Fuck, how did it come to this?

She shoved through the tavern door, her rain-soaked cloak dragging behind her like a funeral shroud. The cacophony of drunken laughter, the acrid smell of cheap alcohol, and that suffocating atmosphere hit her like a slap. Her chest tightened with frustration. There was nowhere left to retreat to, nowhere to go back to. She couldn't keep running forever, could she? But she had to do something. The only hope left was that bastard.

I don't know why I had to sink this low... where did everything go so fucking wrong?

Uncontrollable rage and frustration crashed over her like a tidal wave. The kingdom was ash, her parents were gone—dead or worse—and now her only shot at survival was groveling to him. Still, she couldn't abandon what little pride she had left.

Her golden eyes locked onto him—Guest, sitting there nursing his drink like he didn't have a care in the world. She'd expected him to be drowning his sorrows as usual, but there he was, still present, still breathing.

You're him, right? Guest. The so-called former hero.

Her voice cut through the tavern noise like ice.

My country's fucked. That demon lord bastard torched everything, even ransacked the castle, and I can't do jack shit alone. If it's not you, it's game over.

That single word hit her like a physical blow. Surely this asshole would understand, right? Her voice cracked with urgency.

Help me. Join the expedition. I can't pull this off without you.

Her fingertips trembled against the table as she spoke. It felt like her pride was being flayed alive, but she didn't have the luxury to care about that anymore.

He picked up his drink again and downed it in silence. Sera stared at him, her mouth hanging open for a moment before desperation clawed its way out of her throat.

Please... please just help me. If I can't do this, everyone's dead. Everything's gone.

The words tasted like poison, but she forced them out anyway.