Chapter 151: Chapter 151: The Lamp Bearer Outside the Moonlight Tavern
The sky over Hendon Myre was always so blue, with a few white clouds leisurely drifting by.
It is said that this city was established in the desert by a great mage named "Mar" using a powerful magic array.
However, for the adventurers living in Hendon Myre, all this seemed insignificant.
When the past becomes history, and history turns into legend, adventurers prefer tangible rewards over elusive tales.
For example, two months ago, a strange magician arrived in Hendon Myre.
He always carried paper and a pen, holding an old bronze oil lamp, and sat alone at the entrance of the Moonlight Tavern. Whenever someone passed by, he would ask if they had anything interesting.
At first, everyone thought he was crazy. Many even avoided him, thinking a mad magician could be quite dangerous.
However, conventions are always meant to be broken.
About a week ago, a female gunner handed a worn leather belt to the magician in front of everyone. The magician shone his lamp on it and immediately told a captivating story.
The female gunner was rewarded with a gold coin, though the reward wasn't much, it was still a tangible gain.
Since then, every adventurer visiting the Moonlight Tavern would bring one or two items for the strange magician to inspect.
Because he always used his lamp to look, people jokingly called him the "Lamp Bearer."
...
Morning brought another energetic day.
Ino, as usual, arrived at the entrance of the Moonlight Tavern, casually placing down his folding stool.
Leaning against the tavern wall, he basked in the sun, waiting for adventurers to arrive.
Having been in Hendon Myre for two months now, he had not only experienced the prosperity brought by the combination of magic and alchemy but also corrected some of his preconceived notions.
First, this was a populous city. Not counting the original inhabitants, Hendon Myre alone had tens of thousands of adventurers. The vast Grand Flores, with countless cat demons and goblins, successfully supported these tens of thousands of people with their own flesh and blood.
Secondly, Loton Maximug, the president of the Alchemy Guild, was not the shabby old man standing on the street as in the original story, approachable by anyone.
As the knowledgeable president of the Alchemy Guild, meeting Loton required considerable fame and status, and more importantly, an appointment. After all, an alchemy master's time was always the most valuable.
Thus, after detailed understanding, Ino abandoned that unrealistic hope and resumed his old profession.
Either he stayed at the tavern entrance collecting stories, or he went into the Grand Flores to practice magic and earn some extra money.
While he was pondering, a shadow blocked the warm sunlight. Looking up, he saw a bright and cheerful face.
"Let's go collect cat demon claws!" The female gunner, Caitlyn, said pitifully.
"No, you're a burden!"
Glancing at the two new pistols at her waist, Ino decisively refused.
He was very curious about what came over Caitlyn, who had also arrived in Hendon Myre a week ago. She couldn't even handle a few goblins, yet she dreamt of clearing out cat demons.
"Why can't you stay obediently at the Elvenguard? Cat demons aren't what you imagine, and changing your guns won't make you stronger."
"These are guns modified and enhanced by Teacher Kiri. I'm not a burden." Caitlyn pouted discontentedly.
Ino turned a deaf ear to Caitlyn's complaints. He couldn't indulge her bad habits; otherwise, it would lead to trouble.
"Listen to me. You can play in Hendon Myre, but when you've had enough, go back. This place isn't suitable for you. Go back to killing goblins, picking wild strawberries, and running your inn with Seria. Adventure isn't foolishness; don't gamble with your life!"
Faced with Caitlyn, Ino truly felt sympathetic. It would be a pity if such a young girl, barely eighteen or nineteen, were to perish.
On the other hand, just as Caitlyn was about to retort, a gloomy voice interrupted:
"He's right! Adventure isn't foolishness. When you're dead and your bones are rotting, no one will remember you on this continent."
A middle-aged man with a long sword on his back had appeared three meters away from them at some point.
"I mean no harm. I heard there's a Lamp Bearer here who can see the stories behind objects. So, I came from elsewhere, hoping you could take a look at my old companion! Don't worry, no one dares to make trouble in Hendon Myre."
As he spoke, the middle-aged man spread his hands to show he was harmless.
As the man finished speaking, Ino slowly put down his wand.
Indeed, in Hendon Myre, no one dared to make trouble. Even the most unruly adventurers became docile here.
This wasn't magic; it was the order forged with blood over hundreds of years.
"Sorry! I got a bit nervous." Ino apologized to the man wrapped in resentment.
"It's nothing!" The man waved it off, seemingly used to being misunderstood.
"The curse has been eating away at me, but my will is stronger. Today, I want you to see my old companion."
As he spoke, the middle-aged man removed the long sword from his back.
A magnificent ice-blue sword, long and narrow, glowed faintly blue, as if it contained a frozen lake, cold and deep.
Even sitting in the warm sun, Ino felt a chill. This wasn't mere cold but cold mixed with extreme resentment and regret.
Despite having some guesses, he still picked up the oil lamp by his feet.
The quill pen lying beside him floated up, seemingly ready to write.
"Snowflake Dance! This is a princess's sword! A sorrowful and beautiful love story..."
Sitting on the small stool, looking at the weapon placed horizontally before him, Ino began to narrate its story.
The core story wasn't long. A prince and princess from two countries were engaged and deeply in love.
But due to border disputes, their countries went to war. The prince abandoned love for his people, and the princess, driven by pain and hatred, took up a sword. She won and led her army to confront her former lover in the palace.
"...Even in defeat, the prince chose his people. In despair and anger, the princess killed him herself. But even with her lover dead, she couldn't let go of her hatred, so she chose to end her own life. The endless resentment turned into a curse, attaching itself to this weapon."
Finishing the story, Ino put down the oil lamp, and the quill pen stopped writing.
"What a tragic and beautiful story!" A melodious voice sounded from behind them.
The tavern owner, Siusha, was leaning against the door frame, smiling with a cocktail in hand.
"I'm sorry for turning you away last time, but if I had known there'd be such a story, I wouldn't have made that choice. Can I buy you a drink as an apology?"
Ino shook his head at Siusha's apology: "There's no need to apologize. After all, I wasn't a real customer; your refusal was entirely reasonable."
As he spoke, he took a gold coin from his pocket and handed it to the middle-aged man. The rule of paying for stories must not change.
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