A Costly Rescue and a Glimpse of Despair

In Komi City, on the Central Shopping Street, Karamanda led Tang Wenxu into a boutique armor shop.

“Welcome.”

“Shopkeeper, bring out the best armor in your store,” Karamanda declared without a hint of reservation.

The armor shop owner presented a set of exquisitely crafted inner armor, inlaid with a beautiful aquamarine gemstone.

“Tang, do you like this?” Karamanda asked, casually toying with the armor as if it were a common trinket from a street stall.

“It’s quite good,” Tang Wenxu replied.

“How much?” Karamanda asked the shopkeeper.

“Three million gold coins. You see, this is forged from dragon bone, and it also possesses magical proper—” The shop owner was about to launch into the armor’s legendary origins when Karamanda cut him off.

“Here’s the cash.” Karamanda nonchalantly produced a crystal containing three million gold coins.

“Come, Tang. Try it on and let me see if it fits.” After Tang Wenxu donned the armor, Karamanda scrutinized him.

“Excellent. You look much more spirited; now you truly resemble a swordsman. Hmm, it’s decided. This is a gift for you.”

“What!” Tang Wenxu’s jaw dropped in shock. Three million gold coins, given away so casually! Good heavens, the church’s daily expenses barely amounted to one gold coin.

Once, as young Master Tang, he believed that any problem solvable with money wasn’t a problem at all. However, upon arriving in this new world, he truly grasped the immense power of money.

It was precisely due to their lack of funds that the church had been forced to subsist on meals made solely from potatoes and sweet potatoes.

He didn’t want to owe Karamanda anything.

“No!” Tang Wenxu immediately stripped off the armor. “I cannot accept something so valuable.”

“Why not?” Karamanda seemed somewhat disappointed. “Do you fear that our friendship isn’t even worth a mere three million gold coins?”

“I’m sorry…” Tang Wenxu lowered his head. He remembered his friends back on Earth who had distanced themselves once he no longer held any utility for them.

Deep down, he dreaded something. He feared friendships born of ulterior motives, and even more, he dreaded distorted friendships: one party constantly giving, the other constantly taking. If such a friendship were to end one day, both would suffer immense pain.

Seeing Tang Wenxu’s bowed head, Karamanda sighed. “That barkeeper also said that an adventurer’s work is dangerous. Wearing this could save your life in a critical moment.”

‘Death? If I were to die, Nao would surely be heartbroken. But should I accept it just for that?’

After a long period of contemplation, Tang Wenxu relented slightly, saying, “I hope our friendship can be one of equals.”

“Tang, I respect you as a friend. Here’s a compromise: wear it while on missions, then return it to me afterward. How does that sound?”

“Yes, thank you, Karamanda.”

He had no reason to refuse this proposal. Tang Wenxu believed he might have found his first trustworthy friend in this world.

Karamanda had initially intended to buy Tang Wenxu more items, but Tang Wenxu, eager to rescue the missing person, declined.

Karamanda hailed a carriage, and the two chatted casually inside. Through their conversation, Tang Wenxu learned that Karamanda was indeed a noble from another kingdom.

Karamanda, in turn, discovered from Tang Wenxu that he was not a native of the Zephyr Kingdom, but hailed from a distant land.

As he spoke, a melancholic expression crossed Tang Wenxu’s face while he gazed out the carriage window into the distance. Karamanda gently patted his shoulder.

Approximately two hours later, they finally arrived at the village where the client resided.

This was a village abandoned even by the gods. It had no church, only a few dilapidated wooden shacks cobbled together with patches. Emaciated, skeletal figures were everywhere. They seemed alive, yet one felt a gentle breeze could claim their lives.

Komi City’s architecture was grand and magnificent, brimming with prosperity and vitality. Yet, a village so close to Komi City presented a stark picture of poverty. Living under the same sun, were they truly the same species as the people in Komi City?

“Sigh…” Tang Wenxu sighed.

“Villages like this emerge from poverty every year, and every year they vanish due to disease, monsters, and other reasons. But despite all that, they continue to strive for life.” Karamanda’s demeanor was utterly serious. “Therefore, do not look at them with such pitying eyes. They are human, just like us.”

“You’re right,” Tang Wenxu nodded.

Following the commission details, they located a courtyard containing a wooden house. Opening the door, a foul stench assaulted them.

An old woman and a dairy cow were squeezed together in the single room, which was filled with cow dung.

“Hello, Granny.” After struggling to adapt to the pervasive odor, Tang Wenxu was the first to speak. “We are adventurers who came after seeing the mission request.”

“You… you’ve finally come…” The old woman was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her face as she collapsed to her knees. “My granddaughter was captured by those accursed goblins two days ago. You must save her.”

Tang Wenxu quickly helped the old woman to her feet. “Of course, that is our job.”

“And please, kill every single goblin! Leave none alive!” The old woman’s blurred eyes were now bloodshot, making her appear somewhat terrifying.

“With all due respect,” Karamanda said, “you only commissioned us to rescue your granddaughter, not to slaughter all the goblins.”

“But they abducted my granddaughter! She’s just a child!” The old woman sobbed uncontrollably. “To save my granddaughter, I’ve spent all my savings, and I haven’t eaten for two days.”

“How will you live without money?” Tang Wenxu asked, concerned.

“I won’t,” the old woman replied with a bitter smile. “As long as my granddaughter is safe, I can die. To be honest, I have a terminal illness and won’t live much longer. Not eating simply means I’ll meet the Goddess a few days earlier.”

“Granny, please eat something,” Tang Wenxu said, pulling a piece of hard bread from his pocket and offering it to her.

The old woman did not take the bread to eat it. Instead, she slapped it to the ground. “I don’t need bread! I only ask that while you save my granddaughter, you also kill all those goblins!”

At that moment, only revenge filled the old woman’s mind. If not for the goblins, she and her granddaughter would have had some savings to barely sustain themselves. But now, this last lifeline was gone.

The old woman had nothing left except for this dying dairy cow.

However, Karamanda shook his head. “We will not pity you. Your hatred has nothing to do with us. This reward is only enough to rescue your granddaughter. To kill all the goblins, you will need to pay another fee.”

“Look at what I have left! Is my old life enough? And this cow! Take whatever you can! Please, I beg you, kill those damned demons!” The old woman exclaimed, agitated.

Karamanda appeared ready to say more, but Tang Wenxu tugged at his sleeve, signaling him to hold his tongue.

“In any case, we won’t do anything extra,” Karamanda said, turning. “Let’s go, Tang.”

Tang Wenxu followed Karamanda’s retreating figure towards the mountains, where goblins were rumored to be sighted.

Watching their backs disappear into the distance, the old woman cursed, “May you greedy demons meet a terrible end!”

She then picked up the bread from the ground, brushing off the dust.