Chapter 51: This ability is really useful!
175Honestly, I was dead set against using this ability at first.
It seems convenient, sure, but I was a man before! How could I just start acting cute and charming people on a whim!?
I’d never use it… No, I absolutely wouldn’t!
But in reality…
This ability is so useful!
Watching the soldier turn and leave, my face flushed with slight shame, but I gritted my teeth and accepted it.
…No choice. Compared to some laughable pride, avoiding trouble is better.
I didn’t want anyone checking my backpack—it’s got my egg babies! Getting interrogated would be a hassle, so I used my pupil technique to make them leave me alone.
Taking a deep breath, I pulled my thoughts back and continued toward Golden Skull.
On the way, I ran into two more patrol squads trying to question me.
The worst part? Every single time, they wanted to check my backpack!
So annoying! Each time, I had to soften my voice, act pitiful, and use my charm to make them skip the search and let me go.
Sure, it’s a small price for avoiding bigger trouble, but it didn’t exactly put me in a great mood…
Who’d stay cheerful after groveling three times in a row, damn it!?
Gritting my teeth, I arrived at Golden Skull with a dark expression, brusquely demanding carving tools and magical materials. The supervisor, clueless about my mood, promptly fetched what I needed.
“How much?”
“Eight hundred silver coins.”
“Take it. Use the change to get me five low-tier and five mid-tier recovery potions.”
Hearing the price, I tossed a gold coin without thinking. The supervisor efficiently brought back the ten potions.
These are for me—if other races attack Black Obsidian, I’ll need them while escaping.
I don’t have time to make potions now. Today’s for carving the crystal, tomorrow’s for training, so buying ready-made potions is the way to go.
“By the way, Supervisor, do you know what happened yesterday? And what’s the deal with the city’s lockdown?”
Stuffing my purchases into my storage bracelet, I asked the supervisor.
“Well… I’m not sure. The military’s keeping it hushed, but word is it was a vampire attack on the camp.”
He looked uneasy, answering cautiously.
“As for the lockdown, only specific military units, mercenary groups, and certified strong individuals or merchants can enter or leave. If you want to leave, Miss Hidden Moon, I can try to get you a pass.”
His words showed he sensed my concern.
“…Really?”
My eyes lit up.
During a lockdown, a pass would be a godsend. If other races attack and I’m stuck without one, I’d be trapped, forced to share the city’s fate.
It’s not unreasonable—cities under attack, especially if infiltrated, rarely open gates for residents to flee. Many soldiers might desert, blending into civilians, and infiltrators could hide among evacuees, causing chaos at key points, crippling defenses.
Unless Black Obsidian allows early evacuation, without a pass, I’d be stuck fighting for the city’s survival.