The sun blazed over the open field, wind brushing through the tall grass. Birds chirped. Peaceful.
Until a loud "AAARGHHH!!" echoed across the entire place.
Haruki was already flat on the ground.
"Ten times in a row. Too bad. Stupid move. You can't even punch properly," Yoruto said calmly, standing over him with his wooden sword resting on his shoulder.
"But… you're improving. You lasted two seconds longer before dying this time."
Haruki groaned, face buried in dirt. "That's not improvement… that's humiliation with extra steps…"
Yoruto smirked under his black cloak. "Get up. Don't just sit there boneless."
Haruki pushed himself up, covered in dust. "You call this training or public execution?!"
"Both," Yoruto replied without hesitation.
Haruki's eye twitched. "You're supposed to teach me, not break my spine!"
Yoruto raised his sword again. "Then stop getting hit."
Haruki barely had time to blink before Yoruto lunged.
Whoosh!
In one fluid motion, Yoruto's wooden blade sliced the air — stopping an inch from Haruki's cheek.
Haruki yelped and ducked. "Seriously!? You're insane!"
"Focus," Yoruto said. "Your reflexes are improving, but your balance is garbage."
Haruki stumbled back, trying to mimic Yoruto's stance.
He held his imaginary sword tight, muttering,
"Okay, calm… steady… breathe like the sensei said…"
Then he tripped on his own foot and fell again — face-first.
Yoruto sighed, staring down at the fallen idiot.
"Haruki… sometimes I wonder if your true weapon is luck."
Haruki rolled over, gasping, "My weapon is… pain."
Yoruto shook his head, offering a hand. "Again."
Haruki took it and stood. "You sure you're not secretly training me to become a punching bag?"
"Maybe. Punching bags don't talk back."
Haruki nodded. "…Fair point."
They started again. The sound of wood clashing echoed through the empty field — each hit sharper, each dodge closer.
Haruki's breathing grew heavier, but he didn't quit.
Sweat poured down his face, but this time — just for a moment — Yoruto had to block seriously.
Haruki's attack had real force.
Yoruto's eyes widened slightly. "Hmph… good."
Haruki grinned, panting. "Heh… so… I'm getting better?"
Yoruto stepped back, spinning his sword into its sheath. "Nope. Still bad. Your movements suck. No balance."
Haruki froze. "…What? Seriously?"
"You better train more," Yoruto said, walking off. "Also remember, next exam will coming soon on next month, be ready or you'll be in no group"
Haruki fell onto his back, arms spread under the bright sky.
"What?! Ughhh…"
"Anyway, I'm done. I'm resting," Haruki muttered, dragging his tired body toward Hiloxy.
As soon as he stepped inside, he spotted a familiar figure walking down the hallway — Riiki, holding a drink box like a zombie on break.
Haruki smirked. Perfect target.
He crept up quietly behind him, lifted his hand, and placed it on Riiki's shoulder.
"Boo!" he shouted.
Riiki didn't even flinch. He just sipped his drink calmly.
"…You done being stupid yet?"
Haruki blinked. "Eh? You didn't even get scared?! You're supposed to scream or something!"
Riiki turned around slowly, expression dead serious.
"Haruki… I've seen you fall off stairs, explode a training dummy, and try to punch your own shadow. Nothing scares me anymore."
Haruki squinted. "You act like I'm the problem here!"
"You are the problem," Riiki said, walking off again. "A walking one."
Haruki puffed his cheeks. "One day you'll laugh at my jokes!"
"Yeah," Riiki replied flatly. "At your funeral."
"Wha— hey!" Haruki chased after him down the hall as their voices echoed through Hiloxy.
"Seriously? At my fune—"
Before Haruki could finish, a blaring alarm echoed through the entire Hiloxy.
WEEEEE—WOOOO—WEEEEE—WOOOO!
Haruki jumped. "W–What's happening?! Is it training time already?!"
Riiki's expression changed immediately. "Shut it, Haruki! This is an emergency!"
He bolted down the hallway.
"Hey, wait for me!" Haruki shouted, sprinting after him.
"Where are we going?!"
"Meeting room!" Riiki yelled back.
"Meeting room? Okay… but why—"
"It's an emergency, Haruki!! Stop asking questions and run!"
"Okay, okay!" Haruki zipped his mouth shut, his legs pumping faster.
All around them, other students were rushing through the corridors—footsteps thundering, doors slamming, voices echoing.
When they finally reached the massive meeting hall, every student had already gathered. The air was tense.
Yoruto stood at the front of the room, arms crossed, cloak swaying slightly.
"Alright," he said, his deep voice cutting through the noise, "now that everyone's here…"
He took a step forward, eyes sharp.
"I'll begin the briefing."
The room fell completely silent.
"We have a new mission," Yoruto continued. "This time, we're leaving this world—traveling to another realm."
Murmurs broke out instantly.
Haruki's jaw dropped. "Wait, wait, travel to another world?! Like… world number two? Or world level boss type?"
Riiki muttered, "Haruki, please, just listen before you make it worse…"
Yoruto's gaze swept across the room, his expression unreadable.
"This mission will test everything you've learned. It's not training anymore—it's real."
The murmurs in the meeting room swelled — excitement, confusion, and a thread of fear.
Yoruto raised a hand. Instantly, the room fell silent. His cold eyes swept the crowd.
"This mission will not include everyone," he began. "Only ten students will be chosen."
Gasps rippled through the hall.
"Three from the Genius Hero group… and seven from the other divisions. Selection will be based on performance, skill, and how well you handled previous missions."
Haruki whispered to Riiki, "So basically… I have no chance, right?"
Riiki replied without emotion, "You said it, not me."
Yoruto ignored the side chatter and continued.
"You will travel to a world that is… unstable. Its balance has been broken by an unknown force. The task is simple in words, but brutal in practice—stop the villain responsible before the damage spreads here."
He turned to the giant holographic map floating behind him — an unfamiliar planet rotating slowly in blue light.
"This world's time is collapsing in fragments," Yoruto said. "Their energy cycle has been corrupted. If that world falls, the collapse could spread through the dimensional veins that connect it to ours."
Haruki frowned. "Dimensional… veins?"
Yoruto looked at him for a beat. "You'll understand soon enough."
His tone dropped lower.
"We do not yet know who the enemy truly is. What we do know is they possess something we've only seen once before — a power that does not belong to this universe."
The room fell deadly still. Even Riiki paused mid-sip.
"Your mission," Yoruto said, "is to observe, protect, and, if necessary… eliminate."
"Eh? Eliminate?" Haruki muttered, eyes wide. "Okay — that's serious-serious…"
Yoruto stepped back, folding his arms. "You'll receive names and teams. Prepare your mind and body."
He reached out and tapped the hologram, and the map shifted under his hand. Riiki exhaled slowly. "Great. He's starting to choose who travels."
Haruki blinked. "Yeah, but… traveling to another world sounds kinda cool, right?"
"Cool until you die there," Riiki said dryly. Haruki crossed his arms. "Tch. I'm still getting chosen. You'll see. I'll make that other world regret meeting me."Riiki glanced at him. "Yeah — they'll regret it, alright."
The hologram flickered, and Yoruto's voice cut through the uneasy silence.
"Now… I'll announce the ten who will take part in this mission."
Everyone straightened. The air turned heavy.
"First… from the Genius Hero group—" Yoruto paused, scanning the crowd. "—Kyosuke."
No one was surprised. The boy stood up slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets, eyes cold and uninterested.
"Tch. Figures," he muttered under his breath. "Waste of time."
Someone whispered, "Of course he's first. Rank one, no contest."
Yoruto continued, "Second—Furuha."
A soft murmur ran through the students. Furuha didn't even flinch. She crossed her arms, her piercing gaze daring anyone to say something stupid.
One guy whispered too loudly, "Man, even the villains would surrender just seeing her face."
The guy immediately shut up when Furuha's eyes flicked toward him.
"Third—Misora."
Misora smiled gently and stood. "Understood," she said calmly, placing a hand over her chest. "I'll make sure no one gets hurt."
Her voice eased the tension slightly — until Furuha side-eyed her with quiet irritation.
"...Tch. Always pretending to be sweet," Furuha muttered.
Misora just smiled wider, completely ignoring her rival's glare.
Yoruto continued. "Fourth—Riiki."
Riiki raised an eyebrow. "...Huh? Me? Oh, great." He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Guess I'm doomed."Haruki smile. "You are"
"Fifth—Megumi."
A tall girl in a white coat stepped forward. "Finally," she said confidently. "I was getting bored."
"Sixth—Desmond."
A muscular boy cracked his knuckles and grinned. "Let's hope there's something worth punching."
"Seventh—Dylan."
A short-haired boy pushed up his glasses. "I'll handle the strategy part. Don't get in my way."
"Eighth—Nanako."
A small girl waved nervously. "U-Um… okay… I'll try my best!"
"Ninth—Xavier."
A quiet boy with a scar on his cheek simply nodded once. "Acknowledged."
Yoruto looked at the list again, then raised his head.
"And the last one—"
Everyone leaned forward. Whispers spread fast.
"...It's gotta be someone from Class A, right?"
"No way they'd choose a slacker—"
"—Haruki."
The room exploded in confusion.
"Eh?!"
"HARUKI?!"
"Did he hack the list or something!?"
"Wait, that Haruki?!"
Haruki blinked, pointing at himself. "Wait—me? Me?! No mistake, right?!"
Yoruto didn't even look up from the hologram. "No mistake."
Haruki froze for a moment, then grinned like an idiot. "Hah! You see that, Riiki?! I told you I'd be chosen!"
Riiki sighed. "I hate this already."
From the corner, Furuha's eyes narrowed. "...Him? Out of everyone?"
Kyosuke just exhaled. "This'll be annoying."
Misora giggled softly. "Maybe it'll be fun."
Sayoko, standing beside Yoruto, looked surprised but didn't speak. Her gaze flicked between Haruki and Yoruto — as if she wanted to question the decision but chose not to.
Yoruto's voice echoed again.
"The ten of you — prepare immediately. You depart today."
The room went dead silent again.
No training, no preparation. Just today.
Haruki's grin faltered. "...Wait. Today-today?"
Yoruto's eyes turned toward him, sharp as blades.
"Yes. Today. The portal stabilizes for only a short window. Miss it, and you'll lose the chance."
The hologram blinked red — coordinates of the new world pulsing like a heartbeat.
"Get ready," Yoruto said flatly. "The fate of more than one world depends on this."
Haruki swallowed hard, looking at the others — Kyosuke's cold stare, Furuha's deadly glare, Misora's gentle smile, Riiki's deadpan sigh.
"...Heh," Haruki muttered, forcing a grin. "Guess I'm really doing this."
Riiki muttered, "Yeah, and I already regret it."
The air shimmered with tension as the ten chosen students stood before the swirling blue portal.
The wind from its energy ruffled their uniforms, carrying a low hum that made everyone's hearts thump a little faster.
Haruki, impatient as ever, crossed his arms.
"So, are we going or not?"
Riiki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can you just shut up for five seconds?"
Before Haruki could reply, Yoruto stepped forward, his black cloak rippling slightly from the portal's energy. He extended his hand, and something metallic glinted in his palm.
"Here's the portal," Yoruto said in his usual calm but commanding tone. "Before you go, there's something I need to give you."
He revealed a small device—smooth, sleek, and shining faintly with blue light.
"Here," Yoruto continued, handing one to Haruki. "You'll use this to contact us if there's any emergency."
Haruki blinked, tilting his head. "Whoa, is this… an AirPod?"
Riiki smacked the back of his head lightly. "Watch your mouth, idiot."
Misora smiled softly, her voice calm as always. "Oh, this was created by Riiki's sister, right?"
Sayoko nodded with a faint smile. "Yes. It's one of her newer inventions. Works perfectly even across dimensions."
Yoruto let out a small sigh. "If Sumiya were here, things would go even smoother. She's the best inventor we've ever had."
Haruki grinned. "Oh, that scientist girl, huh? Your sister sounds pretty cool."
Riiki folded his arms, a hint of pride hidden under his usual boredom. "Yeah, I wish she could come back. Too bad she's off competing right now."
Furuha, who had been silent the entire time, simply folded her arms and looked away. "..."
Yoruto clapped his hands once, drawing everyone's attention back. "Alright, each of you take one. Don't lose it — these devices are rare."
The group stepped forward, each grabbing one from the case. The moment they wore them, a faint chime echoed in their ears — perfectly fitted and weightless.
Xavier adjusted his, whistling. "Wow, comfortable too. That Sumiya girl's a genius."
Desmond grinned, excitement flashing in his eyes. "Then what are we waiting for, sensei? Can we start traveling now?"
Yoruto smirked slightly, glancing at the spinning portal. "Yes. The mission begins now. Don't get yourselves killed."
The students exchanged looks — nervous, thrilled, and ready.
One step forward, and their world began to change.
The blue portal swirled violently before them, humming like a living storm. The air crackled with energy as each student stared into the unknown.
Desmond grinned, cracking his knuckles. "I'll go first."
Xavier snorted. "What? No way, I'm going first."
Before anyone could stop them, Xavier shoved him lightly. "Move it, slowpoke."
Desmond stumbled forward. "Hey! What the—"
"Wlee~," Xavier teased with a smirk.
"Ugh!" Desmond shoved him back, and they both almost tripped into the portal.
Megumi groaned, rubbing her temples. "Hey, both of you—stop fighting already!"
Kyosuke stepped forward, voice sharp as a blade. "Enough! Can you all just shut up? Move aside. I don't have time for your nonsense."
Without waiting for a response, he leaped straight into the portal, vanishing in a flash of blue.
Furuha crossed her arms, muttering coldly, "Tch. Pathetic." Then she jumped in after him, disappearing into the light.
Nanako sighed, exasperated. "Okay, both of you need to stop acting like children. This is a serious mission."
Misora smiled gently. "She's right. Anyway, I'll go next."
She took a graceful step forward and disappeared into the swirling light.
Desmond raised his hand. "Now it's my—"
"No," Yoruto interrupted flatly. "Dylan, go."
Dylan blinked, then nodded. "Yes, Sensei."
He jumped in without hesitation.
Haruki tilted his head. "Guess that means I'm last, huh?"
"Desmond," Yoruto called next.
Desmond huffed but nodded, stepping through the portal.
"Xavier," Yoruto said.
"Alright, alright, I'm going!" Xavier smirked, vanishing right after.
"Next, Nanako," Yoruto ordered, then, "Megumi."
Finally, Yoruto turned to the last two.
"Riiki."
Riiki exhaled through his nose and jumped in wordlessly.
Sayoko turned to Haruki, her tone serious. "You're the last. Go."
Haruki scratched his head. "Yeah, I knew it."
"Haruki," Sayoko said, narrowing her eyes. "Don't be clumsy. This mission isn't a playground. Got it?"
Haruki grinned awkwardly. "Yeah, yeah, I know…"
He took one cautious step forward—then got immediately sucked in.
"Huh? AHHHHHHH!!"
Moments later…
The blinding light faded. One by one, the students landed in a vast, sunlit plain covered in strange glowing grass. The sky above shimmered with two suns.
Kyosuke was the first to land, perfectly balanced. "Hmph." He brushed invisible dust off his shoulder like it was nothing.
The others dropped in soon after—light, graceful, calm.
Then—
"Ahhhhhhhh! No no no no no—!!"
Riiki came spinning from above like a malfunctioning helicopter. He hit the ground, stumbled… and somehow landed on his feet.
"Oh? I… I'm fine! Ho ho—"
Haruki shouted from above"RIIKI!! WATCH OUT!!"
Riiki froze. "Wait, wha—?!"
BAM!
Haruki came crashing down from the sky like a human meteor, slamming into Riiki and flattening him to the dirt.
Dust exploded around them.
"Ohh, ouch…" Misora winced. "That… looked painful."
Nanako jogged over. "Are you two okay?"
Haruki groaned, rubbing his head. "Ouuu… my head hurts. Hey, Riiki, you okay?"
Riiki's eyebrow twitched as he grabbed Haruki by the collar.
"You… think… I'm okay?!"
Haruki blinked innocently. "You're talking, so yeah?"
Riiki sighed, letting go. "I swear, one day that portal will eat you."
Haruki laughed weakly. "Heh. At least I'd taste heroic."
"Ugh, get up already," Riiki groaned, shoving Haruki off him.
"Okay, okay!" Haruki muttered, brushing dust off his uniform.
He blinked and slowly looked around—then his jaw dropped.
The world around them glowed under the warm hue of dusk.
Tall, elegant buildings stretched toward the sky, their windows shining like glass mirrors. Lanterns of golden light floated gently in the air. Beyond it all, a massive mountain towered in the distance, gleaming like it was forged from pure gold.
"Whoa…" Haruki's eyes sparkled. "This is majestic! Look at that— a golden mountain!"
Riiki crossed his arms, unimpressed. "Pfft. Forget majestic. If that's real gold, we're gonna be rich."
"Unbelievable…" Xavier muttered, tilting his head up. "Cool."
Misora smiled, her voice soft. "It's… really beautiful."
Furuha's arms stayed crossed, her tone sharp as ever. "Nice place. But let's not get distracted. We have a mission."
Megumi tugged at Haruki's sleeve. "Um… hey, Haruki… they're staring."
Haruki blinked. "Who?"
Desmond glanced around, uncomfortable. "Everyone. And it's kinda creepy. They literally saw us fall from the sky."
Sure enough, a crowd had gathered around them — men and women dressed in strange but stylish clothes, their eyes wide in curiosity.
One figure, a young woman with silver hair and gentle eyes, stepped forward. "Uhmm… are you all okay? I saw you fall from up there. And… who exactly are you?"
Kyosuke stepped forward, his expression cool and composed. "We're fine. We come from the Hiloxy Academy. We're here on a mission."
He paused, crossing his arms proudly. "I'm Kyosuke — Genius Hero, Rank One."
Haruki raised a hand cheerfully. "And I'm Haruki Ting! This is Riiki—my random potato."
Riiki's eye twitched. "And you're the random poop."
"Shut up," Haruki shot back immediately.
Desmond cleared his throat before another argument broke out. "I'm Desmond. That's Xavier. Over there's Nanako, and Dylan. This is Megumi."
Misora stepped forward with a polite smile. "I'm Misora."
"Furuha," came the short, sharp voice from behind.
The girl nodded politely. "Nice to meet you all. I'm Yuzuki."
Haruki grinned. "Oh, nice to meet you too, Yuzuki!"
Furuha tilted her head slightly. "May I ask… what is this place called?"
Yuzuki smiled, gesturing toward the glowing horizon. "Oh, this place? It's called Kin no Yama—The Golden Mountain."
"Kin no Yama?" Dylan asked, rubbing his chin. "Is it related to—"
"Ooooh!" Haruki interrupted, eyes lighting up. "That's why it's called Kin no Yama! Because of the mountains! Hmm, interesting!"
Riiki sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Haruki, this guy…"
Furuha muttered under her breath, gaze fixed on the glowing peaks in the distance. "Kin no Yama…"
Misora stepped forward politely. "Can you tell us anything you know about this place, Yuzuki?"
Yuzuki smiled warmly. "Of course. Kin no Yama is one of the five great cities of this world — the City of Gold. It's known for its wealth, trade, and festivals. The golden mountain you see there isn't just for decoration… it's actually made from a rare crystal that stores sunlight. When night falls, it glows and powers the whole city."
Haruki blinked. "Wait, wait, you mean that giant shiny rock is like… a solar battery?"
Yuzuki giggled softly. "You could say that. The people here are inventors, merchants, and miners. We trade crystals, craft artifacts, and celebrate every full moon with fireworks. But…" her smile faded slightly, "…lately, strange things have been happening. The mountain's glow is dimming bit by bit."
Furuha narrowed her eyes. "Something's draining it."
"Maybe," Yuzuki said softly. "Some say it's just the weather, others whisper about shadows appearing near the mines. The city guards tried to check, but… no one who went down there ever came back."
A quiet chill passed through the group.
Riiki adjusted his collar. "Sounds like we're in the right kind of trouble."
Haruki gulped. "Right kind…? More like nightmare kind!"
Misora smiled faintly, though her eyes stayed cautious. "Then our mission might start sooner than we thought."
Yuzuki gestured toward the glowing streets behind her. "Come. You should rest first. The Golden City welcomes travelers — especially heroes."
Haruki crossed his arms, glancing around. "Let's just not forget those people staring at us."
Dylan turned his head and froze. "Oh yeah… that's a lot of staring."
A small crowd had gathered — merchants, kids, even guards — whispering among themselves as they eyed the group of outsiders. Some looked curious, others wary. The glimmering sunlight reflected off the gold-plated streets, making the stares feel even more intense.
Before Haruki could open his mouth again, Yuzuki quickly stepped forward with a nervous laugh. "Everyone, please! They're guests from afar. No need to be alarmed!"
Her voice carried through the street, calm and melodic. The tension eased almost instantly; a few villagers exchanged glances and nodded, returning to their stalls and conversations.
"See?" Yuzuki said with a gentle smile, lowering her hands. "They're just… cautious when new people arrive. The last visitors weren't exactly friendly."
Haruki raised a brow. "Not friendly? You mean like, they didn't say 'hi' or they tried to blow the place up?"
Yuzuki blinked, hesitated, then sighed softly. "…The second one."
"Ah," Dylan muttered under his breath. "Great. Just great."
Kyosuke crossed his arms, his eyes still scanning the crowd. "Then we better not give them any reason to think we're the same."
Riiki smirked. "That's gonna be tough with Haruki around."
Haruki shot him a glare. "Hey! I didn't even do anything this time!"
The tension faded a little as laughter rippled through the group.
Yuzuki smiled again, relieved. "Come on. The inn's not far. I'll explain more once we're somewhere quieter."
Haruki stretched his arms lazily. "Alright, I thought they were friendly. Let's go before they change their mind."
The group started walking behind Yuzuki, who led them through the glittering streets of Kin no Yama. The air was warm, carrying the scent of metal and blossoms — strange but oddly calming.
As they walked, Haruki glanced at Nanako, who had been silent the entire time. Her steps were light, almost hesitant, her gaze fixed on the ground.
"Hey, Nanako," Haruki said, slowing down to match her pace. "You haven't said a word since we left Hiloxy. You okay?"
Nanako blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… oh, I'm… I'm fine."
Haruki frowned slightly. "You sure?"
She nodded quickly, forcing a small smile. "Yes. Really, I'm fine. You don't need to worry about me. Mission is important, remember?"
Haruki studied her for a second — her voice sounded steady, but her hands were clenched tight around her gloves.
"…Alright," he said softly, though his eyes lingered on her for a moment longer before turning away. "If you say so."
Riiki, walking just ahead, gave Haruki a teasing look. "Aww, look at you, being all caring. Didn't know you had a soft side."
Haruki rolled his eyes. "Shut up before I trip you on this golden road."
Riiki smirked. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
Yuzuki turned her head with a small laugh. "You two really get along, don't you?"
Furuha sighed behind them. "If that's what you call 'getting along,' then sure."
The group followed Yuzuki through the winding streets of Kin no Yama. The golden glow from the mountain reflected off the polished stone paths, bathing the entire city in a warm, honey-like light. Street vendors called out cheerfully, the smell of roasted nuts and sweet rice filling the air.
Misora spun around in awe. "Whoa, look at those stalls! They're selling glowing fruits!"
Xavier grinned. "Hey, maybe they'll make me glow too if I eat one."
Desmond sighed. "You'd probably explode before that happens."
"Worth it," Xavier said with a grin.
Riiki smirked. "Exploding Xavier. Sounds like a movie title."
Haruki chuckled under his breath, hands in his pockets. "Finally, a movie I'd watch."
Furuha rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "You're all hopeless."
Yuzuki giggled softly. "You guys are really funny. It's nice having travelers around who don't look so serious all the time. Come on, I'll take you somewhere safe to rest."
They followed her down a narrow alley that opened into a quiet square surrounded by golden lanterns. A modest inn stood there — its sign read The Golden Bloom, written in elegant brush strokes.
Yuzuki turned to them. "You can stay here tonight. It's one of the safest places in Kin no Yama. I'll make sure you're registered under my name."
Misora bowed slightly. "Thank you for your kindness, Yuzuki."
Yuzuki smiled warmly. "Of course. You're guests now."
Haruki glanced around. The warm glow from the lanterns made the place feel almost unreal. "Not bad. Beats sleeping in a ruined temple, that's for sure."
Riiki stretched his arms. "Finally, a real bed!"
Kyosuke crossed his arms. "Don't get too comfortable. We're not on vacation."
"Yeah, yeah," Haruki muttered. "Mission first, fun later."
As they entered the inn, the sound of soft music drifted from inside — peaceful, almost nostalgic. The air was filled with the smell of clean wood and fresh tea.
Yuzuki smiled at them one last time before turning away. "Get some rest. Tomorrow, I'll show you around the city and introduce you to the people in charge."
"Got it," Haruki said, giving a small wave.
The door closed behind her, leaving the team standing in the gentle light of the inn.
As Yuzuki's footsteps faded into the quiet night, the group stood silently in the soft glow of the lanterns. The air outside hummed with the faint sounds of Kin no Yama's nightlife — distant laughter, music, and the rustle of the golden leaves that shimmered under the moonlight.
Inside the inn, each of them found a small room — plain, but warm. Tatami floors, soft blankets, and the faint scent of sandalwood filled the air.
Misora stretched and yawned. "Finally… somewhere peaceful."
Kyosuke only grunted in agreement before laying down, arms behind his head.
Riiki muttered something about "luxury beds" and flopped face-first into his blanket.
Haruki stood by the window for a moment, watching the golden mountain shine in the distance. "Kin no Yama, huh… I wonder what kind of mess we're getting into this time."
He smirked to himself, then turned away and fell onto his bed.
The room dimmed. Outside, the moon rose high over the shining city, casting its silver light across the rooftops.
Tomorrow, their mission would begin.
But for now —
the world was calm.