***
Together with the female adventurer who saved me from dying, I walked down the hall of the building to reach Ichihara's room. I should do the same if people have already paid back their debts.
"You said that she would take whatever was given?" I asked.
She nods. Keep walking with me in the middle of the hallway that seems quiet without anyone walking. The explanation from the woman made me realize that at least I should start looking at the world with positive vibes and take off the bad prejudice due to my class.
We arrived in front of Ichihara's room. She said that Lady Ichihara usually used this place for the office and some time for the break.
But when I was about to knock on the wooden door, my ears faintly heard a strange sound from inside the room. The closer I got, the more precise the voice sounded like a woman's sigh.
"We'd better come another time. She'll cut off our ears if caught listening," replied the adventurer woman, holding my hand and inviting me to quickly leave the place.
"But doing in the daytime? Wouldn't it be risky for people to find out about them?" I asked, confused.
"Everyone knows Lord Zhao and Lady Ichihara are dating, not yet officially married."
I finally understand why Lady Ichihara greets Zhao with a sweet call; it turns out that the two of them have a pretty close relationship. It's no wonder everyone knows their if they always say romantic words every time they meet.
"Does anyone object to their relationship?" I asked, the adventurer woman shaking her head.
"Not a single person dared to say he objected to their relationship. The people at Eastern Warrior know very well how dangerous it is to have enemies with Ichihara or Zhao," the woman explained.
We walked down the stairs, past several workspaces, until we reached the first floor where the guild was. Many adventurers have registered for missions; some just relax while eating and talking.
The situation is pretty much the same as Camelot, only the people and architecture are different. The adventurous woman who brought me immediately withdrew her hand and invited me to go enjoy the city view.
The woman called this city by the name Hyesu. She told me that this city was the easternmost trading city in the Empire, bordering Camelot.
The streets of Hyesu were lined with city residents in simple clothes yet elegant attire that covered most of their bodies. Children were playing ball in the city streets happily, parents and teenagers were talking to each other in the yard.
As soon as I saw the peaceful atmosphere in the city, there was no chaos or commotion. The place is also beautiful and clean. What attracted my attention the most was the clear river, which flowing calmly near the green rice fields
"I heard you managed to kill two Agora in that forest; you are really amazing!" The woman spoke to me, praising me for my achievements in killing the monsters. I just discovered that the beast with thick black fur and fangs coming out of its mouth has the name Agora.
"The agora you mean is a black-haired monster?" I asked; she nodded her head.
"I was lucky enough at that time. If they didn't come to save me, I might have been killed by the Agora," I replied, looking far into the rice fields with both hands resting on the fence that divides the city and the countryside.
"There isn't a single person brave enough to challenge five Agoras at once. Even Lady Ichihara has a hard time doing so."
"Has she ever done the same thing as me?"
"Not just like you, but she killed ten Agoras that came with her swordsmanship. After that, she didn't want to kill them without a friend," the woman replied, her voice firm and convincing.
I glanced at the two women's eyes; her gaze looked straight ahead at the same rice fields as mine. Her lips lifted, a sweet smile clearly plastered on her face. I didn't understand the reason for the excitement she was showing.
"Is there something that pleases you?" I asked, curious.
"Every time I see this place, I can imagine how kind and generous Lady Ichihara is. She and her group built Hyesu City, originally gloomy, to be colourful and amazing," the woman replied.
From all her explanations, it seemed that I had entered into a temporary feud with the most beloved leader in this city. I never thought an arrogant woman like her could create such a fantastic place. I'm sure she has crossed the thorny and steep path to change the entire city.
"You seem to admire the woman well," I said.
Suddenly I heard a rumbling sound from behind my back. I immediately turned and focused my attention on them. A group of warriors with swords and shields arrived, totalling fifteen people.
Their armour is relatively light, maroon in colour, with a helmet that is almost like a Spartan helmet, only that it has black fur on top, not red. The army immediately formed a circle to surround the woman beside me and me.
I saw her face was pale, frightened by the presence of people who surrounded her all around. She immediately hides behind my back, eyeing each of them seriously.
"What is it?" I asked firmly.
One of the men arrived. He was wearing the kind of clothes that were almost like Ichihara's, but with a different coloured headband and emblem. He came with two women who looked elegant wearing a dress from Southeast Asia; they called it kebaya.
"Arthur Mason. Welcome to Hayes City," the man said, lowering his head with a broad smile.
"An a unique welcome. When will I be brandished with the weapon and a siege," I say, mocking their unfriendliness.
"Don't be like that. We're just trying to keep the city's peace by arresting you and your friend," the man said, still smiling.
"Why do you want to arrest me?" I asked, curious.
"As an extradition, I'm sending you to Camelot, and they will exchange you for a captive from Izunaya," the man replied, raising his hand quickly.
Immediately the army began to brandish their weapons and walk toward us. I pressed the circle button on my spear and directly aimed back at all of them.
One of the women behind the man seems to be whispering something, I can't hear what the two are talking about, but I'm sure it must have something to do with my class and the weapon I'm holding.
"Stop!" said the man.
His red armies immediately stopped their steps, backed away, and stood ready. I cast this gaze at the man in command of the army; his head must be thinking something about me.
"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. I changed my mind with the extradition," replied the man.
It looks like his legs are starting to walk towards me; his eyes can't leave the spear and my eyes. The woman behind him followed, both of them looked like concubines, but when I looked carefully, a concubine couldn't possibly carry a dagger on their waist.
"We've been looking for you this whole time. I didn't know you were a Paladin," the man replied, patting my shoulder kindly.
My eyes were still glaring at the stares of the man in front of me. Not only in Camelot, but it seems I have to be wary of anyone in Izunaya. Unfortunately, it seemed like everyone already knew the truth about the Three Knights Alliance and the Paladins.
"You can put your spear down. We're different from the Three Knights Alliance," the man said.
I was silent for a while. Then, our eyes met each other for quite a bit. I had the feeling he wasn't lying about what he said at all.
But as I was about to press the circle button on my spear, my attention was distracted when I found the woman behind me whispering something.
"Don't believe it! They are-"
JLEB!
Both of these eyes widened greatly when I saw a medium-sized dagger stuck in the throat of the woman behind me. The woman immediately fell to the ground with blood flowing from her mouth and throat.
This is dangerous!
"WHO-"
"AKH!"
Right in my belly. The man I was about to believe landed a heavy blow on me, causing my body to become so helpless that it slumped limply to the ground. The man immediately grabbed my black spear and turned it into an ordinary staff.
"What a great weapon. I'll keep it at the office," the man said.
I'm still moaning in pain after getting hit by him. One of the female bodyguards walked over and suddenly started making small cuts on my arm.
I didn't understand what she was doing, but it didn't take long for my body to become difficult to move. My legs and arms felt numb and unresponsive; even when the man slapped me in the face, I didn't feel any pain. Absolutely numb!
"Don't look at me that way. I just want to make a profit for Toghon's glory."