I'm sitting on the wooden chair, my plate of porridge and dry bread on the table as I sit opposite Jeriq whose food is on the table too.

It's been awkwardly silent for a while. We've not said anything to each other since we sat down after I beat that pest.

The porridge smells bad. But, I can't complain, food is food, so I just eat it.

I lift my mask up slightly, exposing my mouth, and I feel the cool breeze blow against my lips.

I put a spoonful of porridge into my mouth, and as the warm, mushy texture of the porridge enters my mouth, I refuse to taste it with my tongue, and I just gulp it down.

The air blowing against my skin feels great. And the warm, morning sun filtering through the tent highlights the vibrant, packed, and loud environment of the cafeteria.

I hate this place.

"You're a really wild guy, Blank." Jeriq suddenly breaks the awkward silence between us.

I scoff, "Not as wild as the people who want to mark my ass."

"Pfft, you're right. Those guys are animals."

He almost chokes on his porridge as he drops his wooden spoon on the table and holds his mouth.

I let out a soft chuckle. "These people are crazy." I take another spoonful that I regret. "I heard they got to you?"

He suddenly stops smiling as his eyes narrow into a stern expression. "I'm a B-rank mercenary, Blank. A three core spearman too. You think a bunch of low rank nobodies can pin me down and mark my ass?"

My lips stretch with a wide smirk.

He's right.

He lets out a soft sigh. "But they did try though. Even when I was just trying to be friendly and relate with them. It was Lanin and his group. But, the five or so of them combined couldn't hold me. And I always avoid using excessive violence."

"Then, you're welcome"

My voice's low as I gulp another spoonful.

"Huh? For what?"

"I did what you couldn't do. I don't think any of them are gonna be bothering either of us from now on."

I clean the edge of my lips where the drops of porridge stained.

He chuckles, shaking his head slowly, "thank you, then. But, none of them could even walk up to you for anything ever since your spar with the Captain that everyone— except me, because I was with my mentor— witnessed. I don't know how that Lanin guy suddenly got the balls to talk to you."

"Hm? Am I that intimidating?"

My voice is low, genuinely curious.

"... Seriously.. is that really a question? Wait. You don't know how intimidating you are, do you? A mysterious guy with a black, blank mask that only has eye slits, flowy red robe that adds flair to your mystery. Rarely spoken, and you even fought with their captain and gave him a hard time. Seriously, even back at the mercenary guild, I could hardly approach you."

Hm? Really? Although, I don't really remember fully, but back on Earth, I was known for being quite easy-going. And even when I was still a depressed slump, Marcelle used to call me a cinnamon roll.

Marcelle? Ah. My Marcelle. My wife. The reason I'm gaining all this strength in the first place.

I no longer see her in my dreams. I no longer see her beautif.. wait.. how does she look again?

I remember Margie, my daughter, I remember Dustin, my son. I remember their smell, touch, smiles, but.. why can't I remember Marcelle's face?

"Ugh." I groan softly as I touch my forehead, easing the sharp pain I feel in my brain.

"Uh, are you okay?"

Jeriq drops his spoon.

I shake my head, the pain dissolving. "I'm fine, I'm fine. So, does that mean you're intimidated by me?"

My tone is sharp, and my lips are curled.

"Pfft, as if."

He rests his chin on his left palm as he looks at me intensely.

"What is it?"

I notice his eyes are too focused on me.

"Nothing. It's just, I'm finally seeing the smile underneath that mask." He says, his lips widening.

"Ugh."

I roll my eyes as I lower my mask, covering my lips and my entire face fully.

I've already finished my food after all.

He pushes his plate forward on the table and he stands.

I do the same, then I carry my empty plate to return to the stand where food is dished.

"Another mundane day. Gonna go train again."

Jeriq sighs as we both walk side-by-side toward the food server.

I shrug, "It's not entirely mundane. It's a good chance to–"

Fwooooooooooooooooom!!!!

A trumpet-like sound rings out, flooding my ears and overloading them with the sound.

The ground underneath my feet begins to rattle, and I stagger, slowly trying to maintain my stance.

"What the hell was that??!" Jeriq yells as he too tries to maintain his stance.

The other soldiers all have pale looks on their faces. But they aren't panicking. None of them.

"Everybody get down! They're here!" One guy shouts.

I throw my tray, and I immediately drag Jeriq down as I crouch.

He looks at me with a tense expression on his face that asks me why.

I calmly press my index finger on the spot on my mask where my lips should be.

He nods. And he whispers, "I'm not with my spear."

I nod. "Yes. Nobody's with their weapons. I don't think anyone prepared for this. And my Chakram.. it's still with K."

"Chakram? What's.."

I drag him, taking him with me to a nearby table and we hide under.

"My weapon. The circle one?" I whisper.

"Oh.. you're right. That one you were with at the wagon, so it's called Chakram?"

"Shh. Lower your voice." I tap his hand.

The entire cafeteria is quiet. This place that was bustling with vibrant life a minute ago is now dead quiet.

The ground keeps vibrating. But, after that trumpet-like sound, we've not heard a single thing anymore.

Tap Tap Tap Tap~!

I hear loud footsteps running toward our tent.

I turn on my mana sight, and the strings of pure mana in the air are plenty, floating everywhere.

I turn, looking at the entrance of the tent.

"Huff.. Huff.. All of you! Come out! The Orcan bastards are attacking.. it's time for war!"

It's George, dressed in full body steel armor with a red cape fluttering behind his back and his hands fully covered with his gauntlets.