Nightfall.
After marking the various locations, Duncan returned to his residence.
Just as he was about to push the door open, a middle-aged man with a high nose bridge came from the corner of the hallway next door. Upon seeing Duncan, he nodded proactively and greeted, "Good evening, friend."
—Esoteric Practitioner (two-star silver-gray).
Duncan stopped and sized up the man from head to toe, nodding, "Good evening."
The middle-aged man introduced himself, "Bert Koner, from District E33."
Duncan paused and slowly said, "Duncan."
The man who claimed to be Bert looked at Duncan closely and suddenly asked, "You seem injured?"
Duncan appeared slightly surprised; the No. 3 Human Form was indeed injured, but not externally. It was internal bruising and the loss of vitality during the ritual. Even after resting for an entire day, a small portion of the life bar hadn't replenished, likely due to hidden injuries, decreasing the life limit slightly.
