The next morning, Evan woke up from his sleep. When he glanced to the side, his younger sister was still fast asleep, but his mother was nowhere to be seen. He didn't need to think much—Evan knew she had probably gone out early to look for work.
His mother worked every single day without rest to provide for the family. Back in the village, she took on any job she could find—washing the neighbors' laundry, helping in the fields, even mending other people's clothes. Even when fever wracked her body, she forced herself to keep working, as if pain was nothing more than a small nuisance to be brushed aside.
To Evan, his mother was the pillar that kept them standing. Yet behind her warm smile and gentle words, he knew she carried a hidden weariness. Just thinking about it made Evan feel a twinge of guilt for not being able to help her earn money.
Pushing aside the thoughts that clouded his mind, Evan went to the well behind the house to bathe.
After washing up, he gently woke his sister, giving her shoulder a soft shake.
"Hey, Reyna, wake up…" he whispered.
Her eyes slowly opened, and she rubbed them before stretching lazily. Seeing Evan there, but not their mother, she asked curiously, "Brother, did Mother go to look for work?"
Evan nodded. "She's been gone for a while now. You should get washed and come with me."
"Go where?" Reyna asked, curious and a little excited.
Evan tapped her smooth forehead and said, "Just do what I say, and don't ask too many questions!"
The little girl pouted, rubbing her forehead and muttering, "Hmph, you're so bossy…" before obediently heading to the bathroom.
Seeing this, Evan smiled. Today, he planned to wander around the city to see if he could find a way to make money. Although he came from the countryside and was only fifteen years old, there was something only he knew—he carried the memories of his previous life.
When Evan was three years old, those memories had suddenly surfaced in his mind. Not much, and even blurry, but enough to make him realize that he was Alex reincarnated into this world as Evan. Day by day, those fragments of memory gave him knowledge no one else around him had.
Yet reality remained harsh—he was nothing more than a poor teenager living in a small house with his mother and sister. His father had long since died from a monster attack, leaving them without protection or a steady income. Every day was a struggle to survive.
From the age of nine until now, he had tried to find a way to use his memories to earn money, but unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. The development of this world wasn't as backward as the Middle Ages from his memories, so he couldn't pose as a professor or fake inventor. And as for creating something more advanced, he lacked the necessary knowledge.
This time, leaving their village and moving to the city was a step toward a better life. His mother wanted them to have a brighter future, and only by coming here could they hope for it.
…
After Evan and Reyna finished packing, they went downstairs and saw Martha sitting in the same place as yesterday. Seeing them, Martha greeted them with a warm smile and asked, "Would you like some breakfast? Catherine went out early to look for work, and she told me to make sure you two eat."
Hearing that, Evan and Reyna exchanged a glance, and Reyna answered sweetly, "Alright, Aunt Martha, please."
The corner of Evan's mouth twitched at how polite and charming his sister was—she had never behaved like that toward him.
Martha quickly served a bowl of hot vegetable soup with warm bread on the side. The aroma of the soup filled the room, making them both hungry. The soup was seasoned with only a little salt and limited spices. Although this world wasn't as underdeveloped as the one from Evan's memories, most people still considered it wasteful to use too many spices in cooking.
After finishing their meal, Evan stood up and grabbed his bag. "Thank you, Martha. We'll be off now."
…
Leaving the inn, Evan and Reyna wandered the streets without a set destination. Evan carefully observed every shop, stall, and item they passed, hoping to spot something that could give him an idea for making money. However, after more than an hour of walking, his mind remained blank.
As they continued on, someone suddenly bumped hard into Evan's shoulder, making him stumble backward.
"Watch where you're going, kid!" a deep voice barked.
Evan turned to see three rough-looking men. They wore worn leather gear and carried weapons at their sides—adventurers, judging by the silver badges bearing the image of a sword and a shield pinned to their chests.
Reyna immediately stood beside Evan, eyeing them cautiously. "He didn't mean to, sir…" she said softly, her voice tinged with fear.
But the man who had bumped Evan only grinned at Reyna. "Didn't mean to? In this market, the weak had better be careful, or they'll get trampled." His two companions chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment.
Evan tried to hold himself back. He knew starting trouble in the middle of the city was a bad idea… but it felt as if a cold hand was gripping his heart.
A voice seemed to echo from deep within him, urging him to kill the three men. Evan was startled by the thought and quickly tried to calm himself.
He then took Reyna by the shoulder and told her firmly, "Sorry, it was an accident. We'll be going now." Without waiting for a reply, he pulled Reyna away in a hurry.
The adventurers laughed even louder at the sight of Evan's retreat, their mocking voices chasing after them. Reyna, hearing it, almost turned back in anger, but Evan's grip on her hand was like iron. Without another word, they vanished into the crowd.