The long-awaited day had come… at last.
The day I had thought about countless times, its echo lingering within me for so long…
The day I would submit my resignation.
Even now, despite everything, I still couldn't fully grasp the idea.
That I… was leaving.
I would part ways with this place that, despite its harshness, had become familiar.
With Aunt Melissa and her gentle smile…
With Liana and her warm enthusiasm…
With the employer and his serious tone…
With Knox, Luxian, Marcus, and Cairo…
And everyone else.
I let out a slow sigh.
Well…
This day was bound to come, sooner or later.
That was what I was thinking as I sat at the wooden table, eating the breakfast Aunt Melissa had prepared for me and Visper.
The food was warm, simple, and familiar…
But today, it tasted different.
Or maybe… I was the one who had changed.
As I ate in silence, I felt a steady gaze watching me.
I raised my head slightly—
And found Visper staring directly at me.
He spoke in a hesitant tone, carrying an unusual seriousness:
"I don't know why… but lately… you've been acting strange."
I paused mid-bite, then suddenly coughed, as if his words had gotten stuck in my throat.
I tapped my chest a few times, trying to regain my breath, then said quickly:
"What?! Me? What made you say that?"
He replied, still staring at me:
"I mean… you seem a bit depressed… not like your usual self."
"Depressed?"
I repeated the word as if it were unfamiliar.
He continued quickly, as if afraid he might back down:
"On normal days, you'd laugh… joke… talk nonstop. But lately… you barely do any of that."
Silence fell.
I placed my hand over my face and closed my eyes for a moment.
It seemed… the decision to resign had affected me more than I thought.
To the point that even Visper… had noticed.
And even described me as depressed.
I exhaled softly, then said:
"Well… it seems the resignation decision is the reason—"
"What?!"
He cut me off suddenly, his voice rising so much it nearly made him drop his cup.
"Resignation?! What are you talking about?!"
I froze for a second.
…Ah.
Right.
I forgot.
I gave an awkward smile and said:
"Ha… seems like I forgot to tell you."
Silence fell between us.
A short silence… but heavy.
I looked at him for a moment and saw his expression tense, his eyes slightly widened, as if trying to process what he had just heard.
Honestly…
His reaction was understandable.
Maybe… I would've done the same in his place.
He grabbed his cup and took a sip of water, trying to steady himself, then said in a lower voice:
"When… are you resigning?"
I looked at him directly and answered calmly:
"Today."
—
In the next moment—
He choked.
Water went down the wrong way, and he bent forward, coughing as some spilled from his mouth.
He turned his face away, wiped it quickly, then said in a mix of shock and annoyance:
"You… really never stop surprising me."
Then he frowned slightly:
"When did you even think of this? And why?"
This time, I answered without hesitation:
"Actually… this decision has been there since the first day I started working with the boss."
I paused, then added:
"And as you know… I have to find my family."
He looked at me in silence.
Then said quietly:
"…That makes sense."
But he didn't continue.
Silence returned again—deeper this time.
He seemed lost in thought, distant from everything around him.
I watched him for a moment, then sighed inwardly.
Maybe because he was still a teenager…
That's why it felt so shocking to him.
But—
I raised my hand and flicked his forehead lightly.
"Just because you're a teenager doesn't give you the right to call me depressed, you brat."
"Ouch!"
He grabbed his forehead, wincing:
"That hurts!"
I laughed lightly:
"You deserved that… for your lack of respect."
He smiled despite the pain, then said:
"Anyway… I've decided."
I raised an eyebrow:
"What?"
He looked at me with shining eyes and said excitedly:
"I'm resigning too… and I'll follow you."
—
I stopped.
For a moment… I didn't process it.
"Yeah, yeah…"
I said automatically—then froze.
Wait.
"Hold on… what?!"
I stared at him.
Did he… just say what I think he said?
My heart started beating faster.
"You're… joking, right?"
But his expression…Wasn't joking.
...
Visper looked at me steadily, without hesitation, then said firmly:
"I'm serious about this. I'll go with you on your journey."
I froze for a moment.
His words weren't just passing excitement…
They carried the weight of a real decision.
I stayed silent, trying to process it, then raised my head and said:
"Wait… what made you decide that?"
He didn't answer immediately.
He lowered his gaze slightly, as if searching for the right words…
Then said in an unusually quiet tone:
"Well… I… don't have anywhere to go."
I stopped moving.
He continued, his voice softer:
"And I don't have anyone… I can consider a brother… except you."
—
The words settled in the air.
Heavy… in a way I wasn't used to.
Something tightened in my chest, but I quickly ignored it and said seriously:
"Visper… you don't understand anything."
I looked straight at him and added:
"My journey won't be easy… it'll be full of danger… monsters… enemies… exhaustion… and fatigue."
I paused, then said slowly:
"…and maybe death."
I wasn't exaggerating.
I was telling the truth… exactly as it was.
But—
He smiled.
A simple… calm smile… as if my words hadn't scared him at all.
And he said without hesitation:
"That doesn't matter."
I blinked in surprise.
He continued:
"There's nothing for me to lose… anyway."
—
I fell silent.
My expression stiffened as his words echoed in my mind.
Nothing to lose…
This brat…
How could he say that so easily?
What had he gone through… to reach that point?
What kind of life… makes someone not even fear death?
I drifted into my thoughts—
But his voice suddenly cut through:
"Besides…"
He raised his head slightly and smirked:
"You might die before me… since you're weaker—"
Tap.
I flicked his forehead again.
"It seems you never learn from your mistakes."
"Ouch!"
He grabbed his head again:
"Why did you do that again?! That hurts!"
I smiled faintly, despite everything.
The atmosphere… was strange.
A mix of heavy seriousness… and familiar humor.
I sighed quietly, then said:
"Well…"
Everything seemed to pause for a moment.
Then I continued:
"You can come with me."
—
His eyes widened instantly.
"What? Really?!"
He stood up slightly, excitement overflowing from his face:
"That's amazing! Thank you!"
I shook my head lightly as I watched his joy—completely unhidden.
"Yeah… it's fine."
Then I added silently, without saying it out loud:
Even though I don't want to admit it…
I might have become more alone than I could bear… if I went by myself.
I lowered my gaze slightly.
Maybe even… depressed.
—
As Visper laughed excitedly, as if he had forgotten everything else—
The door suddenly opened.
We both turned—
To see Aunt Melissa enter, wearing a smile… that wasn't ordinary.
A smile that held curiosity… and a hint of suspicion.
She said in a calm but clear tone:
"It seems Visper's shouting was quite loud…"
Then added, looking between us:
"So loud I heard it from Liana's room."
Visper and I exchanged a quick glance.
Then she crossed her arms slightly and said:
"So… what's this 'resignation' decision about?"
—
I let out a light laugh, but inside…
I knew.
This… wouldn't be simple.
I ran a hand through my hair and sighed:
"Ha…"
Looks like… I'll have to explain everything all over again.