Lira hurried between tables, carrying mugs with shaking hands.
Every time she passed the owner — a fat, red-faced man with greasy hair — she flinched, waiting to be yelled at.
Haruto watched him with growing anger.
"That guy is a sack of trash," Haruto whispered.
"Don't start," Sataro warned.
Haruto frowned.
"She's a kid… why is she treated like that?"
"Because this world is cruel," Sataro murmured.
Haruto's fists clenched.
"I hate people like him."
"Haruto," Sataro said firmly, "we're hiding.
We can't save everyone."
Haruto didn't respond.
He only kept staring at Lira.
Haruto Tries to Be Brave… and Fails
When Lira walked by again, Haruto whispered, "Thank you," with a little smile.
Lira blinked, surprised.
No one ever thanked her.
She smiled back — small, shy, warm.
But the owner saw it.
He stormed over, grabbing Lira's hair and jerking her back.
"What are you smiling for?! You don't smile unless someone paid you to!"
Lira whimpered.
Haruto stood up so fast his chair flipped.
"HEY! Don't touch her like that!"
The tavern went silent.
Every drunk, every fighter, every merchant turned to stare.
Sataro's heart sank.
Not good.
The owner glared at Haruto.
"Oh? And who's this little rat?"
Haruto stepped forward.
"I'm someone who knows you're a coward."
Sataro put a hand on Haruto's shoulder.
"Haruto. Sit—"
But Haruto shoved Sataro's hand off.
"No! I'm tired of people being treated like garbage!"
The owner laughed loudly, letting go of Lira just to grab Haruto by the hood.
"You've got a mouth on you. Maybe I should rip it off—"
Sataro moved.
He didn't think.
He didn't hesitate.
He didn't breathe.
His hand snapped around the owner's wrist, twisting it until bone cracked.
The man screamed.
Sataro spoke quietly.
"Let. Him. Go."
The owner stumbled back, clutching his broken wrist.
"You brat! Who do you think you are?! Do you know who owns this place? Do you know who I work for?!"
"Yes," Sataro said.
"A monster."
The Fight Breaks Out
Two large mercenaries guarding the owner stepped forward, drawing knives.
"Kill them and take the boy," the owner snarled.
The tavern erupted.
Chairs flew.
People dove out of the way.
Sataro pulled Haruto behind him as the mercenaries charged.
The first swung at Sataro's neck.
Sataro ducked, grabbed the man's arm, and slammed him through a table.
The second came from behind —
Sataro back-kicked him so hard his ribs cracked.
The whole tavern backed away in fear.
"That's him…" someone whispered.
"That fighting… that's the Silent Blade…"
Sataro froze for half a second.
They know my title…? In THIS village?
The owner realized it too, eyes widening.
"Y-you… you're the king's soldier… the ghost one… the assassin—"
Sataro's blood ran cold.
He grabbed Haruto and hissed, "We need to leave. NOW."
But Lira stepped in front of them.
"Wait!"
She clung to Haruto's sleeve, eyes full of fear and hope.
"Please… don't leave me here."
The owner shrieked, "SHE'S MY PROPERTY!"
Haruto glared.
"No she's not."
Sataro's voice dropped dangerously low.
"Open her collar."
The owner spat, "I'll die first!"
Sataro smiled coldly.
"That can be arranged."
He stepped forward, sword drawn.
The owner's courage evaporated.
"F-FINE!" he squealed.
He fumbled with the key, unlocking the metal collar around Lira's neck.
The moment it clicked open, Lira dropped it like it was poison.
She backed up behind Sataro and Haruto, trembling.
"Please take me with you," she whispered, voice shaking.
"I have nowhere else to go."
Haruto took her hand gently.
"We're not leaving you."
Lira's cheeks turned pink, just a little.
She stared at Haruto for a moment longer than she should have.
Sataro noticed.
But he didn't comment.
Escape Into the Night
The owner shouted to the mercenaries:
"DON'T LET THEM LEAVE! KILL THEM!"
Sataro lifted his sword.
"Haruto. Lira. Stay behind me."
The mercenaries charged.
Sataro's blade moved in a blur — fast, precise, silent.
He disarmed one in a single motion, knocked out another, and kicked a third into the wall.
The tavern erupted into chaos as patrons ran for the exit.
Sataro grabbed both Haruto and Lira.
"We're leaving!"
They sprinted out the back door, into the night, into the forest.
Haruto held Lira's hand tightly.
Lira ran barefoot, glancing at Haruto every few seconds, cheeks flushed.
Every time their eyes met, she smiled shyly…
Even while terrified.
Sataro led them deeper into the woods.
Away from the village.
Away from danger.
Away from the king's reach.
The New Trio
When they finally stopped to breathe, Lira clung to Haruto's arm.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"You didn't even know me… but you saved me."
Haruto blushed bright red.
"Y-Yeah, well… nobody should treat you like that."
She smiled — soft, real.
"I like you," she said quietly, so only Haruto could hear.
Haruto froze.
Sataro raised an eyebrow.
"What did she say?"
"N-NOTHING!" Haruto blurted.
Lira giggled.
Sataro smirked.
"Let's go. Both of you. We're heading home."
They walked back toward the forest, the three of them:
Sataro leading, sword drawn.
Haruto beside Lira, red-faced.
Lira with a tiny smile, finally free.
Their new life had begun.