We walked for what felt like almost two hours before finally reaching the outskirts of Chafeire. When HYM had mentioned it was only 2 kilometers away, I had assumed that was the length of our entire journey, but it turns out he was referring only to the straight-line distance between us and the town. The actual route twisted and turned far more than I anticipated, winding through uneven terrain, thickets of trees, and rocky outcroppings. Even though we found a clearing which made it easier to walk. Each step still felt like it stretched the distance further. We walked on and on and on.
Eventually, I couldn't hold it in anymore and grumbled to HYM, "Why didn't you mention this earlier? You could've at least warned me."
[I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INCONVENIENCE, BUT I DID NOT WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE HOST TO PROCRASTINATE IN REACHING OUR DESTINATION.] HYM's voice was as calm and unwavering as ever, which only fuelled my irritation further.
"Procrastinate? Did you really think I was going to delay getting out of this accursed forest?" I muttered, though I doubted HYM cared much about my frustration. Nevertheless, I quieted down, bottling up my anger as we continued our trek.
After what felt like an eternity, we finally stumbled upon a small merchant caravan stationed near a clearing. The merchants had set up shop under large, faded tents, selling wares ranging from dried meats and salted fish to finely crafted leather goods and clothes. It seems they made a stop to get wood, for fuel, as wood foraged from the forest is entirely tax-free as long as you have a permit and were a hundred times cheaper than buying them from a lumberjack. It was here we took our time to purchase some essential items: better clothes for both Marie and me. Her current "outfit" was essentially a coarse jute sack paired with the oversized shoes I'd scavenged earlier. She looked miserable. If we were going to enter Chafeire unnoticed, we needed to blend in more effectively.
I picked out a plain pair of drawstring pants, a tunic, and a vest. They were nothing fancy, but sturdy enough to get by. Marie, on the other hand, required more. I selected a sleeveless tunic and a simple gown for her—something that would be easier for her to move around in and far more comfortable than the sack she had been wearing. Altogether, the new clothing cost around 520 lamdas. I was able to haggle it down a bit and add a satchel thanks to my less-than-noble appearance—dressing like a bandit, as unpleasant as it was, certainly had its perks. The merchant clearly didn't want any trouble and was more than eager to agree to a lower price.
With our new clothes, we set off once again for Chafeire. It wasn't long before we were greeted by a salty sea breeze, the scent of brine and fish filling the air. Overhead, large birds that resembled Earth's seagulls circled, their cries echoing across the sky. The town itself rose on the horizon, with its tall gates and spires coming into view. According to HYM, Chafeire boasted eight entrances, all designed to facilitate the constant flow of imports and exports. The sheer scale of it suggested that this was no ordinary county, but a bustling trading hub which has impacts on the entire kingdom.
Upon arriving at the main gate, we were stopped by the guards, who looked us up and down with suspicion. They asked the usual questions—who we were, where we came from, and what our business was in Chafeire. HYM had already assured me that there were no records of me in this world, so I kept my answers vague but confident. The guards took their time, checking our identities against their records, but in the end, they found nothing of concern and waved us through.
I had expected it to take much longer—perhaps even an hour or more—but the process was surprisingly quick. As we passed through the gates, I found myself impressed by the sheer scale of the town. Chafeire wasn't just any trading hub; it was a sprawling metropolis of commerce and culture. The streets were packed with people of all races and walks of life. Merchants shouted from their stalls, peddling everything from exotic spices to elaborate jewelry. Carriages rattled along the cobblestone roads, most of them emblazoned with the insignia of various trading companies.
Marie was utterly captivated. She walked alongside me, her eyes wide with awe, taking in everything as if she'd never seen such a bustling place before. She looked around in every direction, clearly overwhelmed by the sights and sounds of Chafeire.
"This place... it's incredible," she whispered, almost to herself. Her astonishment only grew as we ventured deeper into the town, and she shrieked in excitement when we passed a towering clock tower at the town center, its bells chiming loudly.
I had to admit, Chafeire had a certain energy to it. It reminded me of Tokyo—a place that never seemed to sleep, where the streets were always alive with activity, no matter the time of day. The air buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the clatter of hooves and wheels. But amidst the excitement, I couldn't let my guard down. This was a place of opportunity, sure, but also a place where one could easily get lost—or worse.
"Let's get started now, shall we?" I said to myself as we maneuvered through the dense crowd. With practiced ease, I slipped my hand into the pockets of a few unsuspecting rich folks as we passed. The bustling streets provided more than enough cover for me to lift several wallets and pouches of coins. By the time we reached a cheap-looking inn, I had amassed more than enough to rent us a room for the next couple of days.
We settled into a small, dingy room at the back of the inn. It wasn't much, but it was safe enough for the time being. After dropping off our bags, I turned to Marie. "Stay here," I instructed. "Don't open the door for anyone unless it's me. Understood?"
She nodded, though her face was a perfect mask, her eyes betrayed her. I could see a mix of fear and exhaustion. I couldn't blame her. This place, despite its apparent vibrancy, might still be of some danger. Especially with Diamond family searching for her. I didn't trust the innkeeper, and I certainly didn't trust anyone else who might come snooping around.
Once Marie was secured in the room, I headed downstairs to ask the innkeeper a few more questions. "Is there a guild in this town?" I asked casually, leaning against the counter. HYM had suggested that joining a guild could help me establish some sort of identity in this world. As far as the records were concerned, I didn't exist. Being too "clean" could raise unwanted suspicion, but a guild membership would lend me some legitimacy.
The innkeeper, barely looking up from his work, muttered, "Yeah, if you head to King's Square, you won't miss it. If you do, just ask someone there." Then, as if noticing me for the first time, he paused and squinted. "New face around here, huh? Why are you here?"