Royo narrates the weary eastward journey toward Tamneki, with the group sleeping in the carriage and pushing through aches and headaches. As they near the capital, everyone agrees to lose a little time by stopping overnight in the city of Oosant, and Royo struggles with his growing closeness to Aeri while reminding himself to keep distance.

At the Evenglow Inn, Aeri announces that she and Sora want dinner at a tavern, and Royo goes along, meeting Sora and Tiyung (Ty) in the lobby. Euyn and Mikail stay behind, and Royo notes Mikail had wanted them to remain at the inn, though no one explains why.

At Hearst Tavern, Sora’s appearance draws attention, and Royo quickly identifies a corner table of men as a gang. When a new man arrives and is treated as the leader, the gang focuses on Royo’s group, confirming Royo’s fears. Royo orders food and ale to buy time, then quietly lays out an escape plan: take meals to go, leave calmly, and if attacked, the others must run back to the inn to reach Mikail.

Royo realizes Oosant lies in a lawless borderland, making Mikail’s earlier warning suddenly make sense. Ty admits he served two years in the king’s guard, but Royo doubts how much that will help against seven armed men; Ty’s visible coin purse likely increases the danger. When the food arrives, Royo uses the boxed cutlery to arm everyone with steak knives and has Ty hide a blade up his sleeve, while Royo keeps his own dagger and brass knuckles ready.

Timing their exit while the gang eats, Royo, Aeri, Sora, and Ty leave the tavern and hurry back toward the inn without running. Just as Royo begins to think he misjudged the threat, he spots a dagger glinting ahead in the shadows and starts warning the others to run. A loud crack follows, pain explodes through Royo, and he collapses into darkness.