Itsuki walked through the city streets after leaving the bridge, guided by the friend he had met earlier.
The man walked partially ahead, confident and silent, while Itsuki followed a few paces behind, doing his best to hide the fact that he had no idea where they were meant to be going.
As they moved from one district to another, a thought he had quietly pushed aside began to take shape — the city was divided. Not in lines or walls, but in atmosphere.
The part they had come from — where the hospital he had woken up in and the bridge they had left stood — wore a kind of elegance. The buildings and streets looked clean and modest, most of the people there were well-dressed, their movements deliberate, their clothes carrying the subtle sheen of wealth. Only a few, perhaps the vendors or traders, carried that raw, driven look of people who worked to live.
But here, as they crossed deeper into the other side, the city changed its skin. Some of the buildings still had multiple floors, but they looked worn, their plasters cracked and their colors dulled by soot. Even the air felt heavier — carrying the sharp tang of smoke and horse dung mixing into something unpleasant.
The streets were rougher. Vendors shouted over one another, their stalls and carts pressed close like teeth in a crowded mouth. The buyers looked worn, their clothes simple and their eyes carrying dark bags underneath. The sound of cars were replaced by the clatter of carts. Occasional trucks rolled by, carrying goods toward and away from the large, smoke-breathing factories at the edge of the districts.
The further they went, the more muted the sky seemed to become.
As itsuki's eyes traced the crowded streets and narrow alleys, it all felt strange. Everything looked new to him, and yet… still not quite.
As they walked some more side by side, Itsuki was sure to let his steps lag just a little behind, careful to make it seem natural.
Then, breaking the silence without turning his head, the friend finally spoke.
"I planned to ask you about something before the accident happened, but never really got the chance…"
Crap. If this is something the real owner of this body is supposed to know, I'm in trouble.
"What is it?" Itsuki asked, keeping his voice even, trying his best not to sound even slightly unsure.
"Have you thought more about getting your limit checked?"
Limit? What's he talking about?
He forced a quick answer. "Not really. I'm still not sure if I should."
A faint, genuine smile tugged at the friend's lips as he bumped Itsuki lightly with his shoulder.
"Why not? You always say you don't want to, but surviving that fall should be proof enough that your limit's probably high. It was a pretty high fall, you know. The others didn't think you'd make it."
Good answer, I guess. I just need to keep this going and try not say anything stupid.
Itsuki gave a low chuckle, steadying himself from the shove.
"I don't really see it that way. Maybe I just got a little lucky."
"I thought you didn't believe in luck."
Crap.
"I don't," he replied quickly, "but still—people don't just fall from heights like that and wake up without a single broken bone."
Another small smile crossed the friend's face. "Exactly my point. You should go take the test and get your limit checked. Healing like that isn't normal."
This is dragging on. The more we talk, the higher the chance I'll slip up.
"Alright," Itsuki said, nodding. "I'll go tomorrow—or maybe in a few days time."
"That's much better. Just don't forget about me once you finish the test and get your result as an S-rank combatter and join some big guild, alright?"
Itsuki grinned and nudged him back with his shoulder.
"How could I?"
They both shared a small laugh before the friend's tone softened.
"Also… none of the guys at the site are going to mention anything to your family about the accident. So there's no need to tell them either. We'll all keep it to ourselves."
He's that kind of person huh. Always thinking about others, always going the extra mile to protect the people he cares about.
They continued walking on in silence for a while, the sun that had slowly begun to dip luminating their path, its fading light brushing the buildings in pale orange while the cold air clung stubbornly to the streets. Turning another corner, they came upon a narrow road lined with worn-out apartments.
The friend's steps led them to a rundown three-story building amongst others pressed close to the side of the street. In front of it, a handful of barefoot children were playing—two of them the same faces Itsuki had seen in the pocket watch, only taller now, looking older by a few fleeting years.
When they noticed him and the friend approaching, the children's eyes lit up.
"Adriennn!" they shouted, sprinting toward them. They threw their small arms around Itsuki's waist, their laughter echoing through the street before they turned to hug the friend too.
Adrien…?
The friend crouched down, patting their heads as he exchanged a few warm words, their laughter wrapping around them.
When the children finally ran back to their game, the friend slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out three coins and a folded note, handing them to Itsuki.
"Why are you giving me this?"
"This isn't the time to be humble," the friend said, half-smiling. "You weren't going to get paid today even after the accident, so this is a bit of mine."
Itsuki hesitated before taking the money, his gaze lingering on it for a moment before he slipped it into his pocket.
"…Thank you."
The friend laughed softly, reaching out to ruffle his hair.
"It's alright, i'm always here for you."
He turned toward the children again, waving as he began to walk away, his figure outlined by the orange light spilling across the street.
"Hey!" Itsuki called, taking a few quick steps forward until they stood face to face. "Do you really think it's a good idea for me to get my limit checked?"
The friend stopped, hands deep in his pockets, then turned with an easy smile that carried more weight than his tone.
"I've always known there's something in you. It pisses me off that you've never seen it yourself. But, there's no better time than the present. And if it goes well… your family could use the support too."
For a moment, their eyes met—quiet understanding between two lives that had shared more than words could express. The sun dipped lower, painting the street gold as if sealing the moment in light.
"…Thanks, I needed that."
"Any time," the friend replied, his voice trailing with the fading warmth of evening as he turned and continued walking towards the end of the street.
Itsuki stood still, taking in the stillness of the moment, the faint sound of children's laughter mixing with the whisper of wind. He drew the pocket watch from his coat again, opening it to look inside.
The light caught on its surface, reflecting in his eyes—part hope, part quiet resolve.
He looked up, the faint shimmer of light rippled before his eyes, and the system's dashboard flickered into existence once again—its translucent symbols hovering in the air just as before.
He watched the numbers on the screen, the time reading about two hours gone.
Surviving is key, but I also can't afford to draw any attention to myself.
His gaze drifted downward to the pocket watch resting in his palm. The reflection of the dying sunlight glinted across its surface.
Or to his family…
He tightened his grip slightly, then lifted his head again. The dashboard pulsed faintly, its glow wrapping around him like a whisper from something unseen.
A soft chime echoed through the air as the first dashboard dissolved and another popped up.
[Congratulations, Hero.
Archetype Selection is Complete.]
[Memory Fragment Received — Relations]
[System Notice: Hero description dashboard unlocked]
[Hero: Adrien De Clairmont
Title: The Silent Judge
Title Description: The one who redeems through silent justice
Primary Archetype: Assassin
Archetype Mastery: Level 1
Secondary Archetype: Locked
Archetype Mastery: Locked
Skills Acquired: Locked
Reputation: Locked
Memory Fragments Received: Language Barrier (LVL 1), Relations]
[Analysing Limit: 3, 2, 1...]
[Analysis Complete
Archetype Mastery Increased to Level 7]