Zoldat was quite resilient-or rather, he really had a thick skin.
Even after Alice and Sylphy teamed up for several rounds of "friendly discussions" with him, his desire to take Cui Ciyou out to "broaden his horizons" remained undiminished.
He still refused to give up.
He would sidle over with a conspiratorial air and try inviting him to a brothel again, using flimsy excuses like "experiencing the local culture."
If many people in Cui Ciyou's previous life had had a good friend like this, one who kept trying despite repeated setbacks and cared so deeply about his buddy's "happiness,"
they would probably have been moved enough to call him their honored father.
Unfortunately, Cui Ciyou wanted no part of it.
Every time, he politely "showed" Zoldat the door before Alice and Sylphy's murderous intent could erupt in full.
Several months had passed since the trouble caused by the Snow Dragon Beast.
It had also been several months since they parted ways with Zoldat.
After another several months of long-distance travel, the group finally passed through Pippin, the Basherant Principality's third-largest city,
and officially entered the Ranoa Kingdom.
"The Ranoa Kingdom."
On horseback, Elinalise acted as their guide, introducing everyone to the land they were about to explore.
"Among the Three Great Magical Nations, this country is particularly advanced in magical education. Over the course of its history, it has produced outstanding magicians whose names became known throughout the world on numerous occasions."
She pointed toward the faint outline of a city on the horizon ahead.
"About a hundred years ago, the Ranoa Kingdom, as the leader of the alliance of the Three Great Magical Nations, spearheaded the establishment of a town to strengthen and stabilize relations between the three countries."
"That is our destination-the magical city of Sharia."
This