One of the groups amongst the crowd was made up of ten uniformed guards, a handsome young male, a beautiful young lady, and a butler.
The handsome young male walked up and asked Clark, “How long will it take to pass through the mountain range, and what are the chances that we all make it? You may have crossed the mountain range hundreds of times, I don’t doubt that, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the ones you brought along made it as well.”
One of Clark’s sons snorted, and advanced toward the handsome male before Clark raised his hand, and motioned him back.
“Hm, these are fair questions. It will take us two days to reach the bottom of the mountain range, and another ten days to cross it. As for if those who follow make it to the Reiniad Kingdom or not, I can only show you the most ideal path. Whether you survive depends on too many factors that I can control.
“However, I can claim this - following me or one of the other guides will increase the likelihood that you make it to the Reiniad Kingdom alive tenfold, and in the least amount of time. If you’d like to try on your own, be my guest - If you make it to the Reiniad Kingdom within the month, I’ll retire.”
“Oh ho, strong words. Please, don’t take my words as an insult; I simply wanted confirmation. With your assurance, my heart is at peace.” The handsome young man gave a small bow, and stepped back.
Gust rolled his eyes and muttered, “What a goddamn prince.”
Another traveller, dressed in mage robes showing that he was a Rank 8 Elementary Mage, raised his hand.
“Yes, esteemed mage?”
“Which tribe territories will we be passing through for this trip?”
“Those of the Silver Hawk Tribe.”
Hearing this, many of the travellers unconsciously reached for their weapons, or shifted in place.
As someone who’d never cared about the mountain tribes, Marcus was one of the few who hadn’t moved. However, he was curious regarding everyone’s reactions, and spoke up.
“Who’s this Silver Hawk Tribe?”
This time, one of Clark’s sons spoke up.
“The Silver Hawk Tribe is one of the most active raiding tribes. They usually raid farms and the like, but every so often they’ll raid an entire village or town. Their most famous attack happened some ten-odd years ago, when they attacked Unity Town, Border Town’s predecessor, and wiped out the whole village.
“Although, Unity Town was so close to the mountain range, only an idiot wouldn’t have expected such a result.”
Hearing this, Gust’s hands closed into fists.
Marcus sniffed, then asked. “How many soldiers does this Silver Hawk Tribe have?”
Clark burst out into laughter, then looked toward Marcus, amusement in his eyes. “You’re quite something, aren’t you. Well, to answer your question, none of the mountain tribes have ‘soldiers’, per say, but most consider their entire adult population to be the tribe’s fighting force. The Silver Hawk Tribe has about a thousand fighters. As such, a group of ours, more than three hundred strong, should be large enough to make them think twice about attacking us.”
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After a few more questions, the group set out through Border Town’s eastern entrance, toward the Alaki Mountain Range.
Gust and Wesley naturally slowed their pace until they were at the back of the group, while Marcus and Kay, by chance, were just slightly farther ahead.
As the day passed, the mountains in the distance grew closer and closer, Gust’s footsteps became heavier and heavier, to the point where Wesley, who was walking beside him, could literally feel each footstep as it fell.
Wesley looked up, then squeezed Gust’s hand.
“Don’t worry. Our big sister, your family, will be avenged.”
Gust’s shoulders rose as he pulled himself together. “Tch, when did she become your big sister too? Besides, I have full confidence in us. One of the world’s greatest fighters and his little sidekick. What could go wrong?”
“...”
Although Gust and Wesley hadn’t been overly loud, Marcus and Kay had both been well within earshot.
Marcus’s eyes widened as he nearly tripped in surprise. That kid that had battled him to a draw despite being two years younger could only be considered a sidekick? How strong was the teenager to claim such a thing?
Meanwhile, Kay, who had already experienced Gust’s shamelessness, shook her head yet again before looking upon Wesley with pity in her eyes.
Just what had that kid done in his previous life to deserve being paired with such a bumbling idiot in this one?
…
12 hours later.
As the sun dipped below the western horizon, Clark finally halted and waved for those behind him to do the same. As they’d been trudging along for most of the last twelve hours, most had been simply putting one foot in front of the other and hadn’t even paid any attention where they were.
They’d stopped at the edge of a clearing, next to which was a forest. Most in the group nodded when they realized where they were. It wouldn’t do for them to spend the night in the forest, so this looked to be the best place to stop for the night. Clark indeed was a reliable guide.
“We’re stopping for the night! Set up camp! You-” He pointed to a few people closest to him. “You, you, and you. Yes, you. You’ll be the first guard shift for tonight.”
Then, he pointed toward the young, handsome man who’d spoken up earlier. “You, and three of your guards. You’ll be the second guard shift tonight.”
Hearing this, the young man’s eyes narrowed, and his entourage seemed ready to explode with fury.
However, the young man’s face quickly broke into a smile. “Of course, Clark.”
“Alright, now that shifts have been settled for the night,
As everyone prepared for the night, Clark and his sons kept watch from the frontmost, easternmost, side. After checking that everyone around them was preoccupied, Clark whispered into one of his sons’ ears.
The son nodded, then quickly ran into the forest, and disappeared among the trees and leaves in mere seconds.
At that moment, for unknown reasons, the young handsome man suddenly smirked.
Seeing this, the beautiful girl beside him asked, “Brother, what happened?”
“Ah? Oh, nothing. Just seems that this trip will be more eventful than we’d thought. Still, nothing we should worry about, I think. After all, Father’s personal guards are at the same level as Silver Knights.”
“Ahh… why don’t we have some fun, then?”
“But of course. For now though, let me sleep. I’ve got the second guard shift, remember?”
“Tch, why didn’t you let the guards teach him a lesson for such insolence?”
“We’re among commoners, sister. We should aim to be role models, something for them to aspire to be.”
“...tch.”