The news of Madara’s army entering the city spread through Ridenburg like a plague. For thousands of years, the dark nation across the Yu Song Mountain Range had been described as a place of hideous evil. Undead, robbers, and occasional invaders made it seem as if all of Erune’s misfortunes came from there. The noble lords comfortably maintained their centuries-old rule, while the villagers trained themselves, always prepared for battle.
But now, the enemy, which seemed to always exist in legends and stories, had not only leaped onto paper but had come to life, baring its fangs and ready to devour. However, the citizens of Ridenburg found themselves asking, where were the nobles? Where was the army of Ridenburg?
As Brand walked along, he saw more and more people coming out of their houses. They caught bits and pieces of the news from other fleeing people, then hurried back into their homes, grabbing their luggage and families, and moving towards the North Gate.
The number of people increased until they formed a mighty stream of humans. To the young man, the vast crowd seemed like a gray, hazy oil painting, filled with old people, children, men, women, even mules, and horses, with carts, dragging their families along and trudging forward hesitantly.
Children held onto adults’ hands, their faces still full of curiosity. Women leaned on their men, their pale faces full of tension. Despite the massive flow of people, few spoke, leaving only the sounds of the large procession moving forward.
Without anyone to maintain order, the streams of people soon collided with each other. Some people in the crowd took advantage of the chaos to fish in troubled waters—a wagon soon overturned in the middle of the road, further blocking the slow-moving crowd. Arguments broke out, quickly escalating into standoffs, with people in the back shouting angrily. A strange panic began to spread through the crowd.
By the time Brand and Char found Romantic, this scene had just unfolded. Brand had the driver move the wagon to the side of the road. Then he and Char sat on either side of the wagon, shielding its flanks, calmly watching the chaos spreading through the streets.
"Brand, you finally came. I was so worried." Miss Merchant visibly relaxed, her round-toed boots rubbing the wooden planks under the wagon, a little nervous.
"There were too many people on the road, causing some delays." Brand replied, drawing his sword.
"I don’t know, let’s wait and see."
Char, meanwhile, remained indifferent, watching for a while before whispering to his lord, "Lord, someone is stirring up trouble in the crowd."
"What benefit could they gain from this?" Brand was puzzled. He never paid attention to these civilian NPC behaviors in the game. He was no behaviorist, after all.
"Some people just want to watch the world burn."
"Because they subconsciously know that chaos brings them opportunity. Ambitious people never settle for peace, Lord. Some people are innately drawn to chaos but usually lack the chance. Now the opportunity has come," Char coldly explained, staring at those people outside.
"Even during these times, they don’t fear for their lives?" Coming from the modern era, Brand had some understanding of human depravity. But that didn’t explain much. As the only species with High Intelligence, the behaviors exhibited by certain individuals within humanity only showed that humans possess this attribute as a whole.
It was his first time witnessing such infighting within the same class, driven solely by ambition. He saw the chaos in the crowd growing, people shoving around the overturned wagon, and soon the cries of children could be heard.
Panic was clearly deepening. Rumors of Madara’s army nearing spread through the crowd, becoming more fervent as they traveled back. Those further away considered turning back, and this hesitation quickly influenced more people around them.
The street became chaotic.
"Even during these times, Lord. My mentor once said that madness makes people reckless, hysteria combined with a bit of ambition is enough to unite those people," Char pointed to the group stirring restlessly in the crowd, answering, "When I studied magic in Karasu, in my mentor’s tower built between black rocks, we apprentices learned not just how to cast Decomposition Spells but also how to manipulate human nature—"