Chapter 752

Chapter 16 The City of Delusion Part I

Pitter-patter…

The fine rain, like cattle hair, fell on the dome, on the rubble, and on the wandering paper bags in the dark alleyways and streets. It mingled with the fragmented chatter of people, composing the sound of a city’s revival.

A traveler wrapped in a cloak stumbled out of a tavern by the street, his steps unsteady as if he hadn’t fully recovered from the previous night’s hangover. Soon after, he stumbled again and fell into the mud. In a nearby blacksmith shop, the clanging sounds of hammering metal accompanied by sparks lit up intermittently. The bearded craftsman emerged from the shop, holding a newly forged sword that he plunged into a pool of water, causing a sharp hiss and instant steam that startled a passing woman, who cried out loudly.

At the end of the street, a caravan was pulling heavily loaded carts. The wheels, unable to bear the weight, got stuck in the muddy road. It seemed the axle was broken, but the workers didn’t notice and kept pushing from behind, shouting “One, two, three!” repeatedly, yet they couldn’t pull the cart out of the mud.

Soon, someone heard a “bang” coming from an alley beside them, as if something had suddenly fallen. Though not loud, the sound caught the attention of passersby. However, no one really cared, and the merchant responsible for the cargo quickly arrived, briefly checking the situation before scolding the workers. Only then did someone roll up their pants and wade into the mud, squatting down to fix the wheel.

A minute later, a short figure wrapped in a cloak quietly walked out of the alley where the noise had come from, blending unnoticed into the crowd. Her unremarkable stature drew no attention. She walked down the street and stopped at the corner. A burly man gently pushed her aside, saying rudely, “Don’t block the way.” The small figure obediently stepped aside, standing against the wall, adjusting her hood, slightly tilting her head and biting her thumb.

Think carefully…

Where was there more food?

I felt somewhat lost.

It seemed my impression of this city remained fixed from the time I arrived here two years ago with the knight’s team.

Massacre, bloodshed, infernal fires staining the dark night, under thick smoke were endless, desperate cries and battle sounds, along with the spirits of knights fallen in battle.

Those scenes flashed through my mind the first moment I saw this city. The piles of corpses and raging fires gradually overlapped with the rebuilt city streets, still somewhat confused even now.

But deep down, I no longer felt much of those real emotions.

Back then, the sorrow, anger…

Where had they gone now?

Suddenly, I realized I had unknowingly left the street and my feet subconsciously headed towards the camp north of the city. That year, in the wounded soldiers’ camp, I met Barrie, whom I hadn’t seen for a long time and who had survived the battlefield. We had an argument because I thought Grandma Claire only had him left and didn’t want him to continue taking such risks. But as a growing boy, he had his own thoughts, hoping to become stronger and a heroic man.

At that time, I understood clearly.

If I hadn’t appeared in that remote, quiet village, hadn’t disturbed their lives, hadn’t met Barrie, hadn’t known him, and hadn’t experienced all that happened later, then the boy named Barrie… and perhaps even Aelia, could have continued living their leisurely, mundane lives.

And the reason why the boy later worked hard to become a knight and desperately wanted to be a hero…

Was largely due to my existence.

I wonder if he…

Is still here?

It has been almost two years.

The chaos in the southern region has ended, and those heretics who fled are probably all cleared away. Barrie should have long since left here and been reassigned elsewhere…

He shouldn’t be found here.

But if there’s a chance, I should ask about his situation…

As I wandered aimlessly through the rain-drenched street,

The light raindrops pattered against the wide cloak with a dull thud, and a cool breeze blew from ahead.

Before long, I arrived at the previous campsite, only to find that it had long since turned into a market.

Oh…

A market.

It suits me just fine.

The last piece of bread in my bundle had been eaten in the morning, but I still had a full flask of water.

The soil in Xierjiaya was fertile and rich in resources, making it an important granary for the entire West Continent. It stood in stark contrast to the barren and impoverished Apulista. Walking through the wilderness, one could find freshwater lakes everywhere, ensuring a basic supply of drinking water. There were also many docile animals, so food would not be lacking for me. However, I still needed to replenish dry grass for fire and spices, and it was best to keep some provisions as a precaution.

Mainly, I wanted to change my diet when I got tired of wild game.

But upon entering the market, I found it vastly different from what I had imagined. There was hardly any clamor from vendors shouting or selling their goods. The stalls set up for the market were mostly empty, and there weren’t many people walking around, giving the place a desolate feel.

After searching for a long time, I finally saw a few grain shops open. They were small stores, selling only black rye and barley, or some bread covered in bran. I casually peeked into one and found the prices exorbitant. With the money I had left, I could only afford enough to last two or three days.

Just some ordinary and inferior grains…

With such high prices, how many people can afford them?

Is it really a case of having no food for tomorrow after eating today?

It’s been almost two years…

What happened to Aleitian City? Is the problem with food really so difficult to solve?

As I thought this, I hesitated when looking at the items. The woman guarding the shop was a plump old lady with freckles all over her face. She was dressed brightly and wore an attitude of “buy if you want, don’t if you don’t.” After sizing me up with disdainful eyes for a while, she stood up as if to drive me away.

“Get out! Don’t beg here; this isn’t a place for you. Be careful, someone might break your legs later. If you’re hungry, go to Jasmine Lane in the west of the city and rummage through the garbage behind restaurants and taverns. You might find something to eat—if you can beat others to it. Humph, don’t say I didn’t point you toward a way to survive, dirty little street urchin… Don’t come near here again.”

Despite her harsh tone, given her haughty demeanor, I somehow sensed that she genuinely believed she was doing a good deed.

Of course, I wouldn’t argue with her. My money wasn’t enough to buy much food, and I didn’t want to break the rules by directly robbing anyone. Although simple, I wouldn’t resort to such behavior. As for why the city’s food prices were so high, I briefly considered it before dismissing it from my mind—it wasn’t something I was willing to worry about now.

After leaving the market, I didn’t know where else I could get food. Wandering aimlessly on the streets for a while, I observed every passerby carefully. Most were thin and emaciated, with deep-set eyes and weary expressions, walking unsteadily due to malnutrition. A faint stench emanated from them.

But when I looked further ahead, at the tall buildings and streets rebuilt from those destroyed by war and fires, the rows of shops and houses, though not grand, seemed to indicate that the city was gradually recovering from the ravages of war.

Something felt strange…

But that strange feeling didn’t last long. As I walked down the street, I remembered what the old woman had said earlier. She mentioned “Jasmine Lane in the west,” which sounded like it had many restaurants and taverns, presumably more lively…

I wondered if there was anything affordable and edible there. At least, I needed to find somewhere to stay first. I’d head to the taverns in the evening…

To gather some information, the tavern was definitely a must-visit place.