Chapter 53: Tim

Kalanfur.

A small town near Hegu Town.

There was no difference from the countless small human gathering points within the Servia Kingdom.

The river was shallow, far from reaching the conditions for shipping, only enough for the women in town to wash clothes and pour dirty water.

It didn't produce any rare specialties, and no large mineral veins were found in the surroundings that could support the town's economy.

Even because it was close to the Mist Forest, the number of monsters in the wilderness around the town was denser than in other areas, and the travel of caravans was exceptionally dangerous.

To some extent, if Hegu Town didn't have that perfect terrain of being surrounded by mountains on three sides and easy to defend and hard to attack, and was further away from the Mist Forest.

Then Kalanfur would be what it is now.

Fortunately, it was precisely because of "Hegu Town," an "adventurer heavy town" that had an Adventurer Association and provided a large amount of tax to the kingdom's province every year.

Kalanfur, which surrounded it like a satellite city, could be crowned with the suffix of "town" instead of "village" by sucking blood.

It didn't completely decline.

The distance of only four or five days back and forth from Hegu Town, and the relatively flat terrain around it, made it a temporary stop and rest point for many adventurers and caravans.

It could be said without any taboo that 70% of Kalanfur's annual tax revenue came from the generous adventurers passing through the town.

But on the other hand, it was like a delicious but invisibly health-affecting sweet water.

Those adventurers who walked on the edge of a knife, whose high income was accompanied by huge risks, and who needed to vent the pressure in their hearts in various ways after every mission.

While giving the town a bright future, they also bred countless filth in the shadows behind them.

On the west side of Kalanfur, at the end of a street that looked a bit desolate.

Was a small tavern named "Full Bag of Gold."

The simple and unadorned shop name, and the pattern of a money bag filled with gold coins on the sign.

While expressing the tavern owner's good wishes, it also implicitly revealed the functions it possessed.

*Clatter clatter... *

In the air filled with alcohol and hormones, was the crisp sound of dice being shaken.

The soft, slightly yellow light, accompanied by the warmth of the fireplace, was like the quilt in the early morning of winter, making people unconsciously immerse themselves in it.

The originally spacious and bright tavern hall had become narrow and cramped because of the dense crowd in front of the gambling table.

But it had also become a place of fanaticism and excitement.

Unlike a big city like Niumu, full of nobles and intellectuals who had read books.

Kalanfur didn't have a large horse farm that cost a lot of money to build and maintain; and few people had the heart to play a game of Dragon Chess, which was interesting but had complex rules.

These low-level adventurers just used the simplest and most direct way to vent the greed in their hearts in endless stimulation and game theory.

"Four, five, two..."

Tim stared dead at the dice on the card table before him, his sweaty face showing a focus he hadn't even shown years ago in the wilderness when facing that Gnoll Hunter.

"Eleven points, fuck!"

Without any intention of restraining his volume, the curses filled with dissatisfaction dissolved into the noise of the gamblers around like water droplets into the sea.

The money that originally belonged to him was ruthlessly taken away.

Tim touched the somewhat shriveled money bag at his waist, his expression hesitant.

As a former adventurer, the high-risk, high-reward work had allowed him to save a considerable amount of savings in just over a dozen years.

Even if he had no income now, he could still live a decent life in Kalanfur with this money, and even spend his old age in peace.

It was just that the income far exceeding ordinary civilians during his adventurer period, and the bad habits formed in a high-pressure environment, had long made him accustomed to the days of being generous and living a drunken life in the tavern.

In just a few years, the savings that were enough for a whole family to live beautifully had been squandered.

Now, he wasn't much richer than an ordinary porter in the city.

"Hey, finished? Is it my turn?"

Behind him, the gamblers crowding and waiting to get to the table urged impatiently.

Tim turned his head fiercely, his red eyes showing a fierce look that he had only shown when fighting monsters in the past.

"What's the rush!? Get lost!"

The noisy shouting filled with dissatisfaction disappeared instantly, replaced by the back of the other party shrinking their head and looking for another gambling table, vaguely hearing complaints and muttering:

"Just a poor ghost, what are you pretending for, even..."

Perhaps it was the other party's words that stimulated Tim's heart, which had become increasingly sensitive due to his embarrassed life,

or perhaps it was the gold and silver luster of the pile of money opposite the table that was particularly eye-catching.

He gritted his teeth, his flushed face filled with the madness unique to gamblers.

*Bang! *

The shriveled money bag was slapped fiercely on the table.

*Spit—*

A mouthful of saliva with a hint of alcohol was spat on the stone floor.

The cold wind at night made Tim subconsciously tighten his tattered coat, and the money bag at his waist was empty.

"Fuck, if I had known, I would have chased that hand, otherwise I would have definitely won it back by now!"

He reviewed the scene at the card table with deep unwillingness.

As if as long as he was given one more chance, he could win back everything he lost.

His legs moved mechanically, and under his feet was the road he was most familiar with.

In a trance, he had already returned to his doorstep.

This was a two-story small building, and there was even a small garden behind it.

The location was also quite good, only a few dozen minutes away from the town center.

It was precisely because of Tim's work as an adventurer that he was able to buy this kind of house in his middle age.

Suddenly coming back to his senses.

His lips moved slightly, vaguely feeling his mouth dry.

He pushed the door and entered.

What came into view first was a petite and cute figure.

"Daddy, you're back!"

Accompanied by a childish girl's voice like a silver bell, Beth flew into Tim's arms.

The small head rubbed against her father's collar, which was a child's deep attachment to her parents.

Tim gently stroked his daughter's smooth golden hair and carefully picked her up.

Suddenly, as if remembering something, his expression was suddenly annoyed, full of apology:

"Sorry, little Beth, Daddy forgot the pancakes you love most."

"I'll buy them for you tomorrow, okay?"

"It's okay, Daddy!"

A hint of disappointment appeared on the girl's face, but then she was afraid that her father would think she was angry, so she shook her small head with a smile and said sensibly.

*Thud—*

"Beth, come to eat."

The steaming tray was placed on the table, making a cold sound.

A woman with fair skin and a coiled hairstyle, while untying her apron, called out to the girl.

But her gaze didn't look at Tim, who was holding his daughter, as if he didn't exist.

And the guilty man just laughed and walked toward the dining table.

"Coming."

He said so.

At the dining table, the girl with golden hair was lively telling her mother what friends she had made today and what had happened.

And the woman with the coiled hairstyle also listened to the other party's words patiently and seriously, and occasionally asked a few more questions.

Tim didn't say a word, just lowered his head and drank the meat soup spoonful by spoonful in silence.

"Went again?"

Suddenly, the gentle tone when his wife was chatting with his daughter became cold and short.

He knew she was asking him.

The spoon in his hand paused, Tim lowered his head and nodded imperceptibly.

No scolding.

Tim only heard a sigh coming from across the dining table.

"Mom and Dad miss little Beth, I plan to take her back to the countryside to live for a while."

Tim looked up fiercely, his expression stunned.

"Don't, don't! I will earn money! Just a little capital, just a little! I can definitely win it back."

Facing his promise, his wife just looked at him coldly.

She didn't say a word.

Tim felt increasingly anxious.

"I, adventure... right! I can still go out and take missions, it will get better, it definitely will! I promise!"

The atmosphere at the dining table fell into silence.

For a long time, his wife sighed again and took out a bulging money bag from her somewhat worn-out pocket.

She placed it gently on the table.

"This is a little money I've saved up working as a laundry worker during this time."

"Whether it's for maintaining equipment, continuing the old line of work, or taking it to tidy up your appearance and find a job..."

"Enough, do as you please."

"I'm going to wash the dishes."

His wife stood up slowly, tidied up the plates on the table, and walked toward the kitchen.

Tim stared at the money bag in front of him, speechless for a long time.

Suddenly, his clothes were pulled gently.

He turned his head to look.

He saw little Beth, who had stopped talking since just now because she felt the cold atmosphere at the dining table.

At this time, she was lifting her small head, looking sensible, and said carefully:

"Daddy, don't need to buy pancakes tomorrow."

"Beth, doesn't like to eat them."

The next day, just as the sky was beginning to brighten.

Tim left home early, with the money bag his wife left him tucked in his arms.

As a former adventurer with experience fighting many monsters.

Even if he didn't step into the Mist Forest, just in this town that wasn't very dangerous.

There were many jobs he could do.

It was just that, after so many years of decadence, the sharpness of fighting to the death while bathing in monster blood had long been worn away.

Even if he used the money his wife saved to change into a decent outfit.

The twilight air on his body, and the reputation that had long spread in the relevant circles.

Made Tim repeatedly rejected.

By dusk, the sky gradually darkened.

Tim walked home alone, looking tired.

He knew that with his current conditions, it was not easy to find a job with satisfactory pay.

It was definitely not something that could be progressed in a day or two.

But...

Recalling the cold faces of those people when they rejected him just now.

Tim couldn't help but grit his teeth and hate:

"Each one of them putting on airs in front of me, ten years ago, I..."

"Money, isn't it just a bit of money?"

"I earned more than 10 gold in one mission back then!"

He was immersed in his own fantasy, but his legs seemed to carry some kind of muscle memory.

Obeying the deepest desires in his heart.

One step, one step...

When Tim reacted, he was already standing in front of that familiar gate.

Warm and bright light, accompanied by the intoxicating aroma of wine and noise, flowed out from the crack in the door.

His expression was dazed, and his eyes were filled with some indescribable emotion.

He subconsciously raised both hands and pushed the door slowly.

In the house that was cleaned and tidy, but looked a bit embarrassed because of the empty furnishings inside.

His wife looked through the window at the sky that had completely darkened outside.

On the distant street, the figure that should have been home long ago had not appeared as usual.

She lowered her head and stopped sighing.

Just silently packing up the luggage.

"Beth, are all the clothes packed?"

"Packed, Mommy! But Daddy he..."

"Sleep, we'll set off at dawn tomorrow. Grandpa and Grandma miss you."

"Hmm... okay."

*Bang! *

The door of the two-story small building was pushed open fiercely.

Tim's face remained flushed with excitement after a night of excitement, and he returned home under the bright sunlight outside.

He was also carrying a bag of exquisitely packaged pancakes.

"Hahaha, little Beth, look what Daddy brought back for you?"

The petite figure that would laugh and rush up to greet him every night no longer appeared, and there was no sound of fireworks from the spatula rubbing in the kitchen.

Only his high-pitched and excited voice echoed in the empty house.

Seeming to realize something.

The paper bag in his hand fell to the ground, he called out, pushed open every door in the house, and even the wardrobe was opened for careful inspection.

The originally excited expression gradually solidified.

Until the sun set again, sitting in the messy living room, Tim finally gradually recovered from that incomparably empty and unbearable emotion.

A determination that hadn't been seen for many years appeared on his face.

*Clatter-bang! *

The old wooden box covered in dust was lifted from the basement to the living room by him.

Finding the keyhole with difficulty in the dust, inserting, rotating, opening.

What appeared before his eyes was a set of half-body scale armor with faint traces of rust, and two metal short swords that were no longer sharp.

Gently touching, feeling the familiar cool touch on its surface.

Tim touched the bulging money bag in his arms again, which made him feel incomparably uneasy.

Muttering in his heart:

"This money, buying a new set of equipment is definitely not enough, but taking these old things of mine to the blacksmith shop for maintenance is completely sufficient."

"I wonder if the captain and the others..."

*Knock knock knock—*

A knock on the door sounded suddenly.

An unbelievable look appeared on Tim's face, and he rushed to the door in a panic.

Even if he accidentally stumbled, he got up in a mess.

*Creak! *

The wooden door was pushed open fiercely from the inside out.

Tim's originally surprised face was stunned for a moment.

Looking at the familiar figure outside the door, he subconsciously said:

"Captain?"

What appeared before his eyes was a middle-aged man who was also no longer young.

But compared to the decadent and listless Tim, the other party was exceptionally energetic.

Fierce temperament, burly figure, and he was even wearing a set of well-maintained armor.

"Captain, why are you here?" Tim squeezed a smile on his face and stepped aside to let him in, "Please come in!"

Unexpectedly, this captain of his former adventurer squad stood still, just glanced at him with a frown, and said coldly:

"A newcomer came to the squad recently, there's not enough room, I went to Hegu Town and helped you cancel your name in the squad."

"Anyway, you don't do this line of work anymore, right?"

As he spoke, the man took out a money bag from the backpack behind him and threw it to Tim.

"Still have missions, won't bother you."

"See you again if there's a chance."

*Creak-bang. *

The door was closed slowly.

Tim sat alone at the dining table.

The dim light shone gently on him through the window behind him.

Without any waves, his face, which was so calm that it was a bit terrifying, was shrouded in shadows, and his specific expression could not be seen.

He just stared quietly at the half-old armor on the table in front of him, which hadn't even had time to wipe off the dust.

His fingertips twitched slightly.

Pawnshop,

The scale armor and two short swords were thrown onto the table without mercy.

Exchanged for a money bag with gold light flashing inside.

Tavern,

Tim's face flushed red, roaring, his bloodshot eyes reflecting the shaking dice cup.

As if even his soul had been pushed to the card table together.

Late at night,

Tim reeked of alcohol, staggering on the empty street.

Muttering something in his mouth, not knowing what he was muttering.

*Bang! *

A strong force came from in front of him, and Tim fell to the ground fiercely.

"%#￥% (curse words)!"

He cursed vaguely, turned his head, which was a bit dizzy due to alcohol paralysis, and only saw a burly figure walking away quickly.

Getting up with difficulty, just thinking about finding trouble with the other party.

But on the hand he used to support the ground, a strange touch suddenly came.

It was a thin book made of strange skin.

The cover had no words.

Only in the corner, a pattern of a white human skull was printed.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 54 =====