Chương 121: Chapter 119 – Ferndale.

Rusty stood at the entrance of Ferndale, the large settlement sprawled before him, its outer wooden palisades weathered and reinforced with iron plating. Guard towers jutted from its perimeter, manned by watchmen who warily scanned the horizon. Beyond the walls, buildings of various sizes clustered together, constructed from stone and timber, their rooftops overlapped in dark, muted colors. Smoke curled from chimneys, and the air was mixed with the scent of burning wood and tanned leather.

'So this is it…' Rusty stood in the distance looking at this potential new lair. The weather was cloudy, and a cold wind carried various scents that he could not really perceive. Gleam on the other hand, who was perched on his shoulder seemed rather perturbed by it and turned her face away. The settlement of Ferndale was larger than he expected, but not quite a city - it was a fortified town, one that had been hardened by years of conflict. Rusty could see signs of wear and struggle everywhere.

The walls had been patched in places where they had likely been damaged by attacks. Many buildings had reinforced windows with heavy shutters, some scarred by embedded arrowheads. Aburdon had informed him that to the east, orc encampments sprawled across the plains. The orcs were a constant threat, raiding and pillaging when the opportunity arose.

To the north, the jagged peaks of the Stonefang Mountains loomed, home to barbarian tribes that descended from their frozen heights to pillage settlements and take what they pleased. Ferndale was caught between a rock and a hard place, its only saving grace being the dungeon at its center - the town's primary source of income. Despite the dangers, many still ventured here, undeterred by the risks. Most were low-level adventurers and soldiers seeking to make a name for themselves.

The more established cities and settlements were difficult to rise through, overcrowded with those hoping for an easy path to success. For many, a perilous place like Ferndale was their only real chance at prosperity. They believed that, in time, the orcs and barbarians would be dealt with, and when Ferndale finally grew into a city, they would be there to reap the rewards.

"It's time… Let's go, Gleam and whatever you do, don't attack them."

"(╹ -╹)?"

"Yes, even if they start it, those humanoid types can be hard to understand." After consulting his guides, they finally decided to approach the entrance gate. Gleam played the role of a tamed monster, a companion to Rusty's new adventurer persona, Edmund. Alexander had reassured him that everything would go smoothly, but Rusty couldn't shake his doubts. He still remembered his arrival at the last city - how uncertain and tense it had been. He could only hope this time would go as easily as they had planned.

A line had formed at the entrance, much like the one at the previous city where he had rescued Gleam. However, this one moved a bit faster, and security didn't seem as strict. Despite the ever-present threat of orcs and barbarians, it appeared the guards weren't too concerned about any of them sneaking in. Fortunately, Rusty had something that would allow him to bypass an identification check—money. Before he could speak to the guards, however, a commotion on the other side of the gate caught his attention.

A figure came flying through the air and landed face-first in the mud.

"No please, you can't do this to me…"

"You know the rules, now get out and never come back!" Rusty's gaze followed the poor soul who had just been thrown from Ferndale's gates. The man was covered in dirt, his ragged cloak barely clinging to his bony frame. He scrambled to his knees, his face contorted with desperation.

"Please, I have nowhere else to go! I can work! I'll even clean the latrines, please!" He pleaded, his voice hoarse and desperate. One of the guards, a burly man clad in chainmail with a thick, fur-lined cloak, spat onto the ground beside him.

"You had your chance. Those who can't contribute get thrown out. No one cares if you rot out there. Now get lost before we decide to speed things up for you." The other guards laughed, one of them casually resting a hand on the hilt of his sword—a silent warning that the conversation was over. The man slumped forward, slowly pushing himself up, his eyes darting toward the treeline beyond the road. Rusty could see the fear in them. Being exiled from a place like Ferndale was a death sentence.

Between the orc raiders and barbarian warbands, the wilds were merciless to lone travelers.

'So, they exile their own?'

'Indeed, in these sort of settlements food is sparse, they will throw away the weak and elderly if they can't carry their own weight…' Alexander murmured in his helmet, his tone showcasing disdain for this event. Aburdon, on the other hand, cackled, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

'Hah, why should they spend their limited resources on someone who can't even contribute? It's a survival of the fittest, after all!'

'I find it hard to believe that they don't have anything to spare!' Rusty listened to their exchange while watching the malnourished man stagger away, cold and covered in mud. None of the people trying to get in helped him or even looked his way as he turned to them for aid. This was the world they lived in - one where no one was willing to offer up their limited resources without at least the promise of a future reward. He wasn't much different from these people in that regard.

He had managed to amass money throughout his journey, and perhaps he could spare some to help the man survive - but then what? The man didn't seem capable of taking care of himself here. Plenty of others were still within the city, yet he was the one being cast out. Perhaps he had a gambling debt or was simply a poor worker. Regardless, Rusty needed to focus on getting into the city, not on the fate of others.

If he revealed that he had money to spare, he might make himself a target for the thieves' guild or other thugs. Soon, the man sauntered off, and the waiting line inched forward until Rusty found himself face-to-face with the guards.

"Halt. What is that thing?" If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it. One of the men immediately pointed at the silvery-white ant monster perched on Rusty's shoulder. The guards looked weary, more interested in keeping the line moving than thoroughly inspecting entrants. The one who had spoken was young - his helmet slightly too large for his head, his grip on the spear unsteady. The older guard beside him, grizzled and scarred, was clearly the one in charge.

"That's my com… I mean, my tamed monster. I'm an adventurer." Rusty replied smoothly, ensuring his voice carried the right amount of confidence. His Possession skill had leveled up, making it much easier to speak - even though, technically, the only body part he had was a head without lungs. The magic within it somehow made speech possible, though he wasn't versed enough in its workings to understand how. The older guard squinted at Gleam, who tilted her head in what could almost be mistaken for curiosity.

"Tamed beast, huh? Never seen one like that before."

"She's a rare variant." Rusty said quickly replying to get this over with.

"Got her in a dungeon." The older guard grunted but didn't seem eager to press further.

"Adventurer's card and your permit." Rusty hesitated. He'd known this was coming - monsters like Gleam usually required official approval. The guild would need to identify and register her before issuing a permit. If a monster was deemed too dangerous, it would either be denied entry or required to be kept in restraints. Rusty planned to visit the city's guild eventually to get the necessary paperwork. But first, he had to find a way inside.

While he had Edmund's old card from his remains, the man didn't own any tamed monster permits. Thus, instead of handing over that he handed the soldier something different together with the card, a few well-hidden silver coins. The older guard barely glanced at the coins before making them disappear into his pocket with practiced smoothness. He looked at the adventurer's card for the briefest of moments before shoving it back into Rusty's hand without a second glance.

"Yeah, looks good enough. Go on in." The younger guard opened his mouth, perhaps about to object, but a sharp glare from his superior made him think twice. He simply stepped aside, letting Rusty through without another word. Rusty nodded and walked forward, Gleam stayed perched on his shoulder, watching the guards with her unblinking, curious eyes. He stepped past the wooden gates and into Ferndale proper, the air inside heavy with the mixed scents of sweat, iron, and the ever-present aroma of cooking meat.

"(¬`‸´¬)""Does it really smell that bad?" While Gleam wasn't too enthusiastic about the smell, they continued walking. Just like Alexander said, these people were a lot easier to bribe than the ones in the previous city. As long as he had his adventurer card and a bit of coin he could probably resolve most situations. Inside the settlement, the streets were alive with movement.

The main road was packed with traders peddling their wares, adventurers boasting of their latest exploits, and weary laborers moving carts laden with supplies. Blacksmiths worked at their forges, and the rhythmic clanging of metal on metal rang through the air. Stalls lined the roadsides, selling everything from weapons and armor to dried rations and medicinal herbs. Rusty's gaze drifted to a large building at the center of the settlement.

It was made of heavy stone, its wooden sign displaying the symbol of crossed swords - a clear indication that this was the adventurers' guild. That would be his first stop. He needed to establish himself within Ferndale and ensure his adventurer identity was fully legitimized. Even though he had bribed his way in, it was better to tie up any loose ends before someone started asking questions. As he walked deeper into the city, he took in more details.

Armed guards patrolled the streets, their hands resting on their weapons as they kept a close eye on the people moving about. The buildings were sturdy but bore the scars of past conflicts - burn marks on wooden beams, hastily patched-up holes in walls, and reinforced doors that hinted at past raids.

'Did the orcs do this or the barbarians?' For someone like Rusty, who hadn't spent much time in the human world, this was fascinating. At first, he had assumed that these humanoids were the strongest creatures around, capable of cutting through monsters like him with ease. But the more he explored the outside world, the more he learned. Even a massive settlement like this wasn't invincible - it could fall to monsters or rival humanoid tribes.

The scars on the buildings hinted at past battles, proof that enemies had breached this deep into the city before. If Rusty were to make this place his new lair, he might have to defend it alongside the others. To the east, past the market, stood another heavily fortified section, one that was walled off from access. From what Rusty could recall from Edmund's memories, that was where the wealthier residents and high-ranking officials lived.

It was guarded far more rigorously than the rest of the town, and only those with the right connections or enough money could pass through the checkpoint leading into that district. As Rusty moved toward the guild, he couldn't help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. He had successfully entered Ferndale, and now the next phase of his plan could begin.

With a proper base of operations, he could start gathering resources, building his strength, and perhaps even finding a way to exert influence over this struggling settlement.

'That was easier than I expected… what should we do first?' Rusty found himself in the center of the market square. While this city was new, it was designed similarly to the other one. Most stores and important buildings were clustered in the middle, while residential structures were spread out along the sides. The main difference here was the presence of numerous wooden palisades acting as temporary barriers.

Some were even portable, haphazardly thrown into alleyways, as if waiting to be placed on the main roads to block invaders.

'Well, I propose we sort the guild out first and get Gleam registered to Edmund's adventurer card. They probably won't ask you for proper identification in a place like this.' There were a few things Rusty needed to accomplish here, but the most important was establishing a base of operations to grow stronger. He was still quite weak, and in a world dominated by others, he needed to remain hidden. Instead of wandering the forests like a monster, he chose to hide in plain sight within one of these settlements.

Even the orc tribes had to stay on the move to avoid being hunted by humanoid armies, and if he wasn't careful, he would eventually face the same fate. The world was filled with D-rank and higher monsters, as well as adventurers, and without a plan, it would only be a matter of time before he met his end. Still, he needed to determine whether this place was worth his time. To do that, he had to visit the nearby dungeon and assess its potential.

If the monsters were too weak to provide him with sufficient experience, he would have to find another location to settle in. Once that was confirmed, his next move would be to purchase a house and convert it into a smithy, allowing him to amass more resources. His system granted him the ability to copy wares using SP, enabling him to generate money quickly - money he intended to invest in better materials to enhance his metallic body.

'I don't like it… this doesn't look like a domain fit for a demon lord…'

'No one is asking for Rusty to become a demon lord, Aburdon…' Aburdon wasn't too pleased with the outlook in the city. It was dirty, gloomy, and filled with beings that he despised looking at. Rusty ignored Aburdon's grumbling as he stepped onto the stone steps leading to the adventurers' guild. The large wooden doors creaked slightly as he pushed them open, revealing the lively interior.

The inside was exactly as he expected: rows of wooden tables filled with adventurers in various states of debauchery, some boasting of recent conquests, others nursing drinks or inspecting their weapons. A massive board dominated one side of the room, covered in bounty notices and quest postings. The reception desk at the back had several attendants, one of whom was arguing with a man in battered armor.

Gleam tensed slightly on his shoulder but remained still, wary of the many gazes falling upon her and Rusty as they entered. Some adventurers barely glanced their way, while others gave longer, scrutinizing looks at the strange silvery-white ant monster perched beside him…