Just as Hyunwoo's group was about to leave the gates of Thalveran, a gentle voice stopped them.
"Would you be interested in coming to my village?"
A young woman with black hair dismounted from her horse. She wore simple clothes, but her eyes were sharp and sincere.
"My village is small, the people are friendly, and it's not too far from here," she continued, looking at each of them in turn.
With no better options and a growing curiosity, they agreed.
They boarded a wooden cart pulled by two tired horses. Along the way, the woman began to speak.
"My village... actually lacks everything. Even water is hard to come by. But at least, it's safe enough to rest for a while."
Yerin looked troubled upon hearing that, while the usually-energetic Taeyang could only gaze silently out the side.
They began introducing themselves.
"I'm Belinda Feyta. But just call me Belinda."
"Kim Hyunwoo."
"Kang Yerin."
"Jung Taeyang."
"Lee Wonho."
Belinda smiled, then continued her story. But her smile wasn't quite genuine. She took a breath, then said quietly, "Our village chief... my grandfather. He's been ill lately. I've taken over some of his duties."
She lowered her head for a moment, gripping the reins tightly. "I just... don't want to see this village vanish like the others."
Hyunwoo looked at Belinda for a moment before saying, "You're strong… Thank you for letting us come along."
By late afternoon, they arrived.
The village was small and quiet. The evening wind carried dust through the fragile wooden houses. Most appeared empty, windows open with no one inside.
"Many of them moved to bigger villages," Belinda explained softly. "Only about 40 people remain."
Even so, the villagers welcomed them warmly. Genuine smiles and hopeful eyes greeted the strangers.
Yerin clutched her bag tightly, her eyes glistening. "They can still smile… even like this."
Hyunwoo stepped closer to the cart and looked up at the yellowing sky.
"I don't know why we're in this world… But if we can help even a little here… I don't think that's a bad thing."
As night fell, they headed to one of the huts assigned by the village elder.
Night swallowed the sky. Cold wind crept through the gaps in the wooden hut, leaving behind an uneasy silence.
The five of them sat in a circle, lit only by a dim lantern. No one spoke for a while.
Their faces shared one thing: confusion.
Hyunwoo broke the silence.
"...That man… the one in the robe…," he murmured, staring at the floor. "What was he, really?"
His fists clenched, holding back anger. "If only I hadn't touched that card…"
Taeyang suddenly shouted, "And the worst part… this world doesn't even have MAGIC!!"
Everyone was shocked by his outburst.
For a moment, his words hung in the air. And then, memories surfaced—like faint echoes from a recent past.
Back when they first arrived in the village, Belinda—the farmer girl who had taken them in—had told them something as she lit a small campfire. Her voice was soft, nearly drowned out by the evening breeze.
"This world used to have magic," she said, gazing at the flame. "But ever since the Collapse of the Sky Pillar, it all disappeared. People were afraid. They burned spellbooks, buried charms, and abandoned everything."
She paused for a moment, then looked at them with somber eyes. "Now, magic is just a bedtime story to comfort children during stormy nights. Haha."
That truth felt like a slap to the face. No miracles, no saviors. Just dying myths.
"Damn it… I thought this was gonna be an awesome adventure like in my favorite novels!" Taeyang shouted, kicking an empty barrel.
Suddenly, Yerin turned sharply toward Hyunwoo, her voice rising, "Why did you let him go?!"
Hyunwoo looked at her, stunned.
"We had just reunited, and you let Jaehyun leave all alone?! Did you really forget your friend?!" Yerin glared at him, furious and disappointed. "Remember back in high school… he was the one who saved you from trouble!"
Wonho, usually silent, finally spoke. "Yeah… I didn't expect it either. Someone as smart as him, and you just let him go?"
Hyunwoo was quiet for a moment. He took a long breath, then looked at them all.
"How long… do you think you've been awake since we arrived in this world?"
They frowned and exchanged puzzled glances.
Yerin asked, "What do you mean?"
Taeyang looked deep in thought. "Could it be…?"
Hyunwoo looked at each of them as he reached into his pocket. "You were all unconscious for an entire day."
Silence fell.
"Jaehyun and I were the first to wake," Hyunwoo continued. "We didn't sleep. We foraged, scouted the area, and made plans. We knew this world was unfamiliar… so we couldn't afford to wait."
Wonho asked softly, "Then… what did you eat?"
"Wild fruits," Hyunwoo answered shortly. "Enough to survive. We didn't want to waste time."
He stood up, his voice growing firm. "And the reason I'm leading… is because I understood the situation first."
Taeyang looked at him, surprised and slightly impressed. "Then… Jaehyun…?"
Hyunwoo gave a faint smile. "Yes. Jaehyun staying in Thalveran… was part of our plan."
Yerin was shocked. "You… told him to?"
"Not told. We agreed," Hyunwoo replied. "He'll be our eyes and ears inside the kingdom."
Wonho nodded slowly. "So… he wasn't abandoned."
Taeyang finally sat back down calmly. "So we do have a plan after all…"
Yerin bit her lip, her eyes starting to water. "I… I'm sorry."
Hyunwoo looked at them all, this time with a calm smile. "From now on… we can't act recklessly. This world is more complicated than we thought."
After another moment of silence, Hyunwoo walked over to the window. His eyes drifted outside, toward the trees swaying in the night breeze.
A black bird perched on a dead branch not far away. Its eyes glowed faintly—and only Wonho noticed it before it vanished into the dark.
Meanwhile, Hyunwoo stared at his own hands. His fingers trembled slightly.
Did I make the right decision… or am I just pretending to be strong in front of them?
That night, everyone was fast asleep.
Inside the small, humble wooden hut, the sound of the night wind served as a quiet backdrop.
But Hyunwoo was still awake.
He stood by the window, watching over the unlit village. His lips showed a hint of worry, but his eyes… held a slowly growing resolve.
As if, behind this village's suffering, there was still an unseen potential waiting to be revealed.