The Demon King is unfathomable

Chapter 636 Activating the War Machine

The salty sea breeze swept through the harbor of Thunder City.

The porter, Pete, tightened his jacket and yawned as usual, preparing to welcome the first batch of merchant ships to dock that morning.

He was a well-known hard worker at this dock, always managing to snag the lucrative and easy jobs.

However, when he rubbed his frozen hands and arrived at his familiar berth, he was surprised to find that someone had gotten up earlier than him that day.

The port, which should have been sleeping in the morning mist, was already bustling with people.

The berths were even more crowded, with the piers extending into the waves now filled with steamships flying imperial flags.

"By Saint Sith, what... what's going on?"

Pete muttered something under his breath.

He wondered if he was still half asleep, so he rubbed his eyes hard to see more clearly, but the scene that came into view only confused him more.

The usual lively atmosphere that permeated the port had vanished, replaced by a suffocating sense of desolation.

The entire Ottoman army was marching down the wide gangway in perfect unison.

They wore crisp uniforms, carried marching packs and standard Ottoman muskets on their backs, and their boots clattered powerfully on the dew-covered stone bricks.

On several heavy steamships not far away, Pete saw a scene that he would never forget.

One after another, all sorts of lizardmen, carrying a variety of weapons, jumped off the deck.

Some of them held specially made rifles, while others carried huge battle axes or spears as tall as three people.

Although the lizardmen of the continent of Gana had been coming and going from the port of Thunder City before, it was unprecedented for ships to arrive one after another like this.

Even when the signatories of the previous Holy Covenant declared war on the rat-man clan in the Ten Thousand Ren Mountains, there was no such spectacle!

Foreign faces suddenly appeared in the bustling commercial port of Thunder City.

Although the arrival of these strangers did not diminish the port's prosperity, Pete still sensed a heavy sense of oppression.

I have a feeling...

Something big is about to happen.

……

As it turned out, the experienced dockworker's hunch was spot on.

The Thunder City Daily, printed that morning, published the news that the Duchy of Campbell had concluded a military passage agreement with the Empire.

The accompanying photo not only features Edward and Baron Adair, but also Prince Colin.

The newspaper did not explain in detail why the Os Empire chose to pass through Thunder City, nor the role Prince Colin played in this matter; clearly, the newspaper's reporters had not found out much information either.

However, anyone could sense from those subtle clues that the shadow of war was silently approaching...

It wasn't just the port that suddenly became busy.

Long before the Empire's warships arrived, the new industrial zone not far from the port area was already operating non-stop.

In that noisy and bustling urban area, rows of red brick chimneys soared into the clouds, ceaselessly spewing thick smoke into the gray sky day and night.

To cope with the sudden surge in military orders, all factories went into three-shift operation. The sounds of gears meshing and steam-powered forging hammers became the only main melody along the rushing river.

Initially, the intense rush to produce caused many workers to complain endlessly, and their tired grumbling could often be heard in the workshop.

However, when the factory manager threw a heavy purse on the table and announced in an inspiring tone that overtime pay would be doubled starting today, all the complaints vanished.

It's clear that the Empire has invested heavily in these orders.

Stimulated by the silver pound, all the industrial workers in Thunder City were on high alert and devoted themselves to production.

In the workshop of the Punk Armory, gleaming new copper-cased bullets poured into wooden crates like a waterfall, were loaded onto horse-drawn carts by porters, and were transported one after another to the nearby freight railway station.

Thousands of Roxay rifles and shells for the new breech-loading cannons were also sent to the train station.

On the train station platform, the piercing sound of train whistles rose and fell.

Trains laden with munitions spewed scalding white smoke as they departed one after another, carrying the sweat of the Thunder City workers northward.

No one knows where these weapons will be sent.

But one thing is certain: this time, the Duchy's enemy is probably different from the past, and even the Empire must take it seriously...

Night finally fell.

The pubs along the streets of the new industrial zone were packed with workers who had just finished their early shifts.

Many of them have been working twelve-hour shifts, from before dawn to after dark, and they just want to have a drink before bed to relax their tired nerves and fall asleep as soon as possible.

The deafening noise in the workshop was almost puncturing their eardrums, to the point that they now had to shout to speak.

A burly man with a full head of ash raised a wooden glass filled with beer and shouted excitedly at the bustling bar.

"A salute to our generous boss, and a salute to those blind rebels in the north! Thanks to those reckless bastards, I earned more silver pounds in the past week than I did in a month last year!"

The waiter sitting next to him laughed and joked.

"Don't let the soldiers of the Ottoman Empire hear you. If they know you're showing respect to their opponent, they'll probably get angry with you."

The burly man curled his lip and said disdainfully.

"Ha, so what if they heard? If I were their superior, I would definitely order them to behave! If they don't want to find sand in their bullets when they get to the front lines, they'd better not offend the people who helped them tinker with their bullets!"

This remark drew a burst of laughter.

"Haha! Gerry, if you dare to put sand in your bullets, I bet your boss will chop you up first!"

"Exactly! You can't even get past the supervisor!"

The burly man's face turned red, and he was momentarily embarrassed. He could only pick up his wine glass and take a big gulp to dodge the question.

Although most of the people around them were just teasing, one thing was undeniable.

That is, the psychological disadvantage that Campbell originally had when facing the Imperials has disappeared without him even realizing it.

Whether it was because of the envious looks they received when they looked towards Thunder City, or because of their gradually bulging wallets, they were now able to speak with their heads held high.

The Imperials are nothing special; their hour, converted to silver pounds, is no different from that of the Campbellians.

They are all human beings. As long as they are doing the same work, there is no question of whose time is more valuable or whose time is less valuable.

Since Edward Campbell took office, even these humble people can now look at guests who have come from afar on equal footing.

Even though most people are unaware of these changes happening quietly.

The conversation in the tavern shifted quickly, changing from overtime pay to the rebellion in the Northern Wastes in just two minutes.

The atmosphere in the tavern became even more lively when the topic of the sudden rebellion came up. The drunkards sitting at the bar were arguing heatedly, their faces red with anger, almost ready to start a fight over the question of "who exactly were the weapons they produced meant to teach a lesson to?"

"Those damned mages finally got their comeuppance!"

"Serves these bastards who use living people as medicine fodder deserve it! I just hope they don't die too quickly! I hope they take a few more bullets!"

The vast majority of people firmly believed that these military supplies were being transported to the northern wastelands to deal with those mages who treated human life like dirt.

However, some people have mentioned the name Huangtongguan with concern.

Previously, adventurers returning from the Distant Mountain Province brought news of the High Mountain Kingdom, saying that bad news had come from the Copper Pass.

Unlike the fantastical rumors of the past.

This time, the wolf might really be coming...

……

Unlike the taverns where people were filled with unease, the wealthy district of Thunder City was currently immersed in a decadent and extravagant revelry.

Many people made a fortune because of this sudden war.

It wasn't just the military factory that made a fortune; Biddle, the owner of the only airship sightseeing company in Thunder City, also profited immensely.

His business seems to have nothing to do with the military industry, but that's not actually the case.

At this moment, Biddle was sitting behind his desk, looking at the report in his hands with a delighted expression, turning the thin pages over and over again.

Just two weeks ago, his airship company was on the verge of collapse, barely covering loan interest expenses with meager ticket revenue and advertising fees paid by the Horace Group.

Although new things are born in Thunder City every day, not all new things are quickly accepted by people.

Especially with balloons that fly higher than clock towers, very few people dare to put themselves on them.

If they only wanted to see the sunrise and sunset, they could simply buy a ticket for one silver pound and go to the top of the clock tower to watch them.

Just when Biddle was questioning his life, an unexpected piece of news saved his company from bankruptcy.

With the situation at the front lines critical, the empire urgently needs a means of transportation capable of transporting supplies and personnel over long distances on a large scale to fill the gap at Brass Pass.

With twenty airships and hundreds of "crew members" at his disposal, he almost immediately became a hot commodity in the eyes of the Os Empire.

When he saw the lease terms offered by the quartermaster of the Ottoman Empire, Biddle was so excited that he wanted to kowtow to the man.

He struggled to suppress the urge to burst out laughing, and made a difficult decision before finally signing his name on the document.

With the agreement reached, all the airships in his possession were leased to the Empire for a fee of 1000 gold coins per ship per year!
This money is only for the rental fee; the salaries of the airship crew, as well as the fuel and magic crystals consumed by the airship, are all borne by the Empire.

If any battle damage occurs during transport and resupply, the Imperial Logistics Department will compensate the victim at ten times the annual rental fee!

Keep in mind that a brand-new civilian transport airship costs only 3000 gold coins, which is equivalent to 30 to 40 million copper pounds!

What he's renting out isn't an airship, it's clearly a money printing machine that spews out gold coins!

Biddle thought these guys must be crazy.

Unfortunately, he didn't know what numbers the quartermaster had reported to the rear, otherwise he would have had a heart attack on the spot...

Just as Biddle was thanking Saint Sis for his favor, Horace, who was in his office at the department store, excitedly opened a bottle of champagne and poured a glass for each of his two capable subordinates.

"Elsie, and Ruhr, you two are my lucky stars! My good luck hasn't stopped since I met you!"

One was the manager of the Horace textile mill, and the other was the manager of the Horace department store; he had personally discovered both of these talents.

He's increasingly impressed with his own eye for talent, able to spot these good guys in a crowd at a glance!

Looking at the boss pouring them drinks, Elsie and Ruhr, holding their glasses, exchanged a bewildered glance.

"What's wrong, boss?"

"What... has made you so excited?"

They could probably guess why their boss was happy, but they didn't understand why he was so happy.

The orders from the Os Empire did indeed boost the development of the textile industry in Thunder City to some extent, but the main beneficiaries were actually their boss's competitors—those textile factories that produced medical bandages and winter coats.

Today, Horace Textile Mills mainly produces clothes with less fabric.

For example, the fashions that are popular right now.

As for those orders that are relatively less "technically demanding," it would be difficult for them to take them on with their current production lines; they can only watch others enjoy them with great success.

However, Senator Horace did not think so.

This guy's thinking has always been different from others, especially when it comes to making money.

"Airship! Airship! Remember that deal we struck with Biddle? We rented the skies over Thunder City for less than 80 gold coins, so that everyone in the city can see Miss Eloise and the Horace style she's wearing whenever they look up!"

Seeing her boss spitting as he spoke, the quick-witted Elsie immediately realized what was going on, and her eyes lit up.

"I understand what you mean, boss! You mean... this is a great opportunity to enter the market of the Os Empire!"

Upon hearing this, Ruhr's eyes lit up, and he was so excited that he almost dropped the champagne in his hand.

"I see! The Empire's airships will fly over all the camps along the Wanren Mountain Range. If we can get the advertisements on them, lizardmen from all over the continent of Os and even the continent of Gana... will be able to see the name of the Horace Group as soon as they look up!"

Elsie, whose mind had been opened, immediately picked up on his words and continued excitedly.

"That's not all! These young men will return to their hometown one day! They will take this name back and tell their wives, mothers, and neighbors!"

Horace was stunned.

To be honest, he really hadn't thought that far ahead.

He just thought that these young men from the Empire might find a girlfriend or something in the local area, and they would definitely take their girlfriends shopping. Maybe they would wander into the Horace Group's department store and reach for the shelves contracted by the Horace Textile Factory.

As for entering the imperial market...

This idea sounds interesting!

Although Horace's textile mill has now expanded its products to various parts of the northeastern coast of the Whirlpool Sea, it is still a drop in the ocean compared to the vast Imperial market.

If he can seize this opportunity to open up the market in the Ottoman Empire, his career will undoubtedly reach a new level!
Horace's breathing quickened as he thought about this, and his voice became distorted with excitement.

"Yes! That's exactly what I meant! You guys really... understand me so well! Haha!"

Elsie gave an embarrassed smile and nodded modestly.

"It is my honor to serve you."

“Me too, sir, but I also have another question, which is the Empire’s opinion,” Ruhr cautiously raised his concerns, “Would they agree to keep the advertisements on those airships and let them carry Miss Eloise’s smile to the front lines?”

Horace smiled slightly and said confidently.

"I bet they don't have time to change the decorations on the airships. That paint is hard to remove, and covering it with a cloth would just be a nuisance! Besides, these airships are mainly used for transporting supplies to the rear and won't be sent to the front lines, so keeping the airships' appearance shouldn't have any impact!"

“That’s right, that’s what I think too! But just to be on the safe side, we should still talk to Mr. Biddle,” Elsie nodded vigorously, her eyes gleaming with shrewdness. “Our contract with him is still valid, and if he doesn’t want to pay the penalty for breach of contract, he’ll definitely be willing to do his part… As long as we can get the officials in charge of the Imperial logistics system on our side, we can even put our advertisements on all the airships that transport supplies!”

Horace, having put down his champagne, slammed his hand on the table and gave his two men a thumbs-up.

"Let's do it this way!"

Just do it.

Horace immediately took his most capable assistant, Elsie, and rode in a carriage to Biddle's airship sightseeing company.

Unfortunately, this guy, who was even more greedy than him, also stayed at the company until dark and hadn't gone home by 8 p.m.

The two opened another bottle of champagne in Biddle's office and finalized the next phase of their collaboration.

Although adding a zero to the original advertising fee made Horace feel a little pained, the thought that all cargo airships heading to the front lines would be printed with Horace Group advertisements suddenly made him feel less pained.

Consider it an investment in the future.

……

Outside Maitian Village, on a snow-covered country road, a ragged figure walks slowly but resolutely forward.

He was wearing an old cloak stained with black blood and mud, his left arm was tied to his chest with coarse cloth, and his right hand was leaning on a tree branch that had been broken off from somewhere as a cane.

People who saw him along the way mistook him for a beggar and kept their distance, afraid of getting involved with him.

It wasn't until he walked into the wheat field village based on his memory that anyone recognized his disheveled face.

I'm ashamed to admit it.

Standing outside the village, Gunter almost didn't recognize the village he had once protected.

It was the farmer who was repairing the fence who recognized his face first, and his jaw almost dropped to the ground.

"You are... Lord Gaunt?"

Looking up at Gunter standing at the gate, the farmer subconsciously stopped what he was doing, frozen in place, oblivious to the nails he was holding scattering all over the ground.

Seeing the farmer's astonished expression, Gaunt's lips twitched slightly, forcing a smile from his stiff face. "You've seen something shameful."

The farmer quickly replied.

"What are you saying! Saint Sith above... How did you get injured like this? Come in quickly, let me take a look at your wounds!"

"No need. Take me to find Euryn, if he's still in this village."

“Eurien? You mean your apprentice? Ha, he’s always been here! Your inn is doing very well these days, we’ve been getting a lot of guests from the Duchy of Campbell lately. Besides the lord’s castle, it’s the only place in the entire Sparrowwood Territory that can accommodate guests…”

As the farmer spoke, he stepped out of the yard to lead the way for Gaunt.

But when he saw the wounds on Gunter's body, he was still a little scared and couldn't help but say another word.

"Um... are you sure your injury is alright? Should I change your bandage first?"

"Need not."

Gunter shook his head and said bluntly.

"My wounds have healed; what's left are internal injuries, and you can't be of much help with that."

He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Besides, I've been doing this all along... so what's a few more steps?"

Upon hearing this, the farmer stopped insisting and simply nodded.

"Okay! Then please come with me!"

Gantt nodded his thanks and followed the farmer toward the village.

On the way to the hotel, he looked around while listening to the farmer rambling on about the changes in the village over the past two years.

The changes here are indeed quite significant; otherwise, he wouldn't have needed to stop and ask for directions to find out where he lived.

When he left, the village was a desolate wasteland, ravaged by disaster. The villagers lived in fear and unease, all shrouded in the shadow of the court.

However, the situation is different now.

Along the cobblestone country lanes stand newly built fences and whitewashed farmhouses. And behind the wisps of smoke rising from their chimneys, there is a brand-new little church.

Not just churches.

Not far from the church, there was a square enclosed by a wooden fence, behind which was a row of houses. Judging from the plaques hanging on those houses, this seemed to be the church school of Wheatfield Village.

Children chased and played in the square, while an elderly nun sat on a bench in front of the door, basking in the sun with an open textbook on her lap.

Gunter squinted for a while, until the gaze from that direction fell on him, then he subtly looked away.

"...By the way, sir, where is your sword? The greatsword that's as wide as my front door?"

The farmer leading the way gestured to him as if he were holding a sword with both hands, and then swung it forward like a fishing rod.

Although he knew his fellow countryman meant no harm, Gunter's expression was still somewhat stiff.

"It's broken."

The farmer paused for a moment, then muttered something under his breath.

"It's broken? Well... that sword must have been quite expensive."

"Ah."

Gangte nodded, not wanting to continue the topic, and thus killed the conversation with a single sentence.

"We need to redo it."

……

We finally arrived at the hotel.

Although the entire Wheatfield Village has changed, the "Rock Inn" remains the same as it was when he left.

When he pushed the door open, the young man behind the counter was wiping cups.

The young man was about seventeen or eighteen years old, with short brown hair, and his shoulders were much broader than before.

It was clear that he had not neglected his training after I left and was still practicing swordsmanship.

Gunter was pleased.

Although many people might despair and think that honing swordsmanship is a waste of time and that only extraordinary power can determine strength, he doesn't think so.

Besides, soul levels are something that mortals cannot see. How can you know if you're not cut out for it if you don't try?

Doing something to the extreme is itself one of the ways to create a legend.

That's how he himself comprehended the power of the domain and stepped into the realm of demigods.

Just as Gaunt was sizing up his beloved apprentice, his dear apprentice Euryn finally noticed him as well.

The young man froze for a moment, and the cup he was holding fell to the bar with a "clang" and rolled to the floor.

Without picking up the cup, he flipped over the bar in the lobby and rushed to his master in a few quick steps.

"Master! What happened to you?! Who hurt you like this?!"

His voice trembled with shock, and his eyes were filled with concern.

Gunter reached out and patted the young man on the shoulder, forcing a smile onto his face.

"Don't make a fuss, I'm still alive..."

After saying this, he looked at the farmer behind him and nodded his thanks.

"Thank you."

The farmer quickly waved his hand.

"You're welcome! My name is Mil. If you need any help, just let me know. Please don't hesitate to ask! Of course, I'm referring to farm work... Fighting is out of the question, I'm afraid I'll hold you back."

Looking at that smirking face, Gunter smiled and nodded.

"Okay, Mir, I'll remember your name."

Upon hearing that the Sword Saint had remembered his name, the farmer's face lit up with pride, and he puffed out his chest with smug satisfaction.

He said goodbye again before leaving the hotel.

Turning his gaze away from the farmer's retreating figure, Gaunt turned to Euryn, whose face was filled with worry, and ruffled his fluffy hair.

"Okay, stop staring at me like that... Is there anything to eat? Get me something to eat."

Yurien opened his mouth, but in the end he didn't say anything, swallowed his words, and turned to shout towards the kitchen.

"Kurt, bring up a stew! And bread and wine! The best of everything!"

A kind and honest voice drifted in from behind the kitchen door curtain.

"Okay, boss!"

Gunter found a table and sat down, placing the hilt of his sword, wrapped in strips of cloth, on it.

That was his only luggage.

As for the wooden stick from before, he had already thrown it outside the door and didn't bring it into the hotel.

Not long after, the chubby young man who was busy in the kitchen brought out the stew.

The iron pot was bubbling and steaming, and you could see chunks of potatoes and carrots in the thick broth. Large pieces of mutton were stewed until tender.

This is a local delicacy in the Twilight Province. It probably contains pine nuts and butter, and its aroma is irresistible.

Gunter, who hadn't had a proper meal in a long time, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it, and put it in his mouth, chewing and swallowing it along with the bread.

He closed his eyes and sensed it for a while; at that moment, he had only one feeling in his mind—

It's good to be alive.

Although he had long since seen through life and death, every time he faced a life-or-death test, the delicious food he had eaten during his adventures would come to mind.

Then, he didn't want to die anymore.

"It's been a long time since I've had anything this decent," Gunter remarked, dipping his bread in the broth, trying a different way of eating it this time.

Euryn sat opposite him, his hands gripping his knees, his gaze shifting between his master's injured left arm and the hilt of the sword on the table. Finally, he could no longer restrain himself.

"Master, your arm..."

“Something’s happened at Brass Pass,” Gunter said, scooping up a potato with a spoon and stuffing it into his mouth.

Euryn awaited the next installment.

Gunter finished chewing his food and glanced around. Seeing that no one else was in the lobby, he lowered his voice and spoke.

"The barrier was breached; it was Dolrich who did it. The entire Brass Pass collapsed like an avalanche, and ogres poured in through the breach like a flood... I tried to stop them, but there were too many of them. I could only cover the retreat of the remaining defenders. Salut Copperhelm should have already led his brothers to the High Mountain Kingdom. I hope they survived."

Euryn's expression changed completely.

"The Brass Pass... is over?"

"It's over."

Gunter scooped another spoonful of stew into the wooden bowl, his expression not changing much.

However, his expressionless face didn't seem like he was indifferent; rather, it was more like he had become numb to the series of bad news that followed.

"That……"

"To be honest, I don't know what to do either. Perhaps the war will soon reach here."

Looking at Yurien, who seemed hesitant to speak, Gaunt remained silent for a moment, his gaze drifting to the cracked hilt of the sword on the table. "I've wielded the sword my whole life and have never been defeated in swordsmanship. Yet that guy shattered everything I was so proud of with just three strikes... Perhaps, I really am getting old."

Euryn's Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

"What's his name?"

“Vaughn”.

Gunter paused, a rare hint of gloom crossing his resolute face.

"That guy gave me his name at the end, and I felt... that sentence wasn't meant for me."

Yurien stared at his master in astonishment, unable to imagine that there could be someone more powerful than his master in this world.

"Could it be... that you're overthinking it? Maybe he was just saying it to you—"

Gunter shook his head, interrupting him.

"After I retreated, he left me with a message, telling me to tell Colin his name..."

"Colin?!" Euryn braced himself on the table, rising from his chair in surprise. "Is it that Colin?! His Highness Colin?"

Seeing his apprentice's surprised reaction, Gunter paused for a moment, his brows furrowing slightly.

"You know him?"

“It’s more than just knowing him… ah, of course, that prince doesn’t know me.” Yurien scratched the back of his head and sat back down in his chair, feeling embarrassed.

Faced with his master's questioning gaze, he coughed lightly and continued.

"You haven't been back for far too long. Now everyone in the Twilight Province knows the name of that prince. By the way, you should have actually met him. The one who confronted the avatar of the Claw of Eternal Hunger outside Twilight City was that prince!"

I have some recollection of Gunter, though not much.

He only remembered that the person seemed to be a magician, and his strength should be that of a high-level transcendent being, but he didn't know the exact level.

After all, at that time, His Highness was merely confronting the avatar of the Eternal Hunger Claw, buying time for the angels to descend upon St. Clement's Cathedral, without directly engaging in combat with it.

On the contrary, it was the brave young lady who was with him who left a deep impression on him.

"Is he strong?" Gaunt asked.

“I don’t know! I’m not sure about his strength! But everything you saw outside is related to that prince! For example, the village church school, the New Testament church, and the orphanage… Although those houses were built by Miss Saint’s followers, it is said that the money they used was donated to them by Prince Colin!”

When it came to His Highness Colin, Euryn went on and on, mostly praising him.

Of course, he had never actually met the prince; he had mostly heard these things from travelers coming and going.

Gunter listened attentively without interrupting.

He spoke only after Euryn had finished speaking.

Do you know where he is?

Euryn stroked his chin and pondered for a while.

"I heard he's near Twilight City, in a place called Gravit. He has a manor there, I think it's called... Spruce Manor?"

Gunther nodded, scooped the last bit of soup from the pot into a bowl, and ate it with the last piece of bread.

After eating and drinking his fill, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, pushed back his chair, and stood up.

"I'm going to find him."

If that prince truly possesses power that makes Karmandes wary, perhaps he is the only way to deal with that Black Knight.

Seeing Gaunt getting up to leave, Yurien froze and hurriedly stood up.

"Master, are you serious?! Your injuries—"

"This injury is nothing serious. I was just hungry and a little tired."

Gunter shook his head, stopping Euryn from trying to persuade him to stay, and placed his large hand on Euryn's shoulder.

"Wait for me here—"

"No! Master, you said the same thing last time, and you came back looking like this. Of course, I'm not trying to persuade you to stay, but at least please take me with you! You're so badly injured and don't know the way. With me by your side, at least I can take care of you!"

This time, Yurien disobeyed his master and, unusually, showed a determined attitude.

Looking into those determined eyes, Gunter paused for a moment, his gaze unconsciously drifting towards the hotel.

"But--"

As if guessing what he was going to say, Euryn shouted towards the kitchen.

"Kut! This hotel is yours! Don't forget your promise to me: I hope that when I return, this place will still be exactly as I left it!"

soon.

That round face peeked out from the kitchen again, this time carrying a package in its greasy hands.

Those are packed luggage.

"Don't worry about it, boss. You can go on your adventure with peace of mind! It's okay if you don't come back!"

"Fuck off!"

Taking the luggage from the waiter, Euryn laughed and cursed, then looked smugly at his master, his face saying, "See, I knew this day would come."

Gunter stared in surprise at his now-grown apprentice, then a relieved smile spread across his face.

"Okay, I'll take you with me."

(End of this chapter)