The massive gates of Caran City slowly swung open, and the area outside was already teeming with a sea of people.
The news of the City Lord launching a campaign against the Legendary demon, Moragus, seemed to have sprouted wings.
It had spread across the entire city overnight.
Now, countless commoners, adventurers, and merchants gathered outside the city gates, craning their necks in anticipation.
The air was thick with curiosity, fear, excitement, and a trace of unease.
The City Lord stood upon a temporary platform, his luxurious attire appearing somewhat piercing in the faint light of the early morning.
His face was filled with sorrow, and his voice carried through the area via Amplification Magic, laden with a perfectly measured sob.
"Citizens of Caran City! Not long ago, we suffered a terrible tragedy!"
"Our heroic Gold Rank adventure groups—Sword of Heavenly Punishment, Golden Gryphon's Heart, Immortal Bulwark, Dawn Vanguard..."
"Seven entire teams, our heroes, were fighting for their lives in the Black Demon Forest."
"Yet they met a cruel fate at the hands of the demon; the entire force was annihilated!"
A chorus of suppressed gasps and sobs rose from the crowd.
The Gold Rank adventure groups were the peak combat strength of Caran City.
Their demise was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the entire city.
The City Lord clenched his fists, his face flashing with rage and determination.
"This is an immeasurable loss for Caran City! It is a provocation against us all!"
"We cannot let the blood of heroes be spilled in vain, nor can we allow wicked demons to continue their rampage!"
"Therefore, I have decided to campaign against the Legendary demon Moragus. We shall use its head as a sacrifice to the spirits of the fallen and defend the dignity of Caran City!"
His words were highly inflammatory, and some of the populace grew ignited by emotion, letting out cheers.
However, the more senior adventurers and experienced citizens remained silent, their brows furrowed.
The simultaneous annihilation of seven Gold Rank groups was inherently unusual, perhaps hiding a deeper conspiracy.
Furthermore, they all knew that the City Lord loathed adventurers of common birth.
This high-profile campaign felt somewhat... deliberate.
The City Lord seemed not to notice those doubting gazes as he turned to the side and gave a grand introduction.
"To this end, we have received powerful assistance from the Royal Capital!"
"This is Sir Lyon, along with his loyal and valiant Royal Knights!"
"They will inject great strength into this campaign and surely bring us victory!"
Ten knights wearing uniform, magically-shining armor stood in a neat line.
Knight Lyon stood proudly at their head, accepting everyone's gaze.
However, what rose from the crowd was not entirely applause of welcome; more of it was murmuring.
"The Royal Capital? The Carter Kingdom? It’s been nearly twenty years since we’ve seen anyone from there. Why now, of all times..."
"Their armor is so shiny; they do look quite impressive... but why does it feel a bit unsettling?"
"Seven groups fell, and they’re relying on a dozen or so... Can they really do it?"
The whispers of doubt echoed softly.
Although Caran City was nominally part of the Carter Kingdom, the long-standing city-state autonomy and geographical isolation had long since made royal authority seem vague and distant.
The sudden appearance of these Royal Capital Knights did not bring absolute peace of mind.
Under the "escort" of the knights, Lin Gui and Theia were sandwiched in the middle of the formation, looking exceptionally out of place.
Theia kept her head down, her silver hair falling to hide part of her profile.
She quietly nudged Lin Gui with her elbow, her voice full of guilt and resolve.
"I'm sorry... Lin Gui, I've dragged you into this."
"But... I swear that if there's an opportunity, even if I have to stake my life, I will get you out of here!"
Lin Gui turned his head to look at the elf whose body was tense, looking as if she were ready to burst into action at any moment.
Suddenly, he asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
"If you manage to survive, what are your plans for the future?"
Theia froze for a moment before a bitter smile spread across the corners of her lips.
That smile was saturated with too much hardship and wandering.
"Plans?" she repeated softly, as if it were an extremely foreign concept.
"What... what plans could I possibly have?"
"Ever since I can remember, since the awakening of my half-demon bloodline, I was viewed as a stain on the Elven Forest, exiled and driven away."
Her voice was very light, as if she were talking to herself or confiding in the only person who might listen.
"I’ve wandered through many city-states... People in Greyrock City threw stones at me and called me a 'red-eyed harbinger of calamity.'"
"When a plague broke out in White River Town, the town mayor pinned the blame on me without hesitation and nearly burned me alive."
"I finally managed to become an adventurer in Ironshield City and worked for three days."
"But because a noble lady said my eyes gave her nightmares, I was driven out of the city by the guards..."
"All the way until I reached Caran City."
She paused, a trace of faint, long-dead hope in her voice.
"Here... at least at first, they were only afraid of me."
"I thought... maybe I could live here carefully, like a rat in the sewers."
"Pity... it ended like this anyway."
"Sometimes, I really think that my birth was a mistake in and of itself."
Lin Gui listened quietly before suddenly asking, "Why didn't you try to hide it? For example, using magic to change your eye color?"
"That shouldn't be difficult for you."
Theia remained silent for a long time.
She remembered her demon father, who possessed the same red eyes yet would tell her stories of the starry sky before bed and weave flower wreaths for her with his clumsy, large hands.
These eyes were the culprit that made her life so painful, yet they were also her only memorial for her most beloved relative.
In the end, she merely shook her head gently.
She changed the subject, her voice carrying a nearly illusory longing.
"I've heard... that in the deepest parts of the Akara Continent, beyond countless Forbidden Zones and mountains, there is a legendary city-state."
"They say that all races gather there; there is no discrimination, no oppression—only freedom and equality..."
"Even a half-demon can find a place to belong."
"I want to go there and see for myself, even if... even if it's just for a glance."
Her voice was light, yet it was like a pebble dropped into a lake, creating ripples in Lin Gui's heart.
Almost at the exact moment her words fell, the system's voice rang clearly deep within Lin Gui's mind again.
【Ding! Special Long-Term Commission updated】
【Content: Escort the half-elf ranger Theia to the legendary city of freedom—Avalon.】
【Path: Caran City → Withered Rift → Carter Kingdom, Royal Capital Rolan → Silent Sea (Forbidden Zone) → Fortress City of Shield → Wall of Sighs (Forbidden Zone) → Avalon, the City of Freedom】
【Time Limit: 4 months】
【Base Reward: For every path node safely passed, a Mana reward will be issued based on distance and danger level.】
【Final Reward: Novice spatial magic, Storage】
【Extra Reward: Unlock the spatial magic advancement tree】
【Risk Assessment: Regions marked as "Forbidden Zones" in the path have extremely high demon activity and unknown risks. Rumors say ancient ruins and lost civilizations sleep within. It is strongly recommended to be fully prepared or simply take a detour.】
------ "May every wandering heart eventually find a home."
Lin Gui: "..."
He had originally wanted to complain about how the system had expanded from a letter delivery business to a "people delivery" business.
However, his gaze was instantly and firmly drawn to that final reward.
Spatial magic? Storage?
On his way to the Magic City, it wasn't as if he hadn't fantasized about it.
Things like the portable dimensions, space rings, and spatial teleportation that were standard for protagonists in novels.
But he had scoured the books in the Kalastan City library and hadn't found a single reliable record of spatial magic, as if it existed only in fantasy.
Yet now, the system was telling him that completing this mission would grant him true spatial magic?
Even if it was only the novice level of "Storage."
This meant that he wouldn't have to carry a heavy travel bag anymore, and he wouldn't have to hold his staff or keep it at his waist at all times!
After the massive surprise, Lin Gui frowned as he looked at the route and the time limit.
He pulled out the Map of the Akara Continent (Year 24 of the Dark Age) from his bag.
Matching it against the map, Lin Gui’s finger started from Caran City in the southwest.
It moved over the hills, through the forests, and through the Withered Rift, which had a notorious reputation even in New Covenant City...
Finally, it entered the Rolan mountain region to arrive at the Carter Royal Capital.
The most dangerous place on the journey was the Withered Rift.
The terrain was narrow and full of perils; the demons inside were extremely powerful, and an Epic Demon Lord was active there.
Furthermore, the scale of the Withered Rift was not something the Audo Canyon could even hope to compare to.
In the southwest of the continental map, Lin Gui could even see a crack visible to the naked eye.
Given this size, Lin Gui could already imagine scenes of demons swarming inside.
Still, at least it was far safer than the unexplored regions beyond.
Moreover, there should be a Golden Route that avoided most dangers; after all, the royals were able to come to Caran.
However, only the royals knew that route. If he were to explore it on his own... it would consume an immense amount of time.
"This is a bit troublesome."
Rate on N.U.
