The wind had long faded by the time they left the plains.
The silence that followed the global announcement still lingered in the air—like something unseen watching from above.
Rio walked ahead.
Ryota followed.
"…We should head to town," she said.
"Yeah," he nodded. "Selling all this junk would help."
She took another step—
Then suddenly stopped.
Her hand shot out, grabbing his shoulder.
"Wait."
Ryota blinked.
"…What?"
Rio didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she opened her system menu with practiced speed, fingers moving across invisible panels only she could see.
"…Hide your status."
"…Huh?"
"There's a feature," she continued, voice lower now. "You can conceal certain player information. Titles. Equipment effects."
A pause.
Then—
"…But we both need to hide the Marriage status which is included. It lasts three days."
Ryota didn't hesitate.
"Got it."
A simple gesture.
A click.
He hid the Marriage status.
Done.
Rio froze slightly.
"…You're not going to ask why?"
Ryota shrugged.
"You wouldn't stop me if it wasn't important."
Silence.
For a brief moment—
Rio just stared at him.
Then—
She nodded.
"…Good."
She turned away again.
"…If people see that we're the ones who triggered the announcement—"
Her grip tightened slightly around her weapon.
"…They'll come after us."
Ryota let out a quiet whistle.
"…They're not strong enough though"
Rio didn't look back.
"…Some are not but I don't want to be in the players hunt list for the next month."
The Town Of Beginnings — Merchant District
Noise.
Crowds.
Movement.
The city was alive in a way the plains could never be.
Players flooded the streets—voices overlapping, speculation running wild.
"Hidden dungeon—!"
"First clear rewards—!"
"Find the couple—!"
Rio and Ryota walked through it all unnoticed.
Just another pair.
Just another low-level party.
Invisible.
Exactly how Rio wanted it.
"…Over here."
She led him toward a row of NPC stalls, each filled with materials, weapons, and supplies.
A merchant glanced up as they approached.
"Hello Adventurer, Are you here to sell your materials?"
Rio nodded.
One by one—
She began.
Yakolith Tears.
Yakolith Meat.
Yakolith Teeth.
Fragments. Drops. Materials.
Everything she didn't need—
Gone.
The merchant worked quickly, hands moving with mechanical precision as coins clinked onto the counter.
When it was over—
Rio checked her balance.
"…Thirteen."
Ryota leaned in.
"…For three hours?"
Rio's expression didn't change.
"…Yes."
A pause.
"…It's still terrible but I don't expect anything from the lower levels."
Ryota laughed.
"…You're impossible."
Rio ignored that.
Instead, she opened her trade panel—
Transferred coins.
Six copper slid into Ryota's inventory.
"…Here."
Ryota blinked.
"…You're splitting it?"
Rio crossed her arms.
"…You helped."
A small pause.
"…I owe you one extra copper."
She looked away slightly.
"…I'll give it to you next time."
Ryota chuckled.
"…I'll hold you to that."
They stepped away from the stall.
The noise of the city swallowed them again.
For a moment—
Things felt…
Normal.
They walked side by side through the crowded street.
Then—
Ryota spoke.
"…You're not excited?"
Rio glanced at him.
"…About what?"
"The hidden dungeon."
He tilted his head.
"…Everyone's going crazy over it."
A beat.
"…But you're just… farming yaks."
Rio looked forward again.
"…We don't need it."
"…Don't need it?"
She nodded.
"…Hidden dungeons sound valuable."
A pause.
"…But they're not always efficient."
Ryota frowned slightly.
"…Explain?"
Rio exhaled softly.
"…That dungeon?"
Her voice remained calm.
Certain.
"…It gives a party medium health potion recipe."
Ryota blinked.
"…That sounds useful."
"…For guilds."
She corrected him immediately.
"…Large parties. Long raids."
A small pause.
"…Not for us."
Her grip tightened slightly.
"…We're two people. The item requires 3 party members to even use it"
She glanced at him briefly.
"…We don't need mass production."
Another step.
"…What I need—"
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
"…Is Yak Ore."
Ryota scratched his head.
"…For your weapon?"
Rio nodded.
"…My musket."
"It the only item left we need for me to craft it"
A faint shift in her tone.
Subtle—
But there.
"…Once I craft it, our efficiency doubles."
She continued walking.
"…Spending hours chasing a dungeon for something we won't use…"
A small shake of her head.
"…Is a waste."
Ryota stared at her for a moment.
Then laughed.
"…You're really built different."
Rio didn't respond.
But the corner of her lips moved—
Just slightly.
Town Of Beginnings - City Entrance
The chaos was worse here.
Players rushing in and out.
Voices rising.
Information spreading like wildfire.
And through it—
Three figures entered.
Fayzan stepped forward lazily, hands in his pockets, eyes scanning everything with quiet amusement.
Behind him—
Two girls.
The first—
Calm.
Composed.
Purple hair resting neatly behind her shoulders.
"…Ayame."
The second—
Sharp.
Observant.
Gray hair partially hidden beneath a white hood.
"…Sumi."
Fayzan didn't turn.
"…You already know why you're here."
Ayame nodded slightly.
"…Information gathering."
Sumi exhaled softly.
"…And damage control, if needed."
Fayzan smirked.
"…Something like that."
But his gaze—
Didn't stop moving.
Left.
Right.
Crowds.
Patterns.
Movement.
Noise.
Then—
He stopped.
"…Huh."
Sumi noticed.
"…What is it?"
Fayzan didn't answer immediately.
His eyes locked onto something in the distance.
Two players.
Walking casually.
Talking.
Nothing special.
Nothing noticeable.
And yet—
"…Those two."
Ayame followed his gaze.
"…They look normal."
Fayzan's smirk widened slightly.
"…Exactly."
A pause.
"…Too normal."
Something in his chest stirred.
Instinct.
Not logic.
Not evidence.
Just—
A pull.
"…My gut's telling me something."
He turned slightly.
"…Ayame."
She stepped forward.
"…Yes?"
Fayzan pointed.
"…Follow them."
No hesitation.
"…Understood."
She raised her hand.
A faint glow formed around her fingers.
[Tamer Skill: Crystal Talon]
Light gathered—
Condensed—
Then burst outward.
A raven appeared.
Wings sleek.
Feathers shimmering with dark violet hues—like polished amethyst under dim light.
It let out a soft cry—
Then took to the sky.
Higher.
Higher.
Until it blended with the clouds above.
Its eyes locked below.
Tracking.
Watching.
Following—
Rio and Ryota.
Unaware.
Fayzan watched it disappear into the sky.
His smile didn't fade.
"…Let's see where you lead me."
And somewhere ahead—
Walking through the crowd without a care—
The two players who had shaken the entire world…
Walked straight into the gaze of a hunter.