North Continent, Intis Republic.
Egicol City.
This city lay far from the front lines and near the capital, Trier, so there were barely any traces of war to be seen.
Egicol City's greatest feature was its colorful houses and streets of varying widths, with flowers placed before every home.
They let one feel the city's warmth.
At the Wind Flower Bar, Xio sat at the counter, gulping down beer.
His eyes were dim, and he found it difficult to focus. All he could hear were drunks discussing Beyonder powers and mystical incidents.
During the war, people had seen far too many Beyonders. It could no longer be brushed off with nonsense like "gas explosions."
Beyonders had begun entering ordinary people's sight, and there was no longer any way to conceal them.
Before the war, Xio had been an ordinary person too. He had worked as a miner and been a peddler.
After the war broke out, he joined the army. Not only had he witnessed Beyonder powers firsthand, but he had become a Beyonder himself.
He had become a Hunter, and was now a Provoker.
But so what?
The war was over.
People like them had been dismissed. After returning home, Xio no longer knew how to return to an ordinary life.
Ring, ring, ring—
The bar's heavy door was pushed open, and the bell hanging from it gave a crisp chime.
Xio looked over and saw a man in a dark cloak walk in.
The man had hidden his face deep beneath his hood. The bar's lights outlined his broad chin and the beard that nearly buried it. ✊💚 ඏ☆
He pulled back his hood, revealing a weathered face.
Xio watched him walk to the bar and loudly say, "A beer for everyone here. It's on me."
A burst