Chapter 279: A little reward
The village was far larger than the one they called home.
Its streets were well maintained, lined with tall houses built from finely crafted wood. The people wore clothes of noticeably better quality, and the marketplace stretched far beyond anything they had ever seen.
The moment they stepped through the village gates, the lively buzz of the market welcomed them. Stalls lined both sides of the streets, displaying all kinds of goods.
Some sold handcrafted ornaments, others fresh vegetables, while a few specialized in weapons.
One thing Luke couldn’t help but notice was the sheer number of armed people wandering around. It wasn’t just the guards. Ordinary men casually walked the streets with swords, spears, or bows at their sides.
’They must be the hunters working for the guild they mentioned earlier,’ he thought.
One of the three men suddenly stopped in his tracks while the other two continued walking ahead.
He turned his horse, prompting Rel to bring the cart to a stop as well.
"I’ll take you to the guild first," the warrior said. "The guild master will want to reward you for your bravery."
Luke scratched the back of his head. "I appreciate the offer, but we’ve been traveling all day and everyone is exhausted. I’d be grateful if you could simply tell us where we can stay for the night."
The man looked momentarily surprised that someone would postpone receiving a reward. Still, he understood Luke’s reasoning and quickly nodded.
"Of course. Follow me. There’s an inn where you can rest."
’They even have an inn?’
This village was far more developed than he had expected.
More importantly, he would finally get to sleep on a proper bed instead of inside a tent.
That alone made the trip worthwhile.
The warrior led them farther into the village. Thankfully, Luke’s earlier suspicion had been unfounded. The man genuinely served as one of the village’s defenders.
"This place is beautiful," Monica murmured as she admired the sturdy wooden houses and the lively market bustling around them.
Roxanne smiled warmly. "The plaza comes alive around this time. Once we’ve had some rest, I’ll take you there."
Monica’s eyes immediately lit up with excitement.
Luke smiled faintly at her enthusiasm before shifting his gaze to Laila.
Noticing the slight frown on her face, he let out a quiet sigh.
"Just a little longer," he said gently. "Then you can finally get some proper rest."
Laila blinked in surprise.
Was her expression really that easy to read?
"Agh, it’s finally over," Thea groaned. "All that discomfort just to come to a place like this..."
Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Even so, Roxanne barely reacted, as though she had long since grown immune to Thea’s constant remarks.
A short while later, they stopped in front of a building that looked much like every other house in the village.
The warrior dismounted and turned to them.
"You can stay here for the night. If you come inside with me, they’ll charge you less."
Luke climbed down from the cart and shook his head with a grateful smile.
"It’s alright. I can cover the cost. Thank you for bringing us all the way here."
The warrior rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"I should be the one thanking you," he said with a sheepish smile. "But... if you’re feeling better tomorrow, please come by that place."
He pointed toward a large building in the distance. Standing four stories tall, it towered over the surrounding houses with an imposing presence that made it impossible to miss.
"Once you’re there, just ask for me. My name is Ibris."
Luke nodded in understanding before returning to the carriage to help the women climb down.
"Ah... haa..."
Laila let out a long sigh as she finally straightened her legs, relieved to be standing again.
She wasn’t accustomed to long journeys, making the trip especially exhausting for her.
Yet when she remembered everything that had happened the previous night, she couldn’t help but feel that it had all been worth it.
What am I even thinking?
Shaking the thought from her mind, she accepted one of the baskets from Monica while the older woman was gently helped down by her mate.
Once everyone had gotten off the carriage, Luke turned to Rel.
"Will you be staying here as well?" he asked. "I can pay for your room too."
Rel gently shook his head.
"I’m grateful for the offer, but I’ll manage in the carriage. The horses need to be fed as well, so you all should go inside and get some rest."
Luke nodded before taking out a small pouch of toras and holding it out to him.
"Here."
Rel peeked inside, and his eyes widened slightly.
"I shouldn’t..."
"It’s alright, Rel," Luke said with a reassuring smile. "You’ve been an excellent guide and travel companion. You deserve it."
Rel looked genuinely conflicted. The village chief had already rewarded him for his services, and now Luke was offering him even more.
Roxanne stepped forward with a gentle smile.
"No one will mention this to the Chief," she assured him. "Just think of it as a small gift."
With both of them insisting, Rel had no reason left to refuse.
He lowered his head respectfully and accepted the pouch.
"I’ll be near the stable by the plaza," he said. "If you need me tomorrow morning, come here first. If I’m not here, you’ll find me there."
Luke nodded in understanding.
Before leaving, Rel gave the carriage one last careful inspection, making sure none of their belongings had been left behind.
Soon, Rel guided the carriage away, leaving Luke standing with the women.
Thea was already grumbling about having to stand outside any longer, while the others wore similarly tired expressions.
It was only natural.
They had pushed on for several extra hours today, choosing to reach the village before nightfall instead of spending another night in the forest.
Hoisting the luggage onto his shoulder, Luke looked at everyone and smiled.
"Let’s get some much-needed rest, everyone."
~~~~~
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