Chapter 116:

Chapter 116: Chapter 116:

Chapter 116:

The last thing he wanted was to return to the forest one day and discover that someone else had taken over the clearing, damaged the plants, or attracted even more dangerous beasts to the area.

By the time Osborne finished selling the amount of Moonlight Grass he had brought with him, he had visited several shops and collected a satisfying amount of money without revealing anything important about himself.

Osborne stepped out of a shop, adjusting the pouch at his waist as the shop clerk’s voice followed him from behind.

"Thanks for coming."

He nodded slightly without turning around, then continued walking down the street while thinking about the results of his little business trip.

The amount he had earned was more than enough to make the journey worthwhile, and he still had plenty of Moonlight Grass stored in his sub-space, which meant that he could sell more whenever he needed additional money.

However, he had no intention of rushing to sell the entire supply, because rare resources became less valuable when too much of them entered the market at once, and keeping a reserve would give him more choices if he discovered a better use for the herbs in the future.

After all, he had not yet investigated every possible use of Moonlight Grass, nor had he learned whether the plants could be cultivated elsewhere, and it would be foolish to sacrifice all his resources for a little extra money when there might be more profitable opportunities ahead.

For now, he was satisfied with the amount he had earned, and he preferred to return to the farm before Nicholas and his family began wondering why their guest had been away for so long.

After storing his last coin pouch in his sub-space, Osborne made his way toward the main road and called for a wagon that was heading in the direction of the farm, preparing to leave town.

---

Once again, the remainder of the day went by in a flash and night arrived.

Osborne lay atop his bed, sleeping soundly under the cover of night, when all of a sudden, his eyes jolted awake, his ears twitching strongly.

He sat up straight and stared out the window, his expression unpleasant.

The room remained silent, with only the occasional sound of insects coming from outside, while the moonlight passing through the window illuminated a small part of the floor.

Osborne remained seated on his bed, his head slightly tilted as he listened carefully to the sounds around him, trying to determine what had disturbed his sleep.

It had been a tiring day, and all he wanted now was a good night’s sleep.

Unfortunately, something had disturbed that plan.

The unpleasant feeling in his chest refused to disappear, and his instincts continued to warn him that something wasn’t right.

’There’s an unfamiliar scent coming from outside...’

He couldn’t tell whether the owner was approaching the house or simply passing by, but the thought alone was enough to make him frown.

Nicholas and his family were ordinary people who lived on a farm outside town, and there was little reason for anyone to visit them in the middle of the night.

Although Osborne couldn’t rule out the possibility of a traveler looking for shelter, his instincts told him that the situation wasn’t so simple.

He had learned long ago that ignoring a strange feeling could sometimes lead to trouble, especially when his life was involved.

Osborne got up from the bed. After walking a bit, he carefully opened the door.

The hallway was quiet, and the rooms belonging to the Nicholas family remained dark, indicating that everyone was asleep.

Osborne briefly glanced toward their rooms before making his way toward the front door, taking care not to disturb the family that had kindly allowed him to stay under their roof.

He had no intention of dragging them into his troubles.

After stepping outside, Osborne paused for a moment and allowed his senses to spread across his surroundings, paying particular attention to the faint sounds and smells carried by the night air.

’There....’ Underneath the night’s cover, his red eyes peeked through the gaps of his helm.

His gaze shifted toward the distant trees, where he could just barely detect a human presence.

Osborne’s expression grew colder.

Whoever was hiding out there had made a mistake by coming too close to the farm, especially if they thought they could remain unnoticed while he was around.

He quietly shut the door behind him before beginning to make his way toward the forest, his armored footsteps becoming increasingly faint as he moved away from the house.

---

A dark-clothed figure stood within the woods, silently watching the Nicholas family house.

The figure had been hiding among the trees for some time, carefully observing the surroundings while waiting for something to happen.

Although the darkness made it difficult to see clearly, the faint moonlight was enough to distinguish the outline of the house, and the figure had remained focused on it without showing any signs of impatience.

After all, the task had been given to him for a reason, and returning without completing it was unprofessional. In his line of work, reputation was everything.

Just then, he saw a silhouette in armor step out of the house before beginning to make his way toward the forest.

The dark-clothed figure’s eyes immediately brightened.

’There you are!’

He had spent a considerable amount of time waiting for this very moment, and now that his target had finally appeared, he felt as though his efforts were about to pay off.

The armored man didn’t appear to be in a hurry, nor did he seem to be looking around for anyone who might be watching him.

Instead, he simply walked away from the house and headed toward the trees, moving at a steady pace that made it seem as though he had somewhere to be.

Feeling eager, the dark-clothed figure quietly followed behind.

He made sure to keep a good distance between himself and the target, carefully stepping around dry branches and avoiding patches of loose leaves that might make unnecessary noise.