Ren let out a long sigh that seemed to stretch into the quiet air. Immediately, he removed his helmet, the dim light reflecting off the metal surface.
His jet-black hair, matted with blood, hung over his haggard face, speaking volumes about everything he had just endured.
Taking a deep breath, he decisively sat down right where he was, leaning his back against the cold wall. Every sense was heightened, waiting for the frantic footsteps to draw near.
Soon after, the soldiers appeared, spears pointed straight at Ren. He simply relaxed his body, eyes looking forward, making no suspicious movements.
Although the relationship between Ren and the local guards was good, that didn't erase the fact that he had just attacked another player and caused a commotion. The price of this action still hung heavy over his head.
"Rennn…" Yuzu squeezed through from the outside, his voice laced with worry and a slight tremble. His eyes scanned Ren, finally exhaling in relief when he saw Ren was still standing.
Ren replied with a brief, concerned look, enough for Yuzu to understand he was okay.
He knew he would be detained for a while, but not for long; the relationships and trust Ren had built here would help him weather this moment.
In his heart, there was still a steadfast focus on what came next, even as his body and mind, having just survived a horrific battle, still trembled.
…..
"Back here again…" Gareth looked at Ren, his deep emerald eyes staring directly at him, then he returned his attention to the report in his hand.
Only a few dry lines recorded this as a sudden brawl, with no mention of the creature. Ren didn't intend to say much; he knew that giving more details would only make others think he was delusional.
In any case, he had dealt with the thing. He understood that the soldiers here, with all their experience, couldn't have stopped the creature if it had rampaged through.
And saying too much would only add trouble, potentially costing Ren their trust, or worse, banning him from operating in this area.
Recalling Varn's final expression, Ren told himself that bringing such a creature into a safe zone was nearly impossible, but they had managed it, for a price, of course.
He guessed that no one would dare repeat this… but… Varn's expression might have been a subtle performance, deliberately put on to mislead him.
"I think the guarding and patrols should be reinforced, to prevent similar incidents from happening again…" Ren replied, his voice level but cautious, every word carefully weighed.
Gareth rubbed his temple, his breathing slow. "I know, but people disappearing suddenly is unprecedented. Thankfully, no one else has vanished unexpectedly since." His voice was deep, heavy, as if contemplating every bad possibility.
"You will be detained here until tomorrow morning, pending payment of the fine," Gareth stated, his deep emerald eyes scrutinizing, as if trying to read every thought in Ren's mind.
His voice was calm, but every word carried weight, discouraging any argument. After a few brief reminders, he turned away, leaving Ren in the heavy silence of the room.
Ren opened his eyes, taking a deep breath, but the air was still as heavy as lead.
His limbs were completely exhausted, his entire body still trembling, but he tried to maintain his composure. He knew he couldn't rely on anyone to fully understand what he had just experienced...perhaps this was something he had to bear alone.
"Wait." Ren seemed to think of something, his voice low but firm, calling Gareth back. Gareth stopped, turning with a curious look, frowning as he asked, "Is there something else you're unclear about?"
Ren stood there, his hands still shaking slightly, his eyes fixed on the stone floor, as if weighing every word.
He hesitated, each breath heavy, as he chose the most important point amid the clutter of thoughts.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and reserved: "Regarding the New Year's gifts… I don't know what I should bring… even though today is already the evening of December 30th…"
The space fell silent for a beat, leaving only the light footsteps of the two men on the cold stone floor. Gareth looked at Ren somewhat awkwardly, unsure how to respond.
…..
The next day, after being released from his temporary detention, the first thing Ren did was go buy some gifts. He wandered among the stalls, his hand touching each item, then putting it back down.
Truthfully… he still couldn't find anything that felt 'right.' No gift seemed truly ideal.
Gift-giving culture… it was annoyingly complicated. The meaning changed depending on the region and the group of people. A good gift in one culture could be taboo in another.
Giving money directly… Ren sighed… it felt too sloppy. Too mundane. Too… thoughtless.
He spent nearly half the morning thinking about what to do, and finally just gave up. Buy a few small items. Not too flashy. Not too extravagant. But polite. Acceptable for now.
Ren went to visit Lily and the kids first. The three lost children… had finally stabilized a little. But they still trembled slightly at loud noises.
They still looked at Ren and the soldiers in the street with wary eyes. Quick blinks. Broken breaths. The memory of last night still lingered on their young faces.
Even Lily was the same. Her smile trembled slightly. Her voice tried to remain steady, but every sentence was suppressed by exhaustion. Due to worry. Due to fear. Because they couldn't comprehend what kind of monster had passed through their peaceful city.
Ultimately, Ren still secretly left some money for Sasha. Just a few coins. Not much. But the best he could offer at the moment. Sasha frowned when she saw the money in the small wooden chest, surely knowing who the giver was, but Ren said nothing more.
Everything here… seemed to be working better than before. The kids could take on a few simple quests, running errands, collecting trinkets, helping some old NPCs in the market and bringing back a little income.
But Ren understood clearly… to feed the children, to keep the houses from falling apart, to ensure every meal during this cold winter… things were still not easy at all.
Ren only hoped that with a little of his money, their lives would be easier. Even just a little. Even if it only reduced one day of worry. One extra meal. A little warmth.
That was all he could do.
Afterward, Ren continued to take the meticulously prepared gifts to Hina's group's shop. After all… they had invited him to celebrate the New Year a few days ago. Refusing now would only make things more awkward.
Plus… Ren still felt a heavy sense of guilt. He had dragged Yuzu into last night's events, inadvertently putting him in a life-threatening situation without any preparation.
Ren lightly gripped the bag of gifts in his hand, walking slowly down the street. "New Year's, huh…", he murmured softly. His voice was tired. Mixed with a touch of shock. As if he hadn't quite grasped how he had survived last night.
The road ahead was crowded with people. The sounds of laughter, footsteps on the stone pavement, children running clatteringly… all blended into a vivid soundscape so foreign compared to the battle Ren had just fought.
Lanterns hung high, trembling slightly in the wind, casting faint streaks of light on the stone walls.
It seemed this year was not only the New Year of the "other world" they had left, but also the first day of the New Year according to the Aincrad calendar.
The large bulletin board outside the square lit up brightly, the numbers changing to a pale blue.
Year 2498.
According to the Aincrad calendar.
Ren paused for a second, looking at that number.
It held no meaning for him.
But… there was something that made his heart sink.
He lifted his foot and kept walking, the bag of gifts lightly hitting his hip. Just in case tonight was another long one, at least he wouldn't arrive empty-handed.
Pacing in front of the Homebound Inn for more than five minutes, Ren stood… then took a step forward… then retreated two steps.
Looking exactly like a glitching NPC: running back and forth following a precise pattern.
He cleared his throat. His heart pounded fast. His hands subconsciously gripped the gift packages.
His nervous state made his legs tremble slightly, feeling no different from preparing to rush into a dungeon, except that in a dungeon, at least he knew what he had to fight.
Ren sighed, whispering to himself:
'The old me… never cared about holidays…'
More accurately: before, he didn't like gatherings, didn't like parties, and especially didn't like any situation that forced him to… congratulate someone.
Yet here he was, holding New Year's gifts like a normal person.
'How embarrassing.'
He glanced across the street. People were moving around, bustling, everyone's face radiant.
The New Year's atmosphere spread through the space of Aincrad like a mental buff for both NPCs and players.
After a long period of hesitation, Ren stood before the wooden door, his hand trembling, as if a gentle push would shatter all the remaining courage in his body.
Thousands of times he told himself, "Don't turn back… don't…" echoing in his head, but finally, after defeating himself a thousand times more, Ren swallowed a dry lump in his throat, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open.
The light sound of the wind chime brushed past his ear, mingling with the smell of hot food, blending into the cozy atmosphere of the shop.
The soft yellow light fell upon the tables, making Ren feel a strange alienation: both familiar and subtly tense.
In front of him, Yuzu was meticulously arranging each dish. His every movement was as if he was trying to forget the outside world, to forget the horrifying events he had just experienced.
Ren stood still, watching, feeling both relieved and overwhelmed by an unnamed confusion and shyness.
Ren's lips moved strangely, simple words caught in his throat, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest. Finally, just a few words escaped, soft, trembling:
"Happy New Year…"