Chapter 14: The Scarlet Sword Princess’s Protection

The small town had been bustling these past two days, drawing numerous important figures.

Leaf Su observed many mages, clad in sacred robes, gathered around a young man, their demeanor akin to officials inspecting a site.

After all, an A-rank demon had been lurking in the area, and its safe subjugation, with only a dozen casualties, counted as a commendable achievement.

These dignitaries had arrived primarily to survey the situation and assuage the anxious hearts of the residents.

They also intended to disburse the rewards to the adventurers who had participated in the defense.

Due to the A-rank demon, the bounties were substantial; Fiona, for instance, would receive around fifty gold coins on her own, a generous sum indeed, as she was the one who had ultimately vanquished the humanoid demon.

The demon’s carcass had already been dissected, with most of its parts destined for sale to fund the city’s reconstruction.

This practice was stipulated in the covenant: should a demon attacking a city be defeated, its remains, when sold for materials, would first and foremost be used to repair the ravaged areas.

Consequently, Leaf Su and his companions would not receive a single coin from the sale of these materials.

Still, with fifty gold coins, their coffers were more than sufficient!

Fiona, after depositing forty-eight gold coins into her guild account, handed the remaining two directly to Leaf Su.

She explained that she wouldn’t be able to look after him much in the coming days, urging him to manage on his own for a while.

As she passed him the two gold coins at the counter, the eyes of every adventurer in the guild gleamed, fixing their gazes on Leaf Su like predatory beasts.

Though Leaf Su remained unaware of the exact value of two gold coins, the palpable greed radiating from so many individuals assured him it was no trifling sum.

After entrusting him with the gold, Fiona issued a stern warning before the assembled crowd: “Whoever dares lay a hand on my brother Leaf Su, once my injuries mend, you can expect your head to part ways with your body!”

Thus, Leaf Su found himself remarkably safe within the city.

Despite being a walking treasury, no one dared to cross him.

After all, he was under the protection of Fiona, renowned as the [Scarlet Sword Princess].

In a nation boasting only a few hundred A-rank adventurers, Fiona stood out as an undisputed paragon.

Upon exiting the guild, Leaf Su headed towards the commercial district.

This area, being a fair distance from the residential quarter where the demon had first appeared, had been spared the ravages of the battle between Fiona and the monster, and was now operating as usual.

His immediate thought was to purchase a nutritious lunch.

With Fiona recuperating, the guild’s standard meals left much to be desired.

Since his ‘big sister’ had generously provided two gold coins, it felt only natural to spend some of it on her.

Leaf Su strolled leisurely along the street, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding architecture.

This marked his first genuine observation of the streetscape.

While some buildings appeared rather ancient, they were, at least, constructed entirely of brick and stone, lending the area a distinct sense of history.

Had he not spent so much time immersed in games with their ‘light-pollution perfect’ graphics, Leaf Su would undoubtedly have found this place quite charming.

An abrupt signboard materialized before his eyes; not far ahead, a weathered sign, almost decaying, hung precariously from an aged storefront, evidently having seen many years.

[Eat Once, Don’t Come Twice Noodle House] (TL Note: A humorous, self-deprecating name, implying either the food is so unforgettable you won’t need a second visit, or so bad you wouldn’t want one.)

It was an exceptionally striking sign, at least within this small town.

Most other establishments simply bore rudimentary placards proclaiming “[Noodles],” “[BBQ],” or “[Fruit Shop],” making this unusually cheeky sign instantly capture Leaf Su’s attention.