Chapter 156: Ori and Ellen (1/2)
The matter of the undead overlord had to wait for now. Arthur needed to go back to his house before traveling to the last round of the Runes Apprentice Competition. The association has promoted the last round far and wide because of the geniuses that had appeared.
Before he went back to his house, Arthur dropped by at Joe's pub. Luckily, it was still there. There are two reasons Arthur came here. The first one is to see if Joe has any information about the guild and the second is to warn him about the undead legion.
”Aldo!” Joe stopped his talk with the bearded middle-aged man that Arthur had met before. ”It's been a while.”
”It has indeed.” Arthur then turned to the middle-aged man. ”Good to see you again, uncle.”
”Hoho, that cub from a few months ago turned out to be a tiger.” The middle-aged man studied him with perplexing stares before remembering him. ”You look in a better state than I last saw you.”
”I sure hope so,” Arthur laughed as he remembered how he had walked in all those weeks ago. For him, it had been twice the time since he went into the trial. He had come in lost, weak, and bloodied. ”I'm glad you haven't reported me to the union at that time.” He said jokingly as he pulled a chair and sat down.
”Nah, we get a lot like you. Young people who dream of changing their lives. Sadly, not everyone makes it. But hey, at least you did! Look at you now!” The middle-aged man punched him lightly on his shoulder.
”Indeed, I was fortunate.” Arthur smiled lightly and turned to Joe. ”How's work, Joe?”
”I saw worse days.” Joe shrugged but didn't say anymore. Arthur sensed he wasn't telling the truth, judging by how empty the bar was.
”I was in the mountain range earlier, hunting for scarps and the like.” Arthur wasn't lying if the undead were considered scraps. ”I saw a platoon of skeletons from afar in the valleys of the undead. Luckily, I managed to escape.”
”Those undead bastards.” Joe sighed as he placed the cup in his hand with a thud. ”I'm glad you made it out. It's wiser to stay away from this place.”
”Do you know anything?” Arthur asked, trying to glean anything. Joe looked at him and looked around the pub and through the windows.
”Listen, I only got to hear this because I was asked to send everyone away,” Joe said in a whisper. ”A guy in a suit came in two days ago saying it was a governmental order that everyone stays away from this area. I'm guessing the kingdom is trying to hunt down the rumored undead overlord.”
”An undead overlord? Here?” Arthur feigned surprise. ”Why are they keeping it a secret?”
”Curse me if I know,” Joe shrugged. ”I think they're trying to avoid any other guilds from getting whiffs of it.”
”Wouldn't be faster to solve this if they just deploy the best guilds?”
”Yes, but less profitable. Even the kingdom doesn't like the presence of those guilds. That's why they're always trying to win an edge over them.” The middle-aged man snorted.
”Well, it's none of our business. If someone asks you to leave the area, do as they wish to avoid problems.” Joe went back to arranging his cups.
”I will,” Arthur nodded, deep in thought. ”I think it's best if you leave this place too.” He said to the young bartender.
Joe's hand paused before shaking his head. He placed the cup on the shelf, not looking at Arthur but something different.
”I can't leave this place.”
***
After his talk with Joe, Arthur went back home. If the man refused to flee, then he was helpless against it. He used his teleport rune to get into his room. As he had expected, a few reporters were still lingering in the area.
Arthur looked from the window of his room on the second floor. He saw some journalist snooping around and looking at his house. He had already asked Oren and his mother to stay with Melania for now. He was about to close the curtains when he saw a figure in his peripheral view.
A short girl with black hair was making her way with an older guy who looked lifeless. They stopped at his house and rang the bell. As expected, the reports gathered around them.
Arthur sighed and went downstairs. The wood squeaked under his weight like it was about to crack. He, again, remembered how old and shabby their house was. He could already hear the cameras flashing as questions were being thrown.
As he opened the door, the reports turned his way as they took out their camera and microphones. He wished that his interview in the capital would have stopped this harassment, but it seemed they were trying to take pictures of his house.
”If you take any pictures, I'll break your cameras.” Arthur thought about using his new Stealth rune, but he had to have his guests come in somehow. The cameramen looked at the journalists in hesitation but Arthur had already managed to invite his guests in.
He wasn't the kind of person who'd be arrogant after getting a little bit of fame. However, he didn't like them using his living conditions for their headlines. It was demeaning.