The Capital

Inside a noisy and crowded inn, several men in soldiers' attires were drinking alcohol and relaxing before their turn to patrol the city. Most of them were talking about the recent rumors they have heard during their patrols or how they screwed with one of the prostitutes during their patrol.

Why most? Because there was one among them who was completely quiet ever since he arrived here. Since the others haven't said anything to him, it seemed like they were already accustomed to his behavior.

'I can't believe it has already been 15 years since I have been born in this disgusting world. Before I was born here, I was just enjoying my old life back on Earth. Well, enjoying might be a bit too strong word but I had no bad life. I might not be experienced in what these degenerates like to talk but I never felt really the need or desire to chase after girls.' The youngest-looking man among the bunch thought while taking a sip from his mug.

'And it has been 9 years since I have arrived at this shit hole called The Capital. It was also 9 years ago when the incident that has changed my relatively quiet life happened. This world is nothing like the Earth, I was relatively aware of that when I noticed the clothes, buildings, and...well, everything. However, I never expected this world to be this rotten.' The young man thought while intensively staring into his half-empty mug as if he was looking at something completely different than others could see.

"Hey, Zero, do you need to be so gloomy every time we drink? I understand you are the youngest here but even I was screwing around with women at your age. You know what? How about all of us contribute some money to hire a high-quality prostitute for you?"

His colleague's voice woke Zero from his daydreaming. He raised his head and turned at him with a completely empty expression.

"No, thank you for the offer but I will buy one with my own money, it is a matter of pride." Zero replied, finally forming a slight smile on his face but any expert in this field would recognize it is just a forced one.

"Huh? How are you going to do that when you keep spending most of your salary on the drinks here?"

"Hahaha" Another man asked with a half-joking and half-mocking tone making everyone at the table laugh. It's not like it was funny but most of them were drunk enough to laugh at any small thing.

Zero didn't retort to his question and only lightly smiled before taking another sip.

'And why do you think I do that? If you want to fit in a rotten society filled with scums, you need to behave like one. Unfortunately, as far as acting goes, I don't plan on sticking my thing into any prostitute. I would have been capable of doing that back on Earth but who knows how many sexually transmitted diseases are out there in those women at this age.'

"Zero, you have said on your recruitment that you have grown up in the slums ever since you could remember, you even said that you don't have any relatives so how did you actually survive there?"

"Yeah, tell *hick* us some good stories! Even if they are boring, as long as we have enough beverages, we will have fun listening to you."

The others at the table also sounded their agreement and desire to hear Zero's story as he was the youngest in their group and also the most mysterious.

"Hmm...It is as you already said. I probably had some relatives but I only remember the times I had to fend for myself." Zero replied, cautiously thinking how much of a lie or truth he should disclose. He was aware that disclosing his entire story wasn't wise but to completely lie wasn't wise either so he decided to ignore the fact that he wasn't born in The Capital and only tell them about the time he spent here.

"How old were you at that time?"

Zero looked at the man who asked before answering with his lips curled up.

"Six, at that time I was six years old."

"Whoa! *hick* That must mean ya are pretty capable if ya could survive in that shitty place full of cutthroats. I can see why you were accepted despite being so young and looking so skinny." One of the guys said with a short laugh and some of his words were even hard to understand, it must have been the drunkest man among them.

"Yeah, Zero's skills are pretty average but it must have been his resourcefulness that helped him get accepted"

'What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals' Zero thought, chuckling in his mind. As his words suggested...a person under the influence of alcohol is more likely to speak out their real thoughts, rarely pulling any punches.

"Hey guys, I hate to break it to you but it is time we go out on the patrol." A man who was probably in the second place of soberness right behind Zero announced, taking his sword and tying it to his belt before getting up without wobbling in any way.

The others grunted in discontent but they followed his suit and most of them had trouble standing while half of them had to immediately sit back down before trying to stand up for the second time.

"...Maybe this was the reason Zero was accepted." The man who announced unwanted information muttered when he saw the other guards this wasted, though, it's not like it mattered since they barely had any job during the night. They weren't patrolling the slums so there was no fear of any fight breaking out plus even if a fight did break out, they didn't have to pay attention to it unless it had a noble as involved party.

'...Scums, and now I am one of them.' Zero thought while secretly glaring at them wobbling around.

'Well, it doesn't matter-' Zero pulled his black hair into a short high ponytail while only 2 side bangs reaching up to his chin remained in front.

'-as long as I can exact revenge on those scums outside.' Zero checked the status of his all weapons before getting up with a cold glint in his black eyes, following behind his scum colleagues.