Published at 10th of July 2026 6:51 am

Chapter 1834: The Rabbit Hole

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As Adam stepped through the door and entered the vestibule, an expansive common room opened up before him.

His gaze quickly landed on a brawny man standing behind the bar counter. The man was wiping a glass mug with a cloth while staring back at him.

He wore a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, revealing numerous scars running across his forearms. An unbuttoned vest coat hung over the shirt.

The man had a receding hairline, bushy eyebrows, and a glorious mustache that framed his face. Despite his age, his broad shoulders and muscular build made him look like a veteran warrior rather than an innkeeper.

"And some food," the man added, studying the scrawny youth from head to toe.

Adam gaped at the man for a few long moments.

That is one manly man!

He snapped out of his daze and reached out for the small leather pouch that he’d looted from Swale’s corpse. He didn’t have the time to check its contents. But now that he did, he couldn’t help but grimace.

"I, uh..." Adam awkwardly put away the pouch and smiled. "I’ll come back later."

He turned around and was about to leave, but the man’s voice made him pause.

"I’ll give you something to eat and drink if you share a good story," the man said, his lips curling into a faint smile. "You look like you have quite the story to tell."

"Deal!"

Adam quickly took a seat at the bar. He rested his elbows on the counter and leaned in. "Say, my good sir, are familiars allowed in your tavern?"

The man arched an eyebrow. He put away the clean glass mug under the counter, then picked up another one.

"Sure," he said casually, turning toward the door to see if a beast would enter.

"Can you feed him too?" Adam asked expectantly. "Actually, never mind! I’ll share my food with him."

The man’s brows creased a little.

"There’s plenty of food to go around," he said. "However..."

The following moment, his expression turned solemn and the air around him grew heavy. Suddenly, Adam had this feeling that he was standing before a mountain.

"You mustn’t lie," the man said evenly.

Adam subconsciously gulped.

"I wouldn’t dare," he replied with a quick nod.

The oppressive aura around the man vanished just as abruptly as it had appeared, making Adam wonder if he had imagined the whole thing.

"Very well," the man said with a smile. "Go get your familiar while breakfast is prepared."

"No worries. He’s here."

A gray light flashed.

The next moment, a skinny cat appeared out of nowhere and landed on the counter.

Valerian looked around with drooping eyes.

"Myu myu ma-myu..."

The moment the man saw Valerian, his eyes narrowed. He intently studied the cat, then said: "Looks like you two have had it quite rough."

Adam’s lips curled into a smile. "Yeah..."

He scooped up the little guy into his arms and then fondly stroked his head. "It’s time for a feast, Val."

Valerian’s topaz eyes gleamed with excitement. "Really?"

"Really."

"Myu~"

The cat started to lick Adam’s cheek with affection.

The man watched their interaction and smiled.

He turned toward the door behind the bar and called out in a loud voice, "Frankie! Two extra-large platters of breakfast and a pitcher of ale!"

Immediately, the clatter of utensils clanking and the whoosh of fire echoed beyond the door.

"Now then," the man said, turning back to Adam.

He pulled over a stool and sat down across from him. His lips curled into a smile as he leaned back and folded his arms.

"This is the part where you say, ’Once upon a time, in a land far, far away..." he said. "And then we see if your story is worth the breakfast."

Adam couldn’t help but gulp nervously.

Suddenly, he had this feeling that he was being interrogated.

He looked down at Valerian’s gaunt figure and then recalled the man’s warning about not lying. For some reason, he was convinced the man would know if he did.

And so, he took a deep breath and began his tale:

"My name is Adam Constantine, and I come from a world in the Outer Universe..."

An hour later, the Rabbit Hole had begun to bustle with activity.

Patrons steadily filled the common room. They consisted mostly of adventurers. But there were also merchants and travelers from faraway lands.

Here and there, people displayed weapons, armor, and other adventuring equipment for sale. That was strange.

It was still the wee hours of the morning, but the tavern was already buzzing with some activity. And most of these adventurers weren’t even drinking. Instead, they gathered around tables, checked their gear, studied maps, and discussed plans in hushed voices.

They seemed to be preparing for something.

So very strange.

"So the son of a farmer grows up to be the savior of his world," the man said with an impressed smile.

"You even led your people to victory in a war against the devils. Constantine, you’re a very interesting young man."

Adam finished the last of the ale from his glass. He was about to reply with some modest words, but what the man said next made him freeze.

"Is that why you’re marked with the Brand of Evil?"

Adam’s eyes widened.

He had concealed the mark with the Faceless Mask. So he was stunned to realize that the man had seen through it.

"You—"

Three figures in leather and chain armor arrived at the bar counter, surrounding Adam.

A female half-elf, a male half-orc, and a dwarf.

All three wore matching white-and-blue tabards bearing the same crest, marking them as members of the same organization.

The City Watch.

The half-elf leaned over and whispered into Adam’s ear, "Casting magic is illegal without the proper licensing permit, stranger."

In that moment, only one thought echoed in Adam’s mind:

Did this man trick me?

His eyes slowly drifted toward the burly innkeeper behind the bar counter.

The man merely smiled as he polished the glass mug, looking completely innocent.

Somehow, that made Adam even more suspicious.

"We need to see your license and registration, young man," said the half-orc as he leaned against the bar counter.

His gaze drifted to the sleeping Valerian sprawled across the bar.

"And I certainly hope you have a permit for your familiar," he added.

The dwarf nimbly climbed a barstool and suspiciously gazed at Adam. "Hmm, those clothes look awfully big for someone your size."

Every question struck Adam’s heart like a hammer.

The half-elf was amused. She turned to the innkeeper and asked casually:

"Hannibal, you know this fella?"

As the gears in Adam’s mind spun frantically in search of a way out of his current predicament, Hannibal’s answer made him freeze in place...

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