Chapter 136

"Enjoy your meal." Nina placed a bowl of bibimbap on the table. "It's not enough to cover the cost of accommodation, but at least it's a small favor."

“A meal like this is a lifesaver.” Denos hesitated, shaking the bottle in his hand. “Should I drink it? Dad said he’s going to take out his entire wine collection and drink it all up since he’s about to die. I gave him this bottle before I left.”

"A black bottle, the smell of grapes. By the way, do they grow grapes here? That's great, I'll see if I can buy a bunch at the market tomorrow." Nina glanced at it and said casually, "But people are really strange, they don't even have enough food for themselves and they still want to make wine. There should be fewer people living like that."

“But wine is something that can make you feel a little relaxed, and it’s incredibly expensive,” Denos said, clutching the cork. “And it’s been opened. Couldn’t you have given me an unopened one?”

As he said this, he unscrewed the bottle, and the aroma of the wine filled the entire room.

To be honest, it's a pretty good place to stay. Denos really hadn't expected to be living such a comfortable life just because he came back.

However, to be fair, he was someone with some connections, and after the old man died, he was his sole heir. His will would likely leave his property to his wife, to be managed by Denos until she came to claim it.

Perhaps it was because he hoped his wife would receive a sum of money that would bring her a smile that he was somewhat materialistic throughout his life. Fortunately, he was a good person at heart; being a little greedy was hardly a flaw.

Denos took out two oak cups, poured some for Nina, and then put the caps back on.

“At this rate, drinking it slowly, it seems like it could last a month,” Denos said casually. “But I don’t really like this stuff. I can only manage three barrels of ale at most.”

"Me too."

"Didn't the Demon Hunter team train your drinking capacity?"

"It was probably one more cup than when I left."

"Haha, then you should definitely pursue further studies." Denos raised his glass. "If nothing unexpected happens tonight, there will be an ice storm. This drink will help warm you up. Speaking of which, the weather here is quite stable. It's scorching hot in the morning and freezing cold at night. The humidity and dryness also alternate. It's indeed a good place for development."

“Yes, it’s a great place.” Nina took the cup. “Thanks to you, I also submitted my application for a teaching assistant position here. If all goes well, I should be able to get a full-time position in two years.”

“I’m quite surprised. Does this long-term plan mean you don’t intend to go out again?” Denoston paused and said, “I thought you were planning to go out and try your luck again before the end of the year.”

“I’m not going out. It’s fine here.” Nina paused and said, “I can be a teacher, and then save up enough money here to buy a house. I can live a simple life as a human being with pride and humility.”

“That’s quite a change.” Denost paused. “You weren’t like this before.”

“After all, we are human beings, and not clergy. We are just ordinary humans, humans who know a little bit of sorcery.” Nina said softly, “I feel sad for my previous pride, after all, it’s just a kind of sorcery that is nothing more than trickery. It’s a skill that can barely protect us and cannot be relied upon.”

In the instant of pause, the two daggers clashed together, producing a crisp sound.

“This isn’t useless knowledge. Strapping a dagger to your wrist with a scabbard—that’s exactly what an assassin does.” Denos sheathed his pocket sword. “This thing is terrifying. I hope you’ll put it away here.”

“Suddenly attacking an unsuspecting girl is really not how a man should act.” Nina frowned, then put away the dagger as well.

All of this was caused by the candle flame on the table flickering slightly, which disturbed the surrounding wind elements.

Both of them were sorcerers, and they both noticed at the same time that the other had launched a surprise attack.

Then this scene unfolded before our eyes: the clash of weapons between the two sides, appearing so ferocious in the firelight, like two wild beasts baring their fangs at each other.

Fortunately, both parties immediately realized it was a misunderstanding and said something somewhat embarrassed to avoid making the atmosphere so awkward.

It's a bit awkward, since right now, the level of trust between the two sides is practically negative.

Neither of them trusts the other. The previous chat and those comforting words seemed like mere attempts to get close. In reality, both are heinous criminals who would seize any opportunity to cut each other off.

But this was inevitable; Nina had just returned. This incredibly familiar place didn't resemble what she remembered.

For Denos, this was his home, but it felt utterly foreign. So foreign that he wondered if he'd fallen under a nightmare's spell to come up with such a thing.

In this environment, the slightest problem between two people can trigger an immediate fight. It's not because either side harbors ill will, but purely a subconscious reaction stemming from the unease of being in a new environment. There's no humanity, yet they manage to survive in this world.

“I’m scared.” Nina avoided Denos’s eyes. “The thought of having to be on edge like this every moment while living here makes me feel terrible. It’s like I’m being put into a birdcage.”

“Yes, I also feel resentful about spending my life in this place,” Denos said softly. “But it’s not up to us. Perhaps we should look at ourselves. Do we value life more, or is the so-called pursuit of the unknown more important?”

“Yearning? Forget it, this is just our resentment at the fact that we are human.” Nina said, downing the red wine in her wooden glass in one gulp, then slamming the glass on the table and exhaling.

"Why do you think people have to be divided so clearly?" Nina said softly. "God created us, would He really divide us into different classes based on His own preferences?"

“This is not a question for us to ask. We are already lucky enough. We have plenty of food, fine clothes, and things we can do. Others will respect us because of our skill in sorcery, and we have plenty of time.” Denos looked at Nina and said, “You must have seen many people who have been toyed with by fate and left battered and bruised.”

He paused here, then shook his head helplessly.

“Like that guy?” Nina glanced at the man lying on the chair with his limbs severed. “Are you really sure you don’t need to go find a priest?”

“No need, at least this guy won’t die.” Denos glanced at him: “This guy simply has an excess of vitality. He won’t die, he won’t grow old. But he’s pathetically weak.”

Could it be anyone else? It's Ghost Duke, lying on the chair in the back with his eyes closed.

He looks absolutely horrible. His limbs have been severed and scattered somewhere, and he's still coughing up blood. His internal organs are probably badly injured. He also has several holes in his body, plus his gouged-out eye.

Even more tragically, all his wounds are healing now, but very slowly, though much faster than a normal person. It feels as if God felt He hadn't thoroughly tormented this guy and wanted him to fully experience the pain throughout his body as he slowly recovered.

Perhaps the only good thing is that I'll faint and not feel this pain.

Perhaps he even convulses in pain in his dreams.

This thing was found in a corner of the market. Right now, everyone's not gathered together; everyone's busy with their own things. Everyone's so busy that no one cares where Ghost Duke is anymore.

Since there's nothing major happening right now, the only thing to worry about is someone lurking in the market, ready to attack unarmed individuals at any moment.

However, for anyone in the group, these bandits' acts of defiance and escape occur almost simultaneously.

For Ghost Lord, however, even the weakest robber was doomed the moment he saw him, or rather, he was doomed. After all, he was immortal; an immortal wouldn't be considered doomed.

"That's terrible." Nina glanced at her. "I bet even the person who hurt him didn't expect him to be such a monster."

“Yes, all they did was cut off his limbs. He was probably starving, or maybe they’ve always hunted humans to eat.” Denos paused. “Although I’ve often heard rumors about monsters hunting humans to eat, when I saw humans hunting humans for food, I suddenly felt that maybe I’m lucky to be alive. After all, we don’t need to hurt others to fill our stomachs.”

"That makes me sick. What kind of meat is this?"

“I don’t know. Nobody asks when you buy meat. He won’t say, and I won’t ask. Everyone can have basic dignity.”

“That’s true. If that’s the case, then we’re monsters too,” Nina said softly. “Thinking about things like this is so disillusioning. When I was studying here, I don’t know why, but I was obsessed with wanting to leave. Because even though this city is big, the outside world is much wider. Nobody wants to stay in one place forever.”

"Yes, me too. Even though my father gave me to Ark, I didn't hate him for it when I was a child. I also longed for the outside world, inexplicably longed for it. It was as if going out meant I had grown up, and as if there were mountains of treasure outside."

“One more thing in common.” Nina raised her glass. “Perhaps we should clink glasses to celebrate our shared perspective, even if it’s just from when we were kids.”

"That's true," Denos replied, clinking glasses. "What are you planning to do after dinner?"

"Me? You see, I brought luggage. There's also a notebook inside; I have a travelogue about myself that I haven't written yet."

"Oh, are you planning to publish it? If you do, I'll definitely take a look."

“It’s short, after all. Today is the end.” Nina said, looking at Denos. “I will become a teacher here at a candlelight dinner with my colleagues. And that will be the end of the story.”

"First of all, it is evening now."

“I know, but this is the only way to make it interesting.” Nina paused. “Besides, it’s been too gloomy since the afternoon, and we’ve already lit candles. This waste of resources should be exaggerated and recorded.”

"That sounds really good."

As the two were talking, they suddenly heard a knock on the door.

Almost instantly, the two sprang from the edge of the table, each taking out their own spellcasting tools and protective items such as short swords.

Despite all that talk, the gentle atmosphere was still shattered by a sudden voice. The person at the door hadn't made a sound; they had simply appeared there unexpectedly.

They're probably not human; it's always good to be prepared.

Denos tidied himself up a bit, hiding his hands behind his back to avoid being used as a tool by the enemy. After glancing at Nina, he slowly moved to the doorway.

Slowly pushing the door open, standing in the doorway was my elderly father, who was overly mentally unstable.

"I've come to see how my son is doing here." He made no attempt to conceal his intentions upon entering, raising an eyebrow at Denos standing in the doorway and casually tapping Denos's shin with his cane, making his posture more graceful.

"You're not even standing properly," he muttered, expressing his dissatisfaction. "If it weren't me who came in, I would have just kicked your leg and that would have been the end of it. Didn't Ark discipline you in this kind of situation on my behalf?"

This left Denos somewhat bewildered. Although he had a rough idea that it would be the old man, his attire tonight looked completely different.

It was his outfit for going out, with his hair tied around his head and secured on top. His beard was neatly trimmed along his chin. His body armor was a tracksuit secured to his limbs with straps. And then there was the backpack on his back—such a large backpack! What was inside it puzzled Denos.

"Dad, what's wrong with you?" Denos was completely dumbfounded. In just half a day, his father had completely transformed into a backpacker again. If it weren't for the wrinkles on his face and his rather aged skin, one would think that this guy was just a little old and not yet at the point of lying in a coffin.

“I just thought about it, and there’s nothing I can say to you from here. We have no grudges against each other, but apart from raising you, we don’t have any other relationship.” He patted Denos on the shoulder and said, “I plan to go to your mother. My position has been entrusted to you, and everyone has high hopes for you.”