Volume 2 Chapter 1 In An Unknown Town
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”……Where the hell am I?”
Before him stood a massive outer wall, solid and imposing.
It had been quite a while since he left the forest of towering trees. He walked quietly through it, never running into anything particularly dangerous, and now he’d ended up in a town he’d never seen before.
Even in the forest, the terrain had been unfamiliar. Still, he figured that if he followed her guidance, he’d eventually reach somewhere recognizable. But instead of returning to the known, he’d wandered even deeper into the unknown.
…Don’t tell him this girl had no idea where they were going either?
Though she had been confidently leading the way, the path had only grown stranger. He glanced at his companion with suspicion, and perhaps sensing it, she clung to his arm with a playful smile—like she was trying to brush away his doubts.
She’d gotten pretty bold ever since it vanished.
The thought annoyed him for a second, but he shook off the petty emotion. She saved his life, after all. He couldn’t just treat her like a nuisance. If things ever got complicated, well… He’d handle it somewhere out of sight.
Eventually, they reached the gate set into the towering walls.
A gatekeeper on top of the wall noticed them and waved his hand energetically, signaling to someone out of view.
A moment later, the drawbridge creaked as it began to lower. It was made of thick, connected logs, and he noticed it only had one panel rather than the usual two. Odd.
Still, the fact they were letting them in without question meant they weren’t hostile to outsiders. You’d expect some kind of inspection at a proper gate, so what was this guy’s job anyway?
”Thanks for your hard work. You need a doctor?”
”Huh? …No, I’m fine.”
The gatekeeper greeted them like they were hunters returning from a trip. Always quick on his feet, He nodded without missing a beat. Maybe this wasn’t the place he thought it was.
”You look fine… Um, what about your weapons?”
”Ah… dropped them somewhere.”
More like they were confiscated.
Still, the weapons the gatekeeper was referring to probably weren’t just knives and daggers. Even after that half-baked excuse, the gatekeeper just muttered, “That’s unfortunate…” before offering a few kind words and disappearing back inside.
Looks like this place really was a haven for adventurers. That drawbridge design suddenly makes more sense.
He hadn’t seen any monsters or adventurers back in the forest. Maybe there’s another area where they usually operate.
He, playing the part of a seasoned adventurer, casually stepped through the gate. The small girl trailing behind, carrying their bag, probably looked like a porter. The gatekeeper didn’t raise any suspicions and returned to his post.
And just like that, they were in.
Once they passed through the gate and followed the wide main street, they rounded a corner and were immediately hit with the buzz of activity.
The streets were filled with all kinds of people—young warriors, veteran fighters, even some elders. Among them were people with animal ears sprouting from their heads.
Beastkin. You rarely see them in the kingdom…
Wait—could this be the Federation?
The Lirette Federation.
A unique alliance of nations known for its open-mindedness toward non-Humans, where demi-humans make up the majority population. Unlike the Kingdom, it runs on a strange form of democracy, which might explain their acceptance.
There’s no way he ended up on the Beast Continent… right?
But if this really is the Federation, then he needs to head east. Far from Crotopone in the west, he can cross over to the Beast Continent from the eastern edge.
So he escaped the kingdom without even realizing it, huh?
To give a rough idea of the geography: Crotopone lies at the southern center of the continent, and northeast of it is the Lirette Federation. If he really is in Federation territory, going east is safest. At least when it comes to avoiding the Hero.
But if they factor in the threat of magical beasts—enemies of all mankind—then that changes the equation.
”Come on, just give me a little discount!”
”No way! Go bother someone else!”
As they wandered deeper into the town, he spotted a rowdy exchange outside a shop.
A female adventurer was haggling relentlessly, while the middle-aged shopkeeper looked thoroughly fed up.
”You’re so stingy! Can’t you cut a weak girl some slack?”
”Weak? You, the Gale──”
”Ah ah ah! I can’t hear you~! Hey, old man, when’s the next time you’ll get to talk to a cute young lady like me? Be generous, yeah?”
Before the argument could escalate, the adventurer suddenly bumped into him.
”Whoa, sorry about that.”
”Tch. Watch where you’re going!”
She clicked her tongue and shot him a glare.
Even the women in this town had rough edges. He apologized quickly and moved on to avoid any unnecessary drama.
Behind him, the price battle resumed like nothing had happened.
After putting some distance between himself and the noise, he took out his wallet and checked the contents.
…Five or six silver coins. Not bad. And a gold coin too.
Enough for two people to stay the night.
He tucked the wallet away and turned off the main road. Just then, he heard a voice yelling, “It’s gone! It’s gone?!”
Someone was clearly in trouble, but since he had just arrived in this town, there wasn’t much he could do. He slipped into a side street to avoid the scene.
Eventually, after asking around, he found a quiet inn away from the hustle and bustle.
Not a bad place at all. It’d be his first real bed since picking up Deena. With both dinner and breakfast included, there was no need to head out again. After all that walking, a proper rest sounded perfect.
”Finally, I can relax.”
”…Mmm.”
Slumping onto the sofa in their private room, he closed his eyes for a moment.
Adelina sat beside him naturally, closing the distance between them without hesitation.
The way she acted around him had changed.
He wasn’t sure what had caused the shift in her feelings, but… he didn’t mind being liked. So there was no reason to overthink it.
He let out a deep sigh.
The soft sofa hugged his tired body, calming him down. As he leaned back, almost falling asleep, Adelina reached out, her eyes fixed on him.
”No, you don’t have to,” Klock said firmly.
Adelina stopped and pulled back her hand right away.
Since the first time in the forest, she tried to serve him in small ways. He allowed it twice, but only before leaving the forest.
When she was a slave, she never acted on her own like this. So why now? Did she want to do this herself?
”…Adelina. Would you be upset if I said I plan to be with another woman?”
The question came out before he could stop it. She was no longer a slave, yet she still traveled with him. He wanted to know what she thought of herself—what her role really was.
Adelina just shook her head. No doubt. No fight. She didn’t see herself as more than a companion. Maybe less.
”I’ve chosen to live by my own rules,” he said. “If you want to leave, you can. I’ll do what I want too. If I want to be with someone else—even in front of you—I won’t hold back. Okay?”
His words were rough, more blunt than needed. Maybe he was testing her.
But she nodded like it was normal.
Honestly… she acted more like a slave now than when she really was one.
Her loyalty wasn’t fake, but it was too much. What did she see in him to act like that? From what he could tell, she just accepted whatever Klock decided. No questions.
It was weird—either too easy or too strange.
As he looked at her, trying to read her feelings, she reached out again quietly. The same silent offer as before.
Did she think one look from him meant yes? He sighed and gently pushed her hand away, then stood up.
They didn’t need to be together all the time. A little space might be good.
”Adelina, I’m going for a walk. You can stay or come if you want.”
He didn’t want to say “don’t follow me” directly, so he left it open. He took a silver coin from his pouch and gave it to her, then stepped outside the inn.
He glanced back—she didn’t follow. Maybe she knew he wanted alone time. Still, part of him wondered if she should have come.
Even tired, he walked slowly.
He avoided the main street, choosing back alleys instead. If something happened, he could react faster there.
The town felt rough—like a den for reckless adventurers. Stray people hung around corners, ruining the scene. Bandaged fighters, limping men, broken warriors lay scattered like old weapons.
Just a few blocks from the lively street, and this was the place. He wondered—was there no city guard? No patrol? A town like this could never grow properly.
Maybe they gave up on law and order. Or never cared.
Either way, it wasn’t the kind of place he liked. Compared to kingdom port towns, this felt like a forgotten spot. Not that he was innocent for causing trouble himself…
”Uncle—ah, I mean, brother!”
A voice came from a side street. A girl ran toward him, calling out. She looked young, maybe a teen, and stopped just in time from saying “uncle.”
He let it slide.
Her ears twitched above her head—long, furry, clearly canine. A Beastkin.
”Hmph!”
She stood in front of him, stretched a thin, pale hand out for money. With the other, she lightly touched his coat, smiling like she offered something else.
So this town had people like her too.
She was pretty, at least by human looks. An average man might have taken her right away. But with Beastkin, looks could fool. What was rare for humans was normal for them.
And there was the scent.
Even here, her wild, earthy smell was strong. Not bad exactly—but most humans would find it strange. That’s why they weren’t welcome in homes much. Nobles kept them clean, but common folks couldn’t.
So encounters were usually one night only. Nothing more.
”How far do you go?” he asked.
”Mouth and hands only,” she said with a smile.
Not surprising. She protected herself—once she lost what she sold, no way back. And Beastkin were often stronger than humans. She probably trusted she could escape if needed.
He gave her one copper coin.
More than fair for what she offered. She blinked, surprised, then smiled playfully and touched his coat again.
Just a small kindness, he told himself. Nothing more.
A strange welcome to a strange town.
Notes:
• Lirette Federation – A union of states located northeast of the Kingdom of Crotopone. It is known for its generous attitude towards other races, making it a place where non-Humans are the most populous on the continent. The Federation is governed by a system of democracy.
• Deena – A 21-year-old unmarried woman. Her appearance is that of a beautiful woman wearing black mourning attire. She is grieving the recent loss of her father in a maritime accident. Deena is the older sister of Elide and is initially mistaken by Klock for a widow.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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