I will help you

Dan set his spoon down and looked at Raydon. When he noticed that Raydon hadn't touched his food yet, Dan expressed sadness.

''I apologize that we don't have much, but I can at least promise that it tastes good. '' Dan assumed Raydon refused to eat the food because he disliked it. After all, he was an item holder, and he had to be eating food that the rest of the table couldn't even fathom.

Raydon took a spoonful of his food and savored it without responding.

After Dan's question, everyone at the table fell silent and were staring at their guests with interest. The aunts, in particular, seemed to be anticipating Raydon's thoughts on the food.

They were curious about the reaction of the guest, whom Dan admired and adored so much.

Raydon ate the first spoon, followed by the second, third, and fourth spoons. He finished the last spoonful while everyone continued to watch him. He then grinned and said.

''Yeah, It's really delicious. ''

The aunts sighed in relief after hearing this, even though they had seen that Raydon had finished everything in his bowl.

Others continued to happily eat and chat as well.

Dan was about to begin eating his meal with peace of mind when he heard Raydon speak to him.

''How long do you think you can protect them? '' He inquired solemnly.

Everyone at the table fell silent once more. Dan looked at Raydon, puzzled, and said. ''I don't understand what you mean. ''

''You almost died today just to protect those around you. Now I see that you have more people to protect. I'm asking. Can you really protect them? '' Raydon locked his gaze on Dan, ignoring the other people at the table.

''What? Did the boss almost die today? ''

''Is this true what I heard, boss? ''

''Why didn't you tell us? We already know how dangerous this place is, why are you still risking your life for us? ''

At the table, both the young and the old spoke in unison, both of them expressing fear and sadness. Karan and the others who were there at the time of the incident remained silent, their heads bowed.

Dan ignored the questions others posed to him, and he mumbled, bowing his head. ''I don't know. ''

He gritted his teeth as he spoke, his eyes filled with tears. He had not expected to be asked such a direct question in this manner. It was as if, with this question, the worries he had buried deep within himself and couldn't share with anyone had bubbled to the surface.

The place where they were living was dangerous. And the world they were in was even more dangerous. Gang fights weren't their only problems.

Nobody died today thanks to Raydon, but things were different in the past and will be different in the future. He looked up with reddening eyes, remembering how crowded this place used to be. The faces of the people who should have been sitting in the empty chairs flashed before his eyes.

Dan's expression brought a sudden silence among those who witnessed it. Their previous state of happiness vanished like an illusion, and only sadness swept the area.

As everyone sank into silence and melancholy, Raydon's soothing voice rang in their ears once more.

''You are weak. So all you'll ever feel is sadness. And all you can do is put on a fake smile to hide your sorrows and worries. ''

Raydon's words cut like a knife into everyone's hearts. A few people tried to open their mouths to protest that what he was saying was nonsense, but they couldn't.

They were aware that everything he said was true. They were weak. They lacked the strength to defend what they valued, and even they themselves required protection.

Raydon watched in silence. He, too, had been weak, and there was no one to remind him of it. He also wore a mask over his face to conceal his worries. But not even that mask could keep Raydon from feeling lonely. In the end, he was the one who lost everything again.

Raydon noticed something he had never seen in his previous life as he observed everyone's depressed expressions. Everyone in this room was grateful for one another.

'Was this what I was always looking for? ' He thought to himself. He searched for his long-dead emotions somewhere inside him.

Finally, taking a deep breath, he spoke again.

''I will help you. ''

The people at the table could not make sense of Raydon's statement. They mocked him, wondering what a single person could accomplish and what he could change.

But, apart from everyone else, a light went on in the eyes of five people at the table who appeared to have given up hope. Raydon's calm, smiling face caught their attention. Their long-sought hope had been rekindled by those assured eyes.

They were aware of the impending apocalypse and knew that only the person seated in front of them had the power to prevent it.

These five people were looking at Raydon with hopeful eyes when they heard an irate voice.

''Who are you? How can you help us by yourself? How can you have the courage to come here and say these things? '' Unable to control herself, Pana stood up, slammed her hands on the table, and began yelling.

''PANA!!! ''

Dan roared with all his might. He yelled so loudly that Pana had never seen him this angry before.

''B-But he is… ''

Dan shouted again as Pana tried to speak.

''I don't want you to disrespect him again. '' Dan spoke menacingly.

He looked at the faces of the people at the table and began to speak slowly. ''He can help us. In fact, he is the only person who can help us. ''

As he watched everyone's surprised faces, he turned to Raydon and said in a trembling voice as he saw his nod.

''He can absolutely help us. Because, like our enemy, he's also an Item Holder. ''

Dan's words echoed in everyone's ears.