Unholy Player-Chapter 64: Long live Lady Vesha!

As Adyr wandered the streets in search of the inn, he noticed something strange. Despite the damage to the outer walls, none of the buildings inside the city bore any signs of destruction. In fact, most of the people he saw, while carrying a faint sense of gloom, appeared to be going about their lives without major disruption.

That brought his thoughts to the practitioners tasked with defending the city.

According to Vesha, only four remained after the last attack by the Spark. One was at Rank 4, two at Rank 3, and the last at Rank 2. She had spoken with particular excitement about the Rank 4 practitioner, describing in detail how she had shielded the entire city and how, thanks to her power, not a single civilian in the capital had been harmed so far.

Strong enough to protect the people, but not strong enough to defeat the Spark. That was the conclusion Adyr drew.

The fact that only four out of so many practitioners had survived in years, with the rest killed by a single Spark, made the imbalance of power painfully clear.

Not too long after, Adyr finally found the inn, situated along a busy street. It was a four-story building made of well-maintained timber, its structure reminiscent of old western architecture. Despite the traditional design, it looked refined and expensive.

As he stepped through the open door, the noise inside washed over him. One side of the inn was filled with people eating, drinking, and chatting at scattered tables and chairs. On the other side was a bar that also served as a reception counter.

The moment Adyr entered, every gaze in the room shifted to him. His height alone made him an uncommon sight. He ignored the stares and walked calmly toward the man behind the counter—a bald, lean-skinned figure polishing a glass.

Adyr looked down at the man, standing just a few centimeters taller than Vesha. "I want a room. I’ll pay upfront for seven nights."

The man gave him a sideways glance, then took note of the strange black uniform he wore. His tone remained neutral as he replied, "You must be new around here."

"Yes," Adyr answered, waiting patiently to see where this was going.

"Seven days is too long," the man said flatly. "My advice? Stay for two and leave the city." He inspected the glass in his hand a little longer, as if making sure it was spotless, then set it down and picked up another.

"Why?" Adyr asked, noting the man’s detached attitude.

This time, the man looked up and met his eyes with a more serious expression. "Because in a few days, the city’s going to be under attack. This place may not be safe. Stay two nights and don’t risk your life for nothing."

Adyr knew exactly what the man was referring to. The Spark that attacked every six months was due to strike again in just a few days. What caught his attention wasn’t the warning itself, but the man’s attitude. He spoke of it as if it were nothing unusual, just another routine threat, offering a simple caution to a guest.

"Still, I’ll pay for seven nights. If I have to leave early, you can keep the rest," Adyr said, placing a gold coin on the counter.

The man looked at the coin, sighed, and took it. "Looks like you’re someone with money. Don’t come asking for it back later," he said, handing over twenty-three silver coins as change.

One hundred silver equaled one gold, which meant the man had taken seventy-seven silver for the full stay. A fair amount for the best inn in the capital.

"I also want your best meat dish and strongest drink. You can keep the change," Adyr added, pushing the coins back toward him before turning away and finding an empty table to sit at.

While sitting at an empty table, Adyr could still feel the weight of the stares. No one even tried to hide it.

One of them, lifting his mug with a booming laugh, called out to him. "Hey, guest! Welcome to our Velari Kingdom. You’re the tallest man I’ve ever seen."

There was no malice in the man’s voice, no hidden intent. He sounded like someone genuinely looking to make a friend.

"The village I come from is known for its tall men," Adyr replied with a chuckle, playing along without disturbing the mood.

That lighthearted exchange quickly spread. The nearby tables joined in, and soon, everyone was trying to talk to him, ask questions, or simply share a drink.

Most of them looked like they had already had their fair share of alcohol, but despite that, their behavior was unusually warm and welcoming. Still, Adyr wasn’t surprised. After observing both Vesha and the villagers earlier, he had already come to understand.

The Velari race was generally kind-hearted and warm. Guided by the Astra Path and their faith in the god Astrael, their culture leaned toward compassion and goodness. It made sense now, seeing it in practice.

If anything, it was the men who came across as overly friendly, sometimes a bit too talkative. The women, on the other hand, kept more distance, watching him with reserved curiosity. But Adyr didn’t mind. He blended in easily and matched their pace without effort.

While he continued chatting and blending in with the crowd, the door of the inn suddenly burst open with a loud thud, and a man rushed in, shouting, "Good news, good news! Lady Vesha has returned safe and sound!"

The entire inn erupted into cheers. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted into celebration.

So she really is someone beloved by the people, Adyr thought, joining the chorus and shouting along with the crowd, adding his voice to the chants of "Long live Lady Vesha!"

"Did she manage to uncover the mystery behind the missing villagers and the skeleton sightings at night?" The bartender asked excitedly, stepping out from behind the counter to join the gathering.

The question brought a sudden silence over the room. The messenger’s expression dimmed, and he responded with hesitation, "I don’t think so. She returned without her guards, and she was even driving the carriage herself. Most likely..."

He trailed off, unwilling to finish the sentence.

But after a pause, his brow furrowed with curiosity. "Though according to the gate guards, she wasn’t alone. They said a tall stranger entered the city with her. No one knows who he is."

As he finished, his gaze shifted across the room, landing directly on the tall figure not far from him. Slowly, others turned to look, and before long, every eye in the inn was once again fixed on Adyr.

Realizing his anonymity had likely come to an end, Adyr burst into laughter, raised his mug high, and shouted,

"Long live Lady Vesha!"