As I thought, Ash really is fast. Even faster than the war horses I used to ride on. It isn’t even adult yet. Since it is still weak, I take breaks from time to time to give it a rest.

Since I had a Shadowchaser, I would be an idiot to not move at night. Moonlight strengthens a Shadochaser. I once read in a text that an ancient civilization that lived in the north used shadowchasers as it was mostly night at that place. These horses could also look clearly at night.

It was midnight. I was used to seeing in the dark and so was my Ash. Since there would be no bandits and monsters during this time, it was the best time to travel.

My current destination was Reinhafr. The city beside the town I was living in. It was the territory of count Reinhafr, one of the few nobles that still strictly follows the principle of the Empire. The Reinhafr quickly developed under the current count as he maintained a very good relationship with his people, an ideal noble indeed.

Soon enough, I could see the city gates. There was still a lot of time before the sun rose in the sky. If I were to go to the city gates now, I would surely be suspected as a bandit as a copper rank should not be able to travel at night through these roads.

I went off-road and into the forest. Going a bit deeper, I found a nice open place. I got off my ride and decided to take a rest for the night. The night was beautiful like always. On lonely nights, these stars are the only ones that accompany me. There's a saying that those who die become a star. Though childish, I too sometimes wonder if my parents are one of these stars.

As the sun came up, I went to the city gate. The soldiers made some trouble but it was easily resolved by some money. Maybe I could have still entered the city at night by paying money.

As I entered the city with Ash by my side, I decided to pay the adventurer guild here a visit. The adventure guild had a branch in most towns as it provided protection and manpower to that town or city.

I went to the adventure guild to pick a quest that I could spend my time on. The adventure guild of Reinhafr was many times bigger than the one in the previous town. Even the inside was luxurious.

The quest board was also noticeably bigger. Maybe because it was a bigger town that I also noticed some silver and gold rank quests as well. I lowered my head to see the copper rank quests at the bottom of the board.

Nothing suits my taste. All these quests are about goblin subjugation, cleaning or collecting herbs. I was tired of it. Even if it is all part of ‘Normal life’, I didn’t quite like it.

My eyes suddenly catched a single piece of paper pinned on the board at the side.

The quest was about exploration, something I would like to consider myself professional at. Upon further reading, I found out that there was a labyrinth discovered recently deep in the forest. The quest required the adventurer to explore the labyrinth and report the findings to the guild. What’s important was that there were no rank limitations in this quest.

This quest was more than interesting to me. Finally found a quest that can be enjoyed. I exited the guild and left for the labyrinth on my Ash. The labyrinth was near the beginner town but far away from Reinhafr. The quest notice must have also reached there as well.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Maybe I can still find some unexplored areas since it was discovered recently. I rode Ash there at full speed. Since it was in the middle of the forest, there was no exact address but it said it was at the west side of the forest near the beginner town. Only a rough map was attached with the notice.

It wasn’t a problem to me since navigation is one of the must skills for a commander. As I was sprinting through the road on Ash, a smell of blood stopped in my tracks. It was the smell of a human. Not just one but many, just like my first day as an adventurer. I quickly shifted my way to the forest.

Clang

I could hear swords clashing as I was getting closer. It wasn’t that deep in the forest as I reached there within a few seconds. There were two groups fighting. From their attire, one side was noble while the other was bandit. But they didn’t feel like normal bandits.

From what it seemed to me, the nobles were ambushed by the bandits and for some reason, they were losing. It was strange as they had duke Hoenheim's crest on their chest plate who was one of the only swordmasters in the continent.

I pulled a white mask with a lotus pattern on it from my subspace pocket and placed it on my face. I have no desire to get entangled with any kind of nobles for now.

I joined the battle as I leapt from Ash and landed on top of one of the bandits with my sword piercing the top of their head. As I pierced the bandit’s head, the sword’s tip came from under his mouth.

I retracted my sword and jumped backwards as the bandit fell on the ground. The other bandits seemed to have noticed me and started shouting.

Three of them came at me one by one. I thrust my sword into the first one's heart and slashed the second one's neck while holding the sword in reverse grip.

Seeing this, the third one stopped in his tracks but I went with the flow as I threw my sword directly at his chest. Blood gushed out from his mouth as his knees fell on the ground.

I came near the kneeling bandit and placed my feet on his face and pulled out my sword.

As I could feel a sword slash behind my back, I instinctively lowered my head and thrust my sword into the attacker's neck.

All the people in that fight seemed to have noticed my presence as their eyes were focused on me.

A fat man with an usually big machete appeared in front of me. As other bandits took a step back, it was clear that this man was their leader.

“Who are yo-”

Clang

I didn’t want to waste any time as I lunged at that fat man with my sword only for it to be blocked by his machete. I took a step back and started to analyze him carefully as I understood he was not a simple opponent.

!!!

That was aura that covered his machete. Aura’s can only be used by trained knights. Even veterans after years of experience can not fully use aura.

This time he took the initiative as he dashed towards me. Even with his bulky body, his speed was not inferior to an advanced knight.

“WE HAVE A RUDE BASTARD DON’T WE?”

As he started to attack me with one slash after another, I tried my best to dodge and parry them while keeping a certain distance from him. The more I took his blows, the more I realized my suspicions were true. After all the fact that a mere group of bandits would overpower noble knights is absurd.

I took a chance to land a big slash on his machete forcing him back.

“A deserted soldier”

“!!!” The man’s eyes widened in shock as he heard my remark. But I continued.

“Judging from the way you use the machete, the 7th division?”

“Wha- what are you talking about?”

Now there was visible confusion in his eyes. Anyone watching this scene could tell he was bad at lying. He and his bandit group were using military tactics from the beginning. And his use of the blade technique that only the 7th division uses further confirmed my suspicion.

Now that my analysis was done, I decided to take the reign of the battle in my hands. Their blade technique was very formidable as it boasted extreme strength and swiftness. But they could barely defend themselves with that technique. To make up for that, they train their bodies like steel and use heavy armors.

They may be demons on the offensive, but cute kittens when on defense. It’s fun to beat up someone from the 7th division because of their durability.

But the fight didn’t last long as he was now kneeling in front of me while my sword pierced inside his mouth, coming out from behind his head.

I pulled back my sword by putting my leg on his chest and cleaned it with my sleeves. The fight was quite fun.

“Umm, excuse me?”