“What now?” Ketal muttered as he scratched his stomach while lying on the bed. 0

For the past few days, he hadn’t visited the guildhall. There simply weren’t any requests left that piqued his interest. With plenty of money saved up, he decided to take Rosa’s advice and enjoy some leisure time. He explored the estate, taking in the sights and experiences it offered.0

However, the estate wasn’t particularly large. He had tasted all the local delicacies, read every book in the library, and essentially exhausted all the entertainment available to him.0

I’m glad the citizens here don’t treat me like an outsider anymore, but… Ketal thought. 0

The people of the estate no longer avoided him or looked at him with fear. But even so, they didn’t try to get closer to him either.0

The subtle sense of distance prevented him from forming any meaningful relationships. One of his fantasies had always been to drink and laugh with strangers at a lively tavern table. But such camaraderie still eluded him, leaving him somewhat disappointed.0

In the end, that strange, invisible boundary limited what he could enjoy in the estate.0

“Have I become too accustomed to excitement?” Ketal wondered aloud.0

He yearned for more excitement. He craved the thrill of fantasy. The White Snowfield had been a terrible place, but at least it had been overflowing with stimulation.0

“Speaking of which, I wonder how those guys are doing…” He thought of his former companions—the uncivilized, foolish barbarians of the White Snowfield.0

They had never kept their distance from him. They had truly shared their lives and survived together in the harsh wilderness.0

I wonder what they’re doing...0