Buildings are constantly being added.
Many children can be seen playing.
The citizens open their shops and go about their lives.
A joyful day begins like this.
Like lights always shining at the end.
On the other hand, a difficult day also begins.
Like judging a book from the outside.
There are no idle people in this city.
They desperately seek food to eat.
Everyone strives to have some leisure.
Some in the city. Others live in the wilderness outside the city.
They do whatever work they can find, whether it's cleaning sewers, working at construction sites, or polishing shoes.
There are also people who have gone down the wrong path to earn more money.
In the city center, a man is working. He appears to be polishing shoes.
The shoes look shiny, but the work being done is actually the opposite.
The worn clothes and tattered pants look like they were found in a dump. But the cheerful face reaches the customer's heart.
Oh my, that face always brings joy.
They call him Zephyr because of his cheerful face.
A small silver coin was tossed with a smile, and he caught it with a grinning face.
"Thank you, sir!"
Zephyr immediately gave it away. He seemed worried that the coin might be lost next. He quickly pocketed it.
It seems like working non-stop all day is the life of a laborer.
Time passed quickly and the sun began to set. The sunlight falling on the city windows looked truly spectacular.
Zephyr bought bread from a nearby shop with a sigh of relief.
One loaf, a small amount of meat, a tomato.
After clearly contemplating deeply, he came to a small wooden house with white walls and a tiled roof.
"Nor!"
He called out but was met with complete silence from those dark eyes.
A child who immediately thought of his father came running to play.
"Dad!"
"My child!"
Zephyr immediately lifted his child high and spun him around. The child who had been playing with Nor.
"Brother, now me, me!"
"Oh, wait, okay."
When he picked up and spun the younger one, you could see his ears sticking out from his water-like hair.
Even his tail was the same.
"Now me, Dad!"
"Eeeeeee!"
"Dad!"
"Oh, okay."
"No, again, again!"
"That's enough, Joey!"
The child called Joey with a tail and ears, obviously much cuter than an ordinary person.
Nor came out crying with a smile.
"Hey, what happened? Don't cry now."
"You're ignoring me!"
"Are you crying? Haha."
When Joey said this, Nor cried even louder. It was obvious that people passing by on the street were noticing.
Zephyr took his child a little to the side to calm him down.
Soon the sun had completely set and darkness had fallen.
After Zephyr dropped Joey off at home.
He went alone with Nor to the outskirts of the city.
A small wooden house among the trees located near the city. It looks separate from the city houses. The trees clearly seem to indicate that finding Zephyr's money without falling quickly is difficult.
The father and child entered their home and prepared their meal. They lit the fire.
"Nor."
"Yes?"
"What food do you want to eat?"
Zephyr asked with a smile.
"Let's eat steak, steak."
"Huh, steak?"
Zephyr smiled immediately and refused.
(Where did he hear that?)
"Ahh, haha, steak is made with a different kind of meat. We don't have that meat today for either of us."
"Let's eat it tomorrow, today let's make and eat something good together!"
"Yeahhh..."
Zephyr somehow managed to convince his child and washed the tomato and meat.
Then he began to cut it with very precise technique. If his clothes had been cleaner, another person watching would have thought he was a professional chef.
"What did you hear today?"
The child thought for a moment.
"Dad, what is the Masked Runner?"
(He's hearing quite a lot. Who's been telling him?)
"Ahh, it's not clear if it's true or false, it's almost a legend."
"Oohhhh?"
"Want to hear it?"
"Yes, yes!"
He nodded eagerly. A smile appeared on Zephyr's face.
"Okay, well, where should I start?"
Nor waited with widened eyes full of anticipation.
"Okay, listen well."
"Okay!"
Zephyr began to talk about a person who appeared in this legend.
Several hundred years ago, there was someone with the ability to run fast. This ability still exists in many people now. But this legendary person was special, having reached the S1 rank. Dragons and celestial beings exist at this level. But among humans, there are the famously agile elves and the dark-powered humans who rose without hesitation. And other beast-men, titans, and even short dwarves reached the A1 level. Yes, it's believed that it's impossible for a human to go higher than this. Therefore, many people believe the Masked Runner in this story is false.
But Nor listens believing it's truly real in his heart. Of course he would believe it, being a five-year-old child.
The Masked Runner often broke through his limits countless times regardless of his ability. Therefore, he always wore a mask. To hide his terrifying scarred face.
Zephyr continued talking while cutting the tomato.
While talking, he didn't notice the wind starting to blow strongly on his back. Nor had become completely still.
(What's this, why did it suddenly get cold, the fire is burning)
He slowly turned his head around.
His eyes immediately widened in shock.
Nor appeared to be sitting frozen at the table. He was sitting unconscious.
He had fallen holding onto the table.
He appeared to be lying with his head resting on the floor.
(No way! Has his ability awakened?)
"Nor!"
"Nor!"
"Wake up, don't sleep."
Nor's consciousness becomes increasingly faint.
(Father?)
His eyes can't open as they close.
Tears seemed to appear in Zephyr's eyes.
He immediately picked up Nor. He flung open the door.
He ran into the city in the dark night. As he ran, the wind around him seemed to gather.
(Somehow! Quickly to the hospital)