Time passed as the carriage made its way along the stone paths, its wheels producing a steady rhythm like the ticking of an endless clock.
None of us spoke much, as if silence had become our only companion on this journey.
After nearly an hour, the carriage finally came to a stop.
The driver leaned forward slightly, then opened the door with practiced precision, as if performing a routine task.
Aureus stepped out first, his movements confident, his yellow eyes arriving before the rest of him. Then we followed one by one.
The moment my feet touched the ground, my eyes fell upon a building I had never seen before: a small inn, yet one that carried an astonishing level of elegance.
It stood like an architectural masterpiece in the quiet street.
Its outer walls were covered in polished sandstone, reflecting sunlight in a faint golden hue.
The roof slanted in an old-fashioned style, covered with crimson panels that seemed woven to evoke a sense of history.
Tall windows lined the structure, reinforced with thin black iron bars, while delicate engravings framed them, enhancing their beauty.
At the entrance stood two carefully carved stone pillars, from which hung clear glass lanterns that shimmered softly.
The inn wasn't large, yet it radiated refinement—as if its owner intended to hide something deeper behind its modest appearance.
I stared in amazement, but Aureus cut through my thoughts with his cold voice:
"Then… let's go inside."
We moved behind him and entered through a massive wooden door adorned with polished metal that reflected like a mirror.
The interior was completely different from what I had expected.
A spacious hall welcomed us, its walls covered in dark polished wood. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, scattering its fractured light across the pristine white marble floor.
A faint fragrance blended with the scent of wood, giving the place an aura of luxury and warmth.
Leather seats were arranged neatly along the sides, and green plants in the corners added life and calm to the space.
But that calm shattered when the receptionist approached us, dressed in an elegant navy uniform with golden trims.
She smiled gently and said in a cheerful voice:
"Welcome. How many rooms would you like?"
Before anyone could answer, Aureus stepped forward and said briefly:
"Five. One. Nine."
And in that instant, everything changed.
The smile vanished from her face, replaced by a cold, rigid expression—like a metallic mask.
She nodded silently, then said in a dry tone:
"Follow me."
My heart trembled slightly.
What was that?!
Why did her expression change so suddenly?
And what did Aureus mean by "five, one, nine"?
Could there really be a hidden door here?
Like in the movies I used to watch in my previous world?
I laughed inwardly to shake off the tension:
Yeah, right… I'm just letting my imagination run wild.
But events didn't give me time to dwell on that thought.
The receptionist calmly walked toward the right wall, then placed her palm on a nearly invisible spot.
Suddenly, the wall slid open smoothly, revealing a real hidden door!
I gasped silently.
What?!
There really is a secret door!
So the numbers Aureus mentioned were a password?!
I tried to memorize them quickly.
What was it again?
Five… one… nine? Or five… one… eight?
Ugh… I'm not sure! I'll remember both—maybe they'll be useful later.
There was no time to think further.
Aureus followed the receptionist through the hidden door with steady steps, and the employer followed him without surprise, as if he already knew this path.
Then came Sirion, his face empty of emotion.
After him, Zairos, visibly tense, glancing left and right.
Then Vesper, whose face shone with excitement like a child on a new adventure.
And finally… me.
The moment I entered, the wall closed behind us—or rather, the "door."
Ahead of us was a stone staircase descending downward, lit by torches fixed along the walls.
The air grew colder, and the scent of dampness mixed with faint incense.
We descended step by step, each one feeling as though it carried us into another world.
Until finally, we reached a vast underground chamber… and that was where the real shock awaited.
The basement wasn't dark as I had imagined.
It was astonishingly luxurious.
The floor was covered in polished black marble, reflecting the light of hundreds of lamps hanging from the high ceiling.
At the center stood a massive circular arena, surrounded by a gleaming metal barrier. Its floor was made of hardened wood blended with leather, as if it had been built specifically for combat.
But what truly brought the place to life wasn't the arena…
It was the crowd.
Yes—rows of seats stretched along both sides, filled with people.
Men and women, their faces lit with excitement, shouting loudly, fists raised in the air.
Their voices roared like a raging sea—some chanting Aureus's name, others chanting a name I didn't recognize yet.
Everything was polished, clean, perfectly arranged—completely different from the quiet inn above.
Here, the atmosphere burned with noise, tension, and excitement.
I stood there, stunned, my heart pounding violently.
Alright… this is strange. No—this is really strange…!
Are we really here just for a fight?
Or is what awaits us far deeper than I can imagine?
I was still staring at the brightly lit arena and the roaring crowd filling the grand basement when Aureus's sharp voice cut through the noise, piercing my ears:
"We've arrived… this is the place where you will fight against the other four."
My heart trembled at his words.
We… will fight?
Aureus slowly raised his hand and pointed toward the distant rows of seats at the far end of the hall, where five figures sat calmly amidst all the chaos.
I followed his gaze—and saw them clearly, one by one.
The first was a thin man, so frail it seemed a strong wind could knock him over.
His black hair was messy, his eyes sunken, yet a strange glimmer shone within them—as if something lurked behind his miserable appearance.
The second was his complete opposite: a massive man with bulging muscles, and a long scar stretching from above his eyebrow down to his cheek.
His features were harsh, his eyes sharp like drawn blades.
The third was more mysterious; his body was covered in a wide gray cloak that completely concealed his face, leaving only a vague shadow.
I couldn't tell whether human eyes watched us from beneath—or something else entirely.
The fourth looked like an ordinary man you might pass on the street every day.
Simple brown hair, familiar features—nothing particularly suspicious or impressive.
But deep down, I knew: no one here was truly ordinary.
Then my gaze fell upon the fifth…
And my breath froze.
A man with curly white hair flowing over his shoulders like threads of moonlight.
His features were sharp, as if carved from stone, yet he wore a wide, confident smile—one that carried unmistakable arrogance.
He wasn't just another among the four.
He felt like their leader… or perhaps the true purpose behind all of this.
Aureus raised his hand slightly, pointing at him, and said in a cold voice laced with hatred:
"Do you see the man with white hair? That is my enemy."
My eyes returned to him again.
He sat leaning back comfortably, one leg crossed over the other, that same smile still on his lips.
Aureus continued:
"And beside him are his four subordinates… the ones you will fight against."
My muscles stiffened.
Us? Fight them?!
But Aureus didn't stop.
He continued in a sharp, commanding tone:
"We challenged each other to see who would win—but under one condition: the fighters must be the weak ones. That is why you four, and those four, have been labeled as 'weak.'"
His voice suddenly rose, his yellow eyes gleaming with a frightening light:
"So… don't disappoint me! Win!"
A chill ran through my body at his tone.
But Sirion, with his calm face and steady voice, asked:
"But… what do you gain from this? It's not like you'll earn money if we win."
Aureus smiled—a sinister smile that made every hair on my body stand on end.
Then he said, lowering his voice slightly as if savoring his words:
"What do I gain? Isn't it obvious? I'll see Hontar's miserable face when he loses. I'll see him humiliated… defeated… pitiful. Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed through the underground hall like cold blades piercing my ears.
A shiver ran down my spine.
I had never imagined hatred could drive someone to such joy in another's downfall.
But what made the chill even worse was what I saw next…
The white-haired man—Hontar—was laughing too.
A mocking smile spread across his face, and a soft laugh escaped him, as if he were sharing in Aureus's game.
My eyes widened.
Impossible…!
Could he have heard what Aureus said?!
No… that's not possible.
The distance is too great, and the noise of the crowd is deafening.
No ordinary human could hear something like that in this chaos.
…Or am I imagining things?
Maybe it's just a coincidence.
Or perhaps—and this was the thought that terrified me the most—
Hontar isn't an ordinary human at all.