Chapter 6 — The Forgotten Assistant

Ren Sinclair walked through the cold streets of Urus.

Unlike during the day, the city at night was quiet — almost empty.

After a long day shuffling between the Adventurer’s Guild and the Royal Guard headquarters, he was finally on his way back to the inn.

“A nice hot meal would hit the spot…” he murmured with a smile. “With today’s haul, I can afford to treat myself for once.”

Gult’s tavern was famous for its generous meals and overflowing mugs of ale.
The rooms were nothing to write home about, but the atmosphere more than made up for it.

That night, the bar was rowdier than usual.

Some adventurers were arguing across tables littered with tankards, while others played cards or shouted over their gambling matches.

“Hey! Farmer boy!” a raspy voice shouted from the back. “Heard you scored a fat reward for finding some dead bandits!”

“Good evening, Gult.”

“Yeah, I was just out on a quest when I stumbled into a pretty grim scene.”

A man stood up from one of the tables and threw an arm around Ren, still clutching his mug.

“Then how about buying the boys a round, huh?!”

“Leave him alone,” Gult called from behind the bar. “Don’t bully the kid just ’cause he’s honest.”

“Tch... you’re no fun, Gult.”

The drunkard slumped back into his seat, laughing with his companions.

Ren made his way to the counter and placed three silver coins down without a word.

“I’ll have the double boar stew, extra potatoes, some fruit... and two mugs of orange juice.”

“I’ll bring it to your table,” Gult replied, raising a brow. “Classy taste for a farmer.”

Ren simply smiled.

And for a brief moment… He let himself relax.

But it wouldn’t last.

As he sat waiting at his table, he listened to the usual drunken boasting and loud table-slapping that filled the tavern. None of it was worth his attention…

…until the conversation at the next table took a different turn.

His food arrived: steaming stew, golden roasted potatoes, fresh fruit, and chilled juice.

He ate in silenc. Until the topic shifted to something that did matter.

“You guys hear? A few days ago, that tax collector Lucian got killed just outside Urus. Cold blood.”

“They say the cuts were... clean. Just like the ones from today.”

“Yeah, I heard that too,” said another. “Word is Sir Alester Von Marcus — the former Royal Guard general — was torn apart. And he was one of the best in the kingdom.”

“Some think it was Yura Aseina,” one of them whispered. “Those kinds of sword cuts… they’re common among people from Yukihana.”

“I don’t buy it,” another scoffed.

“She was traveling in Solmara when it happened.”

“Besides… why would anyone kill Alester? He was a good man.”

Ren didn’t lift his gaze.
He simply took another bite of stew, chewing slowly.
But inside, he was listening to every word.

Then — Crash.

A sharp smack against the bar snapped him from his thoughts.

A woman had smashed her tankard down hard, splintering it against the wood.

“Ugh, you’re all such annoying losers,” she slurred, voice thick with booze. “Why don’t you all just shut up already? Sir Alester was a damn mediocrity.”

“Hey Gult! Another round! This mug’s... busted. Hic!” she added, swaying on her feet.

Ren studied her carefully.

Tangled blonde hair.
Armor barely strapped on.
A cape draped crookedly over one shoulder.
A sword at her waist…
And clearly way too many drinks in her system.

“Drunk as a skunk. Best not get involved.”

“Excuse me, Miss Perfect Paladin!” someone jeered from the back. “Hahahaha!”

Laughter erupted across the tavern.

She ignored it.
Drank her new mug in a single gulp.

“Idiots…” she muttered. “If Takao Ryonosuke were still around, none of this crap would be happening.”

The atmosphere shifted. Tension filled the air.

“Ryonosuke? Oh, please. That guy was a joke. Bet he didn’t even kill the Demon King. Probably just some story cooked up by the King of Solmara…”

She stood up, swaying slightly, and stumbled toward the table next to Ren’s.

Her eyes — bloodshot, but burning with fury.

“Take it back.”

“Not a chance, sweetheart. It’s the truth. Ryonosuke was a fraud. Alester was way better.”

“Takao Ryonosuke saved the world.”

“There should be statues of him in every city.”

“You have no idea what he gave up.”

“Cut the crap already!”

Crack.

She punched him square in the face.
The drunk dropped like a sack of bricks, out cold before he hit the floor.

The others jumped to their feet.

And just like that — the fight broke out.

It was messy. Loud. Brutal.
But the blonde woman held her own.

She was far stronger than the rest of the drunks combined.

“Enough! Quit wrecking my bar!” Gult bellowed from behind the counter.

Ren finished the last bite of his stew, gave a quiet nod of thanks, and stood — just as the woman unsheathed her sword.

“What are you doing, farmer boy?! Get out of here and call the guards!”

“No need, Mr. Gult,” Ren said with a smile. “Where I come from, hauling drunks out of bars was part of the job.”

He raised his hand — and a shovel materialized in his grip like a weapon.

“You little punk! You wanna go too?!”

Ren ignored him.

He looked straight at the woman.
His tone was calm — but firm.

“Tell me something, miss... Do you really think Takao Ryonosuke would be proud to see you like this?”

She froze.

Her eyes trembled.

Then exploded with rage.

"Don't interfere, you ignorant brat!"

“Takao was everything to me…”
“He was my future…”
“He was like a father to me.”

“And I won’t let anyone defile his name.”

Without another word, she charged, sword raised.

Ren didn’t move.

He held the shovel like a katana, slipping into a stance so fluid, so precise…

…the woman faltered, blinking in confusion.

“That stance… it’s…”

Too late.

Ren struck her cleanly with the flat of the shovel.

She crumpled to the floor, unconscious.

“...Whoa,” Gult muttered, scratching his head. “Was that… advanced shovel technique?”

“A farmer knows how to use his tools,” Ren replied, dematerializing the weapon. “Though honestly… if she hadn’t been drunk, I’d be the one on the floor.”

He placed a few coins on the counter.

“I’ll rent the room next to mine. I’ll keep an eye on her until she wakes up.”

Then he added five more gold coins.

“And this is for the damage. I need to ask her some things, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t report this to the guard.”

As always, Gult chose not to get involved.

“As long as you pay… I didn’t see a thing. But try not to do anything shady. She’s a regular customer… and an old friend.”

“Don’t worry,” Ren said. “I just didn’t want you lying around if any of those guys woke up before you did.”

He hoisted her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and headed up the stairs.

“…What a weird kid,” Gult muttered, going back to cleaning the bar. “Well, not my problem.”

The next morning…

The woman woke up with a pounding headache.
The sunlight streaming through the window felt like fire in her eyes.

“Ugh… where…?”

“There’s a pitcher of water right there. I recommend staying hydrated,” said Ren, seated by the window, calmly watching the city below.

She immediately brought her hands to her body, alarmed.

Her armor and sword were gone.

She turned her head and spotted them neatly arranged against the wall.

“…What did you do to me, brat?” she asked, clutching the sheets to her chest.

Ren let out a long sigh.

“For the love of the gods… why do I keep ending up in these situations?”

“I’m guessing… you don’t remember much from last night, huh?”

She frowned, her hangover fogging her thoughts.

“I was at the bar… and... something about Takao Ryonosuke…”

“That’s right. You were defending his name with everything you had… until I knocked you out.”

She winced, as if the memory was finally starting to resurface.

“…I remember now. That stance…”

“Where did you learn that defensive move?”

“Looks like it’s coming back to you.”

Ren stood and looked at her with a calmness only someone older could carry.

“Little Ada Schubert.”

She froze.

“W-What?! How do you know that name?! No one knows that anymore. Everyone calls me Zephira now!”

Ren stepped closer and gently ruffled her hair — like a father doting on his daughter.

“Because a long time ago, I told you…”
“That when you were older, you could join me on my next mission.”
“After all… you were my little assistant.”

Tears began to spill uncontrollably from her eyes.

An overwhelming emotion.
A choked-up cry from years of silence.

“Ta… Takao? Takao-sensei? Is that really you!?”

Ren smiled… and summoned his katana.

“That’s right.”

“Thanks to a certain goddess, I was reborn with a new identity.!”

“And this sword—Yukihana—is the proof.”

Ada broke down in sobs.

“Takao-senseeeeeeei! I missed you so much! I’ve been so alone all these years!”

“I know. I know.”

He held her close as she cried like the little girl she used to be.

“And now… I want you to tell me everything I’ve missed over these past fifteen years,
my dear apprentice.”

And so, in a small inn room above a noisy tavern, two souls reunited.

But this time… their roles were reversed.