Chapter 53: Tim

Karanfor.

A small town near River Valley Town.

It had no difference from those countless obscure small human settlements within the Servia Kingdom.

The river channel was shallow, far from meeting the conditions for navigation, only sufficient for the women in town to scrub laundry and pour dirty water.

It didn't produce any rare specialties, nor were there any large mineral veins discovered nearby sufficient to support the entire town's economy.

It was even close to Mist Forest, making the wilderness around the small town have a denser number of monsters than other areas, and the passage of caravans was exceptionally dangerous.

To a certain extent, if the area around River Valley Town didn't have that perfect terrain surrounded by mountains on three sides, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and was a bit further from Mist Forest.

Then Karanfor would be what it looked like now.

Fortunately, it was precisely because there existed an "adventure hub" like River Valley Town, which had an Adventurer's Guild and provided a large amount of tax revenue to the kingdom's province every year.

That Karanfor, surrounding it like a satellite city, could suck blood like a leech and be crowned with the suffix "town" rather than "village."

It hadn't completely declined.

The journey between it and River Valley Town took only four or five days back and forth, and the relatively flat terrain around made it a temporary resting and reorganizing point for many adventurers and caravans.

It could be said without hesitation that seventy percent of Karanfor's annual tax revenue came from adventurers passing through the town who spent generously.

But on the other hand, it was like a sweet drink that tasted delicious but invisibly affected bodily health.

Those who walked on the knife's edge, whose considerable income was accompanied by enormous risk, and who needed to release the pressure in their hearts through various means after each mission—the adventurers.

While giving the town a bright future, they also bred countless sordid things in the shadows behind it.

On the west side of Karanfor, at the end of a somewhat desolate street.

Was a small tavern named "Full Money Bag."

The plain and simple shop name, along with the image of a money bag filled with gold coins on the sign.

While expressing the tavern owner's good wishes, also subtly revealed the functions it served.

"Clatter clatter..."

In the air filled with alcohol and hormones was the crisp sound of dice cups shaking.

The slightly yellowed soft lamplight, accompanied by the warmth of the burning fireplace, was like a winter morning's bed covers, making people unconsciously immerse themselves in it.

The tavern hall that should have been spacious and bright had become narrow and cramped because of the dense crowd in front of the gambling tables.

Yet this also made it a place suffused with fanaticism and excitement.

Unlike the big city of Nyum, with nobles and educated intellectuals everywhere.

Karanfor had no expensively built large racetracks that required enormous funds to construct and maintain; nor did many people have the patience to sit down for a game of dragon chess with its engaging yet complex rules.

These lower-level adventurers simply used the most simple and direct method, releasing the greed in their hearts through endless stimulation and gambling.

"Four, five, two..."

Tim's eyes stared fixedly at the dice on the card table in front of him. On his sweat-dampened face was a focus he hadn't shown even when facing that gnoll hunter in the wilderness years ago.

"Eleven points, fuck!"

With no intention of moderating his volume, the cursing filled with dissatisfied emotion dissolved into the surrounding gamblers' clamor like a drop of water entering the sea.

The coins that originally belonged to him were mercilessly taken away.

Tim touched the somewhat deflated money pouch at his waist, his expression hesitant.

As a former adventurer, the high-risk high-reward work had allowed him to save up a quite considerable sum in just over a decade.

Even now without any income, he could still rely on this money to live a decent life in Karanfor, even spend his twilight years comfortably.

It was just that the income far exceeding ordinary civilians during his adventurer period, and the bad habits formed under the high-pressure environment, had long made him accustomed to that kind of extravagant spending, living in a drunken stupor in taverns.

In just a few years, the savings that had been sufficient for a large family to live well were squandered completely.

Right now, he wasn't much wealthier than an ordinary porter in the city.

"Hey, finished? Is it my turn?"

Behind him, gamblers crowded and waiting in line to get to the table urged impatiently.

Tim suddenly turned around, his reddened eyes showing the fierce look that had only appeared when fighting monsters before.

"What are you rushing for!? Scram!"

The dissatisfied clamor instantly disappeared, replaced by the other party shrinking his head and looking for another card table, vaguely still able to hear complaining mutterings:

"Just a pauper, acting all that, can't even..."

Perhaps the other party's words stimulated Tim's heart, which had become increasingly sensitive due to his straitened circumstances,

Or maybe the pile of coins across the table, glittering with gold and silver luster, was particularly eye-catching.

He clenched his teeth tightly, his flushed face showing the unique madness of a gambler.

"Bang!"

The deflated money pouch was slammed heavily on the table.

......

Ptui—

A mouthful of saliva tinged with alcohol was spat on the stone brick ground.

The cold wind of the night made Tim instinctively tighten the shabby coat on his body. The money pouch at his waist was now completely empty.

"Fuck, I should have followed that hand if I'd known, otherwise I'd definitely have broken even by now!"

He replayed the scene at the card table just now with deep unwillingness.

As if as long as he was given one more chance, he could win back everything he'd lost.

His legs moved mechanically, his feet on an all-too-familiar road.

In a daze, he had already returned to his front door.

This was a two-story building, even with a small garden in the back.

The location was also quite good, only a few dozen minutes from the town center.

It was precisely because of Tim's previous work as an adventurer that he could buy this kind of house in middle age.

Suddenly coming back to his senses.

His lips moved slightly, vaguely feeling his mouth was dry.

He pushed open the door.

What came into view first was a petite and adorable figure.

"Daddy, you're back!"

Accompanied by a bell-like childish female voice, Beth rushed into Tim's arms.

Her little head rubbed against her father's collar, showing a child's deep attachment to her parent.

Tim gently stroked his daughter's smooth golden hair and carefully picked her up.

Suddenly remembering something, his expression became regretful, full of apology as he said:

"I'm sorry, little Beth, Daddy forgot to get your favorite pine cakes."

"I'll buy them for you tomorrow, okay?"

"It's okay, Daddy!"

The girl's face showed a trace of disappointment, but then, worried that her father would think she was angry, she smiled and shook her little head understandingly.

Thud—

"Beth, come eat."

A steaming plate was placed on the table, producing a cold sound.

A woman with fair skin and her hair in a bun, while untying her apron, called to the girl.

But her gaze didn't look at Tim, who was holding his daughter, even once, as if he didn't exist.

And the guilt-ridden man only walked toward the dining table with an awkward smile.

"Coming."

He said so.

......

At the dining table, the girl with golden hair animatedly told her mother about what friends she'd made today and what had happened.

And the woman with her hair in a bun also patiently and seriously listened to the other party's words, occasionally asking detailed questions.

Tim said nothing, only bowed his head in silence, spooning his meat soup one spoonful at a time.

"Went again?"

Suddenly, the wife's gentle tone when chatting with her daughter became cold and curt.

Knowing she was asking him.

The spoon in his hand paused. Tim lowered his head and nodded imperceptibly.

There was no scolding.

Tim only heard a sigh from across the dining table.

"My parents miss little Beth. I'm planning to take her back to the countryside to stay for a while."

Tim suddenly looked up, his expression stunned.

"Don't, don't! I can make money! Just a little capital, just a little! I can definitely turn it around."

Faced with his promise, his wife only looked at him coldly.

Not saying a word.

Tim felt increasingly anxious.

"I, adventure... Right! I can still go out and take missions, it'll get better, definitely! I promise!"

The atmosphere at the dining table fell into silence.

After a long while, his wife sighed again and took out a bulging money pouch from the pocket of her somewhat shabby clothes.

Gently placing it on the table.

"This is a little money I've saved from doing laundry work during this time."

"Whether it's maintaining equipment to continue your old trade, or using it to fix yourself up and find a job..."

"Never mind, it's up to you."

"I'm going to wash the dishes."

His wife slowly stood up, collected the plates on the table, and walked toward the kitchen.

Tim's eyes fixed on the money pouch in front of him, speechless for a long time.

Suddenly, his clothing was gently tugged.

Turning to look.

He saw little Beth, who since just now, feeling the cold atmosphere at the dining table, had stopped talking.

She was now raising her little head, looking very understanding, saying carefully:

"Daddy, you don't need to buy pine cakes tomorrow."

"Beth doesn't like eating them."

......

The next day, at first light.

Tim left home early, the money pouch his wife had left him tucked in his chest.

As a former adventurer with combat experience against many monsters.

Even without entering Mist Forest, just in this town without much danger.

There were many jobs he could do.

It was just that after so many years of decadence, the sharpness from fighting monsters bathed in their blood had long been worn away.

Even after using the money his wife had saved to get himself a passable outfit.

The air of decline suffusing his body, and the reputation that had already spread throughout the relevant circles.

Made Tim face rejection after rejection.

By dusk, as the sky gradually darkened.

Tim walked alone on the road home, his manner weary.

He knew that with his current conditions, finding a job with satisfactory pay wouldn't be easy.

It definitely wouldn't show progress in just a day or two.

But...

Recalling those people's cold faces when they rejected him just now.

Tim couldn't help grinding his teeth, hating inwardly:

"Each one of them putting on airs in front of me, ten years ago, I..."

"Money, it's just some money, isn't it?"

"Back in the day, one mission would net me over 10 gold!"

He immersed himself in his own fantasy, yet his legs seemed to carry some kind of muscle memory.

Submitting to the deepest desire in his heart.

One step, one step...

When Tim came back to his senses, he was already standing in front of that familiar door.

Warm, bright light, along with the intoxicating aroma of wine and clamorous sounds, flowed out from the door crack.

His expression dazed, some indescribable emotion suffusing the depths of his eyes.

Unconsciously raising both hands, slowly pushing open the door.

......

In the house that was cleaned neat and tidy, yet appeared somewhat cramped due to the empty interior furnishings.

His wife looked through the window at the sky outside that had completely darkened.

On the distant street, that figure that should have returned home long ago, as usual, never appeared.

She lowered her head, no longer sighing.

Only silently packing up the luggage.

"Beth, have you packed all your clothes?"

"All packed, Mama! But Daddy..."

"Go to sleep. We'll leave at first light tomorrow. Grandpa and Grandma really miss you."

"Mm... okay."

......

"Bang!"

The door of the two-story building was suddenly pushed open.

Tim's face still bore the flush from a night of excitement. Facing the bright sunlight outside, he returned home excitedly.

He was even carrying a bag of exquisitely packaged pine cakes in his hand.

"Hahaha, little Beth, look what Daddy brought you!"

The petite figure that would smile and rush to greet him every night no longer appeared, and there was no sound of spatula scraping from the kitchen either.

Only his high and excited voice echoed in the empty house.

Seeming to realize something.

The paper bag in his hand fell to the ground. He called out, pushing open every door in the house, even opening closets to check carefully.

His originally excited expression gradually froze.

Not until the sun set again, sitting in the messy living room, did Tim finally gradually recover from that unbearably empty emotion.

A trace of determination that hadn't been seen for many years appeared on his face.

"Creak bang!"

The old wooden chest covered in dust was carried by him from the basement to the living room.

Searching with difficulty for the keyhole in the dust, inserting it, turning, opening.

What appeared before his eyes was a set of half-body scale armor with traces of rust showing, and two metal short knives that were no longer sharp.

Gently stroking them, feeling their familiar cool touch on the surface.

Tim touched the bulging money pouch in his chest again, which made him feel extremely uneasy.

He thought to himself:

"This money is definitely not enough to buy a new set of equipment, but sending these old things of mine to the blacksmith shop for maintenance is completely sufficient."

"I wonder if the captain and the others..."

Knock knock knock—

The sound of knocking suddenly rang out.

An expression of disbelief appeared on Tim's face as he hastily got up and rushed toward the door.

Even when he accidentally bumped his foot, he scrambled up in a disheveled manner.

"Creak!"

The wooden door was violently opened from inside to outside.

Tim's originally delighted face suddenly froze.

Looking at that familiar figure outside the door, he instinctively opened his mouth:

"Captain?"

Appearing before his eyes was a middle-aged man who was also no longer young.

But compared to the decadent and dispirited Tim, the other party was exceptionally spirited.

With a fierce bearing and robust build, he even wore a well-maintained set of armor.

"Captain, why did you come?" Tim's face squeezed out a smile as he stepped aside to make way. "Please come in!"

Unexpectedly, this captain of his former adventurer squad stood in place unmoving, only frowned and glanced at him, saying coldly:

"The squad recently got a new member, not enough positions. I went to River Valley Town and canceled your name registration with the squad."

"After all, you're not in this line of work anymore, right?"

Speaking, the man pulled out a money pouch from the backpack behind him and tossed it to Tim.

"Still have a mission, won't disturb you."

"See you again if there's a chance."

......

"Creak bang."

The door was slowly closed.

Tim sat alone by the dining table.

Dim twilight filtered through the window behind him, gently falling on his body.

His face was so calm as to be terrifying, shrouded in shadow, his specific expression unclear.

He only quietly gazed at the half-used armor on the table surface in front of him, not even cleaned of dust yet.

His fingertips twitched slightly.

......

Pawn shop,

The scale armor and two short knives were mercilessly thrown on the table.

In exchange for a money pouch with gold glittering inside.

Tavern,

Tim's face flushed red, roaring, his bloodshot eyes reflecting the shaking dice cup.

As if even his own soul was being pushed toward the card table together.

Late at night,

Tim, reeking of alcohol, swayed as he walked on the empty street.

Muttering under his breath, no one knew what he was mumbling.

"Bang!"

A strong force came from in front. Tim suddenly fell to the ground.

"%#¥% (profanity)!"

Cursing with slurred speech, he turned his head, dizzy from alcohol numbing his brain, only seeing a burly figure rapidly leaving.

Struggling to get up, just thinking about finding trouble with the other party.

The hand supporting him on the ground suddenly transmitted a strange sensation.

It was a thin book made of strange leather.

The cover had no words.

Only in the corner, printed with the pattern of a white human skull.

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