My Demons

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

The cool morning air greeted me as I set out on my walk.

South Harbors morning had a refreshing quality to it, unlike what one might expect from a bustling harbor city. Instead of the usual salty sea breeze, a gentle northern wind carried the scent of distant forests.

With a light bag slung over my shoulder, it felt as if I were embarking on a leisurely morning hike. Walking alongside the fortress, it briefly reminded me of the time I traversed the Seoul circuit trail back in my world.

Of course, the fortress in South Harbor was made of neatly stacked brick, with a bronze hue from baking, in stark contrast to the massive granite and gneiss blocks of Hanyang Fortress. The tense atmosphere of a city under siege was palpable, with red stains scattered about and soldiers maintaining a watchful gaze from the fortress walls.

Despite the tense ambiance, I took a deep breath, letting the refreshing air fill my lungs. It invigorated me, as if awakening my consciousness.

But, for some reason, I felt an unsettling gaze upon me.

The source of that gaze was the repaired wand holder, or rather, the porter.

Instead of retorting with my usual What are you looking at? I greeted her with a smile.

Hey, you should try taking deep breaths too. Its quite refreshing, you know?

One should find contentment in things as they are. Forcing oneself to thirst and seek more might disturb the delicate balance.

In her serious tone, Ellen, burdened with a backpack larger than her own body, explained, her eyes still swollen.

Whether its magic, martial arts, politics, or academics maintaining balance is crucial.

Oh, is that so?

Yes. So, you should also practice regular meditation, self-observation, and learn how to maintain balance, ah.

Unable to resist the urge, I reached out to pinch her cheek, although there wasnt much flesh to grasp

Ah, hey!

Ellen, her cheek pinched, scowled and yelped. Then, when I released my grip, she raised her slender legs and playfully kicked the air.

Ha, her reactions are truly remarkable.

Ah!

Yes, thats right. Even someone who maintains balance well ended up having a rough day?

Ellen bit her lower lip, swatted my arm, and shouted with a flushed face.

I told you not to do that!

Whoa, youre full of energy. Are you feeling completely better now?

Ugh, annoying.

Then, she abruptly turned her head away.

Well, I wonder if shes actually grateful. At least the whining has subsided a bit. It makes me feel somewhat proud.

Just then, as if irritated by our bickering, cloaked travelers huddled in an alley across from the fortress began to stir and grumble.

Hey, whats all this noise at the crack of dawn?!

Keep your voices down as you pass by

Are these people out of their minds? Do they think this is their bedroom or something? I should report them to the guards the next time I come across one of them, these homeless rascals.

Speaking of which, the number of travelers who resemble homeless individuals has increased significantly in recent days.

With the prolonged blockade of the city, travelers who had been staying in South Harbor found themselves falling into destitution. Most prices, including the cost of food, have skyrocketed, and the residents are struggling to make ends meet. Without a stable base in this place, travelers, mercenaries, and peddlers can quickly exhaust their supplies.

The Bells & Whistles Inn was no exception. Despite halving their room rates as the cost of meals soared, they had no guests.

Even last night, I had a four-person room all to myself. The same went for Ellen.

One of the other 4-person rooms was completely closed off, and the remaining rooms only had two merchants left.

The situation seemed quite dire.

To make matters worse, the Grania gang had left the inn, claiming they had been commissioned by the lord. They planned to stay at the barracks near the Salt Castle.

I couldnt help but wonder if my altercation with Gillius had played a role in their departure.

Lets hurry and go.

With that thought in mind, I quickened my pace alongside Ellen. I didnt want to waste any time and attract unnecessary attention.

Not only did I need to progress the scenario, but it seemed that we might soon find ourselves on the streets, just like those guys. The urgency of the situation compelled me to hasten.

All I had left were a few silver pieces and six pennies. If I didnt want to end up homeless, I had to find a way to make money, no matter what!

Sigh, what a mess.

It was rare to feel so financially strained in a game where basic necessities like eating and sleeping were hardly a concern.

The level of realism was suffocating.

At that moment, Ellen and I stood before the entrance to the sewer.

The entrance was connected to the north wall, resembling a small brick-built bathroom.

As an idiot, I held a round shield and the lantern, leaving no hand free to cover my nose. Thus, the smell of the dirty water flowing freely invaded my nostrils without restraint.

Sewage from the city, unidentifiable animal carcasses, mysterious stains on the wallsvarious forms of filth emitted a putrid odor.

On the first basement floor, there were quite a few patrolling guards and scattered torches. Heavy doors were even installed at the stairs leading to the lower levels to prevent animals from entering.

But here, on the second basement floor, it was different.

No traces of human presence could be found.

The trickling of water and the sound of droplets hitting the ground, the scuttling of multi-legged creatures, the squeaks of mice, and the occasional eerie groan resembling a distant scream

Amidst these sounds, the space felt unnervingly quiet.

At least there were two sets of footsteps. If it had been just mine it would have been quite unnerving.

Hey, but

Just as I was about to say something, the bulls-eye lantern illuminated a murky figure.

The blocked light revealed a human-shaped shadow. A person lying on their side, back turned to us.

Ellen.

Stay alert.

Her voice was barely audible, making it hard to discern whether Ellen was calm or frightened.

However, a quick glance confirmed that she had her crossbow aimed and ready.

That provided some reassurance. After all, she had been practicing diligently.

Ill go and check it out. Keep watch.

Okay.

I carefully set down my backpack and placed the lantern on top of it. Making sure to keep the area illuminated, I prepared myself.

Shring.

The sound of a weapon being unsheathed echoed ominously.

Moving with stealth, I maintained a firm posture. My intention was to approach quietly and get a closer look at the figure.

The spot where the unidentified person lay was a junction in the sewera hub where multiple sewer lines converged, resembling the center of a wheel. It marked the first branching point after descending to the second floor, following a long and solitary path.

After assessing the surroundings and scrutinizing the area, I noticed a long, damp, leather-like sack next to the person.

What could that be?

Closing in to within 4-5 meters of the figure

Splash.

Damn, I must have stepped into a puddle in a slightly shadowed area. As I prepared to take another step, a creaking sound filled the air, and the personor rather, the corpsesuddenly turned over.

Ugh, holy shit!

Startled, I instinctively jumped back.

The lanterns light illuminated the corpse. Its abdomen had been torn open, with all its organs devoured. The creature responsible for the gruesome feast now stared at me, emitting grotesque barks.

The object I initially mistook for a wet leather sack turned out to be a dung beetle!

With countless legs, a dark brown shell, and a circular mouth filled with sharp teeth, the creature stood on its elongated body.

Holy, its huge

Indeed, it was enormous. The height of its upright head reached my waist.

And like most arthropods, its size made it revoltingly repulsive.

Ew.

A shiver ran through my body as it lunged towards me, the tapping sound of its many pairs of legs resounding in the air.

I wasnt necessarily afraid, but the sheer disgust made me want to flee.

However, the power coursing through my hand, the adrenaline surging through my veins, and the combat experience I had gained on the battlefield prevented me from retreating.

From the depths of instinct, a voice erupted, reminding me that there was no reason to fear a mere bug.

Yes, it was just a slightly, no, significantly larger bug! Just a minor enemy in the game!

With my retreat halted, I stood my ground.

Thud!

A sharp noise reverberated from behind, accompanied by the sound of a taut cord being released. Then

Thwack!

Ugh.

Damn it, Ellens shot landed right in my butt!