I sat alone on the floor of the room.
Outside the glass walls, people rushed through the halls of the MHA headquarters. Hunters prepared weapons, checked equipment, and headed out to capture monsters.
Everyone looked tense.
Afraid.
I looked down at my hands.
For some reason…
it reminded me of twelve years ago.
Sitting alone on the streets of Chizunai City.
Looking at these same hands.
Wondering why I was different.
"You should sit up, you know."
A voice broke the silence.
It was Yamato.
"I don't trust these people," I said quietly.
"Don't worry," Yamato replied.
"They're not like the old elders."
I looked at him.
"Are you sure?"
He sighed.
"Bro… you're literally our only hope right now."
I stayed silent for a moment.
Then asked—
"Why don't you just build another prison maze?"
Yamato shook his head.
"We can't."
A pause.
"It would take years."
He leaned against the wall.
"Besides… people say the original prison maze was built by elves."
He laughed lightly.
"Probably just a fairy tale."
Then his expression became serious again.
"But either way…"
"…you're the only thing standing between humanity and monsters now."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
Then Yamato placed a paper in front of me.
A contract.
If I agreed—
the MHA would give me everything.
Food.
Money.
A home.
Freedom.
Acceptance.
I stared at the paper quietly.
For a long time.
Then slowly…
I closed my eyes.
Maybe this was finally my chance to belong somewhere.
I picked up the pen.
And wrote one word.
"Ok."
And just like that—
my new life began.