At the foot of Guru Mountain, early morning.
The Hunchbacked Boss had spent the night chatting with Estev in the tavern, venting his hidden discontent. The night's outpouring had eased his spirits considerably. At this moment, he felt like a young lad.
Estev was still resting in the Hunchbacked Boss's tavern, eyes half-closed, while the Hunchbacked Boss himself, already wide awake, felt no trace of sleepiness. Old age naturally made him an early riser, and furthermore, last night's cathartic conversation had left him in a state of exhilaration. The combination of these factors meant the Hunchbacked Boss felt no fatigue at all. At the same time, the mere thought that, if all went well, he could once again live freely as a Scholar filled his heart with an undeniable sense of contentment.
The only thing he found somewhat hard to part with was this small tavern. For some reason, he held a special fondness for it.
