...
“Yaaaw—n.”
Ogre opened his mouth and yawned. Having barely slept for three days and three nights, he was feeling a bit drained of energy.
Meditation was no substitute for sleep, not to mention Ogre hadn't even meditated at all over the last few days.
Seeing this, Macar immediately said with concern, “Gelin, you must be tired. How about I carry you on my back?”
“No need, we're almost there anyway.” Ogre had absolutely no interest in letting Macar carry him again.
Traveling with Macar came with plenty of little inconveniences that made Ogre quite uncomfortable. For instance, even going to the toilet required him to squat in the bushes.
Sometimes, being cared for too much was also a nuisance.
“I just thought you hadn't rested well.” As a Knight, Macar could go without sleep for days and nights.
“I'm fine,” Ogre replied evasively.
“I remember you were already yawning during the day, Gelin. Was it because of Maqi last night? I apologize on her behalf,” Macar said.
“Not really, I have my own reasons.”
Ogre did not like sleeping.
For one thing, he was used to getting very little sleep, as sleeping out in the open lacked any sense of security.
For another, Ogre did not want to dream.
Ogre did not fear nightmares; he only felt melancholy over beautiful dreams.
Nightmares never troubled him.
Because the moment he opened his eyes, the things that terrified him vanished...
What truly troubled Ogre was the unattainable beauty within his dreams. He absolutely hated that feeling of waking up and being unable to find those things ever again.
Only when his body reached a certain point of exhaustion would he choose to sleep to recuperate.
‘If only I didn't dream, the feeling of waking up would actually be quite nice.’ Ogre felt that it was indeed necessary for him to get a good night's sleep tonight.
He didn't like dreaming, but he wouldn't compromise his physical health just to avoid it.
“Get some good rest. Your body is your own, after all,” Macar said after a brief silence.
The Church never advocated for extreme training methods. Wearing down one's foundation would only reduce one's lifespan.
For the Church, the losses would far outweigh the gains.
“Thanks for your concern. You should also take care,” Ogre said with a smile.
No one would actively court death, yet there were always some things that couldn't be avoided.
Be it hatred, desire, or simply surviving...
“So, Gelin, will you be coming back to the village with me after this?” Macar asked as they drew near the city walls.
“I've already held you back enough along the way.” Ogre shook his head. “When the time comes, you should head back first—the village needs you.”
“Then will you come visit us again...? Aunt Mima gets very lonely.”
“I probably will, if I have time,” Ogre replied with a smile.
“Yeah... hopefully, we will meet again in the future.” Macar looked up at the city walls.
They had arrived.
“Who goes there? No passage permitted at night!” The City Guard of the frontier city stopped the two of them, as was standard procedure.
Opening the city gates at night was a tedious task and a major security risk.
“If you need to rest, you can go to the Professionals Association branch outside the city.”
The other guard offered some advice. Judging by the attire of Ogre and Macar, he figured they were likely adventurers.
Still, a Knight and ranger combination was rather uncommon.
“I'm with the Church of Dawn.” Macar gestured to Ogre to take out the Silver Badge.
Having this emblem could resolve many hassles.
‘If it weren't for that witch, we probably would have entered during the day.’
Their plan to rush back quickly had also been completely disrupted.
“This concerns a Grand Knight.” Ogre presented Yade's Silver Badge.
“Go take a look,” one of the guards gestured to his companion.
“May I see it, please?” The other guard's attitude grew noticeably more respectful. When it came to a Senior Professional, he didn't dare show any rudeness.
In the empire, Senior Professionals enjoyed the same status as a Viscount, albeit without inheritance rights and territory.
“Here, take a look.”
Ogre wasn't afraid of the badge being stolen.
After all, without a matching identity, a badge was practically useless—not to mention the high risk of exposure.
Besides, to be completely honest, this badge hadn't brought Ogre any extraordinary benefits either.
At most, he had gotten a few free meals and a temporary residence. That was it.
“Forgive my intrusion.” The guard accepted the Silver Badge with both hands.
“Is it real or fake?”
The other guard's eyes wandered over to Ogre, finally noticing the appearance of this beautiful ranger.
‘Could they be a couple?’ the guard thought inquisitively.
He felt that this ranger's disguise as a man was simply too obvious.
How could any man possibly be so beautiful?
“It looks like the ones I've heard of... but I can't confirm it for sure,” said the guard who had taken the Silver Badge.
They were familiar with the grading systems of adventurers and the Church.
But they could not verify its authenticity on their own.
“Should we notify the commander?” the guard asked, returning the Silver Badge.
“Just let them through. No need to disturb the commander over this.” The other guard shook his head.
In the empire, almost no one dared to forge this kind of credential; generally, those who dared to produce one were telling the truth.
“Very well, please come in, you two.”
“Many thanks,” Macar thanked them, cupping his fist.
“Wait!” Just as they were about to open the side door, the other guard reached out and stopped Macar.
“What's the matter?” Seeing this, Macar thought to himself: ‘Don't tell me they're going to extort money now.’
“Sir Paladin, would you mind showing us some of your battle qi?” the guard requested respectfully.
The Dawn battle qi exclusive to the Church of Dawn was extremely difficult to replicate.
To unleash Dawn battle qi, not only did one have to practice the Dawn Breathing Technique starting from the Apprentice level, but they also had to undergo several holy water baptisms.
“Nothing difficult about that.” Macar cut the chatter and clenched one hand into a fist. Instantly, pure white Dawn battle qi burst forth around him.
The warm sensation washing over them made the guards let down their guard.
‘They are a Paladin of the Church of Dawn, so it's fine.’
The guard felt that even if this Dawn Paladin had lied, they probably wouldn't cause any trouble.
Knights who could unleash Dawn battle qi were, by and large, good people.
“Forgive my intrusion,” the guard said, gesturing for them to enter.
“No worries,” Macar replied, pulling back his battle qi.
‘A Dawn Paladin's identity is actually quite useful,’ Ogre mused to himself.
‘Well, it makes sense. After all, they're walking advertisements of goodwill.’
“Please, go on in.”
Thus, without paying even a copper of bribe, Macar and Ogre smoothly entered the "heavily guarded" frontier city.
It could only be said that where there were rules, there would always be exceptions.
“Let's stop here, Kar. You have your business, and I have mine.” Ogre pulled out the black bead left behind by Fula. “I must also carry out the task Friar Fula entrusted to me.”
“Then take care.”
Under the moonlight, Macar faintly seemed to glimpse the visage of that stunningly beautiful girl once more.
But with another blink of his eyes, the girl transformed back into the handsome young ranger before him.
“Goodbye. Don't make Aunt Mima wait for you too long.” Ogre tucked the bead away and smiled slightly.
Then he turned around and walked toward the Church of Dawn alone.
Macar's duty was to notify the Church of Truth to request backup, which didn't have much to do with Ogre anyway...
Especially since the Church of Dawn in the frontier city only had Yade.
“Goodbye... I guess.”
Only when the figure disappearing under the moonlight had completely vanished did Macar turn around.
‘Do I still... like her?’ Macar asked himself, clutching his chest.
“Perhaps... but there is someone more important waiting for me.”
In the end, Macar let go of his lingering thoughts.
Finally, he reached into his pocket—there was a ruby pendant.
‘I'll head back and give this to Eve in a little bit...’
...
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