Finishing his business in Lubana Kingdom, Cedrick decided to go back to Kunlon as he wanted to pick up Claire and do something as their monarch.
Cedrick decided not to use teleportation as he wanted to explore the way and experience the long travel as he was used in traveling with cars in his previous life. He began preparing for his journey. The first thing he had to do was figure out what to pack.
Now that he would be bringing his apostles with him, as they did not have the benefits of immortality that could negate the fatigue and hunger.
He dicided to visit many shop to get supplies. First he headed towards the armory shop as all weapons in his inventory were all scraps and Cedrick didn't want to smith as he was eager to experience the traveling without the cars.
A wooden sign with a drawing of a sword and shield shook with the wind. He thought he was doing something unnecessary however, the forest was crawling with monsters, and he had no choice but to arm the three children for them get experience.
Cedrick opened the store's door and went in. Numerous weapons and shields hung on the walls, and weapons filled up the showcase from back to back.
"Welcome!"
The store owner enthusiastically welcomed Cedrick and the children inside. Cedrick thought that it was common for armory shops to have many rough customers, store owners often acted rough, but this place seemed to have at least some sort of customer service.
"Is there an item you are looking for…?!"
Cedrick drew a blade next to him and stopped the store owner from approaching. The blade reflected the sunshine that poured in through the window.
Ting!
'This sword seems okay.'
[Mass-produced One-handed Short Sword]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 51/51 Attack Power: 423
Attack Speed: 7% Accuracy: 2%
User Restriction: Level 10 or higher. Beginner Sword Mastery.]
Then, he tried swinging the sword.
Swish!
He made a clean half-circle with the sword. The store keeper was taken aback at first and then he was impressed on how he handled it.
'The balance is alright.'
Cedrick was satisfied with the sword. Of course, this sword could not compare to the weapons he had created in Kunlon which were Epic rated items.
Cedrick decided to buy the sword if it was not too expensive. Then, he put back the sword he took out and dragged the children to where the short swords were.
'These are also pretty okay.'
Cedrick picked out a suitable short sword and passed it onto Laurence and Joross after testing it out.
He then looked at Ruzzel and asked the kid.
"What weapon would be your preference? As you know the class I gave you is not a swordsman related and you should find a weapon you like to create your own style."
As Ruzzel is the Shadow King, he can stay at back of his shadows and watch letting them finish of his targets but Cedrick knew this kid won't like that as he knows he would like to fight himself instead of doing nothing.
Ruzzel fell in a thought for a while as he understood what Cedrick is implying. It took a while for him to reply.
"Spear. I would like to use a spear Master."
Hearing him, Cedrick went on a corner and pick up something.
[Gale Spear]
Rating: Rare
Durability: 72/72 Attack Power: 476
Critical Chance: +5% Atack Speed: +10%
* Attack speed will increase by 1% for every attack that connects.
User Restriction: Level 10 or higher. Beginner Spear Mastery or higher.]
Cedrick picked out a suitable spear and passed it onto Ruzzel. The children were so happy in the thought that they would be able to learn how to fight.
"Well, we never know what will happen in the future, so having a weapon is a smart option. In general, I will guard you, but we should also be prepared for the worst-case scenario."
Cedrick snapped them out from their daze as he shifted his attention towards the armor. Like a scarecrow, several pieces of armor hung on a wooden pole. Most of the armor was made out of thick cloth or fur and had wood or metal on the body's vital areas.
The children on the other hand look at the armors and found it strange their is no plate armor around. Looking at them, Cedrick knew what us going on their heads.
"I bet you are wondering why there is no plate armor. Even though being armed is a necessity in this world, metal plate armor is ridiculously expensive. If a store like this actually sold metal plate armor, the owner would be out of his mind."
The store owner nodded in agreement. He didn't look angry at Cedrick's claims. On contrary, the rare items he got can already be considered as one of the best.
"Try wearing this first."
Cedrick gave them leather armor. The armor was tied with a string in the back and had metal plates on the chest and joint areas to increase defense. They grabbed the armor, but hesitated. As a slaves, there was no way they knew how to put an armor on.
"I will put it on for you."
The store owner offered his help seing them on a struggle. They watched the store owner put the armor on themm and tried to memorize each step. Since the store owner was experienced, it did not take long for him to finish. Laurence, Joross and Ruzzel looked down at their armored body in fascination.
Cedrick on the other hand didn't by anyrhing for him as he was confident in his defense and he prefer his hoody than armor.
After making sure that the armor did not inhibit their movements by tightly holding onto his fists for the last time, Cedrick said in calm voice,
"Okay, all set! Give me the check!"
****
After buying basic weaponry, Cedrick began to prepare for other things he needed on his journey. He packed items such as blankets, flint for outdoor camping, and foods like jerky. After they finished purchasing all the necessary items, The four of them looked like travelers. Then, they went outside the walls that surrounded Lubana's capital.
Their expressions were vibrant as they walked out. Cedrick was cheerful and hummed lightly, and his steps were light and effortless. The children's expressions, on the other hand, were full of enthusiasm and expectation.
"Master, have you decided on your destination?"
Laurence asked as he was very excited at the moment. Cedrick saw the looks in the eyes of children as if they were looking for an adventure.
"Kunlon."
"Isn't Kunlon a city of the barbarian, Master?"
"Yeah."
Like before, Cedrick seemed to be moving without plans, but it wasn't like he had no plans at all.
'Should I look for items that appeared in the novel or not?'
He was eager to have the items the protagonist of the novel has acquired as he wanted to experience it.
'As I travel around, I will look for them if I remember.'
He looked up at the sky and grinned. In contrast to what he was feeling, the sky was overwhelmingly bright and blue.
The children on the other hand imagined the scene of the Legendary City of the powerful barbarians as they knew how strong they were. They felt reassured to find out their first location and thought that it would be more comfortable to go to a famous city than to go to a random, strange who-knows-where place.
But only after a half of a day since their departure, they realized that they had been too naïve.
"Um, Master? Are we straying from the path?"
Laurence, who had been quietly following Cedrick, spoke while trembling after Cedrick began to stray off from the road.
"I know."
But Cedrick's footsteps did not stop.
"Isn't that not the path, Master?"
"I told you, I know."
Insecurity began to rise in their' hearts slowly. Laurence desperately wished that Cedrick was straying away from the path for a moment to take a look or something like that. And like usual wishes that arose in moments of insecurity, it seemed his wish would not come true.
"Is there a reason why we need to follow the path and go around and around? If we go straight like this, we can reach Kunlon in half the time."
Listening to him plainly, Cedrick was right. However, as Laurence looked at the bright green and densely packed forest, he could not agree with Cedrick's comments.
"E-even if the distance is longer, I think it will take a shorter amount of time if we follow the path, Master."
"What are you talking about? Let's go."
Cedrick occasionally navigating the mini map and frowned as he looked at distance. Laurence listened to Cedrick as he want to see what would happen, so like a cow dragged into a slaughterhouse, he pulled his body forward.
****
People followed a path for a variety of reasons, the most important of which was safety. Travelers who deviated off the road risked encountering creatures capable of killing ordinary people with a single bite, as well as other perils. However, if a hundred individuals were asked what they felt the most dangerous thing outside of the route was, they would all say monsters.
Monsters had strong physical strength; some possessed magical abilities, and a few even had special abilities. They were currently the biggest threat to humanity's survival.
On the bright side, humans worked hard to drive monsters outside the locations where humans generally inhabited, resulting in a scarcity of monsters in densely populated areas. They, too, had never seen a monster. When the knights delivered monster corpses to the castle, they observed a monster from afar. Despite this, if they wandered even a small distance from the road, they could be assaulted by a swarm of monsters waiting nearby.
So, it was completely expected when they would soon met some monsters.
"Master, is that...?
"Stop being so loud. Is this your first time seeing a monster?"
They were surprised at first and then looked at Cedrick with anticipation, while Cedrick calmly looked on.
Krrrgh!
A green being that almost looked like a patient with its deep yellow eyes yelled ferociously at them.
"What is that?"
"That's a goblin."
"A-a goblin, Master?"
Curiosity was part of human nature, and they could not help but ask as they were feeling excitement at the moment. They had all seen how Cedrick fought the Yatan Followers and they wanted to be like him too.
The goblin was barely a meter tall. It wore nothing, and its only form of weapon was a wooden club that was crudely shaped. To be honest, the goblin didn't look frightening at all.
Even in the heroic novels that they read, goblins were not depicted as strong monsters. They merely came out as weak footmen compare to the mighty demons.
They wanted to test the power that Cedrick had blessed them and prepared themselves to a fight. Their hands began to move towards the short sword on his waist and spear on the back.
"You guys want to try fighting that?"
Cedrick looked curiously as the children who were about to dash and attack the goblin. Fighting with a goblin was a real-life experience with his life on the line.
"It's just a goblin. Wouldn't it be alright with Master? If I want to be useful to you, it will be good for me to gain combat experience early on."
Laurence said with a serious face and the others nodded to him as well. They did not want to be a disgrace as the apostles of the Arcane Dragon.
For them, Cedrick is more than a master. He is the one who saved them, the one who gave them strength, and the one who give them a reason to live.
They began to pull their weapon as they breathe calmly and relaxed their tensed bodies. Cedrick on the other hand looked forward to the first fighting experience of his apostles.