Chapter 564 - 563: A Sorrowful Background

Chapter 564: Chapter 563: A Sorrowful Background

"We’re just passing through," Colin said.

Seeing that they could communicate peacefully, the surrounding Charcoal Burners relaxed a little.

The old Charcoal Burner steeled himself and walked forward. "I reckon you’re Adventurers, right?"

"Yes, we’re an adventuring party." Colin stopped walking.

"Then, could you spare a bit of time to help me escort an old guy who sells charcoal to the nearest village? There’s been a bear on this road the past few days. We can offer two Gold Coins..." The old Charcoal Burner glanced at the Armor Colin was wearing. "Maybe... three Gold Coins would work too."

"What’s the name of the village?" Colin asked.

"Piotrawin. It’s called Piotrawin, sir."

"In that case, it’s on our way. You can forget the payment. As you can see, we’re not exactly hurting for a Gold Coin or two. Of course, you’ll have to give us some supplies like dried meat. Our food is almost gone."

After speaking, Colin sighed.

’They probably couldn’t scrounge up many Gold Coins even if they turned this whole camp upside down. It’s on our way, anyway. Might as well do them a small favor.’

"Alright, sir. Let’s do that," the old Charcoal Burner said. "The charcoal seller is over here. Please, follow me."

Colin immediately followed him.

Just then, he felt a light tug on his Cloak. He turned to see two pairs of large, worried eyes looking at him.

Ale asked, "We’re out of food?"

"Is our food gone?" Orelia asked right after.

"I was lying. This way, it doesn’t look like charity," Colin said as he led Big Hoof Treasure forward.

Another commission promptly appeared in his Task Log.

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[Commission: Escort the Charcoal Worker]

[Rating: Not Started]

[Reward: Not Calculated]

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The group arrived at the center of the Charcoal Burner camp. There was a large wooden cabin that served as a dormitory, and in front of it was a two-wheeled oxcart loaded with a pile of dark charcoal.

An old man in a worn-out cotton coat sat beside the oxcart.

The man was incredibly old, the hair on his face almost entirely white. Seeing Colin and the others approach, the corners of his mouth twitched into a faint smile, causing his whole face to crinkle into layers of wrinkles.

The ox in front of the cart also had many folds in its hide and looked just as old; it was hardly any different from the old man.

The old Charcoal Burner walked up to the oxcart and said to the old man, "Yaxi, you should go with them."

"Alright, you good sirs." The old man called Yaxi said with a smile.

"You should be more respectful. They’re a group of kindhearted Adventurers." After saying this, the old Charcoal Burner called over a few other Charcoal Burners, who went back to their dormitory and brought out some food like dried meat and bread for the party.

Once they were ready, the group set off directly down the main road.

As soon as they left the camp, Old Yaxi smiled at Kase and said, "You’re certainly a sturdy one. Are you an Orc or a Half-Orc? Sorry, I can never tell the difference between the two."

Kase, who had been about to scout ahead, froze for a moment.

He exchanged a look with Colin before speaking. "Half-Orc. You’re not afraid of me?"

"I’ve got nothing to be afraid of," Old Yaxi said with a grin.

"I’ll go take a look up ahead." Kase glanced at Yaxi as he spoke, then turned and ran forward.

"Ah, what wonderful weather today! How are you all doing?" Seeing the Half-Orc leave, Yaxi continued to chat with the others.

However, Orelia wasn’t used to strangers being so friendly toward them. The others all looked to Colin, expecting him to answer.

Colin sighed and said, "Not bad."

"’Not bad’ is wonderful! May the Morninglord bless you." Yaxi rambled on, "My day’s been good, too. This morning, I had stew with dried meat, and then I drank a little light beer. By the Morninglord, I never thought I’d get to eat something so good again."

"That does sound pretty good." Colin also started making small talk. "Are you the designated charcoal seller for that camp?"

"Mhm, yes," Old Yaxi said. "I originally came from the north. It’s all thanks to those Charcoal Burners agreeing to let me buy some charcoal on credit a few months ago."

"So, you’re not a member of that charcoal camp, then?" Colin asked.

Old Yaxi chuckled. "I live north of the camp."

"Did you come from the north because of the winter disaster?"

"Yes, hmm... That would’ve been when it snowed last year. The snows came early that year, before we could even harvest the wheat. My son, my daughter-in-law, and I knew things were bad, so we took the family ox and headed south."

Old Yaxi leaned over and patted the ox’s rump. The old beast turned its head and let out a MOO in response.

"And your son? Does he work at the Charcoal Burner camp?"

"My son? He’s dead." Old Yaxi said with a smile. "My daughter-in-law was pregnant, but she had a difficult birth on the road. My son was going to find a Herbalist for her, but he disappeared on the way. I guess he was eaten by wolves."

Colin didn’t dare say anything more.

He glanced at the old man’s expression. He was still smiling, as if he had just been talking about an enemy of his.

"And then, my daughter-in-law died from the difficult birth, too. But the baby survived," Old Yaxi said. "But a few months later, the baby starved to death because there was no food."

Hearing his story, Colin was reminded of the refugees he had seen on the streets of the slums.

Although he had seen destitute people on the streets almost every day back then, looking back now, he didn’t seem to recall seeing many familiar faces.

’Perhaps many of them ended up like Old Yaxi’s family... But there was really nothing to be done about it. After all, that was the winter disaster that swept across the entire Northern Lands.’

"Don’t you feel sad?" Ale asked, her face expressionless.

To be honest, Colin was already used to her asking these kinds of strange questions.

Old Yaxi, however, didn’t seem to mind the question at all.

He let out a few laughs and said, "I’m almost fifty years old, milady. My father was already dead by my age, and my grandfather was younger than me when he died, too. I’ve lived this long, what is there to complain about?"

"But you’ve only lived..."

"That’s certainly nothing to complain about," Colin quickly interrupted the fifty-something-year-old Half-Elf who still looked like a young girl.

Ale looked back at Colin in confusion, blinked a few times, but ultimately said nothing.

Just then, Dorn, who had been keeping to himself, spoke up. "Kase says there’s trouble up ahead. He wants you to check if there are any strange beasts."