"Come on. Harder. Don't be so soft."
The training Koto had promised was finally put into practice. Only—it was nothing like what Hans had imagined.
Today, Koto was teaching Hans how to run.
"Watch this. When your foot touches the ground, don't slam all your weight down. That'll give you away. Animals have sharp senses. Even if you master this technique, there's no guarantee they won't notice you."
Koto demonstrated.
His movements were completely silent. Even when he ran across grass littered with twigs in their yard, not a single footstep could be heard.
"A good hunter must master this."
It was incredibly difficult for Hans to imitate. When he ran fast, his footsteps were loud. When he tried to quiet them, his pace slowed to a crawl.
Koto—who had never received any formal education—taught Hans as if everyone should be able to move like him.
"Like this, idiot! Like this!"
Hans tried again. After thundering across the ground like a charging giant, he slipped and fell.
"Ow… this is really hard."
"Idiot."Koto flicked him on the head.
"Get up. Now."
All day long, Koto drilled Hans on how to place his feet.
"Why am I not allowed to go to school?" Hans asked after training.
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm curious. Are all the teachers there as scary as you when they teach?"
"Idiot!"Another flick landed on his head.
"Ow. I was just asking," Hans muttered.
Koto crossed his arms.
Honestly, I just don't want to pay school fees for this kid, he thought.
"They wouldn't accept you."
"Why? Because of my ears?"
"Yes—but not just that. They only teach human children."
"Am I not human?"
"No. You're not," Koto answered bluntly.
"Then what am I?"
"You… you belong to another race."
"Race? What's that?"
"A race is—ah, never mind. Why should I explain this now? What you need to know is this: you're an elv."
"Elv?"
"Yes. You're an elv. All elvs have ears like that."
"Then you're not an elv?" Hans asked curiously.
"Of course not. Do I look like I have those ears?" Koto replied flatly.
"Where can I find other elvs? I want to be with them."
"In the northern parts of Ranuh. Are you going to keep asking questions?"
Hans fell silent. He couldn't understand why he had to be different—why he had to be separated just because of his ears.
"I want to get rid of them," Hans said suddenly.
"Why?"
"Because I'm always lonely… just because my ears are a little longer than theirs."
"It's not just your ears. You're completely different. Elvs are smarter than humans. Three times stronger physically. And they can use magic. There's a reason they hate you. They're jealous."
Hans stared at the leaves falling in the spring breeze.
"Then… are you jealous of me too?"
"Of course not. I'm better than you in every way."
"How can you be better than me?"
"Because I train. Over and over. Talent alone won't make you great if you don't sharpen it."
"Then why doesn't everyone live like you?"
Silence.
"Because they're afraid," Koto said at last."Afraid that they might not be as good as they want to believe."
Hans stood up.
"That's strange, isn't it?"
"What is?"
"They don't train because they're afraid. But instead, they blame me. As if my existence makes them look worse. Why are humans so cruel, Koto?"
Silence lingered again.
"I don't know," Koto finally said.
The wind carried the scent of ripening fruit. Grass swayed gently beneath the breeze, as if urging them to continue the training.
LABORATORY TEST RESULTSGENETIC ANALYSIS
CLASS–1 ORGANISM:HANS
RATIO:48.5% Elv — 51.5% Human
CONCLUSION:The subject's race is Half-Elv.
Koto stared wide-eyed at the sheet of paper in his hands.
You've got to be kidding me.Not an elv—but a half-elv.
Meineshia are living beings who uphold race above all else. Each race takes pride in the blood that flows through them.For Elvs, it is magic and intellect.For Trolls, cunning in crafting weapons and generating wealth.For Gnuial, physical prowess rivaling beasts and extraordinarily sharp senses.For Ogres, massive bodies and overwhelming strength.For the Undead, the inability to truly die.And lastly, Humans—granted the gift of wisdom (though in truth, humans are rarely wise).
Problems arise when races interbreed. Half-elvs, like Hans, are the result of such unions. Crossbreeding is taboo among the meineshia. While not forbidden by law, it carries severe consequences. Those of mixed blood are never accepted—neither by elvs nor by humans. No one wants something half-formed. As a result, these people are forced to wander, forever searching for a place to belong. Many are driven out beyond city walls.
If not for Koto, Hans would have long since been torn apart by Algazra honey bears outside Rot Rivelo.
"What are you looking at, Koto?" Hans asked after watching him fall silent.
Koto exhaled.
"Your test results, idiot. Your parents really only thought about themselves."
Mixed-blood meineshia are often viewed as threats to existing communities. They might inherit strengths from multiple races. For example, a union between a Gnuial and an Ogre could produce offspring with monstrous strength and beast-like perception. In most cases, however, it is humans who interbreed with other races. Still, sometimes the opposite occurs. And in many cases, the child gains no advantages at all—only the weaknesses of both parents.
Suddenly, Koto understood.
Damn it. No wonder he's stupid, weak, and talentless despite being an elv. What if he's one of the unblessed? Half-blooded—and useless on top of it.
"Hey, kid," Koto called.
"Hm?"
"Looks like you're playing this life on nightmare difficulty. Like a mission to kill a Leviathan."
Hans only tilted his head, confused.
When they returned home, several people were already gathered in Koto's yard.
"Ah, there you are—the village chief," said a man. "My name is Ghi. My companions and I came from the city to ask you a few questions."
Koto shook his hand.
"Alright, Ghi. What can I help you with?"
"I'd like to ask about your origins. As village chief, you must be thoroughly registered. May I know the names of your father and mother?"
Koto's jaw tightened. Hans, standing behind him, recognized the expression—Koto was about to explode.
"I'm an orphan."
"Really? Since birth? Were you raised in an orphanage?"
"No. It wasn't an orphanage."
"Oh? Then perhaps someone raised you? Who was your guardian?"
Koto stayed silent.
"Can we end this conversation here? I'm exhausted and want to sleep."
"Please. Just one more question. Who was your guardian until you turned fifteen?"
"I… I didn't have one."
"Hmmm…" One of Ghi's companions wrote something down, frowning.
"Then could you explain why you became village chief?"
Koto's brow furrowed.
"Listen. I don't know what you're getting at. Is this really important?"
"Yes," said another man, gripping a gold watch. He had been observing impatiently, clearly wanting the work done quickly.
"Why did Chief Uzukzuma appoint you as his successor," he continued, "despite your lack of… clear identity?"
That was enough.
"Leave. Now," Koto snapped, gripping Hans's shoulder tightly.
Ghi nudged the man who had spoken out of turn.
"Very well. We apologize for disturbing you. We'll continue tomorrow. Goodbye."
They left quickly. As they did, Ghi briefly exchanged glances with Hans—before Koto's glare drove them away.
Koto clicked his tongue and ran a hand through his hair.
"Come inside."
After dinner, Koto began teaching Hans breathing techniques.
"Breathing is essential for all fighters. Whether you're a hunter, knight, guardian, archer, or even a warlock—you must breathe."
"But I'm already breathing. And what does 'essential' mean?"
"It means important."
"So I have to breathe if I want to become an explorer too?"
"Yes, idiot."
"That's easy."
Koto smacked him.
"Not ordinary breathing. Breathing is the process of drawing energy from the air. Once you master breathing techniques, your physical abilities will increase dramatically."
"Alright. I'm ready."
"Follow me. Breathe like this."
Koto sat cross-legged, inhaled through his nose, and exhaled through his mouth. After the third breath, visible vapor escaped his lips.
"Wow! That's amazing!" Hans stared in awe.
"That vapor shows mastery. It's the combustion of oxygen inside your body. It means your entire body is saturated with it. Blood flow improves. Your heart pumps faster. Your brain becomes flooded with clarity. After that, you'll control your body far better than before."
Hans nodded, clearly understanding nothing.
Oxygen? What was that?
"You're wondering what oxygen is, aren't you?" Koto sighed. "It's a compound in the air we breathe. It keeps us alive. You can't see it—but some meineshia study such things in this ridiculous world. Now follow me."
Hans sat cross-legged.
"Sit straight. Relax your legs. Draw air into your belly until it tightens. Release it slowly through your mouth. Repeat."
Hans tried—but practice was far harder than any entrance exam at Ragnold's public school.
"Seriously? Try again. Not like that!"
They spent the entire night breathing, as if it were Hans's last day alive.
Every day grew harder for Hans—and more enjoyable for Koto. Like watching a reptile grow better at climbing trees, Koto observed Hans's progress in the fundamentals every hunter must master.
"You must jump this high.""Climb that pole.""Channel your breath inward—not outward.""Listen closely to the sound.""Swing your weapon this high, idiot."
Every single day. Without pause.
Hans was trained relentlessly. Some nights he slept outside beneath the stars, using grass as his bed. Other days he had to hunt his own food in the forest.
Six years passed.
Hans grew older. Stronger. Smarter.
And, inevitably—
More insolent.
"Hey idiot! Deliver this letter to the mayor's office now!" shouted Koto, now thirty-five years old.
A shirtless figure stepped out of a bedroom, chest-high compared to Koto. His athletic body gleamed with muscle beneath the morning sun. His red eyes narrowed against the light as it struck his sleep-tousled face.
"What? I wanted to rest all day after yesterday's training. Didn't you promise today was a break?" Hans walked past Koto into the yard.
"Just do it. It's only a delivery."
"No way. You broke your promise. Do it yourself, old man who smells like dirt," Hans said as he collapsed into a hammock, opening a book.
"What did you say?" Koto stormed toward him.
"W-wait, you don't have to get mad, right?"
Koto's shadow fell over Hans's relaxed body.
"Deliver it. Now. You lazy idiot."
Moments later, Hans's scream echoed through the area, sending birds scattering into the sky.
Hans trudged up the sloping road, rubbing his head beneath the bright summer morning.
"Unbelievable," he muttered. "He could've just asked nicely."
As Hans entered the city, the bustle immediately refreshed him. What had begun as a reluctant errand turned into renewed excitement, fueled by the city's vibrant life. This was Rot Rivelo—a city famed for its hunters who ventured beyond the walls to hunt gnu. Ragnold was one of the villages under Rot Rivelo's authority. When needed, hunters from the surrounding countryside would be gathered at the guild hall.
The guild hall served as a place where hunters could be hired and missions issued. It was also a hub of trade—buyers and sellers exchanged goods ranging from hunted materials, traps, weapons, and armor, to support items such as herbal medicines and anesthetics.
The mayor's office stood directly across from the guild hall.
For a moment, Hans watched hunters come and go through the guild hall's doors.
I want to be there.I can't believe the test is tomorrow.
As he pushed through the crowd, people gathered outside the mayor's office began to stare and whisper.
"That's the elv kid, right?"
"What elv? I heard he's a half-elv."
"Seriously? I can't believe he's registered for the hunter exam tomorrow."
"Hah, we'll see what he can do."
"Isn't he Koto's adopted kid?"
"That abandoned brat. His parents must've dumped him for being half-breed."
"Excuse me," Hans said, turning toward them.
"Do you really have nothing better to do than insult me behind my back?"
He smiled coldly.
The group froze.
"Hey, you!" one of them snapped. "How dare you talk to us like that? Don't you know we could have you thrown out of this city anytime we want?"
"Oh yeah?" Hans replied calmly. "How exactly? Are you the mayor?"
"Hah. We are hu-mans of Rot Rivelo. We can do whatever we want as long as the mayor approves. Watch your mouth."The emphasis on human was deliberate.
Hans exhaled slowly. A faint mist left his lips.
In the blink of an eye, he was standing behind the man who had just threatened him.
"Try it—if you can."
Hans drove his knee into the back of the man's leg. The man collapsed instantly, losing balance and crashing to the ground.
Gasps rippled through the crowd. They hadn't even seen Hans move.
Before the fallen man could rise, Hans was already gone.
"I have a letter from Chief Koto."
He now stood calmly at the reception desk, as if nothing had happened.
The clerk stared, stunned.
"Who… who is this guy?!"
Before her stood a young man with slightly long black hair, a black head covering, tall and lean with well-defined arms. He wore a leather vest over a maroon long-sleeved shirt, with matching trousers visible just above the desk.
"Ah—uh—may I see it?" she asked nervously.
"Of course."Hans handed over the letter, held neatly between his index and middle fingers.
The girl continued staring at him, as if she had just witnessed an angel descend.
"Am I free to go now?" Hans asked, raising an eyebrow.
"W-wait. You need to fill this out first."
"Oh. Alright."
Hans wrote his name, filled in the address, signed, then paused.
"Excuse me—what's today's date?"
"Th-the… the date?" she stammered.
"Yes." Hans tilted his head with a grin. "I forgot."
"Umm… it's the 12th day of the 5th month, year Srogdentisen."
"Got it."
Hans wrote carefully, sounding out each part as he went.
"Twelve… fifth month… year Sro…gden…ti…sen."
The girl smiled to herself, watching him concentrate.
"Alright. I'll be going now. Thank you for your help."
"Ah—y-you're welcome."
Hans walked out of the mayor's office, briefly glancing at the man he had dropped earlier. The man remained silent, watching Hans stroll away without a word.
"He's… he's amazing."
The clerk finally sat back down, her heart still racing.
"What's this?"
A book lay on the desk beside the registry.
"EKSRUKSIA: CHANGING HISTORY WITHOUT HISTORY"Author: Mapper Tornholt
"Whose book is this?"
She flipped to the back page.
"Ragnold Library?"
Then she checked the registry again.
"…Looks like it belongs to him."
Night fell again.
In this house, Chief Koto and Hans were preparing for tomorrow's exam. Years of effort would be tested at dawn. Whether Hans would be deemed worthy to become a hunter depended on the results of that trial.
Like a school entrance test or a job assessment, earning the title of hunter required strong scores. Tomorrow's exam would begin with a brief briefing. Candidates were usually divided into groups. Their mission was to hunt a low-level gnu and bring it back to the guild hall—alive or dead. The test lasted a full day, until darkness fell. A successful group would then be evaluated further to determine which individuals were fit to be inducted. As for groups that failed—none of their members would be accepted, even if someone had performed well individually.
There were four aspects being judged:
weapon proficiency,
stealth and tracking,
decision-making and timing of execution,
teamwork.
Every action the participants took would be observed by the exam committee—professional hunters who watched from the treetops. They would record what they saw and submit it to the evaluators, who would decide whether a candidate was worthy of becoming a novice hunter.
"Hey, idiot. Are you not worried at all about tomorrow?" Koto asked suddenly as they practiced breathing together.
"Relax. I'm more than ready."
They sat facing one another in the living room, eyes closed, focusing only on breath. Vapor drifted from their mouths and clung to the air, turning the room hazy.
"You have to be careful. Don't be reckless. If you can't handle something, it's wise to run."
"No. I won't run." Hans tried to keep concentrating—speaking while maintaining the breathing technique was difficult.
"Hey—what's this breathing technique called, anyway?"
Koto laughed. "After all these years, you're only asking now?"
"I'm curious now."
Koto paused.
"This is called Energy Breathing. Some call it Chakra Breathing, or Qi Manipulation Breathing. Among hunters, it's known as Dragon Breathing—the Dragon's Breath."
"Hm. Are those all the same? Chakra, Qi, and this stinky dragon breath?"
"Dragon breath, idiot—not stinky dragon!"
"Heh."
Koto exhaled. The vapor thickened again.
"Some say the foundation is the same. Others say there are differences."
Hans remained still, eyes closed, focusing.
Koto weighed something in his mind.
"If you want to understand the difference… try this time to imagine the heat of fire. Only an elv should be able to grasp this."
"Grasp what?"
"Just try."
Hans centered himself and imagined heat—fire.
"Since ancient times," Koto said, "fire has been one of the purest forms of energy. Its source is the sun. Fire consumes oxygen around it to stay alive—just like humans. Now imagine yourself burning in roaring flame."
Hans's thoughts snapped to a campfire at first—small, lonely, flickering in the darkness. Then the fire grew. It swelled into an inferno, crawling toward him, swallowing the space where he stood.
Koto smelled something and opened his eyes at once.
Hans's right hand was wreathed in a small flame—hot enough to blister skin. Yet strangely, Hans didn't react. He remained in trance, eyes still shut, as if he couldn't feel it.
Good. So he can do it. Being elv really does come with advantages. Damn brat.
"The breathing you're doing is Energy Breathing—just like we practice every day," Koto said evenly. "But this time you added the fire element into it. Now open your eyes. Slowly."
Hans opened them.
For a split second, he saw the room filled with haze, Koto's irritating face, the same old walls. Then he looked down and saw his right hand on fire.
His concentration shattered instantly. Panic surged—he wanted to run, to find water. But as he began to rise, the flame vanished as if it had never existed.
"Idiot! What are you doing?" Koto flicked his forehead.
"Hey—was that me? Did I really make fire? Did you see it? I didn't feel heat at all. That's insane!" Hans's eyes shone with excitement.
"What are you talking about?" Koto replied, turning his face away.
"There was no fire."
"Liar! You saw it!"
"No. I saw nothing."
"I definitely saw it." Hans refused to back down, buzzing with joy like a child who'd just discovered a new toy. "That was incredible."
At that moment, the front door burst open—
—and a bucket of water drenched them, cutting the air, soaking Hans from head to toe. The haze in the room dispersed immediately.
A girl stood there, wide-eyed and panicked. She was only about as tall as Hans's chest. Her black hair was cut short, held by a yellow ribbon. She wore a white long-sleeved shirt with a black ribbon tie at the collar. The bucket in her hands was now empty.
"W-What are you doing?!" Hans shouted, half furious, staring at the stranger who had stormed into the house like a thief.
Koto, unbelievably, smiled warmly at her.
"Well now. What a surprise. Thank you for that," he said, laughing.
"W-wasn't there a fire? The whole house was full of smoke. I could see it from far away—like it was rising into the sky. Is anything burning? Is anyone hurt?" the girl asked, utterly earnest.
Koto laughed harder. "Oh, something was burning. Burning arrogance."
He flicked Hans's forehead again.
"Ow! What do you mean? We were just training—that's why there was smoke. Why did you barge in?" Hans protested, rubbing the reddening spot on his forehead.
"Ah… I-I'm sorry! I really didn't know. I assumed the worst. I saw a flash of fire, so I grabbed a bucket and—"
"Hans," Koto cut in.
"No need to call him 'sir.' He's still a kid," Koto added with a grin.
"Shut up, old man who smells like dirt," Hans muttered.
"I'm sorry, Sir Hans!"
"What's your name, young lady?" Koto asked, suddenly polite.
"Ah—me. My name is Yuzu. I came to return this." She held out a book—the one Hans had left behind.
"Oh—so I did leave it earlier. Thanks." Hans's irritation vanished quickly, replaced by genuine relief.
Koto slapped Hans's hand lightly.
"Hey, idiot. Dry your hands first. You're soaked like a sewer rat. What kind of storm happens in summer?" He cackled. "I'll be even more shocked if you get sick tomorrow and can't take the exam!"
Then, like he couldn't help himself, he added, "If you ever come here again, please do that to him every time, Miss."
"Don't listen to him!" Hans snapped, heading to the back to grab a towel.
Damn it. Why did she suddenly dump water on me?Did I really make fire? Did she think the house was burning?
Across the room, Yuzu was spiraling in her own thoughts.
Why did I do that? I ruined my first impression. I want to die—seriously…
Koto was still laughing—yet his eyes drifted down toward Yuzu's feet.
Why didn't I notice her presence at all? This girl isn't ordinary.
"Miss Yuzu," Koto asked, "what do you do for work?"
"Ah—I manage the letter drop-off desk for the mayor. Sometimes I take side jobs too."
"Hm. Do you work with hunters?"
"Yes, but I'm not an official hunter yet. How did you know?"
"Your footwork," Koto said calmly. "That technique—erasing your presence—is advanced. I didn't sense you at all."
"I… I don't understand what you mean, sir…"
"Koto."
"Sir Koto."
Hans, towel in hand, immediately perked up.
"What technique are you using?" he asked.
"Um… none. Truly."
Koto's mind turned.
Or is it just that her presence is naturally faint? Why sneak if she only meant to put out a fire?
Yuzu handed the book back to Hans. "This is yours. And… I'm sorry for soaking you. I truly am."
"Oh. It's fine. I already forgot," Hans said.
Inside Yuzu's head, something screamed: Talk to him. Say something—anything.
"U-um… do you like reading books like that?" Yuzu asked.
"Books like that?" Hans tilted his head. "Is there something wrong with reading 'books like that'?"
"Huh? No, not at all. I was just asking. Hehe."
Why do I sound like I'm looking down on him? Oh no…
Suddenly, Koto slammed the table.
Yuzu jumped.
"Since Yuzu's here," Koto declared, "you should have dinner with us."
"What?""Huh?"
Hans and Yuzu blurted it at the same time.
"Hans," Koto continued with solemn authority, "because I raised you since you were little and didn't eat you, you will cook something delicious for the three of us."
Hans glared, then sighed. "Fine… Do we still have black-foot deer ribs?"
"Deer?"
"Yes. Check inside."
"Sir, I don't want to trouble you—" Yuzu began, uneasy.
"Oh, it's fine," Koto said. "In exchange, I'll allow you to wipe up the water you spilled."
"Hey—stop ordering her around," Hans snapped. "I'll clean it. You sit, Yuzu."
"No, it's okay. I feel bad if I do nothing."
"Seriously, sit," Hans called from the kitchen.
That night, the three of them ate together. Koto drank wild wine—liquor the locals brewed—something he normally saved for important gatherings. But tonight he wanted it. Eventually, drunk and satisfied, Koto announced he was going to sleep.
"You," he said to Hans, hiccuping, "take her home. She's a girl and it's late. Even in the city, you never know what might happen."
That was the village chief's final sentence for the night. He staggered into his room and collapsed without even closing the door.
"That old man is so embarrassing," Hans muttered.
"Hehe. He's a good father," Yuzu said.
"Koto isn't my father."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. What he said earlier was true. When he found me, he really was going to eat me." Hans chuckled lightly. "Luckily, his friends showed up and split the meat with him."
Yuzu stared, shocked.
"I thought he was joking…"
"He never jokes," Hans said. "He always means what he says."
"Why did he want to eat you?"
"There was a famine back then. Winter lasted too long. We ran out of meat, and the fields produced nothing. Not just the village—the whole city suffered."
Yuzu listened closely.
"Before it gets too late, let's go," Hans said. "Where's your home?"
"Oh—alright. We have to cross the city and head to Ragton."
"Ah. That's pretty far."
"Is… is it?"
"You walked all the way here just to return a book. That's impressive."
"Hahaha—i-it's fine."
"Then we should ride," Hans said, pointing behind the house.
"Ride what?"
"The animals the old man tamed himself. Trili—big two-legged birds that can't fly, but they run fast."
"Oh…"
Hans led her to the backyard. There was a shed that doubled as a stable, strewn with straw and grass, with a small water pool inside. Strangely, the birds didn't smell like ordinary birds—only like wet earth after rain.
Two Trili stood proudly under the moonlight. Their feathers were golden-brown, their eyelashes long, their legs tall, their beaks flat—like something half-bird, half-myth.
"Climb on. I'll help you."
Hans laced his fingers so Yuzu could step on them.
But as she prepared to mount, worries flooded her.
What if I'm too heavy? What if my feet are dirty? What if—
Then she realized she was wearing a skirt.
She looked down and froze.
"Don't worry," Hans said, turning away. "I won't look."
Yuzu's face heated in panic at his unexpectedly gentle manners.
"So," she said, trying to recover, "you decided to become a hunter because you were happy riding a hot-air balloon when you were eight?" She giggled.
"Yes," Hans replied. "I want to be an explorer. I want to travel the world and see everything it has to offer."
"Hm…"
Stars crowded the sky above, faint light scattered over the city's lantern glow. The night's darkness didn't lessen Yuzu's curiosity about Hans. For half an hour they moved through lively streets—most people gathered in taverns and inns, some celebrating a hunting party's return in a restaurant, others shopping at late markets. Rot Rivelo felt warm, despite the cold.
And through it all, Hans and Yuzu walked side by side with their Trili, talking as they went—mostly Yuzu asking about Hans, and Hans answering freely. Like a prisoner stepping out of a cage, he didn't mind describing Koto's brutal training over the years to prepare him to pass tomorrow's exam. Hans was fifteen now, and by city law, old enough to decide his own path—hunter or otherwise.
"By the way," Yuzu asked again, "why are you interested in that book?"
"That one?" Hans shrugged. "I don't know. I just… feel something when I read it. Intuition? A feeling? I'm not sure. But the more I read, the more I want to keep going. I'm almost finished."
"So you like reading?"
"Yes. After training, I had no entertainment besides books. Luckily my house is near the library, so I can borrow whatever I want. Honestly, the most useful books were cookbooks." Hans's eyes watered dramatically. "You have no idea how grateful I am that I found them."
Yuzu laughed. "Is Sir Koto really that bad at cooking?"
"Do you know Tough Snake? That was his favorite meal before I learned to cook. Turns out he was just smoking the meat—no seasoning at all. It tasted like chewing rubber flavored with smoke. It was awful."
Yuzu burst out laughing.
"And you?" Hans asked suddenly.
"Eh? Umm…" Yuzu went blank.
"Yeah," Hans said. "Your life—your story."
"Umm… I'm originally from Torque. Then I moved here with my family."
"Really? I heard Torque is very far."
"Not really. You just take a Romtron for six hours."
"Wait—what's a Romtron?"
Silence.
Oh no. I slipped.
Yuzu fumbled, avoiding Hans's gaze. "Um… Romtron is a kind of animal. Yes! It's transportation we use in our country."
"Oh! They must be amazing."
"Yes… hehehe."
"Do they fly in the sky?"
"Y-yes," Yuzu said too quickly. "Very fast."
"And what's a 'country'?" Hans pressed. "Is that a city?"
"A country is… um… a region. A place inside a kingdom. The Kingdom of Torque."
"Hm. Seems like there's still a lot I don't know about the world," Hans said with a small laugh.
"We're here," Yuzu said abruptly, clearly unwilling to continue that thread.
"Oh—so this is your house."
Yuzu climbed down carefully. Hans helped her down the same way he'd helped her climb up.
"Thank you for dinner, the ride… and the conversation," Yuzu said softly. "I had a lovely night."
"You're welcome. If you have time, come again for dinner. Alright—I should go. Good night, Yuzu."
Hans led the Trili away, the one Yuzu had ridden tethered securely to his arm. Within moments, he was truly gone—leaving Yuzu alone in front of her door.
"He called my name," Yuzu whispered, smiling to herself."Yuzu."