Lulin City was surrounded by tall walls that prevented monsters from easily entering. The walls were a dark lead color and consisted of blocks made from a mixture of volcanic ash and a special mineral found only in this region.
Lulin had two gates that were directly opposite each other: one to the northeast and the other to the southwest. Traffic to and from other cities in the kingdom was through the southwest gate, and preparations for attacks on monster-occupied areas were made through the northeast gate.
Aisa had arranged to meet Simon at the northeast gate. Previously, whenever Aisa wanted to gather medicinal herbs, she would pass through this gate. Although there was a risk of monster attacks, since adventurers had cleared all the surrounding areas and destroyed the main monster lairs, the chances of encountering a monster were very low.
However, even with a sudden monster attack, Aisa had no problem. Although she was only a healer, she could benefit from her many years of adventuring experience during a monster attack. In addition to healing, she also knew some martial arts.
Of course, this time there was no need to gather medicinal herbs and risk a monster attack. She had to take Lenus, Lena, and Melva to the forest cabin and then think about how to heal Lena and Melva. She also had to be careful that Simon didn't find out about Lena and Melva.
When the carriage approached the city wall, the light of the magical torches beside the gate illuminated the carriage and the coachman. Aisa was a little nervous but sighed in relief when she saw that only six soldiers were guarding the gate.
'It seems like Simon the rhinoceros has done his job well...'
Aisa stopped the carriage in front of the closed gate and got out. Seeing Aisa, a soldier came forward and, recognizing her, bowed and said, "I'm glad to see you. How are you, my lady?"
"You know me?!"
When the soldier looked up, Aisa realized for the first time that she was a girl, about sixteen years old, with black hair tucked under her helmet and armor that was clearly old and scratched.
"Of course! You saved me in Balernu. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead now."
The young female guard spoke with a smile and gratitude.
Aisa gave a gentle smile and replied, "I'm glad you're okay." Although she didn't know the girl, she at least pretended to so that the girl wouldn't feel embarrassed. Besides, she had to be the best Aisa of the century tonight.
Meanwhile, Simon emerged from the room built next to the gate and came towards them. Upon seeing him, the female guard became serious and the smile faded from her face.
"Get back to your post, soldier!"
At Simon's harsh command, the girl returned to her previous place. Then, turning to Aisa, he asked in a way that others wouldn't notice, "You're very nervous, did something else happen?"
Normally, Aisa wouldn't be so stressed about moving Lenus, but now, in addition to Lenus, she had to transport two other loved ones out of the city; loved ones that no one should know about their illness. Therefore, Aisa cleared her throat and replied, "No, nothing happened."
Simon said nothing more. Knowing Aisa as he did, he could tell that she was unusually anxious, but he postponed questions and answers; they had more important things to do now. He went to the carriage and began to examine and inspect it. Meanwhile, two guards wanted to join him, but he stopped them. The guards nodded and stepped back. After a short while, Simon stepped away from the carriage and ordered the gate to be opened.
"Open the gate."
Aisa, who had been under pressure and wished Simon wouldn't notice Lena and Melva, breathed a sigh of relief and then got into the carriage. As she passed through the gate, she said, "See you later, Mr. Simon."
Simon, as always, waved and returned to his guardroom.
Aisa passed through the city gate easily, but she didn't even suspect for a second that anyone was following her. Happy that nothing had happened, she tugged on the reins and quickly rode away from the city.
***
Deep within the basement of a multi-story brothel, whose luxurious exterior belied the sordid activities within, a fat man sat on a couch, sipping a glass of wine while surrounded by naked women.
As he pulled the glass from his lips, one of the heavily made-up women smiled and took it from him, placing it on the table. The man, with his ugly, grotesque face, licked around his lips and sneered at the woman. As he brought his lips, dripping with liquid, close to hers, the door suddenly burst open.
"Brother! Brother!"
A man rushed into the room, panting and frantic, but he didn't seem surprised at all by the scene he saw. Dressed entirely in black, he was gasping for breath, trying to speak but as if he had run an immense distance without pause.
The man, thoroughly intoxicated, turned to him and, with his cheeks flushed, yelled, "Wh-what are you saying, Ferand?! Y-you've... you've ruined my mood! G-g-get out of here and come back another time..."
The young Ferand placed his hand on his chest and said, "Brother Dalki! Aisa... Aisa, Melva, and Lena have been taken from the infirmary!"
As soon as Dalki heard Aisa's name, he jumped up. The women around him, drunk like himself, were surprised by Dalki's sudden change but remained sprawled on the couch and floor in their drunkenness and stupor.
"What did you say?! Aisa took them? But how?!"
The drunkenness had completely left Dalki. He couldn't imagine that Aisa could get Lena and Melva out of the hospital so quickly.
Ferand, who had finally caught his breath, said, "I saw them all get into a carriage. There was a guy with them too."
Dalki shouted again, "A guy?!" And after a short pause, he muttered, "It can't be..."
Ferand asked, "What do we do now, brother? Shall we go after them?"
The fat, ugly man scratched his chin and said with a malice in his eyes, "No, send a secret message to Elliot, write that Lenus has woken up and is now leaving the city."
Ferand asked in surprise, "Lenus...? So don't chase after them? Lena and Melva's stomachs could burst at any moment and demons could be born."
The fat man picked up a green bottle containing a red liquid from the table and before sneering and drinking the bottle, returning to his previous activity, said, "Don't worry, everything will work out in our favor."