A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

"Love? It's love, isn't it?"

"Why would I need something like that?" Bray felt he was incapable of creating such a pattern.

"It's the kind of flower that grows in front of our door, and the birds too." With his plan completely exposed, Bray didn't bother to hide it anymore and told Naruko directly what he was going to do.

"Oh... um." But after hearing what Bray said, Naruko's face turned slightly red.

She...it seems she once casually mentioned that she particularly liked the flowers at the entrance and wanted to experience being surrounded by them.

The edge of the Imperial Capital Security Zone is an area severely affected by wind and sand erosion.

Just standing nearby, the wind would occasionally make it impossible to open your eyes.

Rector had been standing there since early morning, waiting for Bray's arrival.

"Tap tap." The sound of the sword sheath swaying slightly rang out.

A person walked by with a dejected gait.

Rector was overjoyed when he saw who it was from the sound.

“Hello, Mr. Bray.” Rector stood at the edge of the safe zone and extended his hand after seeing Bray walk by.

Bray glanced at Rector's outstretched right hand, paused for a second, and then extended his own right hand to shake hands with him.

It was just a polite gesture; Bray wasn't used to it.

Bray might never get used to this kind of movement, even when he dies of old age.

"You're here really early, much earlier than scheduled."

Bray wasn't late; it was just that Rector was way too early.

I don't know if it was because the other side was too impatient or too eager.

"Shall we set off now?" Rector asked impatiently.

Could a place with a collapsed ground really be so tempting to him?

Bray was also a little curious about what was so attractive about that collapsed area.

Of course, there's more to it than just "curiosity"; there's also a point of doubt.

How would the workers in Rector's safe zone know what's happening outside?

“If you want to leave now, then leave now,” Bray said casually, stretching his body.

For Bray, it doesn't matter when he sets off.

"Well then, let's go." After saying that, Rector hurriedly walked out of the safe zone.

The moment Rector stepped out of the safe zone, his heart was pounding.

"Knock knock knock." He had never been so nervous as he was at this moment.

The places he ventured out of were forbidden territory for ordinary people.

Despite knowing that there was an adventurer behind him who was rumored to frequently enter and leave the safe zone, Rector still couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

Before he even started walking, his legs felt a little weak.

"Are you alright? Do you need to catch your breath?" Bray knew that leaving the safe zone was a terrifying thing for many people who had experienced the apocalypse.

However, Rector's reaction was a bit over the top; he was even more timid than Bray had imagined.

“It’s alright, let’s keep going.” Rector shook his head and started walking with Bray’s help.

---

On the wasteland, directions became very blurry.

It would be difficult for a normal person to navigate this place using only their sense of direction.

So Rector made sure to bring a compass before setting off.

Rector seemed to know exactly which direction the "collapsed plot of land" he was referring to was.

Follow the compass without hesitation.

"By the way, are you really a very talented designer?" Bray asked Rector out of boredom on the way.

"Actually, I'm still not entirely sure what kind of design you want."

"Um, graphic design, or scene design?" Brelian himself wasn't sure which type of designer he wanted.

“If that’s the case, I should be able to help you,” Rickdo chuckled.

“I wasn’t actually a worker a few years ago; I was an interior designer,” he explained to Bray.

"But after that day, designers like us were useless. If we didn't become workers, we probably wouldn't even be able to afford food."

Many professions that were once considered prestigious have become meaningless in the wasteland.

Most people had to give up their previous skills and become workers or farmers.

Ultimately, it all comes down to making a living.

The safe zone has plenty of resources, but no matter what, it can never be "rich".

It may sound cruel, but those who are useless cannot survive here.

Those with families to support face even greater pressure.

"I see." Bray decided to believe it for the time being.

That way, I'll feel much more at ease if I ask him to design something for me later.

"Where exactly are we going now?"

"Didn't I say it was a collapsed plot of land?"

"This is what I heard from some scavengers in the safe zone. I heard that the collapse was very deep and that there was a place similar to a city inside."

“I was just thinking of going there to try my luck,” Rector said.

"Maybe I can find something good there, then I won't have to suffer so much."

Many people take risks for the same reason that Rector said: it's all about profit.

"Hmm," Bray responded indifferently, offering no further comment.

Bray helped him for similar reasons.

I just hope this guy isn't too greedy, otherwise it would be bad if he lost the designer he finally found.

"Don't worry, we can open what we find," Rick quickly added when he saw Bray's cold attitude.

“…” Bray rubbed his chin.

"Okay." Bray was originally going to refuse, but then he thought about it and realized that what the other party was offering was really too much.

We'll have to think about how much money Nia has for meals.

“That’s great. My safety is entirely in your hands, Mr. Bray.” Rickard had no intention of offending Bray.

In the wasteland, someone as powerless as myself would be utterly destroyed even if I encountered a monster.

After witnessing the speed with which Bray slays monsters on the way, Rector became even more certain that Bray could protect him.

“Mr. Bray, look, it must be just ahead.” Rector suddenly quickened his pace and pointed to a spot ahead.

There was a collapsed shed there, surrounded by some discarded magical tools.

As we approached the mine, it felt as if excavation had taken place there before.

However, everything was destroyed by the Silver Seed.

The mangled magical artifacts and the remaining small sections of the shed were enough to prove that this place had been ravaged.

"Is this the collapsed plot of land you mentioned?" Bray's right eye was full of doubt.

It's not entirely wrong to say it collapsed.

This place was once excavated, but due to the trampling of silver, everything was filled with sand and rocks.

Recent sudden ground movement has caused all the materials blocking the excavation site to break apart.

The ground collapsed, revealing a passage leading underground.

After walking for several hours, they finally arrived at their destination.

“It seems those scavengers really weren’t lying to me. This might be an underground city that someone dug before,” Rikdor said excitedly, not even hearing Bray’s question for a moment.

Seeing this, Bray could only sigh helplessly.

I don't know if it's because Rector can't act, or if he's just seen too many people like that.

Or perhaps, Rector really is just a simpleton trying hard to act. Bray didn't need to guess; he knew this worker wasn't just in it for the money.

It seems that the ** is going to be wasted.

And that is indeed the case; Rector did not risk his life to come outside the safe zone because he was greedy for wealth.

There was truth and falsehood in what he said to Bray.

Anyone who has spoken with him would surely be able to tell.

Rector was not a skilled liar.

The man in overalls hung the magic lamp on his waist and quickly found a rope ladder he could climb down.

This rope ladder was installed not long ago, as can be seen from its material.

"Has anyone already gone in?" Rector asked anxiously upon seeing the rope ladder.

“Of course, if others can tell you about this place, they will naturally tell others as well,” Bray said quietly, standing to the side.

Since intelligence can be sold, one should be prepared that more than one person will know about it.

"So, what exactly are you looking for here?" Bray's seemingly casual question sent a chill down Rector's spine.

Bray didn't intend to scare Rector, but Rector was just too timid.

His words made the other person freeze completely.

"I'm looking for things in the underground city that I can sell for money."

"Come on, you're not very good at lying." Bray shrugged.

"Actually, I don't really care what you're looking for; you just want me to be your bodyguard."

"But I still don't like being kept in the dark."

An ordinary person might know that Rector is hiding something, but would still follow him silently, waiting for the right opportunity.

As for the timing, it varies from person to person; it could be the time to seize something, or it could be some other time.

Probably not many people would be as straightforward as Bray in asking others for the truth.

Some might consider such an action reckless.

However, for Bray, this was a perfectly reasonable move.

They are not afraid of the other party going to their death, do not know how to read other people's expressions, and do not have any inexplicable concerns.

Bray, who doesn't follow the rules, is the one who does things that most people wouldn't choose; that's normal for him.

The main reason is actually because of Rekdo; he really poses no threat at all.

He can't match a demigod in terms of physical strength, he can't outwit a clown, and he doesn't have a large group behind him.

So Bray didn't know what he was being so hesitant about.

Perhaps many people are hesitant and timid because they follow their instinctive fear of the unknown.

“You mean…” Rector was sweating profusely, but looking at Bray’s lifeless right eye, he couldn’t help but swallow.

The word "something" was swallowed back down his throat.

“It’s some ancient technology,” Rector said curtly.

"I want to find a technology for underground cities. I don't want to be a worker in a safe zone for the rest of my life. I need that kind of technology."

“…” Bray just looked at Rector with an indifferent expression.

He never drew his sword, nor did he show any murderous intent.

"Nobody wants to be a worker for the rest of their life, right? Besides, I'm clearly from this social class. No matter what, I should be someone who has acquired knowledge."