episode_0110

After the love comedy-like dawn passed, the next day dawned. From the time when the sun was just starting to rise, people began to move busily.

Lightly eating breakfast and folding up the blanket used for sleeping, after covering the extinguished campfire with soil or leaves, they divided into 10 groups and set out on the road again.

At the end of the line, Noah’s group quietly waited until the other groups departed first.

“Yawn…”

Lian, unable to sleep properly due to the Ma Sword incident, yawned heavily, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes. Noah secretly watched Lian like that.

Noah wanted to run to her side right away, wanting to ask various things and clarify things, but he didn’t act on it.

“We agreed not to push, right?”

Lian is accustomed to handling everything alone. It seemed more like she didn’t feel the need to talk rather than not trusting Noah, as Juliana, who has a lot of social experience, pointed out.

To hear the real situation from Lian, it was necessary to break down the barriers.

Every time he said, “I’m fine,” and got angry, stubbornly bit his lip, Lian seemed even more reluctant to speak.

For this reason, even if Lian shed blood alone or seemed to be hiding something, he deliberately did not ask. Treating his problems as trivial matters that he could easily talk about, the plan was to make it easier for him to speak.

“Am I… doing well?”

Worries crept into Noah’s mind, but he quickly shook his head. He now knew that such heavy concerns always held him back.

Before long, it was time for Noah’s group to depart. Noah showed no difference in attitude from usual, without mentioning what happened yesterday.

“Sigh… It’s harder than yesterday.”

Despite Noah’s efforts, Lian kept her distance from him more than yesterday.

“It’s all because of Gargandoa.”

Feeling not only with his eyes but also with his senses, every time Noah talked to Lian, his tongue buffered. Unconsciously, his gaze went down to Noah’s flat chest, and his face grew hot.

Even though such an attitude would be noticeable, despite Noah’s usual, or even more attentive attitude, Lian’s worries deepened.

Days passed like this, and they were able to arrive in a new town.

Although the information about them leaked out as much as possible in most small towns, the town they arrived at this time was quite large.

Of course, it wasn’t as big as Cardison, but it was a town like a midpoint hub towards Cardison, so there were many transient populations. Even if about 100 people entered the town, it wouldn’t stand out.

Gathering the scarce supplies and entering the town to relax at the inn, the 10 groups entered the town at intervals.

Since many people came in and out of the town, there was no one guarding the entrance, making it easy for them to enter.

To prevent information leakage, all 10 groups had already agreed to stay in different inns.

“Huh?”

Noah abruptly stopped walking while busy moving his feet. Then the gazes of the group, including Lian, gathered on Noah before turning to where she was looking.

“Oh…”

“It’s all collapsed.”

At the end of their gaze, a collapsed building stood. Since it was a land where many crazy people lived, no one was surprised. Noah spoke softly, muttering,

“I was planning to stay at the inn there…”

“That collapsed a month or two ago.”

Noah was muttering to himself when a man smoking by the roadside approached him.

“What, is it about Potatoes or Potency? It became a mess with someone different from the one who asked.”

“Oh, the weakest Four Kings have fallen.”

The man Fortensian, who was both the weakest of the Four Kings and had dedicated his body and soul to the outsiders, still bore the scars of the accident he had on his way to Cardisan.

“The innkeeper said he moved to the building rich side… If you’re going, go that way.”

The man chuckled as he exhaled cigarette smoke. Noah, somewhat accustomed to this side of life, flicked a silver coin towards him.

Taking the silver coin comfortably, the man’s eyes widened at the larger amount than expected, chuckling as he spoke, “Thank you kindly.”

Saying no more, he promptly left, realizing that the cost of silence was included in the large sum of silver.

“Let’s hurry and move before sunset.”

Noah quickened his pace towards the inn the man had pointed out. True to his words, an inn named after the collapsed inn was located there.

The first floor of the inn was a restaurant, bustling with people to the extent that tables were set up outside the building.

“Ha ha ha! Drink up! Drink!”

“Whoever falls first today buys for everyone, got it?”

Loud laughter, curses, the smell of alcohol, and smoked meat filled the air.

“…There was no information about operating the first floor as a bar.”

After a moment of contemplation with furrowed brows, Noah headed inside the building. Inside, he saw busy staff serving and tables packed with patrons.

Fortunately, the path was clear from the entrance to the front desk, so he headed straight there. Some were eyeing them from the entrance to pickpocket, but since Noah held all the money, they couldn’t take anything.

“Hey… what’s this?”

“Ha ha ha!”

“Stupid fool, ha ha ha!”

“Squirrel bastard!”

Among them, a man who had emptied a hefty purse frowned upon seeing it full of acorns.

“Oh! My acorns…!”

The youngest Ribbon in the crowd looked shocked as she glanced at the rough-looking men. As Ribbon reflexively turned towards the table, Lian, who was holding Ribbon’s hand, was pulled along.

“Why are you carrying around such useless trash?!”

Seemingly angered by the mockery from his friends, the man glared at Ribbon with narrowed eyes. When Ribbon snatched the acorn pouch carelessly held by the man, his face contorted even more menacingly.

“Now you’re getting robbed by a kid.”

“What a joke, what a joke, as expected, it was a lie!”

The man, who had been boasting about raiding the mansion of a great sorcerer just moments ago, now blushed even redder than before.

“Ribbon, let’s go. I’ve booked a room.”

“Okay!”

As Noah gestured that he had booked a room, Lian immediately grabbed Ribbon. At that moment, the man drew a sword from his waist.

Swish!

“There! I’ll show you right now…!”

“Ack! Please move!”

Due to the man suddenly springing up, a waiter carrying twelve glasses of beer collided with him.

Crash!

The man tumbled to the ground, spilling the twelve glasses of beer.

“Aargh! These damn bastards!”

Furious from the consecutive unfortunate events, the man, boiling with rage, attempted to swing his sword. Just as he was about to swing it towards the waiter he collided with.

Thud.

“…?”

Someone grabbed his shoulder. When he turned around with a flushed face, a group of muscular men behind him were smiling grimly.

“This guy spilled our drinks?”

“What, what?”

“What are you, your house slave’s name, you son of a bitch.”

Amidst a crowd, men, their tempers flaring as they waited for drinks, dragged a man holding a sword outside with pleased expressions on their faces.

In a skit created by a gag filter, Noah and his group ascended to the upper floor without any issues.

The group of eight stayed together in one room regardless of gender or age. It was an unavoidable choice since the Demon King’s land was a place where attacks could happen at any time.

“It might be uncomfortable, but for now, understand that this is the best option for all of us.”

Everyone knew how dangerous the Demon King’s land was, so there was no one who voiced any complaints.

“Since it’s chaotic outside, let’s have our meal in the rooms.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll go and bring the food.”

Though lacking in skill, loyal members of high rank eagerly offered to bring the meal. With many hungry mouths to feed, about half of the people, including Noah, requested food.

Noah brought along an empty bag to purchase scarce supplies. Although he could have put everything in the spatial bag, it was too valuable to be casually shown or used.

“I’ll be back soon. Rian, I’m counting on you.”

“Uh, uh…”

Awkwardly smiling, Noah avoided eye contact with Rian and quickly left the room.

“Let’s make this quick.”

Knowing firsthand how strong Rian was, Noah couldn’t help but worry. He swiftly left the inn and headed towards the night market.

With clear shopping needs, the purchases were made swiftly. If encountering other groups on the way, they exchanged brief nods.

Returning swiftly to the inn with the heavy bag, Noah noticed that many tables on the first floor dining area were empty. As he passed through the restaurant, heading straight upstairs…

“Sob… Sniff…”

A woman’s sobbing voice reached Noah’s ears unintentionally drawing his gaze in that direction.

A woman was burying her face in the table, crying, while another woman, presumably her companion, patted her back.

“How could he treat me like this… Sob, sniff…”

“I’ve been saying something’s off from the start.”

“I thought it wasn’t me…”

“Oh well… Let’s just eat, forget everything after eating.”

“Ugh…”

“Come on, let’s eat this, relieve all the stress, and start fresh tomorrow with energy. Got it?”

“Yeah… Let’s live it up!”

The two women, appearing to be mercenaries, started drinking heartily. Noah’s eyes shifted to the empty glasses.

“Why are they drinking that tasteless stuff?”