Chapter 32: Monday Night Arrived

I continued to eat.

The guild had slowly become familiar to me. The smell of iron tools. The noisy hall full of locksmiths who were doing work to feed their families.

And Victoria’s endless complaints.

Also, Patricia’s suspicious behavior behind her fake smiles.

Those things felt really strange.

In my previous life, I had never remained in one place for a long time.

I had always been moving. Going through every house and establishment that needed my service. Doing it daily just to make an income even during heavy rain and typhoons.

I was all by myself trying to survive. But for the first time in a long while,

I felt something close to normal, and it made me fucking uncomfortable.

Normal things tend to vanish easily. Everything requires a genuine effort.

"I need to get back to my office. Some papers are piling up, plus your test questions and the brass lock are waiting for me," Victoria said and suddenly stood up.

"Perks of being a guild master. By the way, thanks for the food again. I really appreciate it." I genuinely smiled at her.

She walked toward the door.

"It’s nothing, really. Goodbye, my little lamb!" She left me with a flying kiss.

The door finally closed.

I remained quiet for several seconds and decided to uncover the space crystal again.

"That was close."

I stared at the piece of crystal on the black cloth.

"Fine. I’ll start again."

I started to draw in my notebook, but I quickly stopped.

"Aish. I can’t focus. Damn Victoria."

Victoria’s words remained in my head. ’...Be careful.’

Those simple words, I didn’t understand why she said them.

The old sewer docks, the smugglers’ market, and someone who connected me to Duke Voulstridge. She didn’t know that.

She would probably throw something at me.

"Huh. Sneaky lady." I smiled slightly.

After a few hours of work, I looked out the window. The sunlight was slowly disappearing, and darkness started to dominate outside.

It’s time to get serious.

Monday night had finally arrived.

I wore my simple dark cloak, fastened my magic pouch to my waist, and left the guild shortly after sunset.

The remaining seven gold coins were in my pouch. Three gold coins were gone because Patricia had already taken them as deposit.

A small tension wrench and a thin dagger were items I brought in case something happened.

Though I was not expecting to use them, it was better to be prepared than do nothing. Making preparations is never useless.

I walked out of the guild and strolled through the dark streets of the Commercial District. Streets were different at night.

During the daytime, the district was full of merchants, adventurers, servants of the nobles, and guild workers.

When the sunlight had vanished, the honest people went home and the others came out.

Later on, I passed a group of merchants closing their shops to take a rest from a busy day.

Some noble men had stumbled right out of a well-known tavern.

There were two guards near the main road for surveillance to keep the peace at night.

In the distance, there were some drunk adventurers arguing about money and commissions.

I quickly pulled my coat tighter and continued my walk.

The old sewer docks were located beneath the western part of the district.

The place was used to transport waste through underground waterways ever since the establishment of the Commercial District.

The waterways and tunnels had been expanding over time whenever the kingdom decided on reconstruction and maintenance.

Since then, the illegal markets appeared and their network expanded. The smugglers and fixers from other kingdoms moved in, especially the bandits and criminals.

Eventually, the underground community became a city under the Commercial District.

Unfortunately, I had never visited it before, but thanks to Patricia for giving me the safe directions.

Finally, I arrived at an abandoned fountain. People rarely visited this place unless they knew the community.

I took three turns after the fountain and entered a narrow stone staircase.

As I went deeper, the smell of the salt water and the bad stench of the city’s waste entered my nostrils.

I wore my black mask and continued.

Patricia told me to avoid the tunnel with red lanterns and, importantly, never talk to anyone wearing a silver mask.

When I asked her the reason, she simply told me, "Because I say so."

That was the most unsatisfying answer I had heard in this world.

I just held back and did not argue. I should trust her words as she trusts me too.

The air became colder as I went down. The sound of the lively district disappeared.

The moisture from the tunnel above dripped onto the surface.

My footsteps echoed clearly against the stone walls.

After several minutes, I finally reached the first underground tunnel.

There were more people here than I expected.

Some bottles filled with glowing liquid potions were on the side of the tunnel where a woman with a green mask was selling.

Nearby, an old man organized old swords, hoping to make some money.

There were naked ladies wearing a purple mask, who were selling low quality enchanted rings from a wooden table.

I glanced at them for a moment and continued walking.

Everyone was busy. But I could feel their eyes on me.

They must be wondering why an eight-year-old child wearing a dark coat was walking around alone in the underground community.

What made it even more unusual was that I was carrying a magic pouch.

I didn’t waste any time looking at them and kept on walking.

"Are you lost, kid?" someone spoke.

I stopped and looked at a tall man leaning against the tunnel wall.

A huge scar was carved on his face, and a large iron hammer was hanging from his leather belt.

There were three other men standing behind him.

"I am not lost." I looked at him.

The man smiled. "Then where are you going?"

Even though his face wore a silver mask, I could definitely see a smile in his eyes.

"It’s none of your fucking business," I replied flatly. I should not waste my time on these smelly men.