Chapter 3: Citra Village — The Girl Who Did Not Ask to Be Saved

Citra Village welcomed Rei with an atmosphere that appeared peaceful.

Wooden houses stood neatly along the dirt roads. NPCs tended their fields as usual. Children ran about laughing, carrying wooden sticks and pretending to be adventurers. There were no warning signs. No alarms.

Yet Rei knew—
peace in R.D.D.W was often only surface-deep.

He walked toward the guild building at the edge of the village.

The Black Bear Guild.

Unlike the Cat Ear Guild in Akibahara, this place felt rough. There was no sense of order. Several players sat casually on the floor, laughing loudly, getting into minor arguments, or ignoring NPCs who tried to speak with them.

Rei handed his quest letter to the reception desk. The NPC accepted it without much comment.

That was when he saw her.

A young woman with black hair that faded into red at the tips stood slightly hunched in the corner of the room. Her clothes were worn. Her face was pale. Around her neck, a faint holographic symbol flickered.

Rei stopped.

“Hurry it up!”

A broad-built man with punk-styled hair shoved the woman from behind. Her body staggered before she fell onto the wooden floor.

“Useless,” the man muttered.

Rei knew.

He truly knew.

This was none of his business.

This guild was known for its freedom. Too much freedom.
Yet his body moved before his thoughts could catch up.

“Hey,” Rei said flatly. “You don’t need to shove her like that.”

The punk-haired man turned, scanning Rei from head to toe.

“Huh?” He let out a short laugh. “Who are you? Some village hero?”

Rei did not answer.

His gaze fixed on the status hologram at the woman’s neck.

<Slave>

His chest felt slightly heavy.

“How long?” Rei asked.

“What?”

“How long has she been in that status?”

The man grinned.
“A long time. She’s useless without a party, so yeah… that’s what happens.”

The woman did not look at Rei. Her eyes were empty, as if the conversation no longer reached her.

“What do you want?” the punk-haired man asked. “If you’re buying, just say so.”

Rei let out a quiet breath.

“Her name?”

The man shrugged.
“Don’t know.”

Rei looked closer at the status display.

Hikari Tsukishiro
Class: Blessed Maiden

Rei fell silent for a few seconds.

Blessed Maiden.
A rare class.
A class meant to be protected—not enslaved.

“How much?” Rei asked again.

“Thirty gold coins,” the man replied quickly, as if he had been waiting for the question.

Too expensive.
And far too cheap for something like this.

Rei opened his inventory.

One by one, gold coins changed hands.

The man laughed in satisfaction.
“Good choice.”

The <Slave> status at Hikari’s neck disappeared.

Her body immediately went limp, collapsing into a seated position.

Rei caught her before her head hit the floor.

A few people glanced over, but no one truly cared.

Rei carried Hikari to a small inn in Citra Village.

He rented a room, then asked an NPC to bring water and simple food. The risk in points and time crossed his mind—but it was not enough to stop him.

Hikari sat on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees.

“Why…?” Her voice was quiet, barely audible.

Rei stood near the window.
“Why what?”

“Why did you save me?”

Rei did not answer right away.

“I didn’t ask to be saved,” Hikari continued. “I even wished… that I had just died that day.”

Rei turned toward her.

“Please don’t say that.”

Hikari let out a hollow laugh.
“You don’t know anything about my life.”

“That’s true,” Rei replied honestly. “I don’t.”

He sat down on a wooden chair—not too close, not too far.

“But I know what it feels like to wake up every day wishing it would just stop.”

Hikari slowly lifted her face.

“I came to this world,” Rei continued, “because I thought I could end everything peacefully here.”

His gaze fell to the floor.
“But I’m still breathing.”

“Then why are you still here?” Hikari asked.

“Because I realized one thing,” Rei answered.
“If I die now, I’ll never know whether tomorrow could be just a little lighter.”

Hikari remained silent for a long time.

“I won’t tell you that your life is precious,” Rei continued.
“Those words are empty when you’re already broken.”

He stood up.

“But as long as you’re still hesitating… it means a part of you hasn’t given up yet.”

Hikari clutched the hem of her clothes.
“Why did I have to be saved?”

Rei answered without hesitation.
“Because you’re still asking.”

He stepped one pace closer.

“And someone who still asks… isn’t finished yet.”

Silence filled the room.

Rei placed a thin blanket over Hikari.

“Get some rest,” he said. “I’ll step out for a bit.”

Rei did not invite Hikari with him.

Not because he didn’t care—
but because he knew the world outside was not safe.

He headed toward the dungeon near Citra Village.

The air felt different.

Not cold.
Not hot.

But… wrong.

Rei slowed his steps when he noticed something in the distance.

Goblins.

But not ordinary goblins.

Iron armor covered their bodies. Their formation was tight. Their movements were coordinated.

Armored Goblins.

“Since when…?” Rei murmured.

He stepped back slightly, hiding behind rocks.

Then something larger emerged from the dungeon corridor.

A tall figure wielding a heavy spear. A horned helm. An aura of authority radiated clearly.

Dungeon Overseer: Goblin Warden

Rei held his breath.

This wasn’t a normal spawn.
This was a bug.

Without hesitation, he opened the communication menu.

[Private Message → Serizawa Hondo]
Anomaly confirmed.
Low-level monsters altered.
Citra Village dungeon has an active Overseer.
High risk. I am withdrawing.

A few seconds passed.

[Reply]
Message received.
Do not take unnecessary risks.
You made the correct decision.

Rei closed the menu.

He didn’t feel disappointed.

If anything—
he felt calm.

Retreating didn’t mean defeat.

Sometimes, it meant choosing to live.

Rei turned away, leaving the dungeon behind.

In the distance, dark clouds slowly gathered.

Black Tidal Wave was drawing closer.

And this world—
was beginning to reveal its true face.