Ti passed quickly, the dark blue sky sheltering the stars having already made its appearance.
In the village there were no more corpses in the streets, only dark red blood or black scorched earth were the remaining clues to the tragedy that had occurred during the day.
In the middle of the village, most of the corpses found in the village were being cremated, while the rcenary apprentices' family had been given a proper burial.
Normally, the dead were never buried because, according to popular belief, corpses could be resurrected via certain thods, and when they returned to dry land, they would attack all living things. What's more, corpses were also known to poison the soil.
But there weren't any living souls left for several kiloters so whether a piece of land was more or less contaminated was the rcenaries' last concern.
"Are you all ready?" asked Maxi, addressing the 8 young n in front of him.
"Yes, Chef."
"In any case chief, we didn't have much to prepare since almost all our personal belongings burned down with our houses" replied Izo, one of the 4 who had been passed over by Maxi, shrugging his shoulders.
Looking at his n, they were all equipped with a simple sword and simple clothes. At least, they all had animal fur jackets to keep out the cold.
This added a modicum of prestige to their group, which made Maxi smile slightly.
"Despite the disaster, I was able to get 4 more n in my group. I have the impression that no matter what disasters happen in this world, or even in the real world, there will always be soone who knows how to turn them to their advantage," Maxi thought secretly, before quickly brushing aside these thoughts.
"Chief, there was a secret trapdoor in my house. Thanks to it, we'll have so food, although it's only dried at, and there was also a map of the area." interjected Andrew in a calm tone, having visibly recovered from his emotions on the surface.
Receiving the map Andrew held out, Maxi observed it attentively. The 8 rcenaries surrounded him, and by the light of the torches, Maxi could clearly see every detail of the map.
The other mbers of the small team didn't know how to interpret a map, so Maxi took care of it for them while instructing them.
"You see at the bottom left there's a little line marking the distance this represents on the map. So at a glance, I'd say this map marks every important location within a radius of about 50km, and we're pretty lucky!"
"Why chief?" asked Peter innocently.
"Because there are two registered towns, one about 50km north of here and another about 60km west," Maxi replied patiently.
"We'll go to the closer one, and with a bit of luck we'll get there by sunrise," continued Maxi.
"It's a deal, boss, so let's get a move on!" added Peter cheerfully.
Peter was an orphan and lived alone most of the ti, so for him the drama in the village was a happy stroke of fate. Having gone through a real emotional elevator between his exclusion from the rcenary group, then the village massacre and finally his return to the group, he was now eager to pursue his dreams.
The other rcenaries nodded and looked at Maxi as if waiting for a signal.
Maxi smiled lightly at them, and with a hopeful first step set off towards his first destination.
"rcenaries of the Saber-toothed Tigers, let's go!"
"Yes chief!"
...
13 hours later, the clouds gave way to a small clearing as the band of rcenaries finally arrived at their destination.
"Rather a nice sight," Jas marveled as he saw the imposing walls before them.
"I thought the sa thing when I first saw Kaller," intervened Terry with an innocent smile and a wistful look.
Little giggles appeared on the mouths of the saber-toothed tiger mbers, except on one person with a few veins appearing on his forehead.
"Oye, you talking about my mom there?" replied Jas.
"Yeah, nature's amazing in its ability to be able to make a fairy beget a gorilla like you," Terry continued, laughing, followed by the laughter of the others.
The ordeal they'd been through recently, and this little journey on foot, had brought these youngsters much closer together, even though they'd already known each other for a long ti.
"Terry, when I go to Valhalla I'll do my best to earn enough rit to take your mother as my wife and make you lots of little brothers and sisters," Jas replied with a mischievous grin.
"Hahaha you hear that Terry, how lucky you are! If Jas dies during our adventure, he'll be able to take good care of your mother in the afterlife!" intervened Andrew with a loud laugh that echoed that of the other mbers of the group.
This also drew the attention of the other people going in and out of town, who wondered about these strange individuals.
But when they saw their equipnt, a small flash of contempt but also fear erupted in their eyes.
"Another bunch of beggars who only know how to wage war to support themselves.
"Tch, more unconscious thugs who'll run away at the first hint of danger. It's ironic that the people who make honor their life's quest are the individuals who possess the least."
Unaware of their surroundings, the little band continued walking, laughing loudly.
Seeing them coming, a few of the dozens of soldiers on guard stood up and went to et them.
The man leading them observed the attire of the few youngsters in front of him, then scorned them loudly.
"More drears who'll croak on the first battle, and if they're lucky enough not to croak, they'll give up as a result of the trauma of reality".
Yet he addressed them in the sa way he addressed everyone:
"Hello, may I ask the purpose of your visit?" declared the deputy head of the guard in a slightly authoritarian tone.
The rcenaries imdiately stopped laughing and concentrated on the guards in front of them.
The 8 of them were equipped with light armor covering vital parts, ensuring minimum protection and mobility.
Most impressive of all were the long spears they held in their hands, pointing skyward.
"Standard piken produce particularly remarkable effects against cavalry and for holding off enemies at a distance. Perfect for reacting to most situations, but also for giving the city ti to react quickly in the event of a problem," Maxi quickly analyzed, rembering his war history lessons.
On the other hand, the saber-toothed tiger's rcenaries didn't seem very confident in the face of these guards, hence the silence that prevailed when Maxi advanced to et them.
After all, they hadn't had any real life-and-death experience yet, and their power wasn't particularly higher than those guards.
Not to ntion the equipnt of the two parties being in different worlds.
"Hello, I'm Maxi, leader of the saber-toothed tiger rcenary group, and I've co to declare the annihilation of a village 50km to the south, as well as to officially register our rcenary group."
The deputy chief guard squinted, for the annihilation of a village was rare even in those days, but more importantly it always provoked the wrath of the nobles who received the village's talents and taxes.
So there's no doubt that bloodshed will soon be the order of the day in these lands.
It also ant that he would soon lose many of his friends, and even he could lose his life if recruited into the army of investigation and extermination, which made him sigh.
The soldiers behind him unconsciously tightened their weapons.
"So, Maxi, lay down your weapons at the checkpoint, then follow to Baron Barthon's residence to tell him your story," asked the deputy chief calmly.
"What about my comrades?
"They too can enter the town as long as they lay down their weapons at the checkpoint and visit as they please."
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