“Jordie, love, when will you return?”

I caressed the light green hair covering her teary face.

“Don’t worry! I’ll come back and after I’ve earned enough, we’ll leave this place together and get married! So, will you wait for me?”

With tears falling from her eyes, she smiled and nodded. She bit her sweet lips stopping her sobs from coming out. I flung most my belongings behind my back and directed a smile to the love of my life. And with a kiss goodbye to my dear Elaine, I left the far away village in the corners of Aurelis.

This was a story three years ago, and it didn’t end with a happy ending. It was utterly tragic, a year after I left she suddenly stopped replying to my letters. I knew I was asking for the impossible, but I never thought that she would be that impatient.

“I’m hungry…”

I rubbed my rumbling stomach while I reminisced about my reason for being here.

Is there any worth in staying with this company?

“Here.”

My fellow guard and a good friend, Ricky, gave me a piece of bread and a couple of dried fruits. I took a job as a guard for the Evaris Trading and this was my daily dinner. But it wasn’t this easy at first, after I left the village, I joined the Hunter’s Guild for easy money, but as proud as I am with my skills in hunting low level monsters, it seems I couldn’t work on high-paying hunts without proper skills. Leading me to a despicable noble who bought his nobility.

“Hey Jordie, if you were given a choice, would you still work for Evaris?”

He took a bite from his stale bread and looked at the starry sky and the big blue moon. It was a question I’ve been asking myself too. But, I always end up with the same answers.

“Yeah. You see, I didn’t have any skills aside from hunting low level monsters, I also didn’t have much money so I can’t buy any weapons and I was left broke. So when Evaris, offered to train me in return for my services, it felt like my luck was turning around.”

I thought so at first, but the sight of those slaves and all the merchants he crushed…

I smiled wryly at the mocking moon with it’s big shining face.

“I see. Me too, I guess. But I could do without the awful things we’ve been doing. Sometimes I feel like all those things will bite us in the back. But I need money so…”

He laughed, eating his dinner. For some, and I say— most of us from the outskirts, we find this job better based on the pay. Ricky is still young and he’s too honest for this job, so I can see his worry, but still, a job’s a job.

“Don’t think about it too much. You won’t last if you do.”

I rubbed his head. In his face, I can see how tired he was. I can imagine my face looking the same way, then I felt better thinking I wasn’t the only one.

“Welp, I’m done. I’ll do my rounds and you take a break. And don’t think too much.”

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I took a hanging lantern and walked into the forest. The caravan built a camp inside the forest to avoid eyes, because inside our carriages are not just sundries and wine, but also living beings. Humans, elves, beastmen, dwarves and sometimes, the ever so rare daemons, these living, breathing beings kidnapped and sold as merchandise.

After a full round of the area, a bush was rustling noisily right in front of me. Usually, it’s an animal or a weak monster that sensed me and ran away in fear. It’s rare, but it could also be a strong monster or an enemy attacking the caravan. But that was unlikely, I mean, nobody would dare attack the Evaris caravan because of it’s guards. Not to brag but we are as strong as B-rank Hunters.

But what was even rarer, something that will never happen, was for a golden eyed kid that was most likely a member of nobility would cover my mouth, pull me in the bushes and skillfully catch a burning lantern.

“Mhmph mmmp!!!”

I tried to scream to warn the others but my mouth was covered with monstrous strength. With one pull, I was down on the ground, overpowered by a kid.

How can a kid be stronger than an adult?!

The kid placed his finger on his lips hushing my panicked resistance.

“Calm down. I’ll let go of you but I need you to be quiet.”

Quiet? Who would listen to a brat like you?!

There was no way I would risk my pay for a brat like him, so I lied. I nodded my head and I felt his hand slowly leaving my mouth. And as soon as his hand left my mouth, I tried to scream.

“En—!!! Mmmm?!”

“God… I asked nicely you know?”

His hand found it’s way on my face again. He sighed, he wasn’t angry, but he was definitely annoyed because I felt his grip tighten on my restrained hands.

What’s with this brat?

“I’ll ask again ok? Calm down. I’ll hit you next if you don’t.”

With him holding me from behind, he whispered with words chilling enough to bring back winter. Fear gripped my heart and he slowly removed his hand on my face again and waited for me. I was scared but at the same time I felt like he wouldn’t kill me for no reason. So, I stopped my struggle and try to reason with him.

He might be after one of the slaves. But… a noble? Here?

“Good, good. I’ll tie you so be a good boy, ok?”

He said in a patronizing tone ill-matched with his size. The way he talk was weird and unusual for a noble, but his features definitely shows he led a pampered life. The delicate hand that tied mine and the well-maintained appearance.

Wait a minute… he really is just a kid! How can a brat overpower a grown man?!

I wanted to scream. That realization was truly dangerous, I would definitely have my pay deducted if he succeeds with whatever he plans to do! I need to warn them somehow.

“Hey. Calm down old man. Not gonna do anything yet, just recon, just recon.”

Recon? O-OK? What’re those?

He waved his hand to me with an attempt to calm me down. He then sat in front of me, crossed his legs and smiled like he was out talking with a friend.

“Now, my man! Tell me, you’re Jordan from the north, umm… Anventu Village right? A man with enough mana to be an wind mage but hated his father enough to seal his skills. Fell in-love with the beautiful Elaine and went to the golden city to earn money and marry her. Then, eventually lost her and failed at being a Hunter but then found a job and trained under Evaris Trading. With me, so far?”

What in blazes? Did I offend somebody I shouldn’t have? That can’t be…

I felt like wetting myself. I understood how he knew about Anventu and Elaine, but my hatred for my old man and his retelling of my life was so scary that I couldn’t stop trembling. Cold sweat trickled down my back and my face dripped with it.

This brat, his golden eyes glowed magnificently in the dark forest and those eyes looked at me, dissecting every inch of me, thinking how he’d eat me slowly and savor my…

“Oyyy. Old man. Yoohoo! I told you to calm down didn’t I? I’m not planning on doing anything yet so stop imagining stuff.”

He hit my head with his hand, I was so scared that I didn’t feel him squat beside me. If he doesn’t plan to kill me, then what?

“Ohhh! Now you’re asking the right questions. Well then, I want you to provide me everything you can about Evaris Trading’s security and in return…

He was reading my emotions perfectly, as if hearing my thoughts directly, he looked at me, insinuating something sinister.

In return? For my life? Is this how I die? Without ever knowing…

His laugh was loud enough for me to hear but quiet enough to remain hidden. He sat in front of me again and smiled.

“Haha! Look at that face, filled with so much regret. Don’t worry old man, I have a better incentive than your life. You miss the beautiful Elaine, right?”