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After introducing herself and clearing up the misunderstanding about her financial status with Quin and Yufi, the mana train finally departed from Demwell, smoothly gliding toward the next station.
“I see, so your friend funded that staff for you?” Yufi asked, eyeing the silver staff, Esperanza, resting on Renn’s lap.
“That’s right,” Renn replied, feeling more relaxed now that things were cleared up.
“So your friend must be loaded!” Yufi added with a grin.
Renn chuckled awkwardly. “Ahaha, I guess so,” she said, glancing at Quin. He sat quietly next to Yufi, arms crossed and eyes closed, as if lost in thought or simply uninterested in the conversation.
The carriage was relatively full, with hunters, scholars, and travelers seated around them. Despite the incredible speed of the mana train, Renn had been told the trip to the western border would take two full days. That fact still amazed her.
“Say, you said you’re heading to the border too, Yufi?“ Renn asked, breaking the silence.
“Yup, though it’s actually Quin’s business, not mine,” Yufi replied, leaning back. “But since we’re buddies, I’m tagging along. You know how it is.”
“I see. Then I guess we’re going to the same place. I’m heading to Veledot myself,” Renn said.
“Oh? Just for travel? I wouldn’t head there for fun,” Yufi remarked, her tone light but her eyes narrowing with a hint of seriousness.
At Yufi’s comment, Renn’s thoughts turned to Tou’s request. “Is it about the illegal mana weapons?”
Yufi and Quin both reacted instantly, their eyes widening in surprise. Clearly, they hadn’t expected Renn to be aware of the situation.
“You know about that and still want to go?” Quin finally chimed in, his voice calm but edged with curiosity, though his arms remained crossed.
“Well... the truth is…” Renn hesitated before explaining her mission. She told them about how she was going to Veledot to meet a hunter named Willo, sent by Tou to help with the illegal mana weapons issue. She left out the part about being Garland’s descendant, though.
“Whoa, no way!” Yufi exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
“Eh?” Renn muttered, unsure of what Yufi meant.
“We’re actually going to Veledot for the exact same reason!” Yufi said, grinning even wider. She pointed her thumb at Quin. “This guy here? He’s Willo’s son.”
Renn’s eyes widened in shock. “Y-you’re his son?!”
Quin simply nodded. “As his son, it’s only natural I get involved. It’s been a few years since I last saw him, but this situation requires all hands.”
“That’s wild,” Yufi said, clearly amused by the coincidence. She looked Renn up and down with a critical eye. “You’re pretty young for a hunter, though. Luckily we ran into each other early. We can stick together, and don’t worry—we’ll protect you.”
Yufi winked and gave Renn a thumbs-up.
Renn smiled, appreciating the gesture. “T-thanks. I appreciate it.”
The rest of the train ride passed smoothly. Renn and Yufi spent the time chatting, sharing stories of their experiences as monster hunters, and swapping some light-hearted “girl talk.“ Quin, seated next to them, remained indifferent, his focus elsewhere, barely reacting to their conversations.
Several hours later, the mana train arrived at the next station, where passengers were given a one-hour break to stretch their legs and grab lunch. Renn, Quin, and Yufi found a small restaurant near the station and walked in, scanning the room for an empty table.
“As far as we know,” Yufi began, as they found a vacant spot and sat down, “the western region has a lot of shady business going on.”
“Really?” Renn asked, settling into her chair and curious to hear more.
Quin nodded as he sat down. “It seems Veledot’s authorities have done a poor job controlling the illegal mana weapon trade. Underground hunters, in particular, use these weapons to fight each other in secret arenas.”
Renn’s interest piqued. “Fight each other? Why would they do that?”
“Selling monster parts is profitable but not nearly as much as hunting wanted monsters,” Quin explained. “The problem is, to claim a wanted monster’s bounty, you need to have your identity and weapon checked by an alchemist workshop.”
“And that means they can’t collect those bounties if they’re using illegal mana weapons,” Yufi added, flipping through the restaurant’s menu. “The Alchemist Corp sets the bounties, after all.”
“I see…” Renn said, starting to grasp the situation.
“So,” Quin continued, “they found another way to earn money: underground arenas. Hunters fight either monsters or other hunters, using any mana weapon they want—legal or not. Spectators, usually wealthy non-hunters, pay to watch.”
Renn frowned, leaning in. “But... what’s the problem? The hunters must agree to fight, right?”
“That’s what we used to think,” Yufi said, her eyes still on the menu. “But it turns out a lot of hunters have been dying in these arenas.”
“Eh?!” Renn gasped in shock.
“Sure, it makes sense for hunters to die fighting monsters in those death matches,” Quin explained matter-of-factly. “But sometimes, those death matches happen between hunters themselves. It’s not just monsters anymore.”
“T-that’s horrible!” Renn’s voice rose in disbelief. “What about the spectators? Don’t they care that people are dying?”
“They love it,” Quin said flatly, glancing at her. “They enjoy watching us hunters kill each other.”
Renn was left speechless, the realization of what was happening sinking in. The topic disturbed her deeply, but Quin and Yufi spoke about it as if it were just another part of their world. Is this really what the hunter community is like? she thought, unsettled by their casual acceptance of it all.
After finishing lunch and returning to their carriage, the three continued their journey toward the next city, where they would spend their first night.
During the ride, Renn was noticeably quieter, staring out the window most of the time. Yufi and Quin sat next to her, and although Yufi tried to reassure Renn by mentioning she had a similar reaction when she first learned about the underground arenas, Renn simply told her she was fine.
By the time they reached the next station, the sun was already setting. The group decided to stay at a rather luxurious-looking inn, with Renn and Yufi sharing a room, and Quin staying in the room next door.
“Wow…” Renn marveled at the room’s decor and atmosphere, taking it all in.
“Not bad for the price,” Yufi remarked, stretching her arms above her head. “Let’s change into the inn’s clothes so they can wash ours by tomorrow morning.”
Renn nodded as they both changed into the inn-provided garments, which resembled cozy pajamas with plain patterns rather than casual clothes.
When they descended to the lounge area, they spotted Quin sitting alone in his inn clothes, sipping on an iced drink.
“Hey, Quin!” Yufi called out as they approached, keeping her voice low enough not to disturb the other patrons.
“Take a seat. We’ve got a tough mission ahead, so make sure you stay energized,” Quin said, taking another sip from his glass.
While Yufi settled in, Renn found herself distracted, scanning her surroundings. It was her first time in such a lavish establishment. Her eyes eventually landed on the shelves behind the bartender and then Quin’s glass on the table. “Is that… alcohol?”
“Indeed,” Quin replied, setting his glass down. “You’re not old enough yet, I assume?”
“Ah, yeah… I have to be eighteen, right?” Renn asked.
“Yep,” Yufi confirmed as she casually poured some liquor into her own glass. “Want some juice instead?”
“Oh, um…” Renn hesitated, glancing at the shelves. She had no idea what was what.
“You’ve got your own money, right? A bottle of juice will probably run you about twenty silver,” Yufi added, sipping from her glass.
“O-okay. Be right back,” Renn mumbled before standing and making her way to the bar counter. She ended up buying two bottles—apple and grape—both familiar flavors she had tasted before in the pastries from Aisha’s parents’ bakery back in Wendale.
As Renn returned to the table with her bottles, she poured herself a glass of apple juice and took a sip. The taste was comforting, bringing back memories of Wendale’s bakery. After finishing her glass, she poured the grape juice next. It was surprisingly sweet—almost too sweet—but the chill made it enjoyable.
Watching her drink, Yufi couldn’t help but feel nostalgic. “Cherry was my favorite back when I was younger.”
“Oh, I’ll have to try that next!” Renn replied, her eyes lighting up with excitement. Her more playful side was showing as she headed back to the counter for a bottle of cherry juice.
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Quin watched from the table, taking another sip of his liquor before glancing at Yufi. “She’s not going to finish any of these bottles at this rate.”
Yufi grinned. “We can always mix some with our drinks. You’ve never tried that before, have you? It’s actually pretty good.”
And so, the evening became another memorable moment for Renn. Yufi, who had a bit too much to drink, ended up tipsy. It turned out her alcohol tolerance was nowhere near as strong as Quin’s.
As the inn began to quiet down for the night and patrons retired to their rooms, Quin helped Renn carry a giggling Yufi back to their shared room before heading to his own.
“Whew…” Renn sighed, wiping the sweat from her brow after laying Yufi on the bed.
“Hehe… ehehe~” Yufi giggled softly, lost in her own world.
Renn sat beside her for a moment, gazing at the moonlit window. Her mind drifted to the western border. This was her first time crossing into another region, and it was for such an important mission. She even entertained the thought of meeting the king or queen of Veledot to ask about all this, and perhaps even learn more about herself.
Letting out a quiet sigh, her eyes wandered to Esperanza, leaning against the wall next to Yufi’s mana bow. She had a feeling that her staff would see plenty of action soon.
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The next morning, their clothes were neatly folded and prepared by the inn’s staff. After changing and checking out, the group purchased tickets and boarded the mana train to their next destination.
Inside the carriage, Renn noticed something unusual. The signal device Velle had given her displayed a flickering symbol. She couldn’t tell when it had appeared.
“What’s that?“ Yufi asked, noticing Renn’s attention on the device.
“Oh, it’s something my friend gave me. It signals when they want to talk about something important, but I have to meet them at an alchemist workshop,” Renn explained, studying the device.
“Ho~?“ Yufi leaned closer, intrigued by the little gadget in Renn’s hand.
“We’re almost at the next stop,” Quin chimed in from his seat. “We can swing by the workshop before grabbing lunch. But keep in mind, we only have an hour before the mana train departs.“
Renn nodded and tucked the device into her pocket.
Once they arrived at the city, Renn quickly made her way to the alchemist workshop, which was easy to spot from the station due to its towering height.
Inside, the familiar sight of hunters filled the place, busy with conversations and daily tasks. Renn approached the receptionist and showed them the emblem she received from Velle.
“Excuse me, may I use the telecommunication device upstairs?“ Renn asked, holding out the emblem.
“Of course. Go right ahead,” the receptionist responded.
After exchanging a glance with Quin and Yufi, who had settled at a nearby table, Renn made her way upstairs, where alchemists were hard at work. She told them about the signal device and her connection with Velle. They explained that pressing a button on the device would send a signal back, letting the sender know she was ready.
Once an alchemist helped activate the device, Renn sat down in front of the screen. Moments later, the images of both Velle and Mint appeared.
“Hey, Renn~!” Mint greeted cheerfully, her face filling the screen as she leaned in too close.
“Hey, Mint, Velle! Are you guys doing alright over there?” Renn asked, smiling at the sight of them.
“We’re fine,” Velle replied from behind Mint, her tone calm. “Now, let’s get to why I sent the signal.”
“Yeah? What’s going on? Also, I finally got on the mana train. That’s why you both wanted me to head to Demwell, right?”
“That’s right! Isn’t it awesome?” Mint chirped, her excitement obvious.
“Yes, yes. But she has limited time. Can we get to the point?” Velle cut in, sounding slightly annoyed.
Mint instantly backed away from the screen and slumped into her seat like a child who’d just been scolded. “Yes…”
Velle cleared her throat, regaining control of the conversation. “The report on the mana weapons used by the mysterious hunter group has come in.”
“Oh, great! So, what’s the verdict?” Renn asked eagerly.
“The headquarters looked into any mana weapons that could match Howl’s description,” Velle began, adjusting her glasses. “But… nothing fits.”
“Huh?” Renn exclaimed in disbelief, before a thought struck her. “Wait, does that mean…”
“Exactly,” Velle interrupted, her gaze sharp. “They’re illegal mana weapons, not manufactured by Alchemist Corp.”
Renn’s mind started racing. “So, they’re in the west, then?”
“We can’t say for sure, but it’s a strong possibility,” Velle replied. “If they are, you’ll need all the help you can get to catch them. Howl mentioned they have a teleportation device. You’ll need to ambush them.”
“Got it. I’m traveling with two other hunters. One of them is actually Willo’s son. Maybe more hunters will join us along the way,” Renn said, thinking about her current companions.
“Whoa, really?” Mint chimed in, eyes wide beside Velle.
“That’s good,” Velle said. “I’ll have the workshops near the border rally some skilled hunters to help. You’ll also need a permit to cross the border from Pilwot. That’ll be all for now.”
“Alright, good luck to both of you,” Renn replied, cutting off the transmission as the screen went black.
After leaving the alchemists to handle the telecommunication device, Renn made her way back downstairs to meet up with Quin and Yufi.
“How’d it go with your alchemist friends?” Quin asked from his seat as Renn approached.
“Turns out the hunters who’ve been attacking cities lately are using illegal mana weapons. They might be hiding out in the west,” Renn explained, stopping at the table.
“Oh, those guys with the lightning power of one of the legendary heroes?” Yufi asked, trying to recall the reports.
“Yeah, that’s the one,” Renn confirmed with a nod.
“Then that’s just another reason for us to head that way,” Quin said as he stood up. “For now, let’s grab something to eat before we catch the train.”
After a quick meal at a nearby restaurant, the group boarded the mana train just in time before it departed for the next city. While talking with Quin and Yufi, Renn learned that Pilwot was the last stop on the mana train. They would need to obtain travel permits there before crossing the western border. With one more night to spend before reaching Pilwot, they settled in for the journey.
At an inn in the next city, Renn and Yufi once again shared a room, while Quin stayed in the room next door.
“Hey, Yufi?” Renn called out as she changed into the inn’s clothes after her shower.
“Yeah?” Yufi replied, pulling on her shirt from across the room.
“You and Quin are buddies, right? Do you guys… usually sleep in the same room?” Renn asked, her face flushing slightly as she spoke.
Yufi smirked, immediately picking up on Renn’s hesitance. “Oh? Our little girl’s getting curious, huh?” Her green hair swung forward as she leaned in teasingly.
“I-I mean… you know, a man and a woman traveling together...” Renn stammered, trying to explain her curiosity.
Yufi let out a light chuckle. “We do sleep in the same room sometimes, but Quin usually takes the floor. He’s not really interested in me, or anyone, for that matter.”
“Oh, I see…” Renn replied, still processing that. Another thought crossed her mind. “…But are you interested in him?”
Yufi burst out laughing, clearly entertained by the question. “Honestly? I’m not even sure myself. But I do know that being around him makes me feel comfortable. That’s all I need, for now at least.”
Renn smiled at her answer, even though it wasn’t entirely direct. “You two really make a good pair.”
“Thanks!” Yufi grinned back. “Now, how about we go grab some food? I promise I won’t get drunk this time.”
Renn chuckled softly. “Sounds good to me.”
The two headed downstairs to join Quin for dinner. And, much to no one’s—except maybe Renn’s—surprise, Yufi ended up getting drunk again.
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The next morning, the mana train was noticeably more crowded with hunters than usual. Many of them had a seasoned look—their clothes worn from countless battles, with visible scars marking their faces and arms.
“These must be our allies...” Renn thought as she boarded the train alongside Quin. Yufi, still feeling a bit off from last night’s drinking, lagged behind, her movements sluggish from the hangover.
Soon after, the mana train rumbled to life, departing toward Pilwot, a city near the western border.
During the ride, several hunters recognized Quin as Willo’s son. His father’s reputation clearly carried weight among the seasoned hunters. As his traveling partner, Yufi was often mistaken for Quin’s lover—a misconception she was already used to.
After several hours, the towering western border walls came into view as the train pulled into Pilwot.
“We’ll have to walk to the border from here. But before that, let’s stop by the mayor’s office,” Quin said, stepping off the train.
“Got it.” Renn replied, glancing around as she followed, still getting used to the bustling atmosphere of Pilwot.
Unsurprisingly, many of the seasoned hunters from the mana train also headed towards the mayor’s office.
“Seriously, who would’ve thought things out west would get this bad?” one of the hunters muttered behind Renn’s group.
“What is the King of Veledot thinking, letting all this happen in the region?” another hunter chimed in.
Renn fell silent. No one there knew she was Garland’s descendant, but hearing people criticize someone who might be her own father stirred an unfamiliar feeling inside her, one she wasn’t sure how to process.
Next to her, Yufi quietly observed the sudden sadness in Renn’s expression.
As they reached the mayor’s office, they immediately noticed a few more hunters gathered outside the building. Quin was the first to approach them.
“Are you guys crossing the border too?”
“Oh! If it isn’t Quin! Yeah, we heard from the workshop about what’s going on over there. But there’s a problem,” one of the hunters replied.
“A problem?” Quin echoed.
“The mayor’s not here. No one knows where he went.”
The group, along with the other hunters, collectively groaned.
“Then how are we supposed to cross the border?” another hunter asked, stepping forward.
“We don’t know. We’ve been in the city since yesterday, waiting for the mayor to show up. The office has been locked since last night,” the hunter explained.
A silence fell over the group. Yufi turned to Quin. “Now what?”
But Quin didn’t answer right away, lost in thought.
“Do we really need the permit?” Renn spoke up.
“We do. Even as monster hunters, we still need travel permits to cross borders,” Quin replied.
“Being monster hunters helps?” Renn repeated, confused.
“We carry dangerous weapons and fight monsters. Usually, our presence is seen as a sign of safety,” a nearby hunter explained. “But with all the recent incidents, that might not be enough anymore.”
“The guards stationed at various places are often former hunters or people who wield mana weapons themselves,” another hunter added.
“Your father’s reputation is so solid in the hunter community, Quin, that he doesn’t even need a permit to cross between regions,” another hunter chimed in. “Though, Willo rarely leaves the western region.”
Something clicked in Renn’s mind, and it seemed Yufi and Quin were catching on as well.
“What if we tell the guards at the border that we’re with you, Quin—Willo’s son?” Renn suggested.
“I was thinking that too,” Yufi added, nodding.
“Would that really work? They are still guards, after all,” Quin said, unsure.
“It’s worth a try. The situation out west is getting worse. Who knows when it’ll spread to our region?” one of the hunters said.
Agreeing with the idea, the entire group decided to head towards the border walls, hopeful that Quin’s name would be enough to persuade the guards to let them through.
It took them less than an hour to reach the border gate on foot. With more than a dozen hunters accompanying Renn’s group, they moved as a sizable unit.
As they neared the gate, a post with a few guards came into view. The guards, who had been standing idly, quickly moved to block the group’s path, positioning themselves in front of the gate.
“Hold it. Can I see your travel permits?” one of the guards asked, his tone firm.
“Uh… the mayor at Pilwot has been missing since yesterday, so we couldn’t get the permits,” Yufi said nervously, trying to explain the situation.
“Then, sorry. I can’t let you pass,” the guard replied coldly, without missing a beat.
“Wait a second! This guy here is the son of Willo, the monster hunter of the western region. You’ve heard of him, right?” one of the hunters interjected.
“Well, yes, I’ve heard of him. But that doesn’t prove anything,” the guard said with a dismissive shrug.
“Well… that’s true…” the hunter mumbled, realizing words alone weren’t enough.
It was clear the guards weren’t going to let them through without solid proof—something that held real authority.
“Wait!” Renn said, stepping forward, an idea striking her.
“I’m from Alchemist Corp headquarters.” She pulled out the emblem Velle had given her and held it out for the guard to see. “We’re investigating the illegal mana weapons in the west.”
The guard’s eyes widened slightly as he examined the emblem. “Hmm… this is my first time seeing this specific emblem. But I recognize the symbol from the alchemist workshops.” He paused, considering the situation. “Alright then, you can go. Sounds urgent enough.”
The group collectively exhaled in relief as their faces lit up with approval.
“Whoa! Young miss, you’re really working with the headquarters?” one of the hunters asked, sounding impressed.
“Er… y-yeah…” Renn stammered, caught off guard by the attention.
“Let’s move. We’re wasting time,” Quin said, taking the lead as the group walked through the now open gate.
At last, they had successfully crossed into the western territory—where Willo, the famous monster hunter, resided, along with the shadowy businesses that Veledot seemed to let run rampant.
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