Chapter 34: Mr. Gailen is 10,000 Times Stronger Than You

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Mr. Gailen is 10,000 Times Stronger Than You

’Dark Night?’

’They must be talking about the horse.’

’Even though I don’t think I actually hit the horse, what if they demand compensation for its emotional trauma or something?’

And so, the cash-strapped Hesia had no choice but to lead Bruce toward the carriage.

The coachman opened the carriage door for them.

The interior was more spacious and comfortable than it looked from the outside, with a thick, soft carpet covering the floor.

The young lady named Annis was sizing them up with a curious gaze.

"Sit." She gestured with her chin to the opposite seat, her elegant posture carrying an air of authority that brooked no argument. "Your dog is interesting. What’s his name?"

"Bruce."

Bruce didn’t seem to care for the incense in the carriage and let out a loud, unapologetic sneeze.

"Bruce..." she repeated, her full, cherry-colored lips curving slightly. "Where are you headed?"

"Rose Town," Hesia answered truthfully, his confusion growing.

"Oh? To become an Adventurer?" The interest in Annis’s eyes deepened. "What a coincidence. I also need to take care of something at the edge of the Gray Mist Forest. It looks like we’ll be traveling together for a ways."

She spoke casually, but it was as if she had already made the decision for Hesia.

Hesia had no intention of traveling with such a strange person, even if she was obviously rich.

From inside, he examined the carriage roof. It didn’t seem to have been dented at all.

Annis, seeing right through him, snorted. "Of course this carriage wouldn’t be damaged by that measly branch of yours."

Her brows knitted as she thought for a moment before finding an excuse. "But... you... you woke me from my nap!"

Then she declared righteously, "And now that I’m awake, I’ll never get back to sleep. You’ll have to keep me company for the rest of the trip to relieve my boredom.

When we get to Rose Town, I’ll pay you a fee. Let’s call it... a temporary commission as my guard. Besides, judging by your appearance, you must be some kind of Professional, right?"

After she spoke, she muttered under her breath, "Heaven knows anyone will claim to be a big shot these days..."

Hesia didn’t quite catch her muttering, but he latched onto one key word and hurriedly asked, "How much is the pay?"

Annis rummaged through a small satchel she carried. Then, holding a glittering gold coin between two fingers, she dangled it in front of Hesia.

It was about three centimeters in diameter and shimmered with a tempting luster, even in the carriage’s dim light.

"One Golden Shield," she said nonchalantly. "To get you to Rose Town."

Hesia’s eyes went wide.

’A Golden Shield! He had only heard of such things since arriving in this world; he’d never actually seen one in person!’

His mind started racing.

From what he knew, one Golden Shield was worth about 100 Silver Scales, and one Silver Scale was worth about 100 copper nails.

A single copper nail could usually buy a filling loaf of black bread.

Silver Scales and copper nails both weighed around three grams, but their shapes were completely different: copper nails were long and thin, like a carpenter’s nail, while Silver Scales were irregular, thin flakes, just as their name suggested.

But this Golden Shield before him was a perfect circle!

It was about as thick as a quarter from his past life, but its diameter was even larger, a full three centimeters across.

A single Golden Shield was said to weigh a full 30 grams.

Hesia had the sudden urge to take it and feel its fantastic weight in his hand.

’Thirty grams of gold! Even back in my old world, that would have been worth a small fortune!’

He didn’t hesitate for a second. "No problem, Miss Annis. From this moment on, I am your guard—Galen."

"Galen?" Annis murmured the name, nodding in apparent satisfaction. "It sounds like a Warrior’s name."

"Er... I guess you could say that."

"So, Galen, where are you from?"

To avoid having to explain what remote corner Print was, Hesia casually named a larger town.

"Houlder."

Annis’s pupils widened slightly, but she quickly composed herself and asked, just for show, "Houlder?"

"The county seat of Norton Holt County," Hesia added.

"Oh..." Annis said, as if in sudden realization. She then curled her lip, her tone laced with a hint of disdain. "I remember now. I think there is a county by that name. But I’ve heard it’s full of nothing but farmers, without a single decent Adventurer. What kind of commissions could you possibly find in a place like that?"

Hesia decided to remain silent.

’Houlder City was the capital of a Count’s Domain, after all. It had an Adventurer Guild, albeit a small one... But of course, on this young lady’s mental map, that was probably still the equivalent of ’the countryside’.’

Annis noted his somewhat reserved demeanor. His clothes were ragged, but he wasn’t bad-looking.

This made her even more intrigued.

Just then—

CLIP-CLOP... CLIP-CLOP...

The sound of urgent hoofbeats drew closer.

Then, a powerful voice pierced through the carriage window:

"Miss Annis, why do I sense a stranger in the carriage? Did you let someone board again without my permission?"

At the sound of his voice, the interest that had sparked on Annis’s face from their conversation instantly vanished, replaced by undisguised irritation.

She flung the window curtain aside and yelled at the burly man mounted on a tall warhorse outside:

"Odin! Do I need your permission to let someone into my own carriage?"

The man outside was about thirty years old, clad in a suit of fine Chain Armor. He had a neatly trimmed brown beard and a sharp gaze.

He pulled on his reins to ride alongside the carriage, his tone grave. "I accepted the commission to be your guard, which means I am fully responsible for your safety!"

"I don’t need you to!" Annis shot back without a hint of courtesy. "I don’t know how you tricked my butler, but I’ll say it again: I’ll let on whoever I please!"

Odin ignored Annis and, in a commanding tone, barked at the coachman, "Fred, stop the carriage! Right now! Make that shady character get out!"

The carriage immediately began to slow.

"Who told you to stop?" Annis’s cheeks flushed with anger. "Fred, keep going! Faster! Or I’ll dock your entire month’s salary!"

The poor coachman was caught in the middle, in an impossible position. The carriage first slowed, then lurched forward as it began to speed up again.

A flash of anger appeared in Odin’s eyes, and he dug his heels sharply into his horse’s sides!

"NEIGH—"

His warhorse surged forward, overtaking the carriage before pulling up sharply, turning sideways to block the road.

The massive steed stood like a wall, blocking the carriage’s path.

"WHOA—!"

The coachman had no choice but to pull hard on the reins again, bringing the carriage to an abrupt stop.

The carriage rocked violently, and the inertia threw Annis forward, right into Hesia’s arms.

She steadied herself, her chest heaving in anger—though its rise and fall was limited. Her delicate, almond-shaped eyes looked as if they were about to spit fire.

"ODIN!! You’re fired! Effective immediately! Right now! Get out of my sight!"

She extended a slender finger, pointing at the innocent and utterly dumbfounded Hesia inside the carriage.

"From now on, he is my new guard!"

"Mr. Galen!"

"He’s a million times better than you!"