Chapter 104
……
"Ha—choo."
Ogre yawned, having barely slept for three days and nights, he was feeling a bit drained.
Meditation couldn't replace sleep, and Ogre hadn't even meditated these past few days.
Seeing this, Macal immediately said with concern, "Geling, you must be tired. How about I carry you?"
"No need, we're almost there anyway." Ogre had no interest in being carried by Macal again.
Traveling with Macal.
There were many things that made Ogre uncomfortable, like having to squat in the bushes to use the bathroom.
Sometimes being overly cared for wasn't good either.
"I just thought you hadn't rested well." As a knight, Macal could go several days and nights without sleep.
"I'm alright," Ogre replied perfunctorily.
"I remember you yawning during the day, was it because of Maggie last night? I apologize on her behalf," Macal said.
"Not really, I have my own reasons."
Ogre didn't like sleeping.
Firstly, he was used to sleeping less because sleeping outside made him feel unsafe.
Secondly, Ogre didn't want to dream.
Ogre wasn't afraid of nightmares, he was just troubled by sweet dreams.
Nightmares never bothered Ogre.
Because once he opened his eyes, those things that terrified him would disappear...
What truly troubled Ogre were the beautiful things he couldn't attain in his dreams, he hated the feeling of waking up and never being able to find them again.
Only when his body reached a point of exhaustion would he choose to sleep to recover.
‘If I didn't dream, waking up would feel quite nice,’ Ogre thought he should get a good night's sleep tonight.
He didn't like dreaming, but he wouldn't harm his body to avoid it.
"Rest well, your body is your own," Macal said after a moment of silence.
The church never advocated extreme training methods, damaging one's foundation would shorten one's lifespan.
For the church, it was a loss with no gain.
"Thanks for your concern, you should take care too," Ogre said with a smile.
No one would willingly risk their life, but there were always things that couldn't be avoided.
Be it hatred, desire, or just living...
"So, Geling, will you come back to the village with me?" As they neared the city walls, Macal asked.
"I've already held you back all the way," Ogre shook his head, "You should go back first—the village needs you."
"Will you come find us... Aunt Mima is often lonely."
"I probably will, if I have time," Ogre smiled.
"Well... I hope we can meet again," Macal said, looking up at the city wall.
They had arrived.
"Who goes there? No passage at night!" The guards of Frontier City naturally stopped the two before them.
Opening the city gates at night was troublesome and affected security.
"If you need rest, you can go to the Professional Association branch outside the city," another guard suggested, judging from Ogre and Macal's attire that they were likely adventurers.
Though a knight and ranger duo was rare.
A quick look at will leave you more fulfilled.
"I'm from the Church of Dawn," Macal indicated for Ogre to take out the Silver Badge.
With this badge, many troubles could be resolved.
‘If it weren't for that witch, we should have entered during the day.’
Their previous plan for a quick journey had been disrupted.
"This is related to the Grand Knight," Ogre took out Yard's Silver Badge.
"Go take a look," a guard signaled.
"May I see it?" Another guard's attitude became noticeably more respectful, not daring to have too many opinions when it came to senior professionals.
Senior professionals enjoyed the status of a viscount in the Empire, except without inheritance rights and land.
"Take a look."
Ogre wasn't afraid of the badge being stolen.
After all, without the matching identity, a badge was useless—and it carried the risk of exposure.
And honestly, the badge hadn't brought Ogre any particularly great benefits.
At most, it got him a few free meals and a temporary place to stay, that's all.
"My apologies," the guard accepted the Silver Badge with both hands.
"Is it real or fake?"
Another guard glanced at Ogre, only now noticing the handsome ranger's attire.
‘Could they be a couple?’ the guard curiously thought.
He felt the ranger's disguise as a man was too obvious.
No man could be that beautiful.
"It matches what I know... but I can't be sure," the guard who took the Silver Badge said.
They understood some of the adventurers' and church's rank divisions.
But they couldn't verify authenticity.
"Should we notify the officer?" The guard returned the Silver Badge.
"Let them through, there's no need to disturb the officer over this," another guard shook his head.
In the Empire, few dared to forge such credentials, and those who dared to present them were usually genuine.
"Alright, please enter."
"Thank you," Macal clasped his hands in gratitude.
"Wait!" Before opening the small door, another guard extended his hand, stopping Macal.
"What's wrong?" Macal thought to himself: ‘Are they going to ask for money?’
"Could the Paladin demonstrate some Battle Qi?" the guard asked respectfully.
The Dawn Battle Qi exclusive to the Church of Dawn was extremely difficult to replicate.
To perform Dawn Battle Qi.
One needed to practice the Dawn Breathing Technique from the apprentice stage and undergo several holy water baptisms.
"That's not difficult." Macal didn't waste words, clenching his fist, his body instantly radiating pure white Dawn Battle Qi.
The warm feeling that washed over the guards made them lower their guard.
‘It's a Paladin of the Church of Dawn, then there's no problem.’
The guard felt that even if this Paladin of the Church of Dawn lied, they wouldn't cause any trouble.
Knights capable of using Dawn Battle Qi were generally good people.
"My apologies," the guard gestured for them to proceed.
"It's fine," Macal withdrew his Battle Qi.
‘The identity of a Paladin of Dawn is quite useful,’ Ogre thought to himself.
‘Indeed, they're like living billboards.’
"Please enter."
With that, Macal and Ogre entered the ‘thoroughly inspected’ Frontier City without even paying a bribe.
It goes to show, where there are rules, there are exceptions.
"This is as far as I go, Carl. You have your duties, and I have mine," Ogre took out the black bead left by Brother Fra, "I also have to carry out the task Brother Fra gave me."
"Be careful."
In the moonlight, Macal seemed to see the face of that stunning girl once more.
But when he blinked, the girl turned back into the handsome young ranger before him.
"Goodbye, don't keep Aunt Mima waiting too long," Ogre put away the bead and smiled slightly.
Then he turned and walked alone towards the Church of Dawn.
Macal's duty was to notify the Church of Truth for assistance, which had little to do with him...
Mainly because Frontier City's Church of Dawn only had one Yard.
"Goodbye... then."
It wasn't until the silhouette disappeared under the moonlight that Macal turned around.
‘Do I still... like her?’ Macal asked himself, clutching his chest.
"Probably... but there's someone more important waiting for me."
Macal finally let go of the thoughts in his heart.
Lastly, he reached into his pocket—a ruby pendant was there.
‘Later, I'll give it to Eve...’
……