The building was surely used as a tavern on normal days—the heat inside was incomparable to the temperature outside.
A faint trace of alcohol lingered in the air. The tables that would normally be set out had been cleared and pushed to either side, and the spacious interior of the hall was filled with applicants standing in lines.
The body heat of so many people turned the air white. Ruda, who had been guided in alongside me, widened her eyes at the sight.
It seemed she had completely forgotten about the scuffle outside.
"This is amazing… Are all of these people Hunters?"
Scattered throughout the hall were tables, each occupied by several members wearing white uniforms—the Party members belonging to Clan "First Steps."
Even among Parties that belonged to "Footsteps," there was a wide spectrum. Some Parties boasted numerous famous members, while others were known only by their leader's name. Some Parties sought attackers, while others valued technical skill.
Each applicant headed to the table of the Party they wished to join and underwent an interview. The format varied from Party to Party—interviews, practical exams, and so on. Some Parties even reportedly prioritized inspiration and instinct.
I asked Ruda, who wasn't hiding her bewilderment.
"Is this your first time seeing something like this?"
"…Isn't it different for you, Kly?"
"…This is probably my fifth time."
"Five times… You've done this that many times—S-Sorry."
I wasn't sure why, but Ruda apologized with a guilty expression.
"No, it's fine… I think most of the people here today probably aren't doing this for the first time, either."
Hunting was a meritocracy. Those with talent were quickly snapped up, but it wasn't as though the talentless had no chance at all.
There were surely people like me who had given up on their own abilities but still clung to whatever slim opportunity arose. That refusal to accept defeat—that tenacity—was its own kind of talent.
For now, I just needed to get the lay of the land. I stepped back from the lines forming at each table and moved toward a corner near the entrance, taking in the surroundings.
It seemed like there were more Parties recruiting this time than usual.
Even though "Footsteps" held recruitment drives, it wasn't the case that every affiliated Party participated every time. But this time, nearly all of them were recruiting. Naturally, that meant a lot more applicants.
Was that why the line had stretched all the way outside?
Ruda sidled up close and spoke to me in a friendly tone.
"Kly, would you mind teaching me a few things about all this? I really don't know much about this kind of thing."
"…Sure. There's no harm in owing a favor to a capable Hunter."
At the very least, she wasn't the type to fizzle out at Level 3. Assuming she didn't die, that was.
At my words, Ruda's expression softened ever so slightly.
"Even so, it's been a long time since I came to the Imperial Capital. I know most of the famous Hunters. I think this is a good opportunity."
First of all, when it came to joining a Party, you couldn't just join any random one.
Each Party was recruiting for specific roles, and each had its own guiding philosophy. Well, it was certainly true that getting into a top-tier Party meant security—but even if you managed to join one, you might not mesh with the other members.
If the gap in skill and talent between you and the rest was too large, it would be an extremely miserable experience. I thought Ruda had the right idea, but the Imperial Capital drew Hunters from all over, each confident in their own abilities.
On the surface, they looked human, but they were unquestionably entirely different creatures. My friends had been the same way—no, they still were.
"I don't know what Ruda wants to do or what she's capable of. She carries a short sword, so it's probably something other than direct combat, but—"
I looked her over, examining her outfit and equipment. Besides the short sword, a small leather pouch that wouldn't restrict her movement hung from her belt. It probably held lockpicking tools and the like.
When a Hunter who normally operated Solo tried to join a Party, the easiest role to enter as was a combat specialist.
Being able to hunt Solo meant you had fought off Monsters and Phantoms that attacked you one-on-one, which usually meant you had a high level of combat ability.
On the other hand, joining a Party in a role that demanded specialized skills was generally avoided unless you had exceptional accomplishments. A Solo operator had to be proficient in everything from detecting traps to scouting, from unlocking doors to fighting—so in most cases, their individual skills fell short of someone who had honed one particular area within a Party.
But she probably knew that already, and there was no point rubbing it in and making her resent me.
To Ruda, who was waiting for my words with a serious expression, I pointed toward the back of the room and continued.
"First, there's a rule to this room, too. The Parties farther back have higher Levels."
Just as individual Hunters had certified Levels, Clans and Parties each had their own Levels set by the Association. Even among Parties belonging to the same Clan, there was a hierarchy.
I pointed to the large table at the very back—the one that drew the biggest crowd of Hunters.
"That's the strongest Party among those recruiting today—'Holy Spirit's Children.' Haven't you heard of them? Average age of twenty-one, only six members, and they cleared a Level 7 Treasure Hall. The elite of the elite."
Even among the monsters roaming the Imperial Capital, they stood head and shoulders above the rest. Every single member possessed abilities that could only be described as divinely blessed, and their leader was lauded by the public as something like a Hero.
Incidentally, the Party Ruda had been trying to challenge—White Wolf's Den—occupied a Level 3 Treasure Hall. The certified Levels assigned to Treasure Halls jumped in difficulty nearly tenfold with each increase, so for her as she was now, the gap was as vast as heaven and earth.
"If you managed to get into that Party, your success would be virtually guaranteed. Even if you didn't get in… even just a word of praise from one of their members would probably earn you scout offers from other Parties."
Even a Solo Hunter, even someone as inexperienced as her, had surely heard that name at least once. Ruda seemed a little shaken, and she asked in a small voice.
"…Just to ask, just in case… Do you think there's even a possibility?"
"That depends on Ruda. Although, as far as I know, 'Holy Spirit's Children' has never once recruited at a public event like this."
They were a big name even in the Imperial Capital. If you were looking at up-and-coming Parties, they were unquestionably in the top one or two.
Their roster was already fully set. The Hunters swarming around that table probably didn't seriously believe they could get in. Those people were there because they wanted to catch a glimpse of the members' faces, or forge even the tiniest connection.
Ruda looked at the crowd and let out a deep sigh without a single word of complaint.
The moment she heard it was a Level 7 Treasure Hall, she'd already realized it was beyond her reach.
I continued, introducing Party after Party. The vast majority were names that anyone who'd spent even a few months as a Hunter in the Imperial Capital had heard at least once.
Ruda simply hadn't known about them because she'd been Solo. It was all information easily found if you bothered to look.
I pointed and counted them off one by one. There were even some rare Parties that didn't usually participate in events like this.
It seemed that nearly every Party in Footsteps was taking part in this recruitment drive.
After listening to my lengthy rundown, Ruda spoke with an exasperated tone.
"…Kly, you really know your stuff. I'm exhausted just listening."
"That's just the basics."
"…I don't know if I should ask this, but where are you hoping to apply?"
"Apply…? I don't really have anywhere in particular… because I… can't do anything."
I had no specialty. I wasn't a jack-of-all-trades, and I wasn't particularly good at anything. Worse than a dilettante. That was me.
I had no courage, no burning passion for the Hunter's life. The faint spark of enthusiasm I'd held back when I still believed in my own talent had long since flickered out.
Hunting was a profession with great rewards but great danger. There were even statistics stating that seventy percent of Hunters died in Treasure Halls. I simply didn't have the fortitude to swallow that kind of risk.
I'd always made excuses, saying I lacked talent compared to my friends—but that was probably the real problem all along. I felt sick.
"Is that so… Well, if you'd like, how about we form a Party together?"
Despite my words carrying no weight, Ruda made the suggestion in an almost deliberately bright voice.
She probably meant it. My heart clenched tight, and breathing became difficult.
Ruda was a decent person among the sea of good-for-nothing Hunters. Her words were almost certainly not a joke.
But for me, the idea of becoming dead weight was an unbearable pain.
"I appreciate the offer, but I don't need your pity. For your own future, you should join a Party that suits you properly."
"…R-Right…"
She fidgeted, touching the silver chain hanging from her belt. The cold sensation against my fingers calmed my heart just a little.
Then, as if changing the subject, Ruda spoke up.
She pointed dramatically at the recruitment table for "Holy Spirit's Children," and behind it, at a large table with no one sitting at it.
"Oh, hey—come to think of it, why hasn't that empty table over there been cleared away?"
"Oh boy, you really did come here without knowing a single thing, huh?"
"!?"
The large man who had accosted us outside approached with a grin.
His face was flushed, probably from the heat. His exaggeratedly developed biceps and studded, savage-looking armor made him appear even more ferocious under the light.
It seemed he'd gotten what he wanted—he was in a much better mood than before.
Ruda, having had her spirits dampened, furrowed her brows and glared at the large man.
"…Is there something you want from us? We're going to get in trouble again, you know."
"Don't be so cold. This senior Hunter here, Gregg, is going to educate you on how things work around here."
Gregg, was it? I'd never heard of him. But the ones I knew were only a tiny fraction—the top-tier Hunters that anyone even slightly familiar with the industry would recognize.
There were plenty of strong Hunters I'd never heard of, and for all I knew, this guy might not have even made a name for himself yet.
"That table over there belongs to a Party that founded this 'Footsteps' alongside 'Holy Spirit's Children.' Though it looks like they didn't end up showing up today either."
"A founding… Party?"
Ruda blinked. Gregg lowered his voice and continued.
"Footsteps holds recruitment drives all the time, but today there are more people than usual. 'Holy Spirit' is here—after all, they just cleared a Level 7 Treasure Hall with the full team. 'Black Gold' and 'Holy Thunder,' who don't usually recruit, are here too. And see? Even outside the Parties, there are guys standing around with the Footsteps insignia, right?"
Gregg glanced toward a man standing against the wall with his arms crossed and a sour expression.
His outfit wasn't the uniform worn by the Party recruiters, but looking closely, he had buttons and accessories shaped like the Footsteps insignia in subtle places—his collar, his cuffs, spots that wouldn't draw attention.
Members of the Clan were required to display their symbol somewhere visible on their person. It was a rule.
"Normally, there's little reason for someone who already belongs to Footsteps to show up at a recruitment event without actually recruiting. There has to be a significant reason."
His meaning was loaded. I interjected.
Gregg seemed well-informed, but I knew just a little bit more.
"…They're Hunters who belong to Footsteps as Solos."
"!?! A Solo can even belong to a Clan?"
"A Party needs at least one member… You can't join a Clan as an individual, but if you register with the Association as a Solo Party, you can technically belong. It requires extraordinary skill, though…"
Put another way, Ruda was someone who had either done something reckless or possessed just a tiny bit of luck and talent.
I shifted my gaze away from the man and pointed toward a girl wandering aimlessly near the empty table, looking bored.
She wore a form-fitting black leather combat outfit. A short sword dangled from her belt, and she'd dressed for mobility. She had short black hair and looked younger than Ruda.
"That's Tinno Shade. Level 4, and she belongs to Footsteps as a Solo. She's a pretty famous member."
"Such a small girl is…"
"…You'd better not say anything unnecessary. Age and appearance have nothing to do with how short someone's fuse is."
Her role was Thief.
Not the kind who stole things, but someone who excelled at scouting, suppressing their presence, and disabling traps and locks—hence the name. She could clear White Wolf's Den all on her own, making her a more advanced version of Ruda. One of Footsteps' monsters.
Gregg turned his gaze toward me for the first time. It was a look of curiosity.
"You didn't really look like a Hunter, but you've done your homework."
"Gathering information is important. Actually, she's… an acquaintance of a friend of mine."
I tugged the hood I'd kept pulled up down further over my face. To be more precise, she was a friend's disciple.
Which meant my friend was a monster even above the monsters. What could I even say about that?
"An acquaintance?"
"And if you're wondering why she's here despite being a Solo…"
Maybe she was looking to step away from solo play and find a new Party to join. Recruitment wasn't necessarily limited to outsiders.
Gregg tilted his head, and I stood there mulling it over. He crossed his arms with an air of superiority and laughed.
"That's the thing. That's exactly it. Do you know why all these people have gathered? There's been a rumor, see. On this very day, after years of not recruiting, one of the founding Parties of First Steps—'Lamenting Spirits'—is holding a recruitment drive for the first time in years."