The Bookkeeper
Chapter 86: Advent of the Pages 3

Chapter 86: Advent of the Pages 3

Raiden and the others were fully prepared to leave the house, Ash perched on his shoulder, when Noelle and MK decided to join them.

"Funny, I could’ve sworn you weren’t tagging along," Raiden said with a sarcastic edge.

"Forgive my lady’s impudence yesterday," MK said, his expression regretful. "We would be honored to serve you on this journey, bookkeeper."

Raiden smirked. These were the words he had been waiting for since their arrival.

"Well, we must walk through hell, though..." Raiden said, leading his comrades out of the house. Without a moment’s hesitation, Noelle and MK followed.

Leo and Soul remained at the entrance of the house, watching as the group slowly disappeared into the forest.

Finally having a clear goal to get back home should have been thrilling for Raiden, but it wasn’t. He was happy, sure, but not in the way he wanted to be.

He was mostly filled with confusion and frustration. If things were as he believed, then he wouldn’t need Ash’s power as much anymore—meaning he couldn’t afford to dwell on her. What worried him most were the twenty-eight pages and where they might take them.

The goal was simple enough—get the pages first, prevent a worldwide catastrophe, and go back to his world. But why would someone who supposedly got him into this mess help him? Was everything a trap?

Despite his mind racing with unanswerable questions, he forced himself to act casual, hands tucked in his pockets. Speed mirrored his posture as they walked, while Levi and Freya chatted up ahead and Aeris, Noelle, and MK trailed behind.

With Freya and Levi’s help, they made it out of the forest in under an hour. They encountered some goblins and slimes along the way, but the monsters didn’t pose much threat—they were too afraid to attack.

But when they emerged from the forest, the scene made Raiden’s eyes sparkle. Everything seemed peaceful and serene.

Two young men were in a small wooden rowboat, gently drifting across a clear, turquoise sea. The water was so transparent that colorful fish and patches of coral were easily visible below the surface.

The coastline they approached was dotted with white sandy beaches and tall palm trees casting shade. Rocky formations and lush green islets peppered the distance.

It seemed like the perfect place for a summer vacation on a remote tropical island. It was dreamlike.

"This is Coast City, huh?" he muttered with a smile, eyes darting around.

They began heading to their left, following the same direction as the men on the boat.

As they walked, Raiden couldn’t help but think about how much he would have enjoyed this coast if he’d known about its serenity. It would have been the perfect escape from all the confusion and chaos. But now it was too late. Maybe another time.

It didn’t take long to reach the main city.

Even from afar, Raiden could see it was bursting with life and architectural charm—a stunning Mediterranean-style cliffside town overlooking the sparkling blue sea.

The buildings were stacked organically up the rocky terrain, their red-tiled roofs and pastel walls catching the sunlight. Narrow stone pathways and stairways wound between them, creating a cozy labyrinthine maze.

Boats bobbed gently in the harbor below, the water shimmering as it kissed the cliff base.

Dense greenery surrounded the entire town, blending nature with human habitation beautifully.

Compared to Persia City, this was just a village, but its cozy environment was something Raiden would have loved. The closer they got to the city, the busier the sea became—clearly, most of the citizens were fishermen.

Both Raiden and Speed wore soft smiles as they walked into the city’s main alley.

"This is your first time, huh?" Speed spoke for the first time since leaving their estate.

"Yes... I bet you’ve been here many times."

"Not really, I think twice at most."

Raiden nodded softly in understanding.

The streets weren’t as busy as Persia City’s, and the people seemed more approachable and happier. Merchants had set up mini shops along the streets, selling everything from fish and vegetables to other essential goods, while offering services ranging from tutoring and fortune telling to strip dancing.

Raiden’s eyes darted from side to side, taking in the new beauty. However, it didn’t take long before his danger detection activated, ringing loudly and prompting him to turn back instantly. A thief was trying to steal Ash off his shoulder.

Before Raiden could even react, Noelle struck the thief in the neck from behind, sending him crashing to the ground.

"You owe me," she said, aether resting casually in her mouth.

Raiden was confused since he hadn’t even asked for help. Nevertheless, he sighed and patted Ash on the head.

"Oh, I forgot to mention... the city may be beautiful, but it’s filled with bandits and thieves." Levi gave a slight shrug before smirking and winking. "But don’t worry, you are with the Shadow of Noor after all."

Raiden and Noelle stared at Levi with nearly identical sneers, disgusted by his cocky personality.

Just then, a carriage came by. Levi hailed it and gestured for them to enter. Raiden remained motionless for a moment alongside Noelle and MK, who were waiting for him to board first.

But the carriage seemed too small for their needs. There were seven people, and judging by the size of the black carriage, it could only accommodate about four.

As he stood there, Aeris approached him. "I think it can take all of us." Raiden turned to her with a confused expression. He wasn’t going to cram himself in there with everyone... the sweats.

"They usually take about eight, but I can get another carriage if you prefer."

Raiden watched as Speed, Levi, and Freya climbed in with ease.

"I don’t see many other carriages around. How long would it take to find another one?"

"I can’t tell—probably a few hours," Aeris responded.

Raiden studied her, wondering if she was looking for another excuse to run away.

"No, let’s take it."

Raiden gestured for her to take her seat. When she did, he walked over and peered into the carriage. There really was enough space, just like Aeris had said. This made him wonder if he’d become a spoiled brat from all the royal treatment.

With a sigh, he took his seat beside Speed and Aeris by the window—three on one bench. MK and Noelle sat with Levi and Freya on the other side, four on that bench, with Noelle positioned directly across from Raiden.

The carriage began rolling toward the western side immediately, but the frustration on Noelle’s face made it clear how uncomfortable she was.

"How long will this take?" she asked in Persian.

But no one responded—in fact, none of them acknowledged her words, which made Raiden giggle.

"How long until we get to Kingston City?" Raiden asked.

"Four hours or less," Speed replied. Noelle’s face began twitching with irritation, which only made Raiden happier.

The carriage rolled silently for almost an hour as they exited the city completely and entered the forest. However, Raiden began sensing something that made his eyes dart around repeatedly. There was danger approaching.