As I patrolled the city, my eyes never stopped moving.

  It wasn't just my strength. Even my five senses far exceeded those of an ordinary human. This was yet another one of my secrets.

  Because of this, I had suffered from noisy sounds and strong smells when I was young. But, surprisingly, one gets used to it. Now, I can naturally filter out any information I don't need.

  The weight of a person's luggage, the slowness of their gait, a flickering gaze, the tone of a voice. Any tiny change could be a sign of an "abnormality."

  ...But today was different.

  (...What am I thinking? I can't concentrate...)

  It happened the very instant that thought crossed my mind.

  —The sound of wind being sliced.

  My body reacted on instinct, twisting in a fsh. But I was a fraction too te.

  "Ugh...!"

  A sharp pain shot through my side. I felt something pierce through the fabric of my clothes. Looking down, I saw a dagger on the ground. It didn't seem to be poisoned, but the bde was stained crimson with my blood.

  I scanned the area immediately. A shadow leaped out from behind a market stall.

  A disciplined, trained movement. Blending into the crowd, the figure lunged straight for me—a clear enemy.

  "Ray!" Kyle’s voice rang out.

  (I was distracted...!)

  "Watch my back!"

  I drew my sword with a shout, cshing head-on with the foe. The ring of steel on steel echoed as the pain in my side began to spread. My breathing grew shallow, and my thoughts threatened to fragment.

  The opponent's swordsmanship was sharp and seasoned. Between that and the surprise attack, I had my hands full just defending myself.

  (...No. My mind is still stuck in yesterday.)

  Those words.

  Those eyes.

  They still wouldn't leave my mind.

  —Even so, I cannot retreat.

  There are citizens in this city. There is the irrepceable daily life of this country, ruled by the Queen.

  The things I must protect are certainly here.

  "Hah!"

  I swung my sword with every ounce of my strength. My opponent's weapon was parried away, and their stance crumbled. Not missing the opening, I drove a punch into them and smmed them into the ground with a knee strike.

  "...Don't move."

  The enemy groaned, ceasing all movement as if they had given up.

  The pain in my side fred up again, but even that felt distant now.