Holding hands, the two of them approached Verna's outer walls. A stone gate came into view. Verna's East Gate—the checkpoint for passage toward the Luvain Forest region, managing the flow of travelers. Two gatekeepers stood there, deftly handling the steady stream of people. A merchant's cart passed through, followed by several travelers. A few figures who looked like mercenaries were mixed in among them. Takumi gently released Jin's hand. (Can't exactly hold hands while passing through a gate, right?) He didn't offer any particular reason. Jin didn't say anything either. Only the sensation of her hand lingered, slowly fading from his palm. The toll was five copper coins. As Takumi pulled coins from the bottom of his bag, he mentally converted it to "about two hundred yen." He couldn't tell if that was expensive or cheap. The gatekeeper glanced at Jin but didn't raise any objections, letting both of them through. The moment they passed through the gate, the air changed. The soun