Seven-year-old Erza was currently at the very bottom of the Tower of Paradise.
Today was her second day here. Yesterday, just after she had been brought in, several ill-intentioned men had tried to drag her into a corner with lecherous grins. Faced with the sudden situation, young Erza had been at a complete loss, with no idea how to resist.
At that critical moment, an old man named Rob had stepped forward. He had glared furiously at those sinister men and shouted at them, then quickly driven them far away. Afterward, Rob gently took Erza's slightly trembling hand and led her to the place where he rested.
When Rob brought Erza over, she discovered that, besides him, there was also a blue-haired boy here.
The boy stared at Erza with wide, curious eyes, as if he were extremely interested in this newly arrived companion. However, Erza was still completely immersed in panic and fear, and did not notice that the boy was watching her.
Erza had lost her parents when she was very young. She could only survive with the occasional assistance and aid of her neighbors. Yesterday, while walking alone along the road, Erza had suddenly blacked out without warning and collapsed unconscious. When she woke again, she was horrified to discover that she was on an overcrowded ship.
The ship was packed with people, including adults and children around her age. Everyone wore a different expression. Some looked terrified, while others appeared numb. Erza simply curled up in a corner in a daze, her mind blank and confused, with no idea what would happen next.
The ship gave Erza no time to think. After bringing everyone aboard here, it left. Then they were roughly taken to a place on the bottom level where they could rest temporarily. There