Chapter 187: An Old Friend (3)

Perhaps it was because of the bizarre events I had experienced in Erast, but I felt a faint tension as I emerged from the spider cave. Of course, no one was outside the cave.

I walked back to the place where the gold coin chest was buried and opened the lid. The chest’s contents rivaled the combined silver bars of the other three sites.

What did he plan to do with all this money?

I peered more closely inside the chest. Something else lay at the bottom.

A card?

A single pitch-black card rested on the wooden base with a white five-pointed star etched on it.

In a world in turmoil, we will prepare an iron bed for you.

I ran my fingers over the card’s rough texture. I’d seen this card before. It was the same as the one I had received from the merchant Jinney Yube during my visit to Grassmere. The design and message were identical.

I recalled that conversation.

"This is the guild I belong to. It’s a fine group of merchants who will do anything to fulfill a customer’s wish. One star alone won’t suffice. Once you collect five stars, you’ll truly be one of our customers."

One star...

Even Yublam’s bald guard captain seemed to know about this mysterious merchant guild.

Did he scrape together all this money to buy a membership?

I tucked the card into my cloak and took the chest. It might be useful one day.

Jinney Yube, a member of the merchant guild, had seemed trustworthy enough. If I lingered in Grassmere, I might run into him again. If I received the same card from him, that would give me two stars.

***

I collected Rubia from where she waited among the trees and headed into Yublam. The familiar gray stone walls of the city loomed ahead, with the snow-dusted wheat fields sprawling outward from the gates. The feeling I had now was different from when I first visited.

Yublam was no longer an unfamiliar place. I’d explored its alleys and wouldn’t send Rubia in alone. Still hidden in stealth, I followed behind her as she walked toward the gates.

"They won’t see me. Even as I speak like this..."

[Stealth effectiveness increased by 30%.]

A translucent window floated in the air, confirming that my Stealth skill had grown stronger. It was impressive, but I didn’t let it show. I simply instructed Rubia about our communication method. Since I already knew she’d be surprised, teaching her was faster this time.

There is no doubt about it. She has real talent.

Rubia and I approached the guards leisurely.

Thump.

With my Detection skill, I could hear the pulsing of the guards’ carotid arteries. In the past, I would have hidden far off in the bushes, clumsily aiming my crossbow from a hopeless distance.

However, it was completely different this time. I was close enough to slit their throats with a dagger. If they tried anything, they would die before they could even scream—one spasm, and they'd be gone.

Yet, the guards merely waved her through with a bored gesture. "Yeah. Go on in, if you’re going in."

It was almost disappointingly easy to enter. Nothing seemed suspicious. The guards were just as indifferent when I came here with Rena. If there was anything strange, it was how quickly they ended the inspection, as if they couldn’t care less about what happened to travelers in this city.

Screeech.

As Rubia stepped through the gate, she murmured softly, "So this is Yublam..."

Rubia glanced around the streets, her wonder plain to see. She had clearly spent her whole life with her nose in books. I didn’t bother to guide her and let her wander freely.

When Rubia had first come to this city, she had been brutally killed. I thought I might see what threads were woven here this time.

Suddenly, a plump, weary-looking middle-aged woman approached Rubia. "You there, girl. You come alone?"

"I... I did," Rubia answered.

Rubia might look suspicious.

I tightened my grip on my dagger, bracing myself.

Is this the start of an abduction?

However, the woman just sighed. "

Ha...

"

"What is it?"

"Turn around. Just walk out of this city like nothing happened. This isn’t a place for outsiders."

What?

I was shocked that someone had appeared to warn Rubia.

Did this woman speak to her in my past lives? Did Rubia hear this same warning?

"Why are you saying that?" Rubia asked.

"Girl, just listen to me. You need to leave," the woman replied.

"I appreciate the concern, but... there’s something I must buy here," Rubia replied, her voice resolute.

"I don’t have time to explain. Go, quickly. I’ve done my part in warning you."

Casting a quick glance around, the woman disappeared into a nearby alley.

I glanced at Rubia.

"You’ve been warned... Are you going to just leave like this?"

Rubia shook her head firmly.

"No way! I’m not alone. No matter what happens, you’ll protect me. So why should I run away? We’re here to buy armor."

"..."

"Mr. Skeleton?"

I knew that even if Rubia had come here alone, she wouldn’t turn back. Something in her was being pulled in two directions. She had been warned, and yet she stayed, all because she wanted to buy armor for me. She’d ended up meeting a terrible fate because of that resolve.

A tide of self-loathing and grief seeped between my bones like sand. When she asked if something was wrong, I had no answer for her.

As we walked down the street in silence, Rubia suddenly mentioned something.

"There’s a strange smell here."

"Opium."

"Opium? Oh... you’re right. It’s a faint, sweet scent, just like the books described. You really do know everything, don’t you? Mr. Skeleton, I think you must have been someone truly incredible in your previous life!"

Thinking of how I had failed to protect her in that past life, I couldn't say anything.

Rubia fell quiet for a moment, then pointed ahead.

"There it is. The forge."

Just as she said that, the steady sound of a hammer echoed ahead. An old man with a familiar face came into view.

We meet again.

The old blacksmith had eyes clear of any opium haze and a white beard. He was the one who had carefully watched Rena and me when we’d come before. He had handed me the fire and stood by the blacksmith’s forge, supervising the work.

Rubia approached the display stand of the forge.

The old blacksmith glanced at her, his voice gentle. "What are you looking for?"

"Could I see some armor?" Rubia asked.

Whether or not he knew she was the daughter of the murdered lord of Erast, the old blacksmith seemed genuinely welcoming.

"Of course, come this way."

One by one, he showed her the wares.

This is it.

I soon recognized the very armor Rubia had bought in my previous life, well-worn and unmistakable.

"This one would suit you perfectly," the old blacksmith commented.

As expected, she chose that piece.

"

Hm...

it’s expensive, though. It’s one of my better works, you won’t find anything like it elsewhere."

"How much is it?"

Money wasn’t an issue. Even the highest price would only be worth a single silver bar.

"

Hm...

" The old blacksmith hesitated, then finally said, "I sense a strange aura about you, miss. It feels as if someone is protecting you."

"Really?"

He has good instincts

.

In my past life, he had even sensed the truth of what I was beneath that armor.

A blacksmith who can forge the fire... no wonder.

"How much is it?" Rubia asked.

"I’ll take one hundred fifty roti," the old blacksmith answered.

One hundred fifty roti.

When I first met Rubia, I had only given her seventy-two roti. That was nowhere close to one hundred and fifty roti. I was caught off guard.

How did she buy it last time?

Rubia pulled out a small purse I hadn’t seen before. "I’ll take it."

"You could have just used the silver bars."

"No. I woke you up from the coffin. It’s only right that I pay for this."

Her justification was baffling.

"I’ll buy it. I’ll be counting on you in the future."

"..."

A faint embarrassment prickled at me. The armor’s craftsmanship was clearly excellent; there was no way it was worth only seventy-two roti. Two or three hundred wouldn’t have been unreasonable.

Back then, did she buy it herself?

Rubia was the daughter of a lord, after all. She must have brought an emergency fund when she fled Erast, and she had spent it all on me.

"I’ll throw in a dagger for free. Keep it close, always," the old blacksmith instructed.

A warning to stay safe.

Rubia beamed.

"I feel like I got a really good deal! I’d put it on you right away if I could..."

"We’ll do it at the inn."

"Okay!"

I spared the old blacksmith a glance.

He killed me once...

The old blacksmith had handed me the fire, but he never taught me how to use it. Seeing how he treated Rubia, I decided to let it go, just this once.

That was when I noticed it, the small black steel canister tucked away on a shelf was Grassmere’s Fire.

Not at home... he keeps it here, then.

Maybe he kept it in whichever place he was at the time, or maybe he had two canisters. Either way, I would take it.

Tap.

While the old blacksmith smiled at Rubia, I slipped the black steel sprayer out of sight. I could feel its weight shift in my grip.

I’ll need to dilute it properly...

There was no reason to leave it behind.

***

We stopped in front of a white, three-story building.

"They said... this is the only inn here."

"..."

"Something wrong?"

"No. Let’s go in."

Creak.

The inn door swung open. It was the same place Rubia had once entered alone. By the time I arrived here with Rena, the place had changed owners. Now, everything was just as it had been at the very moment when Rubia would meet her death at the hands of the innkeeper, who had sold his guests out to others.

The innkeeper welcomed Rubia. "Well, well, welcome. Come in, come in. I’ll carry your things, no problem at all."

This was the second time I’d seen the innkeeper’s face in Yublam. His face was clean, with no bruises or crusted blood in his ears. He smiled warmly, greeting his guests.

Rubia turned away slightly, hugging the armor to her chest. "

Oh

, that’s all right..."

However, in that moment, the innkeeper’s eyes glinted like a serpent’s—cold and sharp. His gaze on her back was enough to send a chill down my spine.

So she came into this place under that stare.

"

Oh

, it’s your lucky day, miss. Only one room left. Come this way."

Detection.

Of course, that was a lie. Every room in this three-story building was empty. When I had come with Rena, I’d only felt it faintly. Now, I could clearly sense a large space beneath the ground.

I’ll confirm it this time.