Seven days after leaving home, they arrive at a certain village in the country of Hanran.
A beautiful, majestic, small village. The center of the village is a large cobblestone circle around which there are houses and roads leading to different districts of the village. In the middle of the large circle, there is a beautiful fountain from which water spurts from the top. On the sides of the circle, by the buildings, there are stalls set up with various items. The air is warm and the sun shines radiantly. In the background, the chirping of birds and the conversations of people can be heard.
Mafin sighs.
*Mafin: Just look at this village, I haven't been here in a long time.
*Nothing has changed, it's still beautiful.
One of the buildings around the center is a tavern, which looks like a large barn.
Everyone enters the tavern.
In the tavern, straight ahead is a bar, where you can sit and have a drink. To the right of the bar, there are stairs that lead upstairs. Behind the bar is a kitchen, from which the smells of freshly prepared dishes are coming. On the upper floor, above the kitchen, guest rooms are located. In front of the rooms, there is a narrow hallway with a railing, from which you can see the entire tavern. On the sides of the main hall, large tables with connected benches are arranged, creating cozy spots for feasting. In the background, loud melodies can be heard, played by musicians somewhere in the back of the tavern.
Everyone sits at one table on the left side.
Desu opens the menu.
*Desu: I wonder if they have dumplings.
Mafin opens the menu.
*Mafin: I wonder if they have tea.
Jigoku makes a reluctant face.
*Jigoku: I wonder if they have doctors.
Suddenly, Jigoku and the others hear a conversation of several men at the next table.
*Men: Did you hear who joined Kagura?
*Who? – asks one of them.
*SHISO. – replies firmly, with a frightened voice.
*Shiso? Are you sure?
*Isn't that the one who wiped out his own clan?
Jigoku lays his arm on the backrest and turns his head toward them while sitting.
*Jigoku: Sorry, I accidentally overheard…
*What is Kagura, if I may ask?
The men look at him in disbelief, shocked.
*Men: You really don't know?
*It's the famous sect known all over the world.
*You wouldn't want to meet them, kid…
*Jigoku: Sect? And what do they do?
The men are surprised, full of fear and awe.
*Men: It's a group of people—if you can even call them that—that numbers a few to a dozen members.
*All of them are real nutcases, I don't know where such people come from.
*At their head stands someone called Zeroth.
*Nobody knows what their goal is, at least we don't.
*Each of them is unique and powerful.
*Nobody knows what they're capable of, but everyone fears them, because no one has survived an encounter with them. At least I've never heard of anyone. If they target someone, it's over for them.
*They wear gloves on their hands, it's their trademark. On the gloves is a symbol of a reaching hand, as if it's reaching for you, as if it's reaching for your soul.
*Even the thought of it is terrifying.
*They are exceptionally brutal, as if sheer brutality created them. – he says, terrified.
*Jigoku: Alright, and this Shiso? Who is that?
Jigoku grimaces in thought.
*Jigoku: Honestly, I don't even know why I asked, I don't care anyway…
*Men: He's a real monster and the last of a cursed family of assassins.
*He wiped out his own clan and keeps on killing.
*Swear to God, I wouldn't want to meet him or any of those devils! – he shouts.
The man stands up in terror, with tears in his eyes.
*Swear to God! – he shouts.
*Jigoku: I'll remember that, thank you, gentlemen.
Jigoku turns back to the table and leans on it with his elbows.
*Jigoku: I wonder what kind of douchebags these are… Kagura… Honestly, sick name. It'd be awesome to be in a group like that… All badasses… Fuck…
After a moment Jigoku sees, on the other side of the tavern, two people playing cards.
One person is dressed in black, armor-like clothing, which appears richly decorated with golden elements and delicate, intricate details that give it a majestic and almost royal look. Over the head is thrown a white hood, finely finished with golden patterns, smoothly transitioning into a cape that falls down the back. The clothes on him are slightly too large.
From under his left elbow a chain protrudes, connected to a sword on his left side. From under his right elbow a chain protrudes, connected to a sword on his right side. Both swords are one-handed and single-edged. The sword on the left side is completely white, so beautiful it reflects light and shimmers like radiance. The sword on the right side is completely black like tar, nothing reflects in it. From the face and build, it seems this is a boy about the same age as Jigoku.
The person he's playing cards with emanates a mysterious red aura, visible to the naked eye. He has messy red hair that looks like an upright flame shooting upwards. In his dark red eyes are diamonds, with smaller diamonds inside. The smaller diamonds in his eyes spin in sync with his thoughts. He's wearing a robe, and on the front of it, under his neck, hangs a symbol of a purple star. He looks to be about 20 years old.
Jigoku looks at his family at the table.
*Jigoku: They're playing cards over there. – he gestures.
*I'm gonna go check it out, you coming Uso?
Uso is staring at the menu.
*Uso: Nah, I don't care.
*Jigoku: Screw these old folks, I'm going.
Jigoku stands up and walks over to them.
He jumps over the bench behind the person with the swords and sits next to him on the right side.
*Jigoku: Yo, I'm Jigoku. I'm not interrupting, am I? What are you playing? – he asks, curious.
*No, it's chill. I'm Almi. – says the figure with the swords, focusing on the cards in his hands.
*I'm Chiki, nice to meet you, oh yes very nice. Oh yes yes. – says excitedly, like he's climaxing, staring into the cards.
*Almi: Fucking hell man. I can't fucking play like this. Keeps giving me shitty cards. – he says in a whining tone.
*Fucking hell. – he whines.
Jigoku leans back against the wall at the end of the bench and looks on surprised, one eyebrow raised.
*Jigoku: Dude chill out, it's just a game, what the fuck is even going on here?
*Almi: So what the fuck, it still gives me fucked up cards. – still whining.
*So basically this game is about token ranking, stronger cards win. The game's called The Division. When someone starts, everyone gets a bronze token, that's the weakest rank. Then it's silver, gold, platinum, diamond, and master tokens.
If, for example, I don't know... you're bronze and you play someone else who's bronze, you play for one bronze token. You need five bronze tokens to face someone with silver tokens. The person who has silver and you have bronze has to accept your challenge, that's the rule.
You can't fight someone in silver if you don't have five bronze tokens, and you can't fight someone in gold, and so on...
You must be separated by one division max, and you always have to have five tokens to fight for a promotion.
*Jigoku: Fucking hell, what a fucked-up game, pfu... – he says, surprised and disgusted.
*Fuuuuuck. – with a slightly raised voice.
Almi loses another round.
*Almi: What the fuck is this, fucking hell man. – he whines, outraged.
*Jigoku: So what rank do you even have?
*Almi: I fucking dropped back to silver again. All my gold ones just went to shit. – he whines.
*Fucking hell... fucking fuck. – he raises his voice.
Jigoku puts his left hand on his shoulder.
*Jigoku: Chill man, fuck this game. It's fucked up as hell. – he says sincerely.
At the same time, Chiki shuffles the cards using magic — the cards on the table float up and fly into his card box, which he keeps in a leather bag. He then lowers his head toward the table and looks at them.
Chiki: I can't believe I met someone like this here. – he thinks excitedly.
*Chiki: Do you know what the cards told me? – he says in a fascinated voice.
Jigoku removes his hand from Almi's shoulder and looks at Chiki, confused.
Jigoku: What a fucking weirdo, fucking hell. What the fuck is even going on here.
Chiki looks at Almi.
*Chiki: When the sun and the moon merge into one pole, an eclipse will be born. – he says in a very serious voice, and the diamonds in his eyes go wild.
Then Chiki looks at Jigoku.
*Chiki: When pain, suffering, and sorrow become one, the end of the world will come, which will mark a new beginning. – the diamonds in his eyes disappear and reappear.
After saying those words, Chiki smiles at them and then laughs joyfully.
*Chiki: Hihihi, I gotta go, take care, thanks for the tokens Almi. – he says happily.
Chiki stands up and walks away.
*Chiki: 'Til next time! – he yells as he leaves.
Jigoku covers his face with his hands.
*Jigoku: Fucking hell, what the fuck was that guy. – he says in a repulsed tone.
*Jigoku: You've got no one to play with? Fuck me… fuck.
*Almi: I play for tokens, I basically play with anyone.
*I wish I could one day play 2vs2 with someone, but no one I know plays this game.
*Jigoku: Fuck me, give me a break, you seem like a cool guy. What are you even doing here?
*Are you from around here? – he asks curiously.
*Almi: No, I come from far away. I'm looking for someone.
*Jigoku: Who? Maybe I can help, maybe I know them. – he asks, thoughtful.
*Almi: I'm looking for my friend's brother, his name is Kiperu.
*Jigoku: Who's named that? The brother or the friend?
*Almi: His brother.
*Jigoku: Oh right.
*Jigoku: What does he look like?
*Almi: I don't know.
*Jigoku: I don't know anyone like that.
*But if you don't know what he looks like, how are you gonna find him?
*Almi: I don't know.
*Jigoku: Aha.
*You hungry? Maybe we grab something to eat?
*Almi: Yeah, I guess I could eat something.
Jigoku looks at his swords.
*Jigoku: Sick swords by the way, fucking awesome, holy shit.
*Almi: Thanks, they mean a lot to me.
Jigoku nods toward the table where Mafin is sitting drinking tea, next to him Desu is eating dumplings, and on the other side of the table Uso is munching on a beef sandwich.
*Jigoku: Look at those pigs over there, that's my family. That nutjob with the katanas is already on his third, if not fourth plate of dumplings.
Almi looks in their direction.
*Almi: That's nice, I don't have a family, only my friend's left.
*Actually, that's why I'm here.
Jigoku places a hand on Almi's shoulder.
*Jigoku: I knew you were a solid guy.
*Friends are the most important thing, you gotta take care of the ones close to you.
Almi looks at him and smiles.
*Almi: Of course.
Suddenly, a young teenage waitress walks up to them.
"Hey boys, what can I get you?" – she says in a sweet voice.
Almi stands up and runs out of the tavern.
Jigoku looks at the front door he ran out through.
*Jigoku: What's with him? I was just about to ask how old he is… maybe something came up... Fuck it...
Jigoku looks at the confused waitress.
*Jigoku: Something came up for my buddy, sorry about him. – he says with a grimace.
*Waitress: Oops, and I thought it was because of me. – she says, smiling.
Jigoku walks with the waitress over to the table where his crew is sitting.
The whole table is dirty, with crumbs and food scraps everywhere.
Desu is wrecked by dumplings, his belly full and bloated.
Uso's whole mouth is stuffed as he's chewing on a second beef sandwich.
Mafin is sipping tea, soaking in the atmosphere.
Jigoku sits down next to Uso and looks at the waitress.
*Jigoku: Do you see what I go through, ma'am? My whole life surrounded by pigs like in a pigsty.
The waitress bursts into loud laughter.
*Jigoku: Do you guys have any sandwiches with paprika spread?
*Waitress: Ahh… as a matter of fact, we do. – she smiles at Jigoku.
*Jigoku: Then I'll take one. – he returns the smile.
The waitress walks away.
Mafin looks at Jigoku.
*Mafin: That guy you were talking to, did you notice anything strange? – he asks suspiciously.
*Jigoku: Super weird dude, forget it, not worth talking about.
*Mafin: He had the symbol of this country on his neck, he was one of Hanran's generals.
*If I remember right, that was Chiki. A card player who can see the future through cards. – he says thoughtfully.
Jigoku sits in shock.
*Jigoku: A general... that crazy?
*Fuck me, and he sees the future too, but the fucker probably scammed him in cards.
*Mafin: We'll stay here for the night and head out again tomorrow morning.
Mafin stands up, walks over to the bar and books a room for four.
Then everyone leaves the tavern, except for Desu.
After a moment, Desu comes out of the tavern after them.
Turns out everyone is standing in front of the tavern waiting for him.
Desu walks ahead, and everyone follows him.
Desu walks on, annoyed.
*Desu: Why the fuck is everyone walking behind me… – he thinks, pissed off.
A little later… Desu buys a raven black as tar, with a white spot above its eye.
Jigoku stands next to him, in disbelief, laughing under his breath.
*Jigoku: Why the hell do you need a raven? Gonna eat it?
Two people walk around the village.
Men in black suits and classic hats that cast shadows over their faces.
Suddenly, they walk up to Jigoku and Desu.
They hand Jigoku a flyer.
*Men: Long live the divine land of Yumeko! – they shout.
Then they walk away.
Jigoku reads the flyer.
"The land of Yumeko is a Divine place where endless life in abundance and luxury awaits you."
"Coordinates provided."
Jigoku looks at Desu and laughs.
*Jigoku: Shall we go?