Chapter 53: Character Quest - Grace's Hometown 3
TL/Editor: Raei
Illustrations: Here
Wandering monsters are ruthless.
They've turned cruel to survive, while those that couldn't were devoured.
This wasn't the Korean Peninsula where big predators have disappeared.
It's full of wolves, cat-like creatures, and other beasts.
New adventurers often meet their end outside the tower because they underestimate these wanderers' ruthlessness.
You'd think starving creatures would be drawn towards humans, right?
But this nave thinking often ended with belongings stolen or people picked off one by one.
Of course, at the intermediate adventurer level, you could easily overpower them with just your physical abilities.
"Stay alert. Even though they're weaker than the moss wolves or helmeted deer we met in the tower, you never know what kind of tricks they might have up their sleeves."
They might run and hide, or if they're clever, they might spring a surprise attack.
They could also sense disadvantages and target the weakest among us.
This often caused panic among new adventurers, resulting in many deaths.
"But don't worry too much. With our party's level, we can handle whatever they throw at us."
"So they might catch us off guard, but ultimately, they're not very strong. Is that what you're saying?"
"Kaiden nailed it. They're weaker but harder to predict."
Even our weakest pair, Han Se-ah and Grace, can easily take down a few wandering orcs.
The outskirts of the kingdom are just a backdrop for side quests.
In gacha games, character quests are simple events that you can win with reasonably leveled characters.
At Kaiden's words, everyone felt a bit better.
They knew that as long as they were careful, these monsters weren't a threat.
In this lighter mood, Irene stood up and tasted the stew she had scooped into a small bowl.
The delicious smell of the perfectly cooked stew filled the air; everyone's stomachs rumbled in response.
"Now that the explanations are done, should we eat? It looks just right."
"Ah, thank you."
Han Se-ah took out a ladle and bowls from her inventory to serve the stew.
The perfectly cooked beans, soft potatoes, and occasional meat chunks warmed our stomachs.
It was easy to swallow.
As we sat by the fire, enjoying the warmth, the sky turned dark and the sun started to set.
One of the merchant workers came over to talk about the night watch.
"I'll stay up tonight, everyone else can get a good sleep."
"Are you sure?"
"I can stay awake for three days and nights without any problems."
We separated the tents by gender.
Grace, Han Se-ah and Irene don't seem to mind, but Kaiden seemed a bit uncomfortable.
I offered to keep watch to give her time to adjust.
But I couldn't be the night watch on every trip.
I was once the youngest in a mercenary group, so I'm used to sharing a tent.
I even had to persuade Irene, who felt sorry and hesitated, to go rest for the night.The initial posting of this chapter occurred via Ñøv€l-B!n.
"Irene, please look after Grace. You can even help her go to sleep."
"...Ah!"
Look closer, there's a reason he's following Han Se-ah
Whether it's 345 or 444, it doesnt matter sh*t lol
But Roland is basically the mc. It would be more accurate to change the stream's title to Roland.
But aren't they all male characters? Is Seok-hyun gay...?
Kim Seok-hyun, who had been stabbed by the Horned Wolf and kicked by the Full Moon Wolf before in earlier posts, managed to recruit some great companions.
As I read the envious posts from viewers, all sorts of complaints and comments were made.
It seemed that more people were climbing the tower than choosing production jobs or exploring the world outside the tower.
***
Raei Translations
***
Under the faint moonlight, as I read the posts and listened to the sounds of bugs in the grass, I heard the soft rustling of footsteps.
It wasn't someone coming from outside the camp, but rather someone quietly coming out from our side.
"...Roland?"
"Grace? What's going on?"
Grace, who had quietly come over and sat next to me, took me by surprise.
I thought Irene had taken her inside to get her to sleep, but Grace had snuck out of the tent.
Through the slightly open tent, I could see Irene sleeping soundly and... Han Se-ah pretending to sleep.
'What is she doing?'
Her acting might fool others, but to a senior adventurer able to detect an assassin hiding underground, it was clear as day.
Her furrowed brow, as if she was focusing, was one thing, but her breathing was completely different from Irene's, who was actually sleeping next to her.
While I was briefly distracted by Han Se-ah in the tent, Grace, who had been carefully observing the other night watches, came over to me.
"I can't sleep."
She doesn't merely sit next to me; she leans into me.
Without her leather armor on, the warmth radiating from her through my arm is different from the heat of the bonfire.
If the stream were live, the chat would be bombarded with lewd comments.
My body reacts instinctively.
I extend my arm towards Grace, loop it around her shoulder, and draw her nearer.
Soft...
"You should still try to sleep."
"It's okay. I just want to stay like this for a while before going inside."
"Alright. If you feel uncomfortable, let me know."
Grace rests her head on my shoulder, practically clinging to my arm.
I shift my posture to make it more comfortable for her and gently stroke her arm with my free hand.
Whether it's due to my large frame or the warmth from the bonfire, she seems to be enjoying it as her breathing gradually becomes more measured.
What's troublesome is Han Se-ah, peering through the gap in the tent.
Anyone would think she's a pervert.
Like this, time passes under the dim glow of the moonlight.
***
2/5 Enjoy the chappy!
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