141 - 24 Hearts

**The Country of Leisure and Culture, Wurun** The streets were quite wide, yet people maintained a considerate distance as they walked. Those who visited Wurun were mostly wealthy merchants or nobles, some accompanied by knights clad in heavy armor from Phyloria or hired mercenaries. It was relatively peaceful. The maintained distance meant there were no attempts at bumping into each other on purpose, and the frequent patrols by vigilant guards meant pickpockets were nowhere to be seen. But this was just the scene during the day; by night, the streets would buzz with those indulging in entertainment. "Hmm..." Holding a piece of bread slathered with cream, Yuda quietly observed the passing crowds as he walked. Among the nobles and merchants, there were also magicians, knights, and adventurers present. They roamed the streets with a variety of expressions, most often appearing delighted or amazed. However, none appeared to belong to the Shadow Kingdom. The **Shadow Kingdom**—despite its grandiose name, had roamed the continent without a fixed territory for over two hundred years. Land meant little to these elite assassins. They were present in both Continent 1 and Continent 2, in Baekje, Cráx, and even in the desert lands. They extended their reach into drugs, finance, gambling, and slavery, infiltrating various organizations. Like shadows that appear wherever there is light, they existed everywhere. The location of their command dictated their territory, and where their king resided became their capital. A commoner might laugh at the idea, but nobles or merchants who have encountered them would only bitterly smile. This is because they were aware of the organization’s vast information network and power. Unless one wielded a sacred sword or had a guard with one, there was no chance of thwarting an attack from them. Yet even they did not accept jobs from just anyone; they only took assignments upon acknowledgment or recommendation. Though multiple kingdoms could join forces to eradicate them, unfortunately for them, the Shadow Kingdom currently possessed the scythe known as **Ginnungagap**. The twentieth fragment of Fernern, Ginnungagap. The massive scythe absorbed most magical attacks barring physical ones, with a 'Magic Defense Wall' constantly activated for its owner. It held the special ability to slash across space—transforming the distance to zero, enabling it to cut distant enemies with swings through empty air. Initially crashing within the kingdom of Ahman on Continent 1, it was retrieved by the royal troops. However, having heard about the scythe's unique abilities, the king of the Shadow Kingdom, **Cheron**, personally intervened and seized it. It has since become the most treasured of the Shadow Kingdom’s possessions, passed down to successive rulers. However, this was not the important part. 'The truly important thing is that their command center is also here in Wurun.' Yuda headed towards the plaza he had visited the previous day. The place was abuzz with people recovering from their nightlife adventures, relaxing with lovely companions, and enjoying the beautiful fountains. Most were seated to rest briefly before moving on. Yuda made a show of surveying the plaza, discreetly observing the people. 'Nobody around?' In the game, simply wandering the plaza would lead to a middle-aged man suddenly offering a quest. But here, Yuda had to find him himself, with no clear indication of when he might appear. 'Based on memory...' He recalled the man usually appeared in the morning, so if it turned afternoon, Yuda planned to explore Wurun instead. He had no expectations of meeting the man within a single day—there was no set date, and perhaps, with his luck, the man might not appear at all. He decided to give it a week. For that span, he'd spend mornings at the plaza, watching from an inconspicuous bench, revising his **Notes** for his overarching scheme. The time surprisingly flew by. Once it was lunchtime, like a foodie on a culinary tour, he traversed the whole of Wurun—north one day, west the next, then south, and so forth. Sometimes he explored with Jeanne and Arhil, his companions. Sara, the daughter of the Count of Genuine, often accompanied them. With her there, her family's wealth handled almost everything for Yuda’s party. She covered costly restaurant bills with gold coins from her purse, and her funds came to their rescue during shopping excursions. Yuda even pondered abandoning his solo endeavors because of the convenience. On the seventh day, Yuda, at a bench offering a comprehensive view of the plaza, whiled away the time. Today he came prepared with milk and an array of croquettes from a bakery. "Looks delicious. Would you spare one?" That was when someone sat beside Yuda. Dressed in a crumpled suit, his long hair, though a man, was tied in a ponytail, and his patchy beard hinted at a few missed shaving days. Despite the rugged appearance, he gave off no unpleasant odor, suggesting regular cleanliness. "Would you like one?" Without much thought, Yuda offered the man a croquette from his bread bag. "Thank you kindly." With a grin, the man accepted, reaching out his hand. Yuda noticed the back of his left hand: a snarling dog etched at the base of his pinky. 'Found him.' It was the seventh day since he began seeking Locksin. Whether by coincidence or fate, Yuda was thankful that the man approached him first. Watching the man devour the bread with enthusiasm, Yuda couldn't help but smile. It's amusing how different someone can look just by tying their hair or growing a beard, he thought as he bit into his croquette. 'No need to rush now that I've found him.' The task was now to build a rapport with him. In the game, this would be accomplished through quests, but here, simply doing him a small favor might suffice. Yuda placed the bag of croquettes between them, tearing it open so the man could eat comfortably. He also handed him a bottle of milk from another bag. "Help yourself." "Thank you." Their brief conversation was enough. After finishing the bread and milk, the man let out a contented sigh and leaned back against the bench. "Haha, I'm a mess, even in front of someone I just met... Thanks. I ended up gambling all my money away." He laughed heartily. Losing all his money was a disheartening situation that would normally leave one filled with despair and helplessness. Yet, he showed no signs of it. His voice still carried vigor. "You don't seem too upset about losing your money." "Where there's gain, there has to be loss. The enjoyment I got at that moment made my money worth it." "But now you're relying on others for a meal, aren't you?" He lifted his head quickly, frowning at Yuda. "Well, it happens in life! I do feel bad about imposing on you. But I’ll earn money soon enough and repay your kindness. I’m Locksin! A man who returns favors." "Locksin?" "Yeah, that's my name. Remember it. Someday, I'll be the one helping you." He laughed heartily, not knowing how soon that day might come. Unaware, he extended his hand to Yuda for a handshake, which, when accepted, revealed a firm grip. "I've told you my name, so now it's your turn. What's your name?" "Yuda Arshet. Just call me Yuda." "Haha, most people visiting Wurun are aristocrats anyway, so no need to mention the family name. Knowing the name is enough. Here, luck matters more than family power." He added that luck was needed more than skill to win in gambling. Suddenly, he squinted, studying Yuda’s youthful face closely. "Hmm... You look younger than I thought. How old are you?" "Young enough to be called that, sir." "Sir!? How old are you?" "Fifteen. Almost sixteen soon." "Wow? Hard to believe. You're just a kid then, about to become an adult." He looked up and down at Yuda, who was wearing clothing made from the leather of a black wolf and a coat, giving him a refined look. For someone only just becoming an adult, Yuda had a good physique, seeming well-trained and possessing quite a grip during their handshake. "What was your family name again?" "Arshet. But you wouldn’t have heard of it; it’s a long-fallen house." "I see." Locksin fell silent, gazing at the sky again. Yuda quietly nibbled on his remaining croquette. Turning his head, Locksin studied Yuda’s profile before speaking again. "Is that enough to fill you up?" "If it weren't for someone taking my share, it might have been enough, but I'm a bit short." "Haha, is that so? I know a place. Want to join me? A restaurant opened by a chef from the Baekje Empire. Their bone broth soup is absolutely divine." "Am I paying?" Locksin nodded, satisfied. "Of course. Don't feel too resentful about it. I'll really help you one day, consider it a pre-payment for that future service. It might be embarrassing to mooch off a fifteen-year-old, but this is fate, isn't it? Let's chat some more over a meal." --- **Author's Note** Monday has arrived again... sigh.