Maeyurai was lying down on his bed in the dormitories, deep in thought.
I'm going to ask for a leave tomorrow.
But the thing is... I don't know where to go.
Where should be the first place I visit?
Based on the map that Shienne gave me... The nearest nation to Gangumen should be Wyumatsui Island, just to the west.
Should I go there?
As he was deep in his thoughts, a scene he'd never seen before flashed before his eyes.
A youthful man with golden hair, rowing a boat over the sea. His sword rested on where he sat, and everything was tranquil.
However, his sword had a weird shape. Instead of it being a straight sword, it had a bent scabbard, indicating that its blade was curved.
It was essentially a katana.
Behind him was a massive island. It was an island that Maeyurai somewhat recognized.
The golden swordsman turned his head in front.
It was a long bay stretching out for hundreds or maybe a thousand kilometers; it was the Jinsang Bay. And in the distance was a port.
Maeyurai recognized it. Not because he's seen it personally, but because of how eerily similar it was to a place he saw on the map.
It was the Port of Jinsang Bay, just to the west of Gangumen. Now, he was sure that the island behind the golden swordsman was indeed Wyumatsui Island.
For some reason, he felt an odd sense of familiarity with the golden swordsman, like he'd already spent years with this person.
Since Maeyurai didn't know his past, he thought that maybe, just maybe, this golden swordsman was a person who was present since his birth.
Then, the vision ended, flashing black.
"Was that a vision...?" he asked himself.
After a long while of thinking, his mind was finally set.
If I'm going to explore the world, then my first step would be to visit the five remaining nations in the Baofuming Region.
And the first nation? It's going to be Wyumatsui Island.
Wyumatsui Island is close to Gangumen, so it shouldn't take long to travel there. I also seek to know more about that golden swordsman in the vision.
Going to Wyumatsui Island, I should head to the Port of Jinsang Bay first.
What am I truly seeing? This vision isn't normal.
Even that dream that I saw before I became an archer—that was an image of the future.
Do his eyes give him the ability to see the future? Soon, he will find the answer, the truth.
Then, he fell asleep.
*
It was a tasteless morning.
Maeyurai sat on a couch in the common area alongside Dokgak, Naguta, and Maru. Maeyurai looked out the window, bored with nothing to do.
"Guys," he said. "Do you think I can ask for a leave today or tomorrow?"
Dokgak, sitting on the other side from Maeyurai, would reply, "I don't think you can. It's too early; you just got in the army."
"It's possible," Naguta said, sitting beside Dokgak. "He's who Former Captain Huizen favored most."
"You sure you and Captain Wuyo are fine with that?" Dokgak replied. "I mean, you two used to be Former Captain Huizen's favorites."
Naguta glanced in Maeyurai's way. Not with envy, but with respect. "Of course I'm fine with it."
"It was quite surprising," Sune Maru spoke up. "I didn't expect Maeyurai to win against Naguta during the fifth assessment."
"Right," said Dokgak, shifting his gaze from Naguta to Maeyurai.
"That was pure luck, and it was different from what I experienced in The Hunt," muttered Maeyurai. He was still looking outside the window, bored out of his mind.
"Why?" Dokgak asked.
"One of the participants in The Hunt was stronger than I was. His name is Ugina; I couldn't win against him," Maeyurai replied. "While I had 19 counts, he had 54."
"54 counts?!" exclaimed Maru, sitting upright from his seat to look at Maeyurai, his mouth slightly ajar.
"That's the highest record ever!" Dokgak said. "The highest one ever was Captain Wuyo's record of 31 counts!"
"Yeah, it was a shame Ugina died to the Shrieker," Maeyurai replied. For a brief moment, they could see that his lips pressed together as if holding something in.
"A Shrieker?" Naguta asked. "A General-Level Hell's Spawn?"
Maeyurai nodded his head, looking at the three.
"So that's what appeared..." Dokgak said.
"Troublesome indeed; no wonder the trees were destroyed in the forest according to the reports," Naguta added.
"I'm still thinking about it..." said Maeyurai, looking deep in his thoughts. "Where was its heart located?"
"Heart?" Maru asked. "You mean, the critical weak spot that kills the Hell's Spawns when destroyed?"
Maeyurai gave a slight nod and replied. "Yeah, that sort of weak spot. I call it a heart because it has a similar function."
The four were silent. It seems they all didn't know where the heart of the Shrieker was located.
"You guys don't know, huh?" said Maeyurai.
The first to reply was Naguta.
"That's because we've never encountered a Hell's Spawn stronger than Common-Level. We've only heard of stories about the different Hell's Spawns from Former Captain Huizen."
"The participants this year are very unfortunate," Dokgak added.
Maeyurai looked at the ground, reminded of the events. "Yeah, I truly was lucky to have survived what happened in The Hunt."
He couldn't bring himself to tell the full story about how he was saved by an unknown Heretic named Wency and how Huizen was actually murdered by his own student.
He couldn't push the image of Wency and Mhiya out of his mind.
Traumatized by Mhiya's betrayal in The Hunt, Maeyurai's face tightened in emotional pain. He still wasn't over the whole event. It was only natural.
The three noticed it and remained silent. They refrained from pointing it out; they didn't want to force Maeyurai to tell them what troubles him.
The closest one, Maru, decided to sit closer to Maeyurai and comfort him by patting his shoulder.
"I'm fine," said Maeyurai, aware that they're feeling sympathetic for him. "Thank you."
After speaking, he continued. "I'll go to Captain Wuyo's office. I'll ask for a leave."
Maeyurai stood up to leave. But before he could walk away, Naguta spoke up.
"Wait," he said. "Why are you even asking for a leave? You just got in the army."
Maeyurai looked over his shoulder.
"It's personal."
*
Maeyurai stood in front of the captain's office. He wasn't feeling particularly nervous, but he was just hoping he could get permission to leave.
He gently knocked on the door.
Tap-tap!
Then, a voice answered.
"Come in!" Wuyo said.
Maeyurai reached for the doorknob. After turning it, he pulled it open and entered.
"Good morning, captain," greeted Maeyurai.
"Good morning. What business do you have?" Wuyo asked, writing something on a piece of paper.
"There's something I would like to ask for..." said Maeyurai. He wasn't sure if he should ask right away.
"Hm?" Wuyo tilted his head as he hummed. "What is it?"
Maeyurai fell silent for a moment.
Then, he spoke with a firm voice.
"I would like to ask for a leave."
"Huh?" Wuyo's brows furrowed in confusion. "Why?"
Wuyo was taken aback by what Maeyurai had said. "I understand if it's about your emotional well-being, but I would like to know the reason why you would want to leave temporarily."
"I would like to go on an adventure," he answered. "Honestly, I wasn't truly looking to become part of the army. I only used this as a way to have an easier way to leave Gangumen."
Wuyo shifted in his seat. Maeyurai's honesty was surprising. It must've taken a lot of courage, he thought.
"Is that so? Is that your only reason?" he asked. Wuyo knew that there was something else that Maeyurai sought.
"No," Maeyurai bluntly said. "I'm going to look for a missing person."
Nodding his head upon hearing Maeyurai's answer, Wuyo stood up from his seat.
"Finding a missing person would likely take months, and even years. You do know that, right?" he said, leaning forward, placing both hands on the table.
"I know."
Wuyo sighed. "Fine, I give you permission."
A small smile of triumph appeared on Maeyurai's face.
"Thank you. And even if you didn't give me the permission, I could just rebel and leave."
"Heh," Wuyo scoffed. "You have the guts to say that in front of me. What if I just reject your request right now, huh?"
"I know you won't," answered Maeyurai.
"Damn right, I won't," said Wuyo before laughing out. "Ah... Anyway, when are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow. Is that possible?"
"Hmm..." Wuyo fell into silence, thinking. "I mean, yeah, sure. It's plausible for you to leave tomorrow."
After Wuyo gave an answer, Maeyurai immediately gave a bow.
"Thank you, Captain Wuyo!" he said.
"No problem. Now, go," said Wuyo, going back into his seat.
Maeyurai raised his head and gave Wuyo a nod. Then, he turned back and left the room.
Now that's all over with.
After closing the door to the captain's office, he was met with the presence of several people. It seems they had sneaked into Maeyurai's conversation with Wuyo and know about what he plans to do next.
"Maeyurai! You're really going to leave?" one of them asked.
"Yeah," replied Maeyurai.
Several voices spoke to Maeyurai, expressing what they felt about the situation. They were already friendly with Maeyurai despite Maeyurai only coming three days ago. Maybe that's just how they were.
"Aww, we'll miss you, dude!"
"If you ever need help, just call us, Maeyurai!"
Maeyurai, upon hearing the voices of his comrades, would nod his head with a smile. He appreciated their support and how they accepted him into the army.
But now, he has a new goal in mind.
*
A day has passed, and it was morning.
At the dormitory, Maeyurai was changing. Looking in the mirror, he wore the same brown uniform given to him by Huizen. His longbow and quiver were strapped on his back.
Maeyurai considered the uniform a keepsake of Huizen, and it was incredibly important for him.
On his left middle finger, he wore the ring that Shikkan gifted him for his hard work. Another keepsake that served to remind him of Shikkan's fatherly love.
"You're going to leave now, right?" asked Naguta, glancing at Maeyurai as he sat on the edge of his bed.
"I am," Maeyurai replied, fixing the brown scarf on his neck.
"Everyone's waiting for you downstairs. I'm going to go now too," Naguta said as he stood and left the room.
"Okay."
After a while, Maeyurai finally decided to leave the dorm, holding a piece of folded paper in hand.
Walking through the hallway, he saw dozens of doors that served as the other archers' rooms.
At the end of the hallway was the staircase. He gripped the railing and walked downstairs with a blank face.
He continued walking until he was at the main door.
After opening the door, he met the gazes of his fellow archers.
Everyone approached and called out his name.
Before leaving completely, Maeyurai interacted with each one of them.
"You're going to find Former Captain Huizen's other students, right? Good luck, Maeyurai," said Naguta.
"Mhm, thank you," replied Maeyurai.
"Once you find them, you better come back to us. And with some souvenirs, got that?" Dokgak said with a smile.
"I will, don't worry."
"You little prodigy. Be careful on your journey, okay?" Maru said, patting Maeyurai's shoulder.
"Your words are noted. I will be careful," Maeyurai said, nodding.
And then, he approached the last person.
"Captain Wuyo," said Maeyurai.
"It's only been a short time, Maeyurai" Wuyo said with a poignant smile. "There are countless dangers out there, so many powerful creatures and people you may fight. But I know you can defeat them, because you're the Final Survivor, right?"
"I definitely will. Just you watch, I'll come back stronger than ever," replied Maeyurai with a slight grin.
"And, please," Maeyurai added. "Please give this paper to Shikkan."
Maeyurai reached his hand out, giving the folded paper to Wuyo.
"I will," Wuyo replied. "Always, keep your bow by your side, okay, Maeyurai? It will be your life and death companion, no matter where you go, the bow will protect you."
Then, it was time for him to leave. He turned away from the others and walked the path leading outside of the barracks.
He raised his right hand, waving goodbye.
"Good luck on your journey, Maeyurai!" everyone shouted in unison.
Maeyurai walked out of the barracks, heading to the west of Gangumen.
I'm going to explore the world.
Along the way... Shienne. Mhiya. I'll make sure to find the both of you.