The civilians were moving inside to the same layer they were in and the soldiers were moving out from the third layer.

It was a giant moving mess as everyone prepared for the siege.

As the party got down from their rooms, they met up with several adventurer groups, who were all gathering in front of the stage.

They walked up to one of the older human men who were waiting there and Joseph spoke to him.

"What is going on?"

"It seems like a horde of demons are coming to siege the city. We are waiting for the representative we sent to the head of the guards. He will inform us about our positions and jobs while the guards are fighting the monsters."

"Are you guys not joining into the fray?"

"Depends on! We are not soldiers, but mercenaries. If they pay enough, we'll join. If they won't, we won't."

"I see. But aren't your life's at stakes, like everyone else's?"

He shrugged.

"Not really, no. We can just leave the city through the southern gate while the fight goes on."

"Are you sure about that? What if they breakthrough?"

He laughed.

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"There is no way. There have been hundreds of sieges and none of the demon armies got through the first layer of the defenses sofar."

Joseph was impressed.

"Really now?"

"Yes! The magical barriers on the walls protect everyone inside. It is kind of impossible to get through it."

Just as he finished the doors to the tavern opened up.

A long golden-haired and blue-eyed young man in golden armor stepped into the tavern and walked up on the stage.

He cleared his throat and looked around before speaking.

"My fellow adventurers! I come from the guard captain Brun Stoneskin. He said that We can either join the defense for a thousand golds at the end of the siege or help the civilians get further away from danger for a hundred golds. We all know what danger lies within our choices and we should choose wisely. Although I won't force anyone for anything."

He looked around once more.

"Everyone who wants to join the civilians go to the right side of me and all that wants to join the city defenses, go to the left."

They all started to speak with each other at once, making a lot of noise.

The party looked at each other and discussed the matter.

"So Joseph as the guy said, we could just leave and move on to the mansion. I think that is the best course of action."

Arborus nodded to Catherine's idea.

"Are you sure we should just leave like that? Won't more people die if we just leave?"

"What? Do you say that we can save people in a war?"

"I think we should be able to help at least before we leave."

They looked around themselves. Most of the people were standing on the right side and only a few were left in the middle. So far none of the adventurers went to the left.

'It seems like they fear death, even if they trust the defense of the city.'

"You should also think about that we are not here to fight these demons. We are here to move through. We don't have anything to do with this fight. Also as they said, the defenses are good enough that they will never breakthrough."

Joseph sighed.

"Alright. I'm outvoted anyway. If you guys just want to pass through, we should do that."

"Good. So let's get going."

As everyone inside the tavern was preparing for their jobs they left the place and went to retrieve their horses.