Chapter 50 The knight's last achievement (Part 1)

—Asher Frostblade's perspective.

Five months had passed. During this time I managed to do all the missions that had achievements; of course, I also did some without achievements as a reward, but I got quite a bit of money in return. After all, I needed more money to get me through the night for half a year; otherwise, I would be on the streets of this world.

Anyway, I only have one achievement left to get. According to some information I got from Luna, I have one week to become a noble, and that same week the academy year starts, which means wizarding classes begin.

I have only one week. I must get the last knight achievement as soon as possible; fortunately, a guild was offering a knight achievement for a not-so-difficult mission.

The mission is to protect a very important merchant, and the best thing was that the merchant is heading towards Mengrana city, the imperial city where the castle of the royal family is also located. The problem is that the road to Mengrana city is full of monsters.

The degree of the monsters we encounter is unknown. We have to go through a whole forest full of monsters, pass through the west where the highest mountains of the continent are, and, of course, the monsters are there too. But after those two detours, we would reach the city.

"Muffled sound."

Then, the carriage pulled by two horses started to move and the journey has just begun.

The mission is escort. The merchant is very important and we may encounter the typical bandits who steal in the middle of the road. Fortunately, Alice, Clara and Dik were with me; after all, they decided to follow me until I get all the knight achievements.

"This will be the last mission," said Alicia.

"Yes...", Clara replied.

In all this time, Clara seemed to be more normal. She didn't seem to be suspecting anything about me, like my magic or Encrid.

"But we'll see each other again," I said, trying to calm the atmosphere.

That's true. After I finish the academy, I'd like to look for this group. After all, this group would be disbanded when I finish this mission, since everyone has to split up and do their own things, like going home, visiting their families, things like that.

On the other hand, I have no family and my only goal is to enter the academy. That's all for the time being.

"That's true... but it will be maybe in five or six years," Alicia said, with a tone of voice that seemed to be depressed.

After all, we were risking our lives for half a year. Every day we were together and completed missions together.

"It looks like this is your last adventure," then the trader spoke.

While we were inside, he was outside while guiding the horses.

"That's right, it's our last mission," Alice replied.

"It's a pity. They remind me of my daughter. She was also in a group like yours, but in the end they ended their adventures and parted ways. Since then, they never saw each other again."

Silence flooded us at the merchant's words.

The merchant's name is Felix. He is from a family of merchants that is very famous throughout the continent. They move all kinds of things, like food and unique things, even mana stones.

Mana stones are only found in dungeons, and as far as I know, I only came across those stones the day I left the slave market where I reincarnated. I thought they were useless, but they are really very valuable.

Not only do they contain mana inside. Those stones serve very well to be able to raise the mana level and thus be able to ascend faster. For example, if a mage is first circle, with the mana stones he can advance to the second circle much faster after absorbing the mana from the mana stones.

"Shit, if I had known, I would have kept some."

Then Alice spoke up.

"How old is your daughter?"

"My daughter is 25 years old. She is still young, while I, her father, am already old."

That's true. Felix in fact is almost an old man: hair white from old age, skin almost wrinkled like that of the elderly, and a tired body.

At first glance he is an old man, but not that old. He looks to be around 50 to 55 years old, or maybe older.

"Mmm," I then looked out the carriage window.

"We're on our way out of town," then Felix spoke.

"But why is a child with you?", Felix turned his gaze to me.

Then Alicia spoke up.

"Well... I don't know if you believe it, but he... is stronger than the three of us."

"..."

Felix scanned me up and down. He looked surprised, but it was understandable. At first glance I'm a kid, but my strength is pretty decent to be called strong.

Then Felix spoke.

"That's amazing, how old are you?"

I was silent.

I really don't know how old this body is. At first I thought it would be ten or eleven years, but what if it's not?

"Eleven years," I replied, but I really don't know how old I am. In my past life I was twenty-five; in fact, I died at twenty-five.

"You're so young, aren't you afraid?"

"I don't think I should say that. In fact, he's not even afraid of death."

Alicia spoke. It's the truth; even though I died once, it didn't feel that much, but it was very scary, and I'm still afraid of dying. But as long as I don't die, I'll be more than grateful.

"Hahaha, okay."

Felix smiled cheerfully.

I can tell Felix is a nice guy. He's quiet, but he sure is talkative.

"I'd like to go out," then Isabella spoke and her voice echoed in my head.

"That's not possible," then I instantly denied it.

Although I made a promise with Isabella that she can have her human form and not be trapped inside my head as just a voice, that doesn't mean that she will be seen by other people, especially those who know me.

"Don't be stubborn and don't talk," then Encrid spoke.

"You shut up, you idiot. Idiots are the ones who stay silent and don't speak."

"..."

"..."

Though true, I think those words were also directed towards me.

"Yes, yes, but don't bother coming out yet."

"Alright... I won't bother."

Then, finally, the two of them fell silent.

I looked out the window. The soft whistling and chirping of birds; this world is definitely very different.

"Maybe I like it more than I thought," that thought echoed in my head.

***

—Change of scene.

Somewhere inside the forest, precisely in an inn.

A group of heavily armed men entered through the door of the inn. Several people looked at the group of men. There were three of them, but...

"Walk," said a man with a muscular body, scars all over his face, jet hair and deep black eyes.

The man pushed a girl. Her strong purple eyes and equally light purple hair were bruised on various parts of her body.

"Punch."

Then, the girl fell to the ground.

The people who were watching the scene said nothing, as they knew who these three men were.

"They are... Crazy killers."

They were quickly recognized by that nickname.

The muscular man who appeared to be the leader was named Sebastian. The man standing next to him as he held an axe, with dark blue hair and green eyes, is named Vendrik. While the third man, with black hair and brown eyes, who had armor with intriguing grooves and carried a sword, is named Peter.

The group of men is well known for their kidnapping or assassination activities in this forest. Of course, no one says anything for fear of being found by these three men.

They are murderers and kidnappers of children, as well as women, a total bunch of scumbags.

Then, Sebastian approached the counter of the inn. Pedro grabbed the purple-eyed girl, who began to tear up.

"Stupid girl, stop crying," Pedro grabbed the girl's hair tightly.

"Just cover her mouth. In the night will be the exchange," Sebastian, the leader of these two, spoke.

Then his gaze shifted to the girl, but he quickly glanced at the man who was shivering at the inn's counter.

"Give me a large room and make it quick."

The man quickly nodded and then looked around for some keys. He finally found the keys and handed them to Sebastian.

"T-tome, sir," his fully trembling voice reached everyone's ears.

Sebastian turned his gaze and looked at all the people sitting at different tables. They all quickly looked away.

"Tks... Fucking scumbags," Sebastian clicked his tongue.

"Let's go," with a wave of his hand, the other men followed Sebastian.

Peter pulled the girl's hair as they started up the stairs that were right next to the counter.

After the three of them left, a hush fell over the place.

Reaching the room, Sebastian, Vendrik and Peter entered.

Pedro pushed the girl into a corner.

"Punch."

"Shit... Boss, when will he get here?" asked Vendrik.

"Don't hurry, he only told me to wait for him right here until tonight," Sebastian said.

"By the way, boss... do you know why he wants this brat?" Pedro looked at the girl, who was crying while her mouth was covered with a rag.

Sebastian looked at Pedro.

"Asshole, don't you see her hair color? That bitch belongs to one of the ten great wizard families."

Peter and Vendrik quickly became frightened. The fear got to them and they began to tremble.

Of course, who wouldn't feel that way? After all, the ten great wizard families are people with so much power and status throughout the continent that with just one of those families on the move, even an entire country could be ruined. So high is their power that anyone fears them.

Once again, Sebastian spoke up.

"Don't worry, we'll get rid of her tonight."

"But boss... what if it's a trap and he's a member of one of the ten families?"

At that, Sebastian fell silent.

Vendrik's words were right; in fact, that might very well be the case.

If indeed the guy Sebastian is going to see in the night to exchange something with the girl is a member of the girl's family and comes to rescue her, the situation would be dangerous.

That is why Pedro and Vendrik were scared. Then, Sebastian spoke up.

"If so... then only death awaits us."

Pedro and Vendrik were shocked.

Every member of one of the ten families is, at the very least, a wizard of the fifth circle. Just one mage of that caliber would be extremely difficult to defeat, and more so for these three.

Of course, Sebastian was thinking about that too; after all, he doesn't know who the guy is with whom he will exchange the girl for gold.

"Still, it's worth the risk. Just for exchanging this girl I'll get five thousand gold."

It was such a sum that Sebastian was more than happy. Whether or not it is a trap, it is worth making the exchange; it is such an amount of money that he is close to getting.

Such an amount of money is enough to live the rest of their lives without the need to get more money.

For Sebastian it is all he can do.

"Enough, he's coming until midnight; we still have time."

"But it's three o'clock in the afternoon," Vendrik said looking at his hand.

A needle clock, resembling one of those antique clocks but not so old, read exactly twenty past three in the afternoon.

It was still very early and it was still a long time before midnight.

"Hey brat, what's your name?" then, Sebastian approached the girl and took away the rag she had in her mouth.

"..."

The little girl simply looked at Sebastian.

Then.

"Slap."

Sebastian slapped the girl. Tears welled up in his eyes and blood came out of his mouth. The girl was badly hurt, her body thin and pale, and bruises all over her body.

"Answer me!"

"Slap."

Again, Sebastian hit her, and kept it up until finally the girl opened her mouth.

"P-p-s-stop... Please..."

"Then tell me your full name."

"..."

She looked at Sebastian. He raised his hand, but quickly the girl answered.

"M-my name is... Emilia Merwin."

"So, you really are of the Merwin family, huh..."

Sebastian rubbed his beard as he stared at Emilia, who was crying silently, trying not to make noise because she knew that, if she made noise, she would be beaten. That's why she was in that state.

In fact, Emilia was so beaten that she no longer felt pain, but she didn't want to continue being beaten. It was too horrible for her, and she was already tired. She simply wanted to get out of the hands of these three.

Then, she murmured:

"I want... to be saved... please..."

Sebastian looked at Emilia, but then looked away.

He approached the window and then a carriage stopped right in front of them.

"Who are they?" wondered Sebastian as he looked at a group of people. Then a smile came across his face as he saw a silver-haired boy, identical to the hair color of the royal family.

"He's... a prince. I'm lucky," she muttered quietly....