"Brother, what is that?" Charlotte asked fearfully.
"It'll be alright, don't worry," Alistair said, but he couldn't quite mask the frown on his face. He then stood up straight and addressed the people in the cafeteria. "Everyone, remain calm. I suggest you remain in the inn. However, if you wish to head ho, then please do not push. Exit in a slow, orderly manner."
"Those who wish to leave, please follow my directions." Barrett made his way to the door and slowly coordinated the crowd, preventing the panic before it began.
"lina, could you, please, take my little sister back to my house?" Alistair said, although two knights were already standing firm by the girl's side.
"Of course. I'll make sure she gets back safe," lina said, and Charlotte instantly attached herself to her.
"Thank you! I'll be going to deal with the problem then," Alistair said and turned to leave.
lina could feel Charlotte trying to reach for her brother, but she kept the girl close. "It's alright. It's what he does."
Although she said that to calm Charlotte, lina herself felt nervous as she watched Alistair disappear among the crowd. Whatever had caused those tremors must be very large. Perhaps, another cragjaw drake. While they were usually solitary monsters, mothers would usually remain with their children until they were strong enough to fend for themselves.
No, that is unlikely. The cragjaw I saw through Sienna was most definitely an adult, not a youngling. It must be sothing else.
"Will Alistair be okay?" Charlotte asked tearfully as they slowly made their way to the exit. People were pushing, and only Barrett's strong voice and the presence of Charlotte's knights kept the crowd in check. A few more adventurers had joined in to guide the people while Erina took charge of those who decided to remain, taking them to their rooms.
Another tremor shook the inn, making everyone wobble around and nearly lose their footing. So plates and bottles fell and shattered to the ground while Charlotte desperately clutched onto lina.
"We must keep going, Young Lady!" One of the knights urged as the crowd grew more panicked.
"Keep calm! Don't push! We are safe! The adventurers will deal with the threat!" lina yelled over the crowd to keep them from panicking.
"That's right! Sunglow walls have not been breached! You are all safe!" Barrett added. "Please, do not push!"
Everyone cald down slightly, at least enough not to push each other. lina continued guiding Charlotte towards the exit, taking slow steps while the knights kept most of the crowd away from them. Soon enough, they exited the inn.
The streets were in a similar half-panicked state. lina could instantly tell which people were the locals and which were tourists. The locals remained calm if a bit anxious, moving slowly and guiding the crowd where necessary. The tourists looked like they were about to go into full panicked frenzy, their eyes shooting from side to side nervously to search for the danger.
The town guard took command of the streets, guiding people inside or further away from the walls—to the beach. anwhile, adventurers were running towards the wall, so already ard to the teeth.
"We're heading to Alistair's house," lina said, taking Charlotte's hand and guiding her through the crowd. Tremors would repeat every few minutes, sotis stronger, sotis weaker. Judging from their intensity, the monster was moving around, but not exactly towards the town. lina guessed that sobody was already keeping it occupied.
With a beast that large, it must be Elowen. I doubt anybody else would be able to do that on their own. Or perhaps the Guildmaster has already organized a group.
Soon they had reached their destination, Charlotte shaking like a leaf. Each tremor seed to scare the girl more and more.
"Charlotte, you're safe!" The Duchess outstretched her arms the mont she saw her daughter. The girl instantly ran to her mother, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Thank the System," The Duke let out a sigh of relief, then began looking around. "Where is Alistair?"
"He went to face the monster," lina said.
The Duke frowned. "Sothing like this is far beyond his ability. Kerrein, assemble the knights and send them to the town's defense. I don't want to see a single monster near the town wall!"
"At once!" One of the knights saluted and rushed away with about a dozen knights following him. A dozen more remained with the Duchess and Charlotte. Much to lina's surprise, the Duke snapped his fingers, and a few monts later, the butler appeared with a sword in hand.
lina barely noticed the old man–that's how quickly he had appeared. She wondered whether he perhaps had a System too, with so stealth class equipped.
"Thank you for getting my daughter here safely," the Duke said, grabbing the sword. "You're free to remain here for the ti being."
"Thank you for your generous offer, but I must go and check on my Master," lina bowed politely and then ran off towards the bakery. With the corner of her eye, she saw the Duke run off in the opposite direction.
The Duke must be a System user himself, most likely with
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