The guard took out a green envelope from his chest and handed it to Ron.
"Your Highness Ron, this is an invitation from Emperor André III for the Spring Hunt, inviting the young elites of the Royal Capital to participate in March's hunting event."
Spring Hunt…
Ron quickly recalled.
Thinking about the timing, it was indeed approaching.
Every year in early March, after the Spring Martial Tournament, Emperor André III would invite participants and noble youths of the Royal Capital to head west to the Sunset Forest for a hunting event.
That was the Spring Hunt.
Events like this were mostly meant to give noble youths opportunities to recruit talented individuals, while also serving as a venue for socializing and even arranging marriages.
Among those who participated in the Spring Martial Tournament, not everyone was willing to enter the military and fight on the battlefield.
Becoming a personal guard under a noble family was also a respectable option.
Those willing to return to their hometowns and dedicate themselves there were, after all, a minority.
However, this didn't concern Ron much.
He had little interest in recruiting talent, nor did he care to socialize with other nobles, let alone consider marriage alliances.
Still, he didn't reject the invitation outright. He accepted it and decided to see how he felt when the time came.
The Spring Hunt was entirely voluntary—attendance was up to personal choice.
So after delivering the invitation and seeing no objections, the guard didn't ask whether Ron would attend and simply took his leave.
Nora looked curiously at the green envelope in Ron's hand. "Boss, are you going?"
"Depends on my mood." Ron put the letter into his [Backpack], then teasingly cupped Nora's smooth cheek. "It'll probably take seven or eight days round trip—I'd hate to be away from you that long."
A sweet smile spread across Nora's lips, her cheeks slightly flushed. "If you want to go, I can come with you."
Behind them at the counter, Yuna—who was wiping glasses—had veins bulging on her forehead, the cloth squeaking loudly against the glass.
After finishing, she tossed the towel aside and immediately tried to escape, worried she'd suffocate from all the "sweetness" in the air.
"Yuna, two cups of Abyss, please."
Just as she was about to leave, she froze, turned back stiffly, and forced out through gritted teeth: "…Alright."
Clack, clack!
Two cups of Abyss were placed on the counter. Yuna clapped her hands and walked off, dragging another employee over to replace her.
Ron picked up one cup and held it to Nora's lips, whispering with a chuckle, "Looks like someone got chased off by us."
Nora held the cup with both hands, took a small sip, and smiled playfully, leaning into his arms, unwilling to move.
After lingering together for a while, the two went upstairs to check on the progress of the 'War of the Gods' Cup.
Three rounds would be played on the first day, and Arena Four had just finished its first round.
Ron glanced at the scoreboard—and, as expected, saw Sylvie's name at the very bottom.
Sigh… hopefully this tournament helps her quit her obsession with mahjong… Ron thought to himself.
…
Evening, a small shop in the southern district of the Royal Capital.
Fifteen-year-old Andy finished organizing the shelves with his father, then ran out of the shop and wandered through the streets.
His parents were ordinary commoners, running a small shop selling daily necessities.
With an income of only a few dozen silver coins per month, they barely managed to get by in the Royal Capital.
Andy had attended Daor Primary Academy for just one year before dropping out due to financial difficulties.
Since then, he had stayed home helping his father run the shop.
His future seemed already decided—he would likely spend his entire life in that small store.
A life whose end could be seen at a glance.
Though unwilling, Andy had no power to resist fate. At night, he wandered the streets, watching others' lives with envy.
Passing through the Central Street of Peace Square, he stopped in front of the hotpot and barbecue restaurant opened by Princess Mia.
He sniffed deeply, letting the aroma of meat fill his nose.
Sigh… when will I ever get to eat hotpot?
Staring at the brightly lit restaurant, Andy sighed inwardly.
Though the prices were affordable, a meal there still cost more than eating at home.
Given his family's situation, they had to save wherever possible—luxuries like this were out of reach.
Just standing outside and enjoying the smell was already enough.
With messy black hair, Andy lingered at the entrance, watching the flow of people, sighing quietly.
Being born into poverty was almost like an original sin.
He didn't blame his parents—they had spent all their savings to send him to school.
Even though he couldn't continue, at least he learned to read and do basic math.
At least he wouldn't starve.
But his life… would probably never change.
Without becoming a warrior or a mage, commoners had almost no chance of moving up.
And Andy had no talent for either.
That path was completely closed to him.
Shaking his head, he pushed those thoughts aside.
Thinking about it only made him feel worse.
He left the restaurant and continued walking.
But after just a few steps, he stopped again.
"This is…"
His eyes widened as he stared at a shop ahead.
On both sides of the entrance were large wall posters.
A girl in a purple dress, leaning slightly forward with a bright smile and fair skin, instantly captured all his attention.
After staring for who knew how long, Andy stiffly raised his head to read the sign—
"Magic Battle Arena."
He instinctively took half a step back.
In his mind, anything related to magic was ridiculously expensive.
What if everything inside was priced in gold coins?
Wouldn't that just be embarrassing?
Just as he was about to leave, he noticed several plainly dressed commoners walking into the shop.
The attendants at the entrance greeted them politely and let them in without hesitation.
That sparked his curiosity.
After another glance at Elementia on the wall, Andy finally gathered his courage and approached.
"Um… what does this Magic Battle Arena do?"
The attendant, clearly used to such questions, smiled politely. "Have you heard of Element Cards?"
"Oh, yeah! I've played them before," Andy said, recalling a game he once played in a park—something like Landlord.
"Element Cards come in commoner and noble versions. The noble version has a special mode called Magic Duels. Our arena provides a place specifically for that."
After hearing this, Andy immediately hesitated. "S-sorry… I don't have noble Element Cards… they must be expensive…"
"No need to worry. We offer free borrowing services—you can use a basic Noble Element Card deck without paying anything."
"Really?" Andy couldn't believe it.
Then how did the arena make money?
"We sell drinks and desserts. Those cost money. If you don't need them, you don't have to spend anything."
"You can go in and take a look. If I were lying, you'd know right away. No need to guess here."
Andy hesitated, peeking inside.
There were indeed many commoners inside—it didn't look like a scam.
After another glance at Elementia, he nodded and stepped inside.
Like Andy, many others passing by for the first time were drawn in by the posters and ended up entering the arena.
The first-floor hall was lively and noisy.
Coming from the quiet street, Andy felt a bit overwhelmed.
Looking around, he noticed a staircase on the right.
The people going up and down were well-dressed, clearly different from those on the first floor.
He quickly looked away.
The second floor wasn't a place for someone like him.
"Do you need any help?" a staff member asked.
"I-it's my first time here…" Andy said nervously.
"In that case, please follow me." The staff guided him to the left. "If you're unfamiliar with Magic Duels, you can start in the beginner area."
"Dealers there will explain the rules. Once you understand, you can register at the counter and borrow a deck for free."
Andy nodded vaguely and followed along, stopping beside a table where a duel was in progress.
One player lost and slammed the table in frustration, as if he had lost something important, then eagerly urged for the next round.
"Do they… gamble?" Andy whispered.
The staff immediately shook their head. "Gambling is prohibited here. That's the Boss's rule."
"Then why are they so upset when they lose?"
"Because if you win, you can earn money," the staff said cheerfully.
"…Huh?"
Andy was completely confused.
First, they said no gambling—then they said winners could earn money?
Did the money just appear out of nowhere?
"Don't worry," the staff member smiled. "Listen to the rules first. Once you understand, go to the counter—they'll explain everything in detail."
"I need to greet new customers now. Enjoy your time."
Andy opened his mouth, wanting to ask more, but felt too embarrassed.
So he stayed, watching the game continue.