The Laughing Swordsman

Willow smiled.

"So what if I am an outsider?"

Seth was silent.

Willow's hand wrapped around the hilt of her knife and was about to pull it out.

Seth suddenly spoke.

"Nothing, really."

Seth threw his hands to the side, gesturing helplessly. Willow's hand froze.

"What do you mean nothing?"

Seth took his time to gather his thoughts.

"...We were all outsiders before."

Willow raised an eyebrow.

"Could you be a tad more clear?"

Seth sighed.

"When the village was originally created, people from all across the lands were gathered. Hardly anybody knew each other and everyone was suspicious of one another."

Willow tilted her head.

"So how did that change?"

Seth tapped a finger on the table.

"How do you think a village like this could be made? One that is so peaceful?"

Willow rested her chin on her fist.

"...I don't know."

Seth's voice became solemn.

"Absolute power."

Willow raised her eyebrow.

"...What?"

Seth smiled.

"The Earth Emperor."

Willow's eyes narrowed.

"He is here?"

Seth laughed.

"Yes, he is the one who made nearly everything. He made the greenhouse, the houses, and even the utensils we are using right now."

Willow slowly nodded.

"That does seem possible if it's him."

Seth sighed.

"I don't know what your intentions are or how you got in, but if you can respect the people here, there will be no qualms for your stay here. This is a lesson the people of the village have come to understand."

Willow scoffed.

"You guys sound rather trusting."

Seth shrugged his shoulders.

"Haha, I did have the consideration to keep quiet and report you to The Earth Emperor."

Willow crossed her arms.

"Oh really?"

Seth chuckled.

"Yeah, but whatever your intentions are, you helped Apollo, one of our own. For that, I am willing to trust you."

Willow rolled her eyes.

"That is all it takes for you to trust me? A rat is going to sneak in sooner or later."

Seth smirked.

"You can't distrust everybody. Otherwise, your life will become quite miserable."

Willow's face became expressionless.

She was lost in her thoughts.

After a few moments, she shook her head.

"I don't understand."

Seth waved his hand dismissively.

"Some things are only truly learned by experiencing them."

Seth looked out the window of the restaurant. The sun was beginning to set.

"It's getting late and I have some duties to attend to. I must leave now."

Seth stood up from the seat and walked forwards a few steps, then turned his head back.

"See you later."

Willow stared at Seth.

"Goodbye."

With that, Seth walked out of the restaurant.

Willow was left at the table, stroking Apollo's hair.

She remained there as people slowly funneled out.

At some point, Willow was the only person left at a table. The sun had set and the only light came from some candles in the establishment.

A middle-aged man approached Willow.

He had a plastic cover on his hair and a brown apron on. In one hand was a glass cup and in the other had a cloth. He was the restaurant owner.

The restaurant owner coughed.

"Excuse me miss? It is quite late, do you have somewhere to go?"

Willow looked out the window.

"Ah, it is quite late. Sorry to be a bother."

The restaurant owner laughed.

"You aren't a bother, you could even stay if you'd like. I just thought you might need to be somewhere."

Willow bitterly smiled to herself.

"In that case could I stay here a little longer?"

The restaurant owner pulled out a seat and sat down at the table.

"Sure, want to talk about anything?"

Willow thought to herself for a moment.

"...What were you like before you came to the village?"

The restaurant owner slapped his knee.

"Haha, I was a real piece of work back then. If I ever saw that loser I would punch him right in the face."

Willow laughed.

"That sounds intriguing."

The restaurant owner shrugged his shoulders.

"It's not that amazing of a story. Sorry if I got your hopes up."

The corner of Willow's lip turned up.

"Let me hear it anyway."

The restaurant owner scratched the back of his head.

"Where I used to live, food wasn't readily available. My situation wasn't too bad as there was enough for me to live relatively comfortably."

He then sighed.

"But that wasn't enough for me. I never felt that I had enough, so I stole from others."

The restaurant owner leaned back in his seat and looked at the ceiling.

"I stole from anyone I could. Even those that could barely feed themselves."

He crossed his arms.

"I... even killed someone just for a loaf of bread. What's worse, is that most of the food ended up spoiling, yet I didn't give it out before it did."

Willow sighed.

"It's what we do to survive, no?"

The restaurant owner pressed his lips into a line.

"But I let food rot away behind my cupboards while everyone else was starving."

Willow scoffed.

"If you gave it away, people would come back for more. Some would even attack you, thinking you had something worth stealing."

The restaurant owner smiled bitterly.

"Maybe..."

He then shook his head.

"Haha, that's why I decided to work at this place for the rest of my life. Me being here won't save any lives, but I hope to make things just a little bit easier."

The restaurant owner took a deep breath.

"Maybe then some of my guilt will go away and I can atone for my sins."

Willow rested her chin on her hand and smiled bitterly.

"Do you think I could change as well?"

The restaurant owner shrugged his shoulders with a small smile on his face.

"Everyone can change. Hopefully, it will be for the better."

Willow sighed.

"Haha, I suppose. Thanks for the talk, I will be leaving now."

Willow stood up from the table, holding on to Apollo closely.

Apollo was sleeping like a rock and mumbled in his sleep.

The restaurant owner waved his hand with a big smile on his face.

"You can talk to me anytime, no need for the thanks. Take care of that kid as well."

Willow nodded, then left the establishment.