I quickly jumped in the water shortly after seeing what I looked like. All I could do was clean myself up as best as I could. I didn't have any soap or whatever cleaning products they had in this world.
After I was clean enough, I put on the dirty clothes I had before. I wanted to jump in with them, but I thought walking around drenched would be too much.
Heading back to the slums was easy, it didn't seem like the guards cared too much.
"Status"
I had tried to see if I could see the status of one of the guards and it worked.
John Doe – 27
Skills – Swordsmanship
Talents –
Stats: C+
Strength: C+
Agility: C
Dexterity: C
Stamina: C+
Mana: F
"Is that good?" I quietly said to myself before checking the status of the other guard.
He had similar stats, maybe that was the minimum to becoming a guard? I was really racking my brain, running on little to no info.
It was getting dark, and I had nowhere to sleep. I wasn't used to the slums, though, I was used to the scum, so I walked without staring at other people.
"I'll just sleep in an alley."
As I started to walk towards the closest alleyway, I overheard people talking.
"You piece of shit!"
"You thought you could get away without paying your dues, HUH?"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
I looked in the alleyway and saw 3 grown men beating someone up. It didn't look like they noticed me, so I checked their statuses.
Adam Soyer – 24
Skills –
Talents –
Stats: D
Strength: D
Agility: F+
Dexterity: F
Stamina: F+
Mana: F-
The adults all had similar statuses to this. I also checked the status of the person being beaten.
No Name – 16
Skills -
Talents – Weapon Master
Stats: D-
Strength: F+
Agility: D-
Dexterity: F
Stamina: D-
Mana: F
My body subconsciously twitched. Grown men were ganging up on one teenager. Originally after checking their statuses, I would have gone to a different alley. But seeing how they were ganging up on a 16-year-old pissed me off.
I was reminded of my past.
Comparing my status to theirs, there was no way I could win. That was... if I fought normally of course. I had picked up a brick and quietly snuck up behind the men.
The teenager looked at me, sobbing.
The men were all too focused on bullying him. I was directly behind them. Taking a deep breath, with all my might I kicked the strongest of the three in the nuts.
"AH!"
He fell immediately, covering his balls.
Before the other two could react, I threw the brick at the second strongest head. Knocking him out.
"Who the fuck are you!"
The last one lunged at me
I barely dodged it.
"I'm the grim reaper motherfucker."
Even though there was only 1 left, there was still no way in hell I would win. There wasn't a single stat I beat him in. The only thing I could do was fight dirty, just like I used to.
I started to run back towards the entrance, of course, the dumbass followed.
He followed me out on the empty street.
"Your fucking dead kid!" He shouted
"Hey dumbass."
"Did you think I was alone?"
He immediately turned around and looked to see if anyone was there. Obviously, there wasn't.
I had taken out a rock from my pocket and rushed him.
He turned back towards me after knowing he was tricked, but it was too late.
I smashed the rock against his head, which caused him to stagger.
"Wait!"
I didn't wait, I punched him in the chin and kicked his nuts until he fell.
"Piece of shit."
Heading back to the alley, the first guy I knocked down was back up.
"Fuck..."
He looked at me.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER! YOU'RE FUCKED NOW!"
The dumbass charged at me; do they not learn?
Though I thought that, I was probably fucked. I was tired, fighting the other dude took a lot of energy from me.
I thought about running, but I wouldn't have escaped anyway. I took a boxing stance and blocked his first hit. It hurt like hell; I really was weak.
"Fuck."
"Do you know who I am!?"
The dumbass started talking instead of rushing me, this really was a novel.
"...No, who the fuck are you?"
"I'm Adam Soyer! Of the Hundred Lives guild!"
Hundred Lives guild? The name sounded familiar.
"What a dumbass name..."
"Looks like I'll have to teach you some respect!"
He rushed me, I felt like shit. I could barely block his punches and my bones felt like they were breaking.
Adam stood still for a moment he was probably getting ready to make a dumbass speech.
"Behind you, dumbass."
"You think I'll fall for that!?"
But there really was someone behind him, it was the person who was getting beat.
"Your nuts are fucked!"
As he was getting ready to reply, he fell again, holding his balls.
The boy had kicked him.
Letting out a deep sigh of relief I took the boy's hand and started to lead him elsewhere.
"Good job kid."
He followed without saying a word.
---
I took him to the river; we didn't exchange any words on the way here.
"Come on, wash up."
"...Why...did you save me..."
Why did I save him? I could only guess the answer myself, but even now, looking at him reminds me of my past. Perhaps, I just didn't want him to become like me. Or maybe I did it on a whim. I wonder if I'll find out why myself..."
"Looking at you... Reminds me of me."
"And I don't want someone else becoming me."
"Now wash up."
He washed up quietly.
"What's your name?"
"...I don't have one..."
"Where do you live?"
"...Nowhere..."
"How old are you?"
"...16"
"What do you wanna do?"
"...I don't know."
"Do you want to die?"
"..."
He really was like me; he probably needs someone, so he doesn't become me.
"Do you like music?"
"...Yes."
I didn't know any songs in this world, so I just sang one from my world.
"Alright, alright
This is just the pinnacle, you'll be alright, yuh
Bones, I hear 'em snap
But I'll be alright?"
I sang one of the songs that helped me when I was going through tough times, it meant a lot to me. It felt nice singing it too, maybe because of my 'Music' talent.
He started to cry.
What?