Volume 2, Chapter 18 – The Lurking Thing

The morning streets were as bustling as ever, the narrow alleys packed to the brim. The clamor of voices mixed with the stench of beasts and horses, forming the city’s ever-present backdrop.

“Though compared to the subways of a metropolis, this level of crowding is still far from enough.”

While savoring the local customs of this other world, Yisi weaved through the alleys according to the guidance of the Omniscient Map.

Her goal was to observe her competitors. Since she had decided to open a tavern, attracting a steady flow of customers would require more than just a unique product. She needed to understand this world’s dietary habits, cultural customs, even religious taboos—things far more efficiently learned from other taverns than from books.

Additionally, from what Yisi had gathered, this world lacked the concept of “advertising.” Whether small-scale individuals or large merchant caravans, all relied solely on word-of-mouth from repeat customers to grow. Management was relatively lax, lacking incentive systems. Though Yisi had no intention of turning her tavern into a widely known establishment, that didn’t stop her from brainstorming how she would run it if profit were the sole objective.

“I should also buy some grains suitable for distilling liquor.”

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“Hey, you there! Come here!”

The sudden shout snapped Yisi back to reality. Assuming she was the one being called, she instinctively looked up—ahead, at a narrower section of the street, a group of leather-armored guards were conducting inspections. Everyone passing through, whether merchant or slave, was forced to strip off their clothes and expose their backs for the guards to examine.

A wave of disgust rose in her heart. Yisi halted her steps and observed discreetly from a distance.

“What’s going on up there?”

She wasn’t the only one wondering—others on the street were equally puzzled, exchanging information in hushed tones.

“The lord is screening for the fallen. Apparently, a few days ago, guards clashed with the fallen in a village outside the city. Nearly all the soldiers sent were wiped out.”

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“So the lord’s checking for the fallen now, afraid of assassination?”

“Who knows? Several of the fallen were just arrested and dragged off to the dungeons. They say they’ll be executed in a few days.”

“But weren’t those the fallen with masters?”

“Who cares what the lord’s thinking? Those things are demons anyway—better off dead sooner, lest they infect the rest of us.”

“Hey, those soldiers are looking this way.”

“What’s there to fear? Are you the fallen?”

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“…Good point. Let’s keep moving.”

After a flurry of murmurs, the gathered onlookers began moving toward the checkpoint. And just as they’d said, a squad of soldiers strode purposefully in Yisi’s direction.

They’re not mistaking me for one of the fallen, are they?

Yisi frowned. Though she wasn’t the fallen, the idea of stripping in the middle of winter repulsed her.

She pulled out the church insignia Owen had given her from her pocket. During her travels, she’d already confirmed that this emblem—a symbol of a church priest—exempted her from inspections. In the Kingdom of Hels, the church and the crown operated as separate entities, neither interfering with the other.

But to her surprise, when the soldiers were still twenty meters away, several women who had been hiding by the wall suddenly bolted in the opposite direction, as if terrified of the guards. Seeing this, the soldiers immediately gave chase, brushing past Yisi and shoving through the crowd, heading straight for the fleeing women.

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The Omniscient Map revealed that all eight women were the fallen.

They must be the ones who fought the kingdom’s soldiers.

Drawing her own conclusions, Yisi turned away from the checkpoint. Even if she wasn’t the fallen, she had no intention of letting soldiers strip her. The district’s alleys were a tangled maze—if one path was blocked, she could simply take another. With the Omniscient Map, getting lost wasn’t a concern.

“Let’s hope I don’t get dragged into whatever mess those fallen are in.”

Her low mutter vanished into the cold wind.