CHAPTER 2
"Van."
A slim young boy came into view.
He stood around five foot four, his blonde hair messy as if he hadn't bothered to comb it at all.
A few long strands fell over his forehead, framing his bright green eyes that locked onto Ray's gray ones.
His face was soft, almost childish… or girlish? Freckles dotted the skin beneath his eyes.
A heavy, worn sling bag hung over his patched-up jacket as he smiled warmly at the young man before him.
"...Did you win the lottery or something?"
Ray grinned in response.
"Something like that."
Van raised an eyebrow.
"Really? How much?"
Ray chuckled, wriggling his hand free from Van's grasp.
"I'll let you in on the details soon. I need to hurry along."
Ray attempted to dash away, but Van moved swiftly to block his path.
"Wait, wait! I just made a breakthrough in an invention I wanted to show you. You know, you're my lab rat."
From a very young age, Van had always been intensely fascinated by technology.
His curiosity had driven him to build a small workshop in his grandfather's basement, where he tinkered endlessly—fixing junk, assembling devices, and creating new inventions.
Ray made a sharp pivot, maneuvering around his friend.
"...I promise I'll check it out when I get back."
He dashed off while speaking over his shoulder, leaving Van standing there with a slight frown.
After a moment, Van shrugged and returned to his thoughts.
Weaving through the crowded streets, Ray sprinted at full speed, cutting sharply through corners.
A wide grin spread across his face as his heart leapt with excitement—today, he would finally get an ability book.
He had first spotted this particular ability book sitting forgotten in a corner three years ago.
Ability books were notoriously expensive, far beyond the reach of ordinary people.
But this one, dusty, worn, and almost tattered, had been tucked away in an ability shop.
Ray was certain of its value and had spent years working tirelessly to earn the money to buy it, amazed that it was so cheap for what it was.
As he sprinted, laughter carried through the streets, catching his attention. Recognizing the voice, he skidded to a halt and tilted his head toward a corner.
Four men were sitting on crates around a small wooden table, drinks scattered across the surface.
They wore khaki pants and brown long-sleeved shirts, topped with short earthy brown jackets that reached only halfway down their backs.
Guns were slung over their shoulders as they laughed heartily, clinking cups together.
Ray shook his head in disappointment.
"Hey, Uncle Han, you're out here drinking again?"
One of the men, his black hair neat and natural, turned to face Ray. A thin, polite smile crossed his face.
"Ohoy~ young Ray. How are you?"
A look of disdain crossed Ray's face as he kept a four-meter distance.
"...Seriously, looks like I'll have to report you to Aunt."
Han hiccuped slightly.
"Come on, boy. It's just a little fun with the boys."
Ray hissed in frustration and turned slightly away.
"I wonder when you'll actually take your job as a member of the Iron Corps seriously. Your duty is to protect humanity within the walls, yet you're here drinking your asses off. Tch!"
One of the men at the table frowned.
"Hey, boy. What gives you the right to speak to us like that?!"
Ray clenched his fists, giving them a final glare before frowning and deciding to continue on his way.
"One reason why the Vanguard Order is better than the Iron Corps," he muttered under his breath as he rushed off.
The man who had shouted earlier scowled, his frown deepening.
"...Seriously, Han, you need to get your damned nephew under control, or I will."
Han chuckled lightly, unbothered.
"...He's just a kid. Why are you suddenly so worked up? Come on now, let's continue our fun."
***
A few minutes later, Ray entered a small shop tucked into the corner of the town.
The bell above the door jingled loudly, signaling his arrival.
The middle-aged clerk behind the counter glanced up, eyes gleaming with recognition.
"Oh. Ray. Here to see if the book is still available?"
Ray shook his head eagerly.
"Actually, I'm here to snatch it off your hands."
The clerk raised an eyebrow as he watched Ray stride toward a rusty, nearly broken corner of the shop and pick up a book.
The book was brown, worn, tattered, and clearly ancient.
Flip—!
Ray sifted through the nearly unreadable text, written in a language almost impossible to decipher.
The handwriting was rough and uneven, but that didn't bother him; his grin widened.
He approached the clerk, holding out his watch.
Reluctantly, the man extended his own watch beneath the young boy's, and the transfer completed instantly, leaving Ray with just ten credits remaining.
"Thank you." Ray smiled widely, spinning around and dashing out of the shop, the book clutched tightly across his chest.
The clerk watched, bewildered.
"What a strange young lad. He didn't even care to know what kind of ability book he bought, whether it's useful or not."
He muttered to himself, pausing briefly before adding,
"...Heck. I don't even know if that book is an ability book. I can't read its language. Now I feel sorry for the poor kid."
***
Meanwhile, Ray walked slowly, his smile unbroken.
His mind raced, conjuring countless scenarios of what life might be like once he mastered the ability book.
'...First of all, I'll move my family from this wall to the second wall. Yeah. Wall steel is much more secure than this one.
Then I'll become powerful… or at least useful enough to join the Vanguard Order.'
After a brief pause, he added inwardly,
'Not like I'll risk my life fighting Abberants. I'll be more of a support-type fighter. I heard they pay well in the Vanguard Order. Yeah, that's what I'll do.'
"Oh. How much my life is about to change soon."
Unknown to him, his statement was about to come true… in a very unusual way.