Map

I don’t know how big the Holy Demon Continent I’m on truly is.

Areas yet to be developed are as numerous as cow hair, so maps of the Holy Demon Continent are always incomplete.

Even more ridiculously, because each country has a different map-making method and the sold maps are not detailed, the drawing of continental maps is basically done through the cartographer’s imagination.

And the map I purchased is a masterpiece of imaginative cartography.

It’s nothing like the world map in “Grand Adventure.” Fortunately, some country names are still the same.

The Kingdom of Dawn is the country I am currently in. Glen Town is the easternmost border town of the Kingdom of Dawn.

Although it is a small town with a population of less than five thousand, due to its two secret realms and abundant resources, a large number of adventurers occasionally flock here to make a fortune.

“Is the Wind Kingdom this way?” The Wind Kingdom, Liv’s homeland, is a neighboring country to the Kingdom of Dawn. It is famous for its agriculture and is known as the granary of the Holy Demon Continent, boasting fertile black soil and beautiful scenery.

According to the distances marked on the map, if I want to return to my country, it would take nearly half a year by beast carriage, and even longer by ship. The fastest option, without a doubt, is by airship, which can reach the Wind Kingdom in less than a month.

The biggest problem facing me now is that I have no money. I’m penniless and can’t afford the exorbitant airship ticket.

Even if I solve the money problem, the journey back is fraught with danger. The reason airships are faster than land and sea routes isn’t their speed, but that they can avoid the Forest of the Dead between the Wind Kingdom and the Kingdom of Dawn, as well as the powerful sea beasts in the ocean.

Of course, airships are only slightly safer than land and sea routes. The danger posed by airborne magical beasts is no less than that on land or sea.

No matter which route I choose to return home, strength is the most important thing. At my current level of 2, I’m not even enough to be a snack for magical beasts.

I need to reach at least level twenty-something to be relatively safe.

If only there were teleportation arrays.

Feeling a bit depressed, I took a sip of water to calm my mood.

Teleportation arrays are strategic items, generally established in royal capitals and some strategic areas. Only royalty, the army, high-ranking merchants, and top-tier adventurers are qualified to use them.

As a novice adventurer like myself, let alone using one, surviving my way to the royal capital is a problem.

According to Liv’s memories, the Wind Kingdom and the Kingdom of Dawn have a friendly diplomatic relationship. Relying on my princess status, seeking help from the king would be the fastest and safest way to return home.

However, I have no proof of identity, and even my appearance has changed. How can anyone believe me? It would be a miracle if I wasn’t treated as a fraud and beaten to death.

“Sigh.” With Flora’s condition uncertain, staying in this small town is exceptionally dangerous. That madwoman might just strike me down at any moment.

Strength, I need strength!

Grumble. My stomach let out a mournful sound, and I remembered an even more serious problem—my remaining money will only last for two more days at most. If I don’t earn more money, heh, a life of eating grass roots, gnawing on bark, and sleeping under overpasses awaits me.

After settling breakfast at the inn, I headed to the Guild.

“Hey, little beauty is here.” As soon as I stepped inside, the receptionist—Ninina—flashed me with her signature smile.

I happened to meet her at the inn last night. After chatting for a while, we found we hit it off surprisingly well. We chatted until midnight, and before I knew it, we had become familiar with each other, and I learned some things about the Guild.

“Ninina, good morning.” Ninina isn’t a particularly stunning girl, but she smiles gently and cutely. She seems quite popular in the Guild, one of the few girls not infatuated with that pretty boy.

“It’s great that you’re so energetic. Although, your future days probably won’t be easy,” she said, covering her mouth and chuckling. Her smile made me want to pinch her cheeks until they swelled. This girl is definitely not as innocent as she seems.

“I’m the victim here, don’t you have any sympathy!” Regarding yesterday’s undeserved disaster, I have a bitter tale to tell.

“If you patronize my business more, I might consider sympathizing with you a little.”

Confirmed, Ninina is a money-grubber.

“Can’t you help me think of a way?”

“What way can there be? Juliet’s mother is the Guild Master. Even if she doesn’t act herself, it’s easy for her to make a move behind your back,” Ninina said, lowering her voice when mentioning Juliet, as if afraid of being overheard.

“I’m being hated by someone without doing anything, this shouldn’t be happening, it’s too unreasonable!” Last night, I hadn’t told Ninina the part where Juliet tried to kill me, but she had an “I-knew-it” expression, which made me admire her observational skills.

“Let me tell you quietly, don’t tell anyone I said this.” Ninina pretended to be mysterious, glancing around, then leaned close to my ear. “Just like I told you last night, Juliet is very tolerant, even indulgent, of Romeo B’s philandering. But, the truth isn’t quite like that.”

“Could it be…”

“Exactly that ‘could it be’! Hehe, do you want to know, do you want to know?” I think it’s probably not an illusion; I saw a golden glint in her eyes, the glint of gold coins.

“Stop beating around the bush. I’m so poor right now I can barely make ends meet.”

“Tsk, pauper. Oh well, I’ll tell you for free this time, since my kind self doesn’t want to see you suddenly die. Listen carefully, I’m only saying this once.”

Ninina’s lips were almost touching my ear, her warm breath tickling my earlobe.

“Be especially careful of special missions.”

“Special missions?”

“Mm, all adventurers below Special Rank must complete corresponding level obligation quests every year, which are assigned by the kingdom. They are generally conducted as team quests. Some of those girls who cling to Romeo B perished in these quests.”

“Are you saying that Juliet is behind all this? How is that possible? One time might be understandable, but after several times, wouldn’t Romeo B know?” A pretty boy isn’t a pig; if he can’t even see something like this, there’s a problem.

“He of course knows.”

“Huh?”

“What I’m about to say is my guess, but it has at least an 80% probability of being true. Romeo B is probably not interested anymore, in the women he has conquered, so he’s turning a blind eye to what Juliet is doing.”

“One is a philandering pretty boy, the other is a murderous lunatic woman. Aren’t they a match made in heaven? Speaking of which, if someone makes a move during a quest, who can guard against it! Wait, that’s not right. I was just being chatted up, why would they target me?”

“That, I don’t know. I guess you’re just too breathtakingly beautiful, and she’s jealous,” Ninina giggled even more merrily this time, earning an eye-roll from me.

“…”

Is being beautiful a crime!?