The road we are currently taking is rougher compared to before. The carriage was barely able to squeeze among the bushes and trees. It was clear that this path was rarely taken. The moonlight barely passes in this forest and the weeds growing in this trail were much longer.

Bosu said that it would take almost a day to be able to get out of this place and see an open field once again. It is decided that we would be spending the night here before resuming the next morning.

After a while of moving within this forest, we found an open space that could be used as a camping site. It was good timing since it was getting difficult to maneuver with only a [Light Orb] as the source of light. Bosu was the only one who doesn't have one since everyone except him has a magic scroll of the spell. It doesn't matter though because three orbs were enough to be able to see what's in front of us.

'No one here is capable of light magic so we might depend on our potion if things go bad.'

It may be instinct as a demon, but I felt gazes in the darkness as soon as we entered this forest.

I reminded myself to be on full alert especially when we may not be alone in this forest.

With everything in its place, we quickly set up the camp before the duration of the [Light Orb] expire. I was assigned to handle setting the mat to be used for sleeping, Yukio handles the fire and food, the burly man was creating a shelter using earth magic, and Bosu was just lounging around.

Everything was finished and the meal was the last to be ready and served. I munched my food quietly at the corner while the same people were the ones talking over dinner. Both of them have truly became acquainted during this trip.

We didn't decide to have any rotation for night watch because Bosu told us that no creature will disturb us because of the flower. Although I'll have my guard up for tonight since it was still present, whatever was watching us.

While I was worrying here by myself, it didn't take long for Bosu to show signs of sleepiness after eating his meal. He was surprisingly calm in these circumstances considering he doesn't have any fighting capabilities. He even took the lead and said "Good Night" first before going in the dirt shelter to sleep.

He left the three of us in an awkward situation.

No one wants to talk to start talking so Yukio decided to follow Bosu and end the night. The burly guard doesn't have any plan on moving soon until I said that I will go ahead and sleep. He was probably waiting for everyone to got to bed before he began to move. Although, he still went to his mat which was the farthest from the carriage.

I closed my eyes but I didn't enter the dream world. As a demon, sleep is not needed as frequently as normal Humas does.

I made sure all of my sense except sight was observing any strange movements around us, specifically in the burly guard's location. From time to time, I could sense people watching us but it was too unclear to make a move.

At first, nothing happened. The only thing I could hear was the loud snoring of both Yukio and Bosu. This lasted quite a little while before something was out of the ordinary so I thought to myself that I'm just being paranoid.

*Rustle*

But I immediately removed that I thought when there was a rustling sound of someone moving.

I ready up my sword which was beside me the whole time and quietly rose. I didn't want to alarm anyone until I confirmed it.

Near the fire, I saw the burly guard taking something out before throwing it in the fire. He didn't notice me and went on doing whatever he was doing. As I was about to sneak at his back for an attack, I got a clear view of the thing he just threw in the fire. It was a bunch of sticks used for fueling.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

I can't attack him with what he was doing. If he is truly innocent as how he looks, raising my weapon against him will only invite trouble.

It's was too late to go back unnoticed but I was able to put my sword back to its sheath before the burly guard turned around.

When he looked at me, he got the face that was telling, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to take a piss" I came up with an excuse knowingly that I was already up.

He was looking at the object at my waist but when he saw it was just a sword, he didn't give it any more attention. Fortunately, he didn't pry any further and let me passed through.

I moved away from the campsite and planned to wait for a while before returning to avoid any suspicions.

*******

"Thank God he is finally gone. I hate seeing those dead eyes. He has been suspicious of me since this morning.

Thankfully, both of them are only Novice mages and it looks like they are also swordsmen. Much easier for the plan."

The burly guard was talking to himself while trying to put out the fire with a bunch of sticks that were on the ground.

"Damn it! Why won't it die!"

"Of course it won't, you idiot. You're just giving it more fuel to live."

A scolding voice echoed among the trees. The source of it was a woman dressed in all black, making her blend in the darkness. Beside her were two similarly dressed men who were much taller than her.

"So how do I put this off?" The burly guard seems to be familiar with the people who just showed up in the scene.

"You can use your water magic, you idiot. And you are supposed to be the eldest. sigh~

I'm amazed that you were able to convince them for the whole day, Tsuchi"

"Ahh..."

Tsuchi, the burly guard, realized what the woman was saying.

He cast a simple water spell putting out the fire that he was trying to put out for a long time.

The sound of sizzling water seems to be loud since Yukio who was sleeping, moved. It alerted everyone awake but when they checked him, Yukio only changed his position before snoring once again.

"Idiot! You should have been more careful, we almost had a problem"

"I'm sorry, Mitsu." Tsuchi was scratching his head after the woman, Mitsu, smacked it.

"Forget about it, let's go to the next phase of the plan."

Hearing this, the people beside him, including Tsuchi, quietly moved towards the carriage. The horses who weren't able to sleep because of the magic place by Bosu on them were knocked unconscious before they could make any sound. One of the men of Mitsu went inside the carriage and carefully took the wooden boxes one by one.

Mitsu went closer to inspect the boxes if the content was the flower they were looking for.

"Jackpot! It's truly is the Miracle Flower. I can't believe he was talking about this much."

Mitsu almost couldn't contain her excitement when she saw the amount the wooden boxes contained. Meanwhile, the men who were with him were all clueless about why she was so happy.

"Will this make us really rich, big sister? The man who opened the boxes asked.

"It will make us more than rich. Just imagine, you can bathe in gold coins every single day until you die."

"Will we die?"

Everyone besides her was still clueless about the true value of the flower in front of them. Mitsu seems to have realized that she was talking to idiots so she didn't explain any further.

She ordered her men to double-check the carriage whether there are things that have some worth.

"Aaaa, this is heavy"

Tsuchi attempted to bring the luggage of Yukio but stopped when he heard his joints popped.

"You're a big guy but you can't carry that?" Mitsu ridiculed.

"This is no joke. I can't believe he was able to bring this. Let me check what's inside it."

What he saw was a bunch of steel armor. He took out everything that was inside of Yukio's bag carefully to avoid any noise as told by Mitsu. It took a while before he emptied the bag.

The contents were a steel helmet, steel chest plate, steel legging, steel gloves, and some potion along the way.

"What is this! These are all trash! No one wants to buy these! I expected staff of some sort because it was so big and heavy but it was only toys for swordtrash. How disappointing."

Tsuchi sighed dejection after all the effort he put into ransacking the heavy luggage of Yukio.

The others didn't care about his situation and checked the other luggage. Unfortunately, there was little to no value on the things that were inside the remaining bags. Some magic scrolls and potion were the only things that have to value have been looted.

All men were downhearted by their loot. Only Mitzi was the one who continued smiling among the sad expression. She knows her men only care about staves and anything related to magic. They are true magic junkies who don't know anything besides being a mage.

That's why she chose them. They were easy to control.

"What are we going to do with those two?" One of the men asked.

"If I remember correctly, the merchant has some background. Hmmm..."

Misti was thinking deeply while observing the two people who were still asleep despite everything that was happening around them.

"Go tie them both. We could get a ransom for that merchant. Meanwhile, that handsome boy can be sold to slave merchants. I bet he would be popular among the old ladies."

"Yes, big sister." They simultaneously respond.

A rope and cloth bag was prepared before they started to handle both Yukio and Bosu.

Mitsu cast [Bubble Sphere] into their heads to trap them both. It was to remove any sound when tying them up.

Yukio woke up suffocating inside the water spell. He tried to comprehend what was happening to him. When he saw the strange people surrounding him, he violently struggled with his body thrashing everything around him. He was able to stop those people from tying him but eventually lost consciousness due to a shortage of oxygen.

Mitsu popped the bubble after seeing Yukio stopped struggling. She made sure that he was left alive.

Bosu on the other hand was captured without any effort. For the whole procedure, he didn't open his eyes or move any parts of his body. Mitsu even popped the bubble early in fear that he was already dead. Although, he was still breathing when he came out of the bubble.

"How about the pale guy?" Tsuchi mentioned Silva who went out to take a break.

"Kaze already got him. I gave the signal to kill him. He is useless for us, he can't even be sold with his appearance. We'll go ahead, he will meet us later"

Seemingly done with the looting, they left the scene.