The Cleanup

After the fight had ceased, Bjorn looked towards the caravan. The caravan had also just finished the subjugation of the 13 remaining goblins. 

He also saw that there was no one that had died or was majorly injured, which gave him quite a relief.

Bjorn then rode Gleip in order to reach the caravan members.

One of the falna users, the most experienced one, noticed Bjorn heading towards them.

"Good job Bjorn! How was your first fight?"

Bjorn went down of Gleip and came closer towards the caravan.

"Well… It was rather exciting, although… I made some mistakes…"

"It's good that you can acknowledge your mistakes. Remember to learn from your mistakes so that, in the future, you will not make the same mistakes again."

Bjorn gave the person, William, a soft smile and replied.

"I understand, William.."

William then patted Bjorn's shoulder and went on to direct the other falna users for clean up.

A short while later, the sound of hoofbeats and heavy footsteps echoed toward their position.

Bjorn and the others tensed but readied themselves because they did not know who or what was coming… Maybe another group of goblins were heading towards them, or something worse…

Weapons were drawn: swords, shields, and bows. They formed a defensive line despite their exhaustion. 

Currently, Bjorn and his group are tired out of their wits… If another group of goblins came, then they would have no choice but to leave the caravan and its goods…

Fortunately, the ones that came were humans. A group of at least 10 humans were heading towards the direction where the goblins once were. Bjorn noticed their startled expressions as they took in the scene of goblin corpses scattered around. Spotting Bjorn's group, they began moving toward them.

Even though they were humans, Bjorn and his group still didn't let down their guard. Who knows, maybe the people heading towards them are bandits…

William, the most experienced of them shouted towards the incoming group.

"Stop! Who are you and what are you doing here?!"

Looking at the tired and weary group, with goblin corpses scattered around them, the leader of the incoming group, a female garbed in adventurer clothes, deduced what had happened. She then raised her hands in a calming gesture.

"Fear not. We were the reinforcements sent by Karuna… Were you the ones that wiped out this horde?"

William still looked skeptical…

"Yes, but I need you to show more proof that you really are the ones sent by Karuna."

Bjorn looked at William and thought that he must have bad memories involving bandits…

The leader of the forces then nodded.

"Alright, that's reasonable. Tell us, how can we show that we really are the reinforcements from Karuna?"

William thought about it for a moment before saying.

"How about this? Tell us what are the contents of the crate that had fallen on the road."

One of the members of the force stepped up and said. This person is dressed up with not the usual adventurer clothing, but rather a hybrid between an adventurer and a merchant.

"Umm… It was apples sir…"

Hearing that, William nodded towards his companions and sheathed his sword. Bjorn also sheathed his sword together with the others.

Seeing this, the members of the reinforcement force came closer to them. 

William also went forward and shook the hand of the reinforcements leader.

"You guys sure took your time, huh?"

The female leader gave William a weary smile.

"Well, our forces are also spread too thin…"

"Hmm? May I ask why?"

The female then took a thinking position. After a few seconds, she decided to tell them.

"We had just recently subjugated a rather large goblin nest just north of Karuna… Well… Some goblins had managed to escape the subjugation's forces through a separate tunnel… and that is what we have been hunting these past weeks…"

"Weeks? How long ago was this?"

"Last two weeks I think…"

One of the members of Bjorn's group suddenly shouted.

"Damnnnnnnn! They must have been everywhere now!"

The female leader nodded.

"Yes… that's why we had received numerous reports that travelers were being attacked… We tried to respond immediately but… It is difficult."

Bjorn then calculated…

If most goblins can move for about 5 kilometers per day then… they would at least be 70 kilometers away already…Sheesh.

After a while of talking, Bjorn and his group decided to move towards Karuna. William then said this to the reinforcements.

"How about we continue this discussion over a drink or two? You definitely sound like you need some."

The female leader smiled towards William.

"Sure."

She then turned around and walked towards the reinforcements.

Meanwhile, Bjorn kicked William's ass.

William turned around and looked at Bjorn with an expression that says "what the fuck?".

Bjorn smiled and showed him a wink.

The other people from Bjorn's group also chuckled at William, softly whistling and kicking.

After a while, they continued their journey and went towards Karuna.

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Karuna is a rather large city. It is surrounded by Stone walls, with its architecture blended with medieval and Renaissance designs.

Karuna is an important junction between Rakia, a warmongering country in the west, and the Empire in the East. It also served as a vital junction for adventurers and merchants wanting to go to various places. 

In the city, many merchants are selling their wares on the main road, with many travelers browsing these items.

True to his word, William led the female leader to a bar, while Bjorn and the others searched for a hotel to leave their belongings.

After finding a trusty hotel, Bjorn and his group went to a nearby public bath since they are really filthy and reeking. A week in travel really brings out the scent of a man more prominently….

While inside the Bath, one of the caravan members asked Bjorn.

"Hey."

Bjorn looked at the man and made a questioning look.

"Hmm?"

"Will you really go to Orario?"

Bjorn looked at the man for a few moments, wondering why he was asking this question, before answering.

"Yes. I want to be an adventurer in Orario."

"That's nice enthusiasm… But remember… Orario is where most of the top gods and goddesses are situated so… all of the would-be adventurers would want to be part of their familias. As you can see, the competition will definitely be hard…"

Another one from Bjorn's caravan also chimed in.

"Yes, many people would not even have a chance to be with a familia… They would then settle within their own villages, or go to a nearby city and hope that a familia would take them in…"

"Are you guys…"

Another one also chimed in, giving Bjorn a bitter smile.

"Yes, we had tried… We tried our best but… no one would take us…"

The atmosphere was awkward at first until the group heard someone walking in on the bath.

"Who would not want not to be an adventurer in Orario."

The group turned around and saw their leader, William.

"Leader! What are you doing here? Don't tell me… did you got cockblocked?"

William hit the head of the person who had just spoken. He then sat down beside Bjorn.

"I did not get cockblocked dumbass. I ran away from a red flag..."

"Red Flag? What? I think… no we all think that she looked dignified, you know?"

"Dignified my ass. That bitch got a whole family with him! Yes, a whole fucking family, together with her husband for fuck sake. And you know what she said? 'Honey, you are just one of my sideboys.'" 

""Pfft…"

"Hahaha!"

"That's the reddest of all flags I had heard! Hahaha!"

William then calmed the group.

"Alright, alright, let's go back to the topic."

William looked at Bjorn.

"Orario's a land of mysteries. It's full of opportunity, but also danger. One day you're thriving; the next, you're dungeon food. Take care and do well—or we'll be waiting at the village to mock you!"

Bjorn smiled at this. The other members of the group also chimed in.

"Yes Bjorn! We would hang a big banner in front of the village which states 'Welcome Back From Your Failure!'"

"Hahahaha! We would also throw cakes at you!"

"You will definitely be mocked by the housewives! Your mother would also give you the 'I told you so' look! Hahaha!"

Throughout all of this 'future' mockings, Bjorn just smiled at them, even adding some more insults in one way or another.

It's a bit weird to feel nice despite receiving mockerings from other people…. Oh well, I guess I gotta do my best.

…

..

.

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I am back from the typhoon. Luckily there's no damage to any of our properties. Thank God. The typhoon also weakened, which is a great thing!

I had a dejavu moment while writing this. I wrote a sentence that I think I dreamed of then while I was writing it…. I REMEMBERED IT! HAHAHA!

If you want to view the map that I am using, I would attach it here.

Anyways, the next chapter would be their arrival at Orario and you would know what time in the timeline we will be. I would also attach the timeline that I would be using.

Anyways,

Peace out my dudes!