Della’s mind blanked. She doubted if her ears had malfunctioned.

“Poison? Dad, what are you talking about? Why would I poison the Honored Guest?”

The man’s smile waned. Della’s heart skipped a beat as he frowned.

“Where’s your mother? She should’ve poisoned his food, right?”

It took a couple of seconds for Della to register her father’s words. Her generous father spoke of taking another human life… Not even in her nightmares had she considered such a sight.

“Mom is sleeping. Her fever has worsened. She let me handle the cooking.” She avoided the issue of the poisoning, hoping that she had misheard.

“…And you didn’t poison him?” Her father's voice held a profound sense of despair.

“No. Why would I?” Della shouted, unable to ignore her father's peculiar behavior.

Tta!

Della held her cheek in shock. The stinging pain hurt her, but the shock pained her even more. She couldn’t believe her senses... Her father had slapped her!

Watching her father’s face contort in anger and despair, her fear abounded.

“You fool! Why didn’t you kill him? That was a God-given chance! Don’t you remember the consequences?” He roared.

“Dad, you’re talking about killing a human being! We’re not Gards!”

“Gards? Is that your concern? Have you forgotten what happened to your Aunt? They’re coming for your mother next!”

Della froze. All her thoughts faded. Her father’s last words looped in her mind.

“No…” She shook her head and cried, “That can’t be the truth! NO! They won’t harm mom! She's sick!”

The man took a deep breath. He hugged Della and said.

“It’s the truth. At most a week... they’ll take her to the shop.”

Della felt faint. Terrifying memories popped into her mind, memories that she had hidden in the deepest corners of her heart. She never imagined that she’d have to relive that dread. But the darkness had returned to her life.

She clenched her fist before releasing it. Deep down, she knew that this day would come. It was only a question of when. This was the fate of humans… An unavoidable fate.

“Dad, I’m sorry. But I can’t do it… I can’t kill.” She shook her head.

“But your mother… it could have saved your mother!” Seeing that her father was in denial, Della decided to reveal the cruel truth.

“Dad… have you thought of the consequences if the Honored Guest dies in our restaurant?”

Her father's face went taut. His eyes widened in realization as he collapsed onto his knees.

“No way… It’s hopeless? Are we doomed to die?”

Della bit her lip as tears welled her eyes. Overwhelmed with grief, she couldn’t speak.

“No! There might still be a chance! I must inform the Gards about the Honored Guest’s arrival! They might spare us in return!” Light returned to the man’s eyes as he dashed out of the restaurant.

Della’s heart skipped a beat. Her father’s expression wasn’t normal. She hesitated before following him.

A few minutes earlier.

After leaving the restaurant, Ren’s eyes instinctively narrowed.

The picture outside the restaurant was a drastically different one. The buildings were decrepit, mostly consisting of huts.

Many people hurried through the streets, mainly carrying stones, letters, and boxes. All of them had grave expressions, almost as if they were visiting their dying relatives.

Their torn clothes couldn’t hide their bruised bodies. Amputated limbs, a damaged eye, bandages... Ren couldn’t find a healthy person amongst the busy pedestrians. Some people even had more bandages than clothes.

Ren took a deep breath. The scene in his eyes stood in direct contrast with the beautiful restaurant.

“Ren-zi?” Chinzu tilted her head. Her gaze alternated between the frowning Nez and the musing Ren.

“Ah… sorry.” Ren snapped out of his contemplation and followed Chinzu. However, Nez didn’t move.

“Nez?” He probed.

The cat’s frown deepened. Without warning, it took off.

“Wait! Nez!” Just as Ren began to chase after it, a green hand held his shoulder. Turning around, he saw a grim-faced Chinzu.

“Nez-zi will join us later. Let’s go.” She smiled, but Ren felt a hint of sadness in her voice.

Ren took a deep breath before following Chinzu. Traveling through the streets, his expression worsened.

The people in this town did not resemble humans. They looked like trained animals, slaves, solely focused on their respective tasks. His ears failed to capture a conversation in this ghost town.

Ren looked at Chinzu, searching for any hints. However, Chinzu didn’t have any reaction to her surroundings. Ren sighed inwardly, wondering how humanity had dropped to such a pathetic status.

Soon, they came across a middle-aged man. He had collapsed onto the ground, holding a box too heavy for his fragile body. Wheezing, he struggled to keep his eyes open.

Ren hesitated before approaching the dying man. However, Chinzu held him.

“He’s diseased. A few minutes at most… he’ll die.”

The man’s face writhed in pain. He extended his arm, barely squeezing out a few words.

[“Please… take… box… to…”] His breaths grew more laborious, but no one paid any attention to him. Ren was the sole witness as the middle-aged man’s voice grew weaker.

Soon, his chest stopped moving. Ren closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After composing his mind, he spoke.

“Lead the way.”

Chinzu nodded. They traveled through the long, winding streets before arriving at a larger hut.

Chinzu entered the hut without knocking. Her behavior shocked Ren, but he could only follow her silently.

Sunlight squeezed through the many tiny pores of the hut. It illuminated the poor condition of the hut.

“Elder Jerr-zi?” Zuzi inquired.

“That voice… It is Lil’ Chinzu?” An aged voice came from near the mud wall. An old man laid on an assortment of cloth and animal skin. Ren wondered if it could be considered a bed.

“Yes Elder, I have returned. I brought a guest.”

“Guest? Is it Kirrin? Or Lass Jil?” The old man sat upright, using the wall to support his back. Chinzu hastily reached out to help him.

“Elder Jerr-zi, Ren-zi is not an ordinary guest. Ren-zi is the fabled Honored Guest.”

“Honored Guest? ...Young Renzi, please come closer. I can’t see you.”

Ren approached the old man. A pair of shriveled arms touched his face.

A pungent smell of rotting assaulted Ren’s nose. But his expression didn’t change. The bony arms wandered throughout his face.

“Young Renzi… Good! Good! The prophecy… The Hero of humanity! Thank you!” Tears ran down the old man’s wrinkled face.

“Please forgive this old man. I’m just… too happy!”

Ren didn’t know what to say. A conflicting feeling hurt his heart. But he trampled it and put on an expressionless face.

It took a few seconds for the old man to regain his composure.

“Young Renzi, when I heard that a human became an Honored Guest, I was elated! If I were 20 years younger, I would’ve danced, drank, and made merry.”

Ren's brows furrowed, but he remained silent.

“After so many centuries, our race has finally birthed a hero… Thank you, Young Renzi!”

Ren’s eyebrows twitched. He could already predict the drift of the conversation and he hated it. He interrupted the old man.

“I’m sorry Elder, but I’m no hero. I’ll be leaving this forest soon, and I cannot fight for you or this town.”

Silence! The room fell silent for a while. Ren stood his ground, unyielding from his decision.

“May I ask why?” The old man broke the silence.

“Hm… How do I explain? I met a dying man today. He represents everything that’s wrong with your town. Out of what I’ve seen, this town is dying. Even if it survives today, it will die tomorrow and… I cannot protect a dead town.” Ren shook his head.

The old man let out a sigh.

“You’re very observant. Indeed, it is as you say.” His gaze was unfocused as he continued, “Maybe it’s too late for us. Many decades have ruined our chance at redemption. We have lost our fighting spirit... I’m sorry for wasting your time. Since you listened to this old man, I shall give you a word of advice… Beware of the Gards.”

The old man struggled to his bed and resumed his sleep, his real thoughts a mystery to Ren.

Ren let out a tired sigh before leaving the hut.

“Zuzi?”

“Mmh?”

“Is this why you brought me here?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

Ren fell silent. He had misjudged Chinzu. Dealing with hostile environments throughout his life had made him often distrusting. Only a rare few had won his complete trust.

Staring at the pathetic state of the town, he wondered what Chinzu thought of his decision.

“Are you disappointed?” He asked.

“No. Ren-zi has different goals and ideals. That is fine... Protecting humanity is not Ren-zi’s responsibility. Regardless, Ren-zi is still a part of our family.”

Ren nodded slowly.

‘I am the protector of the Zarstorm clan. Although I can sympathize with this town, I cannot abandon my duty to help my clan.’

Zuzu suddenly frowned. Her expression worsened.

“Ren-zi, I must leave. I’ll be back soon.” Saying this, she disappeared.

Ren shrugged and wandered through the streets. But he couldn’t calm his conflicted mind.

‘Wasn’t the Zarstorm clan also dying? Then, am I not fighting for a dying clan? Doesn’t that make me a hypocrite? ...Ahh! I shouldn’t let these thoughts distract me.’ Ren sighed.

Thump! Thump!

The ground shook, alarming Ren. He looked around and noticed that all the humans had increased their pace. They ran, ignoring their fragile bodies.

Without hesitation, Ren joined the panicking crowd. His blue hair and perfect clothes made him stand out, but he hoped that his short stature would compensate for his eye-catching features.

Staring into the distance, he saw a couple of giants. However, these giants were unlike anything he had ever seen.

They resembled bipedal lizards. Their dark green heads protruded forward unnaturally and their eyes bulged.

Strolling through the streets, their tails flailed about, sometimes tearing gaping holes in the huts. With their enormous sizes, the human below them resembled insects.

Thump! Thump! As they neared him, Ren overheard their conversation.

“Krekeke, I’m tired of looking after this farm.”

“The Ramming Squad are on their way. We have to help them.”

“Ramming Squad? Those puny minotaurs? Krekeke! I want to eat minotaur flesh.” A giant laughed, revealing many sets of teeth. Its mouth extended a long way into its head. Ren realized that the monster's head mostly consisted of its mouth.

“Stop. If you want to eat, prey on these humans. Don’t ever offend the Minotaur General.”

“Human? Kreat! I pick… you!” The lizard pulled a middle-aged woman from the crowd.

[“Aaaahhhhh! Please spare me!”]

“Kra Kra Kra… Are you offering me your arm? Kreat!” The lizard stretched the woman’s left arm.

[“No! Please… I have to complete- Please show merc- AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”]

Ren flinched. He clenched his fist before relaxing it.

Krak! Kitch! Disturbing sounds emerged from the giant’s mouth. It dropped the poor woman, who fled, sobbing in pain.

Pa! The giant spat out a red blob of indeterminable mass.

“Distasteful! Kra! Raw human meat tastes like sh*t.”

“Who asked you to pick this waste? You must eat the premium ones. They have the best texture. A true delicacy.” The giant’s companion laughed.

Ren gritted his teeth as his vision reddened.

‘Don’t make a mistake. I cannot reveal my Forbidden Skills! And even if I react, I might not win. Stay low for now.’ Ren restrained his killing intent and sought to leave the area, lest he attracts any attention.

However, a shout caught him by surprise.

Della quietly followed her father. She maintained a safe distance, ensuring that he did not notice her.

Throughout the way, her heart thumped furiously. Two issues spiked her anxiety.

For one, she feared for her father’s life, knowing full well that interacting with a Gard was extremely foolish, irrespective of one’s intention. However, her father was intent on this reckless endeavor, and she couldn’t convince him otherwise.

Other than this, the muddy ground drove her insane. The repulsive dirt slithered into her sandals. She wanted to take a bath, but fearing for her father’s life, she trudged through the muddy hell.

Thump! Hearing a faint sound, Della shuddered. This sound signaled an unparalleled disaster for humans. From the time she learned to listen, she dreaded this sound. However, her father chased after the origin of the noise.

Della bit her lip, petrified. Combined with a distant wailing, she felt like she was undergoing a nervous breakdown. Soon, a woman emerged from the direction of Gards. Blood dripped down her missing arm. Realizing what happened, Della gasped.

“Ar-Are you okay?”

“Leave me!” The woman pushed her and advanced, limping. Witnessing the plight of the woman, Della mustered her courage and chased after her father.

Thump! Thump! The sounds grew louder and she finally saw them…

...The dreadful behemoths that evoked the dread in every human… the Gards. Meeting the giants for the first time, she realized just how much the stories had undervalued their monstrous statures.

Her father kneeled before the monsters, like a rat in front of two lions.

“Where is he?” The Gard asked.

“Lord, I saw him beside my home. But I’m sure he’s still within this city.”

BAM!! Della trembled as the ground shook. The Gard unsheathed its giant sword, a sign that the situation had turned awry.

Tsuiin! The sword whistled as the Gard shouted.

“Where is he?”

“Lord, please give me an hour. I’ll find him!” Her father pleaded.

“You dare to lie and waste our time?! Die!” The Gard lifted the sword.

Della’s complexion paled. She realized that her father’s bargain had failed. Fear plagued her mind, and the dust drove her insane.

“NO! He’s not lying! Please spare him!” She shouted in desperation, knowing full well that her decision would doom her.

However, she didn’t care anymore. Her mother was fated to die, and her father stood between death's teeth. If she didn’t make an attempt, she wouldn’t be able to forgive herself.

The Gard stopped. The menacing behemoth glanced at her.

“Krekeke, what do we have here? A premium human?” The Gard’s creepy smile extended all the way to the back of its head.

Della’s heart skipped a beat.

“Lord, please forgive him!” She prostrated, begging in the prestigious language of the beasts, hoping that it would calm the Gards.

“Krekeke, I was hungry, and my meal ran towards me. Kreat!” A giant arm grabbed her. Her vision changed rapidly as she could no longer feel the ground.

In the end, her eyes stopped at the Gard’s mouth. It opened its giant mouth, revealing many sets of sharp, and dirty teeth, waiting to her rip apart her flesh. She almost vomited from the rotting smell of the pus within its mouth. Imagining her death in that disgusting meat grinder, Della’s anxiousness grew.

“NOOOO! PLEASE NOT MY DAUGHTER!” Her father’s horrified shout reached her.

Della calmed down. She understood that her time had come. Raised as potential livestock, she was doomed to die at the Gard’s teeth. This was her fate.

‘Dad… please escape. Mom, I’m sorry but I can’t take care of the restaurant. Please find a new successor. And please instruct your successor to keep our home clean.’ She closed her eyes, reconciling with her fate.

The seconds passed…

…but her awaited death didn’t come.

She imagined the teeth impaling her, but she did not feel the pain. Instead, she heard a few confusing sounds.

THUD! A large impact shocked Della. It took out all the breath in her lungs.

‘Is it over? Am I dead?’ Quickly recovering, she opened her eyes, noticing a giant, dirty finger. It blocked her view, squeezing her.

'Am I going to be crushed here? ...This dirty hand.' She struggled, but her attempts were futile.

Just as she surrendered hope, the hand relaxed. She squeezed out of the dirty hand and took a few deep breaths.

The next moment, her eyes popped open, unable to reconcile the baffling scene in her vision.

A young blue-haired boy ran up the second Gard. He wasn’t climbing! Instead, he was running vertically on the Gard’s body, defying all notions Della had learned of gravity.

However, her shock did not end there. Once she noticed the boy's weapon, she could no longer avert her gaze. He carried the sword of the Gards, the giant sword which was a multitude of times larger than his tiny body.

She gulped, even contemplating slapping herself to snap out of this peculiar dream.

The boy ran up to Gard’s abdomen and swung the giant sword, cutting through the Gard’s protruding head. A white stream gushed out of the Gard’s head as it collapsed.

THUD! The Gard crushed a few huts, but it was dead.

Della gaped. She had witnessed the death of a Gard!

It convinced her that she wasn't dreaming. Her dreams could never conjure such a ridiculous scene.

Thump! The boy tossed the giant sword, like throwing a twig. He approached the awestruck Della.

Della gulped. She finally understood why this human had become an Honored Guest. He was a monster in human skin!

“You!” The boy faced her.

“Yes, Lord.” Della’s heart shook, worried if he would kill her as well.

“Become my chef!”

Della blankly stared at the outstretched hand. It was a bruised, dirty hand.

She wanted to grab it and accept the offer, but… the dirt. The dirt on the boy’s palm frightened her.

In the end, Della's emotions conquered her fears. With silent tears, she shook her savior’s hand.