Chương 19: Taking the Unconventional Path

"So, this is the 'other place' you were talking about?"

Xia En squatted behind the tree and couldn't help but complain.

Frillie squatted down next to him, remaining silent.

Two hours earlier, they arrived at the city gate of Gostan City, but were stopped outside the city because they did not have identification.

The city is currently in a sensitive period where it is under attack by unknown forces. Even though a businessman offered to act as guarantor and even offered to pay a security deposit, the city guards did not allow them to enter the city.

"He's a very responsible soldier."

Frillie also expressed high praise for the soldier at the time.

As a result, she turned around and secretly dragged me to the foot of the city wall...

The moon rises in the western sky.

It was extremely quiet outside the city.

The red glow of a row of torches on the ramparts slowly passed by, casting long, slanted shadows of the patrolling soldiers.

After observing for a moment, Frillie whispered, "Once they're past, we'll run to the base of the city wall. You can swim, right?"

"Yes, but..."

Shaun felt he needed to say something; this plan was too frivolous, and if the guards caught them, it would definitely cause a serious misunderstanding. However, before he could figure out how to start, Frilian had already gotten up and run ahead.

"Why?"

He had no choice but to follow.

From their location to the foot of the city wall, there was a moat several tens of meters wide, not very deep. But it was springtime, and the river water was very cold at night.

Xia En tentatively stepped down with one foot, then instantly shuddered.

Frilian was not waiting for him.

The elven girl raised her staff, her steps graceful, and walked across the water, jogging all the way to the other side without even getting her skirt wet.

Xia En was completely dumbfounded.

As expected of a noble mage, even his petty theft is so elegant.

After silently grumbling, Xia En resignedly submerged himself in the water and slowly swam forward.

Frillie glanced at the speed at which the torchlight on the city wall was moving, then turned and urged, "Hurry up."

Finally, before the patrolling soldiers returned, Shane made it safely ashore.

He stood trembling at the foot of the city wall, arms crossed, his back pressed against the stone wall, trying hard not to make his teeth chatter, quietly waiting for the soldiers to pass by.

Swish.

After confirming that it was safe, Frilian waved her staff, and the [Clothes Drying Magic] landed on Shane. Instantly, a warm current swept over his entire body, and his soaked clothes became dry again.

Xia En felt like he had come back to life.

Then, just like before, Frilian grabbed Shane by the back of the neck and used [Flight Magic] to lift him into the air. The two quickly flew over the city wall.

After successfully landing in the inner city, the patrolling soldiers turned back, and the red light of the torches swept past once more.

The timing was very precise.

Just as Shane breathed a sigh of relief, Frillie suddenly took a step back.

"Oh no!"

After uttering those words, the girl turned and ran.

??

Xia En looked completely bewildered.

By the time he realized what had happened, it was too late.

So there are patrols in the inner city!

Moreover, there's a curfew in the city now! The streets are deserted!

"Who goes there!"

"Someone has infiltrated!"

"alert!"

The soldiers reacted quickly and immediately gave chase in the direction the two had fled.

Unfamiliar with the terrain, the two could only run aimlessly through the streets and alleys, with more and more pursuers behind them, and it seemed they would soon be unable to escape.

"Is there any magic that can make people fall asleep?!" Shane couldn't help but complain.

"Assaulting soldiers is a serious crime and will be punished."

"..."

This can't go on!

Xia En scanned his surroundings, his brain racing, and then he had an idea!

He led Frilian into a house facing the street.

Luckily, it was a tailor shop.

He quickly opened all the windows on both sides of the tailor shop, creating the illusion of jumping out of the windows to escape, and then decisively pulled Frilian to squat in the corner.

[Goddess's Barrier] activated.

hum- A barrier silently unfolded in the air, concealing everything within it.

Frillie sensed the energy fluctuations around her, but she was completely baffled and looked at Shane in astonishment. Just as she was about to ask, Shane covered her mouth.

At the same time, three soldiers burst into the tailor shop.

Where are they?

"Where did you hide it?"

The soldier's voice successfully woke up the tailor shop owner.

A little girl with green hair appeared on the wooden stairs leading to the second floor.

The little girl looked to be about seven or eight years old. She was hugging a rag doll, rubbing her eyes, and asking indistinctly:

"Sister, are you staying up all night making clothes again?"

As she spoke, she pouted her little lips, somewhat dissatisfied.

However, when she opened her eyes and saw the three soldiers downstairs, her little head was completely stunned.

At that moment, the person she called her sister, dressed in a long robe or nightgown, ran up behind her and pulled her into her arms.

"Yubel, don't be afraid, your sister is here."

The little girl belatedly realized what was happening, and tears welled up in her eyes instantly. But she bit her lip and didn't cry; instead, she tightly gripped her sister's clothes with her little hands.

Her sister gently patted her back to soothe her.

"Soldier, what happened?"

"We're chasing a suspicious person. We just saw a figure run into the house. Have you seen or heard anything?"

"No, sir. We've been sleeping upstairs and were just woken up."

"Excuse me, ma'am, would you mind if we searched your property?"

"... Okay, but please don't scare my sister."

After obtaining permission, the three soldiers began searching the cabinets and under the tables in the room, and they did not miss the rooms upstairs either. The clanging and banging sounds rang out one after another, and the two girls stood by the wooden ladder, waiting nervously.

After searching the area, nothing was found.

The three soldiers frowned simultaneously. They went back downstairs and carefully examined the layout of the room.

One of the soldiers pointed to the open window and said, "What if they jumped out the window and went somewhere else?"

"It's possible. Instruct the other patrols in the city to be on high alert. I'll report this to General Glucks and ask him to send more men to search the surrounding area. We must not allow spies to infiltrate again."

"We sincerely apologize for disturbing you so late at night, madam. Please understand our motivation for guarding [Gostan City]."

After nodding in apology, the three soldiers finally left the house.

The tailor shop returned to normal.

"elder sister……"

"Don't be afraid, it's just a misunderstanding."

"Is the suspicious person the soldier mentioned a bad guy?"

"Don't overthink it. It might just be a lost kitten. Don't be afraid, I'm here. Come on, I'll sleep with you tonight."

The little girl, named Yubel, was still a bit shaken. Her older sister gently picked her up, singing a nursery rhyme as she led her back to her room.

She rested her head on her sister's shoulder, but her eyes looked past her sister and toward a corner on the first floor.

His brow furrowed slightly, and he muttered to himself:

"Maybe they're two kittens."

At this moment, Xia En, who was hiding in the corner, felt his heart jump up for no reason.

Could the little guy have discovered something...?

Yubel? That name sounds familiar. Have I heard it somewhere before?