Meanwhile, in a certain place...
The night had fully settled in. A frigid wind howled across the open road, rustling the dry grass and sending chills straight through Hazuki's bones. He huddled into himself, desperately rubbing his arms for warmth.
"Eeeekkk!! It's freezing!!" He shivered violently, his breath visible in the cold air.
"Damn it! When will I find a town? A village?! Anything?!"
He scanned the dark surroundings, but there was nothing—no lights in the distance, no campfires, no distant chatter of travelers. Just an endless, lonely stretch of dirt road beneath the vast sky.
"And seriously!?" Hazuki waved his arms in frustration.
"Not a single peddler or carriage moving through this road?! What kind of shitty trade route is this!?"
His complaints echoed into the night, but the world offered no response—only silence.
Clicking his tongue, Hazuki unsheathed his sword and focused on channeling mana—something he was still barely getting the hang of.
