Walking outside the restaurant, Noah sighed at his empty pocket. He had spent all the money he had brought today to pay for the food that the three of them ate, making him wonder if they dined and dashed making up all the stuff about the Dark Mages or something?
'Well. Let's at least purify the well.'(Noah)
He sighed as he then began walking towards the west of the city.
Honestly, he was not worried about the dark mages since he can run away from there easily. If anything, he can just give a call to the Saintess using the 'emergency button' that he had gotten from her. But that's for the time when things go south.
He wasn't doing it for the money exactly since the Karma he might get from this act would way more than what he gets from normal work. But if he did get to meet Aisha there, he will try to ask for the money as well.
[Just make sure to not over do it. We don't miss Ameliana getting angry all over again.](Elios)
Noah nodded.
This was another thing that they had to keep in their mind for now.
[Karma: 8850]
As he walked through the streets, Noah looked at the amount of Karma they had for now and pondered for a few seconds.
'Is there anything that can increase our defense?'(Noah)
[Reinforcement? Or perhaps something like a shield?](Elios)
'Shield would be better since we can protect more people with it.'(Noah)
[You have purchased Skill: Holy Shield(E) for 1,100 Karma!]
[Your Side Job reacts!]
[You have acquired the skill: Death Guard(E)!]
[Skill: Holy Shield(E)
Effects: Creates a 3 x 3 square meter shield that can take damage upto 300% of user's total defense!
Mana cost: 5 MP/Second!]
[Skill: Death Guard(E)
Effect: Increases the chances of avoiding death in an unfavourable situation(Passive)!]
"Interesting."(Noah)
Noah looked at the [Death Guard] for a few seconds with keen interest wondering about its range of effects, but since there was no information he then sighed before looking at the west gate in front of him.
A line was formed for the people coming inside the city but for those going outside, there didn't seem to be any check up. Hence, Noah just observed the guards for a few moments before reaching towards the other side of the city.
The other side of the city was totally different from the inside. The floor was muddy, with shabby shades instead of stone houses. The people, other than those who were entering the city, looked like beggars or ruffians, sitting on the street outside the city.
Even though there were a few stalls here and there, the amount of liveliness was non-existent in this area as the people were barely surviving. That, and the smell. The smell was the most difficult to bear right now.
Still Noah walked through the area, earning the narrowed gazes of those around him. There were a few beggars who eyed him, but still didn't dare to do anything. As for Noah, he observed the surrounding mana, especially the dark mana flowing in the sky, and walked towards it one step at a time.
The others didn't seem to notice it, as they simply did their own work. Which made Noah wonder if he was special in any regards?
[Could be the Death Energy?](Elios)
Looking at the message, Noah agreed with him. Death energy was something special to him. At least in this dimension where there was no one with this type of energy.
"You lost kid? What's a young rich kid like you doing here?"
Noah turned to find another teenager like him, standing there with a curious look on his face and a dagger tied behind his waist.
Behind him there were 3 more teenage boys and 2 more girls.
"Came here to purify a well. Know anything like that?"(Noah)
Noah didn't need to hide anything as these kids could possibly lead him to the well. He was actually wondering if he could ask anyone here, but before he could, the kids came to him.
Half of the kids were amazed to hear that as they observed Noah, while the one at the front who was possibly the leader of these kids, spoke out.
"A Gold coin, and we will lead you to that well."
"5 iron coins."(Noah)
"Pfft"
One of the girls at the back laughed a little, breaking the serious look she was giving, while the boy, a bit irritated, spoke again.
"Look here mister. This place is dangerous. If you try to go alone, you might never come back."
His eyes seemed to be serious… it wasn't a threat, more like a warning.
Noah's experience told him that this kid was trying to help Noah without telling him anything. Perhaps he was threatening him right now so that Noah simply walked away from there without getting caught in-between?
[How noble!](Elios)
"I can't do that. I have work to do here. And I can't give you any money either."(Noah)
Noah showed his empty pocket as he pressed a smile before speaking,"thank you for the warning, but there are somethings a man has to do."
And then he walked away from there politely bowing to them, while the kids seemed to be taken aback by his attitude. He was clearly different from the nobles who always looked at them as if they were the dirtiest of the things they had seen.
"Hey! Wait!"
He called again, stopping Noah before he added," my name is Airan. Let me show you the way to that well. But…"
His eyes turned serious as he added,
"But run away from here before the sun sets."