Chapter 2 — Salt, Steel and Adventurers

“Brat, grab some rock salt from the south market,” Old Man Ray barked from the forge’s entrance, waving a calloused hand. “And don’t skimp on the quality this time!”

Kai adjusted the strap of his black hood as he slipped his ninjatō into its sheath. “Same stall as usual?”

“Aye. Tell Mira the forge’s good for credit if she asks,” Ray said, puffing on his pipe. Then his voice softened ever so slightly — something only Kai would catch. “Don’t dawdle, boy. The Verdant Veil’s been spitting out strange beasts lately.”

Kai nodded. “…I’ll be back soon.”

Ray watched him go, arms folded, frowning slightly. Kid spends too much time in shadows… he thought. But damn if he doesn’t remind me of my own son.

The south market was a storm of noise and color — steaming food stalls, shouting merchants, and the sharp stink of freshly skinned hides. Kai moved like a shadow, hood low, mask covering his lower face, his lightweight boots silent on the cobblestones.

Strapped beneath his hoodie were hidden kunai, and at his hip, small leather pouches rattled softly with sharpened shuriken. Every piece of his attire — black trousers, steel forearm guards, fingerless gloves — had been forged by his own hand.

He kept his emerald gaze fixed ahead… until a familiar voice called out.

“Oi! Black hood!”

Kai stopped, narrowing his eyes. Two figures approached from the edge of the crowd.

The first was a tall, broad-shouldered man clad in reinforced black armor, a greatsword strapped across his back — Darius, the man from the forest. Beside him walked a silver-haired woman, her steps light but measured, long cloak swaying — Lira, the one he’d saved.

Darius grinned broadly. “Knew that was you! Took me forever to track you down. C’mon, don’t run off this time.”

Kai turned away. “…Busy.”

“Oh no you don’t.” Lira stepped forward, silver eyes soft but firm. “At least let us thank you. You saved my life.”

“You can thank the forest. Not me,” Kai muttered.

Darius chuckled. “Too bad. We’re buying you lunch anyway.” He clapped a massive hand on Kai’s shoulder, ignoring his glare. “C’mon, kid. Best skewers in Drakensport. On us.”

“…Tch,” Kai sighed, but didn’t resist.

They settled at a crowded food stall, the scent of roasted boar skewers heavy in the air. Darius ordered enough meat to feed a squad of mercenaries, while Lira sipped quietly at a small cup of fruit wine.

Darius tore into a skewer, speaking through a mouthful of meat. “Y’know, I still can’t believe a random kid in a hood knew how to cure Dark Horned Snake venom.”

Kai adjusted his mask slightly, voice calm. “Not random. I read.”

Lira’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Read? You make it sound so simple.”

Kai didn’t answer. He focused on the skewer in front of him, eating with silent precision.

Darius leaned back on his stool, crossing his arms. “Guess we should introduce ourselves proper. I’m Darius Helmont, A-ranked adventurer with the Silverfang Guild. This is Lira Veyren, same rank, same guild.”

Kai’s gaze flicked up briefly. “…A-rank. Means you hunt wyverns and above.”

Darius blinked. “Hah, so you do know your stuff.”

“I read,” Kai repeated flatly.

Lira chuckled softly, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear. “Ranks go from F at the bottom — fetch quests, lost cats, that sort of thing — up to SS, which is reserved for legendary-class adventurers. But above even that…”

“Black Rank,” Darius finished, his tone dropping.

Kai raised an eyebrow. “…Black?”

“Yeah,” Darius said grimly. “Only a handful in the entire kingdom. The king himself issues that rank, and they’re basically living disasters wrapped in human skin. Strong enough to flatten armies.”

Lira’s expression darkened. “Some of them… abuse it. Take what they want, thinking they’re untouchable. But guild rules still bind them. Even Black Rank adventurers can’t cross certain lines.”

Kai hummed thoughtfully. “…I’ll remember that.”

While Darius demolished another skewer, Kai asked, “…And nobles?”

Lira tilted her head. “You’ve been reading, haven’t you?”

Kai nodded slightly. “…Baron at the bottom. Royalty at the top.”

“Exactly,” she said. “Some barons are weaker than merchants, but the royal family? Different story entirely. They have influence over everything — adventurers included.”

“And monsters?” Kai asked next.

Darius whistled. “Kid wants the whole damn encyclopedia, huh? Fine. Monsters are ranked from F to Sovereign Class. F’s your garden pests, G-class slimes and the like. Anything above B can slaughter unprepared adventurers. S-class and Sovereign? You run unless you’re suicidal.”

Kai silently filed it away. Knowledge was survival.

As Darius rambled on, Lira found herself stealing glances at Kai. His mask hid half his face, but his emerald-green eyes caught the torchlight strangely, sharp and calculating.

“You’re… different,” she murmured.

Kai paused mid-bite. “…How so?”

“You move like a shadow,” she said softly. “Like someone who’s always ready for a fight.”

Kai lowered his gaze. “…Old habits.”

After lunch, Darius slapped a few gold coins on the counter and stood. “Alright, kid. That’s our thanks paid.”

Kai turned to leave, but Darius called after him: “You ever think about joining a guild?”

“No,” Kai said without hesitation.

Lira tilted her head. “Why not?”

“I don’t like leashes.”

Darius grinned, shaking his head. “Suit yourself, Phantom.”

Back at the forge, Old Man Ray glanced up from his work as Kai returned. “Got the salt?”

Kai dropped the pouch onto the counter. “…Yeah.”

Ray puffed on his pipe, smirking faintly. “And here I thought you hated crowds.”

Kai said nothing, but his mind was elsewhere — on adventurer ranks, monsters, and power. Knowledge was survival, but survival wasn’t enough.

Not in this world.