They Called Me Trash? Now I'll Hack Their World-Chapter 170: Town

We walked slowly after that, every step deliberate, careful.

My debug vision stayed active almost constantly, scanning for any sign of pursuit.

There is nothing.

I exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving my shoulders.

Maybe we actually lost them.

Time passed. The sun began its descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and gold through the canopy breaks.

Tessa had started limping about an hour ago.

At first she’d tried to hide it by keeping pace, not complaining, but eventually she’d reached over and caught my arm, leaning her weight against me for support.

I gave her a look.

She looked away, her cheeks turning red.

"Geez," she muttered.

"Can’t even lend a lady your hand?"

"You have my whole arm," I pointed out.

She squeezed said arm tighter, pressing against my side.

"Exactly. Because I’m hurt and exhausted and you’re my fiancé, so you should want to help me." Her tone was defensive but with that underlying amusement.

"This is what supportive husbands do, you know."

"We’re not—"

"Not yet," she interrupted cheerfully. "But Grandfather already started planning, so it’s basically inevitable."

I opened my mouth to argue.

Then decided it wasn’t worth it.

And just kept walking with her attached to my arm like a particularly stubborn barnacle.

Ahead of us, Scarlet suddenly stopped.

Then exhaled with audible relief and pointed forward.

"Finally!"

We stopped and followed her gesture.

Through the trees, maybe half a mile ahead, I could see...

High stone walls, maybe twenty feet tall, well-maintained, with watchtowers visible at intervals.

I activated my debug vision and focused on the structure, pulling up information.

name: "Thornhaven"

classification: BORDER_TOWN

population: ~2,400

Thornhaven. A border town that straddled the territory between proper civilization and the wilderness beyond.

"Let’s go," I said, adjusting my grip to better support Tessa’s weight. "We can rest there. Get proper food. Maybe actual beds."

"Beds sound amazing," Tessa said dreamily. "And maybe a bath—"

"Don’t get your hopes up too high," Scarlet muttered, but she was already moving toward the town with visible eagerness.

We made our way through the remaining forest until we reached the main road leading to Thornhaven’s gates.

The road itself was well-traveled, packed dirt with wagon ruts worn deep from years of merchant traffic. Wildflowers grew along the edges where the forest met civilization, their petals already closing as evening approached.

A small line of people waited to enter, maybe a dozen total. Merchants with wagons, a few travelers on foot, what looked like an adventuring party with their weapons visible.

We joined the line.

And waited.

The air smelled different here. Smoke from cooking fires, leather, horses, the faint sourness of too many bodies in close quarters.

I could hear voices from beyond the walls. Shouting. Laughter. The clang of a hammer on metal from what was probably a smithy.

The guards at the gate were checking everyone methodically, looking at faces, asking brief questions, collecting tolls.

When our turn came, one of the guards looked us over with practiced assessment.

His eyes lingered on Oathstorm at my hip for a moment, then moved to Scarlet’s concealed knife, then to Tessa’s obvious exhaustion.

"Entry toll is one silver per person for new visitors," he said flatly. "You cause trouble, you get thrown out. We clear?"

One silver per person. Three silver total.

Before I could reach for my coin purse, Tessa suddenly perked up.

"Wait!"

She held up her left hand, specifically displaying a ring on her ring finger, the dark metal and faintly glowing blue stone catching the late afternoon light.

"We’re married," she announced with complete confidence. "Aren’t there reduced fees for couples?"

The guards looked at each other.

Then, the scarred one raised an eyebrow.

"Any proof? Ring could be anything. You both could be siblings for all we know."

But Tessa didn’t hesitate.

She turned, grabbed my face with both hands, and kissed me.

Full on the mouth.

"Mnn~"

My brain stopped working, entire body went rigid with shock.

Her lips were soft and warm and she tasted faintly of the stream water we’d drunk earlier and—

What is happening.

Why is this happening.

Why am I not stopping this from happening.

She pulled back after what felt like both an eternity and no time at all, a faint blush on her cheeks but her expression triumphant.

The guards were both staring, one with his mouth slightly open.

Behind us in line, someone made an interested sound.

Someone else whistled low and appreciative.

And I heard a woman’s voice mutter something about "young love" with amusement.

Scarlet was gaping at us with an expression of pure disbelief.

Her mouth hung open, eyes were wide. She looked like someone had just told her the sky was actually green and provided irrefutable proof.

Tessa turned back to the guards with a bright smile.

"Satisfied?"

The scarred guard blinked. His companion elbowed him.

"Right. Uh." He cleared his throat. "One silver for the married couple. Additional person is still one silver."

Tessa pulled out coins from somewhere in her cloak.

Had she been carrying money this whole time?

And handed over two silver. Taking the passing token from the guard.

Then she grabbed my arm possessively and tugged me toward the gate.

"Let’s get inside, husband~" Her voice carried just enough emphasis to make it very clear she was enjoying this.

"Let’s hurry and find an inn. I want to show you something~"

One of the guards made a strangled sound.

The other one looked away quickly, suddenly very interested in the next person in line.

Scarlet looked like she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

I felt my face burning hot enough to probably be visible from space.

My heart was still hammering in my chest. I could still feel the ghost of her lips against mine. My thoughts were a complete mess of confusion and embarrassment.

What the hell is this?

Tessa just smiled sweetly and pulled me through the gate.