I've tried playing their game. I've been naive. Disregarded. Time and time again. They say villains are born. I disagree. That's only true for true evil. Villains are made, just the same way heroes are. When presented with a fork in the road, one single step can define you.
Left or right?
What would you choose?
What would I choose?
Neither.
I chose to go straight.
It's a new dawn, with Shiro waking up in a motel. He sits up and rubs his eyes as sunlight pours through the windows.
"Man... how much did I drink last night?"
He looks to his right. A half-naked woman sleeps beside him.
He smirks. "Oh, right."
He gets up. Slowly. Hungover. He grabs a bottle of water and gulps it down.
"Wuhh. That hits the spot."
His clothes are all over the place. He picks them all up and gets dressed, then checks his pockets.
"Still there."
He walks out the front door and the sunlight gives him an instant headache.
"Nope."
He turns around and walks back in.
"Ten more minutes."
He lies back down on the bed.
Don't close your eyes, man.
Five seconds later he's fast asleep.
[A few hours later]
He opens his eyes. It instantly hits him.
"Shit."
He looks to his right. She's not there.
His first instinct is to get up and check his pockets.
Back-pocket.
Good.
Left-pocket.
Good.
Right-pocket.
...
"DAMN IT, YOU STUPID WITCH!"
He runs through the front door yelling like a mad-man, looking left and right. She's gone.
You just had to doze off... Stupid.
He goes back to the place he drank at last night. Maybe he'll find her there. If not, another drink can't hurt. Right?
He walks in and heads straight for the bar.
"Hey, chief! Send a bottle of rum my way!"
"Alright. That will be 70 silver."
He definitely doesn't look guilty.
"Uhhh... just give it to me, man. I'll pay after."
The bartender furrows his brow.
"You're broke. Just say so."
Shiro puts his hands up and sighs.
"I've been robbed last night. I need the drink, man. I'll pay it back."
The bartender chuckles.
"Was it worth it?"
Shiro grins.
"Hell yeah."
"Alright, man. If you don't keep your word, I'll kill you myself."
"Woah, scary. I knew I could count on you."
The bartender pours rum in a glass. As Shiro takes the first sip, a beautiful lady sits next to him. She starts playing with her hair.
"Hey there, handsome."
"NOPE."
He turns his back to her. She frowns, scoffs and gets up.
"What was that, man?" the bartender asks.
"Trauma. Just... screw this town. I mean, don't screw this town. Damn. You get the point."
They share a laugh.
"You do you, man. What are you gonna do after this?"
"I'll search that witch to the edge of the world. When I find her, I'm taking the money back and extra."
"Come on, man. Is that pocket change really worth the hassle?"
Shiro scoffs.
"How do you know I didn't have a fortune in there?"
"Look at you, drinking your problems away. If you had that type of money for one, you wouldn't be here, and for two, you wouldn't be so careless."
"Alright, man. I get it. You read me like a book."
"No shit."
"It's not about the sum, you know? It's about the act. She robbed me, man!"
"I get that. But what are the chances you'll find her?"
"Hell if I know. I just know I can't let it slide."
"Well, do what you gotta do. Just make sure to pay back the drink."
"Yeah, yeah. It's my top priority."
They both laugh.
Shiro finishes the glass in one big gulp.
"One more!"
The bartender pours a second.
Another big gulp.
"Alright, this should do for now. Thanks for the treat!"
"That wasn't a treat. You better pay for it."
"Yeah, man. I just meant... thanks for lending me a hand."
"Someone has to keep alcoholism alive."
"I don't know when I'm coming back, but I will. It's a promise."
"Take care."
Shiro steps out. The buzz puts his head back on straight.
Alright... first, I need to get some money to keep the buzz going.
He walks for a while until he reaches the Hunters Association.
He steps up to the front desk. A woman in her 20s welcomes him.
"Welcome to the Hunters Association! What can I do for you?"
"Yeah, hi. I want to make some quick money. Give me a mission."
"Before tackling a mission, you need to be registered with our guild."
"Alright, what do you need?"
"Identification. Then, you'll have to wait a couple days until we check your background."
Shiro plays it off, knowing damn well he doesn't have an ID.
"I don't have time for that... I'm on the move. A real deal adventurer, not just killing monsters."
The receptionist pokes at him.
"Uhh... yeah, that's not how that works. Real adventurers are registered and they're on top of their game."
"Come on, just give me a mission. One is all I need, then I'll leave you alone."
"That's not happening. Those are the rules. Not up to me."
"But if it was up to you?" Wink.
"Still no."
"Damn it. Who do I have to speak to if I want to bend the rules?"
"The Guildmaster. They won't give you the time of day, though, plus they're not here right now."
"My day just keeps getting better..."
Someone that heard the conversation walks up behind Shiro.
"So... I hear you wanna make some money?"
"Pretty much. I'll do anything."
"Anything? Well, I have just the offer for you. I'll give you 200 silver if you lick my boots."
Shiro thinks in his head.
200 silver... I can pay back the rum... actually no, I'll leave that for later. But I could buy three... wait, what the hell am I thinking?!
"How 'bout I step on you like an ant instead?"
The stranger's smile fades in an instant.
He clenches his fist and jumps straight at Shiro.
Shiro dodges, quick as lightning, and punches the stranger in the stomach.
He flies across the room, cracking the wall he crashes into. He's left unconscious.
"Shit. Was that too far?"
A tall, threatening figure walks through the entrance.
"Alright. Who plastered that guy on the wall?"
Shiro looks up and starts whistling.
The receptionist points at Shiro.
"Him, right there."
The strange figure walks up to him.
"Now, why would you do that to one of my members?"
Shiro looks around.
"Guys? Any help here? You all heard what the ant said, right? He had it coming."
Silence.
"Seriously? Nobody? Screw this town. Move over, I'm leaving."
The stranger stands firmly.
"Not so fast. Get me up to speed. What made you do this? And what type of cursed magic did you use on my A-rank member?"
"Your member? A-rank? Cursedmagic?"
Shiro facepalms.
"So, you're the Guildmaster. Well, this little bug of yours disrespected me for no reason. Then I punched him. Once. In the stomach. End of story."
The Guildmaster looks around.
"Is that true?"
Silence. Perhaps they're afraid of the bug. But then-
"It's true. That was self-defense. I don't think he used magic either."
A silver-haired, blue-eyed woman, out of anyone, takes his side.
"See? Told you so. Thank you, lady. You're the only one in this room with a pair of balls."
She looks confused.
"Ughh... thanks? Also, what about you?"
"What about me?"
...
"Shit."
She laughs, a hint of endearment in her tone.
The Guildmaster looks at Shiro.
"Alright, I believe your story. What's your reason for being here?"
"I came here to make some quick money. Complete a mission. But the beautiful lady behind me said I need to be registered. I don't have time for that."
The receptionist blushes, hearing the oddly-placed compliment.
"She's right. Those are the rules. Usually."
"Usually?"
"If your strength and reputation precede you, we can give you special treatment. Who are you?"
"I'm a nobody. It's alright, man. I'll just leave."
"No, no. Wait a second. You might not have the reputation... but strength? Is that guy still alive?"
He points at the bug on the wall.
"Shit, I hope so. Someone check his pulse."
The Guildmaster laughs.
"Seeing that, I can't take you for a weakling, can I? I'll give you a mission, but with one condition."
"What is it?"
"You have to complete an S-rank mission."