Arc 1 (The Arrival) Part 1

At that time, it was a bright day, just like any other day. People went about their day, engaging in various activities, both alone and with others. No one suspected that a great event, the greatest in history, would occur within minutes. Something that would ultimately change the entire order of the world, reconstruct it from the beginning, and create a new world, vastly different from what we have experienced so far.

I was just an ordinary teenager, recently graduated from high school and currently searching for a job to pay for my own tuition or at least lighten the burden on my parents.

Step by step, I moved forward, trying to get through the day despite the heavy burden on my shoulders, feeling the urge to surrender and lie down, allowing the tranquility of sleep to take over, enveloping me from the cruelty of the world, providing the unparalleled comfort that, honestly, I needed so much.

But, of course, I couldn't give up. My parents haven't given up either, even though they have lived much longer and faced much more hardships than what I feel. Giving up? How weak would my mentality be if such thoughts arose within me?

That's humanity, having so many weaknesses, weaknesses hidden behind the mask of wealth and happiness. Why wealth? Who doesn't need money? Only those with thick wallets claim that money doesn't bring happiness. If only they could experience what I'm feeling now, they would realize that their money, which they consider incapable of bringing happiness, is actually the source of comfort they currently enjoy.

Sigh... What's the point of complaining like this? It doesn't mean they would understand. Our lives are too distant for them to comprehend. It's better for me to focus on my own life and keep moving forward rather than thinking about unimportant things.

Unbeknownst to me, I had arrived in front of the Cafe, glancing left and right to ensure I wasn't in the wrong place, while also assessing the situation. What's the point, you say? Just consider it a habit of men to assess the situation in case something bad happens, even if you're in the safest place in the world.

The door opened, pushing a small bell above it, producing a beautiful and melodious sound that caught the attention of the Cafe employee. She was operating the coffee machine with a focused gaze, as if creating a masterpiece before her concentration was disturbed, resulting in a slight mistake that made her click his tongue in annoyance.

Her long black hair swayed as she walked, placing a cup of coffee on the table, observing it for a moment, presumably searching for any mistakes to correct. In less than two seconds, he nodded satisfactorily, then turned her attention to me with a pair of eyes as blue as the ocean, an eye color that should be very rare, especially in this country.

"Can I help you?" she asked, making me slightly surprised to hear a voice as sweet as honey.

"I'm sorry to disturb your time. Is it true that Cafe Corner is currently looking for new employees? As a waiter," I replied, without taking my eyes off her mesmerizing gaze.

She nodded, briefly observing me (perhaps evaluating my appearance? I don't know), then nodded decisively. "Yup, you're the person we're looking for. However, before that, do you have any experience in the service industry?"

"Of course, also as a waiter, for about a year," I replied briefly, hearing the commotion in the distance, which I guessed was due to a small problem. It's common in this country.

"Ohhh, that's good! Hhh, I'm really tired, constantly putting on a friendly face for people who come here with the same reason, thinking they can get hired just because of their looks. I mean, it's true that one of the attractions of Cafe Corner is their employees, but it doesn't mean you can get a job just because you're handsome or beautiful without any experience," she complained while shaking his head, remembering those annoying memories.

I wasn't surprised to hear that, especially in this day and age where many people think that being famous on the internet means you can do anything. Especially here at CC (Cafe Corner). The cafe is one of the best cafes, and several movies have used the cafe as their background, so they want to maintain that reputation.

Unfortunately, before she could say anything, outside, people were running around hysterically, screaming in fear. It was evident from their faces every time they looked back, trying to escape from something.

I walked out, pushing the door and making the bell ring again, quickly dodging as a man in his mid-thirties almost bumped into me while running and continuously looking back.

In the distance, an unfamiliar roar could be heard, a roar that made the whole ground shake so strongly it felt like it would shatter eardrums. However, as someone who loves things with a touch of fantasy, I ran in the opposite direction, trying to find the source of that roar, trying to find out if this was just a dream or reality.

At that moment, I didn't know what was good and what wasn't. Life felt too monotonous with the same cycle. Honestly, I was fed up. But if this is reality, the reality that I could die quickly just because of a small mistake...

Wait, is that bad?

I guess not, of course not! That's so much better!

At least I die while living an extraordinary adventure instead of living a miserable life without any challenges. The challenges I've always wanted! The ones I've been searching for! This is my calling! Starting a new chapter of life!

I ran to find it, my heart beating uncontrollably, whether out of fear or the adrenaline that started to flow rapidly, making my body feel light.

A car sped by, making a sharp turn, unfortunately causing the car to flip and crash towards me. If I had been a little late in dodging, I would have died right there, dead without knowing the truth, dead without experiencing the dreams I've longed for!

Unbeknownst to me, I had already jumped high, avoiding the car that had now crashed into a building. I hope the driver is okay, although the chances of a human surviving after being thrown around in a metal box on wheels like that are small.

I landed safely as if I had just jumped as usual, like a human.

Surprised? Panicked? Proud?

I don't know what I'm feeling right now, but one thing I know is that I just escaped the door of death. Can you imagine that? Avoiding the door of death! Only people with a high level of luck can do that!

Without waiting any longer, I ran again.

The streets were no longer as crowded as before, gradually becoming empty until only one or two people remained, whom I guessed were the last humans in this area besides me, standing right in the middle of the road, frozen, watching the figure in front of me, a figure I had only seen in movies, comics, or as illustrations. That creature was now right in front of me, partially hidden behind the smoke. But those wide and majestic wings couldn't lie.

It roared again, exerting immense pressure that made the ground tremble as if an earthquake was occurring. I tried to hold on, but in the end, I fell backward, immobilized and unable to do anything as the creature took a step forward, creating a powerful thunderous sound with each footfall.

Ah, what a magnificent creature. I would have no regrets dying after witnessing it, observing a legendary, mythical being that I never thought I would see with my own eyes.

It looked at me with a pair of hazel reptilian eyes, sharp and intimidating. As its mouth opened, revealing a glowing orange light from within, I thought to myself, this is it, the moment for me to leave this world.

But...

"What are you doing?!"

At the same time as the eruption of fire, someone stood in front of me, tightly gripping a large shield no less magnificent than the dragon's wings.

The flames struck, spreading in all directions, unable to penetrate the strong defense of the silver shield. I couldn't make out the figure that had saved my life due to the brightness of the light generated by the battle in front of me, until suddenly my body was lifted up into the air.

A pair of hands held me under my arms, lifting me high above and carrying me away from the battlefield where three individuals descended from a skyscraper to confront the dragon alongside the shield bearer, a figure I never expected to be the owner of that magnificent shield.

The cafe employee!