In a certain bar at SBC Glocken, a rumor is being discussed by a group of men who were drinking. Unbeknownst to them however, a certain girl is silently eavesdropping on their conversation wearing a cloak covering her entire body.
"Oi, have ya heard? There's a rumor that a floating castle appeared out of nowhere and landed in the wasteland area"
"I heard about that. I don't think it's a floating castle though. For all we know it's a battle ship that's just landed"
"That's what I thought first too. But, they say that it's way too big to be one"
"Well. Who cares, why don't we try and raid it just to be sure"
"Are you an idiot? It's in the middle of the wasteland. I'm not wasting resources only to find that it's just a false rumor"
The group of men, as well as other customers were discussing the same thing. How there's a castle that showed up out of nowhere. This topic is being spread through the whole city. Some people believed it, while others say that it could be something else. The girl, K1M70, is somewhat interested in this topic. After all, one of her interest lies in the unexplained. She likes adventuring all sorts of places, figuring out all sorts of truths. Of course, it's not like she would risk her life for a simple rumor, that's why she would like as much information as possible before determining her actions. As she thought this, the door to the bar opens, and a boy clothed in black enters.
*Silence*
The rest of the people inside went quiet at the emergence of the boy. The boy had black hair with a pair of black eyes matching his clothing. Ignoring the stares directed towards the boy, he simply made his way to the counter seat, coincidentally right next to K1M70. The boy then said—
"Water"
"...coming right up"
After hesitating for a moment, the bartender decided to comply. The boy is wearing what seems to be an outfit straight out of a fantasy world, with swords equipped on his back. After the boy received the water, four men tried to pick a fight.
"Hey brat! What're ya doing here by yourself?"
"That's right. This place is for adults. Children should just go to bed"
""Gyahahaha—!!""
Pathetic. That's what K1M70 thought about those hooligans. After all, one shouldn't act all mighty over a single child. No wonder the boy would be picked on. After all, the boy appears to be 15 years old, and his limbs are quite slim. Add to the fact that his face is quite feminine. With unfazed expression, the boy simply said—
"Shut up. I've been walking for six hours without rest. I'm very thirsty"
"Wha-!?"
Shocked at the boy's comeback, obviously not expecting it, the men were quite enraged.
"Oi. Ya have a death wish or something?"
"Yeah. Don't you know the position you're in right now?"
"Haaah~ I'm very tired. If you want a fight then go ahead"
The boy sigh then immediately taunt his harassers, provoking them to make the first move.
"Why you!! Ya asked for it!!"
The first guy made the first move and launched a straight punch at the boy's back. Without even looking, the boy suddenly dodge and moved behind the man with superhuman speed. In the eyes of ordinary people, the boy looked like he suddenly disappeared, but to K1M70, his movements were caught by her eyes.
(Such amazing speed! It might be comparable to mine!!)
As K1M70 thought this, the boy strike the back of the first man's head with a chop, rendering him unconscious. And as for the two men near him, the boy knocked down both of them with martial art skills, before the both of them could comprehend what just happened. The last man came back to his senses and tried to strike the boy with a knife.
"Damn!!! Curse you—"
But, as he tried thrusting his knife, the boy catches it with both hands and kick the man's abdomen.
"Guha-!!"
The four men immediately lost consciousness and the boy then went to finish his drink. After drinking the entire glass of water, as if he just finished his work out, the boy then said to the bartender.
"Hey, bartender. Put my tab on these guys"
The bartender simply nodded considering that these guys were the ones who caused the trouble. Although it said 'trouble', most of the people in the bar were cheering for who knows when. Not to mention that these guys were causing trouble previously as well.
After that, the boy then looks around and spotted K1M70, who is sitting next to him.
"Hey. Can I ask you something?"
K1M70 simply nodded without disproval.
"Where can I find a bank here? Or at least a place for exchange"
From this exchange, she could guess that he has something valuable. Since he asked for a bank, that means what he carries is legal. After she contemplated this, she answered.
"I can show you to the guild if you want?"
"Guild?"
The boy answers back with another question. Signifying that he's clueless about the workings around here. K1M70 thinks that either the boy had lived a sheltered life, or he's just stupid, it could also be neither or both.
"That's right. The mercenary guild. You can exchange anything there for money, or the other way around. You can also posts requests and even become a mercenary yourself"
"I see"
The boy thinks for a second before he agrees.
"Alright. The guild it is then. What's your name by the way, if you don't mind me asking?"
"... I'm K1M70"
"That's more like a serial number instead. Anyway, my name is Kazuto. And if you don't mind, I'll call you Kimiko instead, since K1M70 is hard to both memorize and pronounce"
"Kimiko?"
"That's right. Since it's quite close to your original name. Of course if you don't like it I could stop?"
"... no need. Kimiko. I like it"
K1M70 repeated her given nickname over and over so that she wouldn't forget it. After all, all this time she hasn't been given a proper name yet. Although there are some people she knows who gave her nicknames, they are all based on her serial number. Even though Kimiko is still based on her serial number, it's still better because it sounded more like an actual name instead of a number.
After that exchange both Kazuto and Kimiko walks out the bar together, with Kimiko leading the way.
And thus, it's two days left until the convergence.