“Crazy, absolutely cra---”

“What happened,” said Darkis

“Arthur was level up to 12 last night”

"At this rate, you'll catch us before we build the city," said Askar, looking at Arthur.

It had been 2 days since I left the last city. With magic, Arthur could control fire and earth enough to defend himself from little monsters. They were now passing through a forested area. As they were getting closer to the mountains, the number of monsters was greatly reduced. But both teams continued on their way without giving up the precaution.

They would arrive at Gatecity, right next to the gateway, which is the first city to be established in the north of the mountains today in the afternoon. The team was very excited both because of the plan to get out of the north and Arthur's money-making plan.

Horse carriages were moving along the road surrounded by forests on both sides. The quality of the roads improved as they approached the gate, and they started to travel without much concussion. Eventually, the trees around the road started to decrease.

Arthur came from the back of the carriage to the front, poked his head out from the grove, and looked at the landscape before him.

"Breathtaking," he said

“Everyone who sees it for the first time has the same reaction,” Bill said. Bill was driving the car with the tomb.

The mountains before him were so high that Arthur had to look up. There was snow near the summits of the mountains, and it probably did not melt throughout the year. It looked like the Himalayas Arthur had seen on postcards. The foothills of the mountains were covered with sharp rocks and cliffs.

Again, nature somehow found a way to sneak into this difficult land and trees were growing on the steep slopes. Arthur finally understood why it was impossible to cross further south than through the gate. According to the team members, Compadia and Aster offered the adventurers thousands of gold coins to find another gateway, but despite all the search, there was no other gate. From one end of the Alwarti to the other, the mountains were going. Except for the Gate, it was perhaps the most strategic area in Alwarti, and the four kingdoms would do anything to keep it from falling into the hands of a single kingdom.

The car continued on its way. They got closer to Gatecity. The walls were rising 30 meters. Crossbows were set at the top of the walls, and the guards were constantly checking for monsters approaching the city. Arthur was fascinated by the wall's majesty. They approached the city gate. The sun was yet to set, but adventurers who wanted to go south had already formed a long queue at the city gate. While waiting in line, Arthur was watching the group of adventurers in front of them with interest. Most of them were silver level. Of course, iron was not absent at the level. But something caught his attention more. Teams were usually made up of a single race or the races of their affiliated kingdoms.

Arthur's team was made up of different races, and this was extremely rare.

“There aren't many racial groups,” said Arthur, pointing to the group in front of them.

"We're rare, aren't we," said Askar.

“Gatecity is like a fun place right now, watch your purses,” Mefzar said.

Lyla was talking to Gerr and Thure. They were right behind Arthur's carriage.

After seeing the Adventurer's plates, they gave the sentries 6 coppers and passed. In all the towns where they stayed to the south, they paid 3-4 times this amount. Gatecity was different. It was a city of 100 thousand people. And this figure exceeded 130 thousand with adventurers and traders who wanted to go from north to south.

When Arthur first entered the city, the first thing that caught his attention was the width of the roads. It was a cobblestone road designed so that at least 4 carriages could pass side by side. The buildings were 3 stories high and looked well maintained. The streets were filled with shouts, laughter, and hastily moving people. The carriage passed through the streets and stopped in front of one inn. The goblin, who was waiting at the door, immediately came and showed them a place to park the car.

The inn was a 3-story Stone made place. The sign had a Bread and beer goblet logo with the words Bread & Wine right next to the logo. Pretty creative, Arthur thought when he saw the sign.

They walked through the door and an elf greeted them. "How can I help you?" said the elf.

“Do you have any spare room”

“You are very lucky that 2 groups left today to go south. "Our 5 rooms are empty," he said.

They were indeed lucky, it was the heyday of the gate city and almost all the inns were full.

"We're holding," said Mefzar hastily, for fear someone might hold the rooms before him. Until they came here, they did not feel comfortable in the towns where they stayed. They always stayed in cramped rooms.

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“How many days will you stay?” said the elf.

Mefzar turned to both his team and Lyda's team and said, "How about we stay for 2 days"

"It's okay for us," Lyda said after looking at her teammates.

When those in the tomb's team nodded their approval

“2 days,” he said.

"I can show you your rooms if you want, and then I think you'd like to take a shower," he said.

As if reading to the team's mind. Two teams followed the elf and went to their rooms. The lobby was the largest lobby that Arthur had ever seen in an inn. There were enough tables and chairs for 200 people to sit comfortably in. Lots of waiters were bringing food to the tables. And Arthur was going to his rooms without seeing the innkeeper for the first time. This place looks more like a small hotel than an inn, he thought as he climbed the stairs.

While they were taking their showers and eating their meals, it was 2 hours before dark and Arthur wanted to visit the city for a bit.

“I want to take a tour of the city, who will join me,” he said, taking a bite of his food.

"I'll come," said Elda

“Me too,” said Darkis, they had become two.

“I'm just thinking about the bed,” Bill said.

Mefzar Askarda indicated that they would not come. Driving the car and sitting in the cold made them tired. Lyda's team also seemed tired, so they wanted to sleep directly.

“Okay, let's go out after dinner then,” said Arthur.

-----

People of different races were trying to sell things on the streets of Gatecity. Street food stalls were shouting to attract customers on the side of the road. As they continued to walk, they also moved away from the street vendors. There were big shops in this part of the city. They came to the places where the wealthy part of the city lived.

As Arthur was walking down the road, he saw a shop selling books. Excitedly turning to Elda and Darkis.

“How about a look”

When they entered the door, the shop owner Satyr came up to them and said, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

“No, we're just looking,” said Arthur, and wasted no time in examining the books.

Books were divided into Shelves. Books about magic were in one section. Other books were in a separate section. Most likely, spell books were many times more expensive than other books.

He went to the Magic Books side of the shop and began to examine the books there. The covers of the books were tied with a rope so that they would not open. And there were labels on the back of the book describing the contents of the book. Then he moved on to the other section.

Arthur pulled a book from the regular bookshelf and looked at its name. The inscription “Alwarti History” was on top of the book and looked at its author. “Arnold Grasseater”

He skipped the preface and started reading the first page of the book.

“The Word Alwarti is a word used before the common language and means death. This is because no one who enters the fog comes back. As the fog disappears, the whole race---”

Just as he was about to continue reading, he heard the sound of the hand.

“Arthur what did you find”

“History of Alwartin.”

“It is a very good book. The author wrote it as neutrally as possible, if I remember correctly,” Elda said.

"Did you read"

“Yes, my father forced me to read it when I was a kid.”

“The noble life must have been tough, I guess,” Arthur joked.

“We weren't a very high-ranking family, so I never considered myself noble. Dad tried to do something about this situation, but as you know, it didn't end well,” Elda said.

After a little chat with Elda, Arthur took the book to the shopkeeper.

“I wonder how much that is,” said Arthur.

"2 silvers," said the shopkeeper.

“After Arthur took the money out of his purse and handed it over, he returned to Elda and darkis. Darkis looked rather bored, although Elda did not mind staying in this shop for hours. Arthur didn't want to bore Darkis with more books.

They all left the shop together. They started walking on the street. It was starting to get dark in the air. There were enchanted lamps similar to street lamps.

As he continued walking down the road, Arthur felt something And turned around.

He met eyes with a young Goblin, his face covered in dirt, his rags dangling from his body. The goblin's hand was on his enchanted pouch. Arthur froze as the Goblin tried to quickly tear the pouch from the belt.

“The thief!” shouted Arthur. Elda and Darkis, who were just ahead of him looking at the clothes in the shop window, got over the initial shock and looked towards where Arthur was and rushed towards him as soon as he realized what had happened.

The little thief finally managed to snatch the purse, and he tried to run away.

Elda quickly used the wood magic to catch the thief using ivy.

The young goblin escaped the first Ivy with a body maneuver but was caught off guard by the second.

Hearing the commotion, 2 sentries were coming to the scene.

Elda Darkis and Arthur started walking towards the young Goblin they had captured.

“Let me go, please,” said the goblin, with a look of horror in his eyes.

“This is the third please let me go”

"What third," said Arthur, unable to understand.

“Caught counting, please”

“What happens if you get caught 3 times”

"He'll be hanged," said the guard, coming up to them.

The atmosphere suddenly turned cold. Arthur was just beginning to understand the seriousness of the situation. He looked at the goblin, emaciated with hunger. It was also very difficult for them to find a job since the goblins could not level up.

The goblin had lost all hope when his sentries arrived on the scene as well.

"I haven't had anything to eat for 2 days," he said quietly, then his voice rose.

“What should I have done?” he cried. In the direction of Arthur and the guards.

These words were not the words of a liar and a thief, they were the words of a starving goblin, and did not contain a dash of lies.

After the emotional discharge, she began to cry. Darkis was also impressed by the event. The goblin's state reminded him of his orphanage years. But he was lucky. And he was able to gain Levels. He had no trouble with food and clothing. It was like Darkis worse, the goblin before them.

"If I don't blame," said Arthur, turning to the guards.

"We can't let him go, if not now, he'll steal it again," he said in a firm voice. By extinguishing the light in the goblin's eyes, which were soon filled with hope.

"What if we can make sure he won't steal it again," said Darkis.

“Are you sure you want to be the guarantor? You will be tried together for the next crime.” said the guard

“Yes,” said Darkis without thinking.

The vines that bind the goblin have been dissolved. And he was trying to understand the events. He was confused and happy. He was saved. But why would a person he didn't know want to be his guarantor?

The guard took out a sheet of paper, cut a hole in the goblin's finger, dripped his blood on the paper, and said, "Sign here," looking at the darkis.

When the guards left, Darkis turned to the goblin and said, "Are your parents alive?"

The goblin shook his head. "We'll talk to you after you've had your fill," said Darkis.

The goblin apologized and handed the pouch to Arthur. Then they made their way to the inn.