Into a Deeper Mire

Dragged away from the commotion of the tavern, Hayeon was pulled out under a leaden, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gray sky. The sunlight of Akron held no warmth; it beat down cold against her skin. Brek held her arm in a brutal grip, his strength far too immense for her to break free. Walking ahead of them, Kadel let out a leisurely laugh and glanced back. "Kahahahaha! Did you see that? Acting all high and mighty for a Silver Plate, only to get utterly demolished." He spat toward the entrance of the tavern where Luo lay collapsed. There was no hesitation, no remorse in his actions—only the raw, smug superiority of crushing someone beneath his boot.

Brek grunted in irritation. "Shut up and move. The rumors are probably already spreading. Word's going to get out that Luo picked up some fairy-like beauty only for us to snatch her away. Let's get her back to base before other bastards start sniffing around."

Hayeon quietly lowered her gaze, keeping pace with them. I knew it... They targeted me from the start. Provoking Luo, starting a fight—it was all to get their hands on me. This goddamn face of mine strikes again...

The street they walked down was a bustling thoroughfare in the city center. The shouts of merchants, the clanging of blacksmiths' hammers, and the heavy thud of footsteps swirled together, but none of it mattered to Hayeon. Passersby cast fleeting glances her way, but no one dared to speak. They clearly wanted nothing to do with Gold Plate adventurers. No one was going to help her. Right now, Hayeon was simply being dragged along, entirely blind to where they were taking her.

Lee Hangyeol. This is the reality of this world. Without power, you're nothing but a sideshow. No one is coming to save you. The humiliation you suffer is just cheap gossip for everyone else.

Hayeon stopped acting. She wiped the terrified expression from her face and banished any pleading look from her eyes. Keeping her face entirely blank, she stared straight at the ground as she walked. Showing emotion would only give them a weakness to exploit.

After walking for what felt like ages, the scenery began to shift as they left the main district behind. The clean stone pavement gave way to muddy dirt roads, and the elegant buildings crumbled into dilapidated, leaning shanties. The air grew damp, thick with the pungent stench of sewage and mold. This was the lawless underbelly of Akron, a place untouched by order.

"Alright, gorgeous. We're almost there. This is the headquarters of the Golden Mane." Kadel turned back with a smirk, his tone dripping with mockery. Hayeon didn't answer, simply keeping her feet moving. Instead, she began rapidly committing the layout of the streets to memory. Two right turns, a left, then past the tavern with the red roof... Even if she lacked power right now, her memory was a weapon. To find a way out of here eventually, she couldn't afford to miss a single detail.

But Brek noticed her shifting gaze. He yanked her arm roughly and spat a curse. "What are you looking around for? No matter where you run, you'll be dragged right back here in no time. Try anything, and I'll chop your ankles off first."

Hayeon kept her head lowered, answering coldly in her mind. I'm not running. Not yet.

Dragged along like a captive, Hayeon followed Kadel deeper into the back alleys of Akron. The narrow, winding passages were choked with garbage and the stench of filth, and the decaying buildings on either side leaned precariously, as if they might collapse at any moment. Brek's grip on her arm was like iron; the more she tried to pull away, the tighter he squeezed.

"Hey, pretty girl. Don't be so stiff. We practically saved your life. If you'd stayed with a freak like Luo, you'd have been dead in a ditch by now. Stick with us, and you'll not only be safe, but you'll get to have some real fun too, heheh." Kadel tapped his Gold Plate with a finger, sneering. Passersby who overheard him either stole quick glances or scrambled to get out of the way. The sheer authority of a Gold Plate adventurer carried immense weight in these streets.

Suppressing the disgust boiling inside her, Hayeon forced her expression to remain calm and spoke. "I... I want to travel alone. I appreciate the concern, but—"

"Alone? A Wooden Plate like you? Hahaha, how cute. You only get to say things like that when you actually have the strength to back it up. Right now, you're in desperate need of a guardian." Kadel cut her off dismissively and threw his arm around her shoulders. A sickening mixture of stale sweat and cheap cologne wafted from him.

Hayeon grit her teeth. They're exactly the same. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Luo tried to control me with sweet words, and this bastard uses blatant force. The methods might differ, but they're both equally disgusting. Externally, however, she remained silent. She knew ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all too well that resisting right now would achieve nothing.

Fine. I'll play along for now. I need to figure out where they're taking me and map out the layout. An opportunity to escape will definitely present itself. Until then... keeping quiet is the only ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠way to survive. She lowered her head slightly, pretending to be submissive, but her eyes continued to scan her surroundings with sharp precision.

After walking for a long time, they finally stopped in the middle of a shabby lodging district in the southern part of the city. They stood before a two-story inn that was easily the most dilapidated and ominous-looking building on the block. "We're here. This is our hideout." Kadel kicked the door open. The door creaked violently, and the old wooden stairs inside groaned and shook precariously. Dragged along, Hayeon followed him to the room at the very end of the hallway. The voices of several men were already leaking through the door.

"So? Did you bring her?" "The whole guild is buzzing. Where the hell did Luo even find something like that..." Kadel threw the door wide open and bellowed, "Yeah, I brought her back myself, you bastards!"

Three men were already waiting inside the room. The air was thick and suffocating, a foul blend of damp mold, sweat, and a faint metallic tang of blood. Hayeon scanned the room with an indifferent expression. The place was filthy, completely devoid of any order. Overturned chairs, empty liquor bottles in the corners, and discarded food scraps littered the floor. Rather than a human dwelling, it felt like a den where wild beasts rested after a hunt.

Hayeon quickly took mental inventory. Three of them. One by the door with a dagger at his waist, one by the window with a magic tome open, and the one sitting on the bed... an archer? From the very first impression, they all exuded completely different vibes. Their combat styles and behaviors seemed entirely distinct. It was a discordant combination, which only heightened her unease.

"Oho~ The rumors didn't do her justice. Actually, she's way better than I expected. Not bad, boss, not bad at all." A man with an effeminate appearance crossed his legs as he scanned Hayeon up and down. He wore heavy makeup, spoke with a greasy tone, and wore an excessively relaxed expression. His name was Jules, the party's archer. While his eyes shamelessly devoured her figure, he was subtly gauging Kadel's reaction. He's got a nasty personality, Hayeon thought. The type to stab you in the back when you're not looking.

Beside him sat a figure completely shrouded in a pitch-black robe. This was Spine. They didn't speak, and their face was entirely hidden. As Hayeon entered, they stopped chanting whatever spell they were murmuring and quietly raised their head. Though their expression was invisible, a chilling sensation washed over her. What are they doing... a mage? Either way, I don't want to get anywhere near them.

Near the door, Brek stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. True to the man who had dragged her here, he was massive and heavily muscled. His face was rugged, and his eyes kept sliding up and down Hayeon's body. He's just a simple, brainless thug. You can't reason with him, and he's the type to use his fists the moment he gets annoyed.

And in the corner of the room, a massive Orc watched her in silence. His name was Burg. He was expressionless and mute, but his sheer physical presence was overwhelming, and his gaze was unsettlingly blank. Hayeon felt her body instinctively tense up. He is absolutely massive... I can't even tell if he has emotions. I have no idea what's going on in his head.

Kadel clapped his hands together to command attention. "Alright, let me introduce everyone. This is Jules, our archer. Next to him is Spine, our magic-slinger. By the door is Brek, the brawler. And the big guy sitting over there is Burg—his combat power is the real deal." Kadel finished his brief introduction and pointed a finger at Hayeon. "We'll be moving with this Wooden Plate lady from now on. Your name is...?"

"...Hayeon," she replied briefly, doing her best to maintain her composure. Kadel smirked in satisfaction, pulling her close and resting a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Good. You're part of our team for now, so let's get along. No need to be scared. Outside the city, we're comrades. Inside..." He chuckled, letting his voice trail off. "...Well, everyone fends for themselves. Heheh."

As soon as he spoke, a system window materialized before her eyes.

Mental stability, but a decrease in Ego Synchronization Rate...? Hayeon swallowed hard as she read the description. The system was brutally clear. If she obeyed this bastard to survive and keep from losing her mind, the ego of 'Lee Hangyeol' trapped inside the shell of 'Lee Hayeon' would gradually fade away. This wasn't a real choice. It was a cunningly designed trap where every path led to ruin.

But... staying sane is the priority right now. Ego? Identity? Those are things I can worry about after I survive.

Jules chuckled and winked at Hayeon. "We'll find out soon enough if you're a trustworthy companion, won't we, pretty lady? Big brother Kadel won't keep his eyes on you forever. When he gets bored, come to me. I can treat you much more gently than he does."

His tone was playful, but it carried a subtle undercurrent of rivalry with Kadel, alongside blatant seduction aimed at Hayeon. Hayeon simply nodded without a word. Reacting would do nothing to improve her situation.

The room was cramped and decrepit. There was only one bed, and the floor was filthy and cluttered. The realization that six people had to share this tiny space felt suffocating. I made it to the city... but this is even worse than being next to Luo. It's a literal den of wolves. Can I really survive here?

She let out a quiet, internal sigh and looked around. Kadel's eyes burned with possessiveness, while Jules's were filled with greed. Brek openly looked down on her, and Spine watched her in absolute silence. Burg remained expressionless, but his gaze was chillingly vacant.

Once again, Hayeon realized the harsh truth: this world was merciless, and there was no one she could trust. If she wanted to survive, she could no longer afford to be nice. To survive in this place, she had to become more cunning, and far more cold-blooded.