“You know there’s something called personal space,” Pasta muttered, leaning away.

“I’m quite familiar with the term,” Jiji replied, her tone blunt.

“Then why are you so close?”

“For emphasis, obviously,” she stood on the edge of a table, her face practically hovering inches from his. “I’ve got a commission and you three are needed for it?”

“We’re not interested.” Pasta pushed her face away a bit. “As it stands, I’m starving. Hungry. Famished. In dire need of food,” he said, face dead serious.

Jiji paused for a moment, confused. “Wait, wait—did you just say you’re hungry?”

“Yeah.”

“So why say it three times?”

He leaned in just as close to her. “For emphasis, obviously. Now come on, Emilia. We’re not interested in some random commission.”

Emilia trailed behind, sighing. They hadn’t even listened to the details, but what could she do? Pasta was hungry, and Mr Swordsman likely needed rest after their long journey. They’d been adventuring for a while now—well, a month felt like a long time—and aside from the chaos at Pyrovile, all their recent jobs had been disappointments: fishing, botched weddings, and a slew of ridiculous errands, like she needed some excitement. This commission was probably no different. She was curious about it, but that was all.

“Tell me more about the commission,” Mr Swordsman asked.

Pasta and Emilia stopped in their tracks in disbelief. Mr Swordsman was interested in a commission. One given by a child.

Jiji pulled out a scroll from her bag and tossed it to Mr Swordsman. “Details are there.”

Emilia leaned in, curiosity piqued. Fireworks? she said, glancing through the scroll.

“I’m looking for adventurers to help gather resources from a dungeon,” Jiji said.

Emilia’s eyes widened. Dungeons? Real-life dungeons? She had only ever read about them in stories or the old books her father had hidden away.

“I thought all the dungeons had been cleared,” Mr Swordsman said.

Jiji raised a finger in correction. “Not exactly. While many have been cleared and turned into tourist spots, there are still dangerous ones. Like this one.”

Mr Swordsman narrowed his eyes, folding up the scroll. “And what does a child like you have to do with a dangerous dungeon like this?”

One of the adventurers in the guild let out a mocking laugh. “Jiji? A child?” others soon joined him, all laughing.

“Calm down, everyone. They’re new here,” a voice called out.

A man strode forward, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and carrying a long rifle strapped to his back. Jiji quickly shifted, trying to remain unseen by him. Emilia, however, was more focused on the strange weapon he carried—something she had never seen before.

Mr. Swordsman, on the other hand, was quietly assessing the man. His energy was strong, almost familiar, and his presence was hard to ignore. Though his face was friendly, his gear was anything but ordinary. A foreigner perhaps. He wore several layers of jackets, a common sight in the fourth, but his were packed with various tools and gadgets. What stood out was his rifle.

“She is more of an animal than a child,” the man said.

“What did you just say?” Jiji asked, with a deadly glare.

The man raised his hands, surrendering. “I’m sorry. Mi lady. Just wanted to educate the newcomers. Is there anything wrong there?”

Jiji pouted, hiding her face. She didn’t expect to see him here today.

“Nothing is wrong, Shot,” an adventurer from the crowd said.

Shot faced Mr Swordsman, offering his hand. “The name’s Shot, C class adventurer and a brilliant sniper. Nice to meet you, Mr ?”

“Swordsman,” Emilia said and began admiring on his weapon. It didn’t look like a sword and it wasn’t sharp either. How was it able to cut?

“Mr Swordsman?” he said, perplexed. “Now that’s a strange name”

Mr Swordsman shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too,” he whispered. “You’re a strong one”

Shot laughed nervously. “During these times, you have to be able to take care of yourselves”

“Agreed,” Mr Swordsman said with a smile.

Pasta arrived seeing Emilia gazing over a long contraption, Mr Swordsman and one guy exchanging smiles while shaking hands and the kid muttering to herself, head on the table. Yep, there was nothing strange here.

“I’m done with our check-in,” Pasta said.

Emilia scribbled in her journal, asking Shot countless questions about his unusual weapon. Shot, flattered by the attention, happily told everything to satisfy her curiosity. Meanwhile, Pasta stood, quiet. Normally, he would be the one geeking out over a weapon like this. They were about to head to the third realm soon, and this town might be their last being adventurers. Emilia was clearly trying to soak in as much knowledge as she could.

Jiji sidled up beside him. “Tomorrow by midday. Don’t be late. I’ll need your team for the commission,” she said, her tone brisk as if she wanted to hit the exit.

“Why us?” Pasta asked.

“Because of your swordsman. He looks strong”

Pasta chuckled. “We’re not cheap, you know. He’s S-rank and Emilia’s B.”

“And you’re D, even though you did a lot in Pyrovile by helping delay the mercenaries alongside Tony’s main guard.”

Pasta stared at her, shocked. “You know way too much for a child.”

“News spreads fast in the cold. People need to keep their mouths moving to stay warm, you know,” she said. “As for payment, there won’t be any issues—just don’t be late.”

Jiji slung her bag over her shoulder and quickly made her way out. Pasta watched her go, a smile creeping onto his face. He hadn’t even agreed to the commission yet. Emilia should enjoy every ounce of it, he thought.

A loud bang echoed in the guild. Emilia's face was bright with excitement. The weapon had created a powerful blast, across the realms she had never seen something like this.

“Nothing can survive a hit from that,” Shot said with a smile. “A single shot and bam you’re dead”

Emilia's eyes continued glittering, “Again, do it again!”

Shot laughed. “During the raid tomorrow, I’ll show you all my splendid skills,” he said.

Emilia nodded.

Mr Swordsman signalled for her to head out. She waved goodbye to Shot but was interrupted by a strange noise.

Shot held his stomach, laughing. “Sorry about that. Sometimes it has a mind of its own.”

Pasta placed his hand on Shot’s shoulder and whispered, “I understand, man. I really do”

“We’re heading out for breakfast. You can join if you want,” Emilia said.

Shot hurried to her side, shaking her hand. “Thank you, very much. Let’s go have breakfast!”

“Yeah!” Pasta screamed.

*

The streets became busy as guards made their rounds and pedestrians hurried by. The band of adventurers strolled through the bustling frozen streets, Shot leading the way toward a restaurant he often visited. Pasta trailed behind the group, concentrating on his energy.

As Mr. Swordsman had taught him, the body’s energy came in layers. The innermost layer, closest to the body, was used for coating—thick and protective. The next layer, slightly further from the body, allowed one to command specific elements. It was versatile, capable of manipulating anything from the air to something as complex as time itself.

The outermost layer, the faintest and hardest to detect, was different. It represented an outer self, barely noticeable unless charged with energy. When unleashed, it expanded outward in a burst, radiating through the area. If it collided with someone else’s outer layer and damaged it, the result could be devastating, rendering the target unconscious or completely immobilized.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Performing a miniature burst was more difficult. The last layer had to be charged just enough to release energy, but not so much that it fully exploded. This energy could sense the life force of others, including animals and sustenance like water and food. Easier said than done.

Pasta closed his eyes, focusing intently. After a month of visual training, he was mentally exhausted, but it didn’t matter. Green sparks flickered around him as he opened his eyes and released the burst.

The energy expanded across the neighbourhood. He felt it—every passerby, every bird in the trees, the food at the market stalls. Especially the food. But then something jolted through him. A shock sent him collapsing to the ground, sweat pouring down his face. His hand gripping his chest.

“Pasta?” Emilia’s voice echoed. His vision was too hazy to make out her face. She and the others rushed to him as he struggled to process what had just happened.

Mr. Swordsman scanned the area. It appeared empty, but Pasta’s breath came out in ragged gasps. “W-What was that?” he whispered. The burst had struck him, locating him in an instant. It was like nothing he’d ever felt before.

“Are you alright?” Emilia asked, helping him to his feet.

Mr. Swordsman stared at the buildings and released his burst, sensing the strange energy still lingering in the air.

“Pasta, you okay?” Shot said.

Pasta’s eyes widened. The only energy strong enough to shake him like this was Mr Swordsman and his teacher. He remembered the stories he had heard about the fourth realm. Pasta did not doubt that there was someone with incredible strength nearby.

*

Faint lights flickered in the restaurant, casting long shadows over the empty tables. The silence felt odd, almost unsettling, but it made sense—no one else was there.

Shot returned with several plates of food, balancing them in his arms. It was clear he didn’t have enough hands for the job, but it seemed like the least he could do after what had happened. Pasta sat slumped in his seat, still shaken from the strange burst. Emilia sat beside him, trying to comfort him, her hand resting on his shoulder.

Mr. Swordsman took a sip of his soup. He thought about the faint yet unmistakable energy he’d felt earlier. It had been distant, barely noticeable to him, but it had hit Pasta hard. Impressive. The fact that someone’s aura could make such an impact from afar meant they were no ordinary person.

“Pasta, did you sense him?” Mr. Swordsman asked, his voice calm.

Pasta steadied himself. “Yeah, he looked around my age,” he replied, leaning back in his chair. “But that presence... it was overwhelming. I was almost knocked out. It’s crazy to think I ran into something like that while just trying to find food.”

Emilia frowned. “You scared me, Pasta. Why did you decide to use the skill again? I thought you wanted more practice before pushing yourself like that.”

Pasta’s lips curled into a soft smile. They were powerful people in the city, and he had been hearing about a war ever since he set foot in it. He was scared after sensing that presence, but his body was heated with excitement. Would he finally fulfil his dream here? He met eyes with Emilia.

“We have a commission tomorrow mid-day at the Hearts Family house”

“Don’t change the topic,” she hit his head but missed. “You should take better care of yourself”

Emilia clenched her fist and tried hitting him, but kept on missing. Pasta laughed while he dodged each strike. “See, I’m already good at taking care of myself”

The siblings continued their battle. Shot sat thinking about what happened.

“It must be difficult living in such a city,” Mr. Swordsman said, finishing the last of his soup and setting the bowl down.

“Adventurers and Hunters going head to head, it’s like an endless battle,” Shot replied, frustrated.

“Why are they fighting in the first place?”

“That’s the thing,” Shot clenched his fist. “The Hunters showed up with that man, and suddenly there was chaos. It’s a norm for us adventurers to stop unmasked Hunters. But no one expected it to turn into a full-scale war across the realm.”

Mr. Swordsman scratched his ear, flicking away a bit of dirt. “You mentioned a man. Is he the leader of these hunters?”

Shot downed his beer in one gulp. “The Silver Swordsman. He’s said to be a man of pure strength. A powerful figure who repelled entire armies sent to the northern reaches of the realm without breaking a sweat. As for why he chose this place? No one knows. No one can figure out why he’s doing all of this.” Shot took a bite of his sandwich, speaking through the chew. “The weird thing is, he’s not holding anyone hostage. Anyone unhappy with his so-called leadership can leave the region freely. Spies, warriors—they can all enter and try to take him down, but they always lose. And as for that energy earlier today? I’d bet it was one of the high-ranking hunters.”

Jinni, the silver swordsman. If the rumours were true, they were facing someone who had not only defied the Nine Realms but had claimed a region for himself. A man like that... Mr. Swordsman thought with a glint of anticipation. He would certainly like to meet him.

Emilia gave up trying to land a hit. She looked down and saw that her food had turned ice cold; looking closely, she could see ice cubes floating on it. Her imagination was going wild again and her eyes were about to overflow.

Pasta smirked at himself for being the wise one. He had been eating his food as they bickered. That’s what she gets for dealing with him.

“A war across the whole realm? Sounds absurd,” Emilia said, eating her frozen breakfast in silent pain.

Shot finished his beer, clearly drunk. “Absurd is the right word. Amidst all this, the Heats family still plans to host their annual fireworks show. Very, very kind of them.”

Mr Swordsman helped him up. “Get yourself together. You don’t want to be a mess for tomorrow’s commission.”

“Got ya, boss.”

They left the restaurant and went their separate ways.

*

Dozens of adventurers gathered at the entrance of the Hearts family house. It was a wooden manor in a small compound. There was a small shack nearby, likely used to store their materials. The gate was not as big as the one at Tony’s mansion, but it wasn’t small either. The stony fence partially hid the compound and was too high for an average person to jump over. However, thieves are not average people.

They stood beneath an old oak tree, the shade shielding them from the falling snow. Jiji won’t allow them to set foot in the building for reasons known to her.

She stood atop a crate so their eyes would be up and not down. Clearing her throat and adjusting the new coat her mother had given her for the occasion, Jiji greeted the gathered adventurers.

“As you all know, today we’ll be raiding the Demir of Grandeur. It’s not going to be an easy task, so I’ll be selecting the very best from the group here. Our goal isn’t to clear the dungeon but to collect the ores found inside. Three entrances lead directly to the third floor, where the ores can be found. A team of four will go in and gather whatever they can on the way to the third.”

One of the adventurers raised his hand. “How much is the pay?”

“A total of one thousand gold coins will be split among those who take part, along with exclusive access to the fireworks ceremony. A pretty good deal, if I do say so myself.”

The adventurers muttered amongst themselves. The reward was impressive, but after dividing it, the amount each would receive wouldn’t be much—certainly not enough to risk venturing into a dungeon. They had all heard the stories, as had everyone. Though the monsters had been largely eradicated, rumours persisted that some still lingered in the deepest parts of dungeons. Even with peace across the realms, remnants of these beasts remained.

Jiji watched them mutter. She gritted her teeth and sighed to calm herself before speaking, her voice low but edged with irritation. “If you want to leave? Just do so,” she whispered. “I don’t need weaklings for this, anyway. So leave,”

The murmurs fell silent.

Mr Swordsman studied Jiji. Something about her had shifted—just like when they first met at the gate. Her tone, her presence—it was different now, sharper.

“I’ll be picking twelve of you,” Jiji said. “I didn’t bring you here to volunteer yourselves. All B-S ranks are already hired, leaving just five spots for the rest of you. And to decide who gets those spots—how about we play a game?”

Pasta dropped his head, letting out a sigh. Being a low rank was exhausting enough, but now this?

Jiji clapped her hands, signalling a group of men to step forward, each holding a large stone. They began arranging the stones in a circle, marking out a crude ring on the ice. Ten adventurers remained, and Jiji’s game was simple—five rounds of one-on-one brawls. The winners would earn the final spots in the raid. To win, your opponent should be out of the ring or be unable to fight.

The remaining adventurers exchanged excited glances, some grinning with anticipation. Nothing like a brawl in the snow to keep the blood warm and pumping. Emilia was already qualified by her rank, and oh lord, was she relieved about it.

“The first match: Kabal, C rank, versus Titing, same rank,” Jiji called out, lounging atop her crate.

Kabal grunted and tossed his axe aside—no weapons allowed. The massive man, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, flexed his muscles, ready to fight bare-handed. Titing, smiled confidently, his long golden hair flowing in the breeze as he stretched his arms. He wasn’t as large as Kabal, but his good looks stood out. He believed in using every asset—his energy, his charm. The gods had blessed him with such perfection. Why shouldn’t he use it in battle?

“You are done for!” Kabal yelled, running to Titing.

Titing still posed flaunting his long golden hair. “Nothing good will come from you getting hurt, dear,” he dodged Kabal's first punch and the next. But each blow came faster than the last. “Dear oh dear. Take it easy dear, don’t be in a rush dear-“

Kabal punched him, sending him flying off the ring. Titing eyes went blank as Kabal screamed in his victory.

The crowd of adventurers erupted in screams. Jiji was a bit disappointed. She liked to have a blonde guy with her. What a shame.

“Next,” she sighed. “Shot versus Jace”

Shot smirked and entered the ring. His opponent was a scrawny adventurer. A C-rank like himself. Weapons are not allowed, so he couldn’t rely on his rifle.

In a moment, Jace was face to face with him, going for a punch.

What the Shot thought in his final seconds. He hasn’t even stretched or anything. The game was so unfair, no one told him it had begun. He watched Jace get closer, then suddenly stopped mid-air. The world lost its colour.

“Phew,” Shot rubbed off his sweat. “Almost lost there”

He moved behind Jace and kicked him out of the ring. The crowd erupted in cheers. They didn’t see what exactly happened, but they saw the winner was Shot and that was enough.

Pasta had observed the match. Parallel space again, he thought. Again, he wasn’t able to see anything.

“Next Spaghetti versus Merlin,” Jiji said.

“It’s Pasta,” he said.

“No difference”

Pasta turned his attention to his opponent—a man dressed in a robe, wearing a long hat that flapped in the wind, his hairy legs awkwardly exposed to the biting cold. What kind of grown man wears that in this weather? He thought. Merlin was a rank higher than him. But Pasta didn’t want to waste his time in this battle and he was still angry at what happened earlier. He wanted to release some of his pent-up stress.

“I’m sorry, youngster. You are fighting a man who has mastered one of the three powers,” Merlin said. Focusing his energy, the snow around him swirl. He commanded them to rage, and his goal was to blind Pasta.

Snow enveloped the entire ring as if it was in a storm. Pasta stood in it, concentrating on his own energy with a smile on his face. Just like coating, commanding also uses layers. He just has to break it.

“You’re done for!” Merlin screamed, heading to Pasta with a punch.

Mr. Swordsman is faster and stealthier than this, he thought, still holding his smile. His burst spread across the ring, removing the snowstorm and sending Merlin to the floor.

Pasta breathed heavily. Using a full burst uses up a lot of stamina. But it did end the match early. He didn’t need to be told that using the skill in an all-out battle was a gamble since it’s not every time the enemy falls.

Jiji wasn’t surprised by the outcome. After all, this was the group that saved Pyrovile. She was simply curious to see how Pasta, the so-called lackey, would fare under pressure.

The other fights went on and the fourth and fifth adventurer was decided. Kabal walked to Pasta, looking down at him.

“You’re strong. Concentrating energy like that is no easy feat,” he said, leaving. “If you’re free, let’s grab a drink”

“I would hold you to that,” Pasta said.

Jiji stood atop her crate again, throwing a fist. “The selection has been completed. Now let’s go raid a dungeon!”