Leaving the tavern after indulging amidst the debris of others, I decided it was time to return to my humble abode - a pigsty fashioned from cardboard, wood, and meager rags to stave off the cold.

Yet, as I moved amidst those who loitered in tandem with me, a distinct group captured my attention.

Having been trained to spot potential threats to Lane's property, my trained eye could easily discern this group's dubious intent. Typically, these transgressions came in the form of living beings, often criminals.

It wasn't a challenge to recognize them, especially considering their attire... Not that I'm one to pass judgment! I understand. However, given our shared background, identifying them aligned seamlessly with my role.

Thus, I pondered that if I shadowed this suspicious cohort of six men and they were indeed plotting to raid a residence, business, or any establishment containing valuables, I could capitalize on the situation and, as was my custom, salvage whatever they left behind.

Even a trinket-sized piece of metal could fetch me a handful of valis.

What? Did you believe I would report this impending theft to the authorities? Please, those wretches are precisely why I couldn't secure a position as patrol security in the Empire. Besides, a few coins thrown their way and they'd turn a blind eye as someone was subjected to abuse before them. Furthermore, if I alerted the authorities about this group, they'd likely tip them off, branding me as a snitch.

However, as I trailed them through the obscure labyrinth of streets, navigating alleyways and concealed corners, I uncovered a shocking truth - the target of these criminals wasn't a random place, but rather, the mansion of Lane Crestoria...

The gang of bandits surreptitiously scaled the wall enclosing the estate. Elric, my relief, held post at a gate within the compound, rendering him oblivious to the infiltrators.

The breach wasn't glaring, more so that nobody possessed the audacity to pilfer from the Aphrodite Family, given their esteemed reputation in the Empire.

Racing toward the castle's barriers, I carried my disoriented frame and muddled faculties. My stomach churned, bloated from acidic alcohol, and the bones within my throat scratched with every labored breath.

"Elric! Elric, trouble is afoot!"

"Cranel? What brings you here...? You're not angling to relieve me of my shift as well, are you?"

"It's not that! I've spotted a group of bandits scaling the walls!"

"Wh-what…? That's absurd! No one in their right mind would dare such a feat."

"I assure you, Elric, I saw it with my own eyes!"

I grappled with how to persuade Elric to believe me. We didn't converse frequently to begin with. Although, it was true that among all the hounds at the Crestoria mansion, he was the sole one who occasionally acknowledged me, we remained mere acquaintances.

"I don't want your shouting to stir up a commotion. I'll go investigate, but if I don't discover anyone, I swear to God that I'll hold you accountable, Cranel. Guard my post until I return."

A sigh of relief escaped my soul as Elric made his way through the gate into the mansion. His departure made me realize the strain I'd endured reaching this point; a slight push would likely have resulted in a seizure.

Moments later, a chorus of male screams pierced the air. It was unclear if Elric was among them, but the very fact of the commotion suggested that the Royal Guards within the mansion had dealt with any intruders. Following the cries, the night finally settled into silence.

As I sank onto the ground, seeking to catch my breath, a figure plummeted from the window balcony above the door. Moonlight cast its pale glow, illuminating a gaping hole in his torso. The grotesque wound stole the breath I'd scarcely regained.

Instead of staggering towards the exit gates, the bandit seemed to lose his bearings and veered towards the door where I sat. The balcony's shadow obscured his vision in the darkness, perhaps leading him to mistake me for a comrade. His face, a deathly pallor, contrasted with the inky blackness of his glove as it probed his own ribcage. I beheld one lung punctured and another bisected, while his kidney and liver oozed a strange brown liquid that trailed his faltering steps.

My hands trembling, I brandished my sole weapon - a cherished heirloom from my grandfather: a polished stone knife with a leather grip. I couldn't simply stand by; I cared not for his suffering or impending demise. Yet allowing him to linger until the Guards arrived, observing me cowering, would imperil my job and besmirch any prospect of working in security again. After all, what worth was a bloodhound that neither bit nor barked?

He's wounded... Feeble as I was, I could manage this. I held onto that belief with an unwavering grip, driving forward. When I opened my eyes, the blade had pierced the bandit's heart. I twisted it, then withdrew, nicking my hand on a fractured rib. A gasp escaped his lips, as malevolence surged through my veins. His limbs spasmed, body convulsing, until finally he lay still.

Undoubtedly, the bandit had met his end.

Yet, as I was poised to mark my victory - my first kill - an anomaly caught my eye. The bandit's blood, coating my hands and staining the knife, began to seep into my palm. It was assimilating into my flesh…

「Skill: [Consume] - Activated.

Bell Cranel

Lvl. 1

•Strength: I 9 – I 37

• Stamina: I 5 – I 22

• Dexterity: I 7 – I 41

•Agility: I 3 – 53

•Magic: 1

•Luck: I

Magic:

(1) • [Firebolt]

Added Skill:

• Liaris Freese: Rapid growth in the throes of love. The strength of the effects aligns with the intensity of the user's emotions.」

'What is this...? I thought the [Status Window] only appeared when summoned...'

In an instant, all pain and fatigue dissipated, as if a cleansing rain had purged the impurities from my body.

"Bell! Are you okay? Have you been hurt?"

Lane's voice echoed in my head, carrying a delicate blend of concern.

"No, I'm... Th-The blood, it's not mine..."

As I raised my head, I noticed Lane's agitation subside upon spotting the lifeless bandit on the ground. Evidently, Lane had personally dealt with the bandits when even Elric hadn't arrived to investigate. This was because the bandits had made their way to Lane's room, possibly assuming she was absent, and considering she was the proprietor, they reckoned her treasures lay hidden there.

None but Elric and Lane knew of the incident, and the Royal Guards adhered to Lane's orders of discretion. They quietly cleared the scene, occasionally assisted by Elric.

As for the Aphrodite Family, after my plea to Lane, she handle all the killings, including the one I had perpetrated, I felt a sense of relief hearing her agree to my terms. I desired no recognition, especially since my actions fell outside the scope of my role; I wasn't meant to be there. Without plausible explanations, they might have deemed me connected to the bandits.

However, Lane Crestoria was a woman of gravitas despite her unassuming demeanor.

"I cannot allow you to go unrewarded for your deed! Without you, the bandit might have eluded capture, casting doubt upon our Family's authority."

Lane had a valid point; it would be catastrophic if word spread that an intruder had breached Aphrodite Family security.

"I'm afraid I must respectfully decline, Lady Crestoria…"

Lane's cheeks puckered in a gesture of displeasure; she wasn't fond of my humility. Perhaps of all the hounds, I was the one with whom she shared the closest bond.

"Then I'll dismiss you."

A shadow crossed her features; while this was the first instance I had seen her so forceful, it was hard to deny the intimidation emanating from her.

"Very well... I will heed your request," I reluctantly conceded, lowering my head.

Another factor making me uneasy around Lane was her incalculable nature.

"How about becoming a son of the Aphrodite Family? Given your contribution here, and the role you played, it's conceivable that Goddess Aphrodite might consider welcoming you into the fold."

"Forgive me for opposing you once more, Lady Crestoria, but I find myself unable to comply. I lack the strength, the standing, to merit standing beneath the banner of a god's lineage."

Was this girl crazy? Of all the conceivable scenarios, joining the ranks of a deity was nothing short of ludicrous, utterly absurd. For starters, I held a profound disdain for the gods. How could I possibly suppress my loathing, particularly for Aphrodite, if I were to become one of her offspring within her Family?

"Your justifications hold no weight. After all, it was with a knife that you ended that bandit's life. Not many possess the fortitude to take another's life. Not only did you do it, but you also administered justice upon a wrongdoer. The Aphrodite Family wields honor and justice as both shield and sword. You, Bell Cranel, are undoubtedly deserving."

Lane's logic was irksomely sound, much to my chagrin. Yet that bandit lay there, his chest half-open, and I had hesitated like a timorous fledgling before acting on an impulse.

"I'm not going to condemn you to a lifetime of servitude among the commoners. You bear the heart of a hero, Bell. Your principles are noble and unclouded. How could I, a member of the Aphrodite Family, ignore the potential you possess? I will not let a would-be champion forego the opportunity to champion the downtrodden, merely due to your current station."

She was well aware of my poverty, my hardships, the bleakness that enshrouded me. Even so, Lane, in all her magnanimity, was intent on fashioning a rationale to salvage my existence.

I was torn between wanting to weep in the presence of a truly benevolent soul and chuckling at the irony that this angelic being pitied me.

I could persist in this dismal existence—endure this cycle of drudgery, engage in conversations with Daena every night, and struggle not to succumb to my isolation. Alternatively, I could heed Lane Crestoria's entreaty and join the Aphrodite Family, shedding the life of obscurity akin to a bloodhound and embracing a life infused with valor.

Without requiring a syllable from me, Lane communicated her verdict with an effervescent smile.

"Very well. You've expended yourself for the day. Seek reprieve. Tomorrow, at dawn, proceed to the Black Lake Port. I will await you there."

Although this should have incited jubilation—an escape from the anguish this life had inflicted upon me—I found myself unable to lift my head, even as I distanced myself.

My heart harbored no elation whatsoever.