Chapter 18 — Laufen, Mr. Denken's Approval
In the 30th year of the New Era.
Lain and his companions stopped at Enze Town, which lay relatively close to the Golden Land.
The streets of Enze Town were bustling, and upon closer inspection, one could see that many of the people were adventurers. Among them were quite a few prospectors capable of dispelling the cognitive distortion magic of the Golden Land.
"Smells so good!"
Elily suddenly stopped in her tracks, sniffing the air intensely, quickly locking onto a shop at the corner where a long line had formed.
"Lain, I want that!"
She tugged at Lain's sleeve, pointing toward the shop.
Lain gently pulled his sleeve back and smoothed the wrinkles, saying, "Let's find a restaurant first. Dessert can wait."
"You're not going? Fine, I'll go myself."
Like a child throwing a tantrum, Elily stomped forward on her own.
Kraft stood by with his arms crossed, watching the scene unfold.
"What a little brat."
Lain sighed.
Resigned, he followed her like a caretaker, with Kraft close behind.
As they approached, they could see the shop's sign—a huge cookie painted above the entrance.
The line was long, mostly young girls and mothers with children.
Lain stood at the back, idly counting the people ahead.
Suddenly, a small head popped out from the line.
It was a girl with her hair tied up in a bun.
She was holding a paper bag full of freshly bought cookies, lowering her head to stuff them into her mouth, her cheeks puffed out.
Perhaps sensing the gaze from behind, the girl paused mid-chew and turned around.
Their eyes met.
The girl froze, mid-chew.
"Mr. Lain?!"
"Laufen?"
Lain's face showed complete surprise.
The world was really small.
"Looks like Mr. Denken's pension all went straight into your stomach."
Lain's eyes immediately fell on the impressively full bag of cookies in Laufen's arms.
Laufen blushed and hugged the bag closer, saying, "Not at all! I earned this pocket money myself."
She paused, then glanced at Kraft and Elily behind Lain, asking, "Mr. Lain, what are you doing here?"
"Just passing through."
"And this is?"
Kraft looked at the lively girl curiously.
"Laufen, a companion from the Mage Examination."
Lain introduced her.
"Want some?"
Laufen took a cookie from the bag and offered it to Lain.
Lain stared at the cookie in surprise.
Was the sun really rising from the west? A food-hoarding cat actually sharing?
"Never mind, I'll pass."
Laufen turned her head away, but her hand remained extended.
"Thanks."
Lain took the cookie and bit into it.
It was crisp, rich with a creamy flavor.
Elily poked her head out from behind Lain, eyes fixed on the bag of cookies, saliva nearly dripping:
"I want some too!"
Laufen looked at the shorter girl and generously grabbed a handful, passing it over.
"Here."
"Thank you, sis! You're the best!"
Elily gratefully received the cookies, instantly giving Laufen a "good person" card.
The group sat down on a nearby bench.
"What are you doing here?"
Lain finished his cookie in a few bites, brushing the crumbs from his hands. "It's not exactly close to Oysaster."
"I came with Grandpa."
Laufen swung her legs, still chewing, "After the Mage Examination, Grandpa became the manager of the Golden Land's barrier."
Laufen pointed to the golden outline in the distance.
This aligned with the original story.
Denken, a mage from Veizer and a disciple of Mahart, had returned not just to pay respects at his wife's grave.
He intended to defeat Mahart and lift the golden curse from Veizer.
"And you? Are you just here to eat?"
Lain teased.
"Not at all!"
Laufen protested. "I'm training! Grandpa said that to become a capable independent mage, I have to learn to adapt in extraordinary environments."
Her tone darkened slightly. She continued, "But Grandpa strictly forbids me from approaching the core of the barrier."
"After all, the one inside the barrier is Mahart, one of the Seven Sages of Destruction. If you enter, he could take you out at any time."
Lain leaned back against the bench, staring at the sky.
"I know."
Laufen muttered quietly, "I never intended to go in and get myself killed… It's just… seeing Grandpa stand outside the barrier every day, staring off, his back looks so lonely."
She looked up at Lain. "Mr. Lain, if you're passing by, could you go see him? I think he'd be happy to see someone he knows."
"That's exactly my plan."
Lain nodded.
---
The next morning.
The road from Enze Town to Veizer had long fallen into disuse. Weeds sprouted between the stones, reaching half a person's height.
Lain, Kraft, Elily, and Laufen hired a carriage to continue their journey.
The closer they got to the golden region, the heavier the air felt.
Elily shrank into a corner of the carriage, clutching her rusty iron sword tightly. Her usual loud voice had vanished, and she only dared to peek at the glimmering city through the window gap.
After Laufen had cast a magic to dispel cognitive distortion for Elily, the girl could finally see the golden city.
"So quiet."
Laufen sat on the carriage rail, legs dangling, "We haven't seen any monsters along the way."
Lain leaned against the carriage wall. "Mahart's magic is so immense that no beasts or magical creatures dare approach this area."
The carriage stopped in front of a solitary wooden house, perched on a high slope facing Veizer.
Laufen jumped down and pushed open the slightly ajar door, shouting, "Grandpa, I've brought guests!"
The interior was fairly bright.
Denken sat at a table, holding a quill, staring blankly at a spread-out map.
Hearing the voice, the old man lifted his head, only to be stunned at the sight of Lain and the others entering.
"Lain?"
Denken set down the pen and stood. "And… who is this?"
"Kraft."
Kraft introduced himself.
"Rare visitors."
Denken immediately grabbed the teapot and poured tea. "Please, have a seat."
Lain pulled over a stool and sat, smiling. "Grandpa, are you comfortable living here?"
"Comfortable or not doesn't matter."
Denken looked at the golden outline outside the window. "Someone has to watch it, so that fools don't wander in."
He glanced at Elily, who was leaning on the windowsill, staring at the Golden Land.
"And the young lady?"
"She's a little airhead, the leader of our squad."
Lain brushed it off casually.
Denken didn't ask further, sipping his tea and blowing on it. "You didn't come here just to visit this old man, did you?"
"I'm heading to Weize Village." Lain said.
The teacup paused midair.
Denken set it down, his expression turning serious:
"Weize Village? That's inside the barrier. It was swallowed by the Golden Land many years ago."
"I know."
"Then why go? There's no one left, and if you encounter Mahart, it'll be dangerous."
"I have my reasons." Lain did not back down.
"Reasons?"
Denken leaned back in his chair. "Treasure? Or fame?"
"To go home."
As soon as Lain said this, Denken froze.
The old man began to study Lain seriously.
There was no joking on the young man's face, no greed or adventurer's mania.
Only a near-stubborn resolve.
"Go home?"
Denken turned his gaze through the window to the golden city.
It was his hometown.
Over sixty years ago, he was a boy running the streets there, chatting with his master Mahart about the adventures of Hero Himmel.
Until fifty years ago, gold swallowed everything.
He became a bereft exile, a scheming court strategist.
But all he had done, even earning his Level 1 Mage qualification, was to one day return home and place flowers at his wife's grave.
"Go home…"
Denken repeated softly, his voice slightly hoarse.
The atmosphere in the room relaxed a bit.
Kraft drank his tea silently, saying nothing. Having lived over a thousand years, he understood the weight behind such words.
"There's a statue of the Southern Hero in Weize Village," Lain added. "It's my landmark to go home."
Denken withdrew his gaze, studying Lain anew.
This time, his eyes held nothing but recognition—a kind of "kindred spirit" acknowledgment.
"Do you need me to do anything?"
Denken suddenly asked. "Like accompany you?"
"No need."
Lain stood. "Having too many people will only draw Mahart's attention. Besides, this is my own business."
Actually, he did want Denken to come along—after all, he was Mahart's disciple, and Mahart wouldn't harm him.
But soon, Frieren and her group would arrive. If Denken went with Lain now, the story would deviate too far.
Besides, he had no ability to undo the golden curse. That would be up to Frieren.
"I see."
Denken smiled. "The path home… must ultimately be walked alone."
---
The road ahead is long—Power Stones will light the way.