Overlord: Welcome the Birth of the King-Chapter 69 - 70: Travel Permit? Trouble in E-Rantel?

The next morning.

With the village chief and Latimon seeing him off, Lyle left Carne Village.

At that moment, Latimon finally felt a sense of relief.

From the very first glance, his instincts had screamed that Lyle was a dangerous man. And the fact that he had managed to tame a Barghest — a creature of terrifying reputation — was even more unsettling.

Especially...

Latimon swallowed nervously.

That small Barghest, which seemed to behave affectionately around Lyle, was clearly masking its fear. The signs were subtle, but unmistakable to a trained eye like his.

Latimon glanced sideways at the village chief, who seemed utterly unconcerned. It was clear the chief had dismissed his warnings.

"Ah," Latimon sighed.

Fortunately, the man didn't seem to harbor any ill intent toward the village.

Once he was far from the village, Lyle loosened his restraint on speed. With a sharp push, he accelerated, the wind rushing past him. He grabbed the small Barghest by its scruff, holding it effortlessly with one arm. The creature wriggled, letting out a displeased growl.

"Quiet," Lyle murmured. "You're not the one running."

Despite its protests, the hound ultimately gave in, its tail curling in submission.

The journey was unnervingly quiet. The forest, usually teeming with goblins and wandering monsters, was eerily empty. Only a few scattered woodland animals crossed his path.

Lyle frowned. He had known his extermination efforts would impact the region, but the extent was surprising. Even for a month-long campaign, the absence of monsters seemed unnatural.

"The Adventurer's Guild must be wondering what happened," Lyle thought. "No sightings, no reports... They'll be grasping at straws by now."

The guild had likely sent investigation teams, but judging from the lack of activity, they'd found nothing substantial. Lyle could only hope his actions hadn't left too obvious a mark.

Two hours passed before the colossal walls of E-Rantel came into view.

The city stood tall and imposing, its three-layered walls casting long shadows beneath the morning sun. Built not just for defense, but as a symbol of strength, the fortress city radiated an air of invincibility. Even seasoned warriors could feel their resolve waver when standing before it.

Lyle, however, remained unfazed.

Compared to the wonders of ancient ruins and the terrifying presence of true monsters, E-Rantel's walls were merely stone.

He approached the entrance gate, where a military checkpoint had been established. Soldiers in polished armor leaned against the stone barricades, their spears resting idly at their sides. Although vigilant in appearance, the relaxed chatter among them betrayed their lowered guard.

"Morning shifts are always slow," one soldier grumbled. "Hardly anyone passes through this early."

"Can't complain," his companion chuckled. "Better this than getting sent to the borders."

However, their conversation abruptly halted as one soldier caught sight of Lyle.

"Hey, someone's coming," the first soldier said, straightening up.

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The other turned with a groggy yawn. "So early? Who even—"

His eyes locked onto Lyle, and all traces of fatigue vanished. The sight of the black-haired man, walking with deliberate purpose, was enough to stiffen their postures.

Lyle's steps were calm and steady, but the air around him carried an inexplicable weight. The soldiers shifted uncomfortably.

Behind him, the Barghest padded along, its curiosity evident as it sniffed the air. Despite its small size, the soldiers' instincts screamed at them — it was no ordinary beast.

"An adventurer?" one of the guards muttered.

"No," the other responded, shaking his head. "No badge. No armor. But that presence..."

As Lyle approached, he pulled a few copper coins from his pocket, offering the standard entrance fee. But instead of taking the payment, the guard hesitated.

"Sir," the guard began, his voice cautious, "are you an adventurer?"

Lyle's expression remained unreadable. "No."

The guard visibly tensed at the response. After a brief moment of uncertainty, he spoke again.

"In that case, may I see your travel permit?"

Lyle's brow furrowed. A travel permit?

He recalled the explanation he had heard from the Rock Team. Cities like E-Rantel required non-residents to pay a small walking tax upon entry. Residents of neighboring villages could avoid this fee using a travel permit issued by local lords.

But Lyle possessed no such document.

"Strange," he thought. "A month ago, they never asked for one."

Had something changed?

"I don't have a permit," Lyle replied.

The guard exchanged an uneasy glance with his companion. He had clearly anticipated this answer.

"My apologies, sir. In that case, we will need to conduct a brief inspection of your belongings. Our magic caster will ensure there's no... contraband."

Lyle said nothing at first, studying the guard's body language. It was clear that the request wasn't entirely routine. There was tension beneath the surface — the soldiers weren't merely following standard protocol.

"Something's happened in E-Rantel," Lyle concluded.

But before he could respond, another voice interrupted.

"Wait a minute."

A third guard approached, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Lyle's face. After a moment of careful examination, his expression shifted to recognition.

"You're the one who came with Lady Bareare last month, aren't you?"

Lyle's gaze remained steady. He had accompanied grandmother, Lizzie Bareare, a renowned apothecary, into the city during his previous visit. He had expected her reputation to precede her, but the weight her name carried seemed even more substantial than he thought.

"Lady Bareare... You mean Lizzie Bareare?" The original guard's tone was a mixture of awe and uncertainty.

"Yes," Lyle replied with a nod.

The guards visibly relaxed, though the lingering unease remained. The reputation of E-Rantel's finest alchemist was enough to make them second-guess their orders.

"Apologies, sir," the first guard said, bowing slightly. "We're only following orders. Tensions have been high recently, though we haven't been given many details."

Lyle narrowed his eyes. "Something happened?"

"We don't know for sure," the guard answered reluctantly. "But there's been increased scrutiny at the gates. Rumors of... incidents within the city."

"I see."

Lyle offered the copper coins once more. This time, the guard accepted them swiftly.

"Thank you for your cooperation, sir. Please enjoy your stay in E-Rantel."