DUNGEON CREATOR
Ch.23
After walking for sometimes from the Baron mansion Sora tried to reach the western gate and somehow she ends up in some unknown alley while thinking ‘Damn, this city layout is complicated’ trying to find the main road while feeling some stare from her surrounding and when she tried to look back to the group of people that’s been staring at her, she caught a familiar face leaning on a wall staring something in his hand.
“Hey you.”
Surprised because of the voice, the man hold on to the thing in his hand tightly and look towards the voice. After manage to find Sora he smiled widely.
“Oh. It is you madam.”
“What are you doing here madam?”
The skinny man asked her. Sora relieved because it turns out that the man she called is the same man as the one that beats the merchant.
“I….. have my own things to take care of.”
“Anyway, are you busy right now?”
“No madam, I’m not busy. You’ll find people here less busier madam”
The man answered her with joy.
“Is that so, then can you guide me to the western gate?”
“Sure, madam.”
When they’re about to leave a group of old man near them chuckled when one of them say.
“She’s lost, the pampered lady is lost.”
“Shut up you old man. She’s my benefactor I will not tolerate any rude remarks towards her.”
The skinny man shout to the group of old man, defending Sora.
“Let’s go madam, like I said, you’ll find people here less busier so they distract themselves by poking their nose to someone else problem.”
“Y-Yeah, let’s go.”
Because of what the old man says hit the mark Sora agreed with the skinny man and with her red face they left them. After some walk the man introduced himself.
“Oh yeah, I haven’t told you my name yet.”
“My name is Randal madam.”
“I’m Elris.”
“If I may, why are you going to the western gate madam?”
“I want to leave the town.”
“Oh…. Um…..”
“Somethings wrong?”
“It’s just….. I think they’re already closed the western gate.”
“Huh…?”
“You hear those bells right?”
Confused because of what Randal just said Sora noticed the loud bell sound that’s been ringing for awhile, because of the bell has been ringing since she left the Baron mansion, Sora already used to it and forget about it.
“Yeah, why?”
Stolen novel; please report.
“That’s a signal for anyone outside city to immediately return, because they spot something dangerous coming here.”
“And they will soon close the gate.”
“Huh? Isn’t that for the army?”
“Well, that’s what people think.”
“But, I’ve been in the army before, and they said the bell is a warning for the citizen.”
“Trust me madam, if there’s something dangerous around the city, the army will know beforehand.”
“Hooo….. So do you think they already close the western gate?”
“Probably, I’m not sure.”
“Well, let’s head there for now.”
Walking to the west they exit the alleyway and use the main road. In silence they walk towards the west gate, slowly the number of carriage in the main road is multiply as they approach the gate.
“Looks like they already closed the gate.”
“What’s with these carriage.”
Sora complained because of her road is blocked by lots of carriage when she arrived at the gate.
“I think they belong to the merchants who want to leave the city.”
“It appears you can’t leave the city now madam.”
“Yeah, that’s a shame……”
“Hmm…. Randal do you happen to know a secret way to leave the city”
Since Randal is a hoodlum Sora think he might have known one or two secret passage to leave the city.
“I’m sorry madam, but there’s no such thing.”
“Is that so….”
After seeing dejected face on Sora, Randal asked.
“Um… why do you want to leave the city madam?”
“It’s dangerous right now, there’s an army of undead out there.”
“I…. I just want to watch the battle in the east.”
Sora answered him hesitantly. Since her plan to leave the city and turn into Dragon to watch the battle is disturbed she choose to tell part of her plan to Randal.
“Well, if you just want to watch the battle I might know a place.”
“I used to be in the army you know.”
“….”
“Did you forget?”
“….”
“Anyway let’s go.”
Sora hustle him to hide her embarrassment. Leaving the crowded west gate they walk heading east using the main road, feeling a little bit awkward Sora tried to start a conversation.
“So, you say you’ve been in the army before?”
“Yeah.”
“What it’s like?”
“Well, there’s nothing special about it. Just training, patrolling around the city or guarding the gate.”
“Well sometimes we were sent to the forest for some expedition. And sometimes we also sent to the nearby village to exterminate monsters, but since there’s adventurer guild that’s a rare occurrence.”
“Hmm… you’re not being sent to war?”
“No they never sent us to war.”
“Maybe because this city is on the other edge of the border they never sent us, but apparently sometimes they sent soldiers from the capital to the border to guard it from neighboring country. Maybe there’s a little skirmish there, but I never heard a huge battle take place.”
“Even if the other two neighboring country is at war with each other our country is still maintaining its neutrality.”
“Over here, madam.”
When they arrived at the plaza Randal called Sora who keep walking straight heading east, realized that Randal taking a little turn towards an alley, Sora followed him.
“We’re going there madam.”
Randal pointed to the tower like building.
“We’re going to that tower, I know the guard there it should be alright if we give him some silvers.”
Following the direction Randal hand pointed, Sora saw a glimpse of the tower among the roof of the building.
“Is it alright?”
Sora asked as they walk towards the south-east of the plaza.
“Isn’t that belongs to the army?”
“Yeah it was, but they use another one a bit north, this one is kind of abandoned.”
“Usually there are only two guards there.”
“Huh..? Why did they abandon it?”
“Well… the rich keep pressuring the Baron to move the watch tower a little bit to their area. I don’t know why they did that, but I think you can get anything with money.”
“…”
They walk a bit more with silence, feeling a little awkward Randal decide to ask.
“I’m sorry if I’m rude, but I wonder why did you carry two swords with you madam?”
“The first time I see you it’s only one, but now there’s two.”
“Oh…. I bought this as a gift, but I forgot to give it so I’ve been carrying this with me.”
“And since you ask me private question, I will ask you one.”
“Why did you quit from the army?”
After a long silence Randal finally speak.
“Well….. It’s a long story, but to make it short is because I need money.”
“That’s really short.”
“…”
Silence crept back as they walk through dark alley and suddenly Randal speak with whispering voice.
“We should remain quiet, and please wait here madam I’ll try to see who’s guarding the tower right now.”
Several minutes have passed since Randal left Sora, As for Sora who’s waiting in the dark alley where no sound can be heard and since the bell already stop ringing long ago she feels like several hours have passed waiting in the alley without a sound, and when anxious feeling crept over her Randal come back with a smile.
“It’s Dion, come madam.”
Following him Sora move out from the alley and head for the tower where two man can be seen standing in front of its door, while the other is just ordinary guard Sora noticed there’s something wrong with the other man outfit. When she arrived Randal introduce them.
“Dion, this is madam Elris.”
“Madam, this bald man here is Dion.”
“Stop with the bald, you’re going to lose yours soon enough.”
The bald man in his late 30’s angrily rebuke Randal of his remark.
“Hahaha, he’s my friend when I’m still in the army.”
“Oh, and the man in the black outfit is Rufus, he’s the Baron butlers.”
“He’s always come here after deliver a massage to the captain.”
Dion added with a bit irritation.
“Best regard for you madam.”
“I’m sorry, but this is the only place I can relax.”
“At least if you want to come here, bring some alcohol don’t just suddenly drink mine.”
“Enough with your drinking problem, can we go upstairs?”
Randal says to the other two who’s arguing about their drinks.
“I’m sorry, its a military facility we can’t let ordinary citizen to enter.”
Sora reaches for her pouch and hand 5 silvers coin to Dion.
“But since it’s abandon you may take a look a little bit.”
Sora and Randal enter the tower and start to climb up the stairs, when they arrived at the top Sora start to look around to find her goal while Randal is still catching up his breath. After a brief search she see an army of skeleton forming up ranks near the city wall.