Leaving the city

As Arthur laughed, Ethan chuckled along, but inwardly, he wasn't really amused.

'It doesn't sound like that big of a deal now, but that's only because we're too ignorant to fully grasp the weight of it.'

A war so catastrophic that literal deities had to interfere—Ethan could only imagine the horror the people of that time must have faced.

Arthur, seemingly sensing Ethan's shift in mood, didn't comment on it. Instead, he casually said, "Don't worry. A war like that happening again is pretty unlikely. Even if all the races wanted to fight, they wouldn't be able to cross the seas and wage war like before."

As they conversed, the number of people around them steadily increased. They were nearing the city's main entrance, where merchants and villagers bustled about, bringing their goods to sell in the morning market. The air was thick with the mingling scents of fresh vegetables, ripe fruit, and an overpowering wave of spices that clung to the morning breeze.

Ethan found it increasingly difficult to walk beside Arthur as the streets grew more crowded. He had to weave around villagers carrying baskets of produce, merchants shouting about their wares, and children darting through the gaps. The noise and movement made it almost impossible to hold a conversation.

But as they neared the main entrance, the crowd thinned slightly—at least in the direction of those leaving. The path leading out of the city wasn't as congested as the one leading in.

Then Ethan noticed something that made his steps falter. His sharp gaze locked onto the city guards stationed at the gate. They weren't just standing there—they were checking everyone leaving the city. A line had formed, though it moved steadily as the guards quickly examined each person before letting them through.

A strange unease settled in Ethan's chest.

'They're checking people? Why? Are they looking for someone specific? If so… what if they recognize me?'

He turned to Arthur, calling out, "Hey."

Arthur glanced back at him, raising an eyebrow. "What?"

Ethan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gestured subtly at his own cloak, hoping Arthur would catch on.

Arthur, however, only looked at him in confusion. His expression was completely clueless.

'Seriously? Does he not get it?'

Ethan sighed internally, then motioned for Arthur to lean in closer.

Arthur, still looking a little puzzled, obliged, lowering his head slightly so Ethan could whisper.

"They're checking everyone," Ethan muttered under his breath.

Arthur's brows furrowed. "So what?" he asked, genuinely perplexed.

Ethan gave him a deadpan look, as if silently saying, 'Are you serious?'

Hiding his irritation, Ethan spoke plainly. "What if they recognize me? Nobody knows I'm here."

Arthur's eyes flickered with realization. His face said it all—'Ohhh. That's what you're worried about.'

Bringing his face even closer, he whispered back, "They probably won't."

Ethan frowned. "How do you know that?"

Arthur, despite having a clear answer in his mind, chose not to explain. 'They don't know you. They've probably never even seen you. Even if they had, they would've forgotten.'

Instead, he simply shrugged and said, "They're just checking for wanted criminals. If you don't match any of the descriptions, they won't care. So just relax."

Arthur then flashed a confident grin and added, "And even if they do recognize you, I'm here. So don't worry."

Ethan stiffened slightly.

'What does that even mean? What's he planning to do if they actually recognize me?'

His mind flashed back to the first time he had seen Arthur—the moment this guy had casually cut a guard's weapon in half, as if it were made of paper.

Now, standing in front of the city gates, with armed guards right there, Ethan suddenly felt like he was standing next to a human-shaped disaster.

He swallowed. 'If they figure out who I am… this lunatic might actually start a fight right here.'

The line moved quickly. Five to ten seconds per person at most. Before long, it was their turn.

A young guard with sharp green eyes called out, "Next."

Arthur stepped forward confidently, while Ethan kept his cloak wrapped tightly around himself, lowering his gaze slightly.

As soon as the guard saw Arthur, his expression shifted. His green eyes widened slightly in surprise, but there was also a hint of excitement and nervousness.

"Mr. Arthur!" he blurted, his voice carrying a mixture of eagerness and respect. "Are you going out for monster hunting today?"

Arthur nodded, his tone casual. "Mm. Something like that."

The guard's gaze flickered past Arthur, scanning the area behind him. He seemed to be searching for someone.

Then, with barely concealed anticipation, he asked, "Is Ms. La—I mean, is your sister coming with you today?"

Ethan noticed the way the guard's face held a slight hopeful gleam, but that hope was quickly dashed when Arthur shook his head.

"No," Arthur replied. "She's not coming today."

The guard's face visibly fell, disappointment flickering across his features. He looked almost bitter for a moment, as if he had been looking forward to seeing her.

Arthur, seemingly oblivious to the young man's reaction, casually gestured toward Ethan. "Instead, he's coming with me today."

The guard's green eyes snapped to Ethan.

Ethan could feel the weight of that stare, sharp and searching. He could tell exactly what the guard was thinking—'This guy looks suspicious.'

It wasn't an unreasonable reaction. Ethan was practically burying himself in his cloak, hiding his hair, and, worst of all, his expression probably screamed 'guilty.'

For a moment, the guard's expression hardened.

Ethan tensed.

'Shit. He's suspicious. If he recognizes me now—'

But then, the guard's eyes flickered back to Arthur, who stood there completely relaxed, unfazed, and not the slightest bit concerned.

After a brief hesitation, the young guard exhaled, as if deciding to trust Arthur's judgment. "Who's this man, Mr. Arthur? If you don't mind me asking."

Arthur didn't seem the least bit bothered by the question. He answered lazily, almost carelessly, "He's my acquaintance. You could call him a friend."

The guard studied Ethan's face again, as if comparing it to any wanted posters he had seen. But after a few seconds, his brows smoothed out.

With a nod, he gestured for them to pass. "You can go, sir."

Ethan resisted the urge to sigh in relief as he stepped past the guards, finally exiting the city.

Beside him, Arthur smirked and said, "See? Told you they wouldn't recognize you."

Ethan almost wanted to argue—'They almost caught me because I looked too damn suspicious, not because they knew who I was!'—but he held back.

This guy was about to teach him a sword technique. The last thing Ethan wanted to do was piss him off over something trivial.

So instead, he simply nodded and said, "Yeah, you were right."