Chapter 33: Where Do You Think You’re Going
Step, step.
The sound of Robin’s footsteps echoed steadily as he walked along the river.
Even the sunset had vanished, leaving only the torch to light the path ahead.
‘By now, I guess everyone’s probably having dinner.’
Barely thirty minutes after parting ways with Paul, the sky had grown dark.
He followed the valley, but it would be a long while before he reached the river.
On his way toward Steelwater, Robin abruptly stopped walking.
Grrrrhhh.
A faint beastly cry drifted from afar.
A sound cutting across the forest deepened his wariness.
‘I should stop here for today.’
The source of the beast’s cry lay in the direction he was headed.
It was best to avoid unnecessary confrontations.
After sparring with Paul, he’d gained confidence that he wouldn’t lose to an ordinary person in a fight.
But humans and beasts were different.
He couldn’t be certain he’d walk away unscathed if he t wild animals traveling in packs.
‘If this was going to happen, I should’ve prepared camp a bit earlier.’
He planted the torch into the ground and pulled a sleeping bag from his pack.
With his back to the valley, he built a campfire and stretched it as long as possible.
It was to keep any beasts that might appear from approaching easily.
To fill his empty stomach, he took out a piece of toast.
Chewing quietly, Robin let out a small laugh.
“Delicious.”
It had been generously made with the butter and honey Mirian had prepared in Butterhills.
The sweet, fluffy bread filled his mouth.
He had owed an enormous debt to the Calimacos rcenary Band.
He had learned the knowledge and skills needed for traveling.
He had observed their swordsmanship and combat techniques and made them his own.
Robin resolved to repay this kindness severalfold soday.
‘What Paul told … it was comfort.’
Paul had dragged Robin away under the pretense of doing the dishes, then spoke to him.
It helped ease, if only a little, the guilt weighing on him about Jeremy.
He hadn’t forgotten his promise.
He would beco a knight.
He would grow stronger and see the world Jeremy had spoken of with his own eyes—his resolve hadn’t changed.
‘eting Baron Tefir can wait for a bit.’
Leaning his body against his pack, Robin stared past the campfire into the forest.
He didn’t lie down completely, ready to react instantly to anything unexpected.
For the sake of his new journey, Robin closed his eyes.
Rustle.
“Huh… urgh… over… there…”
A strange sound caught on Robin’s sharp ears.
The rushing valley behind him.
The fire crackling and flicking sparks.
The pitch-black sky.
Nothing had changed since he’d fallen asleep.
Holding his breath, he wondered if he’d misheard, but the surroundings were silent.
“……”
He quietly sat up and grabbed his sword first.
Srrng.
Robin’s sword reflected the wavering red glow of the campfire.
At a glance, it almost looked like blood.
Walking toward the forest step by step, Robin peered inside.
“P-please… save …”
“Palacio?”
Palacio lay collapsed not far away.
Robin rushed over, his eyes trembling.
Palacio was scraped all over, his body covered in wounds.
The amount of blood he’d lost was significant—he was in critical condition.
“Palacio! What happened!”
“Bandits…”
Letting out a ragged breath, Palacio couldn’t finish his sentence and lost consciousness.
Robin looked around—no one else was in sight.
‘First, save him.’
A knot of unease tightened inside him.
If sothing had happened to Palacio, then sothing had gone terribly wrong.
Robin dragged Palacio near the campfire and rummaged through his pack.
They were herbs Bellif had given him in Butterhills.
He removed Palacio’s clothing and applied the herbs to the wounds.
“Ughh…”
Still unconscious, Palacio groaned faintly.
When Robin pressed the back of his hand to the man’s forehead, it was burning hot.
He took out herbs with antipyretic effects, crushed them, and mixed them with water.
He pried Palacio’s mouth open and poured the makeshift fever redy inside.
After adding more branches to the fire and getting it burning, he finally let out a breath.
‘I’ve done everything I can for now.’
What Palacio had said weighed on Robin’s mind.
He needed to hear the full story, but it seed the Elize rchant Company had encountered bandits.
Sword in hand, Robin glared into the forest.
Fortunately or unfortunately, no one else approached.
Only after an hour did Palacio finally awaken.
“Are you all right?”
“Little rcenary, what are you doing here…?”
Robin hesitated for a mont.
He didn’t know what the Calimacos rcenary Band had told others about his whereabouts.
Could he tell Palacio the truth?
Given Palacio’s injuries, he didn’t seem like any sort of threat.
“I parted ways with the Calimacos rcenary Band. Our destinations were different.”
“I see. Thank you for saving . I owe you my life.”
Palacio accepted Robin’s explanation without suspicion.
He didn’t seem particularly interested, either.
“The Blue Wing rcenary Band. They weren’t rcenaries.”
“What do you an?”
“I an they were bandits disguised as rcenaries. Our entire rchant company fell for their ruse.”
Robin didn’t know how to react to the unexpected claim.
Palacio’s next words were even more shocking.
“They drugged our dinner. Everyone passed out. In that ti, they looted the entire company.”
“The entire company…”
“They took everything—wagons and people alike. I didn’t eat dinner, so I escaped, but the rest… I don’t know what happened to them…”
Robin felt as though he’d been struck in the head.
It was hard to believe the Blue Wing rcenary Band were bandits, let alone that they’d taken people captive.
“What about the Calimacos rcenary Band?”
“They ate with us, so they must’ve fallen asleep as well. They were probably taken too.”
‘That can’t be.’
The mont he parted ways with the Calimacos rcenary Band, disaster had struck.
It hadn’t even been a full day since he’d vowed to repay their kindness.
Seeing Robin grow pale, Palacio continued.
“I’m sorry. This is my mistake. I never imagined there was a traitor within the company.”
“You an soone from the Elize rchant Company was working with the bandits?”
“That’s right. His na is Tupi. He disappeared from Vermilion. He’s also the one who recomnded the Blue Wing rcenary Band.”
From what Palacio said, this Tupi was like a rchant who held a grudge against Robin.
Robin could no longer remain still.
“I need to go.”
“You can’t handle them alone. Let’s wait until morning and go to Regiville for help.”
Palacio was right.
Robin was strong enough not to be seen as a child, but the enemy was a group of bandits.
There was no way he could win against so many adults.
Moreover, the bandits were holding hostages.
It would have been reckless to go after them as things were.
‘If sothing happened to the Calimacos rcenary Band…….’
Robin recalled the mont Jeremy died.
If even one mber of the rcenary band died, he would have to endure that sa pain again.
He didn’t believe he could bear it.
He didn’t even want to think about it.
“I’m going. Palacio, stay here and head to Regiville after sunrise.”
Determined not to hear another word, Robin packed his things.
Palacio watched in disbelief.
Then, as if unable to stop him, Palacio rose to his feet.
“If you push yourself, your wounds might tear open.”
“I may look like this, but I’ve traveled through many cities for ten years. I’ve been through worse than this.”
Despite his words, Palacio flinched from the pain of his wounds.
“Follow . I’ll guide you.”
Robin followed Palacio as he entered the forest.
“Are you sure this is the place?”
The spot Palacio led him to was sowhere Robin rembered well.
It was the place where he had prepared to camp before following Paul down to the valley.
Just a few hours ago, wagons and people had gathered here.
But now, nothing remained.
“The damned bandits took everything. They had enough wagons to carry people too.”
“There should’ve been an Orc Corpse. They took that as well?”
“Who knows what those bastards are thinking.”
If there was any consolation, it was that long tracks were left behind, allowing them to follow where everything had been dragged away.
Robin still had no trouble with stamina.
Palacio, on the other hand, looked as if simply standing took effort.
‘It’s a waste to use here, but given the situation…’
Robin took out the lowest-grade potion from his pack.
It was a potion Mirian had packed for him.
He handed it to Palacio without hesitation.
Palacio’s eyes widened.
“You’re giving this to ?”
“Yes. It’s not free. I’ll charge you later.”
Palacio drank a sip while thanking Robin profusely.
He poured the remaining half over his wounds.
Ssszzz.
With a bubbling sound, Palacio’s condition improved.
“I’m going all the way. What about you, Palacio?”
“You’re giving
a choice?”
Robin nodded.
Palacio followed the wagon and human footprints.
“Our direction is the sa as Regiville’s. I’ll think as we go.”
It was an unclear answer, but Robin didn’t press him.
The safety of the Calimacos rcenary Band ca first.
Robin quietly followed the tracks.
Thanks to the potion’s effects, Palacio’s pace quickened.
‘There are more and more footprints.’
Thirty minutes of walking along the forest’s edge.
The number of bandits increased.
It ant they were close to the base.
Robin gradually raised his alertness.
Perhaps bandits were already watching him and Palacio.
He moved his hand to the sword hilt, ready to unsheathe it at any mont.
“To think a place like this existed. The Regiville Guards would lant if they knew.”
Palacio stopped in what looked like an ordinary forest.
It looked the sa as the woods they had followed so far.
The only difference was the footprints leading deeper inside.
“The end of this forest is a cliff. Unless soone wants to throw themselves off it, no one cos here.”
“So the bandits’ trail ends here.”
Palacio nodded—or began to, then stopped.
He approached a tree at the forest’s entrance.
Running his hand along strange characters carved on its surface, he spoke.
“‘Only those chosen may enter.’”
“It’s my first ti seeing these characters. What country’s language is it?”
“This is the script of the Demon Tribe.”
Robin flinched.
He instinctively stepped away from Palacio, who gave a small laugh.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a Demon Tribe worshiper. Among rare goods, items of the Demon Tribe exist as well. There aren’t many who can read this, but more than you’d expect.”
“So this ans only those chosen by the Demon Tribe may enter.”
“That’s right. This is as far as I go. When the sun rises, I’ll head to Regiville and bring the guards.”
The Demon Tribe.
A race wielding powers humans could not comprehend.
They used magic.
They created sothing from nothing and devoured humans.
After losing the war against the Empire long ago, the Demon Tribe had retreated from human lands.
Now, it was a history few rembered.
“I’m going in.”
“May fortune be with you.”
Robin tightened his grip around the sword.
He had no intention of turning back after coming this far.
There was no way a Demon Tribe mber could be here.
It was surely just a remnant of the past.
Rustle.
A presence erged from within the forest.
Robin and Palacio moved back at the sa ti.
The torch didn’t illuminate the deeper parts of the woods.
The presence pushed through the bushes toward them.
Robin and Palacio swallowed hard.
“Palacio, run.”
Robin drew his sword and stepped forward.
“You know how to use a sword?”
“This isn’t the ti to be surprised. Go to Regiville and get help.”
Palacio hesitated.
It was surprising to see a child wielding a sword, but to him, Robin was still just a kid.
While he wavered, a low voice ca from the forest.
“Where do you think you’re going.”
“Tch.”
Robin gripped his sword and charged forward.
Thud.
Robin’s sword stopped midair.
A man had caught it with one hand.
Robin steadied his startled heart and looked up.
“You looking for , kid?”
Calimacos held Robin’s sword with a wide grin.
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