The hallway slowly quieted after Isabelle left.
For several minutes, Con remained inside his room, leaning against the closed door.
His breathing gradually steadied.
The heat on his face faded.
"…pull yourself together."
He rubbed his temples and straightened his clothes.
The situation had been… embarrassing. But panicking over it would solve nothing.
Con exhaled slowly and began fixing the mess in his room.
The overturned chair went back upright.
The scattered blankets folded.
Drawers pushed back into place.
Within a few minutes the room looked mostly normal again.
Just as he finished, there was a soft knock.
"Con?"
It was Jorin.
"Come in."
The door opened carefully.
Jorin stepped inside and glanced around, clearly checking if Con was alright.
His eyes lingered on Con's face for a moment.
"…you look better."
"I'm fine."
Jorin nodded, relieved.
"Good."
There was a brief pause before he added quietly,
"…I'm going back to Elara. She was worried."
Con nodded.
"Go."
Jorin hesitated.
"Call if you need help."
"I will."
Jorin gave him one last look before leaving.
The door shut again.
And for the first time since arriving in Eldoria—
The room became truly quiet.
Con stood there for a while.
Then he sat on the edge of the bed.
His fingers rested loosely on his knees.
For some reason… his chest felt strangely heavy.
A familiar image surfaced in his mind.
A small cottage beside a brook.
The sound of water running over stones.
An old man grumbling while chopping wood.
Harun.
Con smiled faintly.
"…I miss him."
He hadn't realized it before.
The journey had been long.
The academy demanding.
And everything happening in Eldoria had been chaotic.
But suddenly—
He wanted to talk to Harun.
Just hearing his grumpy voice would probably calm his mind.
Con reached for his bag.
From inside he took out a piece of paper and a small ink pen.
He couldn't see the page, but writing wasn't difficult.
His fingers moved with careful precision.
Grandfather,
I hope you are well.
The journey has been long but safe. The others are doing well too.
I visited the ruins of Eldoria. The place is strange, but nothing dangerous has happened.
Please take care of your health. Don't forget to rest.
I will send more money soon.
— Con
He paused.
Then added one last line.
I miss you.
Con folded the letter neatly.
"…that should do."
For common folk, sending letters wasn't simple.
There were no royal couriers for people like them.
Most messages traveled through merchants or mercenaries returning home.
So Con left the inn and walked toward the mercenary guild.
The building was easy to find.
Loud voices.
Heavy footsteps.
The smell of leather, steel, and cheap ale.
The guild hall buzzed with activity.
Mercenaries sat around tables discussing contracts.
Others prepared gear before leaving for jobs.
Con approached the counter.
A middle-aged clerk looked up.
"Ah, the blind knight."
Con had apparently gained a reputation already.
"I'd like to ask if any mercenaries are heading toward the western villages."
The clerk rubbed his chin.
"…maybe a few. Why?"
"I have a letter for my grandfather."
The clerk nodded.
"Leave it here. If someone's passing that direction, they'll take it."
Con bowed slightly.
"Thank you."
He placed the letter on the counter.
Just as he turned to leave—
Two mercenaries nearby were talking loudly.
"…I'm telling you, it's not normal."
"You're drunk."
"I'm serious! Something killed a farmer near the outer fields last night."
Another man snorted.
"Bandits?"
"No."
The first mercenary leaned closer.
"…his body was torn open."
"…animals."
"I've seen animal attacks."
The man shook his head slowly.
"This wasn't that."
The table grew quiet.
Then one of them whispered.
"…you think it's a demon?"
Someone cursed under their breath.
"Don't joke about that."
The mercenary swore.
"I'm not joking. The guards called in mages from the capital."
Con stopped walking.
His hearing sharpened.
Demon.
He had heard the word before.
In this world, demons were nothing like monsters.
They were closer to devils from ancient stories.
Cunning.
Cruel.
They didn't simply attack.
They manipulated.
They possessed humans.
And when they revealed themselves—
It was usually too late.
Con turned slightly toward the conversation.
"…a demon."
If that rumor was true, the city might soon become very dangerous.
Instinct told him to investigate.
But then he hesitated.
His hand tightened slightly.
"…the system."
If he had access to the system, he could analyze the situation safely.
But mirrors were banned in Eldoria.
And his hand mirror had disappeared earlier.
Without it—
He had no way to contact the system.
No skills list.
No spell reference.
Nothing.
Just himself.
For a moment, Con considered ignoring the matter.
This wasn't his responsibility.
City guards and mages existed for a reason.
But then he remembered the mercenary's words.
A farmer.
Just a normal person.
Someone like the villagers back home.
Someone like Harun.
Con clenched his teeth.
"…damn it."
He exhaled slowly.
Then turned toward the guild doors.
"I'll just take a look."
Even without the system—
He wasn't helpless.
After all…
He had lived his entire life blind.
And he had still managed just fine.