Simon is back from Karp.

"That's right, somebody did that kind of magic. I wanted to dismantle it, but I couldn't find the source of the spell. It's supposed to be hidden. ”

"What about you...... You shouldn't have exposed yourself, right?"

"Uh...... I don't know. Simon scratched his skull.

"If you say that, you're almost sure it's someone from the abyss. ”

The three of them glanced at each other.

And that's to be expected. From the very beginning, Alvin guessed that the cause of Karp's anomaly was either heaven or hell. These are just these two places.

In many parts of the continent, there are forces supported by these two sides, and the Duchy of Besil has only appeared for the first time, which is already considered lucky.

"It's decided, what should we do next?" Matthew asked.

Alvin turned around and quickly spread the map on the table, "Make sure there's at least one demon on the other side, and we're not sure if they've spotted us, so the three of us can't leave Mr. Simon's side anyway." Otherwise it can be dangerous. And we can't bring too many people, it's better to just the three of us, and disguise ourselves as caravans. ”

"Are we still going to infiltrate Karp?"

"Of course, why are we here? The first step is that we've almost determined that the devil is doing it, and the second step is to find out the specific situation in Karp's local area, and then bring the news back to Miss Irene. ”

"If it's just to make sure of the local situation, why not let Mr. Simon make another trip? He can go back and forth very conveniently, without even having to wait for the snow to melt. With that, Matthew looked at Simon.

Alvin also looked at Simon.

"Uh...... I'm not quite sure what needs to be determined. Simon scratched his head.

"Let's go together. George said, "What is the point of us coming here if we just go back like this, and how are we going to report it to Miss Irene? and tell her that all the information was retrieved by Mr. Simon?"

Saying this, Matthew could only smile wryly and walk to the sofa next to him and sit down.

Alwyn thought for a moment, turned to Simon and said, "Mr. Simon, can you hide yourself completely?"

"What do you mean?" asked Simon.

"I'm talking about you following us quietly and then hiding yourself completely, even if we don't even feel your presence. In this case, we would be fighting completely independently as if you were not with us. You only come to our aid when the opposite demon strikes. ”

"Absolutely, that's how we used to be with Gray. Simon chuckled, "It looks like yesterday." ”

"Is there anything other than demons that can threaten us?" asked Matthew.

"And the Messenger. As he spoke, the corners of Elwin's mouth rose slightly: "I hope there is enough chivalry on the other side, isn't this the adventure we are looking forward to, the life of a knight we are looking forward to?

At this moment, Alwin's eyes were full of fanaticism.

Matthew's eyes slowly widened, and George's face was expressionless.

Simon's eyes were burning with two soul fires.

......

"Young Master, isn't this okay, if you have any problems, how can I explain it to the Duke. ”

"I'm with Lord Simon, do you still need to worry?"

"But...... Isn't there a demon on the other side? This can only be regarded as an equal match. ”

"It's okay to be evenly matched. Fathers don't want a son who can only win battles under superior circumstances, does he?"

"But ......"

"It's been decided, you just have to do what I say. ”

Early the next morning, George sent back all the people he had brought with him. Matthew then used his expertise to infiltrate the caravanserais.

For several days, Matthew went out early and returned late, and finally finalized everything on the third night.

He brought back a businessman who looked like an upstart in a purple robe, with gold rings on his fingers.

"Hahahaha, it's rare to meet someone who can talk to me like this, I like Matthew, really!" The merchant named Martin hooked Matthew's shoulder while drinking wine, and said happily, "If it weren't for the fact that he had already been hired by you, I would really like to ask him to help under me." ”

Alvin was stunned, and hurriedly whispered to Matthew, "We hired you?"

"Yes, you are a first-time merchant in the mountains, I am a local, and you asked me to help you with your work. ”

"Why do you tell such a lie?"

"Just listen to it. Matthew replied quietly.

On the other side, Martin, who was already half drunk, said to Alwin: "I heard that you still lack a guide, I know this road well, you can follow me." Then I can have two more drinks with my little brother Matthew, hahahaha. ”

Matthew next to him made a "look" expression at Alwin.

After thinking about it, Alvin replied softly, "Okay." ”

In this way, they easily blended into a caravan and had a free guide.

......

After another two days, the snow on the mountain melted completely, turning into a trickle of water flowing down the cobblestone riverbed.

The caravans that had already gathered in Aspar also set off one by one.

Elwin, Matthew, and George rode horses and followed the caravan in heavy armor. Of course, the heavy armor was covered with a thick layer of linen, so that as long as you didn't wear a helmet, it wouldn't be too conspicuous.

A vast caravan walked along the mountain road to Karp, as if the entire city was on the move. Especially when the clothes of the vast majority of them are made of linen, which makes them more like refugees.

In the crowd, Martin asked Matthew, "Is there armor under your sackcloth robe?"

"Yes, it's armor, that's right. As he spoke, Matthew, who was sitting in the carriage, turned his face sideways, looked at George and Alvin not far away, pointed at George and said, "See, it's a nobleman." ”

"Aristocrats?"

"Yes, the current nobles are not easy to mix, and they can't live on the income of the territory alone, so they thought of coming to do business. The first time, I was a little worried, so I put on the armor. I was forced to put it on too. Heavy dead. ”

"Are they afraid of bandits?"

"Probably. Matthew spread his hands.

Martin turned his face sideways and shouted at George, "Hahahaha, don't worry, there are no bandits on this road." Look at us, we don't even have guards. Take off all your armor, don't be so cowardly!"

George silently turned his face away.

All of a sudden, the people in the caravan laughed even more.

Alvin laughed along.

George gave them a blank look and looked away.

It is said that it is only a day's journey, but in fact, it is actually a sleepless journey 24 hours a day. It takes almost three days to walk normally. And if you bring donkeys and horses, it's at least four days' journey.

Along the way, the team moved as fast as a turtle, and George was a little impatient.

But there was no way, leaving the caravan, they didn't even have a guide.

......

During the day they walked slowly along the mountain paths, and at night they lit a bonfire on a certain piece of turf.

Merchants from all over the world danced and sang and entertained themselves, but there was a lot of flavor.

In the midst of that, Alvin also heard someone tell Gray's story.

"Do you know about the Battle of White City? At that time, I happened to go to White City to buy goods, and I was on the spot. The holy light, sixteen paths, came down from the sky. ”

"Is that light cylindrical or cone-shaped?"

"Uh...... How do I know?"

"Didn't you see that?"

"Hmm...... Cylindrical. ”

"Are you sure? Even if it's a cylindrical shape, with one end in the sky, so far away, it looks like it should be cone-shaped, right?"

"How do I know! I haven't measured!"

The storyteller erupts in annoyance, causing the other merchants and helpers to laugh.

The light of the campfire reflected George's face.

After listening quietly for a while, George turned his face sideways and asked, "You were there at the time, is the Holy Light cylindrical or cone-shaped?"

"I don't know. As he spoke, Alvin smiled.

"You don't know?"

"It's normal not to know, isn't it? There's a light that envelops you, how can you know if it's cylindrical or conical? Besides, I didn't have time to pay attention to it at the time. ”

"And what are you paying attention to?"

"I'm all about rushing forward, we're knights, and we should fight. ”

After thinking about it, George sighed: "I really envy you, so small, just like a paladin...... No, I should say the Lich King. Fight with the Lich King. You are all people who are destined to become knights. ”

"Only two of the fifteen are here, is that predestined?" Alwyn asked rhetorically.

......

The next day, it was another departure, and the cycle began again. It took four days.

For four days, Alwin watched everything around him carefully. However, nothing happened.

It was not until nearly dusk on the fourth day that they saw the city of Karp in the distance.

Or more precisely, it should be the castle of Karp.

It's nominally a city-state, but it's actually very different from a normal city-state.

Here, there are no streets, just villages scattered among the woods. Everything was built on the hills, and there were no settlements of any size. The most conspicuous is the castle built on the top of the hill.

It was a gray castle covered with what looked like spots left behind by the moss. At least thirty meters high, there are three towers. On the tower stood sentry soldiers.

In addition to the antler flags of the local lords, there are also the rosemary flags of the Böshir family.

Seeing the Rosemary Flag, Erwin's brows frowned slightly: "If it is really a rebellion, shouldn't the flag be replaced?" Not to mention the flag of the local lord, the flag of the Bessier family should be taken down as soon as possible." Could it be that the demon just cast a spell?"

George and Matthew, who were next to them, looked at each other and didn't speak.

Soon, they came to a fence in the middle of a mountain. It was a simple fence made of wood with a horse-repellent function. There were a large number of soldiers patrolling back and forth, but they did not stop the merchants.

Instead, they opened the gate of the fence and stood on the watchtower next to them, watching quietly, allowing the merchants to come and go freely. It's as if nothing really happened to Karp.

The trio followed Martin's group quickly across the fence to one of the small settlements.

It is said to be a settlement, but in fact there are only a dozen three- to four-storey houses, surrounded by a flat plot in the middle. There was a well, and a gallows.

Martin said to them happily, "This is the most central part of Karp, we come here, and we usually live here." It was also here that the hanging was carried out. ”

"Isn't it supposed to be a castle?" said Elwin, looking at the castle in the distance.

"It's supposed to be the castle, but what does that center have to do with us? We're just here to do business. Martin spread his hands.

The merchants who accompanied them had already begun to unload the goods. There is a warehouse next to it, and they are unloading the goods they brought in and piling them all up in the warehouse. Some businessmen have already entered the hotel and are preparing to rent a room.

It was getting dark.

Alwin and his party stood in the middle of the open space in a daze, a little puzzled.

"Am I mistaken? I think everything is normal here. Matthew whispered.

"Let's take a look, we'll stay too. Alvin replied.

The group tied their horses at the door and walked into the hotel.

The white-bearded shopkeeper looked at them and asked, "Three rooms?"

"No, one will do. Alvin replied without thinking.

"One room, but there are three of you. ”

"Yes, the three of us are going to have a room. ”

"I suggest you rent three. There are enough rooms here, I can count you a little cheaper. ”

"No, we still want one. Thank you. ”

"Well, whatever you want. With that, the shopkeeper walked out of the counter with an oil lamp and stepped up the stairs: "Follow me." ”

"Okay. Alvin followed.

Matthew whispered, "Do we have to have one room? ”

"Do you want to be broken one by one?" whispered George, who walked at the end.

......

Pushing open the door, the owner lit the lamp and said to them, "This is the room with the best view in our store." From here you can see the hill down, and you can also see the gallows. If someone is executed, it can be clearly seen from the balcony even if there are many people around. ”

"Are there many executions here?" Alvin asked.

"It's not very often, but once or twice a month. ”

Very ordinary room, only 20 square meters. If you live for three people, it will be a little crowded. Especially when they were each carrying their own weapons and equipment, it was even more crowded. In the light of the oil lamp, there was a feeling of grogginess.

"Are you satisfied?" asked the shopkeeper looking back.

"Satisfied. Alvin replied.

"Then I had to pay three days' rent, six silver coins. ”

As he spoke, the shopkeeper held out a hand towards Alwin.

Alvin reached out of his money bag, shook it, and took out six silver coins and handed them over.

After taking the money, the boss turned around and left, closing the door by the way.

Matthew whispered, "This dilapidated house in the middle of nowhere costs two silver coins a day, are you kidding?"

......

At this moment, in the opposite building, two pairs of eyes were quietly staring at them through the window.

It's the girl who appeared in Aspar before. Behind her, there was also a middle-aged man in armor.

"Do you want to do it tonight?" the middle-aged man asked softly.

The girl smiled and replied, "Of course, why don't you wait for them to rest?"