War God's Contracted Marriage

First Encounter with Her

Ruth leisurely wandered through the city. The narrow alleyways he once used to escape had transformed into a bustling marketplace.

Old, rundown buildings had been replaced by towering commercial complexes. Everything felt unfamiliar, as if he were a stranger in his own hometown.

Yet, despite all the changes, the city's warmth still lingered, a quiet reminder of his past struggles.

He sampled various street foods, savoring the flavors of nostalgia, but soon became aware of the disdainful glances thrown his way.

"No matter how beautiful a place becomes, people's hearts remain the same. They judge others by appearance rather than character. Unlike the battlefield, surviving in this place is far more complicated."

As the evening settled in, he decided to head to his newly bought house. He could have gone to the mansion, but he saw no need.

"If I start living there, those old fools will pester me daily. I'd barely get a moment of peace. Best to avoid them altogether."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the business card of the taxi driver. However, he quickly remembered the phone he carried was a special one—meant only for emergencies.

"Tch, so many restrictions. I can't even use this. I need to buy a new phone and SIM, or I won’t be able to contact anyone."

Not that he had anyone to call, but he had promised the taxi driver he would reach out if he needed a ride.

He sighed. Asking a passerby for their phone wasn’t an option. Given his attire, he knew no one would lend him one.

With another sigh, he searched for the nearest shop to buy a new phone and SIM card.

A Change in Attitude

When he arrived, the shop owner barely acknowledged him, his expression filled with disdain. No one offered assistance.

But the moment Ruth purchased the most expensive phone in the store, the same owner couldn't stop showering him with flattery.

It was an amusing sight.

Ruth chuckled to himself as he muttered, "I wanted to keep a low profile, but I just can't stand being looked down on so much."

"I came to buy a cheap house but ended up spending hundreds of millions and even hiring an assistant. Now, I could have bought a simple phone, but instead, I got the latest model."

He sighed again, shaking his head. "At this rate, I’ll go mad."

Looking at his attire, he decided, "Might as well get some decent clothes. Nothing too extravagant, just a couple of thousand dollars should do."

The Clothing Store Incident

After calling the taxi driver, who cheerfully agreed to pick him up, Ruth made his way to a clothing store. Without waiting for anyone to speak, he slapped two thousand dollars onto the counter and declared, "Get me a decent outfit within this price range."

The shop owner hesitated, eyeing the amount with a conflicted expression. "Sir… how many outfits do you need? With this much, you could buy half the store."

Ruth frowned. "I just want a single outfit that looks decent enough."

The shopkeeper sighed, shaking his head. "If you’re looking for something expensive, you should go to the city center."

Ruth felt awkward. "Tch, I thought you'd look down on me like the others, so I paid first. Now, it turns out this amount is excessive. The people in this city are hard to understand."

Realizing Ruth’s dilemma, the shopkeeper smiled. "Not everyone is the same. Where there’s evil, there’s also good. For every person who looks down on others, there are those who treat people with fairness."

He continued, "Since you've come to my store, let me help you pick a decent outfit. It’ll cost only 300 dollars. You can take back the rest."

Ruth finally nodded. This mental battle was more exhausting than actual combat.

After changing into his new clothes, he finally looked presentable enough to avoid further judgment.

The Encounter in the Woods

Once the taxi arrived, Ruth gave the driver his destination.

His new house was deep in the woods, meaning he had to walk a fair distance after being dropped off.

As he made his way through the dimly lit path, a sharp scream pierced the silence—a woman’s scream.

Despite his desire to keep a low profile, he instinctively rushed toward the sound.

Upon arriving, he found a group of thugs laughing mockingly. The supposed damsel in distress smirked and sneered, "We caught a fish. Let’s see how big it is."

One of the hooligans chuckled darkly. "Came to play hero, huh? Now, who’s going to save you?"

Another thug sneered. "Hand over everything, and we’ll let you go. If not, well… we’ll take your life instead."

Ruth was speechless.

It wouldn’t take him a minute to deal with these people, yet he found himself reluctant.

Rather than waste time, he decided to just throw some cash their way and be done with it.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out $1,700 and tossed it toward them. "This is all I have. Just take it and don’t bother me."

The woman, who had been acting as bait, frowned. "Oh my, how could we let such a big fish escape? Since you parted with that much so easily, you must have more to offer."

She turned to the thugs. "Tie him up and take everything he has."

The goons smirked, closing in on him.

They had no idea they had just provoked the wrong person.

Ruth was about to act when—

A crisp, melodic voice interrupted.

"You people are the reason this city is rotting."

A stunning young woman, barely in her twenties, stood between him and the hooligans.

The thugs roared with laughter. "And what’s this? A little girl playing hero?"

The young woman scoffed, then turned to the middle-aged woman. "Aren’t you ashamed of using that pathetic act to lure men?"

The older woman’s face twisted in rage. "Kill her! No matter what, make sure she doesn’t leave alive!"

The hooligans drew their weapons and charged at the young lady.

Ruth remained silent, watching her fight.

"Tch. What am I doing? Hiding behind a young woman?"

Yet, before he could make a move, she had already dealt with them—swift, precise, and merciless.

She turned to Ruth and said calmly, "You’re safe now. Go home."

Ruth stood there, momentarily stunned.

Her beauty, her voice, her deep and serene eyes…

Without thinking, he muttered, "Your name?"

As she walked away, she murmured, "Melina."

Her name echoed in his ears long after she disappeared.

Ruth snapped back to reality, shaking his head.

"Tch. What was that? Since when do I get distracted by a girl?"

Then, he frowned, deep in thought.

"She knew martial arts. I never expected to find a martial artist outside the battlefield. It seems the wise sage was right after all."

He recalled the old man’s parting words before he left the battlefield:

"The world is full of mysteries. The battlefield was your home, but the outside world is uncharted territory. Be wary of the unknowns. I only hope the War God can finally enjoy life beyond war."

With those words lingering in his mind, Ruth continued his walk toward his new home.