Arrive at Ashur City

Dusk at the C-Owl Main Building.

Ethel who had finished teaching took her books and went out of the classroom. Arl, who was still there, followed behind her, trailing the Lady.

The sound of their footsteps echoed along the corridor, creating a quiet atmosphere in the building.

Children were playing in the garden, while workers were busy in their respective rooms.

Ethel climbed the stairs leading to the upper floor, heading towards her private room. Along the way, she turned to Arl, who was still following her.

"Has Kirana still not given any news?"

The question caused the young man's steps to halt. Not hearing any sound from behind, Ethel turned around. She gazed at Arl's anxious face and smiled faintly.

"No need to panic, Arl. Kirana must have her own reasons for not being able to give any news. But tell me, what have you learned from Farnodt?"

"For now, Farnodt has closed itself off. Their front gates are tightly shut, and Sonic Bird cannot pass through. Our agents are having a bit of trouble gaining access to the kingdom. We need orders from high-ranking nobles to be able to enter."

"Hmm... you say it's a bit of trouble, does that mean there are agents who managed to enter?"

Ethel asked as she resumed walking towards her room.

"Sneaked in. They say the situation inside Farnodt seems gloomy. There are many eyes watching people from outside Farnodt, limiting our movements.

"As for reaching Marina itself to find out about the situation of the Young Miss, it's a bit challenging. The farther north we go, the tighter the security becomes."

"It seems that something is truly happening up north. We can only hope that Kirana doesn't get caught up in trouble. Has Duke Grenhall made any move?"

Arl shook his head, "Not yet. Duke Grenhall is still in Rostgard for now."

Both of them arrived in front of Ethel's room.

"Alright then. Let's assess the situation in Farnodt for the time being. If we don't receive any news from Kirana within a week, I will talk to the Young Grenhall to get permission to go there."

"Very well, madam."

Ethel instructed Arl to return to his room.

She then entered her own workspace, placing a stack of old teaching books on the table before sitting down and leaning back, exhaling a long breath.

Although she didn't show it earlier, Ethel remained anxious about her daughter's situation.

At the moment, all she could do was pray that her daughter wouldn't do anything reckless and would safely return from Farnodt.

Ethel glanced at the portrait of her small family. She saw Cien's face, as if reassuring her that everything would be fine. Ethel closed her eyes, calming herself.

Suddenly, she remembered Ashur.

"Ashur, huh... the last time I went there, you were still by my side. It would be quite interesting to see the place now. Maybe next year, I will go there as a journey to reminisce about the past."

Ethel whispered, reminiscing about the times when she accompanied Cien to Ashur.

The city of Ashur was incredibly beautiful and delightful. However, what she remembered most was not the city's beauty or hospitality.

It was the sight of her husband always grumbling and angry due to the heat.

"It would be really nice if I could hear all those frustrations again…"

As if in harmony with Ethel's thoughts. She truly didn't know that her husband was currently in Ashur.

If she were, she would be able to hear the frustrations she had dreamed of.

***

"Ughhh… I hate the Land of Sands. It's too hot! Hard to breathe, sticky body! Goddamnit! Stupid phone! It sent me out onto the road outside Ashur. Why didn't it take me directly into the city?! Ugh, damn! I completely forgot that this is the place I despise!"

If Ethel could hear all the complaints from the coffin bearer, she would be overjoyed.

Cien, who was now walking towards the gates of Ashur, felt frustrated with the situation he was in.

The sandy ground made his steps uncomfortable. Sweat continued to flow all over his body.

The scorching sun started to make his eyes feel hot.

Truly, Cien hated walking there. Even though the city gates were already in sight, he felt as if they were not getting any closer.

Cien truly didn't expect that his phone would teleport him in the middle of a desert.

He didn't know where to go. So, he simply walked south, as Ashur is located in the south of Mandora. He walks following the compass directions on his phone.

Luckily, the chosen direction was correct.

But just to see the silhouette of the gate from a distance, he had to walk for about three hours. Under the scorching heat, those three hours felt incredibly long.

Cien had prepared himself to stay in the Land of Sands for a few days.

He was wearing clothes that covered his entire body. A cloak with a hood that covered almost his entire head.

A scarf tied around his neck and covering his mouth, preventing grains of sand blown by the wind from entering his mouth.

However, all of it still made him feel like he was inside an oven. His skin wasn't burning, but he felt as if the meat inside the skin was slowly cooking beneath the layers of clothing.

"Haaa... haaa... haa..."

Time passed, and Cien finally arrived at the gate. There, he saw four guards standing in front of the city gate.

Two of the guards approached and stopped Cien.

In the eyes of the two guards, Cien appeared very suspicious. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that it wasn't Cien who seemed suspicious, but the large coffin he was carrying.

"Halt! Who are you? And what is your purpose in Ashur?"

"Haa... haaa... haaa..."

Cien stares intensely at the two guards in front of him. He wanted to reply, but his mouth was too busy trying to catch his breath rather than producing any sound.

"... ... ..."

The two guards exchanged glances. It wasn't uncommon for them to see exhausted people in the Land of Sands. However, Cien surpassed the usual standard they were accustomed to.

The bulging eyes of the man in front of them looked extremely terrifying.

They were red and filled with anger. The man seemed as if he intended to kill them due to the heat starting to affect his head.

"Are you alright?"

Finally, overwhelmed by the eerie gaze, one guard politely asked Cien.

"Haaa... haa... wait. Let me rest first... it's too difficult... Haa..."

"Umm, please, go ahead."

"Do you need water?"

"Yes, thank you."

Cien drank the water given to him by the two guards. He then rested by sitting against the city wall.

As he rested, Cien racked his brain to find a reason to gain entry.

Currently, he didn't have an identification card he could use.

Unlike when he went to Wynteria where he could use the identity card of Cien Millard. In Ashur, Cien felt that using it would only cause problems.

Some of the Ashur merchants were closely associated with the Millard Family. For now, he didn't want the Millard Family to know he was still alive.

Cien wanted to find out first about the situation of his wife and daughter before taking any action.

Cien was afraid that if Ethel and Kirana were still under the control of the Millard Family, they would be in danger if the Millards knew Cien was still alive.

Cien worked hard to think it through. Until a reasonably logical reason emerged.

After resting, Cien approached the two guards again. He told them that he was a merchant, but on his journey, he was attacked by Sand Worms.

The monsters destroyed his cart, permits, and identification card. The monsters also killed the guards he had hired.

Cien said that he was lucky to have survived the attack. With what little strength he had left, he walked to Ashur alone. And the coffin he carried contained the remaining goods that had survived the attack.

Cien then opened the coffin, revealing its contents, which were a stack of weapons.

The two guards instantly understood. Although not common, it was not unusual for people to be attacked by monsters in the desert. Cien was even lucky to have survived.

Empathizing with Cien's misfortune, the guards allowed him to enter.

'...It's too easy. Do they really trust strangers' words like that…'

Cien frowned. Not expected that his fake story can be accepted like that.

One guard even guided him to obtain a trading permit and identification card at the Kastia Merchant Association building.

Cien accepted the guards' offer. Registering as a member of the Association had been his goal from the beginning.

However, during his time in Wynteria, he hadn't had the chance because the Association was busy organizing an open market.

Registering and obtaining a trading permit was not difficult for Cien. He had done it before during his teenage years. This time, too, he believed he could do it confidently.

But it turned out to be far from his expectations...

To obtain the permit, the Association always administered tests, such as mathematics and basic business and materials knowledge.

In the past, he had been able to do it. Even now, Cien was capable of, and easily completed, the mathematics test.

It's just that in the test section about materials and goods. Half of the test, he's blank. The ten years of development in Kastia had made him a fool. There are many new materials and objects that he did not know.

Submitting the test with numerous unanswered questions left Cien feeling dejected. He waited anxiously in the waiting room for the test results.

When his name was called, Cien felt relieved because he had passed. Even though his score wasn't great, he succeeded because his math score was perfect.

Obtaining the permit and a new identification card, with just the name Cien, without the addition of Millard, made him happy enough.

With this identity, at least Cien no longer needed to search for excuses to enter the city.

Having taken care of his business at the Merchant Association, Cien set out to find accommodation for the week.

Along the way, he noticed significant changes in Ashur City. It was far different from his memories ten years ago.

Ashur still appeared cheerful with its friendly inhabitants and the sound of joyful laughter that always echoed. But now, that cheerfulness was even more vibrant.

The city streets had been paved with neat stones, preventing sand and water from accumulating. Walking on them felt comfortable, with no sinking sensation in his feet.

Colorful lights could be seen hanging from the houses of the residents, creating a beautiful atmosphere during the sunset in the city.

Green plants grew in every corner of the city, proving that the title "Oasis of the Land of Sands" was not just a mere nickname.

Among all of this, what Cien liked the most was the abundance of canopy and tarps covering the city streets, providing shady spots that protected people from the scorching sunlight.

Ashur truly was a paradise in the Land of Sands.

About fifteen minutes later, Cien found the accommodation he needed.

He paid for a week's stay at the counter. Cien went to his room, satisfied with its condition.

Then, he went downstairs again to request some water to clean off the sweat.

Water was a precious commodity in Mandora. Most cities in Mandora would buy water from Ashur, which made the price of water in other cities besides Ashur relatively expensive.

In Ashur, the water was not free either. It was just considered cheap for the Mandora residents.

Cien cleaned himself by wiping away his sweat. He then tidied up and, with his coffin, stepped out of the inn.

He gazed at the tall auction buildings in the bustling city center, and his feet began to move towards it.