Chapter 4 - The Mysterious Old Man

Arthur jumped in surprise and quickly turned around to see who had grabbed his shoulder.

He found that the hand belonged to an old man, tattered and disheveled.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Arthur asked, still startled.

The old man looked at him with a knowing gaze before replying, "I just want to inform you that the city center is not open to just anyone."

Arthur blinked, surprised. The old man continued, "Only hunters can enter the city center. It is not a place for ordinary humans like you."

"So, there's something like that?" Arthur murmured, understanding why the city center was so quiet. It wasn't a place for everyone, after all.

The old man, still observing Arthur closely, then asked, "Are you from a famous family in the southern region?"

'The southern region ?' Arthur thought to himself, a little confused. He wasn't sure how to answer because he didn't even belong to this world.

"I'm sorry, but I don't remember anything about my origins. I'm lost and just happened to enter this city in search of information," Arthur replied, carefully offering the safest response to avoid arousing suspicion.

The old man nodded thoughtfully but then asked more questions that made Arthur even more uneasy.

"Take this. If you truly wish to enter the city, give it to the guards."

The old man then tossed a golden badge shaped like a circle to Arthur. On the badge was an image of a flame etched into its surface.

"A badge? What is this?" Arthur muttered, inspecting the shiny emblem.

Just as Arthur was about to ask the old man about the badge, the mysterious old man disappeared, leaving no trace of his presence.

"Where did that old man go? What should I do with this?" Arthur muttered, now left with more questions than answers. He glanced at the badge and decided to keep it, unsure of its significance.

Not knowing what else to do, Arthur decided to wander around the city again. As he walked away from the city center and into the outskirts, he found the outer parts of the city bustling with activity. People were selling bread, jewelry, and various daily necessities.

However, what caught Arthur's attention was a store in particular. It looked like an ordinary shop, but there was a long line of people waiting outside. As he got closer, Arthur realized that the shop sold nothing but stones.

Curiously, Arthur approached the line and asked one of the people waiting, "What is this Soul Stone that you're all buying?"

The person looked at Arthur with a puzzled expression. "What? You don't know what a Soul Stone is?"

"No, I don't. I'm not from around here," Arthur explained.

"That's strange. Even if you're not from this area, you should know about the Soul Stone," the person remarked.

Arthur quickly explained that he had lost his memory and didn't know anything about it.

The person, now convinced by Arthur's explanation, finally spoke up.

"The Soul Stone is a magical stone that contains the soul of a beast. It can resonate with the soul of a mortal and grant them a soul core, enabling them to become a hunter. However, the chances are very slim. Only those with exceptional talent can truly succeed."

Arthur's eyes widened as he learned more about the Soul Stone. He understood now why so many people were interested in buying one. If someone was lucky enough to succeed, their life could be changed forever, from being a mere mortal to becoming a respected hunter.

As intrigued as Arthur was, he quickly dismissed the thought of trying his luck with the Soul Stone. Not only did he lack any money in this world, but he also knew nothing about being a hunter. All he knew was that hunters possessed powers far beyond ordinary humans like himself.

Arthur continued exploring the city's outskirts and, after some time, found a rather old building with a sign that read "Hunter Information and Registration Center."

Eager to find out more about this world, Arthur entered the building. Inside, it looked like a small café, with several tables and seats scattered around. In the center of the room was a large bulletin board, and a few people sat quietly in various corners. Arthur decided to approach the receptionist, hoping to gather information.

"Welcome. How can I help you?" the receptionist, a young woman, asked.

"Excuse me, I'd like to get some information about hunters," Arthur replied.

"Information about hunters?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes, anything you can tell me about hunters."

The receptionist nodded and gestured for Arthur to wait. A few moments later, she returned with a thick book, which looked like it contained thousands of pages.

"Here you go," she said, "This book contains information about hunters. It will cost you 100 silver coins to borrow it."

Arthur froze. He had no money in this world, and he quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have any money."

Disappointed but understanding, Arthur left the building and walked back outside. However, as he did, he noticed that several people had started following him.

He wasn't sure why he was being followed, but something about the situation felt off.

Arthur quickly moved toward the crowded area, hoping to blend in and lose the people tailing him.

"I think I'm safe now," Arthur thought, scanning the crowd and not seeing any signs of the people who had been following him.

Just as he let out a relieved sigh, a sudden blow struck the back of his head. Everything went black, and Arthur collapsed, unconscious.