Chapter 18: A Noble Morning and New Roads

The table was overflowing with food—steaming platters of roasted meat, bowls of colorful vegetables, and loaves of warm, crusty bread. Servants moved like clockwork, clearing plates and refilling them with practiced precision. The rich aroma of butter, herbs, and sizzling fat lingered thick in the air.

After talking about the undead's location, we all quietly finished eating.

"It's quite late now. Why don't you stay tonight and leave tomorrow?" the merchant offered.

'The sun is already setting. I suppose it's fine to take a break before the next adventure.' I thought.

I glanced at Liora—she was rubbing her eyes, yawning like a kitten.

'She looks tired. I should let her sleep on a soft bed… hopefully, they have a good one here.'

"We would be grateful." I replied.

The merchant gestured to a servant. "Prepare the carriage. It's about time we put our guest room to use again. We don't have many guests staying overnight, but we keep it in top condition."

We stood, and I scooped Liora up in my arms.

After a short wait, we stepped outside. A sleek black carriage awaited us, polished to a mirror-like shine. Golden trims lined its edges, and the wheels looked sturdy, reinforced with steel rims. The crest of the merchant's family was carved on the door—two entwined vines framing a blooming flower.

'This is… impressive' I thought, a little surprised.

I looked down at Liora. Her eyes blinked lazily, already half-closed.

Inside, the carriage was equally refined. The interior was lined with dark leather seats, stitched with gold thread, and the wooden panels had a natural sheen, blending warm mahogany tones with polished brass fixtures. It smelled faintly of lavender and clean wood.

We sat down, and the carriage rolled toward the merchant's mansion.

It wasn't as massive as a castle, but the mansion still carried the air of wealth and power—its white stone walls gleaming under the evening light, tall windows glinting like shards of glass. Torches lit the path leading up to the large double doors.

Inside, the entry hall was enormous, with high ceilings, a crystal chandelier casting warm light across polished marble floors, and carpets of rich crimson. Elegant portraits and intricate tapestries adorned the walls, while bronze statues stood like silent sentinels in the corners.

"Please let them know if you need anything. They will be outside your room." the merchant said, gesturing to the servants lined near the stairs.

A servant guided us to a guest room.

The room was spacious and well-kept, the walls painted with soft cream hues. A large window let in the last streaks of sunset. At the center stood a double bed with fluffy white bedding, embroidered pillows, and a canopy draped with sheer fabric. The faint scent of fresh linen filled the room.

I pressed my hand on the bed. It was wonderfully soft, almost like sinking into clouds.

Liora's head drooped as if she might fall asleep standing.

'I'm surprised she lasted this long. She's been sleepy for a while now.'

"Liora, come on, let's get changed before sleeping." I said gently.

She rubbed her eyes and stepped down from my arms, swaying slightly.

I changed her into her cream-colored clothes—simple but soft—and did the same for myself. We both lay down. The bed's warmth and comfort were irresistible; Liora fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow.

She lay to my left, her small hand resting near mine as I stared at the ceiling.

'I need to get some answers before I sleep. Sebas.'

[ How may I assist you, Master? ]

'You said my status is different from everyone else's in this world. Then why do I see titles and traits in other people's statuses?'

I recalled what I'd seen. 'The bandits had murder-related traits and titles, while the merchant had a Nice Person type of trait and something like a "Golden Luck" title.'

[ They possess traits and titles, Master, but unlike you, they cannot see or manipulate them. ]

[ Every individual carries traits, but their status screens do not reveal them. The same applies to titles. For example, if someone hunts many wolves, even a wolf seeing them for the first time will sense fear. This is the title's effect—though no one truly knows why, since they cannot view it. ]

[ Since you have these in your status the "Otherworlder's Eye" skill can display these elements, you are essentially seeing what is otherwise hidden. ]

'I guess that's one advantage I have over other heroes. Unless they have some skill to read emotions or something, this will help me gauge people's personalities easily.'

Suddenly, a small hand crawled across my chest.

'I hope she's dreaming something nice.' I gently patted her head, feeling her warmth.

I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep with Liora hugging me.

When I woke up, a strange calmness washed over me. I'd dreamt of a girl.

'Why… why were you in my dream? Why?' I asked myself, not with anger but quiet curiosity.

Liora was still curled up on my left side, clutching my shirt with both hands like I might disappear if she let go.

I softly brushed her hair and placed a light kiss on her forehead.

'Maybe it's because of you… I haven't had such a good dream in so long.'

Knock. Knock.

"Are you awake, Mister?" came the merchant's voice through the door.

"Yes, please come in." I answered.

"Good morning! Breakfast will be ready soon. Please join us." the merchant said with a warm smile.

"We will be there in a moment." I replied.

"I'll be waiting." he said and left.

"Wake up, Liora." I whispered, poking her plum-red cheeks gently.

'She's sooooooo cute.' I thought, my chest feeling warm.

"Mmmhm…" Liora murmured, rubbing her eyes before looking at me.

Then, without a word, she hugged me tightly.

'I guess this is our way to say good morning now.' I thought as I hugged her back.

We both freshened up and put on our noble-like clothes.

'I swore to give you the best life. So no holding back on anything. You'll have the best clothes. I'm not hiding anymore. No one will talk badly about you or look down on you—or I'll erase them from this planet.'

We headed down for breakfast. It was as luxurious as dinner—platters of roasted meat glazed with honey and herbs, soft bread still steaming, bowls of fruit shining with dew, and rich soups that smelled of cream and spice.

After breakfast, the merchant offered us a carriage to the next town.

"No, it's fine. I want to explore the surroundings. If you still insist, I'd be happy if you could give us a ride to the gate." I replied.

"If you say so. I hope you enjoy your adventure ahead. Here, take this." the merchant said, as a servant approached with a tray holding a pouch and a card.

He picked them up and handed them to me. "This is my company's special card. Show it at any of my branches in any city—or to any reputable shop—and they'll help you however they can. And here's some money for the trip."

"Thank you." I said.

"You mentioned this city has your main shop. Are you from here?" I asked.

"Huh? Ah—no, actually. I'm from another city. My wife is too. You might visit it on your journey—its name is Elarion, the City of Radiance and Prosperity." the merchant answered, a bit caught off guard.

"What about your shops? Do you have any others like this?"

"Yes, one in Elarion and another in a different city. But why do you ask?"

'That's good to hear.' I thought as relief softened my face into a smile.

"You should change the location of your main shop. I would recommend it." I said, still smiling.

The merchant and his wife exchanged confused looks.

"Papa, when are we leawing?" Liora tugged on my sleeve.

"We're heading out. Just a second."

Maybe it was because he'd seen what I did to the bandits, or maybe it was his gut, or that "Golden Fate" title of his—but the merchant looked at Liora, then at me, and said, with a relieved smile, "I understand."

"Darling?" his wife asked, confused.

"I'll explain later," he said.

"I-If you say so. You always had a good instinct for business." she replied, shifting from worry to trust.

'What were their names again? I'm not good with names—I forgot.' I thought, annoyed.

"Thank you for everything, Mister Korin and Miss Elyndra. Apologies for the late introduction. I'm Zero, and this is my daughter, Liora." I said, touching my chest with my right hand and bowing slightly in the noble manner.

Their eyes lit up with joy. "I knew you weren't very talkative, so I didn't want to pry. I'm glad you're comfortable with us now, Mr. Zero." Korin said warmly.

We bid them farewell and climbed into the carriage.

'Thank you for telling me their names, Sebas. If I had to check their status, it would've felt weird. It's like peeking at someone's ID.'

[ I am pleased to be of service, Master. ]

Liora looked lost in thought, twining her fingers together and glancing at me from the corner of her eye.

"What happened, Liora?" I asked.

"Um… Papa, Liora… Liora want to… eat the jam again…" she said, gripping her skirt.

'She's soooo adorable' I thought, overwhelmed by her cuteness.

She looked up at me with those big eyes. "No?" she asked softly.

'She's so adorable—who could ever say no to her? Not like I was going to.'

"You can. But later. You can have jam at lunch." I told her.

"Okay," she replied, giving me a bright smile.

The carriage dropped us at the gate, and we started walking toward the forest we'd come from.

'If I follow the carriage routes, I can reach the next city.' I recalled from the map.

[ I have merged the merchant's map with your Map feature. I shall display the optimal route, Master. ]

'Thank you, Sebas. Let's go.'

After a while—

Wolves. Shadewolves. All around us—ringing us in like a living wall. A massive one stood at the center, its eyes burning with unnatural fury.

I glanced at Liora. She clung to my shirt, those innocent eyes staring up at me.

"Papa, don't hurt them." she whispered.

'How did we end up here again…?'

to be continued…