The rogue hunter smirks.
"Looks like it's the end of your pathetic life, pig!"
A tear rolls down my cheek.
I did all that hard work, and I stood up for the first time in my life, only to be killed an hour later?
This world is even more cruel than I imagined…
I felt an intense aura around the rogue hunter.
Suddenly he brought down his sword.
This is the end.
"He's not worth killing."
The rogue hunter suddenly stops.
If it weren't for his exceptional blade control and precision, I'd be dead by now.
We both turn to look at a man in armor similar to the rogue hunter's.
"What do you want, Malik?"
Malik, the man who just arrived, clears his throat.
"I said he's not worth killing, HADES."
Hades, the rogue hunter, rolls his eyes in irritation.
"And why is that?"
"He's not worth killing because, even though he's not physically fit, we can keep him as a slave. Hell, we can keep all of the ones who can't pay as slaves."
Hades returns his sword to the scabbard and scratches his chin, then he chuckles.
"I like your thinking. Let's do it then."
Out of nowhere, I feel drowsy and pass out.
***
I woke up with a terrible headache and a just as bad sharp pain in my hands.
I look down to see my wrists bound by shackles.
They really took me as a slave, huh?
"Hey there, kiddo. You scared?"
I turn to see Hades leaning against the wooden doorway in a tunic and a smirk on his face.
"Not so talkative, huh?"
I am too drowsy to speak.
"That won't last long… Anyways, follow me; I have work for you."
I am still too dazed to stand.
"If you don't move, I'll end your sad life."
All of a sudden, I get so terrified I can't move.
Hades attaches a chain to my shackles and tugs on it, forcing me to move forward.
"Hahaha, an obedient little slave, aren't you? Just wait till the other guild members get a load of this."
Hades pulls me down the hallway.
The building I'm in seems to be a large, luxurious tavern made of wood.
There are many windows, and through them I can see rolling plains, but no civilization in sight.
I must be in the middle of nowhere.
I should check my menu; maybe it will help me get out of here.
[name] Griffin Stone
[level] 2
[skills] level 2 "punch"
[items] None
[total exp] 10
[exp until level 3] 20
[current quest] "purchase an item"
Haha.
It's ironic how my quest requires me to do something I just lost the ability to do.
Even this stupid system is against me.
Hades drags me down the stairs into the bar.
The guild members snicker and chuckle, and we walk to the front door.
Hades tugs on the chain again, forcing me to come over to him.
He opens the door to show me a horrific sight.
Other people, some of whom are from my village, are laboring out in the fields.
Some are planting.
Some are harvesting.
But all of them have bleeding hands and tired eyes.
Suddenly, one of them passes out and falls onto the ground.
Hades is not pleased with this.
"Oi, get off the ground, pig!"
The fallen slave does not respond.
Hades pulls a whip out of thin air and smirks.
"You two, bring him here."
Hades gestured to a few slaves to come to him with the fallen slave.
When the slave is brought to him, he smirks and raises his whip.
I look away, just like last time.
I hear snap after snap.
Crack after crack.
Scream after scream.
I want it to stop.
Why is this happening to us?
Where did I go wrong?
What did I do to deserve this?
***
After a long day and a half night of work, I sleep in the barn along with the other slaves.
The hay is uncomfortable, but it's better than rock.
I sleep peacefully like it's the last time I can.
Because maybe it will be.
Soon, the sun rises, and we all wake to the sound of Malik banging on a bell.
"Wakey wakey, pigs!"
Everyone miserably rises with a grumble and eventually gets to work in the fields.
I was assigned the sickle, miserably harvesting crops that I know won't benefit me in any way.
As I work on 5 hours of sleep, I feel a hand on my shoulder.
I quickly tense up and prepare to fight the danger behind me.
"You seem pretty young to be here… need help with that?"
A man, likely in his late thirties, is standing in front of me with a gentle smile.
I scan his face for malicious intent but find nothing.
So I decide to engage.
"No, I'm fine, thank you."
The man chuckles.
"No, you're not."
I become irritated.
"Why not?"
"Because nobody here is fine."
I hate to say it, but he is right.
How could anyone be fine in a place like this?
"The name's Dillon."
The man extends his hand in a friendly gesture.
"Griffin"
I shake his hand, but I'm still slightly hesitant.
Something about Dillon's smile is strange, but I'm in no position to decline any sort of assistance.
Please don't betray me…