Chapter 7 – Past regrets and past forgets
Roy clenched his fist tightly, staring at the scene before him, his breath growing heavier.
"Lord of the Puppets..."
His mind raced.
"As my memories recall… humanity thought awakened beings were the world's saviors. But the truth? Some of them sided with the monsters. They betrayed us. Seven of them… we call them the Seven Deadly Sins."
He took another glance at the teen boy being kicked on the ground.
"And one of them... is that bastard right there. Lord of the Puppets."
His thoughts twisted with rage.
"Is he the one responsible for the upcoming monster invasion here… again?"
Suddenly, the echo of fast, frantic footsteps interrupted him.
A little girl ran in, tears streaming down her face.
"Stop! Don't hurt my brother!" she screamed, planting herself between the gang and the fallen boy.
"???: Marel... run! Don't get involved!" the boy shouted, barely conscious.
One of the bullies scowled.
"Huh!? You trying to act tough now!?" He raised his hand to punch the girl—
"DON'T!" the boy cried.
But before the hit could land, someone caught the bully's wrist.
The thug froze.
"Who the hell dares to—"
It was Roy.
"That's enough. Bullying kids now?" he said coldly.
The gang of boys turned, and their eyes widened when they saw the camo pants Roy was wearing.
"Sh*t, he's military!" one of them whispered.
"No way we're messing with him. We're out!"
Roy released the boy's hand.
"Leave now. And don't come back doing this garbage again."
But one of them still tried to act tough.
"Tch! You're just an army grunt. My brother's an adventurer, and we'll be back for that kid!"
They disappeared into the alley.
The girl looked up at Roy, about to thank him—
"Marel! Let's go!" the brother called out faintly.
"Brother! You're hurt—you can't even stand!"
"Marel... D-Don't worry—"
He passed out mid-sentence.
Roy immediately scooped him up.
"Come on, kid. You too, little one."
They rushed to the blacksmith shop.
DING-DING
The bell rang as the door slammed open.
Yur turned with her usual cheer.
"Welco— Roy!?"
"Where's Mister Maro? I need help!"
Yur, now panicked, ran to the back.
"Mister Maro! Emergency!"
Maro rushed out from his forge and saw the boy.
"What happened!?"
"He's unconscious. He needs medical attention—fast!"
Maro wasted no time.
"Bring him to the back room. Lay him on the bed."
Roy gently placed the boy down. Maro leaned in, checking the boy's breathing.
"I'll handle this. Go comfort his sister—she's scared out of her mind."
Roy stepped out. Yur was holding the sobbing Marel, doing her best to calm her.
"There, there! He's strong—he'll be fine, I promise!"
"I-I hope so… sniff"
Yur panicked, waving her hands.
"I swear on my hammer he'll be okay!"
Roy walked up.
"Roy!" Yur looked up, eyes hopeful.
Marel asked in a small voice,
"How's my brother? sniff"
Roy knelt beside her.
"He's stable. He'll be up by tomorrow. So don't cry, alright?"
She sniffed, trying to hold it in.
"Yur, take her back to the room. Stay with her, okay?"
"Yes, Mister Roy!" Yur guided Marel inside.
Roy stood in silence, mind swirling.
"Is that… really him? The Lord of the Puppets? But… why is he so weak?"
A dangerous idea crossed his mind.
"Should I… kill him now, before it's too late?"
He clenched his teeth.
And punched himself in the face.
"What the hell are you thinking…" he muttered.
"I won't let revenge consume me. I chose this path to change my regrets. Not repeat them."
He exhaled and stepped outside.
But from a distance… a pair of eyes in the shadows watched him.
"So… that's the guy."
Roy arrived home just as dawn approached.
But behind him… those shadowy figures stared at the blacksmith's shop.
"So this is where the kids went? Get in there. Bring me the boy… and the girl."
---
Morning
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Roy stirred awake.
"Aghh… who's there?"
His friend opened the door.
"Hey, how's the healing going?"
Roy groaned, rubbing his head.
"I've felt worse. I think I'm fine."
His friend exhaled in relief.
"Good… you'll need that strength. Listen, I've got bad news."
Roy sat up, instantly alert.
"What is it?"
"The blacksmith's shop… the one you used to visit?"
Roy's eyes widened.
"It was attacked last night."
He didn't wait for another word. He bolted.
"Think. Think! Why now!? Why them!?"
Crowds had gathered outside the shop. Scratches across the stone, shattered windows, smoke damage. It looked like a battlefield.
Roy shoved through the onlookers.
"MOVE!"
Inside, the smell of blood and ash hit him.
"I should've killed that boy—!"
Then… a sound. Crying.
Yur's voice.
"No... not again…"
Roy froze.
"The past… it's happening again."
He burst through the inner room door.
Yur sat beside Maro, clutching his hand, tears flowing.
"Mister Roy… sniff!" she cried out.
Roy's knees hit the ground.
"Is… is Maro…"
A cough.
"Aghh… R-Roy…" Maro's voice rasped.
"Mister Maro!" Yur clung to him.
Roy's eyes widened.
"Don't speak. Just rest. Please… sleep now, alright?" he said softly.
Then he turned to Yur.
"Come with me. I need to know what happened. Let Maro rest."
"Okay… Mister Roy… get better soon, Mister Maro!"
Outside, Roy took a breath.
"What happened?"
Yur wiped her eyes.
"Some thugs attacked us. Bandits, maybe. Mister Maro protected us..."
"The two siblings?"
Yur's expression fell.
"They took them."
Roy's eyes turned cold.
"Thank you… that's all I needed."
"W-Wait!" Yur ran to the forge and returned with something wrapped in cloth.
"I finished it. Mister Roy… your weapon."
He unwrapped it.
> 🔔 Notification
Wolf Fang Tooth Dagger
Rarity: Epic
Description: A well-crafted dagger by a promising blacksmith.
+10 AGI | +1 Dash Skill
Roy was speechless.
"Yur… you made this?"
She smiled faintly.
"Mister Maro started it… but I finished it for you."
Her legs gave out—unconscious.
Roy caught her gently.
"Thank you… Yur. And you too, Maro."
He carried her to a room and laid her down.
When the room finally fell silent, a burning rage surged within him.
His voice was low. Furious.
"Revenge? Don't let it consume me?"
He chuckled bitterly.
"Fck that sht."
His eyes narrowed, blazing like fire.
"I'm going to kill whoever did this. With my own hands."