wince, you look like you haven't eaten for days."

"No, I'm-"

As if to spite the boy, a grumbling sound came from his stomach at this moment. His face became red with embarrassment as the girl laid her hand on top of his.

"Wince, let's go have lunch. Aunt Margaret made her special beef stew last night so we're having leftovers. You like beef stew, right?"

"I-I-"

Before the boy had a chance to reject her offer, his stomach shouted in agreement. Left betrayed by his own body, the boy was about to resign to his fate and follow her home, but then a shadow was cast on them. When the two looked up, they noticed a group of men towering over them. It would be bad enough it they were strangers, but the fact that the boy recognized some of them made it worse. As she saw the boy freeze up in fear, the young lady stood up to block him from the men's ridiculing gazes.

"Wow, what a brave little girl."

"Come on, you're a man aren't you? How could you let this cutie protect you?"

"Pathetic."

As the men sneered, the boy tried to face them from behind the girl, but their faces were the nightmares that kept him awake at night.

"That's enough, stand down."

Though these men were overbearing to the two, they were obedient to the sound of a young man's voice. From behind the group of men appeared a fifteen-year-old boy in a luxurious blue robe. He made his wealthy status obvious for all to see, deterring any who might have reached out a hand to the boy and girl.

"Yumi, why do you still defend this spineless boy? Are your eyes merely placeholders?"

"At the very least, my eyes can see the one I want to protect."

"Then you must be mistaken. Look at him, cowering in place while you stand in front of him. How disgraceful."

Wince flinched. He wanted to fight back against those harsh words, but his body only shivered in place.

"That's enough. What do you want, Cris?"

"Don't look at me like that. I'm only here to collect his debt. If anything he should be on the ground thanking me for waiting this long. Where else could you find a creditor as lenient as I am?"

"Shouldn't he still have time to pay off that debt, Mr. Lenient Creditor?"

"Right you are my sweet angel, but since I was in the area I figured I might as well check on his progress. Even a lenient creditor like me needs to make sure that he can get his money back."

"Ugh, you'll get your money back. He just hasn't gotten paid yet."

"That's a lie. You received your pay last night, didn't you Wince?"

With that question alone, both Wince and Yumi immediately connected the dots and glared at him.

"You, you're not being fair!"

"What are you talking about Yumi? I'm as fair as can be. If he can't afford the debt, then I can allow you to help him with it. If you're interested, then how about you and I have a long talk about it?"

Even Yumi couldn't keep her legs firm as Cris approached with lecherous intent, and the moment she took a step back, Wince grabbed her wrist and finally stood up.

"N-no!"

"Tch, who told you to talk? A matter of fact, since you want to run your mouth, how about you empty your pockets first? Where's my money?"

"I'll definitely, get it, in time."

Cris gave a disdainful chuckle in response before snapping his fingers. The men around him then forcefully pulled the young pair apart and then knocked Wince to the ground.

"No! Stop! What are you doing?!"

"L-leave her alone!"

Wince hastily got up and stretched out a hand towards her in worry, but a foot suddenly stomped that hand to the ground.

"Ahhh!!!"

"Stop the screaming. You're making me look bad."

Despite saying this, Cris continued to pound Wince with his feet. No smile appeared on his face as bruises emerged on Wince's skin, there was only a burning rage in his eyes.

"Someone incompetent like you should know their place. If you had been smart enough to fall in line then this wouldn't be happening. This is all your fault."

"Stop it! Stop hurting him!"

Yumi struggled in one of the man's arms, but his grip was too strong. Her desperate plea became a cry for help, but no one nearby was chivalrous or stupid enough to interfere in this matter.

'She'll be fine', they thought as they averted their gazes.