He glanced downward. The footprints and fallen leaves on the ground showed quite fresh traces of treading.
Alya nodded in understanding.
Although they had encountered other adventurers a few times yesterday and everyone had kept to themselves, it was still best to remain extra vigilant when running into others without knowing the exact situation.
After all, one must guard against others.
Both of them slightly slowed their pace.
Sure enough, they had not gone far ahead.
The sound of human voices came from a distance, and Gauss even vaguely caught a trace of a familiar scent.
Following the sound, they sneaked closer, hiding behind a building to peek out.
The source of the voice was in front of a three-story ruin where two groups of people were confronting each other.
To be precise, it was four humans and one half-snake person.
Seeing the figure of the half-snake person clearly, Gauss instantly understood the source of that familiar scent.
That half-snake person was none other than the one the two of them had encountered at the inn the day before yesterday.
However, unlike back then, he was now wearing somewhat worn protective Soft Armor and holding a wooden staff in his hand, making him look more like an adventurer.
"Hand over that Magic Bracelet!" the burly human leader demanded sternly. "Our people found it first."
"Hss--?" The male half-snake person unhurriedly split his mouth into an unsettling smile. "I must decline. This was picked up by yours truly, while your companion is a latecomer."
"Don't listen to his sophistry!"
"This monster is just an Earth Priest. If he's unwilling to hand it over, don't blame us for taking it back ourselves."
Gauss and Alya, hiding behind the building, exchanged glances.
They had not expected such a coincidence as running into a