37 - Sharpen your Swords, Train your Body and Mind

POV: Taes Dedoldia

The wind of Tinaver blew gently through the stone streets, carrying the distant smell of active forges and goods being unloaded. Taes walked calmly along the sidewalks, his hands in his pockets and a serene expression on his face. Beside him, Lisa walked with short, almost skipping steps, her eyes sharp and observant of everything.

"It's so different here, don't you think?" she said, with a light smile as she watched the merchants shouting their offers.

Taes glanced down at her. Lisa was small for a beast girl, perhaps due to malnutrition before he rescued her, but her eyes were lively, full of an energy he couldn't ignore. It was something he increasingly liked as the days passed—that smile, which seemed out of place in the dirty and cruel world they lived in.

"Different enough to keep the mind distracted," Taes replied, shifting his gaze to the horizon. His calm, almost bored tone contrasted with the constant vigilance in his eyes. Even while walking, he was alert. 'Never let your guard down,' the Chief always said.

They passed through a more isolated alley, where the movement dwindled. Lisa paused to watch a group of children playing with a cloth ball. For a moment, Taes allowed himself to relax, crossing his arms as he watched her. "She really is... small," he thought, almost smiling.

That's when they appeared.

Two men stepped out of the shadows, blocking their path. Their expressions were those of opportunistic predators, filthy grins plastered on their worn faces. One held an improvised club, while the other had a dagger strapped to his belt.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" said the first, his malicious gaze lingering on Lisa. "Beasts wandering through isolated alleys? Did you get lost, or are you offering yourselves up?"

Taes said nothing. He remained still, his expression unchanging. Lisa, however, stepped back slightly, feeling the weight of the men's intentions. He could see she was scared and about to say something, but Taes raised a hand slightly, cutting her off.

'Just as the Chief said.'

Taes took a deep breath, looking at the two men with no emotion. Ignorance was a blessing. The major organizations on the continent already knew of the Iron Legion. They knew enough to keep their distance, at least for now. But these small fish, as Rygar liked to call them, had no idea what they were up against. They were far too bold—or just stupid.

"I was in a good mood," Taes spoke for the first time, his voice almost lazy, yet laced with something cold. "Let's get this over with."

The first man laughed, but the sound quickly died. In an instant, Taes moved.

He advanced with a speed the men hadn't expected. His right hand grasped the hilt of the small blade at his belt, and in one clean, calculated motion, he stabbed the first attacker directly in the neck. The man choked, his eyes wide, and fell without making a sound.

Lisa gasped, surprised. The other man turned pale, terrified. He pulled out the dagger with trembling hands, but Taes didn't move. He simply watched him, letting the fear grow.

"Do you have a group?" Taes asked, his voice devoid of emotion. The man opened his mouth, trying to form words while staring at his fallen companion's lifeless body.

"Y-Yes!" he cried, almost sobbing. "Yes! We have a group, it's just us and three more! Only a small group, I swear!"

"Where?"

"Near the abandoned market, in the back! Please... don't kill me!"

Taes thought for a moment. He still didn't know all the details of the city.

"Take us there." He turned without looking at the man lying on the ground. Lisa hesitated but followed him, still stunned by how quickly the situation had unfolded. She glanced at the man, who ran ahead eagerly.

As they walked toward the market, Lisa finally asked in a low voice:

"Are you... going to let him go?"

Taes didn't answer immediately. He just kept walking, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

"That depends on him."

The abandoned market was a cluster of broken stalls and crumbling structures, covered in dust and cobwebs. Taes' footsteps echoed through the empty walls as Lisa followed closely, her gaze more serious now. The small group of bandits wasn't hard to find—loud voices and laughter could be heard behind an old wooden building.

Taes stopped at the entrance, observing. Five men and one woman. All seated around an improvised campfire, chatting without a care in the world. Six small cages were arranged beside them, and inside, eight thin and filthy people stared at him in silence, their eyes full of fear and despair. Slaves.

Lisa looked at Taes, waiting for his order. He drew his blade once more and smiled faintly — an empty smile, as if he were merely carrying out any other task.

"Wait here."

Lisa nodded and stayed behind. Taes advanced alone, like a predator in the night.

The group didn't notice his presence until it was too late. The first one fell with a clean strike to the nape. The others screamed, grabbing makeshift weapons, but Taes' calm and methodical expression never wavered. He moved like a shadow, blending the flexible techniques of the North God Style with chantless magic, each strike precise and fatal.

Within minutes, it was all over. Silence once again dominated the abandoned market, and the slaves looked at him with tears in their eyes. Taes wiped his blade on a piece of cloth and turned to Lisa, who approached slowly, her gaze fixed on him.

"Let's go," Taes said, beginning to unlock the cages.

As they walked back to the base, the slaves following in single file, Lisa moved closer to Taes. Something in her expression had changed. She watched him with a mixture of admiration and… something more.

"You're not just a boy, are you?" Lisa whispered, her face flushed.

Taes didn't reply, but a small smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

---

POV Narrator

Rygar sat at the end of the long wooden table, his sharp eyes scanning the faces in front of him. The key commanders of the Iron Legion, responsible for keeping the Tinaver branch thriving and well-managed, occupied their seats, exchanging attentive glances as the meeting progressed.

"The housing constructions are nearly finished, chief," said Daruk, a robust human with his arms crossed over his chest. He was the commander of the Administration and Human Resources Division. "The eastern part of the base can already shelter fifty more people, and the blacksmiths managed to finish most of the tools we requested."

"Good," Rygar nodded, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. "And what about supplies?"

"We're well-stocked until the end of winter. Some merchants here in Tinaver have shown interest in doing business with us. It seems we're starting to draw attention. We've also started your idea for livestock farming, but we have some concerns about the area where the animals are kept, as many are escaping," Peikak added, a hint of doubt in his voice.

Rygar let out a quiet sigh. It was expected that nobles and merchants would begin to approach — the Legion's success wouldn't go unnoticed for long. "I'll take a look and see what can be done about the stables."

Nearly all the meat consumed by the population came from hunters and adventurers since monsters were far more dangerous than common animals. He hoped to start a new trend, but it wouldn't be easy.

"Which merchants have reached out?" he asked, looking at Lounirc, an elf who was the Commander of the Trade and Diplomacy Division, taking notes beside him.

"A few," the elf replied calmly, his blue eyes focused on the paper before him. "The Redwald family sent a representative to probe for potential agreements. They're prominent along the southern caravan routes. Additionally, there's a merchant named Lorien, who primarily deals in minerals and weapons. He's been… quite insistent."

"Keep in touch, but don't commit to anything yet. Evaluate these names and find out what you can about their intentions."

"Understood, chief," said Daruk, bowing his head.

Rygar then turned to Taes. "Taes, is the eradication of hostile forces complete?"

"Some groups fled, but they've all been dissolved in Tinaver," Taes promptly responded.

The meeting continued, touching on other matters: patrol schedules, reinforcing external defenses, and even negotiations with other small mercenary groups operating in the city. Everything seemed in order, but Rygar knew appearances could be deceiving.

It was then that Gorim, the dwarf commander of the Intelligence Division, cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him. Gorim was a relatively old dwarf with a long, graying beard braided into strands and a sharp gaze that always seemed to see beyond the obvious. His presence carried a natural air of seriousness.

"Regarding that investigation the Chief asked me to conduct," Gorim's deep voice filled the room. He raised a worn parchment and placed it on the table. "About the Joylore House — we questioned some key figures in Tinaver and uncovered a few things."

Rygar leaned in, needing as much information as possible before acting against them.

Gorim leaned forward, pointing to the parchment.

"The Joylore House is a noble family… decadent, in theory. At least in the public eye. They maintain a façade of humility and discreet businesses, but we have reason to believe they're behind certain clandestine operations in the city, including some sacrificial rituals and slave trafficking. They're quite an extremist noble house in Milis."

Silence fell over the room. Rygar wasn't surprised — it had to be something like this for them to become enemies of his master.

"Location? Strengths?" he asked after a few seconds.

"We have the location of what we believe to be one of their main mansions, closer to the center of the capital, Milishion," Gorim replied. "It's well-protected, with hired guards and a surveillance system with classic noble barriers, nearly impenetrable, which suggests a well-funded family. However… we still need a deeper investigation to be sure of what's happening inside."

Rygar nodded, reflecting on the words. He felt the need to remove this thorn as soon as possible — after all, Linstar Joylore had already hired a Saint to kill his master. He had to resolve it before it grew into a real threat for the Legion.

"Alright," he said, breaking the silence. "Continue the investigation, but don't alert the enemy. I want every possible detail before we take any action against the Joylore House."

"As you wish, chief," Gorim replied, bowing respectfully.

Rygar leaned back in his chair, relaxing for a brief moment. It was good to know things were progressing, but another issue had been on his mind for some time. He looked at Taes and Kidar.

"As soon as we're fully established here in Tinaver, I'll leave for a quick trip to the dwarven territory."

"What?" Kidar looked up from the map he was analyzing, surprised.

"I have plans for my sword. I need to embed it with a magic stone — Master Verdia told me several times it would greatly increase my strength, as long as it's a powerful magic stone," Rygar explained, touching the hilt of the blade at his waist. "And the only ones capable of modifying one of the 49 swords are dwarven blacksmiths."

"Are you going alone?" Taes asked, concerned.

"Yes. It'll be faster that way. I won't take more than a few months. You'll all be responsible for maintaining order here while I'm away."

The commanders exchanged brief glances, but no one objected. They knew that even if Rygar wasn't there, his strength still existed, and few would dare to cross them.

"As you wish," Kidar finally replied.

"Great," Rygar said, resting his arms on the table. "For now, focus on strengthening our base. Daruk, finish the constructions. Kidar, investigate these potential partners. And Gorim, continue gathering intel on House Joylore and other noble houses and factions in Milis. I want results by the end of the week."

"Understood!" they responded in unison.

Rygar watched as the commanders stood and left the room one by one. Once alone, he let out a low sigh and stood up, walking over to the window. The city of Tinaver stretched out before him, bathed in the light of the setting sun.

"One step at a time."

But before anything else, he needed a sword worthy of his ambitions.

---

After the meeting with the commanders, Rygar left the Iron Legion's base and made his way to the bustling center of Tinaver. His boots struck the stone ground firmly, and the noise of the busy streets barely fazed him. This time, he had a clear goal: to register as an adventurer.

"That was the first thing I thought of when I realized I was in a magical world."

It was a distant memory, back when he was just a child surrounded by forest, dreaming of all the things he could achieve. Becoming an adventurer had seemed like such a simple and straightforward dream back then. The idea of exploring ancient ruins, hunting legendary monsters, and amassing fame and fortune made his heart race with excitement.

"But in the tribe... there were no guilds, no nearby cities. It was just the Doldia tribe and the forest. The world felt too small back then."

Now, however, the circumstances were different. Becoming an adventurer was no longer a distant dream—it was a necessity. Some members had registered as adventurers some time ago, but their progress had been frustratingly slow.

"Of course, it's not as advantageous as I once thought."

Rygar reflected as he walked. There were many types of adventurers:

Solos, those who acted alone. Few could survive this way, but they existed.

Groups, which were the norm. To form a group, there were no restrictions except that members' ranks could not be more than one level above or below the group leader's.

Clans, created when at least two groups joined forces.

Recently, some members of the Legion had formed their own adventuring groups and naturally united to create a clan. It was a positive step, but it brought a new problem: the lack of available jobs. Most of the missions in Tinaver were too simple for large groups or offered little reward, and Rygar knew that, over time, members of the Legion would scatter across the world.

"This problem will eventually resolve itself, but for now... we need a solution."

One way to fix this was for him to become an S-Class Adventurer.

"If I can achieve a higher rank, I'll gain certain privileges. The clan will be able to take on more challenging missions, reducing the scarcity of jobs. But will the administrators allow it?"

It was an ambitious thought, but Rygar always preferred fast, direct results. If rank became an obstacle, he'd "negotiate" with those in charge—or use more persuasive methods, if necessary.

The Adventurers' Guild was a large two-story building with a facade reinforced by dark wooden beams and a golden emblem above the door. Inside, it was filled with adventurers of all kinds, from poorly equipped rookies to veterans boasting gleaming armor and impressive weapons.

As soon as Rygar entered, the hum of conversation seemed to dip for a moment. He could feel the eyes on him. It wasn't surprising. His presence—silver hair, fierce eyes, and an intimidating aura—rarely went unnoticed.

Ignoring the whispers, he walked straight toward the main counter. Before he could say a word, a man leaning against the wall in light armor called out to him:

"Hey, beast boy," the voice carried a mocking tone. "You part of that Iron group or something? I'd suggest you bring some backup."

Rygar paused, turning his head in the man's direction. He was a tall human with an irritating smirk and a superior gaze, like someone used to provoking newcomers.

For a moment, Rygar considered ignoring him. But the weight of the past few weeks had worn his patience thinner than he cared to admit.

"This is getting increasingly irritating."

He took a deep breath. Lately, he found himself less willing to deal with these kinds of situations. Strong or not, he still looked like he was in his early teens—an "easy target" for intimidation. Many times, he thought about simply killing anyone who acted this way but always chose not to.

"Maybe I should start training Skoll to intimidate these people. One growl from him would make any idiot think twice before opening their mouth."

Rygar stared coldly at the man, releasing a faint killing intent without another word. The subtle pressure made the adventurer hesitate for a moment, as if he realized he'd stepped onto dangerous ground.

Rygar turned back and continued to the counter, where a half-elf receptionist waited for him, her expression neutral.

"I want to speak with the person in charge of this branch," he said bluntly.

The receptionist blinked, surprised by his direct approach, but maintained her composure.

"The Guild Master is currently busy. Do you have a specific matter to discuss?"

"Registration and rank classification," Rygar replied. "Tell him I'm the leader of the Iron Legion."

The receptionist hesitated for a moment, but something in Rygar's gaze convinced her to comply.

"Very well. Please wait a moment."

While waiting, Rygar crossed his arms and surveyed the hall. Adventurers came and went, discussing missions or showing off their rewards. It was a dynamic world, one where everyone chased their own glory. For a moment, he thought of his younger self—the one who dreamed of standing where he was now, becoming an SSS-Class Adventurer—a rank that didn't even exist in this world.

"If I told my younger self this, he'd never believe it."

But he wasn't here chasing glory. Rygar had a greater purpose—and he was willing to use every resource at his disposal to achieve it.