The plaza buzzed with quiet tension.
Dozens of candidates stood beneath the glowing pillar, staring up at the system screen as if the words might suddenly change.
They didn't.
The Labyrinth Hunt.
Start Time: 12 Hours.
Eokimo rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Twelve hours."
Rye folded his arms.
"That's actually generous."
Eokimo stared at him.
"How is that generous?"
"Sometimes the system only gives you ten minutes."
"…I hate everything about this place."
Lira stretched lazily beside them.
"Look on the bright side."
"There is no bright side."
"We're not dying tonight."
Eokimo paused.
"…Fair."
Candidates slowly began leaving the pillar area, conversations spreading through the plaza.
Some groups looked nervous.
Others looked excited.
A few looked completely unfazed.
Eokimo noticed something strange.
Several people glanced at him… then quickly looked away.
"…Okay."
He turned to Rye.
"Why are people staring at me?"
Rye tilted his head slightly toward the pillar.
"Because your name is glowing."
Eokimo froze.
"…What?"
He turned around.
Sure enough—
On the floating screen above the pillar, the Candidate Registry was still visible.
Dozens of names.
But two of them were highlighted.
One of them was his.
The other belonged to the tall stranger from the tavern.
The system window appeared again.
[System Notice]
Candidate Link: Active
Status: Unresolved
Eokimo groaned.
"Can the system stop announcing my business to the entire world?"
Dagan chuckled.
"It's not announcing it."
"Then why can everyone see it?"
"Because the system loves drama."
Sen stepped closer to the pillar, studying the glowing screen carefully.
"Links are rare."
Eokimo looked at her.
"How rare?"
She thought for a moment.
"…I've never seen one before."
That didn't make Eokimo feel better.
They began walking back toward the tavern.
The safe zone looked calmer now that night had fully settled in.
Lanterns lit the stone paths.
Small groups of candidates sat on benches or near the fountain in the plaza.
A few buildings had closed their shutters.
Others were still open, light spilling out into the street.
Eokimo noticed something else.
Guards.
Not system guards.
People.
Several candidates stood at certain corners holding weapons.
Watching the streets.
"…Are those guards?" he asked.
Dagan nodded.
"Volunteer watch."
"Why?"
"Safe zones are safe from monsters."
Eokimo waited.
"…But?"
Rye answered.
"Not from people."
Eokimo blinked.
"…I thought violence wasn't allowed here."
"It's not."
"Then why the guards?"
Lira grinned.
"Because rules don't stop idiots."
They entered the tavern again.
The old man was wiping down the counter.
He looked up as they walked in.
"Back already?"
Eokimo sat down heavily.
"There's a labyrinth trial in twelve hours."
The old man nodded calmly.
"Sounds about right."
"You say that like it happens every week."
"It does."
Eokimo stared.
"…You're kidding."
"Nope."
The old man poured himself a cup of tea.
"You kids are the third batch this month."
Eokimo nearly choked.
"THIRD?!"
Rye leaned on the counter.
"How many candidates usually survive a batch?"
The old man took a slow sip before answering.
"Depends on the trials."
"That bad?"
The old man gave a tired smile.
"Let's just say the system isn't generous."
Eokimo leaned forward.
"Okay, I have a question."
"Only one?"
"For now."
He pointed toward the door.
"That Candidate earlier."
"The tall one?"
"Yes."
"How strong are they?"
The old man stared at him for a moment.
Then he laughed softly.
"Kid…"
He set his cup down.
"If the system linked you to that person…"
His eyes became serious.
"…you're about to find out."
Eokimo sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"Fantastic."
Rye patted his shoulder.
"Relax."
"How?"
"You've got twelve hours before the trial."
"That doesn't help."
Rye smirked.
"It should."
Eokimo frowned.
"Why?"
Rye's eyes gleamed slightly.
"Because that means we have twelve hours to prepare."
Dagan cracked his knuckles.
Lira stretched again.
Even Sen looked more focused now.
Eokimo glanced between them.
"…You guys look way too calm about this."
Rye grinned.
"That's because we've done this before."
Eokimo groaned again.
"I really hate being the new guy."
Outside the tavern, the lanterns flickered softly in the night.
And somewhere beyond the safe zone walls…
The entrance to the Labyrinth Hunt was already forming.
Waiting.
For candidates to step inside.