Chapter 652

【 THE EMPIRE’S COMMON FOLK 】

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The river’s cold wind blew fiercely from south to north, billowing the sails of Gaia as it sped along the Vymur River.

Due to the Elven Forest’s consistently higher temperatures compared to the surrounding regions, winter monsoon winds would blow from the relatively cooler, fertile plains toward the forest. This results in the rare occurrence of a southern wind traveling along the Vymur River during the winter season.

Sophia stood at the bow of the ship, her expression relaxed and full of anticipation. At times she would gaze at the river up ahead, watching light ripple across its shimmering surface like scattered silver. Other times she would close her eyes to savor the cool breeze brushing against her face, her hair fluttering freely behind her.

In that moment, she appeared as joyful and free as a caged bird finally taking flight.

That is, until her pleasant mood was interrupted by a familiar voice.

“Looks like you’re in quite a good mood, aren’t you, Lady Viscountess?”

It was Demacia.

The moment she saw his annoyingly handsome face, the noble girl’s expression cooled noticeably.

However, just as she was about to unleash her usual sarcastic rhetoric, Demacia waved his hands hurriedly.

“Wait, wait… don’t start cursing me already. I’m just here to bring you something.”

He quickly pulled a scroll from inside his coat and offered it to her.

“What is this?” Sophia frowned. Perhaps because of her good mood, for once she did not refuse him.

“It contains an enhanced disguise spell that will let you alter your appearance and look like an ordinary commoner.”

“Change my appearance?” she repeated, a little startled.

“That’s right. We’ll be arriving soon, and your half-elven features are too conspicuous. So putting on a disguise will make things easier not only for you, but for all of us. During this escort mission, we’ll be posing as human mercenaries.”

Hearing this, Sophia hesitated. She glanced at her reflection in the river’s surface, noting how clearly she differed from ordinary humans.

After a moment of thought, she accepted the scroll.

“Oh, and another thing,” Demacia added.

“What is it?” Sophia asked, her voice starting to sound impatient.

“Nothing major. I just wanted to warn you… don’t expect too much from Riverbend Town. It might be a bit different from what you imagine, so try not to get your hopes up.”

He scratched his head as he spoke.

His vague remark made her frown. She opened her mouth to question him further, but Demacia had already turned and walked away, likely concerned her sharp tongue would strike again if he lingered.

“What nonsense is he spouting now?” she huffed quietly.

Her enjoyment of the scenery had now mostly faded due to being interrupted. After giving one last look at the clear blue sky, she tucked the scroll away and returned to her cabin to rest.

Time passed quickly as their ship continued its journey. By midday, a moderately sized port town finally appeared in the distance.

“We’re approaching Riverbend Town! Everyone, get your disguises ready! We will disembark soon!”

The voice of one of her elven escorts rang across the deck.

At the call, Sophia hurried out of the cabin and rushed to the railing, her eyes bright with anticipation.

However, the moment the town came into view, the excitement on her face swiftly faded into subtle disappointment and disbelief.

It was a small port settlement, not even half the size of Grey Haven. Situated within a U-shaped river bend, the buildings along the shore were low and dilapidated, their walls stained and roofs sagging.

Several mercantile ships were moored at the docks, and workers busily loaded and unloaded crates, giving the area a semblance of liveliness. There were certainly people everywhere, yet the atmosphere felt bleak. Aside from those merchants dressed in comparatively tidy clothing, most residents wore filthy, threadbare garments. They looked gaunt and malnourished, cheeks hollow and eyes sunken with fatigue.

Thin, rag-clad children loitered near the piers, clutching worn baskets or extending small hands toward passing traders in silent pleas for food or coin.

Their presence made the air feel even heavier.

The poverty and disrepair stood in stark contrast to the prosperity of Grey Haven. Confronted with such a sight, the young noble girl felt her composure waver, the earlier excitement draining from her eyes as a complicated emotion settled in her chest.

“T-This… is Riverbend Town?” she whispered, disbelief tightening her voice.

“Yes. This is our destination,” Demacia answered, stepping up beside her once more.

For once, Sophia did not respond with her usual cutting sarcasm. The sight before her had struck too deeply. She continued staring at the decrepit harbor, her expression tightening with every passing heartbeat.

“No… this is impossible.” She shook her head, almost refusing to believe her own eyes. “The records in the castle clearly described Riverbend Town as the shining jewel of the Vymur River… a key trade port of the western territories. How could it have fallen into such a state?”

“Miss Sophia,” Demacia said, his tone quieter than usual, “you can’t compare this place to Grey Haven as elven cities are incomparable to human settlements. And don’t compare it to the city of Zelouan either, since both banks of its river are prosperous districts.”

Demacia shook his head as he spoke, all while activating his disguise spell and shifting into the form of an inconspicuous human mercenary.

“What you are seeing now is the real look of a typical port for ordinary human citizens. Come along. We are about to dock.”

༺⟐༻

The ship Gaia slowly glided into the harbor, its sails fluttering weakly in the sluggish southern wind. Sophia, now disguised as a human mercenary, followed the others—each similarly dressed—down onto the dock.

Their arrival immediately attracted the attention of everyone in the vicinity, who looked at them with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

But as soon as the local residents recognized their mercenary attire, many stiffened, then quickly scattered, causing the once-busy port to grow noticeably quieter.

Only the merchants and their guards remained vigilant, hands tightening around their weapons as they watched them, the newcomers with guarded eyes.

Seeing their reaction left Sophia momentarily speechless.

She stepped forward, intending to ask a nearby resident why the town had fallen into such disrepair, but the moment her presence drew close, the person she approached recoiled and hurried away as if Sophia carried a deadly plague.

Her brows furrowed.

“Why are they avoiding us? Is there something wrong with our disguises?”

“This is normal,” one of the elven escorts replied calmly. “We are posing as human mercenaries, and mercenaries in general have a bad reputation. People usually associate them with trouble, so commoners stay away from them. That is why we chose this disguise, since it helps us avoid unnecessary problems.”

Sophia looked even more startled.

“Why? Do mercenaries actually dare to behave lawlessly inside a city? Are they not afraid of being arrested by the city guards?!”

The elf shrugged, looking just as puzzled.

“No idea. I’ve only visited Maple Leaf Territory once. What I do know is that the commonfolk are very afraid of mercenaries. Maybe you should ask Demacia. He’s traveled more than the rest of us and probably understands the situation better.”

Hearing this, Sophia fell silent. There was clearly more to the situation than she initially thought.

Not wishing to appear overly concerned, she simply took a deep breath and chose not to press the matter further. Instead, she joined the others, mounted a dragonscale steed disguised as an ordinary horse, and rode with them toward the town’s interior, her gaze drifting uneasily over the crumbling streets ahead.

She had already lowered her expectations upon seeing the state of the port, but when they entered Riverbend Town, those expectations collapsed altogether as the town’s true condition revealed itself fully.

Short, worn-down buildings. Filthy, cluttered streets. Residents who appeared destitute and exhausted by life.

The sight greatly impacted the noble girl’s worldview.

Each passerby wore numb, hollow expressions, devoid of any vitality. Their gazes were filled with fear so raw and instinctive it caused Sophia’s chest to tighten in a way she could not explain.

As they rode deeper into town, she noticed something else unsettling: not a single city guard was present.

No patrols.

No watchful eyes.

Nothing.

Their small convoy pressed forward on horseback, silently watched by the wary, intimidated townsfolk.

Suddenly, shouts and harsh curses drew Sophia’s attention.

Outside a rundown tavern, several humans dressed as mercenaries were kicking and punching a frail, poorly dressed elderly woman. A basket of wild fruit lay overturned on the ground, with many berries crushed under the mercenaries’ boots. Their loud, mocking laughter echoed throughout the street.

A flash of anger crossed Sophia’s face at the sight.

She tightened her grip on the pendant at her chest and was about to chant a spell when another figure moved even faster.

It was a female elf disguised as a mercenary—if Sophia remembered correctly, her name was Jasmine. With a cold snort, she delivered swift and precise kicks that sent the mercenaries flying.

“Get lost,” Jasmine said coldly.

The mercenaries scrambled to their feet, ready to shout in outrage, but the moment they sensed the overwhelming strength behind their opponent, terror instantly replaced their bravado. Without even bothering to retrieve their scattered weapons, they turned and bolted down the street.

Seeing this, Sophia released her hold on the pendant. She then dismounted and hurried to the elderly woman’s side, helping her up before gathering the scattered berries.

The old woman’s eyes flickered with fear when the noble girl approached. Yet as Sophia assisted her, that fear slowly faded.

“Thank you… Thank you, my lady…”

Tears welled in the woman’s eyes as she spoke.

Looking at the timid old woman, Sophia’s expression hardened with quiet indignation.

She began chanting a spell while the others looked on in surprise as she cast a healing spell on the elderly woman.

“Oh, she’s actually a mage? I didn’t even notice… is that pendant some kind of concealment item?” Demacia muttered from afar, before returning a healing potion to his pouch.

“Thank you… Thank you, esteemed lady mage… thank you so much…” The woman’s voice trembled with gratitude after the spell took effect.

Sophia brushed the dust from the woman’s clothing and asked gently, “There is no need to thank me. Are you still in pain anywhere?”

“I feel much better… Truly… Thank you so very much…” The woman hugged her basket tightly.

Sophia glanced at the crushed berries and spoke again.

“Aren’t there any guards here in Riverbend Town? How can mercenaries run so rampant like that?”

At her question, the elderly woman sighed and shook her head.

“My lady, the town guards have fled with the noble lords. Since the Borderlord of Maple Leaf Territory rebelled, they feared the conflict would reach here. So they abandoned this place several days ago.”

“They fled?!”

Sophia froze, then anger colored her tone.

“What a disgrace to their titles!”

She surveyed the disordered surroundings before asking another question.

“What about the church? If the lord had indeed abandoned their post, did the church officials step in to maintain order in the town?”

“The… church?”

The old woman hesitated, then shook her head again.

“Every church clerics left as well. They departed together with the noble lords…”

Sophia: “…”

Seeing her reaction, the woman spoke carefully.

“My lady, you are mercenaries, aren’t you? You are heading to participate in Duke Lawson’s recruitment, yes?”

Sophia paused briefly, then nodded.

“Then I strongly advise you to reconsider. All those noble lords are ruthless and will devour everything, not even leaving bones behind. Their rewards may sound generous, but whether you survive to claim them is another matter entirely. My lady, I can tell you are a good person. Do not fall for their tricks. If you were one of those mercenary scoundrels, I would not say a word… but you… you are a good person.”

The elderly woman slowly shook her head.

Sophia stood silent for a moment.

She released a faint breath and replied,

“I understand.”

She glanced at the woman shivering in the cold breeze, then at the crushed berries scattered across the ground. Assessing the situation, she retrieved a gold coin from her pocket and placed it gently into the elderly woman’s hands.

“Here. Please use it to buy some warm clothing and food.”

“A… a gold coin!”

The woman’s eyes widened, a brief flicker of greed shining through before guilt drowned it out. She clasped the coin tightly yet seemed unsure what to do with it.

Moments later, she pushed the noble girl’s hand back with a bitter smile.

“Thank you for your kindness, my lady, but… you should take this back.”

“It is only a small gesture.”

Sophia insisted once again.

The older woman’s shoulders sagged as she let out a weary sigh.

“My lady, such a large sum… Even if you give it to me, an old woman like myself could never keep it safe.”

Sophia paused, taken aback.

Following the woman’s gaze, she looked to the surroundings. At some point, several vagrants had gathered, staring at the coin with hungry, covetous eyes.

It became painfully clear what would happen if she left the woman alone with such wealth in her possession.

“I see…”

Sophia’s expression dimmed whilst her chest tightened with a quiet, helpless ache.

With monetary aid clearly unsafe, she instead removed the ragged mercenary coat given by her elven escorts and draped it over the woman’s shoulders. Then she pulled out several pastries she had carefully saved since leaving Grey Haven from her storage ring and offered them to the elder.

“Here, please eat this instead. I will stay until you finish.”

“Thank you… thank you, my lady… You are indeed a good person. May the Eternal Lord graciously bless you.”

The woman spoke through tears as she devoured the food with trembling hands, desperation evident in every movement. She looked as though she had not eaten properly in days—perhaps even longer.

Bless me…?

Sophia’s gaze drifted over the crumbling streets and then toward the tightly shut doors of the church in the distance.

A sense of bitter irony twisted in her chest.

Once the woman finished her meal and bowed repeatedly in gratitude, Sophia rejoined her group.

By then, her mood had sunk entirely.

The excitement she once felt upon setting sail had vanished without a trace.

Their group pushed further into the town until they reached what was known as the noble district.

This was the part of Riverbend that should have displayed grandeur and comfort, a stark contrast to the poverty-stricken areas they had just passed through. For a brief moment, the noble residences gave Sophia a sense of familiarity.

Yet instead of comfort, the sight only deepened the weight in her heart. The buildings were not well-kept and merely less ruined.

As they traveled further, her words dwindled, and her eyes darkened with every street they crossed. The elves escorting her seemed to noticed her mood and chose to remain quiet as well.

Riverbend Town was not large. It did not take long for them to pass the nearly abandoned noble district and reach its far end.

Soon, the scenery decayed once more into collapsing rooftops and muddy pathways. A short defensive wall marked the edge of town, with a murky moat beyond it.

As expected, there was not a single guard present.

They continued riding out through the gate and into the interior lands of the Empire’s western territory.

But just as they left the town limits, Sophia noticed a man lurking near the roadside. He was in his thirties or forties, clutching something tightly in his arms. His expression was vacant, as if life had drained out of him long ago. Upon reaching a drainage ditch, he tossed the object away and was about to leave. But the moment he spotted their group, he flinched then fled in total panic.

“What did he throw away?”

Sophia narrowed her gaze.

“I advise you not to look,” Demacia responded, his voice unusually grim.

She paid him no mind. With a sharp tap against her mount, she urged her horse forward and rode toward the ditch.

As she approached, an overpowering stench of decay assaulted her senses, growing stronger with every step. Instinct urged her to stop, yet she pressed on.

When Sophia reached the edge of the ditch and looked down,

her breath caught, and her pupils constricted sharply.

For inside the ditch…

—lay piles of dead infants.

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