The next morning, I woke up with a long, drawn-out yawn, stretching my arms as I sat up on the old, creaky bed.
"Man… that was the best sleep I've had in a while," I muttered to myself.
The room was still dim, dusty, and rundown. Cobwebs in the corners, cracks in the wall, and a faint smell of mold lingering in the air—but I didn't care. I had been so exhausted yesterday that none of this had mattered. I had hit the bed and blacked out within seconds.
I got up and rubbed my face, then washed quickly using the small basin and bucket in the corner. After cleaning myself up, I made my way downstairs, but when I reached the reception, I noticed something odd. No one was there. Not a single person manned the front desk.
"Eh… guess I'll just leave," I said, shrugging and walking out into the street.
The morning city air hit me as I stepped out. The streets were already coming to life. People bustled about, shouting deals from behind wooden carts, food sizzling in large pans on the street corners, children running around with bread or fruit in hand. It looked like a typical busy market morning.
I walked aimlessly, letting my nose lead the way, following the flow of people heading toward the city's more crowded area. Soon, I found myself in a proper marketplace. There were lines of buildings that looked like shops, some even resembling small corporate offices. But what caught my attention wasn't the crowd, nor the architecture.
It was the smell.
Out of nowhere, a mouthwatering scent hit me. My eyes widened, and my stomach growled in response. It wasn't just good. It was heavenly—juicy, meaty, spiced to perfection. My mouth started to drool uncontrollably.
"Whoooa… what the hell is that smell?" I muttered, my feet already moving on their own.
I followed the scent like a possessed beast—my nose twitching, head turning at every corner like I was chasing prey. Eventually, I reached a small, old, nearly forgotten-looking restaurant squeezed between two bigger buildings. The walls were chipped, the windows slightly cracked, and a wooden board above the door hung crookedly.
It didn't look fancy.
In fact, it looked like it had been abandoned a few times.
But this was where the smell came from.
I stepped inside.
There were only four tables in the whole restaurant. Two of them were already occupied by people who seemed to be quietly eating and minding their own business. It was silent—no music, no noise, just the faint sound of sizzling from the back and the soft creak of the wooden floor under my feet.
As I looked around, someone walked up to me.
And holy hell—I was stunned.
The person approaching me was a mature woman. And not just any woman—she was drop-dead gorgeous. Her body was curvy, her waist slim, and her chest… well, let's just say the brown dress she wore barely held her in. Her hips swayed naturally as she walked, even though her clothing was modest. The dress wasn't revealing, but there was a very slight hint of cleavage peeking through—and that tiny detail was enough to steal my attention for a second.
Her face, though dirt-smudged and tired-looking, had the kind of beauty that stayed with you. Big brown eyes, soft lips, and a natural blush in her cheeks. She looked poor—very poor, in fact. Her dress was worn out, with small tears and faded fabric, and her hair was slightly messy. But still, she walked with grace and kindness.
And in her hand, she carried the plate—the source of the smell that had brought me here.
Before I could even say anything, she hesitantly asked, "Sir… are you here for food?"
Her voice was sweet—like soft honey on a cold day. It caught me off guard, and I almost didn't notice it the first time because my entire attention was still on the food she held.
She tried again, this time nervously. "S-sir… are you here for food?"
I snapped back to reality and nodded.
She smiled just a little and motioned toward an empty table. I sat down without hesitation.
She approached again and politely asked, "What would you like to order, sir?"
My eyes were still glued to the plate in her hand. I couldn't look away from that juicy, mouthwatering piece of meat.
"I want… that," I said, pointing at her plate. "Whatever that is. Give me five of those!"
She blinked in surprise. "Five…? That's quite a lot, sir."
She looked like she didn't believe me at first, maybe wondering if I was joking or just mad with hunger. But I was dead serious, and my gaze stayed locked on her plate.
"…Alright, sir," she said softly. "That's my specialty—steak, medium roast. I'll bring you one to start and prepare the rest."
She placed one steak in front of me and went back into the kitchen.
I picked the steak with my bear hands and took a bite.
The moment I took the first bite—my world stopped.
The steak melted in my mouth. Juices flowed over my tongue. The flavor was deep, rich, and perfectly seasoned. It was soft but had a beautiful seared edge. I closed my eyes and let out a small sound of pure joy.
"This… this is heaven," I mumbled as I stuffed another bite into my mouth.
Soon she returned with two more steaks and smiled when she saw my plate already empty. I nodded in appreciation, and she left again to bring the final two.
When I was finally done, I leaned back in my chair, patting my full belly.
"Damn… that was better than anything I've ever had," I whispered.
I got up, planning to go shopping for some clothes afterward. I needed something better fitting for this world. As I reached for my coin pouch to pay at the counter, the peaceful mood shattered.
SLAM!
The door burst open.
Four rough-looking men walked in—thugs. Their boots were loud, their expressions nasty.
The biggest one stepped forward and shouted, "Everyone get the fuck out! The Black Wolf Gang is here for business!"
The two other customers scrambled out, terrified. The woman—Bella, I overheard her name later—stood frozen. Her fingers began to twitch nervously as she stared at the thugs.
I stood still. I just wanted to pay and leave.
But one of the men stepped up to the counter and growled, "Bella! Where's the protection fee? Or should we burn this little dump down?"
Bella looked terrified. She dropped to her knees and held out a small coin pouch with trembling hands.
"Please… I only have twenty copper. Please take it… that's all I have…"
Her voice cracked. Her face looked pale. Her hands shook as she offered the pouch.
I could feel her fear. I could see her pain. That twenty copper was probably all her savings—and now she was begging just to keep her place safe.
I turned away. I wasn't a hero. I was just a hungry traveler who ate some good food.
So I began to walk to the exit, ready to leave.
But one of the thugs stepped in front of the door and blocked it.
"Hey, bastard. You didn't leave when I told you to. Now it's two copper to walk out."
My brows furrowed. My fists clenched.
This body I was in—my human form—it had a temper. And this crap was pissing me off.
I said nothing.
The man lifted his hand to slap me.
"You pay up now, you little bastard—!"
I grabbed his wrist mid-swing.
Crunch. his hand twisted in Strange manner
The sound echoed in the silent restaurant. Bella gasped. The other thugs froze.
Another goon stepped up. "You're messing with the wrong gang, freak! You're gonna pay ten copper now for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong."
He stepped closer, glaring.
"You dare disrespect the Black Wolf Gang?" he spat.
The name made something boil in my blood.
"Black Wolf Gang?" I repeated slowly, voice low.
"You dare use the name 'Wolf' and soil it? You insult my race," I growled.
The thug laughed. "What are you, a dog or something? Offended because we use your little puppy name?"
He laughed louder. "I'm the leader of the Bla—"
BOOM.
My fist connected with his face. His head exploded—literally. Bone, blood, and brain splattered across the wall like a smashed watermelon. His body dropped like a sack of meat.
The thug whose wrist I still held fainted from pure shock, so I let him fall to the floor.
The remaining two dropped to their knees instantly.
"P-please! Don't kill us! We want to live! Please!" they begged, eyes wide with terror.
My eyes glowed red and gold for a moment. and i said
"Be. Quiet."
They went completely silent, their mouths shut tight. Not a breath, not a whimper.
I turned to Bella, who was staring at the mess with her hands over her mouth.
I scratched the back of my head, a little embarrassed.
"Uh… sorry about the mess. I lost my temper."
I glanced around at the blood, broken tables, and the ruined body lying near the wall.
"Anyway, how much do I owe for the five steaks? I'll pay and help clean this place. It's the least I can do."
Bella just stood there, speechless.
And so… the morning that started with steak ended in blood.
Just another day in this new world.