Chapter 5: The City That Hides Its Fangs
The return to the city was nothing like the departure.
That morning…
Kaine had been nothing more than a beginner carrying a sword.
Now…
he was someone who understood one thing:
This world cannot be trusted.
His steps were slower.
Not just because of exhaustion…
but because he had begun to think more.
Everything around him…
was no longer just "details."
They were signs.
At the city gate…
the same guards.
The same laughter.
The same mockery.
"Oh? Back already."
"Told you—two days."
"Looks like he survived by luck."
Kaine didn't respond.
But he noticed something.
"The same guards… same place…"
"But their numbers increased."
Three more.
Not ordinary ones.
"Trained soldiers."
"Surveillance… or fear?"
One of the guards stepped forward.
"Proof?"
Kaine took out the monster fangs
and placed them in the guard's hand.
The guard looked…
then froze.
"This…"
He raised his eyes.
"Where did you get these?"
Kaine answered calmly:
"The forest."
Silence.
Another guard approached.
He examined the fangs, then said in a low voice:
"These aren't from ordinary types…"
A subtle tension spread—
quickly suppressed.
"Go."
Kaine entered…
but his mind didn't stop.
"They know."
"So why aren't they saying anything?"
The city looked the same.
People walking.
Markets alive.
Children running.
But…
Kaine no longer saw it the same way.
"All of this…"
"Just a surface."
Then he heard a voice.
"You."
He stopped.
Turned.
A man.
In his forties.
Simple clothes…
but exceptionally clean.
Sharp eyes.
"Come with me."
It wasn't a request.
It was an order.
Kaine didn't refuse.
"This man… isn't ordinary."
They walked through narrow streets.
Away from people.
Away from noise.
Until they reached…
an old wooden door.
The man opened it.
Entered.
"Come in."
Kaine followed.
The room was simple.
A table.
Two chairs.
Nothing else.
The man sat.
Gestured to him.
"Sit."
Kaine sat.
Silence.
Two seconds…
Three…
Then the man spoke:
"How many did you kill?"
Kaine replied:
"Three."
The man paused.
"And two escaped?"
Kaine didn't answer immediately.
"He's observing."
"Yes."
The man exhaled.
"I was hoping you'd lie."
Silence.
Then he asked:
"Did you notice anything strange?"
Kaine looked at him.
"They're evolving."
A faint smile appeared on the man's face.
"Good."
Then he said:
"Then let's not waste time."
He leaned forward.
"My name…"
He stopped.
"It doesn't matter."
Kaine wasn't surprised.
"What matters is…"
He looked directly into Kaine's eyes.
"You're now part of something bigger than you."
Kaine replied:
"I've been part of that since I entered this world."
The man laughed.
"You learn fast."
Then he took out a paper
and placed it in front of him.
A drawing.
A map.
"This is the forest."
He pointed to several locations.
"Here… and here… and here."
"Points where the altered monsters appear."
Kaine looked.
"A pattern."
He said:
"It's not random."
The man nodded.
"Exactly."
Then he added:
"And now the question…"
"Why?"
Silence.
Kaine thought.
"If it's not random…"
"Then there's a source."
He said:
"Something is feeding them."
The man smiled.
"Or… someone."
At that moment…
the atmosphere shifted.
Kaine asked:
"The kingdom?"
The man didn't answer directly.
"Do you trust them?"
Kaine:
"No."
"Good."
Then he stood.
"Because if you did… you'd die quickly."
Kaine didn't move.
"This man… isn't afraid to say that."
He asked:
"What do you want from me?"
The man stepped closer.
"I want to know…"
"Are you just a lucky survivor…"
Or…
"Something more dangerous?"
Silence.
Kaine looked at him, then said:
"That depends…"
"Will you tell me the truth?"
The man smiled.
"Maybe."
Then he said:
"There's something beneath this city."
Silence.
"Something… that shouldn't exist."
Kaine showed no shock.
But…
his eyes grew deeper.
"The beginning of the thread."
He asked:
"Monsters?"
The man shook his head.
"Worse."
Then he said:
"Experiments."
The silence grew heavier.
Kaine:
"On what?"
The man:
"On…"
He stopped.
Glanced at the door.
Then whispered:
"On the world itself."
…
Kaine said nothing.
But inside him…
something began to move.
Not fear.
But…
interest.
Then he asked:
"Who's behind this?"
The man smiled—
but this time…
it wasn't comforting.
"That…"
"is the reason you'll die if you're not careful."
Then he added:
"Or become the strongest person in this world."
…
The system appeared.
Hidden Quest Triggered
"Truth Beneath the Kingdom"
Objective:
Investigate the hidden experiments.
Reward:
Unknown
Risk:
Extreme
…
Kaine looked toward the window.
The sun was setting.
And the city…
looked beautiful.
But now…
he knew.
Beneath that beauty…
something was waiting.
He said calmly:
"Then…"
He stood.
"Let's begin."
…
Far away…
in a grand palace…
Someone sat.
Eyes closed.
Then opened them.
"He has appeared."
A cold smile.
"The variable."