"When was the last time you talked to Roland?"

"Err, that was around...  after I left for university?" Master stares at me like I'm the world's biggest failure. "C-Come on! I have my reason! What normal person maintains contact with a family that hates them!?"

In a very expected and humiliating turn, being resented is a given thing especially with my mixed birth, so it was natural for the Richter Clan to view me with disgust. My uncle was a witness to their terrible treatment, and in those moments, not once did he try to actively defend me. With no one by my side, my grandfather decides that throwing me away was the best course of action. So, I sold almost everything at my disposal and moved to Cathures. Until recently, I've managed to apply for permanent citizenship. It seems like I won't be going anywhere for now.

"He doesn't hate you, you know. He willingly asked for my help to keep watch on you. One of these days, someone between the two of you has to break the ice eventually. Just don't do that at my bar." True, it's no secret how my uncle asked for Master's favor to help me find my grip in life. A part of me agrees with Master's suggestion, but my other bitter half couldn't forget the pain of being completely ignored by my own family member. 

"It's great that you can live independently," Master continues his explanation from the storage, his voice slightly muffled due to distance. "But my worries about your life rapidly increase like wildfire seasons in Eastern Eurus."

"My life has been doing great so far." 

"Are you?" Master returns to the bar donning an unamused face. "You washed your curtains after two months of abandoning it. You were able to buy a new sofa after months of saving your paycheck. You encountered a drunkard and nearly died by his hands because he kept pushing you to the river. Your house was nearly robbed. All of this and you consider yourself doing great?"

"I... Uh..." 

Alright, maybe not that great. Neither of these stories seems realistic enough to happen, but it’s the truth. All of that actually happened. "My, uh, luck is pretty insane if you ask me." But can you really call it luck when crazy things are bound to happen to you, and yet you survived all of them? 

Maybe this is the karmic result of carrying my human ancestors' mistakes. 

“I know it’s too late for me to ask this, but are you really okay?” Any normal person probably would be worried about my condition, so I understand where Master’s concern came from.

"I'm fine! Nothing I can't handle!" I have to end this talk quickly otherwise he won't stop yapping about it. 

"Try listening to the wise words from this cookie I got from an acquaintance!" A man with a body as rough as his voice enters the fray, but what he's holding betrays his overall intimidating appearance. 

Gah, packed crowd we're having today.