The capital of Galant was overwhelming.
The moment Emil stepped through the massive gates, he felt the difference.
This was not a village.
Not a small town.
Not a simple gathering of travelers.
This was a city built upon power.
---
The streets stretched endlessly in every direction.
Merchants shouted about their goods.
Carriages moved through crowded roads.
Magic lamps floated above buildings, illuminating the city even during daylight.
Warriors walked openly with weapons on their backs.
Mages carried staffs covered in strange symbols.
Cultivators wore robes displaying the insignias of their sects.
Everywhere Emil looked...
There was strength.
---
But what interested him most was not the buildings.
It was the people.
Their movements.
Their breathing.
Their presence.
Years of survival had sharpened Emil's senses beyond normal limits.
Even with his eyes covered, he could understand the world around him.
A soldier's heavy footsteps.
A mage's unstable mana flow.
A swordsman's controlled breathing.
A merchant's nervous voice when negotiating.
The city was like a giant battlefield.
Only the weapons were different.
---
Emil walked slowly through the streets.
He intentionally moved like an ordinary blind traveler.
His steps were slightly uncertain.
His aura remained hidden.
His sword hung casually at his side.
Nobody noticed him.
Perfect.
---
His first goal was information.
Before joining any organization, he needed to understand Galant completely.
The Forbidden Forest taught him a simple rule:
Never enter unknown territory without knowing what lives inside.
---
The first place he visited was a public information hall.
Unlike libraries filled with expensive knowledge, this place allowed travelers to learn basic information about the kingdom.
For a small fee, anyone could access maps, records, and general history.
Emil spent hours there.
---
He learned about Galant's structure.
The kingdom was ruled by the royal family.
Below them were powerful noble houses.
Some controlled land.
Some controlled armies.
Some controlled resources.
But none held absolute power.
Because above ordinary politics stood the organizations.
---
The Hunter Association
The most influential independent organization.
Hunters accepted missions involving:
- Monster extermination
- Escort requests
- Resource gathering
- Exploration
- Dungeon investigation
- Emergency support
Unlike soldiers, hunters were free to choose their missions.
Their strength was measured by rank.
---
Hunter Rankings
E-Rank
- Beginners
- Basic monster missions
- Entry-level adventurers
D-Rank
- Experienced hunters
- Stronger monsters
- Dangerous assignments
C-Rank
- Veteran hunters
- Team leaders
B-Rank
- Elite combatants
A-Rank
- Kingdom-level talents
S-Rank
- Individuals capable of changing the outcome of wars
---
Emil paused when he read about S-Rank hunters.
People capable of changing wars.
He wondered how strong they truly were.
Were they stronger than the Berserk Behemoth?
Perhaps.
Perhaps not.
There was still too much he didn't know.
---
The Mercenary Union
Another organization focused mainly on combat contracts.
Unlike hunters, mercenaries often worked for:
- Nobles
- Merchants
- Armies
- Private organizations
They valued teamwork and battlefield experience.
---
The Military
The kingdom's official force.
Responsible for:
- Border defense
- War
- Protecting civilians
- Suppressing major threats
Military soldiers followed orders.
Hunters followed opportunities.
---
Sects and Clans
The most mysterious powers.
Sects gathered cultivators and passed down techniques.
Some possessed ancient inheritances.
Some controlled secret realms.
Clans relied on bloodlines and family abilities.
The strongest clans had existed for thousands of years.
---
Emil remained quiet as he absorbed the information.
The world was much more complicated than he expected.
In the forest, the strongest survived.
Here...
The strongest built organizations.
---
After leaving the information hall, Emil wandered through the city.
He noticed something.
Money.
Everything required it.
Food.
Rooms.
Equipment.
Information.
Even opportunities.
He had survived because the forest provided everything.
Civilization was different.
Here, strength alone wasn't enough.
---
That evening, Emil entered a small restaurant.
He sat quietly while listening to conversations around him.
Hunters discussed missions.
Students discussed academies.
Merchants discussed trade routes.
One conversation especially caught his attention.
---
"Did you hear? The Hunter Association is accepting new registrations this month."
A young man said excitedly.
"I heard they pay extremely well once you reach higher ranks."
His friend nodded.
"Of course. High-ranking hunters risk their lives constantly."
"One A-rank mission can earn enough money for an ordinary family to live comfortably for years."
---
Emil considered this.
A profession where strength could be converted into resources.
A profession that allowed freedom.
A profession that involved fighting monsters.
It sounded familiar.
Almost like the life he already lived.
---
The next morning, Emil visited the Hunter Association headquarters.
The building was enormous.
Larger than many noble mansions.
The entrance alone had hundreds of people entering and leaving.
Hunters.
Applicants.
Receptionists.
Mission handlers.
---
Emil stood outside for a moment.
A new path.
A new identity.
He had once been:
"The village abominable child."
Then:
"The survivor of the Forbidden Forest."
Now...
He needed something different.
---
He entered.
The noise immediately surrounded him.
"New registration?"
"Mission report."
"Monster materials."
"Rank evaluation."
The place was alive.
---
A receptionist noticed him.
A young blind boy carrying a sword was not something seen every day.
"Welcome to the Hunter Association."
Her voice was polite.
"Are you here to register?"
Emil nodded.
"Yes."
---
She handed him a form.
"Name?"
"Emil Myers."
"Age?"
"Thirteen."
The receptionist paused.
A thirteen-year-old?
A blind one?
Her expression changed slightly.
But she didn't judge.
Many unusual people became hunters.
---
"Reason for joining?"
Emil thought for a moment.
Then answered honestly.
"To explore."
The receptionist smiled.
"A simple answer."
---
After completing the registration form, she looked at him.
"Your assessment will determine your starting rank."
"Most beginners start at E-rank."
"But don't worry."
"Everyone starts somewhere."
---
Emil nodded.
Somewhere.
That was true.
Even the strongest swordsmen once held a sword for the first time.
---
As he walked toward the examination area, he felt something he hadn't felt in a long time.
A challenge.
Not against monsters.
Not against survival.
But against a new world.
---
The blind swordsman had entered the Hunter Association.
And soon...
Galant would begin to notice him.