Starting with the goblin extermination

Chapter 57 The Red Wolf Under the Gallows

This wine is made from glowing berries picked from the bushes of the Hescato Mountains by specialists and brewed using a special process.

It's rumored to have a rich, smooth taste and a subtle, magical quality. Drinking it the next day supposedly doesn't cause a headache; in fact, you might feel refreshed.

Logan smelled the refreshing fragrance and felt that the rumors might be true.

At least this taste is far more captivating than any of the spirits he had tasted in his previous life.

"Come on! To our new friend today, lovely Lily!" Thorin raised his glass high. "And to the friendship between our two squads, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The glasses collided in mid-air, splashing the wine everywhere.

Logan took a big gulp of the wine.

The cool liquid slid down my throat, followed by a warm, fiery sensation in my stomach. Then, a distinct sweet aftertaste rose on my tongue, tinged with the stimulation of alcohol, sweet but not cloying. It seemed that much of the fatigue accumulated from the day's battles had dissipated in this sip of wine.

It was so refreshing to drink.

A cup of wine for a silver coin—that's quite extravagant.

But it is indeed worth the price.

Just then, a commotion arose from the other side of the tavern.

It turned out that the bard had just finished singing a cheerful northern song.

The performance seemed to be quite good, as the group of drunken adventurers around them were banging on the table and cheering loudly.

Logan was so busy chatting and drinking that he didn't really listen to the singing.

Can I request a song?

At that moment, on the table closest to the stage, an old man who looked somewhat familiar stood up unsteadily, his face covered with empty wine bottles.

He took a silver coin from his pocket and flicked it into the wooden bowl at the bard's feet.

"Stop singing those soft, effeminate tunes! Give me something bloody! Sing me 'The Red Wolf Under the Gallows'!"

Roar--!

The tavern erupted in applause, and countless glasses slammed onto the tables.

The bard put away the silver coins and bowed with a smile.

His fingers swept across the lute sharply.

Clang!

The originally cheerful atmosphere of the tavern was instantly suppressed by the low and somber sound of the piano.

The cold wind swept across the ropes of the gallows.

The mother's remains swayed in the wind.

The umbilical cord connects to death, and fresh blood moistens the frozen earth.

The baby cried its first cry in despair.

The bard's voice was rough, hoarse, and even somewhat affectedly profound, but when combined with the mournful strains of the lute, it inexplicably carried a power that pierced the heart.

He had no parents, only the saliva of wolves.

He had no cradle, only a mercenary's scabbard.

Under the moonlight on the wasteland, he danced with a pack of wolves.

Amidst the torn flesh, he roared at death.

......

As the lyrics echoed through the tavern, to Logan's surprise, more and more adventurers began tapping their glasses on the table and softly joining in the bard's chant.

The chorus grew louder and louder, like a series of low, rumbling thunderstorms.

Even Thorin and Baron, who were standing nearby, couldn't help but hum along to the rhythm.

"This is a narrative poem that is well-known throughout the White Wave Province and even the entire White Eagle Kingdom."

Elsa noticed Logan's confusion and explained softly, holding a glass of fruit wine, her sapphire-like eyes reflecting the firelight in the tavern.

"When I was little, my father would sing it when he was drunk. It was about the rise of the governor of White Wave Province and the first Duke of Red Wolf."

"Yes, that formidable man single-handedly created Wolf Howling City! The most prosperous capital city in the entire White Wave Province, Wolf Howling City!"

Thorin stopped singing, wiped the foam off his beard, and couldn't help but interject.

"Wolf Howling City?"

Logan had certainly heard of it, but it had always remained just a string of cold words. To Logan, it was a completely unfamiliar city.

"Logan, if you ever get the chance, you absolutely have to go to Wolfhowl City!" Thorin slammed his wine glass on the table. "Go see the real power center of Whitewave Province."

"Let's also go see the only labyrinth on the continent of Arlando that stands directly in the very center of a human city—the [Tharsis Colossus]!"

A maze in the city center?

He originally thought that mazes should be hidden deep in places far from people.

Interesting. He took a sip of his drink, wanting to hear more.

"Thorin, you've been to quite a few places," Logan interjected.

"Hey, when I was young, I was a wandering bastard too."

Thorin gave a smug snort.

"It was a giant wolf statue hundreds of meters tall, constructed from some kind of unknown megalith. Some say it wasn't a statue at all, but rather the petrified form of the Wolf God, Tharsis. That's why later generations named the labyrinth the 'Colossus of Tharsis.'"

"Countless reckless professionals ventured into the labyrinth from the bottom of the giant wolf in search of treasure; some became rich overnight, while others perished."

"Therefore, the reason Wolf Howling City is called Wolf Howling City, besides being the power center established by Duke Red Wolf, is because this labyrinth is its true foundation. You could even say that the entire city is feeding off the corpse of the Wolf God!"

A giant wolf hundreds of meters tall.

A labyrinth filled with treasures and death.

Logan tapped his fingers unconsciously on the table to the rhythm of the song. A colossal statue, blotting out the sky, appeared in Logan's mind as Thorin described it.

Lily, Papa, Baron, and even Elsa all opened their mouths slightly, their eyes filled with longing.

In fact, when Papa and Baron were just children who couldn't even hold a sword properly, Thorin would always tell them strange and wonderful stories whenever he returned from a long trip.

Perhaps it was these legendary tales stained with blood and wine that planted the seed of becoming adventurers in their hearts.

Seeing the longing looks in the eyes of the young people, Thorin seemed to realize something and slapped his head in frustration.

"Damn it, it's all my fault for having such a foul mouth. I shouldn't have described this cannibalistic world as so interesting."

The old dwarf muttered as he took a large gulp of wine.

The dishes we ordered have finally all been served.

Logan took a bite of the rib, the crispy skin making an enticing sound between his lips and teeth, the oil bursting in his mouth.

Mmm, the meat is tender and juicy, with no fishy or gamey smell at all.

good to eat.

Logan tore into the ribs while glancing at his companions.

Thorin was pouring the last drop of berry wine into his mouth; Papa and Baron were playfully fighting over the last piece of roasted potato on their plate; Lily was drinking her fish soup obediently, while Elsa was naturally wiping the soup from the corner of her mouth with her handkerchief.

Logan suddenly realized why he was desperately trying to become stronger.

For revenge? For survival?

Perhaps now there's another reason.

Partners...

An orphan in his past life, a father in this one whose fate is unknown. Logan has long been accustomed to loneliness.

But now, he realizes that these vibrant lives before him have unknowingly become a part of his own life.

They were Logan's anchor in this world, reminding him that he, Logan, was still a living, breathing human being, not just a killing machine.

Under the table, Elsa mustered her courage and gently took Logan's hand.

With a deep, resonant voice, she made up her mind.

Logan did not give up.

Just then, the atmosphere in the tavern reached its peak.

The bard's voice suddenly rose, tearing away the hoarse pretense.