Goblin Knight - Chapter 306



Only Noblemtl

EP.306 Tin Heart (14)

The next day, it was still early in the morning when Gilan knocked on Blanc’s door and woke him up, and they set off for the city.

There were three main reasons.

Although it is relatively close, it is still a distance that takes several hours to get there by carriage.

Given that Annelie’s exact symptoms are unknown, the sooner she gets to a therapist, the better to prevent the worst.

And three, there was no telling when the Federation’s pursuers might discover their forward base and close in on them.

They would have to suffer a great loss if they were to break through the base’s defenses, but they could deal a great blow just by surrounding Blanc and his party so that they could not receive supplies or escape.

Blanc had no choice but to agree, as it was the right thing to say, considering Annely’s well-being.

Naturally, I couldn’t ask Gilan directly about the new questions I had from Annely last night.

‘… … I don’t know for sure, but it’s clear that in the current situation, only this person can help Anneli. He’s also thoroughly fulfilling his promise to help us. There’s no reason to create division.’

For that reason, I let Trasha run for about two hours, exchanging only weightless conversations.

At some point, the unique ripples of this area began to disappear, and the city came into view, with the black Silk Road surrounding it.

On the outside, it didn’t look much different from any other city we’d seen so far.

“I can’t get used to it. The rugged terrain of the Inoemagyeong is so close by, yet it looks so ordinary… … .”

“The gap is too great for them to influence each other. The rippling lands of this region could not have had any influence on culture in particular.”

“Why?”

“If you accidentally step foot in a mine and are blown to pieces, and even if you manage to survive, an invisible doll will chop your head off with an axe, what can you do about it?”

“aha…….”

Feeling a little tired of Gilan telling such a gruesome story in a nonchalant voice, Blanc approached the castle gate.

The guards by the gate looked tense.

It wasn’t that strange.

How often in life do you get to see a wolf several times larger than the largest horse pulling a carriage made of vines?

“It’s strange that I’ve become accustomed to that kind of reaction. Isn’t that right, Annelie? Even a year ago, I didn’t know anything—”

“yes?”

“ah…….”

Blanc, who was trying to have a normal conversation with Annely as if nothing happened, ended up letting out a blank sound.

“… … No, it’s nothing. Forget it. It’s embarrassing to show such an idiot.”

“Haha, it’s okay. I understand. It’s a really weird feeling to have someone you took for granted be by your side disappear, even if it’s just for a little while.”

Gilan said with a giggling laugh.

“I know how you feel. I have a daughter. Have you heard of it?”

“I wanted to say, ‘How did I hear about your family history?’ But surprisingly, when I thought about it carefully, I had heard it. It’s the same thing that Anneli said on the boat.”

“Whenever we talk about Gilan’s ‘gold-eating omnipotence’, it’s become a phrase that is always included. It’s that I’m the biggest daughter-fool in the world.”

“… … I guess that’s true.”

Blanc answered with a slightly surprised look.

Gilan, who suddenly started talking about his daughter, threw away the suspicious merchant’s appearance from a moment ago and transformed into the appearance of a reckless father who was obsessed with bragging about his daughter.

“I don’t really have any intention of denying it. She is such a cute and pitiful child! I guarantee you that you wouldn’t mind putting her in your eyes. If you’ve ever seen her walking around and making a wreath out of wild flowers, anyone would be able to sympathize. She’s been doing that less recently, perhaps because she’s going through early puberty, but I’m also happy because I think she’s growing in her own way!”

“Uh, uh uh.”

“Oh. The story has been going on for a while… My daughter once had a high fever. I’ve never been so flustered in my entire life, but I can’t remember how many times I’ve blurted out something to my daughter who wasn’t there… .”

Yes, merchants were such talkative people.

As Blanc was recalling the lesson he had first learned after leaving the cave, Gilan, who had been talking about his daughter for a long time, lightly patted his hand and said.

“Anyway, from the perspective of someone who knows the pain you’re going through… I hope you stay strong. I don’t know exactly what condition Miss Annelie is in, but she’ll definitely return to you soon. Then, the pain and loneliness you’re feeling right now will definitely be a joke.”

“… … Ah, so you were actually trying to encourage me. I feel like I’ve come a long way, but… I’m still grateful.”

“Haha, this is what happens whenever I talk about my daughter.”

Gilan’s lips twisted into a smile, and then he looked out of the carriage when he heard the guard’s voice shouting in a trembling voice, “Stop!”

Trasha, who had already arrived at the castle gate, was looking at Blanc and waiting for his orders.

“Hmm. Is this where the Holy Knight’s badge works?”

“Of course. But I think it would be much faster if I just took care of it here.”

While Blanc was looking through Hekal’s identification cards, Gilan jumped down from the carriage first and approached the guards.

As expected, his assurance was not wrong, as Gilan simply showed his face to the guards and displayed a majestic presence that made their faces stiffen and they quickly stepped aside.

It’s hard to believe that the author was just boasting about his daughter so excitedly… It seems so natural for him to be in the position of ‘Gap’.

‘… … I can’t get a handle on it.’

“With this, your identity is confirmed. Please come in.”

Blanc shook his head and entered the city with Trasha, who had shrunk to the size of a normal horse.

And immediately after, I was bewildered by an unfamiliar sensation I had never felt in the city before.

Blanc could now say that he had been to many cities as a novice peddler.

The first city I set foot on was Katia, which was not very large in size, but was boiling with excitement for the gladiatorial games that would be held soon.

Flint, a city that was certainly large and vibrant enough to be called a city, although I don’t have particularly good memories of it, and where I was able to meet Sir Tom Quiyote.

The clean city of Kyusen that had been hiding a disgusting truth, Ebenezer that was slowly freezing but everyone was gathering coal to survive, India where the starry dance was beautiful, Ashenputtel, a port city in illusion, Kansas and Munchkin that we passed by as we entered the East, and even Lemen that became entangled in an unidentified conspiracy.

Those cities, which were all different in size, character, and even background, had one thing in common.

Those who belonged to the city, whether good or evil, each had a brighter future ahead of them.

This wasn’t the case here.

‘What is this…?’

If I had to put it into words… a city where hope has faded.

Had monsters invaded and destroyed their recent home? No. Each building that made up the city was intact and functioning properly.

Was there a plague going around? No, it didn’t seem like it. There was no trace of disease on the faces of the people on the street.

The quality of life of each individual never seemed low, nor did it seem as if there was some dark underbelly like during the Q-Sen era.

Still, I don’t feel any energy.

It felt like the people here… were living a life with no hope for the future.

‘No, why on earth… … .’

“Well, I guess I should take my leave for now.”

“ah?”

“Although I am in the middle of a pioneering project, I still have some things to take care of as a merchant. Just a moment, I will write down the location of the infirmary.”

Gilan took out a notebook from his bosom, scribbled a few lines in fancy handwriting, tore the page out, and handed it to Blanc.

“Just go to this location. Oh, and don’t worry about the payment. Just show me the paper with the address and my handwriting, and everything will be taken care of.”

“Oh, really? … … I’m just saying, but do you think I’ll just get treatment and walk away from this?”

“Haha. Are you sure about that?”

“No, that’s not true, but-”

“Look at that.”

Gilan smiled and put her notebook back, then waved at him and slowly walked away.

“Once this is all done, I’ll head to the infirmary! It’ll probably take some time until the sun sets, so don’t wait too long, and if there’s anything you need to prepare, take care of it first! Okay!”

With that cry, Gilan left.

Leaving Blanc alone in the true sense of the word –

– Grrrrr.

“Ah… okay.”

Blanc, who had been standing there blankly for a moment, ended up smiling bitterly at Trasha, who bit his hand and pulled him towards her as if asking what he was doing.

“You’re not completely alone.”

– Boom!

“Yeah, yeah, sorry. It’s okay now. Let’s hurry.”

After lightly ruffling her hair in return, Blanc began to walk down the street with Trasha.

I feel like I can’t adapt to this bleak city that doesn’t have any energy at all.