Training

Zero returned to the Imperial Police's barracks that were available for those who didn't have their own house or perhaps just didn't want one since in some minuscule ways it was better this way.

He took off his armor and went straight into his bed but not before taking something from the pocket of his clothes.

As he was lying on his back, he stretched his right arm up, looking at the vial filled with a strange black liquid in his hand. Just looking at it brought Zero a chilling feeling in his entire body.

'This is the only thing that remained after my family and until now I have yet to discover what it is. I haven't even opened it to smell it yet. I can still remember mother's words as she gave the vial to me as we were running away.' Zero closed his eyes and started recalling the last moments he saw his mother.

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"-don't use it until you will feel confident enough and even then...please use it only in a dire situation. I hope you will never have to use it but if you will be forced to do so, just a single drop is enough, don't risk drinking it all at once."

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*Sigh* 'Is this some kind of drug? Why couldn't she be more precise...I understand there wasn't time for an explanation but if you are giving a child some strong drug, you should make sure to properly instruct them. Maybe she thought I would be able to figure everything out since I have been a very bright child and how could I not be with my old memories. My plan was to use modern knowledge to make living in this world but...at that time I still had no idea that I am not just in the middle ages but in a completely different world. Anyway, this world is truly strange, it mostly looks like during the middle ages but they have quite sophisticated showers and also guns.' Zero hid the vial and went to sleep.

The next morning, Zero went to the training grounds and practiced swordplay. He generally didn't have any favorite weapon therefore one time he practiced with a sword and the other time with a spear or any different weapon available to him in the barracks. He also had a sparring session with the leader of his group.

"You are not half bad, Zero. Keep it up and you will definitely rise up in ranks and it won't be too long before someone like captain Ogre will take notice of your skill" The squad leader complimented Zero while wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Thank you for the praise but I still have a long way to go." Zero humbly replied.

'As if I would want anyone to take notice of me. If I just wanted to climb in ranks, I would just take our sparrings a tiny bit more seriously, or at least I would stop holding myself back. At least I can create situations where I make a mistake and comfortably think of the solutions to the opponents' attacks.' Zero's intention was to just blend in until he can take his revenge. In truth, he felt more than ready to go out but he needed there to be a caravan to escort. Although he was part of the Imperial Police which was responsible for the order inside the city, he could still sign up for some escort missions which seemed like an ideal way how to leave The Capital without arousing any suspicion.

"Hm? What are they talking about?" Zero asked when he noticed almost everyone whispering around.

"...You know how the Empire has several types of units, right?" The leader looked around and when he noticed no one was around, he whispered to Zero's ear.

"I know that the Empire has some assassination units aside from the regular army. What's that got to do with it?"

"It's actually unbelievable how many assassination units are out there. They usually try to keep it secret but mostly for naught at least among the other soldiers. Group of Terror is one of them and as the name implies, they aren't a nice bunch but that's not who everyone is whispering about...It's about the Elite Seven...they are the real things but keep this for yourself unless you want to be taken for the interrogation one day. You actually might be lucky that you are a late bloomer since if they were to see such a talent when you were still a kid, you could have been assigned to one of those squads. From what I have heard, they are extremely strict, and dangerous missions are their daily job." The leader explained which caused Zero's curiosity to shrink. He had no reason to stick his nose into something so dangerous when he was so painstakingly making sure not to stand out.

"By the way, you told me to let you know when any escort mission would be available. There is one right now and only one last spot remains. They are going to Toushi town, want to sign up?"

"Toushi? That's quite far away, northern region if I remember right. What are we even escorting there?" Zero asked with a raised eyebrow.

"You know that you shouldn't ask those questions. All I can tell you is that it doesn't look like it is some valuable material. You will also have to dress up as a regular traveler so you will have to leave Imperial Police's armor here."

'...Are we escorting a person if it's not valuable material? Perhaps?! Are we escorting information that needs to be discreetly yet surely delivered there? But why? To whom? There are too many questions but the northern region is where I used to live and this is the first escort mission I have been offered. Tch, I will take the bait even if the entire mission looks suspicious.' Zero thought for a while before nodding his head to the leader who widely smiled, showing him thumbs up.

'Maybe...just maybe I might discover some information about those bandits that attacked my village and slaughtered everyone. If luck will be by my side, we might even take a road that's close to where I used to live. Finally, I will be getting out of this city after gruesome 9 years! I will have my vengeance no matter what!' Zero tightened his grip on the training sword while staring at the blue horizon with cold yet determined eyes.