Stray

Ann’s admonition didn’t take effect immediately, and the habits of being law-abiding citizens were not easily discarded. They did not take the initiative to look for the invisible shady parts of the town. The daily market alone was enough to dazzle the two of them.

Noer was only a small border town, but the worst streets were still busier than Roadside Town, which only had a few scattered shops and couldn’t be compared to the surging flow of people they saw before them. From time to time, caravans passed by on the cobble paved roads and the air was mixed with the smell of horse dung and sweet and pungent spices. As the temperature rose, merchants were no longer willing to sell cooked food, so the aroma of hot grease was far less intense than the weird sweetness of rotting fruits. Oliver picked a good place. The aroma from the bakery covered the overly strong smell of the market. The shadows casted by the sunshade separated them from the blistering sunlight and delimited them from the too noisy market.

Nemo weighed the pouch. He only knew that a place like Dawn Tavern existed thanks to Oliver. Now he was completely out of ideas. The sun was scorching above. Even if he wasn’t afraid of the heat, it didn’t mean he would be willing to throw himself under the blazing sun either.

He silently loosened the strap of his backpack and pulled the mouth of the bag wider. Although it was unlikely, he was a little afraid that Bagelmaurus would suffocate quietly inside.

As a boring adult, Oliver obviously had no enthusiasm for adventure. He moved his whole body in the shade to stay away from the sunshine. The citizens on the street have long been on guard against this. Headscarves and hats with wild bird feathers could be seen everywhere, while two young men with bare heads stood out conspicuously.

The market was close to a river, and the smell of bread was mixed with the water. Nemo walked around behind rows of shops and saw that the side facing the river was also full of small shops, and the narrow walkway was covered by shade from the building, making the area slightly cooler.

He saw a vine-wrapped tavern at a glance. Unlike the Dawn Tavern, which was formally decorated and atmospheric, this tavern’s small broken signboard gave people an inexplicable sense of peace of mind. Of course, it may also be because the owner put a huge mermaid ice sculpture at the entrance of the shop, that was probably attached with a non-melting spell, so it exuded cold air that felt fresh and comfortable.

The two rushed into the shop as if they were fleeing something.

Perhaps it was because it was just after lunch time, but there were few people in the shop. Nemo picked a table in the corner of the room, then stuffed himself and his backpack into the corner together, posing as if he was going to stay here all afternoon. Oliver shook his head and sat opposite of him.