Chapter 35: Grant Town’s Unsettling Silence

They traveled by carriage, heading beyond the barrier.

Eileen felt her hands tremble slightly.

“What’s wrong, Eileen?” Setia, unaware of the reason, inquired.

“It’s nothing,” she replied. This was her first time leaving the Golden Dragon territory in five years.

Even the air in human lands felt different as she breathed it in.

‘Oh no,’ Eileen thought. ‘Now I want to run.’

“Lord Dragon Slayer, we’ve arrived.” The carriage slowly came to a halt, signaling they had reached their destination.

Eileen stepped down, her heart swelling with emotion as she gazed at the familiar streets.

“Grant Town…” Setia observed the place, noting the absence of pedestrians on the streets.

“Is this your first time here, Miss Setia?” Eileen asked.

“I suppose so,” Setia replied. “I’ve only seen some descriptions in books.” Even if Setia had wanted to visit, she wouldn’t have been able to.

“Then I’ll take you to a wonderful place! Their desserts are amazing!” Eileen exclaimed, pulling Setia by the hand.

“Have you been here before?” Setia asked.

“Uh… once before, with Lady Faltis,” Eileen explained.

“Is that so?”

“Alright, never mind all that. Let’s go, Miss Setia.” Eileen tugged Setia’s hand, leading her further into the town.

However, as they walked, Eileen began to sense that something was amiss.

Too quiet. The streets seemed eerily silent, and many shop doors were closed.

Even Eileen’s favorite dessert shop was tightly locked.

Something was wrong… terribly wrong.

“Damn it!”

Eileen looked up to see someone clutching their chest, muttering curses as they ran out. The emblem on their clothes marked them as a C-rank Dragon Slayer.

“Hello, excuse me…” Eileen extended a hand to greet her.

“Get lost…” The girl’s initially resistant voice softened upon seeing Eileen. After all, no one disliked a beautiful maiden.

However, when she noticed the C-rank emblem pinned to Eileen’s sleeve, her expression shifted. “Quick, follow me!”

Though Eileen was unsure of the situation, this girl seemed to be the only person around. She had no choice but to follow her for now.

They reached a secluded corner. The girl gasped for breath, constantly glancing back at the street.

“What happened?” Eileen inquired.

“Don’t even ask. Look at your…” The girl was about to speak when she noticed Setia beside Eileen.

She instinctively took two steps back. In her haste to escape, she hadn’t noticed Setia at all.

‘A Necromancer…’

“What’s wrong?” Eileen asked.

“Look!” The girl suddenly pointed down the alley.

“Look at what…” Just as Eileen turned, the girl darted away.

“…” Eileen looked at Setia with a hint of helplessness. “My dear Miss Necromancer, it seems you’ve frightened someone away.”

Necromancers, while part of the Imperial faction, were also the most unwelcome within it.

Their power was undeniable, but their magic was notoriously sinister, often demanding sacrifices from others.

Consequently, almost no one was willing to team up with them.

“My apologies…”

“It’s nothing. This is actually quite good.” Eileen shrugged, retrieving the commission letter.

It wasn’t a bad turn of events. The less attention they drew, the less likely she was to be exposed.

Eileen pricked her finger, and as a drop of blood fell onto the commission, it transformed, revealing new details.

“Grant Tavern, Miss Liana…”

Eileen knew this person. She had met Liana, the proprietor of Grant Tavern, several times before.

Liana had always been quite kind to her.

But now, thinking back, it was entirely possible that Liana herself had leaked the news of Eileen’s arrival to Faltis.

“Well?” Setia asked.

“Let’s go. I know where it is,” Eileen said, putting away the commission. “However, I hope you’ll cooperate a little, Setia.”

“What do you need me to do?” Setia asked.

“You just need to maintain your current appearance and pretend to be a Necromancer. I’ll handle everything else,” Eileen stated.

Grant Tavern was a den of unsavory characters. It wouldn’t do to attract unwanted attention.

“Ah? But I don’t know what Necromancers do!” Setia wasn’t even proficient with her own magic, let alone acting as a Necromancer.

“You don’t need to do anything. It’s best if you don’t speak at all; I’ll take care of it. If necessary, you can also give me orders,” Eileen explained.

“Oh, alright then.” Setia nodded. Not speaking? That was something she excelled at.

As Eileen stepped out, she immediately felt as if someone was watching her.

She turned her head, catching a glimpse of a yellow figure disappearing around a corner.

“Miss Setia, did you see anything just now?” Eileen asked.

“What?” Setia hadn’t noticed anything.

“It must have been my imagination.” Eileen dismissed it and headed towards Grant Tavern.

Standing outside the door, Eileen could already hear the raucous noise from within.

The tavern door was scarred with numerous knife marks.

Occasionally, a scream echoed from inside.

Eileen frowned.

“Eileen, it seems a bit… unpleasant inside?” Setia asked.

“Shh.” Eileen made a silencing gesture.

She already knew what was happening inside.

Pushing open the door, all eyes in the tavern turned to Eileen with hostile expressions. But upon seeing her, they froze, their faces quickly softening into smiles.

However, when they noticed Setia behind Eileen, they all instinctively kept their distance.

While Eileen’s sleeve bore the emblem of a C-rank Dragon Slayer team, the Necromancer behind her was, at minimum, a B-rank existence.

Eileen surveyed the tavern, frowning slightly. Those lying on the ground, being bullied, were either unarmed villagers or C-rank Dragon Slayer teams.

And the aggressors were not dragons, but their own comrades: B-rank Dragon Slayer teams.

‘Why has it come to this?’

Such bandit-like behavior… how could Dragon Slayers be responsible for it?

Eileen was momentarily stunned until the sound of a door opening behind her broke her reverie. “Beautiful lady, may I invite you to share a drink with me?”

Eileen turned, her gaze falling upon… a crystal emblem.

Exquisite golden hair shimmered under the tavern lights. She wore a pale blue, off-the-shoulder gown, revealing glimpses of her beautiful collarbones. White lace adorned her cuffs, and beneath her skirt, fair thighs appeared even longer and more delicate, accentuated by white stockings.

Her face, carved as if by the most skilled artisan, was unpainted yet glowed like the morning sun on snow. Her brows were like crescent moons, and her dewy, crimson lips curved into a sweet, subtle smile as she looked at Eileen.