Chapter 63: Is This a Tavern or a Senior Citizen Activity Center?

Chapter 63: Is This a Tavern or a Senior Citizen Activity Center?

Liu Ji was somewhat perplexed by what Yaine had just said.

He scrutinized hard, scanning up and down, but couldn't see what made these small hunched creatures with tiny eyes, large noses, and thick shells "good-looking."

If Liu Ji had to describe them, he would probably say that these little critters sure looked strange.

However, Yaine had said that these children were indeed good-looking. While these children weren't extremely handsome and pretty in terms of the Earthwalker race, at least none of them were ugly.

This was very strange.

As Earthwalkers lived underground for long periods, they had much weaker vision compared to other races and relied mostly on the senses of smell and hearing. Because of this, when choosing partners, appearance was hardly considered, and the general consensus was that Earthwalkers looked however they liked since they couldn't see.

Usually, one out of every three Earthwalkers would be particularly unappealing.

Could earthwalkers on this side of the desert be more concerned with looks? Yaine wondered.

However, there was another oddity too: while children on the streets were plentiful, not a single able-bodied adult could be seen.

Are they all working? That can't be. Given the highly dilapidated state of this place, can the demand for work even be that high?

"Don't overthink it. We've got to get some information first." Osar and the others had caught up to Yaine at this point. "I don't see any other outsiders here, so it would probably be very conspicuous if Nox and the others came by before."

"That's our best bet, then." Yaine nodded. "Eh? Where's Mervant? Off being a lone wolf again?"

"Yep, just let him be. Who knows, he might come back with some good news," Osar said as he pushed open the tavern door.

As soon as he stepped in, the noisy tavern fell silent.

At first glance, the entire place was filled with old earthwalkers playing chess, making it seem more like a senior citizen center. Moreover, for a tavern, there wasn't a single hint of alcohol in the air. On the contrary, steaming cups of hot water made the place seem especially healthy.Ne/w novel chapters are published at novelhall.com

"Everyone has to join the army regardless of whether male or female? How long has this been going on?" Yaine frowned.

"Ever since the underground monsters invaded this city around three hundred years ago," said the old earthwalker with a sad sigh. "The church says they're monsters from another world, and we've been fighting them for centuries."

"So, you're all surviving veterans from the battlefield?" Osar asked, puzzled.

"No, heh heh. Most of us were unfit for battle and had to stay in the city," said the old earthwalker as he lifted his left hand to reveal a wooden prosthetic. "Those who went to the front lines fought until their last breath. It's their honor to die in battle."

The group exchanged glances again, their brows scrunched up in frowns. This explanation seemed too strange.

No discharged veterans? Fine assuming they all chose to die in battle. What about the wounded then? So many years of men and women sent to the frontlines, yet there was no end to the fight? It just didn't add up.

Moreover...

"What about the children in the city?" Girunini asked. "Where do they come from?"

"They're the offspring of our heroic warriors," the old earthwalker explained. "The church brings back the children born from the warriors' unions at the front lines and sends them to the city. As such, it's the duty of everyone in the city to raise them.

"Speaking of which, there are some unscrupulous folk here who kidnap children to mine for crystals. They truly are disgusting traitors of the race.

"But, coincidentally, not too long ago, some outsiders came and smashed those scum's mining operation..."

At this mention, everyone's attention was immediately drawn away from the other odd details.

"Those people!" Osar slammed his hands on the table and nearly jumped up from excitement. "Um, sorry, I just wanted to ask, do you know what they looked like?"

"Hmm, let me think..." The old earthwalker rubbed his chin in thought. "I didn't see them myself, but I heard there were three of them. The leader's a short man carrying a huge book. As for the other two, one wielded a bow, while the other had a sword and shield...

"Later on, I still heard rumors that the bow-wielding outsider seems to still be wandering the mines until now."