My thoughts were abruptly shattered, and my attention snapped back to the young boy. With each passing second, his complexion grew paler.

  Meanwhile, the woman, deeply engrossed in her heated argument with the drunken man over the person he had cruelly labeled an Omega, appeared utterly oblivious to the boy's deteriorating condition.

  I thought she was logical, yet I was wrong. As soon as the green-haired man left, she only further aggravated the ogre-like man, hurling insults at him recklessly.

  The townspeople, mere spectators, watched in silence, gripped by fear. None dared to intervene, fearing the ogre-like man's wrath might turn upon them.

  It was a tragic reflection of human nature: the instinct to avoid pain at all costs, a primal fear of being hurt.

  This, in turn, dredged up painful memories of that fateful day when I pleaded for my sister's life.

  I was taken aback as the young boy stared directly at me. His eyes pleaded like a puppy, begging for the return of the object I had picked.

  'What kind of ailment could cause such suffering for him? Regardless, I knew I had to help.'

  In the middle of this conflict, a battle between a lion and an ogre, I cautiously approached the young boy and offered him his medicine.

  "...Thank you..." he whispered, his gratitude conveyed through a feeble smile, despite his battle with pain.

  It was at that precise moment that the other two, the lion and the ogre, finally became aware of my presence.

  "Kid, I appreciate your help, but this is a dangerous place. Where are your parents?" The woman questioned me with concern.

  I could only let out an "Ah" when the young boy unexpectedly leaned on me. He was much taller and heavier, making it a struggle to support his weight and remain steady. Yet, witnessing his agonized expression, with sweat forming on his forehead, I summoned all my strength to hold him up and gently patted his back.

  "Rest... everything will be alright."

  It was a phrase I had borrowed from the man I had always dreamed of—words he often repeated.

  I could sense the young boy's breath gradually calming, and the intense, sweet fragrance that had enveloped him began to fade.

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  'What could it be?' I wondered.

  "You did a great job, kid. Now, we just need to make sure he gets some rest at the Frost Inn."

  The woman offered a slight smile before tousling my hair playfully.

  "It's strange," she remarked, "this young boy was quite resistant when I tried to hold him, but with you, he seems much more at ease."

  "Hey, woman! You dare to ridicule me? You want to be beaten up, huh?! Hic, hand over that omega if you don't want to get hurt."

  This man emitted false bravado, unaware that a single punch from the woman could make him unconscious. It baffled me why some drunken individuals always sought confrontation, engaging in such foolish behavior.

  The woman clicked her tongue, her fingers curling into a menacing fist. "Try me," she retorted, her confidence and eerie smugness etched across her face.

  Even though I wasn't quite sure what this 'omega' thing meant, the way the man spoke and the tone he used made it painfully obvious that he was insulting the young boy, treating him as if he were nothing more than a disposable tool. People like that, who belittle others and underestimate them, were the ones I couldn't stand. His condescending look, assuming we were weak...

  'Congratulations, you made my blood boil.'

  The ogre-like man abruptly ceased his attempts, his gaze fixed on me. I noticed his body jerk back, a slight tremor running through him as if he were suddenly afraid of something.

  "W-w-what? What's with your eyes, kid?" he stammered.

  Perplexed, my brows furrowed as I thought, 'What is he talking about?' I simply glared at him.

  The woman, too, turned her attention towards me and then abruptly flinched.

  I couldn't comprehend their reactions. I felt confused. Why were they afraid? It was abundantly clear how much weaker I was compared to them.

  "This little child dares to frighten me? The mighty Barbarus scared of a tiny insect?!" His voice, filled with disbelief, trembled slightly, mirroring his hulking frame. "Do you dare insult me like those damn alphas?!!!"

  Suddenly, the ogre-like man lunged, attempting to crush me and the young boy with his enormous hands, each one the size of my head. The crimson-haired woman swiftly shielded us with her body and was poised to counter the attack with her fist.

  However, they all halted, their actions frozen by the eerie chill that emanated from a voice full of command.

  "Stop."

  We stood there, petrified and afraid, as if trapped on a frozen mountaintop, surrounded by the haunting melody of a solitary woman's eerie song.

  Arwin, in his youthful form, advanced toward us with an air of elegance and quiet authority. His long strands of hair, resembling silver moonlight, glistened in the darkness, giving off an otherworldly nobility.

  Strangely, I noticed how the woman gasped in shock upon seeing Arwin, and she suddenly froze in place, her eyes locked on the ground, blinking repeatedly.

  I couldn't help but wonder, 'Is she terrified?'

  "What's this other kid doing here? You want a taste of my fist, huh?!"

  Arwin turned his gaze toward the owner of the gruff voice and calmly retorted, "Your ugliness has marred this festival. Perhaps it's best if you keep your mouth shut and go home."

  Arwin's unexpectedly blunt words only fueled the ogre-like man's rage further. His thick brows drew closer together, and the veins on his face bulged, making him appear even uglier.

  As the insults continued, the simmering volcano within him grew more violent, desiring to obliterate everything in its path.

  With a furious snarl, the ogre-like man reached for the enormous axe strapped to his back, intent on slicing Arwin in half and anyone else in his way.

  In this tense and fearsome situation, I found myself strangely unafraid. After witnessing all that had transpired during my short stay, I could tell that Arwin was immensely strong, incomparably more powerful than this man.

  However, Arwin remained utterly still, not averting his gaze or blinking, even as the blade drew dangerously close to his head.

  "ARWIN!!!" I cried out desperately. 'What is he doing?'

  Arwin simply gazed at me with a smile. In the very next moment, a familiar figure appeared between them, wearing an unusually gleeful expression.

  "You're late," Arwin scolded irritably.

  "I apologize, brother," Leonard replied, casually holding the blade of the axe with his bare hands as if it were a trivial matter.

  The ogre-like man attempted to retract his weapon, but it was too late. In a mere moment, Leonard had reduced the axe to nothing more than crumbled metal with a mere pinch. The man was on the verge of shouting, but before he could, a sword appeared in Leonard's hand, still in its scabbard. Without any hesitation, Leonard tapped the ogre-like man's head.

  I heard an unsettling crack, and in an instant, the man fell unconscious, pitifully defeated.

  My jaw hung open in disbelief.

  These siblings were unimaginably powerful.

  'Who have I just become acquainted with?'