The orange sun poured its molten light over the city, gilding roofs and alleyways in bruised gold. Evening smell — roasting skewers, warm stone, the faint tang of riverwater — drifted through the streets. Aziz wandered between stalls with a bored slump to his shoulders, fingers hooked behind his neck, eyes half-lidded and fixed on the bright, sinking sky.
" Hmm, where should I go? Man, I am truly doomed.."
He muttered, tone flat, black eyes locked on the orange horizon. Footsteps and market chatter hummed around him until a sudden, frantic clip of running boots cut through the noise.
The same elf girl who had roasted him earlier barreled toward him, pale and wide-eyed, panic etched in every line of her face. She skidded to a stop in front of him, breath ragged, shoulders shaking as she glanced over her shoulder.
As the elf girl's eyes reached Aziz, she came near to him.
"Please save me! Those men are trying to kidnap me!"
That elf girl said with a panicked face. Her green eyes trembled and turned behind.
Aziz crossed his arms, annoyance flattening his features. He pouted theatrically, unimpressed.
"Nah. You called me ugly, so prepare for trouble."
Her eyes widened at his reply; sweat beaded on her temple as darker boots pounded closer.
"But… aren't you an otherworlder?! You should be summoned to help people."
The elf girl said by grabbing his shoulder, her face filled with nervousness, waiting for an answer from him.
"Indeed. But I'm not going to act like a typical hero unless you all treat me well."
Aziz said with sighs moving his head with a disappointed face.
The elf girl bit her lip, panic sharpening into pleading.
"Okay, fine! Please.. hero, save me!"
The elf girl's voice trembled, her eyes filled with mixed with annoyance and nervousness.
Aziz narrowed his eyes and struck a dramatic pose.
"Hero? Nah elf san. I'm not your—"
Before Aziz could finish his words the elf girl glared at him with an annoyed face.
"Idiot! Just help me!"
The elf girl yelled at him by grabbing his collar.
" Oah! Hey..get off me!!"
Aziz snapped with an annoyed face.
Two rough men materialized from a shadowed alley like bad weather: one short, black-haired with a ripped purple shirt and cold black eyes; the other in a shredded red shirt, hair the color of dried blood. Both stepped forward, faces hard, blades glinting.
" Well, well already fighting without us eh~?"
The black haired man said with a grin smirk.
" You'd better hand over that elf, or you will die."
The red haired man said, licking his knife which was held by his hand.
Aziz made a disgusted face and shrugged, raising his hands like someone who couldn't be bothered.
"Yeah, yeah I know I'll die. Here, take her. That's not my business."
Aziz said casually.
"What!?" The elf girl widened her eyes with shock, looked at Aziz with a sharp gaze and shrieked.
"You traitor! Aren't you supposed to help me!?
The elf girl shouted with fury, her one finger placed on Aziz's nose. Aziz moved her finger with his hand.
"But I never said I'd help you."
Aziz replied with a dumb smirk looking at the red and black haired man.
The two men chuckled. The red haired man started laughing.
" Hahaha what a wise boy! Join us, and you can have her as a slave too. We can share with you."
The red haired man said with a smirk, his red eyes filled with predation.
The black-haired thug closed the distance with slow menace.
Hearing this Aziz crossed his arms with a confused face.
"Slave? But isn't she an adventurer?"
Aziz asked by looking at them. The elf girl nervously looked at Aziz.
"Yeah moron, but we'll use her. That's why she will be a slave!" The black haired man said with an annoyed face, rubbing his neck.
Aziz sighed and gave the elf girl a long, annoyed look.
"Using women like that… nah, that's dishonest."
Aziz said by looking at the two men.
"Shut up! Just give her to us!" The red haired man shouted with annoyance.
" Stop wasting our time, idiot!"
Saying this the black haired man started to come close to them.
Aziz shrugged, voice casual, shoulders loose.
" Hey chill guys, listen, I can't beat you two. I'm weak."
The elf girl's brows furrowed with disgust.
"You're truly useless in this world."
Aziz's eyes narrowed, and a cold edge slid into his voice.
"Say that again and I'll give you to them."
Aziz said with a disgusted face. Turning his face from an elf girl.
Hearing this the elf girl's face paled as the black haired man loomed closer.
"No, no! Please don't!"
The elf girl cried, panic rising.
"Then shut up."
Aziz said. He leaned in close, his voice low, near her ear.
"If you want freedom, then you had better run with me."
The elf girl stared at him, heart thudding; her voice shook as she whispered, "Won't you fight?"
"Of course not. I'm not wasting my time and energy for you."
Aziz said with an annoyed face.
Without another word, Aziz seized her hand, yanked her toward him, and sprinted. His legs ate pavement; the city blurred into streaks of lamp light and shadow.
" Just run, elf san!! Find a place which will be safe from them!!"
Aziz shouted, already panicked as adrenaline took over.
" Uh…hey..wait..you're running really fast!"
The elf girl gasped, breathless but forced to keep up.
Behind them, the two thugs roared and gave chase.
"Hey! You little shits! Get back here!"
Their voices thundered down the alley as stalls.