St Chaos Healer

Ch 89 - A Way Out

I stepped into the flimsy town near the southern border of the Zephinya Kingdom, a place that stood in stark contrast to the big city of the nation. The buildings were weathered, their wooden frames creaking under the weight of time and wind. The streets bustled with merchants hawking monster parts, weapons, and other wares to travelers and adventurers alike. The air was thick with the scent of roasted monster meat and the faint tang of smoke from nearby forges. This was where the civilized world met the untamed wilds—a place where people came to disappear, to slip through the cracks of the kingdom and vanish into the unknown.

I had been on the run for five days, my body aching and my mind racing with every step. The memory of the dragon's appearance and the terror it had instilled in me was still fresh, haunting my thoughts. I couldn't afford to stop, not until I was far beyond the borders of this kingdom. The southern gate was my only hope, but getting past it was proving far more difficult than I had anticipated.

The main gate loomed in the distance, a towering structure of stone and iron that marked the edge of the Zephinya Kingdom. Guards patrolled the area with sharp eyes and hands resting on the hilts of their swords. Mages stood at the ready, their presence a reminder of the kingdom's iron grip on order. They scrutinized every traveler, checking papers and belongings with a level of thoroughness that made my stomach churn.

I crouched behind a stack of crates near the edge of town, my hood pulled low to obscure my face. The walls stretched endlessly across the mountainous terrain, their surfaces etched with glowing arrays that pulsed faintly in the dim light. These arrays were designed to keep monsters out—and people like me in.

Beyond the walls lay the no man's land, a wild and lawless expanse teeming with monsters and adventurers. It was a place where strength ruled and the weak perished, governed by no nation or law. For someone like me, it was the perfect place to disappear.

But getting there was another matter entirely.

I glanced around, scanning the area for any possible way out. The gate was out of the question—there was no way I could get past the guards without drawing attention. The walls were too high to climb, and the arrays would likely fry me to a crisp if I tried to tamper with them.

My only option was to find another way.

I knew there were always groups smuggling goods—and sometimes people—across the border. I just needed to find information about them without alerting the guards. The best place to gather such intel was the local tavern.

But before I could head there, I needed money. In this town, the most important thing was currency, and the coins minted by the Bastion of Rugged Adventurers and Vanguards of Eldoria—BRAVE—were the standard. BRAVE ruled the no man's land, their influence so vast that their currency was accepted across nations. After the Church of Virtues, BRAVE held power rivaling even the nine great nations, including Zephinya.

I pulled out a cloth bag from my pack and made my way to the market. The place was alive with activity, with stalls selling everything from monster parts to weapons and armor. I headed straight for the meat market, where the smell of fresh game filled the air.

Approaching a bored-looking shopkeeper, I put on a pleasant smile. "Good evening, sir. I've got some fresh meat to sell. Interested?"

The old man raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? What've you got, kid?"

I pulled out a dozen fish I had caught downhill. They were still fresh, their scales glinting in the dim light.

The shopkeeper inspected them, his expression unreadable. "Larkfish, huh? They're in good shape. A decent haul. How much are you asking for the batch?"