Her Resolve
It was only around noon that the two of them finally managed to pull themselves together and head down to the tavern. Hayeon was plagued by an aching pain that made her feel as if her entire body was creaking, sinking her deep into a sense of helplessness. Luo, too, seemed utterly drained from their night-long lovemaking; his face was pale, and his legs trembled slightly.
"Come on, let's eat. You need to fuel up if you're going to perform tonight, right?" Swallowing the curses rising in her throat at his vulgar joke, Hayeon simply nodded in silence and followed him down to the dining hall.
The first-floor tavern was bustling with adventurers downing hair-of-the-dog drinks since morning and merchants enjoying simple meals. Not long after the two of them took their seats and ordered food, a familiar-sounding commotion erupted behind them.
"Hey, isn't that Luo? Well, look at that. What's a guy like you doing showing his face in a pricey place like this? Weren't there three of you in your party? Where'd you sell off that big guy and the noisy brat, and why are you acting like a big shot all by yourself?"
The owner of the voice was a fierce-looking man wearing a polished, gleaming gold breastplate, which he wore proudly as if to show it off. He openly picked a fight, scanning Luo from head to toe before snorting in disgust, as if looking at a filthy insect. Behind him stood another rough-looking man, silent but imposing. Though he didn't speak, his gaze alone was threatening enough. It was obvious at a glance that they were bad news. The Gold Plate hanging from the leader's neck was far brighter and more eye-catching than Luo's Silver Plate.
Luo's face hardened. Carefully wrapping his hand around Hayeon's arm, he tried to quietly slip past them. However, the Gold Plate adventurer chuckled softly and stepped forward, blocking their path.
"Look at this bastard. A mere Silver Plate ignoring me?" He sneered, shoving Luo's shoulder. "Did completing a few measly quests go to your head? This is a dog-eat-dog world. If you don't have the strength, you just die quietly. Got it?"
Then, the man's gaze shifted directly to Hayeon. The corners of his mouth slowly curled upward, a vulgar lust pooling in his eyes.
"Oho? And who might this dazzling beauty next to you be? Did you recruit her into your party? Or... were you hiding her away somewhere to enjoy her all to yourself every night? Kekeke."
The man's eyes shamelessly swept down Hayeon's breasts, waist, and legs. His gaze was as sticky and repulsive as a venomous snake, triggering an instinctive wave of disgust and revulsion within her.
Here we go again... No matter where I go, this body always attracts these kinds of eyes. Hayeon lowered her head slightly and took a slow, steady breath. In this moment, the painful reality of her utter helplessness hit her.
My level went up... but that's it. I still don't even know how to swing a sword properly. If a real fight breaks out... I won't be able to do a damn thing. Her fingertips trembled.
I need to learn how to fight. Somehow. At least enough to protect myself... Instead of giving in to despair, she summoned her cold rationality and began to analyze the situation calmly.
Unable to endure it any longer, Luo stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. Hayeon didn't miss the subtle trembling in his legs.
"Stop it, Kadel. She isn't a woman you can casually speak of with your filthy mouths. And stop sticking your noses into my private business."
Kadel snorted as if he couldn't believe his ears, his gaze turning increasingly blatant and hostile.
"Ha, look at this guy. Where does a mere Silver Plate get off acting so high and mighty? It's pathetic. If a nobody like you wants to survive in Akron, you need to face reality. Isn't that right, Luo?"
Kadel clenched his fist, which was fitted with brass knuckles. His eyes gleamed with a savage light, looking ready to start a brawl at any second.
Hayeon watched the situation with a startled expression, deliberately holding her breath. Though she appeared panicked on the outside, she was calculating coldly within.
Can Luo beat this guy right now? ...No way. After blowing his load so many times yesterday and today, there's no way he's in any shape to fight. If this keeps up, I'm going to get dragged into this too.
Right then, Kadel's hand shot out like lightning, ruthlessly slapping Luo across the face.
"Luo!" Along with Hayeon's sharp scream, a bone-crushing crack echoed as Luo's head snapped to the side.
...Huh? Before he could even register what happened, a heavy impact sent Luo's body flying briefly through the air before he crashed onto the floor.
Caught completely off guard, Luo couldn't even put up a proper defense. He rolled across the floor several times before slamming his head hard against the wall, collapsing limply as crimson blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Luo?! Luo, wake up! Are you okay?!" Hayeon gasped, attempting to rush to his side, but a mountain of a man with a fierce face from Kadel's party suddenly slipped behind her and clamped a rough hand over her mouth.
"You'd better stay quiet, little lady. Don't go hurting yourself by struggling, and just come with us nicely. You're way out of the league of a Silver Plate loser like him, aren't you? Hmm?"
The man whispered with a menacing chuckle, gripping Hayeon's arm tightly. The strength in his grasp was far beyond anything she had expected.
"Mmph! Mmmph...!" Hayeon struggled desperately, but her F-rank Strength was utterly useless. The man's grip felt like solid steel.
The tavern quickly fell into a commotion, but ironically, this kind of dispute and violence was a common sight in Akron. If anything, some onlookers eagerly watched the spectacle with amusement, while others quickly cleared out to avoid getting caught in the crossfire. Not a single soul stepped forward to help Hayeon or Luo. This was just the kind of place Akron was—a world where might made right, and the weak were weeded out.
Kadel walked over to the fallen Luo, nudging his face with his boot as he let out a contemptuous sneer. His eyes were filled with triumph and arrogance.
"We're Gold Plates! Gold Plates! Do you even know what that means? In this city of Akron, being a Gold Plate means you get treated basically like nobility. A Silver Plate trash like you could live a lifetime and never reach our level, Luo."
Kadel roughly grabbed Hayeon's arm and pulled her close, whispering in her ear like a slithering snake.
"I'm taking this dazzling beauty with me. She's the perfect fit for our party, indeed. It'd be a crying shame to leave her with a pathetic loser like him, wouldn't it, sweetheart?"
He gestured with his chin to his companions. They smoothly cleared a path toward the exit and began dragging Hayeon out by force.
What the hell... they're actually kidnapping me?! Have these crazy bastards lost their minds?! Hayeon's mind went blank. She thrashed and struggled to break free, but her unfamiliar female body and weak, Wooden Plate-tier physical stats were no match for them. The strength of these burly men was overwhelming.
Behind them, a bloodied Luo staggered to his feet. His face was already covered in cuts and bruises, and fresh blood poured continuously from his split lip. Yet, his gaze remained unbroken, burning with rage toward Kadel.
"She's... my companion...! Let her go... right now...!" Luo's voice trembled violently, but his resolve was clear and resolute. However, his body was already at its limit, swaying precariously.
Frowning in annoyance, Kadel looked down at Luo as if he were a bothersome bug.
"Oho? Pretty brave for a Silver Plate, aren't you? Fine, then... I guess I'll have to teach you a proper lesson to knock some sense into you." A cruel smirk twisted his lips.
Kadel's fist flew like a bolt of lightning once more. This time, it struck Luo squarely in the abdomen.
Thud! "Cough...!" Luo let out a guttural, beast-like groan and collapsed to his knees. He coughed up a mouthful of blood, writhing in suffocating agony.
Looking down at the collapsed Luo with utter disdain, Kadel glanced back at Hayeon one last time and spoke coldly.
"If you want to protect your companion, build up some actual strength before you challenge me, kid. Know your place." With that, he dragged Hayeon out of the tavern.
"Now, pretty lady. Come with us and we'll dress you in fine clothes and feed you all the delicacies you want, so don't worry. You won't regret coming with us. Krahaha!"
As she was dragged away helplessly, Hayeon feigned a look of despair, staring back at Luo. He didn't have the strength to save her right now. In fact, she doubted he even had the will to try. In her eyes, Luo was nothing more than a powerless, pathetic loser.
And so, she was forcibly dragged out of the guild by yet another group of unknown men. Luo's eyes were filled with despair and fury, but he could do nothing but lie on the floor in agony. The sunlight of Akron felt exceptionally cold today.
A new system window popped up before her eyes.
Your party has been forcibly disbanded.
Your relationship with your guardian, 'Luo', has been severed.
You have acquired the Title: 'Masterless Plaything' (New!).
The Title: 'Luo's Lover' has been deactivated.
Masterless Plaything...? Hayeon's mind was in utter disarray. Disgust, fear, revulsion, and shame rushed over her all at once. The reality that she could neither run nor resist crushed down on her.
Am I really... just going to be dragged away like this? No one would help her. She had no one to lean on. To survive in this world she had been dropped into, she had forced herself to turn a blind eye and accept everything until now.
Damn it... this filthy world...! The moment those words welled up inside her, threatening to burst from her lips, something stirred deep within her heart.
...I will become strong. I will become someone who cannot be swayed by anyone, someone no one dares to look down on. I swear it. The light in her eyes shifted. She would no longer be a victim, but a master of her own destiny.
From now on, she would swallow any shame and endure any trial to survive in this world. And one day, she would pay them back for this moment with a smile on her face.