Chapter 454 – Something’s Off.

“Miss Delfine, are you alright?”

“I… I’m f-fine…brother-in-law”

“The young miss is shaken up, please give her some time, she has been through a distressing experience.”

“Is she injured? How about she rides with me on my horse? We’ll be able to get back to the city faster this way.”

“N-no I’m fine, I’ll just stay in the carriage…”

The large battle Roland took place was over and the people that he had saved were talking. Their interactions were quite strange as the ones that came to save them were met with resistance. The guards that were protecting the young miss, seemed on edge and it was the same for the young miss named Delfine.

There was an underlying tension in the air as if something more complex was unfolding beneath the surface. Roland couldn’t shake off the feeling that there was more to this than met the eye. While this was none of his business and he wanted to leave, there was one big problem, he found himself in enemy territory, the lands of one of Arthur’s older brothers. The same one that had sent Knight Commanders to Albrook and almost killed Agni in the process.

Roland had chosen to spare the bandits and the tier 3 swordsman helping them. The man was riddled with holes and had lost his conscience but was still alive and his status was easy to read.

He was a Master Samurai but his level was rather low. Roland knew he possessed the advantage to overpower him easily. It was wiser to conceal his primary weaponry that could betray his true identity to these individuals. His combat technique, coupled with his distinctive mithril crimson armor, was probably something Theodore Valerian and his people knew.

To mask his true identity, he decided to conceal his Xandar’s Institute robe first. He carefully removed the emblem presenting his status as a Deputy Professor and any other identifying symbols. Fortunately, the robe was enchanted, capable of assuming various forms. It had been crafted with fieldwork in consideration, and it would help him maintain a discreet profile. Altering the color of his armor proved to be a simple task and with the robe’s adeptness at concealing the runes beneath, he was unrecognizable.

“Those people were here earlier but they only arrived once the bandits were dealt with, what were they waiting for?”

With the help of his mapping device, he spotted a larger gathering of people in the distance. They had lingered behind a large hill, out of sight, only emerging once he had dispatched the raiders. What struck him as odd was their apparent familiarity with the young girl inside the carriage. It appeared he had stumbled upon a potential power struggle. Fortunately, these individuals seemed to lack noble lineage and were likely merchants instead.

Had he been within his own territory, he could have easily disclosed his status as Knight Commander. However, here he was in potential danger and once Theodore and his people were alerted to his presence, he could very well be chased down. This was one of the reasons why he didn’t kill these people as he could be accused of killing citizens that were under Theodore’s protection. A Knight Commander of an opposing sibling couldn’t just waltz into their territory unannounced, so he couldn’t give them a reason to blame Arthur later. If his actions were to be discovered later, they could be retroactively used against them.

The situation was delicate, and Roland needed to tread carefully. His priority was to ensure his own safety and not to unravel the mystery here. However, getting out of here without alerting anyone to his presence would be difficult. There were already too many people who had seen him and he could not afford to reveal more of his cards.

‘Now how should I get out of this situation… what if I just take off, not like anyone here can really stop me…’

Roland had remained silent while analyzing the situation. There were close to forty men on horseback, quite a large gathering. It was as if they were expecting to be battling with these bandits that had ten men fewer. Among them, he noted the presence of a Tier 3 class holder, who observed him intently from a distance. This individual appeared to be affiliated with the girl’s brother-in-law, who was still attempting to coerce her into joining him on horseback.

The girl herself possessed slightly elongated ears and an unusual pinkish hair color. She was quite a beauty and appeared to be in her later teens. It was evident that the group’s leader harbored an interest in her, though she appeared less than thrilled about the attention.

He wanted to do nothing more than jump onto his shield and fly off but there were several obstructions in the way. His armor had been further damaged as he was crossing through the dimensional gate and the runes had started to deteriorate. The cost of flying would be increased and there were some airborne nuisances here as well.

‘Wyvern Riders… I heard that the Valerians utilized them but it’s the first time I’ve seen one.’

Just as the name stated, wyvern riders were mounted warriors who rode large creatures known as wyverns. These beasts resembled dragons but lacked the forelimbs, instead having powerful wings and a long, barbed tail. They were agile and deadly in combat, capable of unleashing devastating attacks from both the air and the ground.

It didn’t seem that this rider was involved in this encounter as they steered in a different direction. If he attempted to use his flight capabilities it wouldn’t be strange if he was noticed. There was no need to act hastily and instead, he decided on a more subtle approach to reach the city. Fortunately, there was a group present that could serve as an escort back, and his guise as an eccentric mage would aid in maintaining his cover.

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“You there.”

“Huh?”

Roland casually approached the leader of the group, who was swiftly encircled by the armored men. Despite their knight-like attire, it was evident they were mercenaries rather than true knights, likely hired by the merchant. The so-called brother-in-law appeared to be in his late twenties, lacking any combat class, much like the young lady from the carriage. His primary bodyguard, named Witter, reacted promptly, gripping his spear tightly, though he did not appear overly eager to initiate an attack.

“Yes you, I wish for you to guide me to the city of Aldbourne, this is the least you can do to repay me.”

“You want me to do what? Who do you think you are talking t…”

Before the merchant could finish his sentence a strange sensation took over the scenery. All of the guards found their knees to be buckling and weak. His intimidation ability proved
to be quite effective as it spread throughout the group. Even the Tier 3 master spearman, Witter, seemed to be affected, though he managed to maintain his composure better than the others.