The banquet Dogli had prepared for his daughter persisted.
After having laid eyes upon the sheriff''s daughter, the guests took their seats to partake of the repast. Conversations on diverse topics ensued, and at such moments, those well - versed in various matters assumed the lead in the discussions.
This was because only such individuals could relate tales that piqued the interest of the majority.
Ahead was a police officer, approximately in his forties or fifties, whose experiences were truly remarkable.
He had not only journeyed through numerous countries but had also ventured into some scarcely - frequented locales.
He had pilfered in the land of giants, toiled in the domain of the subterranean dwarves, encountered pirates upon the sea, and had even been seized by a cult, finding himself in a perilous plight.
These rich experiences had instilled in him a greater penchant for expression than others, and listening to his anecdotes was indeed a delight.
One could glean much knowledge from his recitations, filling in many common - sense lacunae that Glen should have derived from the original owner''s memory.
Subsequently, Glen seized an opportune moment to assume control of the conversation and recounted some of his past mission experiences in an altered guise.
The others listened with equal raptness. Although not as extraordinary as the old police officer''s tales, Glen''s were equally captivating.
The various hair - raising scenes elicited exclamations of wonder from the audience.
Rather than adopting his own vantage point, Glen conjured up a fictional persona to bear witness to those past experiences. This rendered the narrative more plausible.
As the conversation neared its conclusion, the police officer who had initially opened the door for Glen proposed unwrapping the packaged gifts to satiate everyone''s curiosity.
This suggestion met with unanimous approval, and Glen concurred.
Dogli smiled resignedly. He was elected to be the one to open these "mystery boxes."
In fact, many were eager to discover what lay within the large box Glen had presented.
It was worth noting that the largest packaged gifts from others were merely of a size comparable to a human head, while Glen''s cubic wooden box was nearly waist - high for an adult.
Evidently, Dogli was cognizant of this as well, and thus he reserved Glen''s gift for last as a grand finale.
The preceding gifts consisted of baby garments or some currently fashionable dolls, nothing particularly extraordinary.
When it came to the final one, under the inquisitive gazes of all, Dogli opened the wooden box with a modicum of effort.
Inside was a peculiarly - shaped small cart, something none present had ever beheld.
However, after a moment of observation, some discerned the purpose of this small cart - it was a baby - walker.
This was a baby - walker Glen had painstakingly crafted himself, drawing upon his past - life recollections. Despite having been fashioned in merely one night, the craftsmanship was undeniably exquisite.
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Dogli quickly grasped the function of the small cart. So moved and touched was he that for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
Nonetheless, with a few well - chosen words, Glen enlivened the atmosphere of the banquet, promptly alleviating the sheriff''s complex emotions.
When the banquet drew to a close at night, as Mrs. Ryan was unable to leave her bed, only Dogli saw off each guest who had graced the occasion with their presence, presenting each with a basket of desserts that Mrs. Ryan had readied beforehand.
These were said to be unique to Mrs. Ryan''s family, and bestowing them was a tradition.
This evoked a sense of familiarity within Glen.
As the night deepened, the crescent moon hung gracefully in the sky.
Upon departing from the sheriff''s residence, Glen partook of the desserts in the basket while simultaneously searching for the aura of the dark mage.
The other party''s concealment techniques were masterful. Glen could only detect the faintest wisp of it in the air.
He was certain that the individual had not ventured far and must be within Dude Town or its environs.
Just as Glen was about to enhance his perception to pinpoint the other party''s location, the power distinctive to dark magic manifested itself spontaneously.
And the location where it emerged was, astonishingly, in the direction of his butcher shop.
Glen seemed to have formulated some conjecture. He promptly alighted from the deer - drawn carriage and sprinted towards the direction of his butcher shop.
...
A few minutes prior, within Glen''s butcher shop.
Gazing upon the woman who seemed like a nightmare, Luther''s eyes were suffused with dread and horror.
Recollecting how she had callously transformed his wife into magical components and transmuted his only son into a living dagger, an uncontrollable surge of wrath welled up within him.
However, he was acutely aware that he was far from capable of resisting the person before him.
She could crush him with a single digit.
He had been attending to customers moments ago. When he looked up and beheld this malevolent dark mage, he was nearly stricken with a heart attack.
"I''ve scoured far and wide. I thought you were lurking in some obscure place, yet here you are, conducting business. Did you presume I was dead?"
The woman laughed. Her rather delicate visage bore a tinge of morbidity.
"What do you intend? I caution you! This is Mr. Glen''s establishment! He will not countenance harm befalling his employees!"
Although Luther uttered these words, fear caused him to retreat a step.
"Luther, who is she? You seem dreadfully afraid of her," inquired Cagin, who had noticed Luther''s strange demeanor, turning his head.
At this juncture, there were still several customers in the store. The conversation between the two had been quite audible, so their gazes also shifted in that direction.
"Haha... Luther, it appears you''ve found a protector. But are you certain this Mr. Glen you speak of can contend with me? I am a formidable... fourth - level dark mage."
The woman''s words resounded like a thunderclap, sending shockwaves through the hearts of all present.
"Fourth - level!"
"Dark mage!?"
Those customers, heedless of all else, attempted to edge along the wall and flee.
However, with a mere casual glance from the woman, everyone was rendered completely immobile.
Despair pervaded the butcher shop.
"I distinctly recall you stating that you were but a third - level dark mage!?"
Luther roared in disbelief, his body quivering uncontrollably, including the dagger - like son within his sleeve.
"That was in the past. I was on the verge of successfully devising a high - level magic exclusive to me. And now that I''ve achieved it, my first order of business is to reclaim what is mine. Subsequently, I shall exact revenge upon all who have wronged me, especially that third - level knight who aided your escape. I shall surely subject him to torment. Oh, and that fellow from today, he shall not escape either! Hahaha..."
The female mage exuded a potent, ominous aura, and her emotions seemed to influence those in her vicinity.
Luther and the ordinary folk who had just attempted to flee all felt a powerful sense of anticipation for the impending retribution.
"You''ve finally arrived." A nonchalant voice suddenly sounded behind the female dark mage, halting her laughter.
She turned her head with a glacial expression and beheld the extraordinary individual who had compelled her to retreat earlier that day slowly entering the store.
"It''s you again." The corners of the female dark mage''s mouth suddenly downturned sharply, her visage as dark as a thundercloud.
"I was just pondering whether Luther''s foe would show up. Now I can heave a sigh of relief. If you were to vanish or perish haphazardly, I''d be thoroughly vexed."
Glen halted a few paces away from the female dark mage, a hint of relief evident in his eyes.