The system window flickered again.
[Ping — System Notification]
Candidate detected nearby.
Distance: 6 meters.
Eokimo slowly lowered his spoon.
"…Why is it telling me that?"
Rye didn't answer immediately.
His eyes were still locked on the newcomer.
"Because," Rye said quietly, "the system wants you to know."
"Well, that was cringe as fuck,"
The tall figure stepped fully inside the tavern. Their boots made soft thuds against the wooden floor.
Most of the travelers didn't react.
But a few did.
Some people glanced up for only a second before quickly looking away.
Eokimo noticed that.
"…Why is everyone pretending not to see them?"
Lira muttered under her breath.
"Because candidates mean trouble."
The newcomer walked calmly toward the center of the room.
Their presence was strange.
Not threatening exactly.
But heavy.
Like the air itself was paying attention.
Dagan leaned forward slightly.
"That's not normal."
Eokimo blinked.
"What part?"
"The aura."
The tall figure finally stopped.
Right beside their table.
Eokimo looked up.
Up.
…And up.
"Wow you're tall."
The person stared at him for a moment.
Then something unexpected happened.
They smiled.
Not a friendly smile.
More like someone amused by a curious animal.
"So you're the one," the newcomer said.
Eokimo froze.
"…The one what?"
The stranger raised their wrist.
The glowing symbol brightened slightly.
At the same moment—
Eokimo's own wrist burned.
"OW—"
He jerked his hand back.
The system window exploded into view.
[Ping — System Interaction]
Nearby Candidate has acknowledged your presence.
Compatibility check initiated.
Eokimo stared.
"Compatibility…?"
Rye stood up immediately.
"Don't respond."
Too late.
The system continued.
[System Result]
Candidate Link Potential Detected.
Type: Unknown.
Status: Unstable.
The tavern had gone quiet now.
Even the old man behind the counter had stopped wiping cups.
Everyone was watching.
The stranger tilted their head slightly.
"Interesting."
Eokimo pointed at the floating window.
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"
The newcomer shrugged.
"No idea."
Eokimo blinked.
"…That was not helpful."
Rye stepped forward slightly, placing himself between them.
"You here for something?"
The stranger's eyes shifted to him.
Then back to Eokimo.
"…Just curious."
They turned and started walking toward the door again.
But before leaving, they stopped.
Without looking back, they spoke one more sentence.
"You should be careful."
Eokimo frowned.
"Why?"
The stranger opened the door.
Cold evening air slipped inside.
"Because the system doesn't show interest in weak candidates."
And then they were gone.
The tavern slowly returned to life.
Conversations restarted.
Bowls clinked.
But Eokimo was still staring at the system window.
Compatibility.
Link potential.
Unstable.
He looked at Rye.
"…What does that mean?"
Rye rubbed the back of his neck.
"For now?"
He sighed.
"It means your life just got a lot more complicated."
Eokimo groaned.
"…It was already complicated."