Chapter 539: A Rumored Sin

By the time they reached the marketplace, Adam and Azrynn immediately began looking for the supplies they would need for their journey into the desert. They focused on practical necessities, purchasing enough preserved food and water to last several days, along with other useful items.

Sylphy, however, seemed far more interested in the food stalls than anything else.

Her eyes sparkled as she floated from one stall to another, following the enticing aromas drifting through the air.

“Adam! That one looks delicious! And that one, too! Oh, look! They have those little round things covered in honey!”

Adam glanced at the spirit hovering beside him.

“Do you ever think about anything other than food?”

“Of course I do!” Sylphy replied indignantly. “I think about lots of things!”

“Such as?”

“Um…what to eat next?”

Adam sighed as though dealing with Sylphy was an exhausting responsibility. Nevertheless, he eventually bought her a selection of snacks from one of the stalls.

The moment the food reached her hands, Sylphy’s previous indignation vanished.

“Yay! Thank you, Adam!”

She immediately began eating, stuffing her cheeks with pastries while reaching for another piece before she had even finished the first. Her tiny body seemed incapable of holding all the food she was consuming, yet she showed no sign of slowing down.

Adam watched her for a while.

Then he looked at Azrynn.

Azrynn looked back at him.

“…How much can she eat?” Adam finally asked.

“I was about to ask you the same thing.”

They watched Sylphy devour another pastry.

The little spirit swallowed, grabbed a honey-coated bun, and took a huge bite.

“Mm! This is delicious!”

Adam stared at her.

‘I thought spirits were supposed to be mysterious beings born from nature. Why does this one have the appetite of a starving adventurer?’

He had seen Ignis eat enough to make ordinary people question the limits of her stomach, but at least Ignis was a dragon. Sylphy, on the other hand, was so small that he could probably hold her in one hand.

And yet, judging by the steadily shrinking pile of snacks, her appetite was nothing to scoff at.

“Don’t eat too quickly,” Azrynn advised. “You’ll choke.”

“I’m fine! I can eat lots more!”

Sylphy promptly demonstrated her claim by reaching for another bun.

Adam shook his head.

“Unbelievable.”

Despite his complaints, he didn’t stop her. If anything, he was beginning to suspect that buying Sylphy food might be the easiest way to keep her cooperative.

Once they had finished gathering their supplies, the three made their way to a nearby bar.

The establishment was already crowded despite the relatively early hour. Adventurers, merchants, and travelers filled the tables, their conversations blending into a constant hum. With the tournament drawing visitors from different regions, the bar was an excellent place to gather information.

Adam selected a table where they could observe the room without attracting too much attention. Azrynn sat opposite him, while Sylphy floated nearby, still happily munching on the last of her snacks.

After ordering some drinks, Adam leaned back in his chair and glanced at Azrynn.

“And before you ask, no, you aren’t getting anything alcoholic.”

Azrynn was surprised by Adam’s sudden words.

“I haven’t asked for anything yet.”

“I’m preventing a problem before it happens.”

She narrowed her eyes slightly.

“You’re still talking about what happened last time, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am.”

Adam rested his chin on one hand.

“I’d rather not have to carry a drunk dark elf through the desert.”

“I wasn’t that drunk,” Azrynn protested.

“Really? Because I remember someone who was perfectly confident that she could walk straight, only to prove otherwise a few moments later.”

Azrynn’s expression stiffened.

“That was an isolated incident.”

“An isolated incident that I’d prefer not to repeat.”

She folded her arms, looking mildly dissatisfied.

“I’ve probably gotten more accustomed to alcohol since then. A little shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Adam studied her for a moment.

They still had a journey ahead of them, and the temple’s reputation suggested that they might encounter trouble along the way. Letting Azrynn get drunk would be a terrible idea.

On the other hand, she wasn’t asking to drink herself senseless. If she genuinely knew her limits, a small amount probably wouldn’t hurt.

“Fine. Just a little,” he conceded. “But we’re leaving as soon as we’ve gathered enough information. If you start acting strange, I’m cutting you off.”

Azrynn’s expression brightened slightly.

“Understood.”

She called over a server and ordered a small drink, looking rather pleased with herself.

Adam watched her for another moment before turning his attention to the surrounding conversations.

It didn’t take long for the information they wanted to reach their ears.

The tournament was the main topic of conversation throughout the bar. People discussed the participants, speculated about the likely winner, and exchanged rumors about the unusual individuals who had arrived in Ferrund over the past few days.

Most of it was unremarkable.

However, one particular conversation caught Adam’s attention.

“Have you heard? Apparently, the wielder of the Seven Deadly Sins Artifact of Greed is going to appear at the tournament!”

The statement came from a man sitting at a nearby table. He spoke loudly enough for several people around him to hear, apparently eager to share what he considered a fascinating piece of news.

His companion immediately snorted.

“Are you serious? Where did you hear that nonsense?”

“I’m telling you, it’s true! Someone said they heard it from a merchant who came from the capital.”

“And you believed him?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because it makes absolutely no sense!” the companion retorted. “Do you even understand what you’re talking about? Those artifacts aren’t ordinary treasures that someone can simply bring to a tournament!”

A few nearby patrons laughed.

“Exactly! If the wielder of an artifact like that really intended to participate, the organizers would have announced it already.”

“Besides, why would someone possessing one of the Seven Deadly Sins bother entering a tournament in the first place?”

“Maybe they’re looking for attention,” someone joked.

“Or maybe you’re all idiots for believing such a ridiculous rumor!”

Their conversation dissolved into laughter, and the man who had started it began arguing in his own defense.

Adam, however, wasn’t laughing.

His fingers paused against the side of his cup.

‘The Seven Deadly Sins…’

He hadn’t expected to hear those words again so soon.

‘What an interesting coincidence.’

He couldn’t tell whether the rumor was true. It might have been nothing more than an exaggerated story that had spread among travelers, especially with the tournament attracting so many people.

Still, he couldn’t dismiss it outright.

If the wielder of Greed really was coming, Adam wanted to know why.

‘I never thought I’d hear about another Seven Deadly Sins Artifact so soon.’

Across the table, Azrynn noticed the subtle change in his expression.

“Adam? Is something wrong?”

He looked at her, then casually lifted his cup.

“Nothing. I just heard something interesting.”

Azrynn glanced toward the men who were still arguing about the rumor.

“Something related to the tournament?”

“Possibly.”

He didn’t elaborate. Instead, he continued listening, hoping someone might mention another useful detail.

Unfortunately, the conversation offered little more than speculation. None of the men seemed to possess any reliable information, and the rumor’s origins remained unclear.

Adam leaned back in his chair.

‘Well, whether it’s true or not, we’re already here. It wouldn’t hurt to investigate a little before leaving.’

After all, if another artifact of the Seven Deadly Sins was involved, he would rather learn about it before it became a problem.