When the three brothers arrived before the gates of the Merchant's Crossroad Inn, an enormous door loomed before them. The massive wooden surface was carved with intricate patterns, gilded with golden curves that shimmered under the pale moonlight.
Shun's eyes widened as he reached out, brushing his fingers against one of the raised motifs. A cold, metallic chill bit at his skin, and he froze for a moment before gasping:
— "This… this is real gold!"
Willin raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed as well, but Holland only chuckled, folding his arms with amusement:
— "Little brother, you really do get surprised too easily."
A deep "ding—dong" echoed when Holland pressed the bell. Moments later, the heavy door creaked open.
Standing within was a butler. His jet-black hair was neatly combed, and behind the thin frame of his glasses, his crimson eyes gleamed faintly in the lamplight. His face was expressionless, his movements precise, gloved hands held perfectly still. He neither smiled nor spoke a word.
With nothing but a subtle nod, he turned and silently led the way.
The brothers followed—and were immediately struck by the grandeur before them. The corridor stretched endlessly, its walls inlaid with sheets of pure gold, adorned with priceless oil paintings and masterfully carved statues. A crimson carpet rolled out beneath their boots, while chandeliers of crystal sparkled overhead, scattering light like a royal palace.
— "An inn… and yet it feels like a king's castle," Willin muttered, his eyes narrowing with cautious awe.
Shun, however, stared around in wonder, completely entranced by the splendor.
The butler stopped before a towering ebony door, its surface engraved with coiled dragons. He knocked three times, the sound reverberating deep through the air.
From within, a soft but steady female voice called:
— "Come in."
With a respectful bow, the butler swung the door wide.
The brothers stepped inside—and froze in astonishment.
It was not a regal countess awaiting them, nor the stern innkeeper they had imagined… but rather a girl of only twelve or thirteen years old.
She wore a delicate pink dress, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, and in her arms she clutched a worn, stuffed teddy bear. Her eyes—bright sapphire blue—sparkled with innocence, yet carried a depth that was impossible to read.
Shun swallowed hard, whispering under his breath:
— "This… is the mistress of the inn?"
Silence filled the chamber. Behind them, the butler stood motionless, as though carved of stone. And the girl… tilted her head slightly, lips curving into a small, playful smile.
A smile so innocent—yet somehow, it sent a cold shiver racing down each of their spines.
Emma clasped her teddy bear tighter, her sapphire eyes gleaming with a mix of innocence and authority.
— "My name is Emma Wender's. I am the mistress of this entire town… and ruler of the Western Territory."
Shun and Willin's jaws nearly hit the polished marble floor.
— "W–what!?" Shun blurted out, eyes bulging.
Willin simply froze, his lips trembling as if he'd forgotten how to breathe.
Meanwhile, Holland calmly stepped forward, bowing his head slightly with polite composure. Without hesitation, he took a seat opposite the girl, as if meeting royalty were nothing unusual.
— "Then allow me to formally introduce ourselves," he said smoothly. "We are travelers, hunters by trade. I would like to rent a double room for my younger brothers and me."
He slid a Hunter's emblem across the table.
Emma's face lit up instantly, her lips curving into a playful, mischievous smile.
— "Oh! A hunter's emblem! How exciting!" she giggled, swaying her teddy bear back and forth. "Very well, you may stay."
Then, with a snap of her small fingers, her tone shifted—still cheerful, yet carrying an odd weight of authority far beyond her age.
— "Hollombo Drya. Please take care of our guests."
The butler, Hollombo, stepped forward silently, bowing before gesturing toward the door. His crimson eyes glowed faintly under the chandelier as he guided the three brothers out.
They soon emerged into the bustling tavern at the heart of the inn. The scent of roasted meat and ale filled the air, the sound of laughter and clinking mugs echoing around them. Mercenaries, hunters, and merchants from every corner of the world crowded the long tables, trading stories and boasting of adventures.
For the first time, Shun's wonder replaced his nervousness.
— "So many… from so many places…" he whispered, unable to hide his amazement.
Hollombo's cold voice cut through the lively noise.
— "This is the Crossroad Tavern. Every hunter, every trader who passes through the West stops here. Remember this well."
After collecting a set of iron keys from the bar, Hollombo led them to a spacious chamber lit by a single lamp. He placed the keys in Holland's hand, his gaze sharp as a blade.
— "Your assignments will be arranged shortly. Be prepared."
Without another word, he turned and strode out, his black coat trailing behind him like a shadow.
Shun's eyes followed him until the butler's figure vanished. His chest tightened, a strange awe stirring inside.
— That aura… he thought, clenching his fists. So overwhelming… so powerful. Is that what they call " Gil"?
He was still lost in thought when Holland's voice cut through, startling him.
— "Shun. Your turn. Go wash up."
Blinking rapidly, Shun turned to find his two brothers already refreshed, hair damp from the bath. His cheeks flushed, and he scrambled to his feet.
— "R–right! I'm going!"
He rushed toward the washroom, his mind still lingering on the terrifying, majestic presence of Hollombo Drya.
Shun sat quietly in the bath, his entire body submerged in the warmth of the water. Steam rose in soft curls, drifting across the mossy stone walls of the room. Tilting his head back, his eyes fixed on the ceiling as his thoughts wandered to Holland's words.
-"Gil – the Aura."-
In this world, every living being possessed Gil—whether little or much. It could be forged through hatred, resentment, bitterness, or cultivated through training, calmness, or natural birthright.
Closing his eyes, Shun recalled the monstrous creature he and Reina had once faced. Its Gil had been so overwhelming that it formed an invisible barrier, rendering all of Reina's attacks as useless as wind brushing against stone. Holland's voice echoed in his memory:
- ""The stronger the Gil, the thicker the shield. Only if your Gil equals or surpasses your opponent's can you break through and wound them.""
But Gil was not only a defense. It could also crush the spirit. The weak who stood before a mighty Gil would feel their bodies paralyzed, their minds thrown into chaos, their will bent and twisted until they were consumed by sheer terror.
Shun drew a deep breath, warm water trailing down his face. Beneath the surface, his fists tightened, determination flickering in his eyes.
— If I want to protect Reina… protect my brothers… I have to master Gil.
Rising, he let the water wash away his restless thoughts. After changing into fresh clothes, Shun made his way toward the bustling heart of the inn where his brothers awaited.
But as he turned into a crowded hallway, he collided with someone.
— "Ah! I'm sorry!" Shun bowed quickly.
Before him stood a young girl with hair the color of blazing fire, tied loosely to one side. A long sword hung at her waist, its hilt etched with ancient markings. Her dark brown eyes glimmered with sharpness—and urgency.
She barely spared him a glance before tightening her grip on the sword and hurrying off, as if driven by something pressing.
Shun turned after her, curiosity tugging at him.
— "Why the rush…?"
The red-haired girl said nothing more and vanished into the crowd. Shun paid it no mind and continued on toward the inn's central hall.
The moment he arrived, the sheer liveliness of the place made him pause. Laughter, clinking mugs, and the beat of instruments blended together in a chaotic yet vibrant atmosphere.
Almost immediately, he spotted Willin slumped at a corner table, clutching an enormous mug of beer. His face was flushed red, his eyes half-lidded in drunken haze. Across the room, on the stage, Holland was even more astonishing—his usually composed elder brother was laughing boisterously, dancing alongside other hunters as if seriousness had never existed in his vocabulary.
Shun couldn't help but chuckle softly.
— My brothers… honestly.
He ordered a plate of steaming hot food, eating quietly while letting the other two indulge in their revelry. Yet, even as he chewed, a restless thought stirred in his mind:
— Is there someone here… someone who can teach me how to unlock Gil?
Gil—the energy/Aura every living being possessed. But to truly master it, to bend it to one's will, was a path far from simple. Mishandling it could spell disaster, not just for oneself but for allies as well.
As he sat in thought, Shun's gaze wandered upward.
Beneath the glow of the chandelier, he caught sight of Emma seated along the balcony, her small arms wrapped tightly around her worn teddy bear. Her sapphire eyes watched the revelry below, calm yet piercing, while beside her stood Hollombo—tall, silent, and stern as ever.
The two of them were speaking, lips moving in muted exchange, but amidst the pounding music and laughter, Shun couldn't hear a single word. He shrugged, letting it slip from his mind.
When he finished his meal, Shun rose from his seat. Beyond the window, the warm glow of lanterns spilled in from outside, tugging at his curiosity.
— The night market… in the Western Quarter. Holland mentioned it once.
With the pouch of coins Holland had given him, Shun pushed his way into the bustling crowd. His eyes gleamed with curiosity as he wandered through rows of vibrant stalls, silently hoping that among the chaos, he might stumble upon something useful—something that could bring him closer to unlocking the power of Gil.
Shun stepped into the bustling night market, the golden lanterns casting a shimmering glow over every colorful stall. The cries of vendors and bursts of laughter blended together, while shopkeepers greeted passersby with warm, friendly smiles. The aroma of spices, grilled meat, and even the faint tang of metal from weapon stalls mingled in the air, leaving Shun both intrigued and uncertain.
He weaved through the crowd, muttering to himself:
— "What should I buy? A weapon? Or something that can help me train Gil?"
Suddenly, the crowd ahead began to part. People instinctively moved to the sides, as if making way for a predator. The stall owner beside Shun lowered his voice, whispering urgently:
— "Hey, kid! Step back, or you'll bring trouble on yourself!"
Before Shun could react, a figure emerged from the center of the parted crowd.
A towering man, corpulent yet with muscles rippling beneath layers of fat, stepped forward. Behind him rested a massive broadsword, its blade nearly half his height, reflecting the red glow of lanterns. Each step he took made the ground tremble slightly, and the murmur of vendors and customers swallowed in awe.
Shun instinctively lifted his gaze to meet the man's eyes.
Immediately, the giant halted. His eyes widened, a cold glare boring into Shun like invisible spears.
— "Hey, you little brat…" — his deep, rumbling voice echoed through the market. — "Who do you think you are, daring to look me in the eyes?! Huh?! Who gave you permission to even look at me?!"
The lively market fell silent in an instant. All eyes turned to Shun.
Yet Shun did not flinch. He shrugged slightly, answering with calm, almost sarcastic detachment:
— "Well… I have eyes, don't I? If you have eyes, you have the right to look. Besides, everyone parted to make way, yet nobody knows who you are or how powerful… If I didn't look, how would I know to avoid you?"
His words were like a spark thrown onto a powder keg.
The fat man's face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his temples. He roared like a wild beast:
— "You little brat!! How dare you talk back to me?! Do you want a fight?! Let's see who really has the right to look at whom!"
Shun gritted his teeth, anger surging through his chest. From the start, this man's arrogance had been suffocating. He shouted, his voice booming across the market:
— "Then fight! You think I'm afraid of you?!"
The space seemed to explode. Onlookers gawked in disbelief. Even the stall owner who had just warned Shun stood frozen, stammering:
— "Oh my… that kid… did he just challenge Gronn the Great Blade?!"
The fat man curled his lips into a cruel grin. He grasped the hilt of his colossal sword, eyes blazing like twin red infernos, his voice thundering above the market's night-time clamor:
— "Fine, brat. Tonight, I'll crush you right here!!"