Chapter 17: Aftermath

The weather in Hilos today was quite nice.

After several consecutive days of overcast rain, the sky finally had that enormous sun hanging once more, gently shining upon the land and bringing a faint warmth to the people walking beneath it.

However, Ed’s mood wasn’t as beautiful as the weather.

Was it too wishful to hope to discover something in books bought from roadside stalls?

The boy sighed slightly and casually tossed the newly bought book into the roadside trash bin.

These past few days, out of curiosity, he had tried to investigate why the church hated witches so much, yet didn’t send people to handle them personally.

As far as he knew, the knight orders under the church had many skilled hands, and the outstanding ones were even given the title of “Holy Knight.”

In past years, when witches appeared, it was mostly them who handled it.

But now, facing witches that the church extremely hated, the knights were nowhere to be seen, as if something was holding them all back.

This was very abnormal.

Although it was just out of curiosity, Ed was always someone willing to act on his curiosity.

He had specially gone back to that small church, wanting to ask Father Andrew.

But unluckily, the priest had left earlier.

According to an old lady who often went to pray, he might need a month, or even longer, to return.

He couldn’t decide yet if he wanted to stay that long, but staying for four or five days first was no problem.

Thinking this, Ed slowly strolled to the street where the Adventurers’ Guild was located.

“Hey, did you hear? [Mad Axe] Morales seems to be dead.”

Passing by a pair of adventurers chatting by the roadside, the news they were discussing made Ed unconsciously slow his steps.

“I heard too, apparently the death was quite gruesome, limbs all chopped off.

When found, even the face couldn’t be recognized.

Familiar people barely identified him by his clothes.”

“This is too ruthless… Who did it?”

“Don’t know, but the guild seems to have no intention of investigating deeply.”

“Ah… Thinking about it, that’s normal.

The guild has always been like this, as long as not dead inside the guild, no one cares.”

“Then we adventurers are a bit too miserable.”

The chat ended with their pessimistic sighs.

Besides that, Morales’s death didn’t cause any bigger waves.

As for the perpetrators of that gruesome state in their chat…

One was passing by them right now.

The other…

Ed looked toward the tavern opposite the Adventurers’ Guild.

Someone at the door also noticed his gaze, slightly surprised, and waved toward him.

Following that person, Ed entered that tavern with really average-tasting drinks again.

“I thought you had already fled this city, Dona.”

Ed picked up the wine cup and took a sip, speaking first.

The man opposite leaned back lazily, his expression full of indolence.

“Flee what?” he countered.

The man poured a big gulp of wine for himself, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.

“That guy has no family or friends, personality not likable.

Even if dead, no one would care, let alone stand up for him.

But you—”

The man’s voice lowered.

“I figured it out, you were aiming for the witch all along.

Killing that bastard was just incidental.”

“Guessed correctly.” Ed smiled.

“I really don’t get you.” Dona shook his head.

“If the target is the witch, with your strength, cooperating with me was completely unnecessary, right?

Or are you just a soft-hearted good guy?”

“I wouldn’t dare say I’m some soft-hearted good guy.” Ed waved his hands repeatedly.

“Finding you as a companion was mainly because I wasn’t sure about Morales’s strength.

If he was really harder to deal with than a demon bear, two people at least have a higher chance of escaping.”

“Then it seems I—no, we were quite lucky.” Dona smiled, then suddenly restrained it.

His eyes suddenly sharpened.

“Speaking of which, since the witch is already in your hands, why are you still staying in this garbage city?”

The man’s body unconsciously leaned forward, his voice seeming to carry a bit of urgency.

Noticing this, Ed frowned.

“What’s wrong with this city?” he asked.

Dona pursed his lips, leaning back again.

“Hilos recently… isn’t very peaceful.

If you have no other business, better leave soon.”

Ed’s gaze swept over the cheering drinkers around, finally falling back on the man’s face.

“I haven’t felt anything strange.”

“Looking at them is useless, a bunch of fools living in dreams.

Even if the kingdom falls, it won’t stop them from drinking.” The man didn’t hide his contempt.

He scratched his head irritably, seeming to consider how to explain.

“Curfew order, Nord you should know what that is.” Dona suddenly said.

“Shortly before you registered as an adventurer, the curfew lasted a whole week.

This isn’t a good sign.

According to past experience, either the kingdom is about to go to war with some neighboring country, or it’s political turmoil when a new king ascends.

That’s when this happens.”

Ed’s expression immediately became serious.

“Is the news accurate?”

“Absolutely true.” The man nodded heavily.

“Also, there’s rumor that the king who ascended not long ago, recently might initiate a conscription.”

“Conscription?”

This unfamiliar term, Ed hadn’t heard for a long time.

The most recent was probably nearly ten years ago, when small demon disturbances erupted in the south of the Nolan Empire.

“Has Nordvian’s situation become tense to this extent?”

“I don’t know.”

Unexpectedly, the man shook his head.

“The kingdom hasn’t had conflicts with any neighboring countries in recent years.

I really can’t imagine what His Majesty the King is planning.”

Ed lowered his head in thought for a while.

“Alright then, although I don’t know the specific reason, I’ll leave here as soon as possible.”

“That’s good.” The man relaxed, continuing to drink.

“Leave early if you can.

I don’t want to see you in the line behind the conscription officers.

Outsiders here aren’t really protected by law.”

He suddenly slapped his forehead.

“Tsk, drank too much, almost forgot you’re a mage.

Oh, and perhaps a little young master.”

“I told you, don’t call me that.” Ed looked helpless.

“I just think the term fits you well.” Dona shrugged, his leaning posture more relaxed.

“The kingdom is quite lenient toward foreign nobles and mage lords.

So if you want to stay a few more days, no problem.”

The man’s words suddenly reminded Ed, but not about the conscription.

“Dona, can a mage like me enter the upper district of Hilos?”

Dona hesitated upon hearing.

“Uh… maybe.

The upper district prohibits ordinary people like me from entering, but mage lords… should be no problem.

Why ask this?

The upper district is full of man-eating monsters.

I advise you to have less dealings with them.”

“Just going there to find someone.” Ed stood up.

“Alright, that’s it for the chat.

I have things to do, leaving first.”

The man raised his wooden wine cup, lifting it high toward him.

“Then wish you good luck, my friend.”