Nero and Gareth walked for twenty minutes before reaching the entrance gate of the city of Valtheris.
Lightly armoured guards stood watch outside, stationed with practiced discipline.
The two of them approached.
Nero paused briefly and glanced back over his shoulder. The oak tree he had rested under was now a distant silhouette—sitting atop a small hill beyond the fields.
He turned forward again.
The city wall came into full view.
Massive. Continuous. Encircling the entire city like a silent boundary between civilization and everything beyond it.
One of the guards noticed Nero watching it.
"Never seen a wall before?"
Nero looked at him. Calm.
"I've seen walls," he replied. "Just not one surrounding an entire city."
The guard raised an eyebrow.
"Not an entire city? What, you from some poor village or something?"
Before the conversation could continue, Gareth stepped in.
"Come on, Gray. Leave him be. He stepped through a Worldbridge and ended up in Thornveil Forest."
Both guards froze.
The second guard immediately pushed Gray slightly aside.
"A Worldbridge in Thornveil?" he said quickly. "Why wasn't this reported already?"
Gareth's gaze sharpened.
"Lower your voice."
Both guards stiffened at once.
"Apologies, sir."
Nero noticed the shift in tone—but said nothing.
Gareth exhaled, his expression easing slightly.
"I came straight from the oak tree after learning about it," he said flatly. "And you two are slowing this down with unnecessary questions."
Gray frowned.
"Hold on. My questions aren't unnecessary."
He pointed at Nero.
"I'm just being cautious. Look at him."
Nero's eyes narrowed slightly—but before he could respond, Gareth cut in.
"I brought him here. He's not a threat, and he doesn't have anywhere else to go."
The second guard glanced at Nero.
"…Are you sure he's not a bandit or something?" he asked. "He looks suspicious as hell. And what is he carrying?"
Nero answered without hesitation.
"It's a backpack."
The guard blinked.
"A back-pack? What kind of name is that supposed to be?"
Gareth sighed again.
"Ed, you're still blocking the report from being sent through."
Inside Nero's mind, Angelo spoke calmly.
"We're drawing unnecessary attention."
"Yeah," Nero replied internally. "I noticed."
He took a small step forward.
Immediately, all three men tracked him.
"I don't want trouble," Nero said simply. "I'll leave if I'm causing issues."
Gareth turned toward him.
"Are you sure? The region's been unstable lately—bandits, wild beasts coming out of the forest. Think carefully."
Ed shifted uncomfortably, scratching the side of his head.
"…Look," he said. "I didn't mean you can't enter. Security's just tight right now."
Gareth nodded toward Nero.
"Just show them what's in your backpack. That should clear things up."
Nero exhaled once.
Then set the bag down.
He opened it and began removing items one by one.
"Clothes, soap," he said.
"Medicine."
"Canned food."
"A can opener."
"And a tent."
He checked his pockets. The spent casings were still there.
Then the tent came out—unfolded, set down, raised in practiced motion.
The guards leaned in slightly as they examined it.
"It's surprisingly light," Gray muttered. "But it feels stronger than anything I've seen."
"It's military-grade material," Nero replied, already checking the rest of his pack. "Light, but durable."
The others were too focused on the tent to really register his explanation.
Nero's hand paused inside the bag.
Ammunition.
His gaze narrowed slightly.
Shouldn't bring these out.
Angelo's voice followed instantly.
"Yeah. Don't. That would be a long conversation."
Nero quietly withdrew his hand.
"That's everything," he said.
Ed narrowed his eyes slightly.
"…You sure? Looks like there's still space inside."
Nero didn't react.
He opened a second compartment and tilted the bag forward.
Empty.
No visible contents.
Satisfied, he began packing everything back inside.
Gray and Ed exchanged a glance.
A small nod passed between them.
They stepped aside.
The gate path opened.
Ed gestured toward the city.
"Welcome to Valtheris," he said.
"The capital of the Kingdom of Valtheris."
Nero stepped through the gates with Gareth—
—and the world changed.
The first thing that drew his eye wasn't the streets.
It was the castle.
Rising far beyond the inner walls, towering over everything else—its spires cutting into the sky like something carved out of authority itself.
Then the rest followed.
Mansions. Houses. Shops lined along wide stone streets. Stalls packed tightly together, vendors calling out prices, coins exchanging hands. Children ran past, laughing, weaving through the crowd without a care.
Alive.
Too alive.
Nero dragged a hand down his face.
"…Ffuuck."
Angelo didn't miss a beat.
"Yeah. Should've used fewer bullets on those wolves."
Nero's eye twitched slightly.
"Couldn't have picked a worse dimension."
Angelo hummed.
"This feels less like a dimension hop… more like time travel."
Before Nero could reply, Gareth gave him a light tap on the back and kept walking.
"Come on. I'll show you an inn."
Nero followed, eyes moving constantly—taking everything in.
A woman handed coins to a vendor in exchange for vegetables.
Metal.
Not paper.
Nero's expression stayed blank.
Inside—
…You've got to be kidding me.
An inn?
What good is that?
I'm fucking broke.
Angelo's voice came, calm as ever.
"You could ask Gareth."
"…Are you serious?" Nero replied internally. "We met an hour ago."
They walked a little further before stopping in front of a building.
A wooden sign hung above the entrance.
A silver crescent moon.
"This place," Gareth said, pointing. "Silver Moon. It's good."
Voices spilled out from inside—laughter, conversation, the clink of mugs.
"I know the owner," Gareth added. "He'll set you up with a decent room."
He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Nero didn't move.
Gareth noticed almost immediately and stepped back out.
"What's wrong? Not your kind of place?"
Nero scratched the back of his head, letting out a quiet breath.
"…I can't stay here."
Gareth frowned.
"…Why?"
"I don't have any money," Nero said flatly. "I'm broke."
Gareth paused.
Then nodded once.
"I see."
A beat.
"No problem. I'll cover the room and food for tonight. You can pay me back later."
Nero blinked.
"…What? No. I can't take money from you."
"We just met," he added.
Gareth waved it off.
"It's not a big deal. You can return it when you're able."
Nero hesitated.
Actually thought about it.
"…Then how do I even repay you?" he asked. "I don't know anything about this place. I don't even know what kind of work exists here."
Gareth smiled slightly.
"Simple. Become an adventurer."
Nero tilted his head.
"…What?"
"There's a guild," Gareth explained. "You take jobs, get paid. It can be dangerous, but if you stick to the easier requests, you'll earn enough for food and a room."
Inside Nero's mind, Angelo spoke.
"That works."
"…Yeah," Nero replied.
He looked back at Gareth.
"Alright. I'll do it. I'll pay you back."
Gareth nodded.
"Good. Then come on."
This time—
Nero stepped inside.
The Silver Moon Inn was warm, busy, but not overwhelming.
Wooden floors. Simple tables. A handful of people eating and talking quietly. Nothing extravagant—but solid.
Lived-in.
Comfortable.
A girl moved between tables, carrying drinks with practiced ease.
Behind the counter stood a broad-shouldered man in his fifties, pouring a drink.
Gareth approached him.
"Hey, Joe."
The man looked up—and grinned.
"Well, if it isn't Gareth."
His eyes flicked briefly toward the door.
"You walked in and then walked right out. Something wrong?"
Gareth shook his head.
"Nothing."
Joe's gaze shifted to Nero.
"Who's this? Don't think I've seen him around. A buddy of yours?"
Nero glanced at Gareth.
Gareth took a seat casually.
"You could say that."
Joe chuckled.
"Well, don't just stand there. Sit down. Anyone with Gareth is welcome here."
Nero gave a small nod, set his backpack down, and took the seat beside him.
Joe leaned slightly forward.
"So? What'll it be? Beer? Ale? Milk? Water?"
"Water," Nero said without hesitation.
Gareth nodded.
"Same for me."
Then added casually—
"I've got to meet the Lady Under the Bridge later."
Joe's smile faltered.
Just for a moment.
"…I see."
He turned, poured two glasses of water, and set them down.
Gareth glanced at Nero.
"Not much of a drinker?"
Nero picked up the glass.
"I've never had alcohol."
Gareth froze.
Then—
Pffft—
Water sprayed out as he coughed.
"What!? Never!?"
A few heads turned.
Gareth waved them off quickly.
"Nothing to see here! Carry on!"
Nero raised an eyebrow.
"It's not a big deal. I just never had the chance."
Gareth wiped his mouth with his sleeve, shaking his head.
"…Unbelievable."
He turned back to the counter.
"Joe."
"Hm?"
"Get him a room and food. I'll pay."
Joe studied Nero for a moment as Nero took a slow sip of water.
"Room's one copper and an iron," he said. "Meals are six iron."
Gareth reached into his pouch, placing the coins on the counter.
"One copper. Seven iron."
He clicked his tongue lightly.
"Prices went up again?"
Joe nodded.
"Third time just this year."
A pause.
"If it keeps going like this… people are going to start starving."
Gareth didn't respond.
His expression didn't change.
He simply stood.
"I'll head out now."
Then, glancing at Nero—
"I'll see you tomorrow."
And just like that—
He left.
The door closed behind him.
Joe watched it for a second.
Then turned his head.
"Elena," he called out. "Show him to a room."
The girl looked over.
"Okay, father."
She walked up to the counter, setting down the mugs she carried.
Then turned to Nero.
"Follow me."
Nero picked up his backpack and followed her up the stairs.
Second floor.
She stopped at a door and opened it.
"Here."
The room was simple—but spacious.
A bed in the corner. A desk. A window near the desk. A wooden hanger for clothes.
Enough.
Nero stepped inside.
Elena gave a small nod—
Then closed the door behind him.
Silence.