I Refused To Be Reincarnated-Chapter 647: Not Beggars, but...

If audio player doesn't work, press Reset or reload the page.

Chapter 647: Not Beggars, but...

Dirt turned into decrepit pavements eroded by years of passage and neglect. Amidst the weeds sprouting from the cracks in the stones, farmers draped in worn shirts patched with random fabric in a dishevelled mismatch walked domestic magical beasts.

They nodded upon passing his group, their beasts bellowing as if to imitate their owners’ greetings as the town became clearer in Julius’ eyes.

Decent walls four times his size rose in protection against wild beasts, rudimentary mana symbols pulsing with a soft hum along the sleek stones. A silvery mana barrier, noticeably thinner than the one the college used in the past but more flexible, flowed over the short buildings like a lake.

After passing the apple trees lining the road to the gate and appreciating the fruits’ sweet scents, he noticed a change in the atmosphere.

Instead of the poorly dressed farmers, long leather coats fluttered, shining armor glinted, blades clinked against robust hips, and the voice of burly men chatting with the guards reverberated by the raised barbed fence.

"Mercenaries?" Arun narrowed his eyes at the absence of a coat of arms on their varying equipment. On the contrary, the guards’ breastplates featured the same blazon representing a fearsome hawk-headed creature with a lion’s body and majestic wings stretching over their chests.

"We’ll know by listening." Julius approached them, his steps measured, until he was close enough to catch their conversation.

"You’re sure you can handle a drakeling?" A guard asked, his voice worried. "I know your party is rising to fame, but it’s still a dangerous creature. Don’t get yourself killed because you’re too hasty, Bill."

"Hahaha. If I accept this B-rank mission, doesn’t it mean I’m confident we’ll return in one piece? Don’t worry so much and be ready to clap for our triumphant return." Bill struck his tower shield with a light-hearted laugh before he waved his hand and turned to leave. "See you later, dear guard captain!"

Julius observed him as his troop passed him by without a second glance as if they weren’t worthy of their attention. But he felt the rich life force each of the six members emanated.

Even more surprising, their bladed weapons, bows, and knives suggested they weren’t mages or perhaps that they were more than the traditional ones from their province.

A memory came to mind as a pensive frown creased his brows. ’They feel like weaker versions of Vivian and resemble summoned with intrinsic abilities like Anya and Aurelius. It makes sense since they have many more magic paths than us.’

As he pondered, the voice of the guard captain cut through his thoughts with a chilling command.

"Prepare to announce their death to their families. Ah..." The guard sighed heavily. "When will our army return from the north? I’m tired of dealing with arrogant fools."

He snapped his face toward Julius’ group, clicking his tongue at their dirty faces. "Don’t bother if you don’t have your identification badges. Ah! That’s what happens when the kingdom conscripts too many people. Beggars and orphans try to sneak in every other day."

As Julius frowned, Arun whispered. "Let me handle this."

Rubbing his palms, he walked to the guard. "We’re not beggars, sir, just refugees seeking shelter. As you know, the conscription left our villages weakened." He shook his head, feigning a pained grimace. "We siblings escaped but lost our badges during the pursuit. But I’m sure we can somehow fix this mishap."

The guard scrunched his nose in disgust. In the past six months, he had seen thousands of people like him, all from wretched countryside villages left defenseless. Of course, he had chased them all out. The town was understaffed and faced its own challenges.

He could have considered their plight if they were mercenaries, though. Those blind youths became nice tools to protect their surroundings. Just a bit of attention and a few silver coins to maintain their equipment was all it took for these fools to risk their lives in their stead.

"Scram, boy. I won’t repeat..." His voice caught in his throat as Arun slid his left palm, revealing ten polished gold coins that reflected his face.

He took a deep breath, then snatched the money, his hand as swift as a striking serpent. "I heard magical beasts trampled the barony north a few weeks ago. I’m glad to see the baron’s children alive." He stepped aside, grinning with a knowing glance. "You’re allowed in. But remember to request a new identity badge at the town hall."

"Mhh." He frowned. "You might want to change your identities. Head to the mercenary guild instead. They’ll register you under new names after you pass the tests."

Arun bowed slightly. "Your cleverness honors you, sir. I’ll return with a gift after we settle."

The guard captain smirked as he watched the four kids step through the gate. "I’m impatient to see it, then."

One of his colleagues frowned once they were far enough and asked, "Does the kingdom have a barony north? I thought we only had the duchy protecting us from sea creatures and invasions."

"Tsk." The captain raised his fist, his voice commanding. "Drinks are on me after today’s shift, so not a word about them!" His eyes narrowed into slits. "Their robes and speech are too high quality for refugees. Only fools like you would fall for their deception."

The same guard scratched his helmet in confusion. "Why did you let them in if you knew?"

"Haaa?!" the captain snickered. "With so much money, they’re either from the thief or the assassin’s guild. The modus operandi checks out, too, and refusing their gold... has consequences. So, feel free to run your mouth if you want us to discover your stiff corpse the next morning."

The guards’ eyes widened as they erased the matter from their memories with an icy shudder, the same thought echoing in their minds: let’s enjoy the free booze and sleep in peace.

Meanwhile, Julius patted Arun’s shoulder, impressed by how quickly he had used the scant information they had picked up from the guard’s conversation. "Well done! Let’s clean ourselves before getting our identity badges."

"Hehehe. Gold is still the best after power. Learn to use it." Arun winked as they stepped toward a nearby well, eager to explore the town.

---

AN: For those who want to nitpick about different money: gold is gold. The country it comes from doesn’t matter since he can smelt it into ingots and sell it for local money.

Visit freewe𝑏(n)ovel.co(m) for the b𝘦st novel reading experience