Aiden let out a quiet breath. "Now, I just need to earn more money."
With that decided, he left the inn and made his way through the town. The streets were narrow and uneven, the dirt packed hard by countless footsteps. Wooden houses leaned toward each other as if sharing secrets, their walls patched with old planks and clay. This was a poor town, there was no hiding that, but it felt alive in its own rough way.
Before long, Aiden arrived at a squat, weathered building near the center of town. A crooked wooden board hung above the entrance, carved with faded characters. This was the request hall, the place where townsfolk posted jobs and offered rewards to anyone willing to take the risk.
Inside, the air was noisy and cramped. A large board covered one wall, plastered with yellowed papers, requests written in uneven handwriting, some already torn down, others hanging by a corner. A few guards, hunters, and desperate-looking locals stood around, discussing jobs in low voices.
The moment Aiden stepped in, the chatter thinned.
Heads turned. Eyes followed him.
Someone whispered, not quite quietly enough, "Isn't that the guy with the strong subordinate?"
Another person glanced at him, then nudged his friend. "Yeah, that's him. The one who helped kill the Stoneclaw Bear."
Aiden felt the stares, but he kept his expression calm and walked forward as usual. To his surprise, people began to step aside, making room for him. A few even nodded or smiled.
"Sir Aiden."
"Thanks again for last night."
"Because of you, the road is finally safe."
He acknowledged them with small nods, feeling a bit awkward. Praise wasn't something he was used to.
He stopped in front of the request board and scanned the papers. Just as he expected, the rewards were small, one silver coin, two at most. Some even offered payment in food instead of money.
Still, for a town this poor, these rewards meant a lot.
Aiden's eyes moved carefully from one request to another. Hunting beasts, escorting merchants, clearing dangerous paths. None of them were glamorous, but all of them paid.
For the next three days, Aiden did nothing but take on requests.
From morning until late afternoon, he moved between the request hall, the roads outside town, and the nearby forests. Escorting small merchant caravans. Driving away wild beasts. Clearing blocked paths. None of the jobs were difficult, especially with his undead handling most of the danger while he stayed in the background.
Little by little, his name spread.
By the second day, people no longer whispered when they saw him, they greeted him openly. By the third, townsfolk would wave as he passed, some even offering water or cheap food out of gratitude. To them, Aiden wasn't just another outsider anymore. He was someone reliable, someone strong.
When he counted his earnings that night, he had exactly twenty silver coins. In a poor town like this, that was a small fortune.
That evening, as Aiden rested in his room at the inn, a knock sounded on his door.
Knock. Knock.
Aiden straightened. "Come in."
The door opened, and the head captain of the town guard stepped inside. He was the same man who had led the hunt against the Stoneclaw Bear.
The captain clasped his fists together and bowed slightly. "Sir Aiden."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "Captain. What brings you here?"
The man smiled, polite and respectful. "I won't beat around the bush. The mayor would like to meet you."
"The mayor?" Aiden repeated.
"Yes," the captain said. "You've helped this town more than anyone in recent memory. Escorting caravans, dealing with beasts, keeping the roads safe. The mayor wishes to thank you personally."
The captain hesitated for a moment, then continued, lowering his voice slightly.
"There's more. The mayor also wants to commission a job from you. The reward… will be five gold coins."
Aiden's steps paused for just a heartbeat.
Five gold coins.
His eyes flashed, though his expression remained calm on the surface. In this town, five gold coins was an absurd amount, enough to change a person's life entirely.
"Then," Aiden said smoothly, "lead the way."
The captain nodded and turned, guiding him through the town. They passed narrow streets and familiar faces, but this time the people didn't just greet Aiden, they watched with curiosity. Being escorted by the head captain was not an everyday sight.
The mayor's residence stood near the center of town, larger than any other building around it. Though still modest by any real standard, it was well maintained. The wooden walls were reinforced, the roof recently repaired, and two guards stood watch at the entrance, spears held straight.
The captain announced their arrival, and the guards immediately stepped aside.
Inside, the air was cleaner, the floor swept smooth. Simple decorations lined the walls, nothing extravagant, but everything spoke of careful order.