The nearest town to Bayek was called Doud, a relatively bustling place with nearly every kind of facility—schools, town hall, police station, factories, the works.
All sorts of horse-drawn carriages rolled through the streets, and people wearing instantly recognizable class-based clothing filled the sidewalks. The buildings lining the roads had a vaguely Lolita-style architecture that made Glen, stepping in from Bayek, feel a little dizzy.
Compared to creepy, dead-end Bayek, this place felt like a different world.
He'd seen images of it in Dylan's memories, but experiencing it firsthand was something else entirely.
Seems busier than usual today… Something happening? Glen quickly adjusted and noticed the difference, but he wasn't too surprised—Dylan's memories included a few similar spikes in crowd size, usually from traveling circuses or festivals. Glen wasn't interested in those.
He bought small amounts of veggies from a few produce stalls, and after that, only two copper coins were left in his pocket.
Need to figure out how to make money… Glen, arms full of bags, walked back the way he came with an easy stride.
Suddenly, he reached out and steadied a teenage boy who was about to fall.
"Thank you, sir," the boy said sincerely.
Glen nodded slightly.
Another teen's voice piped up nearby, "Myer, you really didn't have to rush like that. Berlin's just standing over there—we'll see him sooner or later."
Glen glanced over and saw five young people approaching with smiles—three boys, two girls. The speaker was the taller boy among them.
"That's Sir Berlin, the great knight who defeated a Rank-3 vampire! I've only heard teachers talk about him. Aren't you excited to see him?" Myer gave an embarrassed glance at one of the girls—a blonde—and explained.
"You should still be careful. Getting hurt would be bad…"
The group soon walked off, their voices fading into the crowd.
Glen recognized them—well, Dylan did. They didn't know Dylan, but they sometimes crossed paths when he visited Doud. Glen had noticed them mainly because those two girls were really pretty and had left a deep impression on the old Dylan. Back when his father was alive and the family was rich, Dylan would've tried to hit on them for sure.
But post-family-crash Dylan had lost all that pride and was swamped in insecurity.
Sir Berlin? So the crowd's here for him today? Dylan had no memory of the guy, so Glen shrugged and kept walking, hugging his bags tighter.
…
Clad in gleaming silver armor with a red cape embroidered in gold thread, Sir Berlin looked dignified and steady, exuding a deep, imposing presence.
That was Myer's first impression—close enough to what he'd imagined.
Berlin rode alone on a silver-armored white horse, with two neat columns of knight-soldiers behind him. At the front, two soldiers held tall banners bearing the kingdom's emblem, flapping in the wind.
Amid cheers from the townsfolk and flirtatious comments from swooning girls, Berlin's procession marched in step toward the quarters arranged by the mayor.
"Deyamera, look! That's definitely the Riels Greatsword Teacher mentioned—so cool! And that must be the White Lion Spear with anti-demon power…" Myer said excitedly, tugging the taller boy and pointing at the broadsword on Berlin's back and the twin pistols at his waist.
"We know, we know. The teacher didn't just tell you Berlin's legends—we all grew up on his stories. It's awesome to finally see him in person. He looks incredibly strong!" Deyamera was also hyped—for teens their age, legendary heroes had a massive pull.
"I'm gonna be just like Sir Berlin someday!" said a red-haired, slightly chubby boy.
"Worry about passing the Teacher's exam in a few days first, Bok," said a pretty girl with a wide-brimmed soft hat, golden hair, blue eyes, and sharp features, smiling.
The group laughed.
"Perns, don't bring that up—you killed my mood…" Bok scratched his head in mock complaint.
More laughter.
"Alright, stop teasing Bok, he's working hard," said another cute girl with brown hair, stopping the ribbing.
The boys eased off, and Bok gave her a grateful look. "Thanks, Laila."
She smiled. "Study hard, you'll pass the teacher's exam."
…
At Doud's Knight's Inn, Berlin's whole squad was staying. Enthusiastic townsfolk were kept outside by the police so the knights could rest.
The mayor, an elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed respectably, smiled, and stepped forward as Berlin dismounted.
"Honored Sir Berlin, we've prepared rooms for you. This way, please."
Berlin nodded. "No need for such fuss. We'll only be here a few days, checking for traces of those two wanted werewolves. We have more important matters beyond."
The mayor's face changed, tinged with fear. "Sir Berlin, those werewolves might appear here? Please ensure the townsfolk's safety!"
"No need to worry, Mayor. Those two are just low-tier werewolves with diluted bloodlines—limited threat to you. Even if we don't find them, a few officers with guns can handle them if you encounter them." Berlin's calm voice inspired confidence.
The mayor relaxed a little.
…
Walking back to Bayek, Glen mulled over dinner plans while scanning his surroundings.
As the road grew more remote, fewer travelers appeared, until a lone, unfamiliar figure emerged in the distance.
Glen slowed, eyes fixed on the figure.
Another monster? … He stayed cool and approached slowly.
As the figure came into focus, Glen recognized a familiar scent—the scent of Bayek. Must be another townsfolk, though Dylan had never seen him.
The man wore gray-black coarse linen and a strange turban, darker skin, heavy dark circles under his eyes, expression blank—looked like a guy who never smiled.
He was facing away from Glen, left hand carrying a bundle, meaning he'd been shopping too. By his feet lay a figure sprawled in the weeds; Glen saw it clearly as he drew nearer.
"Sir, are you also from Bayek?" Glen asked cautiously.
The man turned his head and gave Glen a blank nod.
Not much of a talker… Glen paused, glanced at the unmoving body, then asked quietly, "You kill him?"
The man shook his head.
So what's the situation? Glen was puzzled.