Read Novel Full Chapter 409
Chapter 409
Nearby Village
Having departed from the capital, while relying on the map, we made our way towards [Foro Neem].
I did consider renting out horses to try and preserve as much of our stamina as we could but, considering we could walk all day without rest, it was actually faster for us to walk so that plan was rejected.
We began to move at an almost running pace, and while taking short breaks in the middle, we continued to move for the next 12 hours.
Around the time the sun began to set, the location Charlotte had marked for us, a village called [Inoes] came into our view.
“Oh! I can see a village from here! Is that place where we’re supposed to rest for tonight?”
“Judging by the map, that should be the [Inoes Village] so yes.”
“I thought we were moving quite fast but, it still took quite some time to get here huh. But if we’re already at the village then the runs should be close by right?”
“Yeah. [Foro Neem] is supposed to be about only an hour from here. Let’s recover our stamina at the village, and then we’ll head out to the ruins at the break of dawn tomorrow.”
“So Klaus is only an hour away from here huh!…….finally, we’re near the finish line eh?! Chris, you getting nervous yet?”
Hearing Ralf’s question, I tried putting my hand at my chest to sense my heartbeat but, surprisingly enough I didn’t feel very nervous and my heart wasn’t beating faster either.
Perhaps in part because I had already made my resolve when leaving the capital but until I finally face him and see him directly, I don’t think my emotions will waver much.
“Nah, not at all in fact. Honestly, even I feel a bit scared by how calm I feel.”
“Is that so! Damn, I’m so nervous my chest hurts almost on the other hand!”
“Don’t let it overcome you so much that you can’t even sleep or something okay? That aside……..let’s go and start negotiating to stay the night at the village first. Snow’s with us as well so, just in case if they reject us, we might have to stay the night outside.”
“Ugh, really not the night where you’d want to have to sleep outside! Snow, you better be as obedient as possible okay!”
“Aurf!!”
Afterwards, after talking over how to best negotiate, we decided that it’s best if Ralf went alone to talk first.
A woman will probably make them less cautious so perhaps Esta would have been the better choice but………
For whatever reason, Ralf had this natural ability to get along well with people very quickly so I thought he’d be the best pick. By the way, I was never even in contention.
After seeing off Ralf; me, Esta and Snow waited outside the village for about 30mins.
It was taking a bit too long even for negotiations so I started to get worried that he may have gotten in some kind of trouble but just around that time, a seemingly happy looking Ralf came running back to us from the village.
“You sure took your time. No troubles I hope?”
“Nah, I just got too engrossed in chatting with everyone that I forgot the time! They’ll let us stay by the way, so we can enter safely now!”
“Chatting, he says………I feel stupid for ever worrying. You properly explained about Snow as well right?”
“I did indeed! But it’d be difficult to let it inside the houses as they’re small so they asked if we can let it stay inside the stable instead! Snow, you okay with that?”
Hearing Ralf’s question, Snow seemed growl in a slightly dissatisfied manner but, I think even Snow understood that it was not something that could be helped so it did agree with the condition in the end.
After all, it was just one night. Refusing the offer meant staying completely outside in the forest, so even the stable was a better option than that.
Putting those two on the scales, I figure Snow took the nicer option.
“Alright then! Let’s go inside! I’ll guide you to the home of the person that’ll let us stay over!”
Following after Ralf, we made our way to our temporary resting place.
They were apparently letting us have an unused house in its entirety for the night so it seems like we’ll be able to sleep in a much better place than I originally imagined.
The stable where Snow was supposed to rest was also filled with fluffy stacks of hay to sleep on, and they must be really comfortable as Snow quickly got cozy and went to sleep.
As for our meals, I was planning on simply depending on the preserved food I had packed beforehand but, I supposed Ralf must not have been chatting for 30mins for nothing as he seemed to have gained quite the favour from the villagers……..and somehow we ended up having dinner at the village elder’s house.
“I feel like he’s hardly that different from me and yet, how the hell do you get people to like you so much so quickly? Do you have some hidden skill or something?”
“In what world am I similar to you in any way!? I’m energetic, you’re always sullen! I’m considerate, you’re rude! The only thing we have in common is that neither of us use formal language when talking, and that’s it!!”
“C’mon, you’re being unreasonable. Right, Est—–“
The moment I looked towards Esta to ask for her opinion, she instantly turned her head away.
Even Esta who always backs me up is giving this reaction………I guess Ralf is right after all.
I guess I’ll have to learn how to be a bit more considerate to other in the future as well but, well, even I know that’s never happening.
We had a nice chat while having the dinner at the village elder’s house, and we even got to hear some light news on Klaus and his party who had also gone through this village awhile back.
But they didn’t interact much with him as they simply stayed inside one of the houses and there wasn’t much else info to learn from him.
Well, if he stayed in this village, at least I know for sure that he’s definitely waiting inside [Foro Neem].
Furthermore, the village elder also said that they we were staying in the same house that they stayed in……..honestly, I’d have preferred to have NOT known that.
Making sure to not let it get to my head, we quickly went to sleep to get ready for tomorrow.