Goblin Dependency
Chapter 49 - 49 37 Courtyard

49: Chapter 37 Courtyard 49: Chapter 37 Courtyard “This is it!”

Larry, his previously heavy breathing now even, exclaimed excitedly.

The team had ventured deeper into the forest at this moment.

As the buildings in the roadside bushes became denser, they finally reached their destination.

“Is this where the adventurer discovered the wooden sign?”

The half-elf Hai’an, holding a Longbow, carefully surveyed the surroundings with silver-gray eyes, his face full of curiosity.

This was a sprawling courtyard.

Unlike the ruins previously encountered on the road, the courtyard was largely intact, with most of the architectural structures well-preserved.

This allowed Xia Nan to compare it with knowledge from his past life while carefully observing everything about this architecture.

The overall structure was symmetrical along the central axis where the courtyard gate was located, with neatly arranged buildings on both sides, orderly and aesthetically pleasing;

The classic black tiles and white walls, the roof corners as nimble and light as flying birds, the beams and columns painted with black lacquer, adorned with exquisite cloud patterns; the doors and windows mostly adopted intricate openwork designs, but the original window paper was worn out, with only a few scraps remaining at the corners.

“It’s exactly the same.”

Xia Nan whispered to himself in his heart.

At the same time, while scanning the courtyard, he seemed to sense something unusual and paused.

In his impression, the residences of ancient dignitaries often had ponds or lakes, large or small.

Whenever someone walked by, the koi fish in the pond would swim up to beg for food.

Such was the case for this courtyard as well.

A double-faced arched bridge, winding corridors, and even a classical stone pavilion extending straight to the heart of the lake.

Everything seemed normal.

That is, if you could ignore the lush shrubs and long grass beneath those pavilions and corridors.

Not to mention lakes or pools, there wasn’t even a single small pond in the entire courtyard!

Clearly built just a few months ago, there were no traces of water beneath those arched bridges or lake pavilions.

As if they were originally built on a meadow.

Seeing this strange scene, Xia Nan became more convinced of his previous thought—

These buildings definitely don’t belong to this world!

“Huh?”

He heard Larry’s voice of doubt by his ear.

Looking over, he saw the other standing in front of a rockery, his round face filled with surprise.

Following his line of sight, Xia Nan couldn’t help but show a peculiar expression.

“Is it clipping?”

On the upper left side of the rockery, the rugged white stones bizarrely fused with the branches of a nearby oak tree.

The gray rough stones interwoven with emerald green leaves, assembled and intertwined, contrasting yet perfectly blended, as if they were meant to be.

Like the bugs in those poorly made games from his previous life where models collided.

However, now placed in the real world, it seemed even more natural.

As if something from another world was forcibly inserted into this space, creating strange wonders.

Meanwhile, the half-elf and Wood on the other side didn’t pay attention to these.

They were making a final confirmation regarding the mission objective.

“Young master…”

Withdrawing his gaze that had repeatedly compared decorations on the buildings countless times.

Wood slowly shook his head at the half-elf beside him.

“Confirmed, not the style of the Matriarch Tribe.”

Although elves, influenced by their living environment, subspecies, and habits, each had styles unique to each clan.

But one thing was commonly shared universally:

Integration with nature.

Be it green thorns or phosphorescent mushrooms, elven architecture often blended seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

The houses before them, though making masterful use of various wood and brick materials,

Fundamentally differed from the style of the elves.

Upon hearing this, Hai’an’s expression showed a trace of disappointment.

But that was all.

He was already prepared for this.

The half-elf, upon verifying with Wood, seemed to let go of a burden in his heart, breathing a sigh of relief.

He then called Xia Nan, Larry, and the others over, speaking earnestly:

“Mission concluded.”

“I’ve got the result.”

“After so many days in the forest, if there’s no objection, we can return now.”

Larry and Doris, who grew up in the town, might not be pampered, but they hadn’t experienced much hardship either.

After so many days in Mist Forest, meeting adventurers and magic beasts, they were already satisfied.

So, there was no reason to oppose Hai’an’s proposal to return.

Xia Nan, however, didn’t respond immediately, looking somewhat hesitant.

He joined Hai’an’s team not only for the reward but mainly to uncover the origin of the wooden sign in the half-elf’s hand.

With their deepening journey, familiar structures frequently appeared, and the truth seemed within reach.

To return now…

Noticing Xia Nan’s hesitation, Hai’an mistakenly thought it was due to compensation concerns, and quickly added:

“Don’t worry, although the task result wasn’t as expected, your 100 gold won’t be less.”

As soon as he finished, Larry enthusiastically thumped his chest:

“I’ll cover the pay!”

“Without you, I might’ve been dead in the mouths of those Rusted Monsters last night.”

“100 gold is nothing, I’d gladly give 500!”

As it involved Xia Nan’s biggest secret “transmigration,” he refrained from explaining further.

He glanced towards the deeper forest beyond the courtyard.

Thinking internally:

Though they were still on the outskirts of Mist Forest, they were nearing the boundary.

Going further, even with professionals in the team, safety cannot be guaranteed.

And given the pattern of building appearances along the way, determining the wooden sign’s origin required venturing deeper into Mist Forest.

Given his current strength, it was too risky.

“Maybe, visit again later?”

The thought passed quickly.

Facing the enthusiasm of the others, Xia Nan no longer hesitated, nodding at Hai’an, Larry, and the rest in agreement to head back.

Like tourists visiting scenic spots in his previous life, regardless of their interest in the attractions, they’d often buy local souvenirs as testament to having been there.

At the very least, take a few photos.

After the possible once-in-a-lifetime “Mist Forest Journey,” Larry and Doris didn’t plan to return empty-handed.

With their return decided, they instinctively searched the area for portable mementos.

“Wow!

This stone statue is really well-crafted, even finer than the craftsmen in town!”

Larry gleefully picked up a statue of a venomous snake from an unknown corner.

As thick as an arm, each scale meticulously carved, the snake’s body coiled, fangs slightly exposed, poised to strike.

Lifelike.

However, Xia Nan frowned.

The stone statue before him didn’t seem to fit the Eastern Civilization style he remembered.

“Hey!

Come over, everyone!”

“Here’s a Rusted Monster statue!

Exactly like the ones we encountered yesterday!”

Hearing this, something seemed to click.

Originally standing behind Hai’an, Wood’s expression suddenly darkened.

In a blink, he was shielding the half-elf behind him.

Roaring:

“Alert!!!”