38 Something Is Off

Azel wasn't the most powerful in Klaris city. However, he was among the respected ones, at least within his guild.

Even though others might show hostility since he was from another guild, it remained a fact that he was an important member of his guild.

Someone like that would of course, have a home and the people he called family.

Unlike those old monsters who schemed and vied for supremacy, all Azel wanted was a simple life with his wife, daughter and his unborn child.

Being an overly emotional man who placed family before any other thing, he often got the disdain of his fellow men. Not as if he cared, though.

'I wonder how much she has missed me already.' Azel had a soft smile that blended with the little sunlight that found its way through the gaps of the trees they all were resting.

His apprentices and guards saw this, and they couldn't help but giggle while giving each other knowing looks as they gossiped through their body language.

''I hope one day I'd find a beautiful wife like boss's.'' One of the apprentices with dark skin, drooled as he fantasized about beauties.

''Hmph, horny pig, work on your looks first and become a high ranking member in the guild.'' Another apprentice, the one with short platinum hair, sneered at him.

The guards were chuckling, seeing the childish bickering between the two hotheaded apprentices.

''Ai, ai, so let's say…'' The oldest guard with a stout stature and receding brown hair chimed in while lowering his voice as much as he could after giving Azel several side-eyes.

''Is Sir Azel's wife giving us a powerful sword or a dazzling flower this time around?'' The man asked excitedly, widely showing his yellow teeth to others.

''Ummm.'' The man watched others fall into deep thoughts as they tried to guess.

Taking advantage of that interval, he quickly brought out the few coins he had.

Bam

Gently smashing it on the ground, he proclaimed, ''I bet that it would be a powerful prince whose power will become the strength of our guild.''

''Don't be so sure, old man.'' Another guard frowned.

Sir Azel already had a daughter, but what if she gave birth to another baby girl? Shrugging his shoulders, the man betted on the probability that she would give their boss another dazzling girl.

The bet continued amidst yells and curses until everyone eventually participated. Of course, excluding Azel.

Azel, the man of the topic, was looking at them from the side, amused by their dumb bet.

This was the usual whenever they travelled. Too bad many of his junior acquaintances were killed, if not, it would've been even rowdier.

'So what do you think, wifey?' Azel pondered as he also got interested in the bet's result. 'A boy or a girl?'

Azel was thinking about his pregnant wife and his unborn seedling, yet, his rod was already twitching.

'Argh, it's been so long, such a torture.' His lips twisted as he reminisced.

However, he soon jolted awake, seeing who was heading in their way.

***

Jerouch hadn't taken any break as he advanced hoping not to delay any further considering how much time he had wasted.

Soon enough, he saw a familiar group in the distance, which he assumed to be Azel's group.

He slowed down until he was finally walking before he eventually reached them.

Azel and the others looked behind Jerouch curiously, trying to figure out what happened after the battle.

'Okay, he's here with us, which means he escaped or managed to win, but no wound?' Azel wondered, and so did the others.

They had heard rumours about the dark trios before, as everyone called them in Klaris city.

They were said to be powerful and anyone who offended them could only meet his demise. It was said that only the guild masters did they give faces, yet this person managed to escape unscathed?

If only they knew how erroneous their thoughts were. Jerouch not only came out unscathed, but also finished the three off.

''So the city?'' Jerouch furrowed his eyes, seeing how they were looking at him in a daze.

''Y-yes…''

Azel answered before setting their carriages to continue their journey.

Jerouch walked at the side as usual, and enjoyed the new atmosphere and surroundings.

Being farther away from the forest, the shrubs have become lesser and the terrain was rather rocky with sparse trees. Thin shrubs also grew beside the road, and the path meant for walking was naturally made of pebbles.

Grreck!

Grreck!

The sound of the carriages' wheels as they came in contact with the coarse ground entered everyone's ears, but no one minded that.

They continued walking until the evening when they had to camp since it was late, and they and the horses too needed rest.

Jerouch took the opportunity to ask Azel about the unusual occurrence, but the latter, as he expected, was just too dumb to even notice the subtle details.

'To the city then.' Jerouch thought, since there was nothing he could do about it anyway.

As usual, Jerouch volunteered to cook, which the rest happily agreed to, remembering how appetizing his dishes were.

After feasting for a while, the guards finally took turns watching for any troubles as the others slept.

Even Jerouch fell asleep since he was also drained.

Although he healed and his health had recovered to the max, his body still needed psychological rest.

The next morning, they all rose and prepared for the last day before they finally entered the city.

They had camped underneath a tree overnight, so they had to walk a bit before returning to the main road.

Being early in the morning, the sun was yet to be out as the sky's dark bluish clouds blanketed everyone and the thin silver moon lit up the surroundings dimly.

Just like the day before, they didn't meet anyone on the road, and by now even the apprentices were becoming uneasy.

They should've met many hunters and traders by now, both within and outside their guilds, yet…

Greck!

The cart abruptly came to a stop.

''Something is off.'' Both Jerouch and Azel muttered in unison.