The large, reinforced wheels of the merchant caravan creaked rhythmically against the dirt road as the sun began its slow descent behind the trees. Shadows stretched long, the golden hour bathing the path in an amber hue. Birds scattered in the treetops as a quiet, heavy tension remained in the air—the kind that lingered after someone terrifying had made their presence known.
Inside the main carriage, the merchant sat stiffly opposite Hujiro. The man was plump, with thinning gray hair and a constantly perspiring forehead. His fine silk robes—once spotless—were now slightly wrinkled from nervous fidgeting. He clutched his ledger to his chest like a shield. Across from him sat Yujiro, broad-shouldered and nearly too large for the carriage's cushioned bench, legs spread, one elbow rested casually on the windowsill. He stared at the merchant with that same half-smirk—lazy yet lethal.
"Talk," Yujiro said, his voice smooth but commanding. "Tell me about Ruberios."
The merchant blinked, startled by the suddenness of the request, then stammered, "Y-yes, of course, s-sir." He gulped. "Ruberios… is a holy kingdom. Blessed, they say. Governed by His Holiness, the Holy Emperor Louis Valentine. It's the most sacred land known to man. A symbol of civilization, prosperity, and purity."
Yujiro didn't respond right away. He merely tilted his head, brow raised slightly.
"…That so?"
"Yes!" the merchant nodded vigorously. "All citizens contribute. Children go to schools funded by the Church. Crime is rare—unheard of, even. And monsters…" He paused, glancing nervously at Yujiro's eyes, uncertain what he was. "Monsters are forbidden. There's a massive holy barrier that surrounds the entire capital. It wards off all non-humans. Only those with approval—divine approval—may enter."
Yujiro's smirk faded slightly. His brow furrowed—not in worry, but contemplation. He leaned forward a little, making the merchant inch back instinctively.
"This barrier…" Yujiro said slowly. "What's it made of?"
"Holy magic," the merchant whispered, clutching his ledger tighter. "A construct that even demons and elementals can't break. The capital can even control its own weather—sunshine when they want it, rain for the fields. They grow anything, any time of year. Some say they even make fruits from other continents."
"Sounds like a utopia," Yujiro said, voice low, almost amused. He glanced out the window at the fading sunlight. "But utopias don't exist. Not without a cost."
The merchant hesitated. "That may be true… but no one questions the Emperor. His word is divine law."
Yujiro chuckled quietly. "Divine law? Man-made rules in gold wrapping."
He leaned back into his seat, arms folding across his massive chest. The leather of his coat creaked with the movement. The caravan rocked gently, continuing its path through the winding forest roads, now opening into plains that stretched far beyond the horizon.
After a few moments of silence, Yujiro spoke again—this time more casually, almost bored.
"How far are we from the capital?"
"U-uhm… about two days, maybe less if we keep up our pace."
"Good. I want to see this place for myself."
The merchant shivered. "Y-you won't try to break through the barrier, will you?"
Yujiro turned his gaze back on the merchant, eyes sharp like honed obsidian.
"Do I look like someone who asks for permission?"
The merchant didn't answer. He couldn't. Instead, he sank deeper into his seat, hands trembling.
Outside the Carriage…
The five adventurers rode alongside the caravan in dead silence. The man Hujiro had choked earlier sat on his horse with a bruised neck, massaging it gently, his eyes constantly glancing toward the main carriage.
The leader, the seasoned adventurer who had spoken to Yujiro before, whispered to the others, "Don't provoke him. We're lucky he didn't tear us in half."
One of the younger adventurers spat to the side. "We're B-rank. We've fought ogres, bandits, even a wyvern once. We can't be that outclassed."
"You didn't see what I saw," the leader said grimly. "That thing… that man... he's not bound by the rules we know. I felt no aura, no energy—just power. Raw, suffocating power. He's like… a mountain with a heartbeat."
The others fell quiet.
Back Inside…
The merchant mustered the courage to speak again. "Why… why do you want to go to Ruberios, if I may ask?"
Yujiro didn't answer at first.
"I want to see what kind of place hides behind that barrier," he said eventually. "I want to see the truth behind the painted mask."
He cracked his knuckles slowly, eyes still out the window.
"And if I don't like what I see… I'll rip that mask off myself."
The merchant's blood turned cold. He turned to prayer under his breath.
And Yujiro? He just smiled wider.
Inside the caravan, Yujiro sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes closed, body still as stone. He barely seemed to breathe. The merchant sat across from him, wringing his hands nervously, still shaken from the previous conversation. The man stole occasional glances at Yujiro but quickly looked away each time. There was something unnatural about the man—something that went beyond power.
He had heard that name before—Luminous Valentine. When Veldora spoke of her, it had been with a rare seriousness. A Demon Lord, ancient and powerful, yet ruling over a human kingdom. A contradiction. A puzzle.
Yujiro liked puzzles.
But for now, he waited. He listened.
And soon, he heard what the wind carried before anyone else.
Howls.
Outside the caravan, the wind kicked up. The adventurers had just rotated shifts when the first howl echoed across the plains. Then another. Then more—dozens, closing in.
The leader of the adventurer party stood up on his horse's saddle, scanning the far hill. "Shit… Direwolves!"
The youngest one cursed. "Twelve—maybe more! They're fast! They'll catch us in minutes!"
"Circle the wagons!" the leader barked. "Form a line! Protect the merchant carriage!"
Inside the caravan, the merchant jumped to his feet, pale and trembling. "W-what is it?! What's happening?!"
"Wolves," Yujiro said calmly, still seated.
The merchant's eyes widened. "D-direwolves? We're doomed! They eat through metal armor!"
Yujiro opened his eyes. Jet black, calm, focused.
He stood.
"W-wait! You can't go out there alone!" the merchant shouted as Yujiro stepped toward the door. "They'll tear you apart!"
Hujiro didn't answer.
Outside, the adventurers had already drawn their weapons. One archer on the caravan roof knocked an arrow, eyes scanning. The others were clutching swords, axes, shields—anything they had.
And then, Yujiro stepped out.
The moment his boots hit the dirt, all eyes turned to him.
"Hey! Get back inside!" one of the adventurers shouted. "It's not safe!"
Another narrowed his eyes. "What the hell's he doing?"
"He's insane—"
But Yujiro kept walking, eyes fixed on the advancing wolves in the distance. They were massive—each nearly the size of a horse, with dark gray fur and glowing red eyes. They ran in perfect formation, led by the largest one—a black-furred alpha with a jagged scar over one eye.
The alpha snarled and leapt.
It soared through the air, jaws wide, aiming straight for Hujiro's throat.
The world seemed to slow.
And then—
CRACK.
A blur of motion.
The sound of something being cleaved in two.
The alpha's body hit the ground behind Hujiro… headless. Blood sprayed across the grass in a crescent shape. His hand was still held out mid-chop, fingers slightly curled as if he had simply slapped a mosquito.
Everyone froze.
The adventurer on the roof dropped his arrow.
"What… the hell?"
"Did he use a knife?"
"I didn't see anything—was it magic?"
The wolves hesitated. Their leader was dead. But instinct took over.
They attacked.
All at once.
Twelve direwolves lunged at him from every direction—claws slashing, fangs bared, primal fury in their eyes.
Five seconds later…
Twelve heads rolled across the field.
Not a single drop of blood had touched Yujiro's coat.
He turned slowly, looking at the stunned adventurers and wide-eyed merchant.
"Tonight…" he said, cracking his neck lazily, "we eat wolves."
That Night...
They sat around a fire beneath the stars. The direwolves, now skinned, cleaned, and cooked, filled the air with a savory aroma. The meat sizzled over open flames, and the smell did little to calm the nerves of the adventurers. They sat in silence, chewing slowly, glancing at Yujiro every few seconds.
No one dared to sit close to him.
He sat cross-legged again, eating a leg of direwolf with one hand, eyes half-closed, face calm.
The leader of the adventurers finally whispered, "Where the hell did he come from?"
The younger one muttered, "Forget where—what is he?"
The Next Morning…
The sun rose behind gray clouds as the caravan moved steadily up the cobbled road. Hills parted to reveal a breathtaking sight ahead:
The capital city of Ruberios.
White stone towers pierced the sky, glimmering faintly with magical runes. A vast, semi-transparent golden dome stretched high above, enclosing the city like a second sky. Within it, the weather was bright, clear, warm—unnaturally so. Outside the barrier, the air was cool and still.
A long line of people stretched toward the main gate. Merchants, pilgrims, adventurers, farmers—all waiting to be let in. Guards clad in shining white armor marched along the edge of the barrier, scanning the line with serious expressions.
The merchant peeked out of the caravan window. "Ah! We're almost there! Gods be praised!"
Yujiro opened his eyes. His meditation was over.
He stood.
"What are you doing?" the merchant asked nervously. "You'll need to wait in line like everyone else—"
But Yujiro was already gone.
He jumped off the moving carriage, landing effortlessly. The adventurers stopped their horses.
"Hey—where's he going?"
"Wait! He's heading for the gate!"
The merchant shouted after him. "W-wait! You can't just walk in!"
But Yujiro wasn't listening.
He waved a hand lazily toward the group without looking back.
And then, with the confidence of a man who had never been denied anything in his life, Yujiro walked straight toward the golden barrier of Ruberios.