Chapter 30: Gorgon

It seemed the most recent and last war was between ‘Hwion’ and ‘Ritsen’, and it had the feeling of being the final war, didn’t it?

Compared to those eventful kingdoms, the Batols Kingdom, due to its geography, was living peacefully without belonging to or being involved with any of them.

‘The king of Batols is said to have a timid personality. Could that have an influence on this peace?’

Paul took in the peaceful scenery of Balona anew.

As it was the center of Batols, even though it was a quiet kingdom, the streets of Balona were bustling with people.

“Then, travel safely! May the blessing of Rasis be with your journey!”

“Travel safely!”

Paul waved his hands vigorously, seeing off the merchant caravan that was quickly moving away.

He had set out with a slightly anxious heart, but contrary to his earlier worries, he was able to arrive in Balona without any problems.

“Wow, we’re finally here… I’m tired…!”

He was so tired that he wanted to log out quickly, but!

There was still something he had to do before that.

That was to send a letter of apology to the poor victim, Caravan.

If he had any conscience, he couldn’t just ignore him like this.

“This way, this way. We still have one more place to stop by before we go!”

Paul, worried that Khan, who was blankly looking at the city, might get lost, held his hand tightly and hurried to the post office.

Ding-a-ling—!

Fortunately, the post office wasn’t too far away.

When he pushed the door, the bell attached to the top rang.

“Hello, this is the Balona Post Office. How may I help you?”

An employee NPC greeted Paul and Khan from inside.

The post office was quiet, so he approached the employee right away without having to wait long.

“Um, I’d like to send a letter. Could I borrow some paper and a pen?”

“The stationery and quill pen are on the table over there. The prices vary depending on the stationery, so please check before using.”

“Thank you!”

Paul immediately went to the place the employee mentioned, chose the most expensive stationery, and picked up a pen.

He had come with great energy, but he couldn’t think of what to write.

After a brief moment of thought, Paul moved his hand.

“I’m, sorry… My companion is also reflecting a lot… I’m sorry… Paul…”

‘Will this do?’

Paul felt sorry for Caravan, so he rummaged through his bag.

Inside his bag were several things that he didn’t need but that others would be happy to receive.

The guild members liked them too… so wouldn’t Caravan, an alchemist, like them even more?

Rolling something the size of a fist in his hand, Paul approached the counter.

“Excuse me, please give me a box too! About this big!”

“That will be 10 silver and 50 copper.”

He put the gift and the letter inside the box, quickly finished wrapping it, and then went back to the counter.

“Here you go! Please deliver it. The recipient is [Caravan], and the sender is [Paul]!”

“Yes, that will be a total of 60 silver and 30 copper. Is there anything else you’d like to request?”

“No, no, that’s all!”

Paul quickly finished paying, gave a proper goodbye, and then left the post office.

‘I hope Caravan likes it…!’

‘But now, I’m really going to the housing! I’ll leave Khan there and log out, and that’s it!’

“This way, this way~!”

Paul walked ahead as if running, and Khan followed behind him.

The alley they were passing through became more and more deserted, and soon, there was not a single person around except for the two of them.

The chattering of people could be heard faintly from a great distance.

“And if you go this way, ta-da! It’s full of cute cats!”

As soon as they turned the corner, Paul spread his hands wide and pointed to an empty space between the densely packed houses.

There, a bunch of cats were stretched out under the shade of a building, avoiding the sun.

Paul took out some cat fish from his bag, handed them out, and then started moving again.

“Bye bye! I’ll be back later!”

The cats meowed as if in response to Paul’s words.

After passing through who knows how many more maze-like alleys, when even the faint presence of people could no longer be felt, Paul stopped.

“And this is my house!”

What he pointed to was a door that seemed to be hidden among several houses.

If Paul hadn’t pointed to it with his hand while speaking, one would have easily missed it and just passed by.

“It’s a little messy, but come on in.”

Paul said, opening the door as if it were a matter of course.

The inside of the house was pitch black.

Only a long line of light from the entrance faintly illuminated the interior.

Paul strode inside and called out cheerfully into the darkness.

“I’m home, Gor! Anything unusual?”

Then, a young voice shot out from inside.

“You brat! Why are you so late? Do you know how worried I was?!”

“I don’t think I’m that late…”

Paul scratched his chin awkwardly at the scolding.

Saying let’s go in, Paul took Khan’s hand.

He muttered to himself, “It’s too dark. I told you to leave a light on,” and then took out a lamp from his bag.

“Why do you keep going to that cursed land! Why do you keep going! Stop going now!”

Thump, thump, small footsteps were getting closer to the two.

“Actually, I don’t have to go there anymore.”

“Huh? What’s going on. You were so obsessed with that place…”

“The thing is…”

The small footsteps stopped in front of the two.

“I just brought him here~”

“You crazy b*stard!”

What appeared under the light was a small goblin with a face full of horror, looking this way.

The goblin’s small hand, peeking out from between its robes, trembled as it pointed a finger at Paul.

“Hah…! I knew you were a weirdo from the beginning… But what on earth did you bring?! It’s ominous, you brought something very ominous! And into my house!”

“You know, Gor… I’m sleepy…”

“Hey, hey!”

Before he could finish his words, Paul fell forward.

Fortunately, just before his face hit the floor, Khan wrapped his arms around his waist and held him, but Paul was already asleep.

It was a forced logout.

***

“Really… you’re sleeping like this…?”

The goblin with its characteristic green skin muttered blankly at the sight of Paul, who was limply held by Khan’s waist.

“Are you really sleeping?”

This goblin, called ‘Gor’, ‘Gorgon’, felt like he was going to go crazy.

‘He suddenly made a fuss about going to the cursed land, then disappeared before I could stop him, making this good goblin worry himself sick.

And then, after coming back after a long time, what does he say? He just brought it here? Are you kidding me! No, why is he talking as if he picked up a stray dog or cat!

What on earth did he really pick up! I barely managed to kick out the imps he brought last time…!’

‘And at least they were on the cute side, but this one in front of me…’

Gorgon glanced at Khan.

It had a human form, but it was probably not a human, something was standing in front of him.

Didn’t Paul feel it?

Did he really not feel this oppressive aura that made one shudder just by looking at it!

It was cool, creepy, and it tried to draw out the deep-seated fear within.

…But to fall asleep, leaving him alone with such a being?

At Paul’s sudden act of falling asleep, Gorgon felt a deep anger welling up from within.

‘I can’t even hit that d*mn elf!’

His neck automatically tensed up.

And it wasn’t like he would wake up even if he shook him now.

Once Paul fell asleep, it would take at least two or three days for him to wake up.

When it was long, it was even longer than that.

So, in the suffocating silence, Gorgon had to endure the urge to run away and watch the unknown being’s every move.

“…”

“…”

‘Ah, I’m going crazy.’

Gorgon resolved to slap that back of his when Paul opened his eyes.

Then he felt a little better.

“Phew…”

Gorgon picked up the [Spirit Lamp] that Paul had dropped when he fell asleep.

He glanced inside the lantern, where the flame of the spirit, Salamander, dwelled.

It seems that ill-tempered lizard is not here.

“Well, we can’t just leave that guy like this, so follow me… sir.”

“Yes.”

As Gorgon picked up Paul’s lamp and led the way, Khan held Paul in his arms.

He checked once to see his chest, which was sleeping without any movement, faintly rising and falling.

He had briefly suspected that he might have died again, but it seemed that was not the case.

Khan followed the small goblin walking ahead.

The tiny goblin, who came up to Paul’s calves, walked with its short legs as if running, and then tripped over its own feet and fell forward.

Splat!

“Oof!”

One of Khan’s eyebrows, who was watching from behind, shot up.

It was a look of someone seeing something very pathetic, but since it was covered by a mask, Gorgon couldn’t see his expression.

Nevertheless, Gorgon felt embarrassed and quickly got up.

“It’s, it’s a little messy, you know?”

Saying that, Gorgon pushed the junk rolling on the floor to the corner with his foot.

Not long after, Gorgon stopped again.

Khan also stopped, following him.

Gorgon turned his head awkwardly and pointed the lamp at his feet, saying.

“There are stairs from here, so watch your step, okay.”

At that, Khan thought that the structure of this house was very strange.

From the outside, it was clear that there was space above, but inside, there were only stairs leading down.