Soul Crystals

Hearing Krosos's voice, Green opened his eyes and looked toward the end of the road.

On a stretch of green plain, an enormous circular city was under construction. Gray-black bricks streamed in from elsewhere, and as soon as the workers unloaded them, they hurried them up onto the walls.

A broad carriage road paved with gravel led to the city gate. Farther out, it branched like a tree into narrower lanes. The other gates were much the same, giving the city an extensive network of roads.

Along those narrower lanes, well-equipped hunter teams traveled in groups of three to five, either driving toward the Mist Forest or hurrying back to the city.

Unlike the hunters trudging along on foot with their heads hanging low, the teams approaching the city had monster carcasses of all sizes roped to the backs of their carriages. The catch was remarkably uniform, though: every carcass belonged to a Thousand-Eared Monster.

Hunters who had not hired carriages looked at the loads with envy.

Beside those teams, Green's party looked unusual. There were only two of them, making them stand out all the more among the groups of hunters.

When members of several large hunter teams saw Green's party, shock flashed in their eyes, followed by awe.

Few people did not mean little power. To the other hunters, Green's party clearly included a genuine Soul Hunter—and just as clearly, that person was Green. Krosos looked every inch his servant.

"Entry fee: one copper coin per person!"

A guard at the gate stopped Krosos and spoke in a fairly respectful tone.

After standing watch for so long, these guards had developed keen eyes. They could tell Green's party was not to be trifled with.

Once they had paid the entry fee, Green and Krosos drove their carriage straight