“Boss, do we really have to do this?”

Dylan’s voice was full of shame and discomfort.

“Of course we do. This is a long journey.

If you don’t, how many potions would you need to carry?

On land, you can still resupply along the way, but once we’re on a ship, what are you going to do—bring an entire crate of potions aboard?”

Right now, Dylan had stuffed his clothes and pants into his pack.

All he wore was a pair of shorts as he rode his horse.

According to the boss, this was called “maximizing solar absorption.”

But—

They were only half a day from Norwede. If he ran into people like this, the shame would be unbearable…

And as the saying goes: the more you fear something, the more certain it is to happen.

Just as the sun was setting, moments before Dylan could put his clothes back on—

He encountered four strangers.

Not exactly the way he’d imagined.

Simply put, three rough-looking men were doing a very bandit-like thing—robbing a traveling merchant.

The merchant, though mounted, had been cornered against a slope, with nowhere to go.

The bandits hadn’t pulled him down yet, seemingly not wanting to harm the horse.

Naturally, Dylan’s arrival drew their attention. But the three only shifted into guarded stances.

No one threatened him, nor made any move to include him as a target.

They were mere bottom-tier thieves, not even at Silver rank, who preyed only on ordinary folk.

And someone like Dylan—strange-looking, calm in the face of bandits—wasn’t the type they wanted to provoke.

Dylan touched the sword at his horse’s side, then turned his mount slightly, skirting around them.

“Uh… aren’t you going to help him?”

“Boss, I need to make it on time. I can’t stick my nose into everything!” Dylan answered matter-of-factly.

“Dylan…”

“Mm?”

“Has anyone ever told you you’re a hypocrite?”

…

“Sir! Please help me! I’ll pay you two gold coins!” the merchant suddenly cried out.

“Shut up!”

One of the bandits snapped, finally losing patience. He raised his nicked iron sword and hacked down—no longer caring about the horse.

But as he swung, his peripheral vision caught a flash of blue. He hesitated for a heartbeat.

In the next instant, an icicle whistled past his nose.

Everyone’s eyes turned to the half-naked figure on horseback, particularly the glowing ring on his hand.

“An… equipment skill…”

Someone with equipment skills was far beyond them.

“Friend, no need to fight. We’re leaving.”

Seeing that Dylan wasn’t pressing the attack, the bandits backed away slowly, faces toward him.

Only when they were far enough did they break into a sprint and vanish.

Dylan sighed. That had been reckless.

He wasn’t even wearing armor—just shorts and a ring.

He had planned not to interfere at all.

After all, two gold coins wasn’t something he really needed.

But old habits… Muscle memory from all those days scraping for a few silver coins. Seeing an easy two gold was too much temptation.

Damn it.

“Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!”

The merchant urged his horse over, bowing his head repeatedly in gratitude. Dylan, however, just stretched out his hand.

If this guy dared skip the payment, Dylan would rob him himself.

Fortunately, the merchant wasn’t stingy.

“Oh yes, of course.” He quickly pressed two gold coins into Dylan’s hand.

Neither of them noticed that as the merchant approached, the pack hanging by his horse’s tail twitched slightly—its straps rising, ready to strike.

Dylan pocketed the coins, then casually offered a warning:

“Next time, don’t skimp on guards. The more you save, the more you’ll lose—in the end, even your life.”

“Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right.” The merchant looked embarrassed.

Dylan was about to move on when the merchant called after him.

“Sir, may I accompany you to Norwede?”

“Aren’t you coming from Norwede?”

Seeing Dylan’s annoyed look, the merchant quickly offered twenty silver coins.

“I realized the road is too dangerous. I’ll return to Norwede, hire guards, then try again.”

Dylan didn’t really need the silver, but refusing after already taking gold coins felt too cold.

It was only half a day’s journey anyway…

“…Fine.”

He reluctantly accepted the silver.

The merchant smiled more warmly than ever.

As night fell, Dylan put his clothes back on, lit a fire in an open clearing, and made camp.

Not because of the merchant, but for practical reasons—

He had no night vision, relying on the boss’s glow underground.

The horse needed rest too.

Under the light of three moons, they sat on opposite sides of the fire.

Dylan simmered jerky in his iron cup until it became a small portion of meat soup.

As the iron clinked softly, the merchant spoke up.

“Sir, I never asked your name. I am Antony Neil.”

“Just call me Dylan.”

Dylan’s tone was cool. They were only traveling together half a day—no need to make friends.

The merchant seemed a little disappointed, but didn’t push.

Instead, he unscrewed a flask at his waist and drank.

After Dylan finished his soup, they both went to sleep.

He wasn’t worried. He had the scout—whose detection skills were sharper than his eyes.

The scout, in its backpack form, now hung from a tree branch, watching everything.

Especially the “merchant.”

【Name: Kroloro】

【Race: Doppelgänger】

【Level: LV36】

【Racial Talent: Shapeshift (Can freely change appearance, imitating humanoids, including exact looks, voice, and scent)】

A doppelgänger. Likely a demon race.

That talent was basically a stronger version of 【Mimicry】—from birth.

The human lands truly brimmed with stars.

In just three days of travel, they’d met a corrupt knight, bandits, and now a doppelgänger.

Dylan thought he had saved a merchant. Lin Jun thought he had saved those three bandits.

Most likely, the doppelgänger had intended to kill them all—and could have, easily.

But upon meeting Dylan, it changed its plan.

This was no harmless type. Its skill panel contained many offensive abilities. Dylan wouldn’t stand a chance against it.

Why it approached him remained unclear.

Lin Jun hadn’t told Dylan the truth.

After all, if Dylan looked wary the whole time, it wouldn’t be interesting.

Besides, LV36 wasn’t too high. With some vigilance, it wouldn’t be able to harm him.

Better to see what tricks it tried to play.