Finally, after an exhausting journey, Zen and Yumi arrived at the town located to the north. The sun had already begun to set, and the sky was now dark.
"I thought this town was close earlier, stupid map!" Yumi grumbled, panting heavily. Sweat dripped down her temples as her legs felt like lead. "Turns out it took almost an hour."
She glanced at Zen, who showed no signs of fatigue whatsoever. His face remained calm, his breathing steady, as if the long journey had been nothing more than a leisurely stroll. *How is he not tired? What is his body made of?* Yumi wondered, growing even more curious about his endurance.
Ahead of them, the town they'd been heading to sprawled impressively. A massive, sturdy wall surrounded the entire area, forming what seemed like an impenetrable fortress. The main gate was heavily guarded by armed soldiers, indicating that this town wasn't just a settlement but also a stronghold.
"Hey, look!" Yumi pointed toward the gate. "It seems like they're about to close it."
Zen nodded. "It's nighttime. It's only natural they'd close the gates after dark."
"Then let's hurry, we need to get in now!" Without thinking, Yumi grabbed Zen's hand and pulled him, running toward the nearly closed gate.
Once there, Yumi immediately addressed the guards. "Excuse me! Can we come in?"
One of them, clad in full armor with a helmet covering his face, eyed them warily. The spear in his hand gleamed golden under the light of the lanterns being lit.
To Yumi's surprise, without realizing it, she was already speaking the language of this world—and strangely, Zen understood it perfectly.
The guards exchanged glances before one of them responded, his voice deep and authoritative. "Who are you? Where are you from?"
The gatekeepers observed Zen and Yumi's foreign attire with suspicion. One of them frowned.
"Hmm… From your clothes, are you from another world?"
Yumi stifled her shock. *How does he know?* But she quickly masked her confusion. "Ah, if you already know, can we come in?"
The guards exchanged looks again, then one of them nodded. "Wait here. I'll call the master."
They were led to a small waiting room, its walls made of solid wood with a few simple chairs. After waiting for a while, the door creaked open.
A man dressed in lavish clothing—clearly different from the guards' uniforms—entered. His face distinctly looked Japanese, but his demeanor was cold and annoyed.
"Are you two separated from the group that arrived earlier today?" he asked bluntly. "This is really troublesome. What do you want?"
*The people from earlier… So we're not the only ones stranded in this world.* Zen and Yumi exchanged glances, both catching the oddity of the situation. Was this man also from Japan? Or had he learned the language?
"You said there were others who came dressed like us?" Yumi asked, trying to dig for more information.
"Hm," the man answered lazily. "There were a few dressed like you, but some were different."
*So my classmates are here too!* Yumi's heart raced. Perhaps her entire class had been scattered across this strange world.
"In that case, can we join them?" she asked again, trying to sound convincing.
The man clicked his tongue. "Actually, there's a fee to enter the town. But I assume you don't have any money." He sighed as if holding back his irritation. "However, we've been ordered not to hinder the *Hero Candidates*. So… you may enter."
*Hero Candidates?* Zen pondered the phrase. *Is that why we were summoned to this world? It seems they want people from Earth to become heroes here.*
"The group from earlier has already left for the capital," the man continued indifferently. "One of them said, 'If anyone else comes, let them find their own way!'"
Zen and Yumi exchanged looks, then stood up from their seats.
"Seems there's no point staying here any longer," Zen said, ready to leave.
Yumi nodded and followed him.
Suddenly, the man smirked and stopped in front of Yumi. "Hey, wait. If you don't have money, you could leave this woman with me." His eyes swept over Yumi's body with an inappropriate gaze. "It's a pity, isn't it? A pretty girl like her following a penniless guy like you. How about it?"
Yumi immediately felt her skin crawl. *I want to vomit.*
Without another word, she grabbed Zen's arm and pulled him away. "Let's go, Zen!"
Once they stepped into the town, Yumi finally let go of his arm. Her breath was still ragged from the mix of emotions.
"You really didn't like him, huh?" Zen asked, trying to understand her reaction.
"Of course!" Yumi grumbled, rubbing her arm as if she felt dirty. "He was creepy *and* infuriating at the same time!"