[Sinseki Era — Year -21]
[Northern Nations · Eng Road]
As dusk settled in, the last rays of sunlight fell behind the mountains. The young coachman tugged at the reins and brought the carriage to a halt beside an inn in a small town along Eng Road.
He knocked on the carriage to signal the passengers they had arrived.
According to plan, everyone would rest overnight in the town and regroup outside the gates the next morning to continue the latter half of their journey.
Inside the carriage, the four passengers disembarked in turn and took in the view of the town nestled in the road.
"Same as ever. Nothing's changed."
Serie glanced at the scenery with little interest, took the suitcase from her disciple Gut, and stepped into the inn to check in first.
Gut, meanwhile, looked to the young coachman who was about to leave and asked, puzzled,
"You're not coming in to rest with us?"
"In small towns like this, unlike the cities, there usually aren't designated stables, but the inn should have one."
"Thanks, but no need."
The coachman smiled and waved. "Sir, this is my hometown. My house is just down the way."
"I see." Gut nodded. "Then... see you tomorrow."
"See you, sir," the coachman replied as he drove the carriage home.
Once the coachman was out of sight, Gut turned back to the group.
Unlike Serie, who was already at the front desk in conversation, Mut, the noble youth unused to rural life, looked around the quaint mix of Northern and Central nations' architecture with great curiosity.
He peeked here and there, seemingly interested in everything.
Gut wasn't quite sure how Mut could tell the buildings apart—they all looked like standard western-style houses to him.
But now wasn't the time to wander.
Hero Himmel noticed this and clapped Mut's shoulder.
"Let's go check in first. If you're interested in the town, we can stroll around after dropping our luggage."
"Sounds good!" Mut eagerly agreed, then sheepishly apologized for holding them up.
"And you, Gut? Want to join us for a walk later?" asked Himmel on the way to the front desk.
"Me? No, I was going to stay in with my teacher—"
Midway through declining, Gut remembered he hadn't completed today's [Daily Good Deed] system quest.
So he changed his answer and agreed to go for a stroll after unpacking—perhaps he'd find a way to complete the quest.
At the front desk—
"You're slow."
Serie stood with arms crossed, already waiting.
"Sorry, teacher, something held us up."
Serie let it go and pointed at the front desk.
"There aren't many rooms left. One single, the rest are doubles or triples. Do you three want to bunk together or split up?"
"Teacher, how about two double rooms—Himmel and Mut in one, and we—master and disciple—sleep toge—"
Sensing a sudden drop in temperature around him, Gut abruptly cut off his genius idea.
"...I mean, we're all going out later anyway, so we can just share a triple."
"Oh? What do you two say?"
Serie turned to Himmel and Mut.
Both nodded quickly under the pressure.
"Alright, one single, one triple," Serie told the clerk. After paying, she handed one key to the trio, then disappeared with her suitcase.
The three exchanged glances.
Himmel gave Gut a meaningful look, then led the two young men to their room. After a short rest, they headed out into the town.
It was still lively at night, given it was summer.
As the only rest stop on Eng Road—a link between the Northern and Central Nations—the town was not poor.
Its income from passing merchants and adventurers gave it a bustling, cheerful vibe, visible in the townsfolk's smiles and lively nightlife.
As they strolled through the markets, they saw all sorts of Central Nation fruits and snacks rarely transported to the North. Some items were new even to Gut despite his good financial standing as a transmigrator.
Himmel and Mut, however, were familiar—Himmel being from the Central Nations, and Mut, as a noble, having access to such luxuries.
Neither looked down on Gut for his lack of exposure. One eagerly introduced local specialties; the other bought snacks to share.
By the time they finished walking the food street, the trio had become visibly closer.
It reminded Gut of the time he'd explored the night market in Äußerst with Gumi—truly a good feeling.
But harmony never lasts.
In the crowd, Gut spotted a shifty-eyed youth reaching for an old lady's coin pouch.
Just as Himmel stepped forward, Gut tugged his sleeve, signaling he'd handle it.
Himmel paused, then smiled and stepped aside.
Gut moved quickly—clamping down on the thief's wrist.
"Clack!" The pain forced the thief to drop the pouch.
Attention turned toward the scene. The elderly lady noticed her fallen purse, pieced together what happened, and repeatedly thanked Gut.
[Ding!]
[Daily Quest: Perform One Good Deed – Complete]
[Random Reward Drawing…]
[Draw Complete]
[Congratulations! You have received: A CD from the Past]
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Powerstones?
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