My mind was weary, and I had a lot of unrelated thoughts running. Still, I did try to concentrate on everything that happened while looking at it as an unrelated party.
So what did happen point by point?
_______
Yesterday our caravan ran into several small but time-consuming issues. By now it is a fact that all of them were intentional, but whatever. The point is that the distance that we traveled shortened by about 5 km as we did not reach the well that Reuben planned to.
Before everyone went to sleep, someone added a sleeping drug to the dinner. Thus, taking most of the people of the caravan out of the equation. Anyone would note that it was strange, as everyone except the fighting element was taken out.
The target, at least from what is available was the noble traveling incognito. And this raises several questions.
Why did the attackers target the camp with the awake people first?
How did they know about the noble?
And why did no one of them approach the wagon at all? Even Gunthard, who was just a couple of meters from it!
The fact that the attackers fought to the last man and had not tried anything else was also weird. They had people inside, so they should have known about Gris. I do not know if her title of Champion is something known in any circles, but just the fact that she wasn't a common soldier should give an idea of her strength. So why send wave after wave? Separate into groups? Or even fight her at all?
Bron's appearance was also full of strangeness. He greeted the girls and found about the attack. Then for some reason, he released the captured Churg town guard. After meeting with the Count, he did not attempt to do anything, and in place even fed us an entire backstory. With the latter revealing the allegiance of the attackers as well.
That's without mentioning that he allowed himself to be caught. Indeed, allowed. After all, he had not even tried to take his weapons out.
_______
"Well, I tried to think of everything, and can only say that it's all just too strange" I shrugged while conveying the questions that popped up while thinking of any point of the attack.
"The Count thought the same, and so the point of this is to try and find different guesses for the reasons" Gris nodded to every question, showing that she agreed.
"Well, this may be an attempt to catch a star, but..." If they want guesses, well, they will get guesses. Why the hell did I spend months and more months playing political simulators?
Basically, all my guesses resumed in a single sentence - This attack was a staged play.
No matter how I tried to look at it, it was badly planned and badly executed. To the point of considering all of it a joke, well, except the part that people died.
"Mmm, a play?" Gris singled the word and rubbed her chin. After some moments, she asked, "But with what objective?"
"Well, I can not say truly because I lack the necessary knowledge, but listen to this. The attack was doomed to fail, even without my interference Azar and the boys would have returned to help you. There was no chance for them to win, but Bron still appeared. For what? How about to tell all of us about the responsible party?" As I spoke, it all clicked for me in my mind.
The idiotic attack, targetting the fighters and not the noble, Bron's appearance, and even the latter's attempt at avoiding capture. I could not say why, as I did lack knowledge about the 'Old Blood' and everything else, but this was the only logical explanation.
*Clap* *Clap* *Clap*
"Young man, you are certainly an interesting fellow. And your intellect is admirable. Without being in the know, you arrived at the same, absolutely right conclusion as we" The clapping, the smug and wordy manner of speech, the manner to approach from behind. It was none other than...
"Could Your Excellency stop trying to give me a heart attack?!" I managed to mix the correct way to address the Count, stolen from Reuben's speech, and my complaint. All exclaimed while jumping around to face him.
"Hahaha, I truly lament it. Hahaha, frankly, I do! But it's just inconceivable to avoid when you are deep into an explication" Count Rien loudly laughed while speaking. I have to acknowledge it. The man had a sense of humor that I would not expect from someone referred to as Your Excellency.
"In any case, the only thing that remains unknown is if the released man went for reinforcements. In that case, all this guessing is going in the wrong direction" Gris, the voice of reason entered our ears and choked the stare war that began between my complaining eyes and the Count's laughing ones.
"Ah, no need to worry about that lass. Azar found him close-by, absolutely dead" The Count waved dismissively.
"Dead? Why the hell then Bron even release him?" I could only ask while inwardly facepalming on the former's behalf.
"Who knows? He did not convey extensively after disclosing what he knew. Or better said, what he wanted us to know" The Count shrugged with a worry-less expression.
***
The Count continued speaking for a bit but did not mention anything noteworthy. His tirades were always overworded, but this time was even worse. I mean, just to say that we will keep with the plan of resting today, he used like five minutes and several hundreds of words!
Before leaving, he said a phrase that immediately alarmed me. And rightly.
"For the matter that we spoke about before, take this young man with you. No need to wander alone" And then without anything else, he just turned around and began walking.
"It seems that the Count holds you in high esteem. Let's go" Gris said while motioning for me to follow and begin walking towards the direction of the well.
"Gris? Where the holy cows we are going?" I asked while starting to follow after her.
"Hahahaha, holy cows? That's a new one!" In place of answering she half turned her head and blessed me with a peal of laughter followed by a smile.
"Yes, yes, a thing that they say in a village close to mine. Now, seriously, where?" I made up something and asked again.
"Well, you remember that all the attackers came from one direction, right?" Hearing this, my inner trouble alarm went crazy.
"Umm, you don't mean to say that we are going to follow their tracks? Like us two alone without any knowledge of what we will encounter? And me with no mana?" I quickly confirmed while trying to not show my inner panic.
"Yes" She answered with a sharp nod.
Oh, I see, so that's standard? Going to dangerous places before breakfast? Haaa... Well, not that I could say no. Wait, I can! Still, I did not say anything.
For one, dangerous or not, it appeared like an interesting thing to do. And second, or maybe mainly... Me and Gris!
_______
I did not truly think that a possibly dangerous walk was in the least romantic, but I did not want to miss it either.
By my inner timer, I had been kidnapped (godnapped?) from Earth over four months ago.
Four months that I spend first with only Sepyre as a company, then around a month alone, and then surrounded by people. And if we apply Sepyre's explanation about times, it has been over... four years since I had any interaction with a woman.
Oh no, Sepyre was a woman, all right. She was devilishly (holily? godly?) beautiful as well. And absolutely out of that worldly stuff that opposite sexes do. At least from what I gathered.
But now, being surrounded by women all the time, and some of them very good looking... I had literally no chance to even try anything. Right now it wasn't the moment either, but at least some attempts to prepare ground should be possible, shouldn't they?
_______
"Gris, if you don't mind me asking, where are you from?" I began with the most basic of the questions I could think of.
"Me? Actually, I am from Megvuroz, why?" She tilted her head to the side while answering.
"Oh, I just was curious about it. I mean, you work for the Guild, and from what I understand occupy a pretty good seat in it. Not to mention someone even said that you are a champion of some tournament in the Capital" Well my reasons were different, but these could be also applied.
"And you thought I was from the Capital? Are you interested in it?"
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Well, yes? It is the Capital after all. I am not planning to stay in Megvuroz for long, but continue moving. Maybe change a few cities until I find a place I like, and it corresponds to my feelings with a good job" This time I answered honestly.
From what I gathered Megvuroz was a slightly bigger city than the two we had passed, but that's all. So indeed, my plan of getting a job for a while, learning and gathering local customs and knowledge, and then setting off remained unchanged.
I did have a few plans on how to start earning the money required for my 'Godly' task, but it would require investing and finding at least one local companion. So for now, I could only aspire for a routine, regular job.
"A job, huh? The Guild Head in Megvuroz is a good friend of mine, so there should be no problems with that. As for moving, you should first get the relevant papers, or you will end either outside walls or paying the full tolls in every city" Gris said while motioning for me to stop. As I did, she pointed to the ground near the well we had reached, and I did not even notice "There are many footpaths in the mud, but..."
The tracks around the well were logical, as when anyone drew water, some of it splashed around and the resulting wet dirt would retain any prints for long. But a few meters from this wet dirt circle, lush grass began, and from what I could see, it appeared intact.
"There are none farther. Still, they came from the East, so we should probably find some there?" I wasn't a tracker in either this or my past life, but it was the only possible thing anyway.
"Yes, but be careful. Whatever their goals were, it's a given that at least some of them did not expect to die. And so they planned to escape, and probably using the same path" Gris explained while looking to the horizon and using the now still low sun to confirm the direction.
"You mean that they could have left traps?" I asked while wondering how she managed to explain things so that the correct question surfaced in the mind of whom she was talking with.
"Yes, so we have to tread carefully" She nodded and began walking slowly, stopping for a moment before taking the next step.
***
Gris continued to move in such a way, and so our speed was abysmally low. For the moment that I counted a thousand steps, I was sure that at least an hour had passed.
But safety was indeed important, and so I continued to follow her without complaining. Well, at least verbally.
Half an hour more passed, and the pangs of hunger I had been feeling since the girls said "We will cook something" grew too strong for me to resist. Careful to not be noticed, I summoned a small sack of jerky from my inventory (Thank God, well, Goddess Sepyre for Inventory not using mana!).
"Mmm, not trying to distract you... But do you want some?" Being a gentleman and everything, I offered Gris the sack while chewing at a jerky strip myself.
"Huh?!" She turned in surprise while showing a wide scope of emotions. Her mouth crooked in a wry smile, her eyes a mixture of laughter and anger, and her head shaking. Hell, what did I do? Just offered the girl some jerky!
"I will not ask why you had the brightest idea of carrying anything meaty on yourself while we left the safe travel zone, but please avoid doing so in the future" She stopped and even turned to lecture me.
"Safe travel zone?" The term caught my ear and I immediately asked.
"Hah? You don't know that the materials used for the roads have a few light enchantments applied to make beasts stay away?" She asked with wide eyes.
"Oh, that! But we haven't got far, and besides..." Obviously, I did not know, hell, I don't know anything about the lands here!
"What?" She glared at me with easily readable suspicion.
"I got you to protect me!"
And a brief silence later, I got a simple word in answer to my joke - "Idiot"
Hah, but she did take a piece and began nibbling at it while resuming her advance!
I almost pictured a message in my mind expressing 'Affection points +5'.
***
In the end, by my inner calculations, it took us three hours to reach the place we were searching for. As for how did I understand that it was the right place? Well, when you see two tents, a recently used campfire, and all the other attributes of a camp while there is not a single soul around...
"Have you recovered some mana?" Gris asked me while going on her knee and pulling me down as well. With the grass being almost a meter high by this spot, it could probably even conceal us.
"Actually yes, a single point" I did not lie about the quantity. Mana's recovery was an intriguing thing. When you were sleeping or resting, it recovered quickly, but while you were physically active? It stopped recovering almost at all. I could not understand the reason for it, after all, wasn't mana something well... magical? Or mental as in most games? Why did it have to do with physical activity?
"Then make yourself useful and check the area" She poked me in the chest with a finger as she said. Hey, are we getting physical now?
"Life Radar"
"And?" She impatiently poked me again.
"No people, only a couple of small beasts or birds there" I pointed towards a tree just a few meters from the farthest tent.
"Good, wait here"
***
Even without anyone on my 'Life Radar', Gris chose to approach with caution. She went flat on her stomach and crawled to the edge of the grass. Stopped there for a few moments, and then continued similarly until the nearest tent.
When she reached it, she half stood and avoiding the entrance, circled it two times before taking out her sword and cutting a small tear on one of the sides.
After that, she repeated the operation with the other tent and even examined the tree that I had pointed before.
"Nothing" She shook her head and stood straight before motioning for me to approach.
"Did you see anything inside the tents?" I asked while sparing a single glance to the campfire and noting that there was nothing except a couple of sticks, probably for skewering meat, and a small pot.
"That one" She pointed at the one behind the campfire "Is empty. Not even bedding. But this one has a few sacks inside" She pointed to the tent near the campfire. She probably should have not done it, I mean, there were only two tents around.
"Got it, so?"
"So let's go look"
***
Gris had been so careful until now, so why did she pull the entrance covering cloth directly? Who knows, but she did.
I was standing right next to her, and something ringed in my mind (later I would understand that it was the so-called 'Danger Sense) and on instinct, I shoved her to the side.
*Twang*
I heard how something impacted against wood, and the next thing was a searing pain coming from my palm.
"Fuck!" I exclaimed while dumbly looking at the hole in my palm.
The sons of a bitch that had attacked us, did not put any traps on their path, no, they fucking rigged a crossbow to shoot as the entrance cloth was moved!
"Thank you" Gris looked slightly shocked as well. And I could understand her. She was so careful, and then almost got herself killed because she dropped her guard.
Luckily, if any wound can be considered lucky, the crossbow was too close for the bolt to lodge and so it simply tore a hole in my palm. Gris produced a bandage from a small pouch on the back of her belt and after using some water from my flagon to wash the wound, tightly bandaged it.
Initially, I reached for the healing potion, but in the end, decided that spending my last potion just to check on its effect was a bit dumb. We were only halfway to Megvuroz, and even though I hoped nothing would occur, who knows? Maybe I will need it later.
When first aid was finished, Gris made me stay put and entered the tent alone after a slow and methodical examination of the entrance for almost ten minutes. Oh, but through the sidewall where she had cut, simply tearing the cloth for it to allow her passage.
About half an hour later, we began returning to the camp. I asked her if she found something interesting, as she exited the tent with a sack that she was now carrying, but she shook her head.
"Not really. Still, most of the camping supplies had to be bought somewhere, so I took anything that can be possibly traced" She explained and seeing my blank expression, continued to explain "You see, any blacksmith or store tend to mark their merchandise. For one to prevent theft, but also to show off their quality. Inside I found some kitchen utensils, a grinding stone, a couple of bedrolls, and so on. We will examine each, and if any carry a mark that Reuben or I know about, we will have a lead"
The explanation was logical enough for me, but somehow I doubted that it was everything to it. Still, between the aching hand and the accumulated tiredness, as well that I did not want to pry, I simply left it at that.
***
The return journey was quicker, and by far. The distance was hardly over two kilometers, and so we reached the well in less than twenty minutes. Gris was thinking about something and so walked in silence, and I decided to do so as well.
My thoughts were mainly about the night events, and I made a shortlist of things that I needed to work on. For starters, I haven't been using my skills as I should.
As an example, the moment when I saw Gris fighting; In place of checking her health, stamina, and everything else with 'Status Screen', I just assumed she was tired. And then after seeing blood, found out that she was wounded. Things that I would have known right away just with a simple inner command!
Then there was also the need to plan a strategy for fights. I did not want to fight, truly, but this wasn't an isekai novel like the ones I read. No invincibility or godly abilities to remain unhurt and win any fight. No dozens of good people that suddenly pledge to serve or protect the otherworlder.
No bandits and other bad guys that suddenly turn good after you talk with them.
Lieade was a dangerous place, and if you could not defend yourself, you would end dead. That was the truth I had to assume and prepare for.
***
"Reuben and the boys will take care of the explanations and everything. Closer to dinner the Count will assembly us, probably, but before that? Consider yourself free. So you should take the chance and rest for the day" Gris snapped out of her thoughts only when we neared the wagons. After saying this, she smiled at me, added a "And thank you, for both times" and then walked away with her haul.
"Lindar? Where did you disappear to? We both looked for you and could not find you in the camp!" I heard Kierra's voice coming from the direction of the wagons and turned towards her, waving to her with my right hand while hiding the bandaged left.
"Sorry, I was asked to accompany Gris for a small outing. We have returned just now" I explained while approaching her slightly sideways. I did my best to avoid her seeing the bloody bandage, as I simply did not want to stress them. Although they reacted very stoically to the dangers, both she and Angelique worried about me. And I knew it.
"Oh, and why did you not tell us before leaving?" She sent me a stern gaze.
"Sorry, nobility orders and all that" I shrugged and then changed topics "I recall you said something about preparing food?"
"Ah, yes! You are the only one to have not eaten yet, at least from the ones that aren't still sleeping. Give me a moment!" It worked out perfectly and she disappeared into the food supplies wagon, only to emerge in a few moments while holding a plate with a... sandwich? Yeah, let's go with it.
"Thank you" I had used the time she wasn't looking to summon my blanket, which now covered my bandaged hand.
After receiving the plate, I asked her about Angelique and was told that the latter went to retrieve the plates from the guards. Now sure that both of them were safe and sound, I took my leave explaining that I will go sleep for a while.
***
The sun was up and I have never liked sleeping with light, so after thinking for a bit, I walked towards the three tents camp. Kalle was still around, and after asking, he permitted me to occupy their tent. Which I promptly did.
The sandwich, well, loaf of bread with a few pickled vegetables and a piece of cold meat, was delicious as anything that the girls cooked. And I enjoyed it by accompanying it with the remnants of the 'Witch's Grog'. Having tested it on the guys, I now at least knew that it was safe to drink.
I do not know if it was the alcohol or just the fact that the day was called 'Prayer' day, but by some reason, I decided to direct a few words to Sepyre. Hardly a prayer, more like a greeting. Still, they were not the usual complaints. So... Progress?
Noticing that I had recovered another point of mana, I also decided to 'Record' everything until now before sleeping...