Knight Captain Rafhound came towards me during training. The Heroes were fighting a bunch of slime like monsters that had been brought in. I was just reading as usual and turned my attention to the Captain who had a smile plastered on his face.
"Davios you would not believe what happened last night."
"Really? Try me," I smiled in return.
"We caught the scum who were targeting you Heroes."
I pretended to be surprised, "That's great! What happened?"
"Well that's the thing. Apparently some adventurer came and cleaned them all up. No one really could tell what he looked like. Some said it was a girl wearing full armour, while others said it was an old sage."
"He must have been quite strong."
"That's the thing. From what the assassins said he managed to take down a warbeast they summoned alone. Strength of that level immediately puts you at least as strong as a Knight Captain."
"Oh? So that means you've handled a warbeast yourself?"
His expression darkened, "A few times. Some of the hardest fights I've had but it landed me this job." I was impressed, a warbeast wasn't something you were meant to be able to kill alone, though I really couldn't speak on that matter.
"So did you find out who they were?"
"The King asked me not to tell you… but," he looked around to make sure no one else was in earshot, "as the Heroes you have the most right to know. It was a powerful radical group from the Klerical Kingdom. You've heard how they consider their King a God?" I had heard of it in passing. The Klerical King was the leader of their country and the figurehead of their church. He also had a past relation with my grandfather that was by no means friendly. "It seems some extremist faction decided that the Heroes should only serve under their God and no one else."
I scratched my chin, "As Heroes we have to meet with him don't we?"
"Eventually yes, but if you refuse to, know that Elsbeth will stand by your needs whomever we must face." Those words seemed like something the King would have made him say but his expression clearly meant it. This guy had really warmed up to me since I first met him.
"Anyway, with that settled. It would be possible for us to leave the palace now would it not?"
The Captain looked away guiltily, "Well… the King would rather you stay here longer. While the other Heroes have had amazing progress so far, it might be better not to leave for some time."
I looked at him dubiously, "You don't believe that do you?" I gestured to the Heroes who were finishing up the last of the slimes. Sayuri had the slimes core pierced on her sword and it exploded apart. They deftly dodged the remains while a barrier stopped it from coming towards us. "That was a King slime that a group of mid ranked adventures would struggle with. They're not even scratched. With their current talent they could easily become renowned across the country. They're being stifled here and not only that, we have a duty to meet the people, something we haven't even attempted yet."
"I can't argue with your words." The Captain sighed, "I'll bring it up with the King and Master Heafest."
"Thank you."
"No, it's the least I can do." He turned to the recuperating Heroes and let out a commanding voice, "Well done! Training is complete for today. For further practice spar with one another and work on reinforcement."
"Yes sir!" they responded.
He looked back to me and softer "I'll be off then."
"See ya," I waved goodbye as he left the courtyard. The Heroes replaced him by my side. "Good job today. I had a talk with the Knight Captain. If things go well, we should be able to leave the palace soon."
"All right!" Gary cheered, "Does that mean we can go prowl the town? Hunt monsters in the forest? Head off into the sunset as we venture forth to the unknown?"
Alicia smacked him in the back of the head, "Calm down, you're getting too excited again."
I chuckled, "Well we can do most those things. For starters I'll suggest we go camping."
"Camping?"
"We'll be travelling a lot later so we need to get used to the outdoors."
"…." Alicia looked displeased.
Carl cleared his throat to gather our attention, "Umm that aside we actually all wanted to speak with you Dave."
"Hmmm, what about?"
Their gazes became serious. "About yesterday. We wanted to talk earlier but we couldn't find the right time for it…."
"Spit it out then."
"The servant girl from yesterday. What happened after? Last night we couldn't sleep well so we knocked on your room door but you didn't answer. And I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I heard some of what you and the Captain were talking about. Where did you go last night?"
"Huh?" I feigned perfect ignorance, "I was sleeping last night. About the girl, I took her to the servant's quarters to get some rest. Then I investigated to make sure the sickness she had didn't spread. After that I went back to our rooms and since I didn't see any of you I went straight to bed."
"Is that true?" Carl asked hesitantly.
"Why would I lie? What did you think I was the one who went and subjugated the lot of people outside? Just how strong do you think I am? Besides their description was nothing like me. I'm sorry I must have been in deep sleep not to notice you knocking on my door."
He let out a relieved smile, "No it's fine. I guess we were all just jumping to conclusions."
"It's all good. Now let's get some lunch." I cheerfully turned away and lead them to our allocated dining room. Inside however I frowned. It was strange, I should have had a spell to alert me if anyone tried to knock on my door. It didn't sound like they were lying to me but that meant whoever knocked on my door didn't trigger my magic. I shouldn't underestimate these Heroes.
It was the daily magic lesson and today I was paying particular attention to each of the Heroes. Gary had the most talent in magic. Alicia was particularly good in single step power techniques. Carl was an all-rounder and Sayuri had talent in casting mana through her weapon.
My attention was drawn away from them to Heafest as he approached me.
"I heard you'd like to leave the palace."
"Not only me but the other Heroes as well," I replied evenly.
"But if you were not here I think that they would have preferred to stay longer." Just what was he accusing me of?
"Their curiosity is their own. I simply answer their questions."
"Is that so?"
"Of course. Besides, isn't it best to let them spread their wings a little more?" This old fart was still trying to win the Heroes to his country. In a way he wasn't much better than those fanatics from the Klerical Kingdom.
"As someone from this world you might think so, but they are strangers to our lands. They need to be nurtured and cared for."
"If they never leave they'll never learn," I said harder, annoyed. "They're Heroes, their duty is to this land, they do not belong to one single country." His reaction made me regret my words. His face stiffened coldly but he didn't go against what I said and instead,
"You are right, perhaps we shall leave."
I may have just complicated things.
"Heroes your attention please," Heafest called, "It has been decided that you will journey outside the palace but before that we shall test your ability."
"Oooh? A test? I'll ace it!" Gary pumped his arm. Alicia went to hit him but he dodged, "Ha, don't think I'll get-," smack. She hit him harder instead.
"What kind of test?" Alicia asked as if nothing had happened.
"Follow me to the courtyard." So we did.
In the courtyard were the Knight Captain, some of his knights, a few magicians, servants and even the King himself. It had been awhile since we had seen him.
"Heroes it has been some time," the King greeted us. "My apologies for not being able to come see you more often."
"No, thank you for coming your Highness," Carl responded, "We have been told of how busy you are."
"Of course. Today I have come to see how you have grown." He turned to the Knight Captain, "Telius tells me that you would like to leave the palace. I would hardly like to impede upon you. Preparations are already underway."
"Thank you once more," Carl bowed. "But we still must pass this test."
"I certainly hope you do."
I hid my inner feelings. What were they planning? I thought there would be more resistance to leaving than this. Surely they knew once we left it wouldn't be long till we left Elsbeth entirely.
Captain Rafhound came forward, "Boulders!" five rocks the size of each of us were moved to the courtyard. "As I said when I first began training you. Within one week you must be able to break these. Show us what strength you have obtained."
Without hesitation I went first. I held the staff they had given me in front and with that motion the boulder split. There was small clapping from the crowd. I looked towards the Heroes and nodded. Carl returned the nod and I felt the mana within his body begin to form. With a step he swung forwards and cleaved the rock apart. Sayuri came next and silently cut through it easily. Her movement was quick and light completely opposite of what came next. Gary yelled out in excitement,
"Earth lance!" the lance shot into the boulder and stuck firmly merging with the rock, "Now explode!" It shattered apart. "Ha, how's that sis? Bet you can't-,"
"Breaker!" Alicia flashed forward and the boulder was obliterated into dust as her fist collided with the should be solid rock. …. I would have to watch out for that attack later. Well now they were all on at least the level of an average Knight.
"Congratulations you pa-," Captain Rafhound was interrupted by a wave of Heafest's hand.
"Not so fast. There will be another layer to this test," Heafest began, "Breaking rocks is fine but we'd like to see what other skills you have gathered. As such please demonstrate with each other," his gaze targeted me with a smirk, "or more appropriately, fight Davios."
"Excuse me!?" I responded flabbergasted.
"Davios you are already a talented magician. If the Heroes can fight on par with you, surely they will be able to survive outside the safely of our walls."
"Well yeah but…."
"Sounds interesting let's do this!" Gary cheered.
"Hang on," I tried to begin.
"I also think it will be a good experience," Carl nodded.
"Not you too!"
Alicia smiled, "I'll get you back for that joke you pulled the other day."
"I just swapped your drinks around!"
"I'd like to fight you as well please," Sayuri took a stance.
"Well at least one of you said please." I sighed, "Fine come at me. Are you going all at once or one at a time? Please go one at a time…."
"As further incentive I'd like to propose an award," Heafest smiled. This bastard was adding more fuel to the fire! "The King has a daughter and son you have yet to meet. Perhaps after this you can meet them."
"A real princess? That's it I'm first!" Gary yelled. Mana began to circle inside his body. "Earth Lance!"
I blocked it with a barrier. Dust covered my vision but I could feel a large amount of energy forming from the other side.
"You could at least wait till I'm ready," I grumbled as the dust cleared. When it passed I was greeted with an assortment of magic. Fireballs, Earth Lances, Ice Lances, spears made from light and darkness…. "Hey now isn't that a bit much?"
"Elemental barrage!"
Fine then I'll just block it or so I would have but I caught the Heafest's eye. He was staring at me with a calculative gaze. He was analysing my ability. So that was the reason for all this. If that's the case I'd win with the minimum use of my overwhelming power. I whipped up a cloud of dust as cover and summoned a cloud to ride on. By the time the deadly barrage had struck down I had burst through my cover and made it to Gary's side. I smacked him in the head with my staff. Of course with my physical strength it wouldn't have hurt at all but it was a symbolic victory.
"You're out," I declared. "In a one on one you won't have people guarding your back. Keep that in mind." He raised his hands in defeat and sat down on the spot while pouting.
"Next is me!" Carl pounced forward with a slice. A strong gust of wind pushed me back but I overcame it and moved the cloud to dodge his next attack.
"At least give me time between rounds," I said as he charged at me again.
"Sorry, I know you're strong so there's no holding back."
"Tch," I spat and intercepted his sword with a barrier. Before he could retract I clicked my finger at his sword.
"Ah hot!" he let go on reflex and I hit him on the head with my staff as well.
"Magicians have many ways to attack. Don't only resist magic from your body but also your belongings." Carl also sat down.
By this pattern, next should be Alicia.
"Breaker!"
"What already?" I sent the cloud sideways as Alicia missed sending a shockwave towards the crowd. Many of the servants watching screamed as the impact collided with a barrier in front of them. Her movements were stronger than the others but she also had a tendency to attack in a straight pattern. Like this I could easily evade and find a way to counter once she tired, or so I thought as I felt the slightest shift in mana behind me. I abandoned the cloud as Sayuri cut through it and Alicia barged in from the front.
"Hey, what happened to one at a time?" I snapped.
"You said that. We didn't," Alicia grinned and Sayuri nodded.
They charged as one. Alicia blocked the front while Sayuri quickly moved to my side. I summoned a cloud to escape back but Sayuri released a pre-emptive strike and a dark flame cut off my retreat as she continued to run towards me. Before I could escape to my free side, Alicia struck the earth with one of her hands and a thick earth wall boxed me in. Damn this was getting tricky. I could fly up but this spell wasn't meant to be able to do that with the level I was pretending it was. No normal barrier should be able to block Alicia's fist and Sayuri had a knack for cutting barriers. I could box myself in with an earth wall entirely but again Alicia should be able to break that. I really didn't want Heafest to learn any other spells I was capable of. Of the middle class spells what else did I have? Wait, why was I trying so hard? Couldn't I just lose?"
"Hold it!" I shouted.
"Huh?" Alicia let out unable to stop so suddenly. She tried to change directions but that sent her into Sayuri who was already in a panic after my shout. Thankfully all of Alicia's mana had been discharged so she simply barrelled into Sayuri. Though it still looked funny.
"Sorry!" Alicia let out as she squished the smaller girl beneath her.
"No problem…." Sayuri gasped.
"I wonder if I could count this as my win," I laughed lightly.
"What no way. You said to hold it!" Alicia complained getting up.
"If a bandit said that, he could have tricked you and won."
"But you're not a bandit!"
"I still could have tricked you."
Sayuri stood up and looked at me with slightly a miffed expression, "Cheating is not allowed."
"Eh, ah…." Don't look at me like, you're actually making me feel bad. Don't make the Demon Lord feel bad, don't you know he'll steal your soul! Well not really. "Fine, it's my loss." Even though they double teamed me…. I'd get back at them later.
And with that I 'lost' and our trip outside the palace was finalised.