Humans, when all was said and done, were an exceedingly indifferent species. Most greetings between their own kind amounted to nothing more than empty pleasantries. Even when strangers encountered obvious hardship and suffering, let alone stepping forward to lend a hand, many people considered even sparing them a glance or asking a question unnecessary. Such scenes were common whether at noble banquets or pauper feasts. The boisterous and those who drank silently would naturally divide themselves into two groups, as if they were creatures from entirely different worlds, never interfering with one another...
The low-profile man drinking alone in the tavern at that very moment was one such person.
But there were always exceptions, weren't there? In fact, even out of nothing more than pure curiosity, girls were occasionally willing to chat with "strange people" who were mature, charming, handsome, and generous with their money. And once a conversation carried even a hint of "sympathy," so-called "concern" was not difficult to find.
Yes, sometimes a simple question could count as an expression of "concern," opening up worlds that had once been isolated from one another. The dejected young man, who clearly had not expected a tavern waitress to ask why he was not going home, also evidently had not expected to receive such nostalgically precious "concern" in a place crawling with drunks. It truly was...
Insignificant.
"My name is Ganatica. As you can see, I am merely a homeless man, a failure with nothing left. The winter night is far too lonely and cold, so I came to this tavern to seek the companionship of 'noise'... Do not worry about my health, beautiful miss. A little strong liquor is nothing to me."
Sure enough, this youth drinking in the corner of an ordinary tavern was Ganatica, the "avenger" who had