Wein kept walking.
The road stretched endlessly ahead, winding through forests, fields, and gentle hills that rolled toward the distant horizon. Day slowly turned into night, and night into day again, yet his pace never truly slowed.
During the second night of his journey, Wein noticed something strange.
He wasn't tired.
Not even a little.
Normally, someone who traveled this far without rest would feel their legs weakening and their mind growing sluggish. Exhaustion would drag down every step. But Wein felt none of that. His body remained light. His breathing steady.
Even the wound across his throat—one that had nearly killed him only days earlier—had almost completely healed.
Wein slowed slightly, studying his own condition with quiet curiosity.
So I really don't need to sleep?
He thought about it carefully. It wasn't that he couldn't sleep. If he stopped somewhere safe and closed his eyes, sleep would probably come eventually. But the strange thing was that he didn't need it. His body never reached the point where rest became necessary.
Spiritual Essence flowed constantly through his veins, strengthening his muscles and refreshing his mind. The energy replaced the exhaustion ordinary humans would normally accumulate.
It was almost as if his body maintained itself from within.
Wein shrugged.
"I guess awakened people are just built differently."
Hours passed, and then more.
The road eventually carried him past other settlements. Small villages appeared along the path, their wooden houses surrounded by farmland and grazing animals. Smoke rose peacefully from chimneys while villagers worked their fields beneath the sun.
Unlike Wein's home village, these places were untouched.
No burned houses.
No corpses.
No signs of violence.
The northern savages had clearly not reached this far south. That made sense. These villages were closer to the center of the kingdom, far from the dangerous frontier where Wein had grown up.
As the day progressed, the villages gradually became larger. Some even had wooden fences and small guard posts near their entrances.
These settlements were far more prosperous than the remote frontier villages of the north. The fields were wider, the houses better maintained, and travelers moved along the roads more frequently.
It was a clear sign that Wein had left the harsh borderlands behind and was moving closer to the heart of the Emerald Kingdom.
Wein watched one of the villages from a distance as he walked past.
Farmers worked quietly in the fields while children ran between houses, laughing and chasing one another. It looked like a normal life.
Of course, the villagers noticed him.
A lone traveler with white hair and golden eyes was difficult to ignore.
As he passed the edge of one village, several farmers paused in their work to stare.
One of them muttered under his breath.
"Devil…"
Another man quickly pulled his child behind him, shielding the boy as Wein walked past.
The reaction wasn't new.
Wein didn't even bother looking at them.
He had grown up hearing those whispers.
Devil.
Curse.
Bad omen.
The rumors followed him everywhere. But none of the villagers approached him. None of them tried to attack him either.
The reason was simple, real devils looked different. True devils possessed massive red wings that could stretch across the sky. Black horns curled from their heads like twisted blades, and their mere presence filled people with terror.
Wein had none of those features. Just white hair and golden eyes. Strange enough to make people uneasy. But not enough to prove anything. So the villagers simply watched him pass.
Wein walked through their suspicious gazes without slowing.
If they wanted to whisper behind his back, that was
Night fell again.
Darkness spread across the countryside, swallowing the distant hills and turning the road into a thin path beneath the moonlight.
Wein raised his hand slightly.
A small flame appeared above his palm.
The fire burned steadily, casting a warm glow across the road ahead.
The ability had already become second nature.
Fire Bloodline.
It wasn't powerful yet, but it was incredibly useful.
The flame illuminated the road as Wein continued walking through the quiet night.
Crickets chirped in the grass. The wind drifted gently across the fields. Somewhere far away, a dog barked.
Wein's eyes reflected the firelight as he walked.
His senses that has been significantly enhanced by his Hunter bloodline remained active, quietly scanning the environment around him. Every sound, every movement, every faint scent carried by the wind reached his senses.
If danger approached, he would know.
But the road remained peaceful.
No beast, and no bandit either.
After some time, the faint outline of hills appeared ahead.
Wein slowed slightly.
The terrain was beginning to change again.
That was a good sign.
According to the stories he had heard growing up, the City of Flower was built near a range of hills at the center of the Emerald Kingdom. Merchants traveling from the south, east, and west often stopped there to trade.
If those stories were true, he was getting close.
Wein stared toward the distant hills for a moment before continuing forward.
His steps remained steady.
Behind him lay the burned remains of a village that had never accepted him.
Ahead lay a city he had never seen.
A place where mercenaries, adventurers, and bloodline warriors gathered.
Wein didn't know what awaited him there.
Perhaps opportunity.
Perhaps trouble.
Most likely both.
But one thing was certain. The boy who had once been trapped in a forgotten village no longer existed.
Now he was something else.
An awakened bloodline bearer walking toward the wider world.
And this time, if people called him a devil…
Wein would simply smile and keep walking.
The hills grew steeper as the road carried Wein farther south.
Soon the path climbed to the crest of a ridge.
When Wein reached the top, he stopped.
The City of Flower stretched across the valley below.
For a long moment, he simply stared.
The city was enormous.
Rows upon rows of rooftops filled the valley like waves of red and brown tiles. Narrow streets wound through the buildings while thin streams of smoke rose from countless chimneys.
But what truly captured Wein's attention were the walls.
Massive stone walls surrounded the entire city, towering above the surrounding land. Thick watchtowers stood along the perimeter, their silhouettes sharp against the sky.
Even from this distance, the walls looked powerful.
Solid.
Immovable.
"…That's the City of Flower."
Wein exhaled slowly.
He had heard about cities his entire life.
Merchants spoke of crowded markets, guild halls, and endless opportunities. They described places where people could rise from nothing and make a name for themselves.
But hearing those stories and actually seeing the city were two very different things.
After a moment, Wein began descending the hill.
The road became busier the closer he got to the city.
Travelers moved in both directions now.
Merchant wagons rolled along the road while hunters carried animal carcasses over their shoulders. Farmers guided carts filled with vegetables and grain.
Everyone seemed to be heading toward the same destination.
Wein walked quietly among them.
Of course, it didn't take long for people to notice him.
Several travelers glanced at him nervously before quickly looking away. Others whispered quietly as he passed.
Wein ignored them.
The massive city walls loomed ahead as the road finally reached the valley floor.
Up close, they looked even larger.
A long line of travelers waited outside the open gate.
Wein joined the line.
Guards questioned each person before allowing them to enter. Merchants presented documents. Some travelers handed over coins. Others showed small metal plaques engraved with numbers and symbols.
Wein frowned slightly.
Eventually the line moved forward.
When it was his turn, one of the guards stepped forward.
The man was broad-shouldered and wore polished armor bearing the green crest of the Emerald Kingdom.
His eyes immediately landed on Wein's face.
The guard's expression tightened slightly.
"Stop."
Wein stopped.
"Where are you coming from?" the guard asked.
"The north."
"A northern village?"
"Yes."
The guard studied him carefully. His gaze briefly lingered on the faint scar across Wein's throat.
"Name."
"Wein."
Suddenly Wein remembered the knight named Elisa, who had told him to report what happened in the north.
The guard listened, then shook his head.
"You're late. The news has already spread. The northern savages sent ten thousand soldiers across the border to invade the kingdom."
He smiled proudly.
"But they were no match for Lady Elisa."
Wein blinked slightly.
Ten thousand? And the woman I met a few days ago stopped them? Is she also awakened? Of course she is. No ordinary humam could face ten thousand troops
Before he could think further, the guard spoke again.
"Anyway, what business do you have in the City of Flower?"
"Looking for work."
The guard nodded slowly.
"You have identification?"
Wein blinked.
"…Identification?"
The guard sighed.
"If you want to enter the city, you need a city ID."
He pointed toward several metal plaques on a nearby table.
"Travelers without one can purchase a temporary identification."
Wein crossed his arms.
"How much?"
"Fifty silver."
Wein stared at him.
"…Fifty?"
The guard nodded calmly.
Wein fell silent.
Fifty silver.
Back in his village, the most money he had ever saved was one hundred bronze coins.
Ten silver.
And even that had taken months.
Fifty silver was far beyond anything he had ever owned.
The guard watched him.
"You don't have it?"
Wein shook his head.
The guard leaned against the table.
"If everyone could enter the city for free," he said calmly, "everyone would already be inside."
He glanced back toward the massive city behind him.
"No one would live outside the walls."
Then he looked at Wein again.
"This city is special. The heart of the kingdom."
His voice hardened slightly.
"No beggars allowed inside."
Wein remained silent for a moment.
Then he nodded.
"I understand."
He stepped away from the gate.
Travelers behind him immediately moved forward.
Within seconds the guards were already questioning the next person.
Wein stopped near the roadside.
The towering gates stood only a short distance away.
So close.
Yet completely unreachable.
Wein scratched the back of his head.
"Well…"
He looked down at his empty hands.
He had nothing.
No coins.
No supplies worth selling.
Back in the village, he had been a hunter who occasionally caught wild boars.
But he already knew how that would go.
Boars sold for bronze coins.
Even if he hunted all week, it wouldn't reach fifty silver.
Wein sighed.
"That won't work."
His gaze drifted back to the guard.
"How can I get fifty silver quickly?"
The guard shrugged.
"Go rob someone."
Wein blinked.
He wasn't sure if the man was serious.
A moment later, the guard burst into laughter.
"Relax, buddy. I'm joking!"
He gestured toward the road.
"If you want quick money, talk to passing merchants and ask for work. If you're good at fighting, they might hire you as a bodyguard."
He laughed again, clearly amused by the idea of such a skinny boy becoming a guard.
But for Wein, it was useful advice.
Right. I'm awakened, it shouldn't be that hard to get hired. Awakened people aren't exactly common.
"Thank you for the advice," Wein said.
Then he turned away from the city gate with a faint smile.
Behind him, the guard laughed even louder.
But just as Wein began walking toward the merchant caravans, something familiar happened.
A rock the size of a fist flew toward his head.
Normally, it would have hit him. That had happened countless times throughout his life.
But this time, something different happened.
Without even looking, Wein raised his hand and caught the rock.
His Hunter Bloodline had already told him exactly where it was coming from.
Wein slowly turned his head.
Four people stood nearby, smirking.
But their smiles froze the moment they saw the rock in his hand.
In the past, Wein would have ignored them. He would have walked away. That was how he had survived growing up. But that was when he was weak.
The rock rested quietly in Wein's palm.
For a brief moment, the road outside the city gate felt strangely still. Travelers continued moving along the path, carts rattling over dirt and stone, but the space around Wein and the four men tightened with tension.
Wein slowly turned his head and studied them.
Four men stood several steps away, each wearing worn leather armor. The armor was scratched and faded but still sturdy enough for real combat. Short swords and long knives hung at their waists, the kind often carried by mercenaries or thugs who lingered near city gates looking for easy targets.
Wein quietly absorbed the information.
The tall man who had thrown the rock crossed his arms, clearly amused.
"What's the matter?" he said with a crooked grin. "Never seen a rock before?"
The other three men snickered.
Wein glanced at the stone in his palm.
"You threw this," he said calmly.
"So?" the tall man replied.
Without another word, Wein threw the rock.
The stone shot through the air with surprising speed, cutting across the distance like a small projectile.
But before it could reach its target—
CLACK.
A blade flashed.
One of the men stepped forward smoothly and swung his sword upward. The flat of the blade intercepted the rock, knocking it aside with a sharp metallic sound. The stone bounced harmlessly across the road before rolling into the dirt.
The man lowered his sword. A faint smile rested on his lips, but his eyes were calm and focused.
He lazily spun the blade in his hand before resting it against his shoulder.
"Well now," he said. "That was a bit rude."
Behind him, the tall man scoffed.
"Break his teeth."
The swordsman chuckled.
"With pleasure."
He stepped forward without hesitation. His movements were relaxed and confident, like someone who had done this many times before. The sword hung loosely in his hand, yet it looked ready to strike at any moment.
Wein watched him approach.
The deflection of the rock hadn't surprised him. His instinct had already told him these men weren't ordinary villagers or farmers.
The swordsman stopped a few steps away.
"Last chance," he said casually. "Apologize for being rude, brat."
Wein said nothing.
Around them, the road began to slow. Travelers approaching the gate noticed the confrontation and stopped to watch. Murmurs spread quickly through the gathering crowd.
"What's going on?"
"Someone picked a fight?"
"That kid's in trouble…"
Within moments, a loose circle formed around the two men.
Among the spectators stood three figures wearing dark blue robes, two men and one woman. Their clothing was far cleaner and more refined than most travelers nearby.
They stood slightly apart from the others, quietly observing.
The woman folded her arms.
"Looks like someone angered the Red Serpent thugs."
One of the men beside her shrugged.
"Happens every day."
The other man didn't answer immediately. His eyes remained fixed on Wein.
Back in the center of the road, the swordsman shifted his stance slightly. The faint smile remained on his face, but his body had already settled into a ready posture.
"Alright," he said. "You want a beating? I'll give you one."
His foot pushed off the ground.
The sword flashed.
The strike came fast—a horizontal slash aimed directly at Wein's shoulder. The blade cut through the air with a sharp whistle as it closed the distance.
Gasps rippled through the watching crowd.
But Wein had already moved.
His body shifted aside almost automatically, guided by instinct rather than thought. The blade sliced through empty air, missing him by only a few centimeters.
The swordsman's eyes widened slightly.
Fast.
He twisted his wrist and prepared a second strike.
But Wein was already inside his reach.
Hunter Instinct guided him forward.
Closer.
Inside the sword's range.
Wein's right arm moved.
He had never thrown a punch before. In his entire life, he had never been in a real fight.
Yet strangely, his body felt calm.
His heart didn't race.
His breathing didn't quicken.
Even though the man in front of him held a weapon.
Even though Wein had no combat training at all.
His body simply moved.
His fist shot upward.
CRACK.
The uppercut slammed into the man's jaw.
The impact echoed across the road like breaking wood. The swordsman's head snapped back violently, and his body lifted off the ground as the force of the punch launched him upward.
Shock spread through the crowd.
"He knocked him up—!"
For a brief moment, the man hung in the air.
Wein looked up at him.
Hunter Instinct reacted again.
His left hand clenched.
Spiritual Essence surged through his arm, gathering in his fist like burning energy.
Orange flames ignited around his knuckles.
Startled cries erupted from the crowd.
Wein stepped forward and twisted his body.
His flaming fist slammed into the airborne man's stomach.
BOOM.
Heat and force exploded outward from the impact. The man's body folded around the strike before being launched backward like a rag doll.
He crashed into the road and tumbled violently across the dirt.
Ten meters.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Finally, he came to a stop halfway down the road.
Silence fell over the entire area.
No one spoke.
Even the three remaining thugs stood frozen, staring at their companion lying motionless in the dirt.
One of them whispered hoarsely,
"What… the hell was that?"
The woman in the dark blue robe raised an eyebrow.
One of the men beside her nodded slowly.
"Fire Bloodline."
The other man continued watching Wein with narrowed eyes.
"And physical strength like that…"
His voice trailed off thoughtfully.
The woman shrugged.
"Either he's extremely confident… or extremely stupid for provoking the Red Serpent group."
Her companion replied,
"Or he's bait—pretending to be alone until his allies reveal themselves."
"It could be both," said the other man.
Back in the center of the road, Wein lowered his fists. The flames around his hand faded and disappeared.
His breathing remained steady.
He glanced down at his hands.
Everything had happened so quickly.
Then he looked toward the man lying dozens of meters away. The three remaining thugs immediately took several steps back. All traces of their earlier arrogance had vanished.
One of them swallowed nervously.
"You're going to pay for this!"
Wein looked at them.
For a moment, the thought of beating the rest of them crossed his mind.
But at that moment, the city guards arrived.
"NO FIGHTING NEAR THE CITY, YOU DUMBFUCKS!" one of the guards shouted.
The three thugs quickly ran down the road toward their fallen companion. They lifted him awkwardly and began dragging him away without even looking back.
The crowd slowly began murmuring again.
Some people looked impressed.
Others looked uneasy.
A few even looked at Wein with pity.
As for the pity look, Wein wasn't sure why.
Ignoring them—and the guards—he turned his attention to the sword lying on the ground.
no one would mind if I take it, right?
He walked over and picked it up.
It was the first time he had ever held a sword.
He studied it with interest.
Excluding the hilt, the double-edged blade measured about one meter long. The hilt itself was unusual, designed like the scales of a red snake.
Wein felt a slight disappointment when he realized the swordsman hadn't dropped the scabbard.
Walking around with a naked sword would make him look like a bandit.
For a moment, he considered selling it. But he quickly dismissed the idea. A sharp weapon like this would be very useful for him