“It’s not easy to make friends in a peculiar town like this, is it?”

  Seeing the girl’s flustered expression, Glen couldn’t help teasing her lightly.

  “I feel the same way. After staying here for so long, I’ve almost forgotten how to hold a proper conversation.”

  Aina seemed genuinely delighted to talk, responding to Glen’s words with eager enthusiasm.

  “So,” Glen continued, slipping naturally back into his work while keeping the conversation alive, “how long have you and your brother lived here? Do you know much about this place?”

  Tilting her head, Aina pondered for a moment before answering uncertainly, “My brother and I… must have been here for over a hundred years, I think… hmm, I can’t quite remember.”

  Glen’s hand paused mid-motion, though his tone remained casual as he replied, “Then you must be old residents of the town.”

  “Old residents?” Aina shook her head gently. “Not quite, Mr. Glen. My brother and I are still considered newcomers. The true old residents never appear near the outskirts.”

  Glen looked up at her, surprise flashing across his face before he exhaled softly. “That’s… rather unexpected. It seems this town is far more mysterious than I imagined.”

  Aina giggled, clearly pleased by his reaction. “Heehee… That’s what another kind townsman once told us. Compared to most others, he was quite talkative. He said the oldest residents are like one big family—they slumber at the town’s center, and we almost never see them. Supposedly, it’s to keep others safe… and to accompany the mayor.”

  Hearing this, Glen thought perhaps that folding table he’d gifted away hadn’t gone to waste after all.

  After a long silence, he finally said sincerely, “Thank you for telling me. Otherwise, I’d have no idea where to learn any of this.”

  Aina beamed, twirling happily in place. “I’m glad I could share it! I can’t even remember the last time I spoke to anyone besides my brother.”

  “The pleasure’s all mine,” Glen replied with a faint smile.

  And so the two spent the day together—Glen carving and sanding his wooden pieces, while the puppet-like girl, as lively as a fairytale princess, chattered endlessly beside him.

  Their talk meandered from Aina’s century-long experiences in the town to amusing tales from her travels with her brother in the outside world, continuing until night fell.

  Through their conversation, Glen learned a few intriguing details about the town—for instance, that the strange beasts roaming in the dark were actually the mayor’s pets, harmless to the townsfolk.

  “Oh no! It’s already night!” Aina suddenly gasped mid-sentence, startled to realize how late it had become.

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  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Glen! I have to go—my brother must have noticed I’ve snuck out again! He’ll be furious! Goodbye!”

  She spun around to leave, but Glen said mischievously, “No need to rush—your brother’s already here.”

  Aina froze, momentarily confused—until a voice she knew all too well cut through the darkness.

  “Aina, you’ve truly disappointed me.”

  From the shadows emerged Parindes, tall and thin as a matchstick. Though his words were directed at his sister, his gaze was fixed coldly on Glen.

  “I’m sorry, Parindes,” Aina said meekly, head bowed, her tone filled with guilt. “I was just bored staying at home too long…”

  Parindes opened his mouth as if to scold her, but only sighed wearily. “Go home.”

  Aina lifted her skirt and hurried off without another word.

  Parindes, however, lingered. Watching Glen still absorbed in his carpentry, he finally said, “Thank you for keeping Aina company. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her that happy.”

  Glen tossed aside the piece of wood in his hands and glanced up with a teasing smile. “I was half expecting you to warn me never to go near your sister again.”

  Parindes’s fists clenched; for a moment, he looked ready to strike. Yet he restrained himself, replying curtly, “I can still tell right from wrong… strange little man.”

  With that, he turned and left.

  Watching the puppet siblings disappear into the distance, Glen couldn’t help but smile silently to himself. This world really is an interesting place…

  …

  The next morning, after finishing a reasonably hearty breakfast, Glen tied several pieces of completed wooden furniture onto his cart.

  Once everything was secured, he released the great deer he’d been keeping, intending to use it to pull the cart.

  The animal, now accustomed to both Glen and its surroundings, accepted his touch without resistance.

  After feeding it some grass, Glen fastened the harness and reins.

  When the deer made no objection, he let out a relieved breath and, mimicking a coachman, urged the “deer cart” forward.

  The pace wasn’t particularly fast, but far better than walking on foot.

  Leaning back, Glen rather enjoyed the novelty of being a cart driver—it wasn’t such a bad experience.

  However, his journey soon met with trouble.

  Just as he left the Bayek region, a group of armored men blocked his path.

  At their head stood a man in ornate knight’s armor, clearly of higher rank than the rest.

  “Boy, you’ve offended a noble! The illustrious Lord Charnis has ordered me to bring you back. Get down and come quietly!”

  His hand rested meaningfully on the hilt of his sword, the threat unmistakable.

  “Lord Charnis?” Glen raised an eyebrow, then nodded in realization. “Ah—must be the father of that curly-haired little mutt.”

  Barber’s eyes widened in outrage. “Insolence! How dare a lowly commoner speak so rudely of nobility!”

  The surrounding guards drew their weapons in unison, sunlight glinting off their blades so sharply that it nearly blinded Glen.

  They expected him to tremble or beg—but instead, Glen remained calm, as though their show of force was no more than theater for the blind.

  Glancing back at the furniture on his cart, he sighed in mild irritation.

  Should he go along and teach this so-called lord a lesson? Or simply beat this lot down and be done with it?

  He rather preferred the former—if only he didn’t have to worry about his belongings.

  After some thought, he made his decision.

  “All right, I’ll go with you,” he said, pointing at his cart. “But I need to stash my things first.”

  Barber narrowed his eyes. A peasant making demands? Outrageous. He nearly snapped at him—but something in Glen’s unflinching gaze, and the thought that he lived in the eerie town of Bayek, made him hesitate.

  Wisely, he nodded.

  Under their wary watch, Glen drove his deer cart into a rocky hollow, securing the great beast to a nearby tree.

  Only then did he follow the nobles’ retainers on foot.

  They all had their own horses, while Glen had to walk—but he didn’t mind. He’d settle accounts when they reached their destination.

  …

  Within Lord Charnis’s estate, the nobleman himself was conversing with a guest in the garden.

  The visitor, also dressed in fine attire, sported a pointed mustache and spoke with theatrical cadence.

  The two seemed well acquainted, laughing heartily between words.