The late afternoon sky began to change color, from warm orange to grayish purple. The sun slowly sank behind the western hills, and the cold air started to creep in with the coming night.
The Lights, whose source Owen Didn't know, were lit up along the road leading to Redmill city gate, making the main path look like a glowing snake guiding newcomers toward the city's heart.
Owen stood in the middle of the crowd, following the flow of people lining up to enter. The sounds of footsteps, creaking cart wheels, horse neighs, and faint chatter blended into the typical symphony of a busy place. The smells of metal, sweat, and roasted food from street vendors mixed in the air.
The walls of Redmill city rose ten meters high, made of solid gray stone. Up close, Owen could see thin moss in the cracks between stones, a sign that the wall had stood for decadesperhaps hundreds of years. Guard posts stood atop the gate, with two guards holding bows, their sharp eyes watching everyone approaching.
Owen observed all this, holding his breath lightly. The scene made him realize that even a city lived under threat. Whether from monster attacks from the forest, bandits roaming the roads, or even conflicts between countries, anything could happen. It became clearer to him that in this world, strength was not a luxury, but an absolute necessity.
"If I'm strong enough," he thought, "I can travel anywhere without fear. I could do whatever I want."
The queue moved slowly. Ahead of him, a pair of farmers were being inspected. One guard asked their purpose and checked the cart's contents, while the other watched their faces to ensure nothing suspicious. After some questions, they were allowed in, paying two copper coins before the gate opened slightly to let them through.
Now it was Owen's turn. He stepped forward. Two guards in light armor stood on the left and right of the entrance path, their spears upright, standing tall. One of them, a muscular man with dark brown hair, raised his hand to stop him.
"A strange face," he said flatly but firmly. "Do you have a Redmill city registration card or a national identity card? And what is your purpose for coming to this city?" His tone sounded like someone who had repeated that sentence a thousand times today.
Owen hesitated for a moment. He had no registration card at all. "Uh… I come from a village and this is my first time here to register as an adventurer," he answered, trying to sound convincing.
The guard did not change his expression. "Then, please pay an entrance fee of 2 copper coins and a deposit of 5 silver coins."
"Entrance fee… and a deposit?" Owen repeated, slightly confused.
"Yes," the guard replied firmly. "Entrance fee two copper coins. Deposit five silver coins. It will be refunded once you have official identity in this city. If you cannot pay, please come back when you have money."
Owen frowned. "Why is there a deposit?" he asked carefully.
The guard looked at him briefly before answering, "For the city's security. Strangers without identification cannot be fully trusted. There have been cases of people entering, causing trouble, and disappearing just like that. With a deposit, we have leverage. And that is the rule from the City Council, not from us."
Owen glanced briefly at his money pouch. He didn't even have a single copper coin in his pocket, let alone five silver coins, although he didn't know the exact value of copper and silver coins. Now, it seemed he couldn't enter the city. Thinking about having to stay outside, his mood worsened.
Behind him, the queue began to sound impatient. A merchant whispered to his companion, "This kid seems to have no money. If so, why bother coming to the city?" Several others just sighed, clearly wanting their turn soon.
Owen swallowed hard. He didn't want to look weak or poor in front of these people, but that was the fact. "If I only pay the entrance fee, without the deposit… is that allowed?" he asked, trying to find a loophole.
The guard shook his head slowly. "No. The rules are clear. Without official identity, you must pay both."
Both of Owen's hands clenched inside his pockets. He felt as if the door to the world he wanted to enter stood right before him, but guarded by an invisible wall called 'money.'
"All right," he said briefly. "I understand."
He stepped back one step, letting the people behind him move forward. Then, he walked to the side of the road, trying to get away from the gate's crowd. The city wall lights began to turn on, emitting bright light that made the stones look warm, contrasting with the cold night air.
"Five silver coins…" Owen thought. "That seems like quite a large amount, but I don't even know how to earn money now."
He sighed deeply. It was impossible to give up just because of this. If he couldn't enter officially, maybe there was another way—whether by finding a job that paid quickly, or looking for a detour. But before that, he needed information.
He glanced around. Some newcomers who failed to enter the city gathered at a simple food stall near the gate, sitting on wooden benches while speaking quietly. Maybe they knew what kind of jobs strangers could do around Redmill.
Owen decided to approach.
The stall was simple: a straw roof, wooden walls, and the aroma of meat soup steaming from a large pot in the corner. A middle-aged man stood behind the counter, serving customers with a friendly smile. Though the place was small, the atmosphere was quite warm.
Owen tried to sell two rabbits he had brought from the forest to the stall owner, and succeeded in selling them for 2 silver coins. Then Owen ordered a bowl of meat soup with bread for 3 copper coins and sat on an empty chair, listening to the chatter around him. The conversations mixed gossip about the city, prices of goods, and news about monster attacks on the southern road.
From those talks, Owen gained some information: there was a farm outside the city needing daily workers, paying one silver coin if the job was finished on time. There were also hunters willing to pay for help carrying game from the forest to the city.
However, those jobs weren't risk-free. Some warned that since the farm was near the forest edge, monsters could appear there.
Owen looked at his nearly empty bowl of soup. "If I want to gather five silver coins quickly, I can't just choose safe jobs."
Outside, night had fully fallen. The air was colder, and the lamp light was the only source of illumination on the street. The city gate was still open for the last remaining queue, but soon it would be closed.
Owen stood up from his chair, having made a plan. He would look for work in the morning. Whether on the farm, helping hunters, or maybe a combination of both, regardless of danger or not. After all, he had fought monsters before—as long as it could give him enough money to enter the city as soon as possible.
With steady steps, he walked away from the gate, looking for a safe place to spend the night. With a clear goal his mind: to earn five silver coins, and going to the town