“My goodness…”
The moment she passed through the city gates, Elena’s mouth fell open.
A bearded man walking by noticed her awestruck expression and chuckled.
“First time in Etin?”
“Pardon?
Oh, yes,” she answered, flustered.
“Then it’s no wonder you’re surprised,” he boomed.
“It’s the most prosperous city in the kingdom, second only to the capital.
Welcome to the port city!”
He seemed to be enjoying teasing a country girl on her first visit to the big city.
“It’s incredible,” she murmured, but her awe was tinged with dismay.
The sheer scale of the place was staggering.
The thought of finding her parents’ trail here felt utterly daunting.
“If you’re looking for an inn, I can recommend a fine one,” the man offered.
“It’s called ‘The Wave’s Song Inn’, on the main street.
Safest place in the city, and the chef’s cooking is to die for.”
“Is that so?
Thank you for the recommendation,” Elena replied coolly, drawing a clear boundary.
On the road from the mountain village to Etin, she had quickly learned that her looks were a liability.
She had always known she was beautiful, of course, but back home, it had never felt real.
‘They used to whisper that I was born with a face meant to bewitch people.’ Her appearance was treated as another monstrous trait.
Out here, however, the stares were different.
“Oh my, what a beauty.”
“Miss, you’re so pretty.”
At first, the compliments were a pleasant change.
But they quickly became a nuisance.
“Traveling alone, miss?
How dangerous.
Why don’t you let us keep you company?
We’ll protect you.
Especially at night.
Hehehe.”
“Well, well?
What’s a beauty like you doing all alone?
Looking for a man to pass the time with?”
A woman traveling by herself attracted all sorts of creeps.
They were persistent and tiresome.
She just wanted to move in peace, but she’d already had to cause a few loud disturbances.
Because of this, she was wary of any stranger who approached her.
The bearded man seemed to sense her guard going up and let out a hearty laugh.
“You’re a stunning woman, miss.
I was just worried you might run into trouble,” he said, his tone softening.
“I’d rather not have this city get any noisier than it already is.
Well then, enjoy your travels.”
He gave her a friendly wave and went on his way.
At first, she’d suspected he was plotting something, but the man’s unexpectedly tidy appearance had put her at ease.
Shaking off the thought, Elena surveyed her surroundings, a knot of complicated emotions tightening inside her.
Etin, the port city she had finally reached after another month of travel, was a true metropolis.
No one in a city this size would remember every stranger who had passed through years ago.
She had raced all this way, only for the trail to go cold.
‘No, that can’t be right.’ Her parents had been leaving clues for a reason.
They must have left a recognizable one here as well.
‘The problem is how to find it.’
Unsure how long her search would take, she decided to find lodging first.
As she wandered, she reached the town square, where several inns stood.
One in particular, ‘The Wave’s Song Inn’, caught her eye—no doubt thanks to the bearded man’s earlier recommendation.
His neat appearance had lent him an air of credibility.
Then, on the bottom-right corner of the sign, she spotted what looked like a scratch at first glance but, on closer inspection, was a deliberate symbol.
‘I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere…’
But the memory wouldn’t surface.
Had she seen it in a dream?
She’d had so many that their contents often remained just out of reach.
Pushing the question aside, Elena entered the inn.
“Welcome!”
“Huh?” Elena started.
“Oh!”
The moment she stepped inside, a familiar figure greeted her.
The bearded man she had encountered earlier laughed heartily, his voice booming a warm welcome.
“Well, if it isn’t the young lady!
Did my recommendation convince you to choose this place?
Welcome, welcome.
You won’t find a better inn than this one.”
“Wait, did you just recommend your ‘own’ inn?” she asked, an eyebrow raised.
“That’s how we all make a living, isn’t it?” he replied with a confident grin.
His brazen attitude was so absurd it was almost charming.
What was even funnier was that because it was so obviously a sales pitch, it didn’t feel like some underhanded ploy.
“I’d like a room, please.”
“Just for the night?”
“For now,” she confirmed.
“Does that mean you might be considering a long-term stay?”
“I’ll have to see how things go.”
“We’ll make sure you’re comfortable,” the man declared with a theatrical bow before handing her a key.
“Room 205.
I gave you a special one with a great view of the central square.”
“Thank you.”
After dropping her luggage in her room, Elena came back downstairs.
“Heading out to see the town?” the innkeeper asked.
“Yes.
Do you serve dinner later?”
“Of course!
Our inn is famous for its special steak.
Come too late, and it’ll all be gone.
But since you might be staying awhile, I can save one for you if you’d like.
Sound good?”
“Don’t tell me you’re the chef, too?”
His boastful confidence made her anxious for some reason.
“Hahahaha!
Not me, my wife!”
He truly was a master salesman.
“Since you’re so sure of it, I’ll have it when I get back.”
“Alright, good choice!
I’ll save a nice, big one just for you!”
Elena shook her head with a small smile and left, heading straight for the port.
Her parents had mentioned taking a ship, so it was the logical place to begin her search.
Up close, the port of Etin was even more immense than she had imagined.
‘Well, I suppose that’s to be expected.’
The Linsta Kingdom, where Etin was located, and the Blake Empire, home to Elena’s village, were separated by a vast mountain range.
To trade with the Empire, the kingdom had to either traverse the same treacherous mountains Elena had crossed or rely on ships.
The range was a natural border, and it was also the only place where demonic beasts—creatures all but extinct in the human world—still roamed.
Compared to that danger, traveling by sea was far safer and more comfortable, which naturally led to a flourishing trade.
Countless ships sailed in and out of the harbor.
‘How am I supposed to find a single clue in all this?’
Her heart heavy with the daunting task, Elena scanned the port.
She noticed people disembarking from a newly arrived vessel and entering a single building.
It seemed to be a required stop before boarding as well.
Elena immediately understood it served as the immigration office.
In this world, people were considered assets of the state; they couldn’t simply cross into another country at will.
There had to be records.
‘I have to check.’
Without hesitation, Elena headed for the office.
Fortunately, as it was late in the day, the line was short.
She watched as people handed documents to an official, who would check them and hand them back in a monotonous loop.
When her turn came, she stepped forward.
“Boat ticket, identification tag, and letter of guarantee,” the manager droned, his face etched with exhaustion.
“I’m not here to board a ship,” Elena said.
“Could I ask you something?”
“Does this look like an information desk to you?” he snapped, his tone instantly turning irritable.
He didn’t even bother to look up, displaying the classic attitude of a man who despised his job.
“I know you’re busy, but I’m desperate,” she pressed.
“Is it possible to see the passenger lists?”
The manager finally looked up, his expression a mixture of shock and annoyance, as if she were the craziest person he’d ever met.
Then his eyes landed on her, and they widened.
A moment later, a sleazy smile spread across his face as he gave her a disgusting, head-to-toe appraisal.
“What was it you needed?” he purred, his voice turned sly, and his manners shifted.
She had the sudden, violent urge to punch him squarely in his leering eyes, but she held back.
“The list of people who have boarded ships,” Elena repeated, forcing a sweet note into her tone.
The manager pretended to think for a moment, then scribbled something on a small piece of paper.
He discreetly slid it to her while shouting loudly.
“Do you really think that’s possible?
You’re a strange one.
I’m busy, so stop wasting my time and get out!”
“I’m sorry to have bothered you,” Elena apologized politely, secretly pocketing the note as she left the immigration office.
Once she found an empty alley, she unfolded it.
[11 PM.
‘The Moonlit Night’ inn on the east side.]
‘How blatant.’
The time and place reeked of his lecherous intentions.
Elena decided to keep her plan simple.
‘If it comes to it, I’ll just beat the information out of him.’
She wasn’t so virtuous as to waste time reasoning with scum like him.
With plenty of time to kill, she returned to the inn.
“Oh!
You’re back!
Ready for dinner?” the bearded innkeeper greeted her again.
“Yes, I’ll eat now.”
“I’ll bring it right out.
Sit wherever you’re comfortable.”
She must have been at the port longer than she thought, as the dinner rush had passed.
The inn’s first floor was quiet, with only a few patrons nursing drinks.
Elena chose a table in the corner.
She still had no idea who her parents were trying to lure.
All she had found were their traces, with no sign of anyone else in pursuit.
‘Could they have left these clues for me?’
But that felt wrong.
A single letter would have been enough to bring her running, no questions asked.
There was no need for such a convoluted method.
‘What if my parents aren’t the ones leaving the clues?’
Just as the ominous thought took root, a hearty voice broke through her reverie.
“Food’s here!” The innkeeper announced, setting down a steaming plate.
The aroma of the steak was divine.
“The most famous special steak in town.
Dig in.”
His cheerful interruption was a welcome distraction from her dark thoughts.
“Hey, Derek!
I thought you said the steak was sold out!” a man at a nearby table called out gruffly.
“Playing favorites, are we?”
“This guest reserved it before she went out!” Derek shot back.
“I saved it for her especially.
Have you ever seen the special steak still available at this hour?
Cooper, you’ve only got yourself to blame for being late!”
“Is that so?
For a second there, I was about to be disappointed, thinking you were holding out on me!”
“What’s with you!
I run an honest business here!”
“Hmph, honest.
There’s no one less honest than you,” Cooper retorted.
The two men bickered with the easy familiarity of old friends, careful not to truly offend one another.
Derek turned back to Elena and winked.
“See?
People are dying to get their hands on this.
Go on, try it.”
Elena didn’t hesitate.
She needed a clear head, and that required a full stomach.
She had intended to simply eat for sustenance, but the moment she took a bite, her eyes flew open in surprise.
“How is it?
Delicious, right?” Derek beamed.
“Yes, it’s incredible,” she admitted.
The outside was seared to a perfect, crisp crust that gave a satisfying chew, but it wasn’t tough in the slightest.
The meat inside was so tender it practically dissolved, bursting with rich juices that flooded her mouth.
She’d never known a steak this thick could be so soft.
“Right?
In my entire life, I’ve never met a single person who didn’t love my wife’s special steak.”
“I’ve cooked plenty of meat myself, but I could never achieve a taste like this.
I’m dying to know the secret.”
It was a flavor Jayden would have adored.
“My wife really is the best!” Derek roared with laughter, absolutely thrilled.
He turned toward the kitchen and bellowed, “Honey!
Honey!
Come on out!”
His sudden outburst startled Elena.
“Tsk, tsk’, there he goes again,” Cooper muttered.
“Derek, you’re going to get an earful from Camila!”
Derek ignored the warning, instead raising his voice even louder.
“Honey!
Honey!”
“I’m busy!
Why do you keep calling me?”
A beautiful woman with fiery red hair stormed out from the kitchen, her voice sharp.
Elena flinched.
For a split second, the red hair made her think of her mother.
But this woman was smaller, more slender.
Her slightly upturned, cat-like eyes gave her a uniquely cute appearance that seemed an odd match for the big, burly Derek.
“Honey!” Derek exclaimed.
“This guest says your special steak is truly delicious!
A taste of the heavens, she said!”
‘Excuse me, sir.
I didn’t go that far.’
“Oh my,” Camila said, her lips twitching into a pleased smile, all traces of her earlier annoyance gone.
“Did it suit your palate that much?”
“She said she wants to visit the inn again just to eat it!
See, my wife is the best!”
‘Seriously, I didn’t say that either.’
“Well, I am pretty great!” Camila preened.
“Is there anything my wife can’t do?”
“Of course not!”
Derek was practically applauding, while Camila stood beside him with her nose in the air.
Watching them, Elena could see they were a perfectly matched pair.
“That ‘my wife is the best’ nonsense again,” Cooper grumbled good-naturedly.
“I’m so sick of it!
How’s a man without a wife supposed to live around here?”
The other customers, clearly used to the couple’s antics, paid them no mind.
“I’m glad to have a customer with such good taste,” Camila said to Elena, her tone warm.
“Enjoy your meal and rest well.
I’ll make you an even more delicious dish tomorrow.”
As Camila turned to leave, an earring dangling from her earlobe caught the light.
It was an unusual design: a small dagger piercing a crescent moon.
“Ah!”
The image struck Elena with the force of a revelation, unlocking a memory.
It was information she already possessed, buried deep within the dreams of her past life.
‘I had an easy solution right in front of me and didn’t even see it.’ An unconscious smile touched Elena’s lips, and Camila paused, tilting her head.
“Why?
Is something wrong?”
“I’ve just run into someone unexpected,” Elena said smoothly.
“Don’t you recognize me?”
As she spoke, she traced a symbol on the tabletop with her index finger.
A flash of recognition lit Camila’s eyes.
“Well now.
What a pleasant surprise.
Maria, shall we talk inside?”
Elena tactfully refrained from asking who Maria was.
“Huh?
You two know each other?” Derek asked, his voice full of surprise.
His innocent expression confirmed he knew nothing of Camila’s true identity.
“Yes,” Camila said, her performance seamless.
“Her name is Maria.
We knew each other a long time ago.
It’s been so long I didn’t recognize her.
Is it okay if we talk for a bit?”
“Oh, of course!
If you’re old friends, you should definitely catch up.”
“Thanks.
You’re the best,” Camila said, turning back to Elena.
“Maria, what are you waiting for?
Aren’t you coming?”
Elena rose and followed Camila up two flights of stairs to a secluded part of the inn where they were completely alone.
“Come in,” Camila said, opening the door to the room in the farthest corner.
“This is my office.”
Elena stepped into what looked like an ordinary office.
The moment she was inside, Camila slammed the door shut and shoved her against it.
Her back hit the hard wood with a solid thud.
“Don’t move!”
At the low, sharp warning, Elena froze.
She had no choice.
The cold, sharp tip of a dagger was pressed against her throat.
“What is the meaning of this?” Elena asked, her voice steady.
“Who are you?”
Camila’s expression, once bright and friendly, was now a mask of ice.
This was the face of a cold, ruthless assassin.
The subtle mark on the sign, the unique earring—they were the emblems of a single group.
The assassin’s guild, Crescent Moon.
But…
‘Something’s wrong here.’
She couldn’t understand the hostility.
“I asked, who are you?!” Camila hissed when Elena remained silent.
“Um, I believe I was signaling that I wanted to make a request,” Elena stated calmly.
That had been the meaning of the symbol she’d drawn on the table.
There was no reason to be so aggressive with a potential client.
Camila’s brow furrowed.
“We don’t use that signal anymore.
How did you learn such an archaic mark?”
‘Come to think of it, the assassin from my dream lived a very long time ago.’ Elena had only seen the symbols she recognized and hadn’t considered that the signals might have changed.
She should have factored in the passage of time.
“The mark on the sign was still there, so I assumed the hand signal was the same.
I learned of it by chance.
But if you don’t use it anymore, how did ‘you’ recognize it?”
“…Some of us don’t forget the past,” Camila replied, her words heavy with meaning.
“Do we have to continue this conversation like this?” Elena asked dryly.
She’d had a feeling Camila wouldn’t actually kill her, which was why she hadn’t fought back, but she had no desire to chat with a blade at her neck.
“You still haven’t answered my question.
Very few people can recognize that mark today.
You’re suspicious.
Who are you?”
‘Would you even know if I told you?’
She’d never believe the truth about the dreams.
But since she was so insistent, Elena decided to oblige her.