The Start of a Long Journey - II

Sitting inside a luxurious newly-rented carriage, I fully embodied the rich, noble heir identity while I sipped my tea. I admired the softness of the cusions, as well as the vast leg room I had. It was much better than the carriage I had to ride as a hitchhiker with Archisse.

Furthermore, I hired a few guards to bring with me in my travels and joined a caravan headed to the Walvaskaz Empire.

The entire journey would last a year, and I had no intention of flying a marathon even though I theoretically had the ability to do so, void of any dangers.

Life wouldn't be fun if I constantly pushed myself like that. If I didn't spend money for luxurious things, why did I rob the kingdom's Royal Treasury in the first place?

"Yes, all of this is due to my hard work,"

Laughing to myself, I sank into my seat. Being rich had so many perks. It had been years since I was able to relax like this.

"Young Master Aventine," Owen, one of my guards, spoke from outside my carriage.

I heard his voice and opened the window.

"Yes, Captain? Is there something that concerns me?"

"A group of adventurers claiming to be from 'Heaven's Grasp' wish to join the caravan. The others would like to know if you are fine with such an arrangement."

The 'others' were probably the caravan's owners, as well as the guard captains for each segment. Basically, they were the different notable persons in charge of the caravan's safety.

However, my attention was on the name, Heaven's Grasp. What a coincidence. I raised a brow.

I feigned annoyance, making Owen slightly nervous.

"Bring these adventurers to me. I would like to talk to them."

***

Owen was acquainted with the leader of Heaven's Grasp. Lila was a stern figure among the adventurers, known for her powerful dual-wielding style that had been allegedly stolen from a famous family in the kingdom.

However, the young master who had hired his squad had this aura about him. An aura that could rival even that of Lila, yet in a totally different avenue.

Whenever Aventine looked into his eyes, Owen felt as if he was naked, unable to hide even the deepest of lies.

Those abyssal irises drew people in.

"Sigh,"

Caught between an active dragon and a devil in hiding, Owen could only hope for the best.

***

Playing with the crest that Archisse had given me, I awaited the arrival of the members of Heaven's Grasp. There was a small detail that I glanced over in the past. It wasn't important in the raiding of the Royal Treasury.

Now, however, hehe...

"Lila is Lady Archisse's older half-sister."

I laughed.

The crest in my hands, bearing the image of a knight wielding a sword in both hands was indicative of the Duke of Shierain. A family whose knights always wielded two swords. Lila Shierain, or in the adventurer world, simply Lila. She was the illegitimate daughter of a Duke.

Raised in secret and taught the family's techniques, Lila left the Shierain territory during her teens. Archisse had been a very young child then, unaware of her older sister's presence.

No one from Shierain talked about the estranged daughter.

"Archisse has always lived thinking she was the only daughter among seven sons."

When in fact, Lila was the Duke's eldest, and perhaps the most powerful, of all them.

Yet no one knew of Lila's true identity. Not even her friends from Heaven's Grasp.

"How fun," I licked my lips. "Perhaps I can... mess with fate a little more?"

I knew of the Demon Race's movements. The worries of humanity, as well as the massacres occurring due to all my meddling.

It wouldn't hurt if I meddled a little more.

"What if I make Lila the new Hero of Leisha?"

My eyes flashed, and my senses drifted towards an artifact hidden deep within a high-level dungeon. Guarded by a wyrm on the verge of becoming a dragon, there was something called the <Orb of Guidance>.

It had the ability of blessing three different people with the ability to use light mana. If one were to be blessed multiple times, their affinity for light mana would increase exponentially.

I planned on giving Lila one while taking the others for myself.

"Then I could go to Gron and ask him to modify a sword to mimic the Sword of Light. Although it would be a daunting task for him, that artifact should be able to help."

<Blacksmith's 'Intradermal' Needles>

A special artifact that allowed someone to use acupuncture on non-living objects, modifying their effects. I honestly didn't know how that would make sense in a magically scientific way. Looking into its specific mechanic used way too much mana that I would have to leave my curiosities unsatisfied.

Although there were better artifacts that I was aware of, these were the only ones we would draw near during our journey. All I had to do was alter our route a few times.

"A few storms should suffice..."

—Knock, knock, knock!

"Young master, I have brought the adventurers as requested." Owen's voice sounded in my ears.

Perfect timing.

***

Lila approached the most ostentatious carriage in the caravan.

Annoyed.

And so were her companions. Feura was already grumbling.

"It's definitely someone's bastard son, flaunting their assets." Feura said, and Lila agreed. "If that bastard says anything about my looks, I'll turn him into a f****** porcupine."

Owen shivered, hearing Feura's curses, silently hoping that his employer wasn't listening.

Although Owen knew that the women of Heaven's Grasp were highly-regarded in all of Leisha, not just because of their abilities but also because of their looks, most noble men and women knew to stay well away from them. The three were roses with thorns sharper than the kingdom's most deadly knights. Messing with them usuall meant a bad time.

Owen didn't know what business Aventine had, but the annoyed look on his face when he called for them clearly meant hostility.

Lila, who walked alongside Owen, noticed the latter's expression.

"...Is there something you want to say, Squad Captain Owen?" She asked, raising a brow.

"Haha," Owen waved his hand, "Nothing, there's nothing. I just think that speaking ill of someone you haven't met is of foul practice."

"Hah?" Feura's voice gave Owen a few chills. "Then are we supposed to sing praises for idiots starting from now on? 

One would think that the archer would be calm and composed. Tranquil like a still lake.

...Feura was nothing like the sharpshooters Owen knew of.

Sighing, Owen massaged his temples.

"It's nothing. Please just leave me out of this." He then arrived before Aventine's door and knocked. "Young master, I have brought the adventurers as requested."

Feura's brow twitched, clearly finding Owen's words distasteful. Ella and Lila wore calm expressions, however, it was clear from their body language that they were in anything but a pleasant mood.

Meanwhile, Laurence prepared his runes just in case a conflict broke out in an instant. Opheus and Quill met each other's gaze, irritated, not because of their requested presence, but because of what was about to happen between the women and whoever dared to exercise authority on Heaven's Grasp.

For people brave enough to raid the kingdom's treasury, they bowed down to no one. The only reason they were following the squad captain now was because he was Lila's acquaintance.

More importantly, they needed to join an authorized caravan to enter the Walvaskaz Empire.