System vs Rebirth

Chapter 280 Warning

”Iʼm coming in.” Noel knocked on Annaʼs door before entering her room. He carefully entered the room and asked, ”How is my voice from outside?”

”Itʼs quite loud.”

”So, donʼt talk too loud here.” Noel nodded and brought the chair next to the bed.

With Noel sitting in front of her, Anna lowered her voice and said, ”Do you see the situation outside?”

”Yeah. Itʼs pretty horrible.”

”Most of them might be old, but some were certainly new, like within a week. Also, the inn is so expensive. I could stay for a week or even two in an inn with this quality elsewhere.”

”Theyʼre simply taking advantage of their position and since it comes with a risk, so I can understand the price.” Noel could understand the price because his family was a merchant family, but the other topic also concerned him a bit. ”Anyway, letʼs not talk about the price.”

”Well, I donʼt know much about it. I actually want to listen to your opinion.”

Noel thought for a moment and told her the truth. ”Personally, I believe that the guard is trying to warn us. Itʼs clear that there is some kind of problem around here. Is it related to the liquid?”

”Thatʼs a possibility as well, considering this liquid also works for demons… But Iʼm not very sure because the entrance should be sealed.”

”Sealed, huh. But what kind of problem will they face in this area? Itʼs true that the demons are rather active around here. The missions we completed during our trip to this place signified an unusual movement from the demons.”

”Yeah. I wonder whatʼs happening right now. Should we report this to the Demon Banner Army?”

”Iʼm pretty sure someone has asked for help. But the problem is weʼre not here on a mission. Basically, we donʼt have any reason to help them.”

”…” Anna frowned immediately, looking at Noel as if he had just said something unbelievable.

The usual Noel would have helped them after some inquiries, so it was surprising to see him rejecting this problem.

Noticing Annaʼs expression, Noelʼs eyebrows twitched. ”What?”

”You donʼt want to help them?”

”No. This is a risk of living here. Theyʼre well aware that theyʼre going to face danger if they stay here because of the distance to the border. But the fact they continue to stay here is due to them wanting more money since this place is filled with opportunity.”

”…” Anna fell silent for a moment before realizing Noel ended his sentence with a gaze. He was continuously staring at her as if telling her something. Anna gasped and said, ”Donʼt tell me… We are ones of the opportunity?”

”Yes.” Noel nodded with a calm expression.

”Are you telling me theyʼre going to poison us and kidnap us?”This chapter was originally shared via n(0))vel(b)(j)(n).

”No, no. Itʼs already too much for them. However, weʼre here bringing a few things, right?”

”Ah! Theyʼre going to take our belongings if we die?”

”Yes.” Noel confirmed it. ”Demons eat us, but not our belongings. There should be people who are waiting for us to die and steal our belongings from their mouth. Thatʼs why I donʼt want to do it.”

”I see. I can understand that. After all, theyʼre stealing from us.”

”No, theyʼre stealing from corpses. How we become a corpse is not their business. And if we leave any belongings here, itʼll become theirs right after. For now, theyʼre afraid of making any move to us because weʼre from the Demon Banner Army, but if we are not…”

”Theyʼre going to send us to our death?”

”Yeah. One way or another. Itʼs simple to create a fake story for the visitors to investigate. Other than fighters like us, who are insane enough to visit the border?”

”Thatʼs true. Then, what should we do?”

”Itʼs simple. Letʼs go tomorrow. I should be able to absorb all the Demon Crystals before midnight, so weʼll leave at dawn. Donʼt give them any information even if itʼs just a casual talk.”

”Understood.”

”Also, thereʼs one more thing you need to know…”

”What is it?”

”Donʼt show any weakness.” Noel looked at her with a serious expression as if this was the most important matter.

”What do you…Ah!” Anna nodded in understanding. ”Alright. Iʼll follow your advice. Still, to think youʼre already this experienced in dealing with these people. I thought you were lazying around this whole time?”

”Iʼm never a good person.” Noel shook his head. He often tricked his own father, so he could get an alone time after all. That was why he was adept in this.

The Ardagan father and son had been trying to trick each other. The former wanted his son to work hard while the latter wanted to skip everything and relax. That was what trained Noelʼs mind.

”Anyway, thatʼs all. Iʼm going to be busy absorbing the crystals, so if you donʼt have any business outside, itʼs better to stay in your room.” Noel rose from his seat while giving his last advice.

”Alright. Iʼll listen to your words. So, weʼre going to meet again to have dinner?”

Noel thought for a moment and nodded. ”Sure. Just call me if I donʼt remember.”

”Got it.” Anna suddenly smirked, trying to tease him before he left. ”Since Iʼm in danger, how about I sleep in your room? This way, we can protect each other.”

”No way. This is not my mansion, so the bed is small. If youʼre going to sleep there too, itʼll be too cramped. So, no!”

”…” Anna was speechless because Noel was leaving after brutally rejecting her. However, she also noticed two things from their conversation.

The first one was the fact Noel never considered about letting her sleep on the floor. Though, he also didnʼt want to sleep there since it was his right. Either way, it was a part of his consideration of her.

As for the second one, Anna couldnʼt help but smile slyly, muttering inwardly, ”From the looks of it, it seems that Noel hasnʼt prepared anything for the Body Strengthening Liquid… Hehe, youʼre going to be surprised of what youʼll find later. And weʼll see whoʼs chickening later.”