Set Out: The Shantytown!

Cheng Shi was already at work.

After a brief heart-to-heart with the two Fire Keepers, the three of them set out again, continuing their search for the other clues to the trial. Their destination was the shantytown, supposedly controlled by the Brotherhood of Extreme Desire.

Before setting out, the Blind Man performed a divination as usual. The question was whether they would find a clue in the shantytown. The result was encouraging—the Dice had landed on the highest possible number, practically stating outright that Aromani was the "Cencha" from that midnight walk and heart-to-heart.

And so, a delighted Cheng Shi led the two Fire Keepers toward the shantytown.

Don't ask why he was delighted. The answer was simply: praise Destiny!

The inn where they were staying was still some distance from the shantytown. As the three of them walked, they took in the scenery and listened to the conversations of passersby. Countless orange-yellow Small Ball Flowers dotted both sides of the streets, giving the place a surprisingly vibrant air.

In fact, "shantytown" wasn't a nickname the players had given this area. It was its actual name. That was what the locals called it, too.

Nearly every building in the area was a shack. Ruined walls could serve as walls, branches and leaves could cover a roof, and a random pile of hay spread across the ground counted as a bed. If someone also hung a length of gauze over the entrance, then the half-hidden figure inside became the most alluring sight in the shantytown.

This was probably the most pleasurable place in the Door of Falling. Every local Cheng Shi had chatted up along the way wore a smile that came straight from the heart when mentioning this area.

Clearly, Filth and Decay wasn't treated here as it was on