Chapter 225: No Different From Bandits
Chapter 225: No Different From Bandits
Two moons graced the sky, countering the night's darkness with their soft silver light, gently illuminating the world alongside countless shimmering stars.
Beneath the black heavenly canvas were two individuals—both going their own ways.
After talking about what they had to, Dean Snowcrest bid Shye farewell.
As winners of the most recent Adventurer Academy Competition, the dean recognized the impending responsibilities ahead. With a likely surge in entrance examinees expected, it was essential to ensure that everything remained organized and in order.
Hence, he couldn't leave the academy for too long. At least not at this time.
As for Shye, he went on with his journey towards Balkrow City.
With nothing but moonlight lighting up the unfrequented path he was walking on, Shye advanced, relishing the tranquil serenity of the night.
One hour later, the small town by the name of Pemula appeared on the horizon, bringing a smile to Shye's face.
He thought that the information brought about by Dean Snowcrest would cast a shadow of gloom in his heart, yet, for some reason, the effect was the exact opposite.
Knowing the current unknown state of their parents instead brought him peace. In his mind, as long as they weren't confirmed dead, then he would keep on believing.
His head filled with various thoughts, Shye didn't notice that he was already in front of the town's gates—two guards looking at him warily.
The poor town had been pillaged by bandits before so most of its residents lived in anxiety every day.
These two guards were merely part of the town's minimally trained militia.
While they might deter some bandits, they wouldn't pose a threat to experienced adventurers intent on raiding the town and seizing whatever little the residents possessed.
Luckily, most adventurers simply choose to focus on their careers, and very seldom were there instances of decent-ranked adventurers pillaging a poor village.
After all, not only would they risk having their adventurer licenses revoked, but the loot obtained from plundering an entire impoverished town would probably be no greater than the rewards from a single silver-ranked quest—clearly not worth jeopardizing their licenses.
Still, seldom as it may be, it happens, hence, the two guards' anxiety.
They would surely die should they fight against Shye, who was clearly an adventurer so why wouldn't they be nervous?
Fortunately for them, Shye was only here for temporary lodging.
"W-What brings you to our humble town, s-sir adventurer?" one of the guards asked courageously.
"Good evening, I'm a recent graduate of Colzen Academy, and I'm traveling to Balkrow City, passing through the advanced adventurer zone near your town. However, since it's already nighttime, I believe it would be best to seek temporary lodging in your town and continue my journey tomorrow morning."
"I-I see, can I please see some proof?" asked one of the guards, leaving the other guard horrified. If the adventurer in front of them snaps, they're toast!
"Oh? Sure, here. My Colzen identification card and my graduation token." Shye replied with a smile.
Realizing that the adventurer in front of them wasn't the usual arrogant and condescending one, the two guards relaxed.
The guard who received Shye's credentials then did a quick check to confirm the validity of his claims before allowing him inside the town.
"Seems all good. Welcome to our humble Pemula Town, sir Crowley." said the guards as they bowed towards Shye who warmly reciprocated their gestures and bowed in return.
"Thank you," replied Shye as he entered the town.
Since the town was small, Shye quickly found a below-satisfactory inn and rented a room for himself, giving the manager of the inn a few extra silver coins to brighten his day.
'Hmm…Well, this is a part of being an adventurer so I shouldn't complain…At least I have a place to sleep for the night…" thought Shye as he entered the room he rented.
It was…shabby. The walls were cracked, the green paint was peeling, and the wooden floor creaked with every step.
Well, at least the room smelled nice and the small bed looked comfortable.
Placing his sack bag on the chair next to the bed, Shye let his body sink onto the mattress.
'It's been a long day…I guess I'll sleep early today…' Shye mused, closing his eyes and letting his weary body and mind relax.
As Shye drifted off to sleep, time seemed to accelerate, with the clouds swiftly drifting past the two moons as if on fast-forward.
In the blink of an eye, seven hours had already elapsed.
"P-Please! Don't take my daughter away!"
Shye planned to oversleep, however, sudden loud noises coming from outside the inn disrupted his peaceful rest and woke him up.
'Who the hell is being so noisy?!' Shye inwardly complained as he rubbed his eyes, his mouth wide open as he yawned while groggily getting out of bed.
Grabbing his sack bag, Shye grumpily left his room—an irked expression plastered on his face as he went out to see who was causing such a ruckus so early in the morning.
Upon arriving outside the inn though, all his anger flew out the window, momentarily replaced by shock before returning twofold.
Around eighty meters from the inn he was staying at was a small group of five adventurers, all middle-aged men.
The one in the middle, who appeared to be a warrior, was roughly dragging a young woman, who was not even at the legal age of eighteen, by her hair, while an elderly couple could do nothing but beg for them to release their daughter.
"Hahaha! I'll wife her up and give her a good life so what are you peasants crying for?!" said the warrior-class adventurer.
Witnessing fellow adventurers act no different from bandits, Shye was utterly infuriated.
He wanted to immediately cut the heads of the goons, fortunately, his high intelligence attribute allowed him to think rationally.
If he did kill this bunch of goons without proof, then he might be the one punished instead, hence, he decided to do a few quick preparations first.
'System.'