「One week later.」
The April weather was growing warmer, and a fiery sun blazed high in the sky.
The magnificent, towering walls of the city stood like giants, holding back the dust of the wilderness and the panic seeping from the buffer zone.
Rows of buildings stood packed closely together, spreading inward from the high walls to form a bustling district. Most of the passersby had shed their heavy winter coats for lighter jackets or simple sweatshirts.
"Did you hear? The Beast Tide outside has been terrifying lately. It seems a lot of Wilderness Hunters and transport convoys have gone missing."
"That's not all. I heard the City Guard Army has sent out a lot of troops to garrison outside the walls and build a bunch of temporary fortifications. I also heard the people in the buffer zone are making a fuss, demanding to be let into the city. They should take a good look at who they are, trying to come in here and squeeze us for living space…"
