Chapter 20 Chapter 20: W and Ines
Chapter 20: W and Ines
The two walked through the main gate. The guards on duty merely glanced at them briefly before losing interest.
The demeanor of these guards was distinctly different from ordinary mercenaries, yet they were also Sarkaz, with bodies even more formidable and robust than the average.
Clang!
Inside a crude tavern—without walls, just a few cloth canopies pulled up to prevent it from being completely open-air—horned mercenaries clinked glasses, their shouts and roars incessant.
Even watered-down, poor-quality barley beer did nothing to dampen their spirits. Or perhaps,
they wished to remain in this state of drunken oblivion forever.
The murky liquor allowed them to temporarily forget the blood and flames of the battlefield, their slaughtered comrades, their own wounds, and that damned Oripathy. At least for this period, they were free!
The tightly wound strings finally loosened a little here. Their narrow escapes from death made them even more unrestrained and indulgent during this brief respite.
Before entering this place, Pozëmka had consciously covered her face with her cloak. She had some understanding of her own charm and didn't want to cause trouble for Kevin.
Kevin, seeing through her thoughts, didn't try to dissuade her. Since this was Pozëmka's own decision, he naturally supported it.
Passing through the bustling temporary settlement, the two arrived at the entrance to the market district. According to the information from that mercenary Amiya, the outer temporary settlement of Gungnir Town was for those poor mercenaries who couldn't afford much. The more central market district of the town offered better conditions, though entering might require some small "credentials"...
"Halt. You look unfamiliar. Are you two outsiders?"
The guard stopped them, immediately recognizing they weren't locals.
"Do you know the rules here?"
Kevin flicked his finger.
Ting!
A flash of golden light gleamed in the sunlight. The guard expertly raised his hand and caught it.
Opening his palm, a small grain of red gold shimmered brilliantly under the sun. The guard silently weighed it in his hand, then nodded and waved towards the area behind him.
"You may enter. Remember to follow the rules. If a fight breaks out, Gungnir Town won't care who threw the first punch. You're cleared."
The guard sternly warned them. He was afraid of some reckless hotheads who didn't know their limits, acting like powder kegs ready to explode at a moment's provocation.
That would just add unnecessary work for them.
The two entered the market district. Unlike the liveliness of the outer temporary zone, there were far fewer people here. After all, not every mercenary could afford the "credentials." Sometimes, just staying alive was enough; where would they get the means to strive for better conditions?
Although the foot traffic wasn't as dense, the buildings inside were indeed much more complete than those in the outer settlement. At least the taverns here had walls...
"Blood Hunter" Tavern.
"One juice, one Ursus vodka."
A small grain of red gold rolled across the bar counter to the bartender's hand, instantly bringing a smile to his face.
Soon, two drinks were served.
Pozëmka took small sips of her juice. Sweetness immediately filled her taste buds, as if all the hardships of the journey were alleviated at this moment.
Kevin took a sip of the vodka. Truthfully, he didn't particularly like drinking alcohol. When alcohol lost all physiological effect on his body, based on taste alone, it wasn't an outstanding beverage.
"Not as strong as the one from Bolshakov's place."
He silently judged this glass of liquor. It had been nearly ten days since leaving the guerrilla force. He wondered how Patriot and the others were doing.
Probably still moving around and fighting guerrilla warfare?
Kevin could see that the guerrilla force's strength wasn't actually growing with their actions. In other words, the guerrilla force was gradually fading away. When Patriot was gone, who could take up the banner? It was a path with no visible hope.
Patriot could see it too. But the guerrilla force couldn't grow stronger. No one understood better than him, having served in the military, just how terrifying Ursus' army groups were—a steel tide. Guerrilla warfare and small skirmishes were fine, but once they drew its attention, the guerrilla force could face annihilation at any time.
It was a deadlock. Kevin didn't try to persuade him. In his view, that stubborn Wendigo was merely waiting for a hope—a hope he himself didn't even believe in. Until then, there was only one thing he could do.
March! March!
"However, at least Yelena won't be in danger."
The things hidden within the [Stigmata] were enough to ensure Yelena's safety.
Kevin downed the vodka in one gulp while simultaneously observing the other people in the tavern.
At a glance, almost all were Sarkaz with various types of pointed horns on their heads, with only a few people of other races.
But each of them carried a fierce aura that seemed to warn others they were not to be trifled with.
—
"Hey, I heard Her Highness the Princess's Babel is recruiting again. Should we give it a try?"
"True. With our squad's reputation, getting in shouldn't be hard."
"But... I hear the smell of gunpowder on the front lines is getting stronger and stronger. Who's to say we won't be used as cannon fodder right after joining..."
At these words, silence fell over the other mercenaries in the squad. It was true they admired Her Highness the Princess, but without even meeting her yet, how could they immediately entrust their lives and livelihoods?
Anyone with eyes could see that Babel was clearly the weaker side on the battlefield.
Helping the Princess was fine, but at least let them survive, right?
Kevin's hearing was exceptionally good. Even in the somewhat noisy tavern, he could still pick out the information he needed. So he quickly connected those mercenaries' chatter with what he had heard from Bolshakov.
In his mind, he began to form a preliminary impression of Kazdel.
Babel and the Military Commission?
A nominal heir and an actual ruler with conflicting ideologies? A split nation due to differences between the Demon King and the Regent?
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