Chapter 128: Chapter 128
“Prepare yourself”, Eru warned Long, “We have companies.” Long nodded, “Right”, he said while gripping his staff. As the sound got closer to Eru and Long, they both each held their respective weapon tightly in their hands. However, they both soon found that a merchant carriage was approaching them. The carriage stopped near them, and the driver came down and opened the carriage door. A slightly chubby man came out from the carriage, “Good evening to you both. Can I ask you lovely gentlemen for a favour?” he tipped his hat. “What is it?” Eru inquired while still being vigilant.
“Can you two share us a spot to stay this evening?” the chubby man asked politely. Eru looked around the area, “How about it, Long?” Long nodded, “Go right ahead”, he said to the chubby man. The chubby man slightly tilted his hat, “Thank you very much.” Then, the chubby man turned around, “Alright boys, we’re staying here tonight”, the chubby man shouted. After that, a woman and a kid walked out of the carriage, dressed similar to the chubby man. After them, multiple men dressed in simple clothing came out from the back of the carriage, carrying camping equipment and setting it up near Eru and Long camp.
Eru watched as the chubby man directed his subordinate as they set up their camp. Eru sighed, “So that’s what a rich man camp looks like”, he mumbled. “Don’t be disheartened, brother Eru. I’m sure you could be rich whenever you like it”, Long sarcastically comforted Eru. Eru’s eyebrows twitched, “You know, you’re so good at annoying people. So much so that I even want to punch you” Eru readied his fist, “Like this!” he sent his fist towards Long’s cheek. Long stumbled backwards, slightly dodging Eru’s punch. “You fucker! Let me hit you”, Eru and Long continue bickering, making the kid beside the chubby man and the elegant woman laugh.
The little kid laugh drew the attention of Eru and Long as they both turned their head at the little kid. “Hush, it’s rude to laugh at people, my dear”, the elegant woman swiftly covered up the kid mouth with her hand. The chubby man bow, “I’m sorry for his behaviour.” Eru waved his hand, “No, no. It’s fine. Children should be allowed to laugh and have fun”, Eru said with a smile. The little kid’s eyes brightened; he shook off the elegant woman’s hand, then he approached Eru. “Hey, hey, big brother”, the little kid raised his hand, “Do you want to play?” he asked with a smile.
The elegant woman and the chubby man expression turned ugly, “Damian, what are you doing?” the elegant woman tried taking the little kid by the hand. However, before she could do that, Eru extended his hand towards the little kid. When Eru did that, the surrounding people immediately grew wary, and the chubby man’s guard all drew their weapons. Eru patted the boy in the head, “Sure, but it’s already late. How about we play I See With My Little Eyes?” he suggested with a gentle smile on his face.
The surrounding people all breathed a sigh of relief while the little boy slightly tilted his head, “I See With My Little Eyes? What’s that?” Eru smiled, “It’s like this”, Eru observed his surroundings, “I see with my little eyes something that begins with the letter C.” The little boy nodded, “And then?” Eru pointed with his finger, “Then you look at your surroundings something that begins with the letter C.” The little boy rubbed his chin, “Hmm”, he pondered, “Aha!” The little boy pointed his finger at the carriage, “It’s the carriage!” he answered cheerily. Eru smiled, “Bing, bong! You’re correct!” he rubbed the little boy’s hair.
“Yay!”
“How about we continue?” Eru asked. The little boy repeatedly nodded, “Yeah, yeah.” The little boy continued playing with Eru, laughing and giggling in the process. The elegant woman and the chubby man smiled warmly, seeing their kid playing happily with Eru. Long also let out a warm smile towards Eru and the young boy. “How about you, big brother? Do you also want play?” the young boy asked, his eyes blinking innocently. Long was startled, he looked at the young boy, and his lips curled up slightly, “Sure, let’s play”, he said.
Eru and Long spent the night playing I Spy with the little boy as the merry atmosphere continued. “I spy with my, uh, little, uh”, the young boy fell asleep on Eru’s lap whilst trying to complete his sentence. When the young boy fell asleep, the elegant woman approached Eru, “Thank you for accompanying my son”, she bowed towards Eru and Long. “It’s alright”, Eru said while the elegant woman picked up Damian, the little boy. Then, the elegant woman handed Damian to one of her attendants, “Please get him to bed”, she said.
The attendant bowed, “Yes, my lady”, he said, carrying Damian back to the big tent. The chubby man walked to the elegant woman; he took off his top hat, revealing his shining bald head. The chubby man opened his mouth, “May we sit here?” he asked. Eru and Long nodded, “Please, help yourself”, Long said as he reserved two seats for the chubby man and the elegant woman. “Once again, I want to thank you both for playing with Damian”, the chubby man smiled. “And as I said before, it’s no big deal”, Eru replied as he flipped around the meat skewer in his hand. “Haha”, the chubby man let out a small chuckle, “Please forgive me for the unpleasantry. Let me introduce ourselves, my name is Duncan, and this is my wife, Diane. Pleasure to have your acquaintances.”
“Pleasure to have your acquaintances”, Diane said while slightly bowing towards Eru and Long. “Likewise”, Eru and Long nodded, “I’m sorry there’s not enough skewer for you all”, Long said as he ate the meat skewer in his hand. The chubby man, Duncan, laughed heartily, “Haha, don’t worry, don’t worry. We have our own food eat.” Long looked at Duncan sceptically, “You sure? Alright, it’s really good, though.” Eru rolled his eyes, “Don’t be rude”, he said. Diane giggled, “Anyway, it’s not every day that we meet travellers in this part of the country.”
Eru’s eyebrow raised as his face was filled with curiosity, “Really? What makes you think that?” The chubby man leaned back; he put his hands on the ground, “We know it. We travelled on these roads often, after all.” Diane nodded, “Yes, as a merchant hailing from Silver City, we travelled through the kingdom often.”
“Silver City? Where is that?” Long asked while munching the horned rabbit’s meat. Both Duncan and Diane grinned before letting out a chuckle, “Of course, it’s the Silvan Kingdom’s capital.” Long shrugged his shoulders, “Oh”, he said nonchalantly while having another bite from the horned rabbit’s meat. “So, where do you guys come from?” Duncan asked, “From Aeolus maybe? Or maybe you came from Gale?” he eyed Long up and down. Eru shook his head, “He’s from Gale; I’m not. Well, technically, I did come from Gale but not originated from there.”
The elegant woman, Diane, smiled, “Oh, where did you come from then, uh, what’s your name again, sorry?” Eru took a bite from the horned rabbit’s meat in his hand, “I’m Eru, and he’s Long.” Diane awkwardly chuckled, “Mr Eru, where did you come from, if I may ask?” Eru pointed at himself, “Me? I’m from the west.” Duncan pondered, “The west? Are you from Borea City?” he asked. “Nope”, Eru shook his head, “I’m from way further than that.” Diane gasped, “You’re from near the border? Isn’t that dangerous there?”
“Not really”, Eru replied as he took another bite from the meat skewer in his hand, “I live near a forest, though, if that matters to you”, Eru nonchalantly said. “Wow, so far. Are you an adventurer by any chance?” Duncan asked. “Yes, yes I am an adventurer”, Eru nodded. “Is brother Long an adventurer too?” Diane attention turned to Long. Long slightly shook his head, “I’m not; I’m just accompanying my brother here on his journey.” Duncan rubbed his chin, “I see. Speaking about journey, brother Eru can’t be doing the Adventurers Pilgrimage, right?”
Eru finished off the last of the meat skewer, “What if I am?” Eru said with a full mouth. Duncan’s eyes widened, “Whoa, that’s awesome,” he said as his eyes sparkled. “Awesome?” Eru eyed Duncan. “Yeah, awesome. Only selected people go through the pilgrimage. Usually, once an adventurer finished the Adventurers Pilgrimage, they would be directly promoted into S rank immediately and had the privileges similar to a guild master in the country, meanwhile being free enough to travel outside the kingdom without permit”, Duncan explained.
After Duncan finished explaining, Eru and Long suddenly felt something was wrong. One guard from Duncan’s troupe also felt it, too, as she immediately banged her sword to her shield. Panic appeared on Duncan and Diane’s faces, “What’s wrong, Sidney?” they asked. Eru and Long stood up swiftly; they brandished their weapons as they stood back to back. “Something approaching us!” Sydney warned, “And that something is very strong. Men! Escort the master and the madam to their tents and activate the barrier”, she barked.
“Yes, ma’am!”
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