Chapter 85: Time Gap

Following the man who claimed to be Captain Marcelo of the Village Guard, Miss Vilyric and the others stepped into the building where he had previously stayed. He gestured for them to sit down on their own, then removed his great sword and cumbersome mechanical arm from his back, hanging them on the wall before casually returning to sit in front of the three.

“Well then, there’s no one else here. Although I don’t quite understand why you’re hiding your true levels, it shouldn’t be a problem now, right?”

Captain Marcelo sat on the opposite side of the table, glancing at the Tree Spirit Siblings who sat upright and proper, and at the black-haired girl, who was deliberately lounging against the wall, seemingly lazy.

“By the way, you adventurers in the Guild sure respond quickly; I was just thinking of heading to Adelaide tomorrow morning for help and here you are…”

“…?”

Noticing the strange expressions exchanged by the two adventurers, the Village Guard Captain frowned, seemingly realizing something.

“What… you’re not the reinforcements sent by the Adelaide Guild? You just happened to pass by?”

“Reinforcements sent by the Guild…”

With the keen perception of a legendary adventurer, Enrique had already sensed the situation in Adelaide Village 192 on the way here. Unless they were deliberately disguising themselves, then…

Muttering to himself, Enrique took a brief pause before finally responding to the Captain’s inquiry, but his answer was completely unexpected.

“Mr. Marcelo, I have a question for you. Please answer honestly according to what you know, it’s very important, okay?”

The tall Bear-Human glanced at the weapons and gauntlet nearby, a flash of surprise appearing on his rugged face, then nodded nonchalantly.

“Ask.”

“Um… could you please tell me what year, month, and day it is according to the common calendar of the Ost Empire?”

Captain Marcelo’s expression faltered for a moment.

As a veteran chosen by the Empire’s higher-ups to lead a village guard and liaise with authorities, while his level of education wasn’t high, he surely could recognize basic common writing and complete reports or commissions.

Naturally, calendars were the same. Converting it to a universally recognized calendar might be a bit tricky, but stating the Ost Empire’s calendar couldn’t be an issue.

After some thought, he replied solemnly.

“The official date today is the 21st of August, Year 125 of the Empire Calendar. It has been exactly ten days since I last reported to Adelaide and submitted a request to the Guild… Is there a problem?”

The siblings exchanged glances, and even as experienced legendary adventurers, they could hardly mask the shock and disbelief in their eyes upon hearing this.

“This question… it’s a big deal.”

The calendar of the Ost Empire signifies the end of its southward and northward conquests and the official establishment of the current vast unified empire. Created over just a hundred years by the Emperor at the time, it has since become the standard calendar for the Empire and its surrounding vassal states, replacing the original universal calendar that had prevailed for over a thousand years, symbolizing the Ost Empire’s power.

Soldiers in the Empire’s regular army would never forget this date.

And the large-scale missing persons case that spanned several provinces in the Empire’s southeast began to surface in early August of Year 125, just a little over ten days ago, perfectly coinciding with his description.

But…

“Captain, if I say today is actually the 13th of October, Year 125 of the Empire Calendar, meaning nearly two months have passed since your perceived time… would you believe me?”

Listening to the young adventurer’s earnest statement, the Bear-Human uncle didn’t furrow his brow this time, but instead tilted his head, showing a look of utter confusion and misunderstanding.

“…What does that mean? A discrepancy in the calendar?”

In place of her brother, who had just begun to speak, Sophie, the Tree Wall, pondered aloud.

“Considering some things we saw on our way here, if what you just said isn’t a lie, then we can only conclude…”

“Wait.”

Before she could formally voice her suspicions, the priestess girl, who had been leaning against the wall since entering, suddenly interrupted, stepping forward with a sly smile like a cunning fox.

“What she means is that the calendar we’re using may indeed have some discrepancies. Thankfully, you corrected it just in time, otherwise, it would be embarrassing when we return to the city~”

Enrique looked at Vilyric in surprise. Although he didn’t quite understand her reasoning, his rich experience as an adventurer helped him quickly catch on, and he began to echo her with forced laughter.

“Ah yes, yes! That’s exactly what we meant! Hahaha… look at my memory, I even got the date wrong!”

“…?”

As a seasoned veteran, Captain Marcelo was certainly not the type to be easily swayed by such a flimsy excuse. Yet, before he could say anything further, Vilyric pretended to yawn several times.

“Haah~ After a long day of traveling, my eyelids are about to fight each other. After all, I’m just a frail little priestess, why should I suffer by crossing mountains like this…”

“Uncle Marcelo, since we’ve verified our identities as adventurers, could you arrange accommodations for us? It doesn’t have to be too luxurious, just clean would suffice. We’ll pay for the lodging.”

“Uh, yeah! We need to hit the road tomorrow!”

Silently observing the three who suddenly began to act awkwardly, evidently hiding something, Marcelo’s single eye flickered for a moment but ultimately said nothing more, simply nodding slightly.

“You don’t need to worry about payment. Just outside this room, to the far west under the watchtower, there are a few vacant rooms specifically prepared for wandering adventurers. The conditions aren’t too good, but it’s enough for rest. If you don’t mind, you can stay there tonight.”

“Also, unless you plan to leave, please don’t wander too far from the watchtower, and don’t roam around the village at random. I don’t want to see villagers come to complain tomorrow morning about being harassed by adventurers, understood?”

Enrique nodded repeatedly as the representative of the team.

“Oh, of course. Thank you for your kindness, Captain. You should also rest early!”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the three quickly exited, prompted by a vague hint from the priestess, heading towards the corner room indicated by Marcelo. Perhaps because of the inexplicable and strange actions at the end, the captain didn’t get up to see them off, merely nodding as he quietly watched them leave.

As they walked, the three intentionally avoided the magical lamp’s patrolling light that was cast down from the top of the watchtower, stepping into the shadows. Only then did Sophie finally have the chance to ask her puzzled question.

“What’s wrong? Why did you stop me from speaking just now? Is there something wrong with Captain Marcelo?”

Vilyric shook her head.

“Whether he has a problem is still uncertain, but you saw it too, this village feels exceptionally strange from top to bottom. The time interval that Uncle mentioned is definitely more than just a discrepancy in the calendar; we currently have too little information. It would be rash to jump to conclusions. Let’s wait until tomorrow and see what the situation is.”

“By the way, you two, stretch out your hands.”

“What for?”

“Oh come on, I’m giving buffs! Don’t you know that priests can exorcise?”

“?”

   

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