Chapter 102: Consideration and Return

The annual Midsummer Festival had already passed many days ago, yet traces left by the festival could be seen everywhere in River Valley Town.

Miss "Molly," the usually listless guild receptionist, had changed into pure silver earrings bought during a store promotion;

Miss Edwina from "Green Grass Crucible" had developed a new hangover cure potion that received widespread acclaim during Midsummer and was reportedly considering mass production.

The massive bonfire in the town center square had already been cleaned up with workers' help.

But you could still see remnants of scorch marks in a few inconspicuous brick crevices at the square's corner.

In comparison, the adventurers at White Sparrow Tavern didn't seem to notice the festival had already passed.

Even though various activities had ended, the atmosphere inside the tavern remained enthusiastic.

From sunset falling and dusk thickening to dawn breaking and morning light brilliant—lute sounds, clamoring voices, cheering sounds, even somewhat off-key chaotic singing never ceased.

For these adventurers who kept their heads on their belts, walking on tightropes, the so-called "Midsummer Day" was just an excuse to celebrate.

After missions, every day was a festival. Every breath was worth commemorating.

"Hey, the commotion at Karanfor the other day wasn't small. Do you know any inside information?"

At a drinking table, an adventurer in crude leather armor deliberately raised his volume, asking his nearby teammate.

Knowing each other inside and out, naturally understood the other's meaning.

Even though they'd privately discussed it countless times, the teammate still pretended as if hearing his partner mention this topic for the first time.

Performance traces serious, very deliberately pulling his voice, loudly replying:

"Good heavens, that light sphere flashing—I went out to take a piss and thought it was dawn."

"Next day asked everyone but no one could say clearly. I'm still puzzled about it!"

Sure enough,

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice heavy with drunkenness, even speech becoming somewhat blurred, came from the neighboring table.

"Isn't it just that thing? Nothing much to say!"

A red-bearded dwarf whose cheeks were already flushed red from drinking in broad daylight, reeking of alcohol, swayed his tree-stump-like sturdy body.

Pretending to be magnanimous, as if uncaring, leaning back in his chair.

Only the slightly upturned beard at his mouth corners and the peripheral glances inadvertently cast toward people beside him revealed his inner thoughts.

"Oh, what exactly happened? Tell us?"

Seeing the other party took the bait, the adventurer who'd spoken first smoothly picked up the topic, his tone carrying deliberate curiosity as he pressed.

Even sent over his ale bottle that was only one-third full to the other's table.

The adventurer's action—the dwarf seemed quite satisfied.

Taking the bottle, tilting his head back, he drained the ale inside in one gulp.

Satisfied, he burped.

Also not holding back, directly spoke about what he understood as the "specific details":

"According to my buddy who happened to be resupplying in Karanfor the other day, burp..."

"A crazed cultist, right under the church's nose, used some evil ritual to lure a powerful monster from deep in Mist Forest to Karanfor."

"In the end, even the Sun God Church's priest got 'exploded.'"

"Bang!"

Speaking, the dwarf even retracted both hands before his chest, fingers thick as carrots spreading open, fiercely making an explosion gesture.

His face full of mockery, not a trace of sympathy for the deceased priest.

"That power... tsk tsk."

"You're actually lucky—just in River Valley Town, at most heard a boom, treated it as watching excitement."

"My brother was miserable. Just focused on escaping for his life—an entire cart of goods burned to charcoal."

"Half a year for nothing!"

Hearing the dwarf say this, as if truly knowing some truth, the adventurer originally just wanting to casually gather some intelligence actually showed surprise on his face.

Actively stepping forward, helping fill the empty cup before the other party.

"Such great power—even River Valley Town could see it. What about Karanfor? The whole town didn't disappear, did it?"

"Not to that extent." The red-bearded dwarf waved his hand. His other palm stroked his round bulging belly, eyes squinting in extreme contentment.

"About half the town."

"But supposedly that cultist was a high-tier caster of the conjuration school. Not only air—even nearby water sources were contaminated. So even if those commoners in town are still alive, they probably can't live there short-term."

The few people's conversation had no concealment to begin with, plus the dwarf's naturally loud voice.

After a few sentences, almost half the tavern heard the "truth" from the dwarf's mouth.

"Isn't anyone managing this?" A young-looking adventurer lowered his voice, seemingly afraid of being heard by certain people. "Those noble 'lords' in the castle, even our guild... just let them mess around like this?"

"How could there be no one!"

The red-bearded dwarf's beard bristled, emotions somewhat excited.

"That night I even saw..."

But just halfway through, realizing he'd misspoken, suddenly shut his mouth.

No matter how others provoked him, he just kept quiet, burying his head in drinking.

Even if pressed urgently, at most shoved and cursed a few dirty words, then randomly rambled about unrelated topics.

Behind the bar, "Chapton" silently withdrew his gaze.

Fingertips pinching soft fine cloth, still carefully wiping the cup.

A few days ago, that brilliant golden radiance bursting and rising from the horizon—he'd naturally seen it too.

As the owner of the tavern most frequented by adventurers in all of River Valley Town.

Although he rarely participated in adventurers' topics, just silently doing his own things.

But after so many years of operation, still had some connections.

Just, regarding detailed information about the incident at Karanfor, his "connections" were basically all tight-lipped.

Making him know no more than the red-bearded dwarf at this moment.

And if he really wanted to gather intelligence...

Chapton's hand movements suddenly paused. His gaze instinctively glanced toward the left side of the bar, at that black-haired youth scooping with a spoon.

What flashed through his mind was the scene from dawn two days ago.

Remembered at that time, he'd just dealt with drinkers who'd been rowdy all night, yawning and planning to change shifts.

The figure with swords on his back walked directly through the tavern door.

Although outwardly didn't look particularly exhausted, from the blood marks remaining on his tattered armor and that travel-worn appearance.

Clearly just experienced a dangerous mission.

Cautious adventurers who near returning to town rested outdoors overnight for safety before traveling at dawn weren't rare;

Adventurers who after returning to town didn't rush to repair equipment but first returned to the inn to rest and reorganize were also common.

But didn't know why—intuition from years of operating the tavern as owner invisibly made Chapton connect this young adventurer named "Xia Nan" with the radiant explosion a few nights ago.

Perhaps...

"Boss, another mushroom soup."

The greeting from before him called Chapton back to reality from contemplation.

"Coming!"

He instinctively vigorously wiped the cup in hand twice more before putting it back in the cupboard, walking toward the back kitchen.

I naturally didn't know his thoughts.

And even if Chapton really asked, I could only evade.

After all, regarding the full picture of events that occurred at Karanfor, I didn't completely understand.

Only roughly guessed it should be related to the barbarian Forgan and some powerful existence he was tracking.

Involuntarily, my mind conjured that night—the terrifying momentum like massive missile bombardment, even a mushroom cloud rising.

Inwardly muttering.

Although due to knowing of "deities'" existence, I already had expectations about this world's transcendent power tiers.

Looking now, still vastly underestimated.

According to communication with the barbarian along the way, he shouldn't have reached this world's pyramid apex "Legend," still at the "transcendent" tier.

Just like this, their battle's aftershocks destroyed half a small town.

Then going up further, battles between legendary powerhouses, even "god wars"...

Probably comparable to nuclear war?

"Thud."

The cream mushroom soup emitting hot air was delivered to the table by the waitress.

I lightly shook my head, no longer considering those things still distant from me.

Pinching the spoon, I scooped a mouthful of broth into my mouth.

Feeling the fresh sweetness lingering on my tongue.

Seemed my heart, fluctuating due to various encounters these days, also gradually eased.

At the same time, a certain worry coiled in my heart since returning to River Valley Town two days ago also manifested.

What appeared before me was the barbarian in wolf skin cloak, walking alone toward Karanfor's back.

After returning, I'd also spent considerable time considering whether to report my encountered situation to the guild.

Not overthinking—in my view, things were far from as simple as imagined.

First, must point out.

The Adventurers' Guild, as a behemoth spanning countless kingdoms, with branches throughout Ephara Continent, even continuously expanding outward to farther places.

Composed of countless adventurers, was completely "neutral" alignment.

Not the kind where you casually report cultists appearing somewhere and they'd dispatch relevant personnel to investigate—not that kind of justice organization.

Putting it extremely, even if right now all of Karanfor was occupied by cultists, becoming a nest breeding monsters.

As long as fundamental interests weren't touched, River Valley Town's Adventurers' Guild wouldn't move even once.

Of course this was just a simple example. Actual situation, considering the guild's many adventurers connected to Karanfor, plus Servia Kingdom issuing bounties through the guild and other factors, naturally couldn't develop to that extent.

With this as premise, when the barbarian only had me run toward River Valley Town's direction without leaving any extra instructions.

If I rashly contacted the guild, revealing Forgan-related information.

Would it cause trouble for the barbarian, producing some unfavorable impact on him?

I even needed to consider whether there was a one-in-ten-thousand possibility of some conflict between Forgan and the guild, so that after the guild learned the situation, they'd instead help the other side—that "enemy" fighting him.

After all, I didn't even know who the target the barbarian was tracking was.

These days of interaction, although my relationship with Forgan couldn't be called particularly close.

But he was seriously helping me learn combat skills according to the commission's content.

I could feel this.

Therefore, regarding the barbarian's actions, even if I couldn't help.

I also tried not to cause him trouble as much as possible.

On the other hand, if I simply concealed what I knew—the barbarian's identity information.

Just reported what I saw—events occurring at Karanfor town—to the guild.

Actually didn't need my unnecessary action either.

As early as the night before last.

I hadn't even returned to River Valley Town yet, still on the road escaping.

Already saw large numbers of adventurers departing from River Valley Town, rushing toward Karanfor.

Just from what I could observe, professionals among them numbered quite a few.

Clearly, the Adventurers' Guild's reaction was much faster than I'd anticipated.

Summarizing above, for safety's sake, also trying not to cause trouble for the barbarian.

Do less, err less.

Honestly staying in River Valley Town waiting for news was what I should do now.

"Heh, don't know where he heard fake news from, still showing off here."

A mocking laugh full of ridicule suddenly came from the tavern corner.

Obviously targeting the red-bearded dwarf who just claimed to learn from a friend about the situation at Karanfor.

I looked accordingly.

Appearing in my vision was a man with yellow-brown skin and curly black hair.

Calimshan person—looked somewhat familiar.

Seeing those gem rings the size of pigeon eggs between his fingers, plus the metal rings at his hair ends.

My gaze instinctively looked toward the dwarf on the other side. My face couldn't help showing a somewhat strange expression.

Weren't these precisely the two who'd caused trouble in the tavern on Midsummer Day before I left?

Didn't know what luck—just returned to River Valley Town not long ago, these two guys actually got together again.

The dwarf already drunk and muddled, face flushed red, turned around. Staring with those two rolling round eyes, he stared for quite a while.

Finally reacted.

"Da—burp—damn Calimshan maggot, your dad didn't beat you enough that day, hm?"

Clearly came prepared.

Different from being alone that day, this time the Calimshan person had two men also wearing robes sitting beside him.

From their dress, should also be desert people's appearance.

Drunk on alcohol, plus the race's own nature, the red-bearded dwarf didn't act scared either.

Blowing his beard, waving his thick arm:

"What, think... burp, two more sand rats can back you up?"

"Go lick your wind genie master's ass crack together!"

Habitually hanging around taverns, various discriminatory epithets came readily.

The dwarf with just a few simple sentences provoked the three Calimshan people across to flush red-faced, glaring angrily.

I sat to the side with some anticipation, quite enjoying scooping mushroom soup.

And just when the few were cursing and shoving each other, battle on the verge of breaking out.

"Creak!"

The tavern door was fiercely pushed open.

Reflecting the glaring sunlight outside, cold wind like northern blizzards howled and surged through the door cracks.

A familiar burly figure appeared before me.