Again, Town of Shar

It has been four days since the end of the long night battle with ghouls at Cine Village. After helping with the rebuilding of the village after the attack, Ahli and Sharon were finally able to leave the village.

"I have to say it was sure is surprising to find the people in Cine were so welcome with the fact that you are a card mage."

As it will take them almost a whole day to reach Shar again, the two of them stayed for another night, so they would be able to leave early in the morning.

"Yeah, their reaction was very different from what I got in Yakul. I almost thought they will kick us out immediately by that morning. And surprisingly, they celebrated me like a hero."

Ahli still was unsure if he should be accepting that celebration even though he had already experienced it. For him, the rejection that he felt in Yakul had made him rethink what he could and should do in this new world. And even though the thing that he did in CIne was based on his own impulse, he thought to himself, he was lucky this time there were no casualties except for some parts of the village.

"But, you are a hero."

Hearing that from Sharon made Ahli wonder why she had so much confidence in him.

"What? Why?"

"You rushed to battle because you know there were people who needed help. For me, that's already enough Hero quality."

Ahli got quite embarrassed hearing such compliments from Sharon. He felt nice to be praised like that.

"Thank you."

"Hey, don't get this over your head just yet. I don't want to see your nose grow."

Hearing Sharon's warning, Ahli smiled which was then followed by laughter from the two of them.

It was around afternoon, but they were finally able to reach Shar. The two of them went immediately to the guild, to report the success of their quest. As they entered the guild center, Ahli and Sharon felt somehow something was off as the clerks at the counter startled a bit.

"Hey, I would like to report about the request from the village of CIne." Said Sharon as she reached the counter.

"Ah, yes, hold on. Let me check first to the back."

"Huh, why?"

Sharon was not able to get her answer as the clerk that she spoke to, quickly left her seat and went to the room behind the counter. Ahli paid attention that other clerks were staring at both of them quite intensely. Their action surely was weird for him, as before they were really friendly.

Ahli approached Sharon and in a whisper, he said to her, "Don't you think the clerks today acted unusual?"

Sharon did not answer his question immediately and turned her whole body to face him. Ahli could see how that action was intentional as he caught how Sharon's eyes wandered through the surrounding area of the guild lobby.

"Yeah, it sure is weird. There is no other adventurer in this place aside for us and those people who were checking the announcement board since before we arrived."

Ahli tried to check on the people mentioned by Sharon and the edge of his right eye caught them. It surely was weird for them to seem fixated with the board for quite a long time.

"What do you think is happening?" Asked Ahli to Sharon.

"I'm not sure myself."

"Robbery?"

"Nah, no one dared to rob this place with the adventures always around. It must be something else."

As they were trying to deduce what situation they were in, the clerk from before had returned.

"Excuse me, miss."

The moment she called, Sharon immediately turned to face her. Ahli saw the way the girl's eyes seemed not to focus on Sharon, making Ahli take the conclusion that she was trying to remember something she memorized.

[Someone seemed to have been forcing her to do things.]

"Sorry for making you wait. Yes, regarding the CIne Village case, I am very sorry, I would not able to give you a definitive answer immediately."

"Why is that?"

"The treasury person was out for a late lunch, therefore we were unable to access our savings to give you your reward."

Sharon did not answer immediately. She looked at each and every one of the clerks there.

"Sharon, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Nothing was wrong. This nice young lady here just told us that it would take longer time for them to provide our reward."

"Yes, sir. We are very sorry for the delay."

"Is that so? How long it would take?"

The clerk did not answer immediately, and she paused for quite a long time. She looked at her friends as if she was asking for help from them.

"Hello, are you okay?" Ahli's question seemed to make her surprised as she jumped quite a bit when asked like that.

"Ah, yes, sir. I'm fine. I truly am fine."

Ahli did not believe what she just said as he knew she was forcing her answer. Something strange surely was happening in the guild center.

"Maybe around half an hour sir. He left not too long ago, unfortunately."

Ahli and Sharon looked at each other as they were told that. They both quickly agreed that their best option for that moment was to leave the premise as soon as possible.

"Okay then, we'll be back later then."

As they both turned their body and almost leave the place, the clerk suddenly called them again. "Oh, sorry, will you be staying in the town today?"

"Yeah, we will." Answered Sharon as she gave the clerk a friendly smile.

"So, could you tell us where you will be staying tonight?"

"Yes, sure. We would be at the Frying Dragon."

"And, are you going there from here."

Sharon paused for a while before she answered the question with a solid tone, "yes."

"In that case, we will send someone to deliver the money to you there, later."

Ahli and Sharon again looked at each other, as they knew it was a weird thing for the guild to do to that extent.

"Thank you. We'll be waiting." Sharon gave the clerk a smile to assure her that she believe her, but, as soon as she turned, the smile quickly was gone from her face. Ahli also gave the clerk a smile and a small nod. He then quickly caught up with Sharon who was already walking fast.

"Someone might be following on us soon, so we need to separate." Ordered Sharon.

"Okay, meet you at Drunken Boar then?"

"Yeah, let's do that."

As soon as they passed the door and went into the street, Sharon quickly turned right while Ahli turned left. Ahli walked faster as he saw a group of crowds that he could blend into. He took a small view to his back before that and saw the two people who were standing in front of the guild center's announcement board had walked out of the guild center as well. They were seen to look around as if they were searching for something, and Ahli knew immediately that they were looking for him when one of them pointed in his direction.

With that, Ahli started to run toward the crowd, making himself hidden from his pursuer.