Chapter 03: Walking in the Night.
Ren stood still in the empty alley, where the light from the square seemed unable to reach.
Klein's footsteps gradually faded, leaving a void that couldn't be filled. Ren stood alone in the stifling silence.
Loneliness surged over him, like a giant wave drowning all his thoughts.
Ren gripped the spear tightly in his hands, his small, skinny fingers seemingly out of place on such a weapon.
His body trembled, unsure if it was from fear or cold.
He tightened his grip on the spear's shaft, trying to steady himself, but his heart still pounded in his chest, as if about to tear his body apart.
"Can I... really survive in this world?" Ren wondered deep inside.
With heavy steps, Ren left the dark alley and entered the square. The sunset light had already faded. The town was submerged in the cold, lonely night.
The cold air seeped through his skin, making him shiver. His worry for the future and the disorientation in his mind made him feel even colder.
The crowd had thinned out. Some still stood there, their heads bowed in despair.
The sound of crying and the murmur of impotent anger seeped into the air.
Others, those who had regained their composure, began discussing plans. Ren overheard words like "Monster spawn," "Level grinding," "Quests," "Parties."
No matter the circumstances, the human will to survive was more intense than ever.
But no one paid attention to him. He was a small figure among those who were lost in their own fears.
Ren silently walked past. Players rushed to all the hunting fields outside the town. Of course, Ren was not one of them.
Leaving behind most players in despair.
His legs kept moving. His mind was filled with thoughts and confusion. Then, Ren stopped.
He stopped in front of a house, a corner still dark. Ren quietly looked at the small statue outside.
Ren couldn't make out its shape clearly, but he was sure the image of a woman praying was deeply etched into his mind.
Ren bent down and sat on the stone step, the dim light from a streetlamp bathing his body.
Silently, he observed the other players hurrying down the main road.
The light from the streetlamp caressed Ren's body. He just sat there, observing everything.
He hesitated for a moment before opening his menu.
[Name: Ren]
[Lv: 1]
[Hp: 250/250]
Once again, Ren checked his inventory.
Inside, there was still only one item. A silver mirror.
Ren raised the mirror, and the light reflected his face. His blue eyes stared back at him.
A pair of empty blue eyes met his, carrying an air of resentment.
"Disgusting."
He muttered, the whisper swept away by the silence. The mirror in his hands trembled.
How long had it been since Ren dared look at himself in a mirror?
He couldn't remember the last time. But every time he saw his face, Ren was afraid.
"You shouldn't have existed in this world."
Unlike many other players, Ren didn't throw the mirror away. Something made him want to keep it.
"The one strong enough to face himself will find the path to the light."
Ren reread the description on the mirror, as if clinging to a fragile hope. But before he could think any further, hurried footsteps rang out from behind.
"Hey. You've wasted a lot of our time."
Ren turned around, his gaze meeting the figure of Tarek and his subordinates. The leader flashed a wicked smile and casually walked over.
These bastards had pushed him into this damn hell.
"Tarek..." Ren forced himself to remain calm, but his voice was filled with fear and trembled. "Why are you looking for me?"
Ren shook, stepping back a few steps, only to be blocked immediately. Tarek's subordinates surrounded him, looking at him with mocking eyes.
Ren's throat felt dry. The air felt thick, oppressive, and hard to breathe.
"Tarek…" Ren spoke, but the moment he opened his mouth, he realized how weak his voice sounded.
The man in front of him smiled slowly, like a cat toying with a mouse.
"The prince... You didn't forget our agreement, did you?"
Ren gritted his teeth. He knew exactly what Tarek was referring to. But he didn't want to admit it. He didn't want to bow his head.
"I... I've paid everything off."
Tarek laughed out loud, patting Ren on the back in a friendly manner that chilled Ren's veins.
"Oh? Really?" Tarek tilted his head, his gaze seeming to look at a trembling little animal. "But didn't you forget? Your parents' debt might be paid off... but you still owe us."
The man's eyes gleamed with mocking scorn.
Ren felt every nerve in his body tighten. Tarek's words cut into the past Ren didn't want to remember.
"Our contract is still valid, kid."
Ren clenched his fists. He wanted to say something, but in that moment, a punch landed squarely in his chest.
His small body was pushed back. Ren stumbled, his legs unable to keep steady. His head spun from the sudden pain.
"Ugh…"
Ren held his chest. The pain didn't last as long as it would have in the real world, which surprised him. But his mind didn't focus on that.
The feeling of fear came over him like a tsunami, drowning his mind.
'No blood?'
Ren stared at his hands in surprise, only seeing some liquid that looked like amniotic fluid.
'Ah... this isn't the real world.' Ren tried to breathe, helpless.
The anger inside him grew stronger. Ren, having a weak body, had done many things to pay off his debt, only making his body weaker.
"Well... well... come on. I'm just saying hello. Thanks to that damn Kayaba bastard, we're stuck here. So most of the contract terms are useless.
The money you earn here can't be exchanged for cash."
Ren staggered to his feet. He remembered now, remembered why he was trapped in this hellish place.
He had queued for more than six hours in the bone-chilling November weather just to buy the NerveGear. Ren couldn't forget the man in front of him. He was the one who had made him trapped in this hell.
He leaned close to Ren's ear, his voice turning soft but still terrifying.
"Looks like following us is your only choice. If you don't want to rot to death here. Listen, we've got a good opportunity. The group is getting a new Beta Tester. Do you understand?"
Ren nodded silently, a chill running down his spine at the man's friendly demeanor.
"You can follow us. We've got a Beta Tester in the group. Do you know what a Beta Tester is?"
Ren flinched, swallowing hard. He thought of Kirito. The Beta Testers. They had spent two months exploring this game.
If he followed someone like that, the chances of survival were much higher. But Ren just wanted to live peacefully in the safe zone.
Looking at the leader's face, Ren's response appeared in his mind. He had no other choice.
He hesitated, but Tarek's cold gaze didn't give him a choice.
"You have nothing to lose, right?" Tarek raised an eyebrow. "Follow me, or stay here and die slowly like a useless fool."
Ren looked up at him, each of Tarek's words squeezing his heart. That's right, he had nothing left to lose.
A dull life, a weak body, and a dim future. The choices were like waves constantly crashing against the shore, and the shore was too far.
He looked at his hands, his fingers tightening, trying not to show the tremor. It felt like he wanted to stop, not go any further, but then something inside him twisted.
That feeling of being stuck between two choices, one with a fragile hope, the other with a slow, endless death.
Before Tarek's mocking and pitiful gaze, Ren gritted his teeth. He knew there was no turning back.
"…Fine." The words slipped out, soft as a breath.
Tarek stood up, a self-satisfied smile spread across his face. "Good. We won't disappoint you."
Ren stood up, his chest still aching, his legs stiff as if glued to the ground. He hesitated for a moment, but then took a step forward, each step heavy with the weight of his decision.
The town sank into the silent night, with only the faint glow from a few old streetlights flickering on narrow streets.
The lights emitted a pale yellow glow, but it wasn't enough to chase away the coldness that enveloped everything.
The light was even dimmer than the streetlights that shone down on the small, underground room he once called home.
Ren still remembered those nights when he would use them to work into the early hours.
The streets stretched on, the cobblestones worn by time, the surface rough and cracked.
The architecture around him was medieval, with tall stone buildings, narrow windows, and sharp roofs.
Some windows still emitted a weak light, but most were as dark as the fate of those trapped here.
Every step Ren took echoed in the space, the small sound clear as it shattered the stillness.
The night breeze blew, bringing with it the biting cold and the rustling of dry leaves falling on the road. The air felt heavy, filled with unease and despair.
His feet felt like they were made of lead as he trudged along behind Tarek and his subordinates. After 5-6 minutes of winding through alleyways.
Tarek and his men stopped in front of a bar.
A deserted bar appeared under the dim light of the night, deep inside an alley with an old sign.
From the outside, Ren could hear music. Occasionally, there were small discussions.
It was unclear whether they were NPC voices or player voices.
Ren followed Tarek and his tough-looking subordinates inside. The interior was simply decorated with a few round, faded tables and chairs.
The creaking of the door and the loose chairs created a strange feeling.
When they arrived, a few people were already sitting inside. They were discussing something. When someone entered, all three stopped and looked toward the door.
Although Tarek was the last to arrive, the self-satisfied smile still lingered on his face. He walked toward the three customers.
Ren's blue eyes curiously assessed the three people.
Two men and one woman. They were all wearing the starter leather armor that each player was given.
Ren could feel the confidence radiating from each of their gazes, especially from the guy sitting in the middle.
A dangerous feeling.