Gartzberg Kingdom, Kripa New Town.
Dressed in casual black clothes, Douglas Bullet walked down the street.
It was a rare day off, and he was heading to his favorite dessert shop.
Ever since his comrades had betrayed him when he was eight, leaving him to escape back home gravely wounded and near death.
Bullet had shut himself off and stopped trusting anyone.
He trusted only his own strength and lived only to grow stronger.
Only the process of becoming stronger offered him any comfort.
Years of fighting on the battlefield, the loneliness within him, and that lingering trace of longing tormented the twelve-year-old boy.
They made the already taciturn Bullet even colder, leaving him with an inner anguish he had no way to vent.
Only eating desserts could ease it a little.
Inside the dessert shop, Bullet placed his order and found a seat by the window.
He sat gazing outside, then gave the server a polite nod when his dessert arrived.
Expressionless, he picked up his spoon.
He ate slowly, savoring each mouthful as silky chocolate and sweet cream filled his mouth and tantalized his taste buds.
The sweetness seemed to open a crack in his sealed heart and ease his strained nerves.
A faint sense of pleasure stirred in his mind.
In the quiet dessert shop, a fan turned gently.
With that faint pleasure brought on by the sweetness filling his mouth.
Bullet relaxed a little in his seat, and even his cold expression softened.
Until, some time later, cries from outside shattered the peace.
Bullet's expression once again warned strangers to keep their distance.
He calmly finished the last bite of cake and walked out.
He headed toward the noisy tavern a short distance ahead. He thought he had just heard the staff mention pirates...
Several