Late at night, I quietly slipped out of my sleeping bag.
The large tent after the banquet reeked of leftover food, mingled with the faint sweat of men and a chorus of snores.
Lying directly on the ground in a crude sleeping bag, I could feel my body heat slowly seeping away.
Compared to this, life back in that small village was practically a top-tier sanatorium.
I silently lifted a corner of the tent flap, desperate for fresh air.
The night watch guard: …………
Seventh Ju: …………
The moment I stepped out, I nearly collided with a patrolling soldier.
He just shot me a glare—no words—but his silence felt like permission.
*Guess they’ll turn a blind eye as long as you don’t flee their territory.*
I glanced up at the sky. Midnight had just passed. A slender crescent of light, like a sliver of moon, began bleeding from the horizon’s edge.
Beneath the faint starlight, I spotted a massive figure sitting alone in the square ahead, intently gazing at something in the distance.
Black hair trailed down his neck, along his spine, all the way to the base of his powerful wolf tail—which swayed gently left and right.
*Seasonal Wolf.*
Right—I still hadn’t thanked him for the oral exam today.
Seventh Ju: Um… hello?
??: …………
His sharp eyes glinted faintly in the dark, revealing the wolf’s true nature beneath.
??: The kid who pulled strings.
Seventh Ju: Huh? No—I didn’t pull any strings!
??: Passed the test outright. Got a personal greeting from the commander at dinner. Anyone’d think you pulled strings.
Seventh Ju: I seriously didn’t!
??: If you’re pulling strings for *this* test… aiming for military inspector or commander next?
Seventh Ju: I told you—I didn’t pull strings!
??: …………
??: Fine. If you’ve got nothing else, go sleep. Humans need their rest.
*This guy…* Every word pushed me away. Such blatant unsociability was rare.
*…Whatever. I owe him a favor. Better swallow my pride.*
Seventh Ju: I came to thank you. For helping me during the test.
??: When did I help you?
Seventh Ju: Before the oral exam. I struggle reading words, but hearing you recite them made it easier.
??: Oh. So you weren’t trying to get yourself killed by leaning over my shoulder.
*His tone…* For a split second, I burned to drop my disguise and slap him senseless.
Seventh Ju: A-Anyway… thanks.
??: …………
??: What’s your name?
Seventh Ju: …Seventh Ju.
??: I’m Ink River.
*Ink River…* The name carried a faint echo of home.
Ink River: Bold yet humble humans like you? First time I’ve met one.
Seventh Ju: Ha…
*I’ll take that as a genuine compliment.*
Ink River: Come here. Look ahead.
Seventh Ju: O-Okay.
I sat beside Ink River, following his gaze.
An open expanse stretched before us—tents and makeshift shacks dotted the landscape in orderly sections. Only two distant clusters of large buildings reminded me we were still inside Bao City.
Farther ahead, the silhouette of the city wall emerged faintly through the night.
But right where our eyes met the wall… a jagged gap tore through its line.
Like a giant prairie dog had clawed a hole straight through.
Seventh Ju: That’s…
Ink River: The Pioneer Team’s exit route. Dug temporarily. Our direction for this expedition.
Ink River: What do you think lies beyond?
Beyond the wall, deep fog swallowed everything. Darkness hid all.
Seventh Ju: If we knew, it wouldn’t be pioneering, would it?
Ink River: Out there? Best to worst: status, rewards, sweat, blood, death.
Ink River: Why did you join?
Seventh Ju: To… survive. Better pay than laboring in the city.
Ink River: …Simple. Honest.
Seventh Ju: And you?
Ink River: Broadly speaking… survival too.
Seventh Ju: Do Seasonal Wolves often make a living among humans?
Ink River: No. Haven’t met another. Usually just trade or alliances.
Seventh Ju: Oh…
*I smelled a painful story—but I wasn’t rude enough to pry.*
Seventh Ju: Anyway… good luck. The future’s never short of "pessimism," is it?
Ink River turned to me. His gaze had softened since our first meeting.
Ink River: Must be nice… pulling strings.
Seventh Ju: —HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO SAY I DIDN’T PULL STRINGS!?
*Come to think of it…* Anyone capable would join the expedition as a soldier. Starting as a laborer here meant low status—or failing the army’s strict recruitment.
*In other words: society’s bottom rung.*
No grandeur. No uniqueness. Just ordinary lives.
Some chase extraordinariness their whole lives, desperate to soar and achieve glory.
Others find contentment in the ordinary.
…………
The next morning, soldiers’ shouts roused everyone in the tent on time.
After a simple breakfast, we lined up and marched under a squad leader’s command—toward the gap in the city wall.
There, we merged with laborers recruited in other batches. The square swarmed with thousands of civilians in non-uniform clothes.
*This operation must involve several thousand people total.*
*Just me… buried in a sea of smelly men. A strange sadness crept in.*
*Though… it’d be weirder to see women here for this work.*
Seasonal Wolf Ink River stood two people ahead of me, separated by a trembling man. Ink River’s towering frame blocked my view, forcing me to lean sideways to see ahead.
On a raised platform ahead, an officer stepped up—Preman’s deputy, Aiton.
Aiton: The vanguard has departed. We move in one hour. Absolute obedience to commands. Discipline is non-negotiable.
Aiton: This nation’s pioneering isn’t about tilling fields. We’re exploring uncharted territory—establishing outposts and settlements if possible.
Aiton: Today, your task is laying a basic road wide enough for wagons. Securing supply lines.
Aiton: That’s all. Understood!?
**YES, SIR—!!**
Every voice roared in unison.
Aiton: Now—a Divine Officer from the Divine Temple stands at the gate. Screening for "unstable" elements among you.
Aiton: Single file. Pass before the Officer. Return to your current positions afterward.
Aiton: Rightmost column—begin!!
*A Divine Officer?* So this was Preman’s "final test" last night?
*What’s this about?*
Seventh Ju: Ink River—Ink River! What’s happening now?
Ink River: Once is enough.
*He didn’t even turn his head.*
Ink River: The officer said it. Screening criminals.
Seventh Ju: How?
Ink River: Wish Power, obviously.
Ink River: Every Divine Officer has at least one Wish Power maxed at 100 points. Abilities no normal person would ever pursue.
Seventh Ju: Like… what?
Ink River: Personal data scans. Memory tracing. Lie detection. Disguise penetration.
Seventh Ju: —!!?
Ink River: Only Divine Officers bother with such powers. Necessary to uphold Xiv’s will.
Ink River: Since the Temple doesn’t govern, they pour energy into… faith-maintenance tricks. …You okay, Ju?
Seventh Ju: Uh… fine. Nothing.
Seventh Ju: Ah—our column’s moving. Let’s go.
Ink River: …………
*Logically…* I’d invested 200,000 Wish Points into my disguise ability. No reason to fear exposure.
*But that only hides my form.* If they see my past—I have zero defense.
*My identity’s at risk!*
The line advanced slowly toward the wall gap.
*Should I hastily wish for self-concealment?* But at this pace, I’d reach the front in under a minute—and my mind was too cluttered with panic to focus.
Around a bend, I spotted Aiton standing aside—and beside him, the Divine Officer.
The Officer wore heavy robes and a deep hood, identical to the group I’d encountered entering the city.
*Were those people Divine Officers too? What were they— No. No time for that now!*
Useless panic churned inside me as I drew closer.
Laborers filed past the Officer one by one. Hood shadowing their eyes, yet radiating an aura of *nothing escapes notice*.
Only the nose and jawline were visible beneath the hood—delicate contours confirming the Officer was female.
*Ah… no choice. Just walk through like everyone else. Nothing will happen. Just procedure.*
I fixed my eyes straight ahead, forcing my gaze downward.
*Ink River passed fine. I’ll be fine too. Just… walk…*
??: …!
Suddenly, a pale hand blocked my chest.
Seventh Ju: —!?
The hand lacked real force—but I flinched, freezing in place.
*Mistake. Has to be a mistake. Not me. Definitely meant for the guy ahead—he walked too fast—*
??: Halt… Seventh Ju.
Seventh Ju: …………
