Eternal Saṃsāra: The Wanderer of Worlds, Book 2

[212] Plans Messed Up, More Gods?!

Chapter 212: Plans Messed Up, More Gods?!

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The midnight moon bathed Thalindra in a cool blue glow, casting long shadows through the narrow alleys and bustling streets. Despite it being nighttime, the city was alive with activity, more than usual, its inhabitants moved with a sense of hope and well-hidden nervousness.

People who have stopped doing business due to excessive loss, returned with their stores reopened. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with the earthy aroma of spices from the bazaar, and the sounds of haggling merchants, clinking coins, and lively chatter filled the air. It seemed like a usual day before the Outer Gods had attacked.

However, that was only on the surface.

The alleys were being upturned, new houses were built, and starving people were having a feast. The Duchy was using its wealth to improve their lives already. The people were smiling, they were filled with hope and they were happy. However, deep in their hearts, there were worms of fear.

Inside a cozy, dimly lit bar tucked away in a corner of the market district, where customers gathered around wooden tables, murmuring to one another. A group of men, their faces lined with the weariness of recent hardships, clinked their mugs together in a toast.

"To the Hero's return!" one of them declared, his voice filled with fervor. "He'll save us all, you'll see."

"Aye," another chimed in, nodding vigorously. "Didn't you hear? He defeated the Phoenix God's Avatar with one blow. If anyone can turn the tide, it's him."

At a nearby table, a young woman, daughter of the inn owner, cleaned a table and wowed, "I heard he's planning to confront the demons at the poles. Imagine that, facing those monsters head-on! Even Hero Jasmine was only defending Erebia, not daring to head to the poles."

A merchant's daughter smiled wistfully. "He's our only hope. With him and his allies, we might finally see an end to this nightmare," she said. Someone like her used to dine in the finest restaurant, not in a bar, but the recent loss in her company was too deep. "Everything will go back to how it was, I'm sure."

The night was filled with chatters like that, as the morning sun began to peek at the eastern sky. The city was bathed in a warm golden glow, and the few people who were asleep also woke up.

In the bustling bazaar outside, vendors hawking their wares with renewed vigor. "Fresh fruits! Fresh fruits! Blessed by the Hero's presence!" one of them shouted, holding up a basket of ripe apples. Obviously, the last line was bullshit, Aqua's presence cast no blessing, but people still swarmed the shop like crazy.

A customer, examining a bolt of fabric, glanced up and commented to the vendor, "It's a good sign, isn't it? The Hero is here. Means we'll be safe."

"Ah, you must not be from around here," the vendor replied. Although the Hero was famous all across the world, his home city's people were more aware of his feats. A smile spread across his face. "I got elf blood, my grandmother was a dark elf, so she was alive during the hero's time. She used to tell me stories, that when the hero was alive, all remaining demons hid underground. Even ten years after his death, no demon peeked its head out in fear that the Hero's ghost would cut it into pieces!"

"Oh..."

"So yes, we will be safe. For sure."

The vendor laughed, while the customer rubbed the back of his head. Amid the sea of hopeful faces, he wasn't the only one doubtful. An older man, his face shadowed by a wide-brimmed hat, leaned against a wooden post and muttered, "But will it be alright? Can one man, even with all his power and allies, truly make a difference against such overwhelming odds?"