After hours of hard combat, the route to Tripia was strewn with the remains of undead.
âItâs done!â
âDamn undead! What a bunch of corpses!â
âDid you see how great manager Aiden was? He took care of all our problems!â
âAnd that newbie⊠His skillâmaybe the son of an aristocrat?â
âWhere did they go?â
Off to the side of the road, away from the mercenaries, Joshua and Akshuler conversed in hushed tones.
âYou know, Iâm not surprised by whatâs out there.â
âA lich, right?â Akshuler nodded. âItâs part of my contract with her.â
âYour contract⊠Anyways, it hasnât been long since you got hold of the Laypone, but that Eiden character is quite the story.â
âEiden is⊠not exactly fictional.â
âNo?â
âEiden is a mercenary like me and my father.â
âAh⊠You know, you have a reputation for acting like a gangster.â
âWho, me?â Akshuler pulled a face.
âFrom what I heard from the mercenaries, this is a two-star quest, right? But then there was a horde of undead and dullahans⊠which would be quite the problem without aura. The mercenaries might quit if this becomes the norm for two-star quests.â
âWell, it was a five-star quest at first, but,â Akshuler chuckled, âwith you and me here itâs only two-stars. In my opinion, at least.â
To say that with such confidenceâŠÂ It seemed Akshuler was unaware. They may be up against the most formidable opponent Joshua had faced in this life.
âDid you know that liches also have classes?â
âHuh? Like wizards?â Akshuler cocked his head. âAn arch-lich, maybe?â
He really doesnât know.
âIâve got one piece of advice.â
Akshuler gave him a puzzled look.
âRemember that no matter how high you are in society, youâre only human.â
âMost importantlyâŠâ Joshua glanced towards the mercenaries. âSheâs here.â
âI told you weâd meet her if you took the quest. Come on, weâve been away for too long.â
Akshuler turned around, hiding his oddly triumphant smirk from Joshua.
Joshua stared at his back for a moment, then shook his head and followed.
UnbelievableâŠÂ Baron Ashbal sank to his knees, swordless. His hands were stained red by the blood of his ripped palms.
âMukwolchamâŠ! How did youâ!â
Cain stared arrogantly down at the fallen Baron.
âHow can a Baronâs knight know a skill like that? How do you know that secret?!â
âHahhhâŠâ Cain grinned. âMy master often tells me that if I stick my nose in places, itâs going to get bloodied.â
âYouââ Baron Ashval ground his teeth together and staggered to his feet. He positioned himself as if to attack, putting Cain on guard immediately.
Cain didnât let it show, but a fight of this level was exhausting.
I have confidence in my endurance, but to keep developing it, I have to pit myself against a variety of strong opponents.
âYour master is a coward. With your talent, the only reason heâd leave you here is to save face.â
âI told you to shut your mouth.â
âYouâre the one whose mouth is getting shut!â Baron Ashval roused every ounce of mana in his body. It was obvious that he had earned his position as commander of the 1st Knightsâenough mana cascaded off of his body that it crackled against the audienceâs skin and shook the air. Soon enough, his sword was coated in a layer of deep blue manaâan aura blade, albeit unfinished.
âIn the middle of the training hallâ?!â
âShouldnât we stop them? The Young Lady is going to go crazy if she hears about this.â
âHow are we supposed to stop them?â
The knightsâ voices rose, but the choice was taken away from them.
âPlease stop!â Cain and Baron Ashval stiffened as the red-haired lady stormed across the training hall towards them. âWhat is this mess?â
âY-Young Lady.â Icarus emerged from the corner where she had taken refuge, shaken.
Cain perked up like a dog.
âBaron Ashval has insulted my master!â Cain lowered his head and acted miserable. âI was merely asking questions, but he drew his blade andââ
âWhat are you talking about?â
âIs that true, Sir Ashval?â Charles gave the Baron an icy look. He bit his lip nervously.
Charles slapped him hard enough to spin his head around. Even Cain winced sympathetically.
âWho am I that you would embarrass me like this? You dare disrespect my guests? Or do you still see me as some girl, even knowing who my father is?â
âN-No.â Baron Ashval didnât dare raise his head. Charles gave him one last glare before shifting her attention to Cain.
âOn behalf of the Knight of Pontier, I apologize to Sir Cain, knight of Sanders.â Charles bowed deeply, to Cainâs consternation.
âOh, noâYoung Lady, this is entirely unnecessary.â He swiftly bent down to match Charlesâs bow.
âPlease, notify me immediately if you encounter any further issues.â Charles leveled her icy gaze on Baron Ashval again. âAs the head of the household, I will no longer sit idle while my family pulls itself apart and insults our guests. Do I make myself understood?â
âYes,â Baron Ashval replied.
Charles spun around and walked away.
âPrincess!â Icarus was fast on her heels.
âHahaâŠâ Cain scratched his head. âIâd better get going⊠What time was that appointment?â
He vanished, leaving Baron Ashval alone with the knights.
âThis⊠Damn!â The Baron trembled with rage. âAHHH!â
When he was done screaming he glared at the knights. âWhat are you doing, huh? War is coming! You think youâre prepared?â
âYes, Commander!â
Evidently Baron Ashval was the only one flustered.