Chapter 80: Green Horn Village
After checking into the Green Horn Inn, Gilbert took Kayn to tour around the territory of the Green Horn Village.
While walking to their next destination, Kayn asks, "So, tell me about the Green Horn Village?"
Gilbert cough before explaining, "The Green Horn Village is the first ever Village to be constructed in 'The Bridge',"
"Almost every Hero that entered 'The Bridge' started from this Village. And every tale and story they carve for themselves have this Village as the starting line, and sometimes even the end. Hence, the reason why it is named Green Horn Village,"
"All these years, as more and more Heroes entered 'The Bridge', the Green Horn Village can no longer accumulate all of them. Because of that, other Heroes took upon the responsibility to make other Villages. Over time, more and more Villages were constructed, and eventually, some of them became Towns. Regardless though, they still could never remove themselves from the influence and connection with the Green Horn Village,"
"Has it never crossed Old Chief George's mind to make his Village the only territory in 'The Bridge'?" Kayn can't help asking.
"Honestly, Old Chief George could have prevented other Heroes from constructing more Villages by choosing to expand his territory. But he decided not to as he doesn't want the Heroes to be stuck in his Village. He explained that if the people treat his Village as their home, it wouldn't be long before they'd eventually start treating 'The Bridge' as their home as well,"
"When that time comes, there will never be any hope for them to able to escape from 'The Bridge' anymore and that means they'd be forever stuck in this place,"
"Although it doesn't seem like it, everyone in 'The Bridge' actually wants to leave this place as soon as possible. It's just, they don't know how,"
"Why?"
"Because although you can see the door of the 'Tower' from anywhere in 'The Bridge' as long as you look to the north, there's actually no real path to reach that location. What's waiting for us is nothing but a long empty void blocking our way to reach the door of the 'Tower',"
"We've tried to look for any method to cross it, but everything was proven futile in the end,"
Kayn finally understood why it took the people stuck in 'The Bridge' many years in order to escape.
"That aside, the Green Horn Village is actually built in a very strategic location. It is located on one of the only two entry points for one to explore 'The Bridge', the other being the Tenderfoot Village,"
"The Class Selection Temples is to our south. It is located right at the very center of the Split Mountain," Gilbert pause as he pointed towards the mountain that split together with them being the center. "If you had continued farther south, probably hundreds of meters from here, you'd stumble upon the Tenderfoot Village,"
"If you had gone to either east or west from the Class Selection Temples, you'd be forced to stop because of the wall of the Split Mountain. Hence, you'd still be compelled to pick either going north or south,"
"Going back to the Green Horn Village. This Village isn't honestly that big, but at the very least, it contains all the necessary infrastructure that a rookie Hero requires before he can start any of his expeditions in 'The Bridge',"
"Speaking about that," Gilbert paused as they arrived in the center of a busy street, "The land around the Green Horn Village is separated into three different streets. Of course, there are other streets connected to them. But these three act as the main streets,"
"The first street is the Business Street. It is where all infrastructures that sell any equipment, consumables, materials, and other services like the Green Horn Inn are located," Gilbert pointed to the south.
"The second street is the Residential Street. You have probably noticed along the way to the Town Hall that there were no residential houses around you. That's because they are over there," Gilbert pointed east.
"Lastly, the third street is called the Capital Street. It is where the Town Hall, Library, Barracks, Training Grounds, and other infrastructures related to the management and maintenance of the Green Horn Village are located," Gilbert pointed north, where the Town Hall is standing tall.
"Old Chief George made sure to arrange it this way so that any people that visit the Green Horn Village would be able to easily find their way,"
"And right at where we are standing right now is the Market,"
"Market?" Kayn felt doubtful. Looking around their surroundings, there's practically nothing to be seen around them right now. Also, shouldn't the Market be on the Business Street? After all, that's the perfect place to build it.
"You'll only be able to see it twice a month,"
Kayn instantly understood what Gilbert meant — The event that takes place in 'The Bridge' twice a month.
"How about we go over there first and talk more about the Green Horn Village? I assume that you still want to know more about it," Gilbert pointed towards a small coffee shop. "Back when I was still on Earth, the best place to talk about important matters are always the coffee shop,"
"Let's go!" Kayn nodded his head.
With that being said, Kayn and Gilbert went to the coffee shop to continue with their talk about the Green Horn Village. Of course, the topic of 'The Bridge' is also going to be something that they'll be talking about.
Meanwhile, Natas remained silent as he followed behind Kayn and Gilbert. Though, inside his mind right now, he is taking note of all important matters about the Green Horn Village.
….
When dusk came, Gilbert took Kayn back to the Green Horn Inn.
"I'll return at dawn tomorrow to pick you up and take you to the Town Hall," Gilbert reminded Kayn.
"I thought that I'll be meeting Old Chief George early noon tomorrow?" Kayn felt slightly confused.
"That's just to give you more time to consider some stuff and for you to try and escape the Green Horn Village. If you have made your decision already at dawn, you don't have to wait to receive the first task from him,"
Kayn nodded his head in understanding.
"Since we're done with practically everything here, I'll be leaving you now. I wish you'll enjoy your rest at the Green Horn Inn," Gilbert said his farewell before making his way to the Residential Street.
"It seems like Gilbert is a permanent resident of the Green Horn Village," Kayn muttered silently. According to Gilbert when they were talking at the coffee shop back then, only the permanent residents of the Green Horn Village could buy or rent a house on the Residential Street. Otherwise, one can only stay in the Inn around the Business Street. Worst, if all inns are fully occupied, then one would have no other choice but to stay outside the Green Horn Village since sleeping on the street of the Green Horn Village is strictly not allowed.
"If I remember correctly, in order to become a permanent resident, one has to reach a certain amount of contribution to the Green Horn Village. I guess our tour guide wasn't as simple as how he seems on the surface," Natas expressed.
"You actually didn't notice?"
"Notice what?"
"His main class is Adventurer and his subclass is most likely Assassin," As an assassin in the second life, he can easily recognize if someone is an assassin or not. Based on his observation of the way Gilbert moves, he can easily perceive that the latter is an assassin.
"Oh, I didn't notice that," It's probably because he was preoccupied with observing the Green Horn Village. As a matter of fact, while Kayn and Gilbert were having a conversation in the coffee shop a while ago, he actually went to the roof to look around the place and see the Village with his own eyes.
"Let's get inside," Kayn walks inside the Green Horn Inn.
Just like what Gilbert had told them before, the first floor of the Green Horn Inn is now crowded with dozens of Heroes that clearly just arrived from their expedition.
Looking around, he could see some Heroes currently enjoying the fruit of their labor, others treating their wounds, while a few are trying their best to get a room despite the fact that the inn is already full.
"I suggest that you go to your room now," Natas said as he notices the desperation in the eyes of the people that wanted to book a room.
Kayn quickly understood what Natas meant after briefly looking around, so he didn't waste any time as he quietly made his way to the stairs leading to the rooms, fearing that someone might suddenly approach him to ask if they could share a room with him.
Fortunately, no one was able to notice him as he climb up the stairs, making him breathe a sigh of relief.
Nevertheless, he still made sure to get to his room as fast as possible. Only if he gets inside his room would he be sure that no one would bother him.
Luckily enough for him, he got inside his room safe and sound.
After finishing all his routines, he finally went to sleep to prepare for tomorrow.