The morning sun, having chased away the rain, cast a warm glow upon the land. I rode alongside the tranquil, turquoise lake, the holy sword at my side swaying with the rhythm of my horse's gait. My destination: Rosens, a small town I had briefly visited during my days as a hero. Its breathtaking scenery had left an indelible mark on my memory, and I had vowed that if I ever retired and opened an inn, it would be in this very place. Back then, the town had fallen on hard times, and I was curious to see how it fared now.

Lost in thought, I spotted a wagon ahead, its cargo bed laden with crates and sacks. This was the only road leading to Rosens, so the wagon must be heading there as well. I urged my horse forward, drawing alongside the wagon.

"Greetings," I called out.

The middle-aged man at the reins turned to look at me, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. His gaze fell upon the holy sword hanging from my saddle.

"If you're thinking of robbing me, you'd best reconsider. The folks eagerly awaiting these goods might just have your head," he warned.

"I'm no thief," I assured him. "Just a traveler."

"And I'm not a merchant, but a king," he retorted sarcastically.

I chuckled. "Seriously, I'm not a robber. If I were, I would have already taken your head and your wagon. Why bother with pleasantries?"

"Hah! If you're not a thief, then what brings you to this lonely road? There's nothing beyond here but Rosens."

"Rosens is precisely where I'm headed."

"And why is that?"

"To open an inn."

The man scrutinized me as if I had lost my mind. "Are you out of your wits?" he exclaimed.

"Not at all. I'm a skilled cook with ample funds. I have everything I need to start an inn."

He stared at me for a moment before bursting into laughter. "You're a madman!"

After his laughter subsided, he introduced himself. "I'm Molo, a trader who travels between Byul and Rosens."

"My name is Bertrand."

"A fine name. You seem like you were once a mercenary or something of the sort," Molo observed, eyeing the holy sword.

"Just a simple adventurer," I replied.

"Ah, an adventurer. A romantic profession. But why open an inn in Rosens?"

"The air is fresh, the water is clean. There's no better place."

"Then you should have gone to Montreux or Lausanne. You'll only be disappointed here. It would be wiser to turn back to Byul and look elsewhere."

"I appreciate the advice, but my mind is made up."

Molo clicked his tongue, his reaction mirroring what anyone would think about opening an inn in Rosens in its current state. But I knew Rosens had the potential to be a gold mine if I played my cards right.

"I don't understand what led you to this misguided decision, but let's go together. I was getting bored traveling alone, so this works out well."

We rode side by side, discussing the state of the region and the latest news. As a trader, Molo was a treasure trove of information and gossip. He spoke of the collusion and declaration of independence by the lords of the Kosovar region, the kingdom's crushing defeat in a naval battle against the Elion Kingdom, and the massacre of monsters and the death of the demon king in the northern demon castle.

"Do you have any idea who the crazy fool was who stormed the demon castle and turned it upside down?" Molo asked.

"Haha... I wouldn't know," I replied, suppressing a smile.

"Rumor has it, it was the work of the blue dragon, Lurutzog, who just awoke from hibernation."

"Why would Lurutzog attack the demon castle?"

"How should I know what goes on in the mind of that oversized lizard? Maybe he woke up from his nap, saw some young upstart strutting around, and decided to put him in his place."

"I'd find it more believable if it were the Revenge King, Vlaban, risen from his grave to seek vengeance," I joked.

Molo roared with laughter. "Hahaha! That's a good one."

Hearing about my own deeds from someone else felt strangely surreal. But I was bound by a secrecy agreement with the royal palace and couldn't reveal my involvement. The palace had gone to great lengths to keep my existence hidden, fearing the public support I might garner as the hero who saved them. A popular figure who outshines the king is a threat to the monarchy and the established order.

The vast expanse of the lake gradually narrowed, its waters cascading into a river via a small waterfall. As we followed the river, the coniferous forest gave way to the distant silhouette of Rosens.

Rosens was a cluster of modest buildings with bright orange gabled roofs, resembling a colony of mushrooms. The rugged Byurns mountain range loomed behind the town like a protective wall. The rocky slopes were etched with horizontal lines, and the snow-capped peaks glistened under the clear blue sky, dotted with fluffy white clouds.

A river flowed before the town, its banks lined with cultivated fields interspersed with towering conifers and a vibrant tapestry of wildflowers. The scenery was as breathtaking as I remembered.

"It truly is a beautiful place," I remarked.

"Hmm... I'll give you that," Molo conceded, briefly admiring the view before urging his old horse onward. "Let's get going."

People were out in the fields, plowing with hand-held plows. But the usual oxen or horses were nowhere to be seen. Molo clicked his tongue in disapproval.

"This year's harvest is as good as gone. At this rate, they'll never get the fields plowed and sown in time."

We encountered crude barricades blocking the road, manned by grim-faced men armed with makeshift swords and sickles.

"Vigilantes," Molo muttered under his breath. "They're on edge, so it's best to avoid any trouble."

We passed through the barricades and entered the town via a road paved with broken cobblestones. A heavy silence hung in the air. The wide main street was deserted, littered with broken furniture and debris. The buildings lining the road were dark and lifeless, doors left ajar with no sign of occupancy. A scrawny dog caught sight of us and scurried away with its tail between its legs. Despite the warm spring sun, a chill permeated the air.

"Feels like a ghost town, doesn't it?" Molo remarked, his gaze sweeping over the desolate scene. "This place used to be quite prosperous. It's situated right between Byul to the south and Furibur to the north. The only way around is to take a long detour through the mountains."

He cast a wary glance towards the northern foothills. "But ever since those Golruk beasts settled in the north, it's all gone to hell."

Molo sighed in frustration. "The Legion sent a punitive force to protect the royal domain, but... they were all massacred. No one dares to venture north anymore, not even the Legion."

The Golruk were humanoid monsters native to the mountains. The males could reach heights of three meters and were notoriously difficult to eradicate due to their habit of living in packs of dozens among the treacherous peaks. And these troublesome creatures had blocked the northern road a few years back. As a result, Rosens lost its advantage as a midway point and became isolated. This was precisely why Molo had tried to dissuade me from opening an inn here.

But I was well aware of Rosens' predicament. And that was precisely why I was determined to start my inn here.

We headed towards the town hall, where Molo needed to unload his goods and I had some business to attend to. The town hall was a typical two-story gabled building constructed of brick, with a communal warehouse attached to the side. The warehouse doors were wide open, and a few workers were busy taking inventory of the crates and sacks.

"Welcome back, Mr. Molo. You're early," one of the workers greeted him.

"Cleaning out the warehouse, are we? Just in time then," Molo replied.

The workers turned their attention to me as I dismounted. "Who's this? Your companion?"

"Ah, this fellow here is planning to settle down in Rosens."

"Settle down...?" They stared at me with incredulous expressions. "With everyone leaving... why on earth..."

"It's none of your concern. Just unload the goods," Molo interrupted.

The workers, still looking puzzled, went about their task. I followed Molo into the town hall.

At a desk in front of an extinguished fireplace, a woman was engrossed in her ledger, her fingers flying over an abacus. She was so focused that she didn't notice us until we were right in front of her.

"Excuse me," I said.

The woman looked up, startled. She had bright eyes magnified by spectacles, and her blonde hair was pulled back in a tight bun.

"Yes?"

"I'm here to settle in Rosens."

She adjusted her glasses and gave me a once-over. "Hmm... you look normal enough..."

"My mind is sound as well," I assured her.

"Alright then. Let me see your identification papers."

I handed her my papers. As she read them, her face paled, and she abruptly stood up, knocking her chair over in the process. She seemed oblivious to the fallen chair, her eyes fixed on me in shock.

"I... I apologize... I didn't recognize you..."