Chapter 647: Not Beggars, but...
Dirt turned into decrepit pavements eroded by years of passage and neglect. Amidst the weeds sprouting from the cracks in the stones, farmers draped in worn shirts patched with random fabric in a dishevelled mismatch walked domestic magical beasts.
They nodded upon passing his group, their beasts bellowing as if to imitate their owners’ greetings as the town became clearer in Julius’ eyes.
Decent walls four times his size rose in protection against wild beasts, rudimentary mana symbols pulsing with a soft hum along the sleek stones. A silvery mana barrier, noticeably thinner than the one the college used in the past but more flexible, flowed over the short buildings like a lake.
After passing the apple trees lining the road to the gate and appreciating the fruits’ sweet scents, he noticed a change in the atmosphere.
Instead of the poorly dressed farmers, long leather coats fluttered, shining armor glinted, blades clinked against robust hips, and the voice of burly men chatting with the guards reverberated by the raised barbed fence.
"Mercenaries?" Arun narrowed his eyes at the absence of a coat of arms on their varying equipment. On the contrary, the guards’ breastplates featured the same blazon representing a fearsome hawk-headed creature with a lion’s body and majestic wings stretching over their chests.
"We’ll know by listening." Julius approached them, his steps measured, until he was close enough to catch their conversation.
"You’re sure you can handle a drakeling?" A guard asked, his voice worried. "I know your party is rising to fame, but it’s still a dangerous creature. Don’t get yourself killed because you’re too hasty, Bill."
"Hahaha. If I accept this B-rank mission, doesn’t it mean I’m confident we’ll return in one piece? Don’t worry so much and be ready to clap for our triumphant return." Bill struck his tower shield with a light-hearted laugh before he waved his hand and turned to leave. "See you later, dear guard captain!"