I needed memories of my past.
Even if the Goddess was an airhead, she wouldn''t make me live in ignorance forever, so I''d probably need to get memory fragments through her quests. In that case, I could forgive our scatterbrained Goddess.
It all seemed to be Han Se-ah''s fault.
Roland''s past memories were tied to the Empire. Katie''s growth quest was randomly tied to the Empire too, and right after breaking through floor 50, the Empire opened up with talk of "Season 2" and such. So what if the Goddess''s idea of "normal progression" was gathering power in the Empire before hunting the Four Heavenly Kings on floor 60?
Instead, they''d ignored the Empire and headbutted the tower like dinosaurs until the gate got blocked. If we assumed "Roland''s memories" and "Roland''s connections" were among the quest rewards Han Se-ah skipped, the current situation made perfect sense.
''Please let that be it...''
As a streamer, Han Se-ah being thick-headed was more hopeful than having a blockhead Goddess who held my soul in mortgage. I could correct Han Se-ah''s stupidity, but how could I fix a stupid Goddess?
Oblivious to my complicated thoughts about Jacob''s story, the others were busy playing with his daughter. Was the transcendent being stupid, or was the player whose game my life depended on stupid? What kind of rock-and-hard-place choice was this?
Lost in somewhat blasphemous thoughts, I trudged away from the Adventurer''s Guild. Having requested information from both Mercenary and Adventurer Guilds, all that remained was truly waiting.
"Since we have time, should we look around?"
"You memorized the carriage stops, right?"
"Of course."
No point maintaining anxious thoughts that would only weigh me down - time to shake them off.
Following excited Grace and Katie who''d apparently chosen a quiet spot, the crowds suddenly swelled. As if the earlier emptiness was a lie, various people filled the streets again as our party watched with interest.
Grace and Katie seemed interested in Imperial fashion, eyeing passing ladies, while Irene fondly watched children playing in alleys, perhaps reminded of Jacob''s daughter. Han Se-ah was busy entertaining viewers while revealing the minimap.
Too peaceful a scene to worry about. Better to keep a calm mind than agonize over things I couldn''t solve.
"If we don''t have a specific destination, though it''s early, should we head to where the restaurants are? Seems like a long walk."
"Good idea, since we''re staying a month we should find places to eat out."
"Ah! We should check if there''s a temple nearby too."
I energetically moved my legs that had slowed from worry and naturally wedged between Grace and Katie. Since Grace had memorized the archipelago''s rough layout from the simple guide at the carriage stop earlier, it made sense for her to lead.
Whether from guide instinct or natural sense of direction, Grace navigated smoothly using just that unfriendly sign from the carriage stop, rivaling Han Se-ah''s minimap.
"You said to check out where the restaurants are? There''s a street where mercenaries and merchant workers gather, and another where wealthy merchants and nobles go. Which way?"
"How do you know that?"
"I heard people talking in the streets while we were in the carriage."
With so many people, we gave up walking side by side and put me in front to break through the crowd. Though mercenaries and workers turned fierce looks when shoulders bumped, they quickly learned manners seeing shining armor ill-fitting the shabby street.
"So that''s why you came in armor, Roland."
"For mercenaries or adventurers, appearances matter first."
Han Se-ah following comfortably behind me marveled quietly, asking if this was adventurer know-how. Actually I hadn''t worn it for this but came armed hoping to cheese through the sudden quest somehow... but whatever works.
Despite intending to sightsee, the crowds meant watching people rather than streets. So many mercenaries packed the streets it seemed like some incident must have drawn them.
By then the others sensed something odd too, stretching their necks like meerkats to look around. It wasn''t normal to have more mercenaries in the restaurant district than the guild outside meal times.
"Grace. Any commotion nearby?"
"Hmm, I could probably figure out the direction."
Seeing Han Se-ah struggle with how to suggest abandoning restaurants for a surprise "commotion" quest, I glanced back and asked Grace.
Since we weren''t actually hungry anyway, Grace nodded and squeezed through people to my side. Mercenaries jabbed in the ribs turned sharply but melted seeing Grace''s face, then stiffened meeting my eyes before quickly fleeing.
Forcibly pushing through crowds made this feel more like subway offense than restaurant hunting.
"What''s this? Why are there so many people?"
"Did something happen? Maybe yesterday''s..."
"Ah, wait."
Then some very interesting words caught my ear. I unconsciously put my hands on the shoulders of a bald bearded man and long-haired guy chatting right beside us.
"What the fuck..."
"Can I help you, sir?"
Did they mistake the blonde pretty boy in out-of-place full plate for a noble? Or perhaps thought I was a knight escorting noble ladies, seeing the beauties trailing behind.
Natural mercenary survival instincts kicked in - shoulders hunching, backs bending, necks dropping as soon as our eyes met. Familiar with this behavior, I unhesitatingly pulled out my coin purse and grabbed a handful of silver.
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"I''d like to hear the story, but we''re blocking the street so make it quick?"
"Well, we could''ve told you with empty... but thank you for your consideration!"
From their posture and speech, these guys were experienced mercenaries.
Enjoy the chappy!