Ponzu looked out the window and suddenly said, "I thought I wouldn't pass the Hunter Exam this time. Thanks."
"No big deal," Odin said with a smile, waving a hand. "Besides, we're partners, aren't we?"
"Mm." Ponzu paused, then smiled and nodded.
Odin said nothing more.
The airship flew on.
Outside the window, clouds spread out below them like a gray sea.
By nightfall, the airship landed at the airport in the city where Heavens Arena stood.
Odin and Ponzu disembarked and left the airport.
Standing at the airport entrance, they could see the towering structure in the distance.
Its lights stood out against the night, glowing floor by floor like a luminous pillar.
Ponzu stared at the tower, her mouth falling open.
"That's Heavens Arena?"
"Yeah."
"It's so tall..."
"It'll feel even taller once you're inside," Odin said. "Come on."
He hailed a taxi and gave the driver the address.
The car drove into the city.
The shops lining the streets were still open, their signs a riot of colors.
Pedestrians walked along, chatting and laughing.
Ponzu leaned against the car window, taking everything in.
"This city is so lively," she said.
"It really is."
By the time the car reached the apartment building, it was completely dark.
Odin paid the fare, got out, and led Ponzu into the stairwell.
The lights in the stairwell were dim, and the pale green paint on the walls had peeled away in places.
They climbed to the top floor and reached Odin's rented apartment.
Odin took out his key and opened the door.
The room was dark.
He felt along the wall for the switch and pressed it.
The light came on.
The room was just as he had left it.
The books were neatly arranged on the shelves, training equipment sat piled in a corner, and a thin layer of dust covered the table.
Ponzu stood in the doorway, looking inside.
"This is where you live?"
"Yeah."
She stepped inside and looked around. When she spotted the dumbbells and kettlebells in the corner, she paused.
"This is what you usually train with?"
"That's right."
Ponzu walked over to the bookshelf and read the spines.
"Human Anatomy and Sports Mechanics," "Advanced Physics: Mechanics," "Energy Metabolism and Nutrition," "An Overview of the World's Fighting Styles"...
She turned to look at Odin.
"You've read all of these?"
"I have."
Ponzu fell silent for a few seconds before saying, "No wonder you're so strong."
Odin smiled without replying.
He went into his bedroom, opened the wardrobe, and took out a few clean clothes to hand to Ponzu.
"The spare bedroom is over there. You can stay there for now."
Ponzu took the clothes and nodded.
She went into the spare bedroom.
The room was small, with only a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk. But it was quite clean.
She set down her backpack, then took off her hat.
A few bees crawled out of the hat, climbed around on her fingers, then flew back inside.
"Be good," she murmured. "Rest for now. We'll sort things out tomorrow."
She left the spare bedroom and returned to the living room.
Odin was standing by the window, looking outside.
Ponzu walked over and followed his gaze.
In the distance, the tower of Heavens Arena shone against the night.
They stood by the window for a while.
Then Ponzu yawned.
"I'm sleepy," she said. "See you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
After washing up, they each went to bed.
Ponzu stared at the ceiling.
She recalled the days of the Hunter Exam-the run through the tunnel, the fog in the wetlands, the mechanisms in Trick Tower, the storm on Warship Island, and the struggle on Glasses Island.
And Odin.
The person who had been helping her from the very beginning.
Without him, could I still have earned my Hunter License?
She smiled and closed her eyes.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the window.
Odin got up, washed, and went into the living room.
Ponzu was already awake, sitting at the table and munching on an apple.
"Morning," she said.
"Morning."
Odin took the milk and bread he had bought on the way home the night before out of the fridge and set them on the table.
They ate breakfast without speaking.
Once they finished, Odin stood up.
"I'm going out for a walk," he said. "And to buy a few things."
Ponzu stood up too. "I'll come with you."
They went downstairs and out onto the street.
There weren't many people out that morning. Some shops had only just opened, and their owners were sweeping outside.
They walked a few blocks and entered a supermarket.
Odin pushed a shopping cart, tossing things into it-rice, noodles, vegetables, meat, seasonings, and several cases of drinking water.
Ponzu watched from beside him with an odd expression.
"You're buying this much?"
"Yeah."
"How long will it last?"
"A week, probably."
Ponzu said nothing.
At the checkout, Odin took a card from his pocket and swiped it.
Ponzu's eyes widened at the string of numbers.
"How... how much did you spend?"
"A little over fifty thousand," Odin said.
Ponzu sucked in a breath.
Back in her hometown, fifty thousand Jenny could feed a family for a month.
Odin thought nothing of it and headed outside carrying two large bags.
Ponzu followed and took one of the bags from him.
They walked along the street under the sunlight, feeling a little hot.
As they rounded a corner, a man approached from the opposite direction.
He looked to be in his forties, wearing a gray shirt washed almost white, black trousers, and ordinary sneakers.
His hair was a little messy, and he hadn't shaved properly. He looked as though he had just finished a long journey.
He carried a bulging cloth bag, though there was no telling what was inside.
Odin and Ponzu walked past him.
The man suddenly stopped.
"Excuse me, you two," he said in a slightly hoarse voice. "Is there an inn nearby?"
Odin turned to look at him.
The man stood two paces away, smiling, but his eyes were studying them.
It wasn't a malicious look. It was more as though he was trying to confirm something.
"There's one two blocks ahead," Odin said.
The man nodded but didn't leave.
He looked at Odin, then at Ponzu.
"You're rookies who just passed the Hunter Exam, aren't you?" he said.
Ponzu paused in surprise.
Odin said nothing.
The man smiled, took a small booklet from his pocket, and opened it for them to see.
A card was tucked inside, bearing the Hunter Association's emblem and an identification number.
"I'm Kirkia," he said. "I'm a Hunter too. I passed a few exams before you."
Odin took the booklet and checked it, confirming that it was genuine.
He handed it back.
"How did you know we were rookies?" Ponzu asked.
Kirkia put the booklet away. "Because I came here specifically to find you."
Ponzu looked at Kirkia in surprise, while Odin didn't seem to find it strange.
Kirkia continued, "The Hunter Association sent me here to handle something and check in on you while I was at it. Do you live nearby?"
Odin nodded. "Not far."
"Then would you mind inviting me over for a meal?" Kirkia asked with a smile. "We can talk on the way."
Ponzu looked at Odin, who shrugged.
"Sure," Odin said.
The three walked on together, with Kirkia in the middle.
"Your exam was the 287th, right?" he asked.
"That's right," Odin said.
"Quite a few people passed, didn't they?"
"Nine."
Kirkia nodded. "That's more than the last few exams combined. Nobody passed the previous one."
"That's true. I didn't expect it to turn out that way either," Ponzu said reflectively.
"By the way, I'm a Bounty Hunter," Kirkia said. "What kind of Hunters are you planning to become?"
"I'm planning to become a Curio Hunter," Odin said.
"And I'm planning to become an Insect Hunter," Ponzu added right after him.
Before you continue