Chapter 92: Dark City Kalbaron (2)
When I first set out for Kalbaron, I thought this.
I wasn’t sure about arriving, but at least the journey there would be uneventful.
Given the name “Dark City,” it reeked of danger, so I figured I wouldn’t encounter anyone at all.
But that wasn’t the case.
The Dark City was, in essence, the continent’s trash bin.
A place where irredeemable fugitives fled to escape the world’s gaze.
I had to face countless criminals.
Even now, it was the same.
Three men spotted me, glanced around, and immediately drew their knives, ready to start their usual robbery.
Slash!
Arghhh!
Of course, their attempt failed in an instant.
But I was fed up with these situations.
‘If it’s this chaotic just getting to the city, how much worse will it be inside?’
I couldn’t understand.
This wasn’t my “village.”
These were people from the “outside world,” where one could live happily with enough determination.
So why did they choose such a dangerous, filthy life?
I thought I’d gotten used to it by now, but the outside world was still difficult and complex.
And new.
‘New experiences were always enjoyable, but not this time.’
After a brief thought, I wiped the blood off my sword with the corpse’s clothes.
Then I urged my horse forward, with half expectation and half worry, toward Kalbaron’s gate.
Was it a small mercy amidst misfortune?
There weren’t any particularly troublesome figures at the Dark City’s gate.
At most, a middle-aged man walking at a similar distance as me.
Other than that, only two gatekeepers, likely Kalbaron natives, eyed me lazily.
‘Should I let him go first? No, I’ll just pass through first.’
Nodding to myself, I pulled out my identification plaque along with one silver—no, two silver coins.
The gatekeepers seemed more corrupt than those elsewhere, so this amount felt necessary.
No need to skimp and invite trouble over petty issues.
‘Being this flexible is as easy as eating cold soup now. The amount of money might matter more than the plaque itself.’
Praising my own actions for once, I dismounted.
I walked forward with a smile.
That’s when it happened.
The middle-aged man walking behind me swiftly overtook me.
He drew a sharply honed blade and slashed the throat of one gatekeeper.
Shwaaak—
Thud!
“Ugh, uaaah! You crazy bastard, what the hell are you doing!”
“You know better than anyone, don’t you?”
“What, what! You insane freak!”
Clang!
The remaining gatekeeper, voice trembling with fear, quickly drew his sword.
Perhaps because he lived in the Dark City, his movements were more skilled than expected for a gatekeeper.
But it was futile.
The swordsman, expressionless, took a stance and coldly swung his blade.
Clang, clang, clang!
The gatekeeper barely blocked three attacks, but that was his limit.
As the fourth strike came, he screamed in desperation.
“You damn bastard!”
Slash—
Thud! Roll…
That was the second gatekeeper’s final word.
“…”
I watched it all with a grave expression.
Even if Kalbaron bore the infamous title of Dark City, gatekeepers were still the face of the city.
I hadn’t imagined someone would slaughter them so ruthlessly.
I was stunned.
But the man was unfazed.
With a look that said he’d done what was necessary, he didn’t even flee.
He wiped the blood off his blade and looked at me.
“Looks like your first time.”
“Sorry? First time at what?”
“I’m asking if it’s your first time in Kalbaron.”
“Oh… yes, it is. Have you been here multiple times?”
“Let’s say I have.”
“But why did you do it?”
“Do what?”
“Why did you kill the gatekeepers?”
“Gatekeepers… What’s your name?”
“It’s Harang.”
“Right, Harang. Let me give you some advice.”
He wiped his blade on the corpse, just as I had, and gave me a serious look.
His face bore wrinkles, scars, and eyes that only someone who’d seen it all could have.
A true “resident” of this place spoke in a low, resonant voice, enunciating clearly.
“Don’t trust anyone here.”
“Don’t trust anyone?”
“Yes. Who do you think these guys were?”
“Uh… gatekeepers?”
“Wrong. They’re not gatekeepers. They’re low-ranking members of Kalbaron’s infamous thief guild, ‘Black Rat.’”
“What? Not gatekeepers? Then…”
I was flustered.
Not gatekeepers, but thief guild members?
Then where were the city’s actual gatekeepers?
As if reading my thoughts, the swordsman answered immediately.
“There are no gatekeepers in the Dark City’s outer district. No need to worry about public order like other cities.”
“…I see.”
“Yes. But when outsiders like you approach, they disguise themselves as gatekeepers, as they did now. If you don’t seem easy, they collect a toll and gather information to pass to their superiors. If you look like an easy mark…”
He didn’t finish the sentence.
But it was enough.
I nodded and bowed slightly in thanks.
“Thank you.”
“No need for thanks… I did it for myself.”
A curt reply.
With a swish, he turned, his coat fluttering, and walked into the Dark City.
I watched him for a moment, then quickened my pace.
I called out to him.
“Wait a second, sir!”
“Hey! Just a moment! I have a few more questions!”
‘I’d like to talk a bit more.’
The thought came naturally.
I didn’t know much about the Dark City.
I’d asked the Eddy Mercenary Corps members beforehand, but most of their information was inaccurate.
Few who entered the Dark City ever returned to the outside world.
So, I needed to befriend this man who seemed like a local.
Someone who knew the city’s ecosystem well.
Someone who might know about the “Collector Neumann” I was seeking.
And someone who, despite it all, didn’t feel overly dangerous or sinister—someone who gave off a trustworthy vibe!
With these thoughts, I hurriedly led my horse toward him.
But he stopped abruptly and turned his head.
His piercing gaze.
Seeing his warning expression, I halted.
Then his voice came.
“Don’t come closer.”
“…”
“Didn’t I tell you? Don’t trust anyone.”
“…”
“Just as I can’t trust you, you shouldn’t trust me either. Nor anyone else… As I said, this is the only advice I can give you.”
With that, the swordsman turned away.
I couldn’t stop the middle-aged man as he walked off.
“…Hmm.”
He didn’t seem like a bad person.
But bothering him further felt rude.
He probably had his own business, just like me.
Or maybe he just found it annoying.
‘If he’s annoyed, nothing I can do. I can’t force him.’
Letting go of my lingering attachment to the swordsman, I looked around.
The scenery was surprisingly decent.
Sure, it was far dirtier and more chaotic than the cities I’d seen, but compared to the constant bloodshed on my journey, it felt relatively calm.
To get a better sense of the city’s atmosphere, I led my horse and wandered around.
Soon, I found an area packed with inns.
“Boss! First time in Kalbaron? Come to our ‘Sea Walrus’ inn! It’s not cheap, but we’ll keep you safe!”
“How’d you know it’s my first time?”
“Huh? It’s just obvious. Anyway, you’d be better off at our inn. It’s pricier than others, but it’s safe. We’re protected by the ‘Dark Tree’ guild, so our guests’ safety is guaranteed!”
“Hmm, should I?”
“Should I? You mean let’s do it! Come on, follow me. We’ll prepare bathwater, wash your clothes…”
“Can you feed my horse well too?”
“Oh, why not sell the horse to us? We can’t pay full price, but it’d be better. I hate to say it as a local, but managing something as cumbersome as a horse in Kalbaron is dangerous. Cashing out would be much smarter.”
“Oh…”
That’s convincing.
Nodding unconsciously, I followed the boy, almost entranced.
His talk about the horse boosted his credibility.
I gave a faint smile.
After days of sleeping rough, I craved a hot bath.
I wanted to buy new clothes or at least wash mine.
But then.
“Haha, hand over everything you’ve got! Then we’ll let you live!”
“…”
“What’s with this guy? He’s totally frozen!”
“Pfft, no wonder! A greenhorn who doesn’t even look seasoned—what’s he got to end up in Kalbaron?”
“…So that’s why.”
I nodded.
The swordsman’s advice was right.
You couldn’t trust anyone here.
Even an innocent-looking kid, though unarmed, harbored a wolf’s heart.
This place was different from the “village,” but similar in its brutality.
“You didn’t say you’d kill me, so I won’t kill you either.”
“What? What’s this guy talking about?”
“Yeah, what’s this crazy bastard saying…”
Swish!
Swish swish!
“…”
“…”
“Want to keep going? Or should I just leave?”
I quickly threw a few daggers.
They moved at a speed invisible to most eyes.
The same was true for the kid and his bandit crew.
Seeing the blades embedded in the wall above their heads, the men paled and spoke.
“S-sorry.”
“Just, just go…”
“Alright. Bring me the daggers. Oh, and do you know someone called Collector Neumann?”
“N-no, not really…”
“I see. Got it. Oh, if you’re feeling confident, you can try attacking me now.”
“No, not at all…”
Having reached a peaceful agreement, I left the bandits’ den.
I desperately missed the swordsman from the gate.
He was the only one in this lawless Kalbaron who hadn’t tried to deceive me.
‘His skills seemed pretty decent too.’
Truthfully, his displayed abilities weren’t that impressive.
But I saw it.
The depth and sharpness in his eyes.
‘I’ve never seen a weak person with eyes like that. He was probably hiding his true strength. If someone like him helped me, things would go much smoother.’
As I thought this, walking down the street, I heard a sound from a distant alley.
It was someone threatening another.
Activating my senses with Aura, I confirmed it.
Sighing deeply, I considered passing by but ultimately turned toward the sound.
‘Ever since meeting Hagio, I’ve been weirdly drawn to these things.’
Muttering that I’d have ignored it before, I moved quickly.
Clop clop, step step.
With my horse, I swiftly reached the alley and assessed the situation.
I was shocked.
There was someone I knew.
‘The middle-aged swordsman?’
Surrounded by seven bandits, the middle-aged man scanned his foes with sunken eyes.
He had a certain presence.
To an outsider, he’d seem unfazed despite being outnumbered, making one think, ‘Is this guy something special?’
I thought so too.
But the seven bandits reacted differently.
“This guy’s at it again.”
“Hey, drop the act. Stop trying to look tough.”
“How long are you gonna keep this up?”
“Your old tricks worked before, but they don’t fool anyone but newbies anymore, you idiot.”
“Uh, Boss, someone else is here.”
“…”
‘He said not to trust anyone…’
Even that impressive gaze was a lie!
Realizing this, I widened my eyes.