The closest town to Baiyek was named Dud, a relatively bustling place with nearly all the necessary amenities: schools, the town hall, a police station, factories, and more. Various carriages and people dressed in attire easily recognizable by their social class passed through the streets, and the Gothic-style buildings on either side of the road made Glen feel as though he had stepped into another world. Compared to Baiyek, this place felt completely different.
Although Glen was familiar with these images from the memories of the original owner, experiencing it firsthand was a completely different feeling.
"Why are there so many people today?" Glen thought as he noticed the larger crowd. "Did something happen?" He quickly adjusted his thoughts. This wasn't too surprising, as the original owner had experienced this a few times. It usually meant a circus had arrived or a festival was being held, things Glen wasn't particularly interested in.
He bought some vegetables from a few stalls, and with only two copper coins left in his pocket, Glen realized he would have to figure out how to make more money soon.
As he carried his bundle of food, he walked back with a relaxed gait, when suddenly, he reached out to steady a young man who had almost fallen.
"Thank you, sir!" The young man said sincerely.
Glen gave a small nod in return.
At that moment, another young voice called out, "Meyer, you don't have to rush so much. Berlin is right there. You'll see him sooner or later."
Glen glanced over, noticing five young people walking together — three boys and two girls. The taller boy who had spoken was among them.
"That's the great knight who defeated a third-tier vampire, Berlin! I've only heard stories from my teacher, but don't you want to see him?" Meyer said, a bit embarrassed, as he glanced at one of the girls in the group.
"There's no need to hurry. Even if we don't see him today, we'll meet him eventually," another girl said casually.
"Yes, but we have to be careful. If we get injured, that wouldn't be good..." Meyer replied.
The group continued walking, and their voices faded into the crowd.
Glen recognized them — no, rather, Dylan recognized them. These young people were regulars in this town, but they didn't know Dylan. Glen only remembered them because two of the girls were very beautiful, which had left a deep impression on the original owner.
If Dylan's father were still alive and the family rich, he would have probably tried to pursue one of them. But now, the original owner was full of self-doubt, and the old pride was long gone.
A great knight, Berlin? Is that what all the commotion is about? Dylan didn't have any impression of this person, so he quickly brushed it aside. "Whatever. Not my business," he thought, clutching his purchases as he walked on.
Wearing gleaming iron armor and a red cape adorned with golden patterns, Berlin looked every bit the imposing and steady figure, exuding an aura of experience and authority.
This was the first impression Meyer had when seeing Berlin, although it wasn't exactly as he had imagined, it was close enough. Berlin rode atop a silver-armored white horse, flanked by two neat rows of knight soldiers.
Two soldiers at the front carried high flags fluttering in the wind, symbols of the kingdom's will. Amid the enthusiastic cheers from the townsfolk and the admiring gazes of young women, Berlin's procession marched towards the resting place prepared by the town mayor.
"Look, Deamella! That must be the great sword Riels my teacher told us about! It's so beautiful! And those — they must be the Demon Slaying Spears, the White Lion's Guns!" Meyer said excitedly as he pointed to the large sword and twin guns on Berlin's back.
"We know, you don't have to remind us," Deamella said, slightly annoyed but still excited. "We all grew up hearing about Berlin's stories. Today we finally see him in person. He really does look strong!"
"One day, I'll be just like Berlin!" said a chubby red-haired boy.
"First, try to pass our teacher's exam in a few days, Pok!" laughed a pretty girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.
The group chuckled, and Meyer, embarrassed, scratched his head.
"Stop teasing Pok. He's been trying hard," said another cute girl with brown hair, stepping in to defend the embarrassed boy.
After a few more laughs, the group turned their attention back to Berlin's procession.
At the Knight's Inn in Dud, Berlin's entire team had settled in. The welcoming townspeople were kept at a distance by the police to avoid disturbing the knights' rest.
The mayor, an elderly man with white hair and beard, smiled and approached Berlin as he dismounted.
"Honorable Sir Berlin, we've prepared a room for you. Please, this way."
Berlin nodded slightly. "No need for too much effort. We'll be staying only a few days. We're here to see if we can find traces of the two wolves we're hunting. But there are more important matters as well."
Upon hearing this, the mayor's expression changed slightly, showing signs of fear. "Sir Berlin, do you think those wolves will appear here? Please, ensure the safety of our townspeople!"
"There's no need to worry, Mayor. Those two wolves are just low-level creatures with diluted bloodlines. They won't pose a major threat to you. Even if we don't find them, a few of your policemen with guns should be able to handle them easily," Berlin said with a steady voice, offering a sense of security to the mayor.
The mayor relaxed after hearing this.
As Glen walked back to Baiyek, lost in thought about what to have for dinner, he kept an eye on his surroundings. The road became more and more remote, and the few people he had seen earlier gradually disappeared. Eventually, a figure appeared in the distance, unfamiliar yet vaguely familiar to Glen.
Slowing his pace, Glen watched the figure carefully. Could it be another monster?
Remaining calm, he walked closer, and as the figure came into focus, Glen recognized the familiar scent of Baiyek, which suggested the man might be a resident there, though the original owner had never met him.
The man was dressed in dark gray robes, with a peculiar headscarf covering his head. His skin was dark, his eyes heavy with dark circles, and his face was stern, giving off a no-nonsense vibe.
As Glen neared him, he saw a figure lying on the ground beside the man, hidden in the grass. Approaching, he realized it was a body.
"Sir, are you from Baiyek?" Glen asked cautiously.
The man glanced at him, expressionless, and nodded slightly.
"Did you kill him?" Glen asked in a low voice.
The man shook his head.
What's going on here? Glen thought, confused.