As the battle completed between the people who fought the Flame Lion, I noticed that they all wore a same kind of badge pinned on their attire.
"Hey Mr.Blue Grim" I called him silently as we stood on the tree branch, right above the Flame Lion's corpse.
"What do you want Kid?" He responded.
"Why are the people there, wearing some kind of similar badges on their attire?"
"Huh? What are badges? they are Insignias Kiddo" he said.
So badges are known as Insignias in this world, eh? Both mean the same thing in some ways.
"Oh! Then, are they from a party or something?"
"Nah, apart from the Old man and the man with the spear, the two teenagers are students from a academy. My guess is that the Old Man is a teacher at the Academy, and the Man with the spear is probably the same!" He said.
Academy? Magic Academy? That's intriguing.
"Aiden! Calida! You both did a good job. You both are truly a genius sibling. Now, gather the Fame Lion's resources that we require, and then let's return back to the academy!" The man with the spear balanced out the complement towards the siblings.
They appear to be only a few years older than me! and they are skilled.
"Ethan! Lets get a move on. We shouldn't be here!" Mr. Blue Grim said to me. He was smiling, but it appears he doesn't want us to get in the way of their party.
So, I'll do what he says. I too want the same, and seeing the boy made me fired up. I'd like to fight a mana beast as well.
"Who is there, come on out!" shouted back the middle-aged man with the sword as we began to move.
What do we do now? Mr. Blue grim was still smiling, and he didn't move or change his position after that. Should I go out and approach them?
"That Old geezer! he really caught us good. haha!" Mr.Blue Grim said out with a silent voice.
"What should we do Mr.Blue grim??"
"You go out and meet'em kiddo!" He said.
Huh? Then why hide here in the first place?
"You can't hide! Reveal yourself, or you are forcing us to take you into custody!" The middle aged man kept howling from down there.
Sighs.
I guess I'll go.
I leapt from the tree branch and stepped out of the bushes. I first gave a smile towards the siblings and walked forward.
"Good day, Sirs and Mam!" I began with respect.
I noticed their reactions as soon as they saw me. I'm sure they'd think of me as just a cute little boy who appeared in front of them.
"A Kid?"
"A Kid?"
"Its a Kid?"
"Is that a Kid?"
They were all taken aback at the same time.
Humph! Thank God for my adorable appearances and the height that I had to stand amongst even a twelve-year-old child.
I engulfed my body with mana. Mr.Blue Grim taught me a technique to deal with the mana pressure from the forest's powerful mana beasts.
The technique has another application. Yes, I can roughly erase my mana now from flowing out from my body and cover it all up within the engulfed mana blanket using this technique.
It's not a perfect technique for concealing my mana, but it worked for my Light Red mana core stage.
"Hmm" The Middle aged man sensed that I had my mana tight without flowing out from a layer covering me.
"You know I can see you! Don't try to hide behind a child!" With a smile on his face, the middle-aged man yelled. Everyone understands that a kid like me coming this far into the woods alone is impossible.
Blue Grim emerged with a sigh, wearing no masks and carrying the demeanor of a completely different person. He is, indeed, an assassin.
"Sorry! Sorry! My nephew and I were just passing through. We watched as you all attacked the Flame Lion! Haha!"
"Passing by? Inside the Elven Mountains and the Deep Forest?" The Middle aged man asked us.
"Haha! Its just your students aren't strong that's all! Haha!" Blue Grim replied with a sly smile.
What exactly is Blue Grim saying? Is he getting into a fight with them? or maybe...after he's the Flame Lion's goods that can be sold for money, and it's also possible that he'll end up making me to fight them as well .
Let's wait and see what happens!
"What?" Hearing the mockery for Blue Grim, the Party was taken aback. I can't really blame them; they did, after all, fight brilliantly against the Flame lion.
"You are telling us...that my students are weak?"
"It appears so, gentle men! Haha!"
"You...!"The Girl named Calida was about to shout in anger, but her brother stopped her.
Mm, that guy isn't that much of an talker is he.
"Even my nephew here can take your students on! haha! Weak! weak! haha!"
Right, now Blue Grim has really gone and done it. I wanted to fight them, but I never intended to offend them and make them angry!
The Middle aged man smiled and walked in front of Blue Grim. "You say my students are weak and that kid there can easily defeat them. right? alright then! Let them fight against that kid, and lets see who is strong and weak!" He said.
"Certainly we can! Haha! but, are you all sure?" Blue Grim asked them all, by accepting the challenge.
"You Old Man! I will fight the boy first!" The Girl named Calida, stepped up.
Well, its going to be interesting, but being an adorable little boy, I want to make some conditions.
"Ahm..." I intervened in between.
"What is It Brat!" They all starred at me with a rage. Man, what death stares. hahah.
"Haha! Since I'm at a disadvantage here of taking you two on, can I make a request. Well, its a kind of a condition! hah!"
"Wait! Lil Boy you are willing to fight? You are certainly quite interesting!" The Man with the spear said.
"Aha..Yeah!"
"My my! Confidence are we! Well then, ask away kid!" The middle aged man replied.
Haha, the fish fell into the trap! Hahah!
"It's very straightforward. if you win, I can promise you all to take me and my Uncle there under your custody and you can kill us both or do anything with us. However, if you lose, you should all leave the Flame Lion and all your weapons and the things you are carrying to us! How about it? agreed?"
The sword and spear they have appear to be useful to us. Everyone is also carrying a bag. That bag must contain herbs, manuals, and other items they should have gathered, correct?
"Kid! You are incredibly smart! Wait until you're defeated by us!"
"Haha! I'm looking forward to it, assuming you can beat me that is! haha!"