The morning arrived without incident, Thankfully.
The sun shone brightly, illuminating the streets that were once dark and empty.
Our carriage continued to roll along, and although the journey yesterday felt calmer than the previous one,
I still couldn't shake off that strange feeling.
Maybe it was because of last night—there was something off about it.
But whatever, I'd just wait until the morning.
Around the afternoon, we finally arrived at the gates of the Pavilion Kingdom.
This kingdom, as I had heard, was more known as a tropical kingdom and a trading hub.
My eyes were immediately met with a strikingly different scene—no snow or cold air like in Noa, here everything was warm and damp.
There were plenty of lush green plants growing everywhere, and the strong scent of tropical flowers mixed with the fresh air.
The streets were filled with merchants, visitors, and various items that seemed to be for trade.
But I focused on one thing: this place felt full of people.
Many people were walking to and fro, busy with their own affairs, oblivious to anyone passing by. I could see they were either hunting for goods or talking about things I couldn't understand.
"I told you, this place is different," the courier said with a smile. "Pavilion's always busy. If you're looking for work, you'll find plenty of opportunities here."
I just nodded, though in my mind I was thinking, Okay, if this place is crowded, I'd better be careful with my wallet.
Pavilion was clearly not a quiet place. It felt like everyone had their own agenda.
I could almost feel the never-ending flow of life here.
Merchants stood in small stalls, shouting out to sell their wares.
Some even wore shiny jewelry, showing how successful they might be in their trade.
People hurried past, speaking in a language I didn't understand, but there was still something different about the atmosphere.
But there was one thing that made me feel a little uneasy.
Every time I looked at someone, it was like... they were looking at me.
Just a glance, and I couldn't quite be sure, but there was something unsettling in their gaze.
The courier noticed my silence and said, "Don't worry, people here are just curious about newcomers. But as long as you don't bother them, they won't bother you."
I nodded again, still feeling anxious. It couldn't be helped; this place definitely had an odd vibe to it.
We finally stopped at a modest inn not far from the gates.
I entered and was immediately greeted by a cheerful female servant. "Welcome to Pavilion, new guest! Your room is ready."
As I glanced around, I sensed something odd again.
There were many people in this inn, and while none of them looked suspicious, I still felt like something was different—like I was being watched.
For some reason, I felt like I had just walked into a trap that was bigger than I expected.
"Alright, I don't want to think too hard about this," I thought to myself, tossing my bag onto the table and lying down. "I just need to find a job or a money. That's my focus."
But from the window of my room, I could still see the streets outside, filled with busy people. It seemed like here, I had to stay alert—because I had just stepped into a world much bigger and more mysterious than I ever imagined.
Ah, the Pavilion Kingdom… how do I even begin to explain it? Let's just say—it's eccentric.
Or more accurately: weird.
From the very second I stepped out of the inn, I could feel something was off.
Have you ever met people who are so overly friendly it becomes terrifying? Yeah, that's basically everyone in Pavilion. Their eyes... wide open. Not the kind of "oh wow, a tourist!" stare, but more like "oh wow, fresh meat!"
And this city is crowded, okay? Tourists everywhere, merchants shouting from every corner, and a strange yet luxurious scent of spices in the air. But still... the only ones who seemed normal were the tourists. The locals? They all looked like robots programmed to smile and stare. Creepy as hell.
I tried to calm myself. "Maybe it's just in my head." Yeah, maybe… just maybe.
But all of that changed when I got lost in a dark alley. Like some dumb cliché from stories I hate, I was just minding my business trying to find my way, then somehow ended up turning into a narrow alley that smelled like four-day-old socks.
That's where I saw him—a suspicious fat guy.
Fancy clothes, more rings on his fingers than the number of polite words I know.
Clearly not a regular citizen.
Rich?
Definitely.
Suspicious? Hell yes.
I was about to just ignore him, honestly. But then I froze when I heard this:
"Shall we brainwash another tourist? Hahaha… What does His Majesty think?"
I… froze. It was like all the puzzle pieces I'd been ignoring finally clicked into place.
Oh.
No wonder the Pavilion locals had those broken doll stares.
No wonder their smiles looked so forced.
They'd been brainwashed.
And what's worse? Maybe… maybe they'd been trying to give me a hint.
Asking for help.
But holy crap, why me?
Who am I?
Some overpowered protagonist with a strong moral code?
No.
I'm just a 25-year-old office worker with no powers, no magic sword, and not even health insurance.
If this were an anime, maybe I'd say,
"I will save you all!"
But this isn't anime.
This is my life.
And my life is already sad enough without becoming the next victim of Pavilion's mass brainwashing scheme.
Without a second thought, I turned around.
Walked fast.
Held my breath.
And the moment I got back to the inn, I could only think one thing:
"I. Need. To. Get. Out. Of. Here."
The sooner, the better. who knows—maybe tomorrow I'll be flashing that same fake smile and selling peanuts too.