"It's not easy to make friends in this special town, is it?" Glen couldn't help but joke, seeing Aina's flustered expression.
"I think so too. After being here so long, I almost forgot how to talk," Aina replied, seemingly enjoying the conversation. She was eager to engage, showing an unusual level of enthusiasm for Glen's questions.
"So, how long have you and your brother been living here? Do you know much about the town?" Glen returned to his carpentry work, though the chat didn't stop him from continuing the conversation.
After a brief pause, Aina tilted her head and thought for a moment before answering, "My brother and I have probably been here for over a hundred years… Hmm, I can't quite remember."
Glen froze for a moment but quickly resumed his task, trying not to show any surprise. He spoke casually, "That's quite a long time. I'd say you're practically old residents by now."
Aina seemed to disagree with the idea of being "old residents." She shook her head lightly. "I don't think we're old residents, Mr. Glen. The real old residents never appear at the edges of town."
Glen looked up, his expression caught between surprise and intrigue. "That's unexpected. It seems this town is much more mysterious than I thought."
Aina giggled softly, clearly pleased by Glen's reaction. "Hehe... That's what a friendly local told us. Well, compared to the others, he was very friendly. He said the old residents are more like family. They sleep in the town center, and we rarely see them. It's said they do so to avoid hurting anyone, and to keep the mayor company."
Upon hearing this, Glen felt that giving Aina the folding table had been well worth it. He was silent for a while, then spoke sincerely, "Thank you for telling me all this. I wouldn't have known where to find out otherwise."
Aina seemed happy at his gratitude, spinning around once in delight. "I'm happy to share! I don't even remember the last time I spoke to anyone other than my brother."
"It's my honor," Glen replied with a smile.
And so, while Glen worked on his woodcraft, the puppet girl Aina chattered away nearby. The two shared stories, from Aina's century-long experiences in the town to amusing anecdotes about her travels with her brother. They conversed well into the evening.
During their talk, Glen also learned more about the town. For instance, the strange, nightmarish creatures that roamed the dark were actually the mayor's pets and posed no harm to the residents.
"Aiya! It's already dark! We've talked too long!" Aina suddenly exclaimed, realizing the time.
"Sorry, Mr. Glen, I have to go. My brother's going to scold me for sneaking out. Goodbye..." With that, Aina turned to leave.
But Glen, sensing an opportunity for mischief, said, "No need to rush. Your brother has already arrived."
Aina froze, not quite understanding the implication, but then a familiar voice cut through the air, causing her expression to fall.
"Aina, I'm really disappointed in you."
A tall, lanky figure emerged from the shadows—Palindes, the one who resembled a matchstick man, spoke directly to Aina, but his eyes were on Glen.
"I'm sorry, Palindes. I was just bored staying at home…" Aina lowered her head, her apology sincere.
Palindes opened his mouth, but ultimately sighed. "Let's go back."
Aina immediately lifted her skirts and began walking home, but Palindes didn't move right away. Instead, he turned to Glen, who had been quietly working. "Thank you for keeping Aina company. It's been a long time since I've seen her that happy."
Glen casually tossed the wood in his hands aside and looked at Palindes with a playful tone. "I thought you were going to say something like 'stay away from my sister'."
Palindes' fists tightened, an instinctive urge to strike rising, but he restrained himself and spoke calmly, "I can tell right from wrong, strange kid."
With that, Palindes turned and left.
Glen watched them go, a silent smile curling on his lips. This world is certainly interesting...
The Next Day
After a hearty breakfast, Glen secured several of the wooden items he had crafted the previous day onto a cart. Once the load was secure, he released the large deer, intending for it to pull the cart.
The deer seemed used to the people and environment here, showing little resistance to Glen's touch. After feeding it some grass, Glen attached the cart to the deer and, seeing it was compliant, breathed a sigh of relief.
With a confident air, he took on the role of cart driver, guiding the "deer cart" forward. The pace wasn't fast, but it was much more efficient than walking.
As he relaxed in the cart, Glen enjoyed the rare experience of being a driver, finding the task surprisingly enjoyable.
However, the journey didn't remain smooth for long.
Just outside the Beyerk region, Glen was stopped by a group of armored individuals. At their head was a man in noble knight armor, clearly of much higher rank than the others.
"Kid, you've angered a noble! Lord Channis demands that I bring you back. Get down and come with me!" the man said, his hand already resting on his sword, a clear threat in his tone.
"Lord Channis?" Glen raised an eyebrow, suddenly recalling, "Oh, that's the one with the curly-haired, teddy bear-looking pet, right?"
Barbel, the man, narrowed his eyes. "How dare you speak so disrespectfully to a noble!"
The private soldiers around him immediately drew their weapons, the sunlight flashing off the blades and nearly blinding Glen.
Barbel assumed the young man would be intimidated by their aggressive display, but Glen remained unfazed, his demeanor calm as ever, as if the show of force were merely for show.
Glen glanced back at the cart, his mind weighed down by the decision. Should he just go along with them and deal with this so-called noble, or should he fight them off?
He was more inclined to go with them, though he was reluctant to leave his items behind.
After a long moment of deliberation, Glen decided he'd take the chance.
"Fine, I'll come with you, but I need to hide my stuff first."
Glen pointed at his cart with the furniture.
Barbel's eyes narrowed, initially about to retort with an insult. Who was this lowly commoner to make demands?
But seeing Glen's unflinching composure and knowing he hailed from a strange place like Beyerk, Barbel wisely nodded in agreement.
With all eyes on him, Glen moved the cart to a secluded corner behind some rocks. He tied the deer to a nearby tree and made sure everything was hidden, before following the group of soldiers back on foot.
The soldiers all rode on horses, while Glen was left to walk.
He didn't mind, though. He'd deal with things when the time came.
At Lord Channis' Estate
Lord Channis was in the midst of a pleasant conversation in his garden with a guest. The guest, dressed in fine noble clothing, sported a well-groomed mustache and a melodramatic manner of speaking. The two shared a hearty laugh as they sipped wine, clearly enjoying each other's company.