They didn't leave immediately.
Two days.
That's how long Ryn said they needed.
"Supplies," he explained.
"Can't just walk out and hope we don't die."
Yuto didn't argue.
He worked.
Carrying.
Fixing.
Repeating.
But now—
there was a difference.
The pressure inside him—
mana—
moved more naturally.
Not something he had to think about.
Something that responded.
He lifted a crate.
Too light.
The flow shifted automatically.
Reduced.
Balanced.
No strain.
"…Controlled."
"You talking to yourself again?"
Yuto turned.
Ryn stood nearby, holding a sack over his shoulder.
"…Observation."
Ryn snorted.
"Yeah, u shouldn't do that."
Yuto didn't respond.
Later—
They sat near the edge of the village.
Not inside.
Not fully outside.
In between.
Ryn tossed a small piece of dried meat toward him.
"Eat."
Yuto caught it.
He looked at it.
Different.
Not like before.
No pull.
No instinct forcing him.
"…This is unnecessary."
Ryn raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah? Try not eating for a few days and tell me that again."
Yuto paused.
Then—
he took a bite.
The taste—
registered.
But it didn't matter.
"…I see."
"You always react like that?"
"…Like what?"
"Like you're analyzing everything instead of just… living."
Yuto didn't answer immediately.
He looked at the village.
People laughing.
Talking.
Relaxing.
Then—
at Ryn.
"…There is no difference."
Ryn blinked.
"..That's kinda depressing."
Silence.
Then—
"Hey."
Yuto looked at him.
Ryn leaned back slightly.
"You ever fought before?"
"…Yes."
"Humans?"
"…No."
"Monsters?"
A pause.
"…Yes."
Ryn grinned.
"Good. Then you won't slow me down."
Yuto studied him.
"…You are inexperienced."
Ryn laughed.
"Probably."
Then he looked ahead.
"But I'll get stronger."
That word again.
"…That is inefficient."
Ryn frowned.
"What is?"
"…Relying on uncertainty."
Ryn shrugged.
"Maybe."
Then—
he smiled.
"But that's what makes it interesting."
Yuto didn't understand that.
But—
he didn't reject it either.
The second day passed quickly.
By night—
they were ready.
A small bag.
Basic supplies.
A weapon for Ryn.
Nothing else.
Morning came.
This time—
they didn't stop.
They left.
No hesitation.
The village faded behind them.
Faster than before.
Air thickened.
Yuto noticed it immediately.
"…Density is higher."
Ryn glanced at him.
"You mean the air?"
"…Not only."
Ryn shrugged.
"Yeah, it gets worse out here."
They walked.
Longer this time.
Further.
Then—
Yuto stopped.
"…Something is coming."
Ryn immediately tensed.
"Where?"
Yuto didn't point.
"…Front. Low. Fast."
A moment later—
it appeared.
A creature.
Faster than the ones before.
Lean.
Sharp limbs.
It didn't hesitate.
It lunged.
Ryn moved first.
His blade came up—
clean swing—
The creature twisted.
Dodged.
Too fast.
"Damn—!"
Yuto moved.
No hesitation.
The pressure inside him surged—
Not outward.
Through him.
He stepped in.
Short movement.
Precise.
His hand struck.
No overshoot.
No delay.
Pierced.
The creature stopped instantly.
Silence.
Ryn froze.
"…What the hell?"
Yuto released it.
The body dropped.
"…Timing was inefficient."
Ryn stared at him.
"…You just killed it in one move."
"…Yes?"
"That's not normal at all!"
Yuto looked at his hand.
The flow inside him—
stable.
Consistent.
"…It can be improved."
Ryn let out a breath.
Then—
he laughed.
"…Alright."
"What?"
Ryn pointed at him.
"You're definitely not normal."
Pause.
"But that's good."
Yuto watched him.
"...?"
"If you were normal, we'd both be dead."
That made sense.
They moved again.
This time—
Ryn stayed closer.
Not behind.
But not fully beside either.
"…You're adjusting."
Ryn glanced at him.
"Yeah?"
"…Positioning."
Ryn smirked.
"Yeah. I'm not stupid."
Yuto nodded once.
The path stretched forward.
Deeper.
More unstable.
Then—
"…Wait."
Ryn stopped instantly.
"What?"
Yuto didn't answer immediately.
The pressure inside him—
shifted.
Not reacting.
Warning.
"…Multiple."
Ryn's grip tightened.
"…How many?"
A pause.
"…Three."
Silence.
Then—
Ryn smiled.
"Good!"
Yuto looked at him.
"..??"
Ryn adjusted his grip.
"…Better than one."
That—
again—
didn't fit.
And yet—
"…Understood."
The creatures emerged.
From different angles.
Faster.
More aggressive.
Yuto moved first.
No hesitation.
The pressure surged.
Controlled.
One strike.
Clean.
Second—
he adjusted mid-motion.
No delay.
Ryn moved too.
This time—
his strike landed.
Not perfect.
But enough.
The third lunged.
Yuto intercepted.
Precise.
Silence.
Three bodies.
Still.
Ryn exhaled.
"…Okay."
"That felt good."
Yuto looked at him.
"…You improved."
Ryn blinked.
"Was that a compliment?"
"…Yes."
Ryn laughed.
"Damn. I'll take it."
They stood there for a moment.
Not resting.
Not stopping.
Then—
they moved again.
Forward.
Not as strangers anymore.
Not just two people leaving a village.
But something else.
A beginning.