Later that day…
"Darius, you're back already?"
The tracker nodded, as he took off his cloak, throwing it to the side.
"I was discovered." He spat with an ugly expression.
Roland's brow shot up in surprise, "I thought you said their scout separated from the group?"
'Did I underestimate them too much?' Roland thought to himself. 'No matter, we definitely can only secure the kid now. We only need to give up on the mother.'
Darius shook his head before clicking his tongue in frustration. "It appears like one other member of their party has a high sense of perception. It was the young man in their group."
The tracker from the slave traders, Darius, had trailed the Shawlings ever since they reached the entrance of the Lacie mountains. He was responsible for leading the goblin horde to them in an attempt to gauge the party's strength and weaknesses. Because Eve was the first one to notice an attack, he had assumed she was the sole scout in their group.
He never suspected that there was someone else capable of discerning his presence.
If he knew, he would've kept a further distance. Now that they discovered his presence, their guard will be much higher compared to before. Taking on multiple B-rank adventures with mundanes was no joke. Darius knew if their group didn't take the Shawlings seriously, several of them would most certainly die.
Roland stood up slowly as he swept his gaze over his men.
"Now that the Shawlings realize our presence we have no time to waste. Everyone, prepare to move out."
The slave traders all got to their feet as they swiftly equipped their weapons and armor as the sound of their footsteps shuffled in the background.
"Darius, you go pick out a small group to follow you to Berxley. Take the slaves with you, but leave one of the cages. We need somewhere to throw the kid."
The tracker nodded before turning around to complete his assigned task. "Understood."
Roland turned towards the rest of his men, "The rest of you follow me. Don't try to kill those B-rankers. You will get killed if you overestimate yourselves."
A few of his men scoffed softly. "As if, there are only four of them right?"
Roland continued, "Wear them out. We outnumber them six to one even with Darius taking a few of our men. Once we secure the kid, we pull out. Understood?"
Awkwardly shifting their eyes, the slave traders weakly replied, "Understood."
***
"Slave traders?!" The party had regrouped with their scout as she narrowed her eyes in seriousness.
Taking the reins back from Cleo as she stepped onto the carriage, Lael began to fill her in on the possibility of an attack.
"While you were scouting ahead, we discovered human tracks within several meters of us. The fact that we didn't notice until they were quite literally on top of us is a huge concern. The fact that they didn't show themselves already suggests nefarious intentions."
Eve paused for a moment before sharing her opinion. "They most likely already set up an ambush. I'm not a fan of being pessimistic, but assuming the worst is the best option. We are most likely going to be outnumbered. To what extent, I'm not sure."
A heavy silence settled over the adventurer party like a suffocating cloak.
If they were only protecting themselves, escaping would've been quite easy. In fact even confronting their enemies head-on would be a potential option. However with Alise and Albert with them, not only did they have to fight a disadvantaged battle, but they needed to protect two non-combatants!
Things weren't looking good no matter how one looks at it.
Cleo brandished her bow tugging her bowstring nervously. "It's not like this is the worst we've been through right? We'll get through this, like we always do."
The four shared a collective nod as the carriages began moving forward once more.
Albert looked at his mother in the back of the carriage who wore a fearful expression.
Placing his hands on hers, he tried to reassure her with a smile, "Mom, we'll be okay. Dad will protect us."
Alise gripped her son's hands tightly in response.
Lael turned around to look at his wife and son. They were his everything. Previously Alise could easily participate in combat as a mage, but because of her pregnancy it currently wasn't possible. Using an excessive amount of mana would be detrimental to the baby.
"Albert, come here," Lael called, his voice firm and steady despite his growing anxiousness churning within him.
Albert moved to the front of the carriage, where his father awaited him with a small, gleaming dagger in hand. Without turning around, Lael handed him the weapon, his voice resolute.
"While I hope you never have to use this, protect your mother for me. I'm counting on you."
Albert took the blade gingerly without a word as he steeled his gaze.
'Don't worry father, I was planning to either way.'
***
Another tense hour crawled by as the Shawling party inched closer to the exit of the Lacie Mountains.
Eve raised her left hand grabbing her party members' attention.
"Everyone keep your guards up. If our enemies were to prepare an attack, they would most certainly do it at the exit. Stay on high alert."
After exchanging a silent nod the wagons creaked forth slowly.
'So far so good.' Albert thought to himself. Peeking out the carriage, he didn't sense anyone, which was a good thing. Even with his extremely trained senses, he couldn't make out anything wrong.
Was everything simply going to end like this?
Near the exit, the trees and shrubbery began to clear up meaning there were less and less places to hide and set up an ambush. It gradually began to mirror the open grasslands when they first entered the mountain range.
Yet if there was one thing Albert knew for certain, it would be that lowering one's guard at the last moment was fatal. Although things appeared ideal, he kept his focus even when his father and his former party members began to lower theirs.
After a few more minutes their carriages reached the entrance without conflict.
"Eve, it seemed like your hunch was wrong." Chris remarked with a smile, the tension in his face easing temporarily.
"..."
Lael also smiled. "It looks like we're in the clear."
But before their relief could fully settle, the tranquility shattered in an instant. An arrow tore through the fabric of Albert's carriage with a vicious thud, the sharp sound cutting through the air like a harbinger of doom.
'Curses…' Albert gritted his teeth, dread creeping up his heart. 'I knew this was going too well!'
Now, exposed and vulnerable, Albert and his mother found themselves in the crosshairs of combat.
'How did I not notice? I was even able to discover that previous scout before! Especially with such a large group, it should've been impossible for them to conceal their presence from me! Was this some sort of magic?'
Albert was shaken as he quickly counted the number of enemies currently surrounding them.
'Two, six, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-four!' His father and the others would have to each take on six at once!
"We're under attack!" His father's voice cut through his thoughts. "Assume defensive positions!"
This time, Lael, Chris, and Eve each took a side forming a wide triangular formation while Cleo climbed atop the first carriage drawing her bow.
Fighting people was different from fighting monsters. Besides the slave traders' larger stature compared to the likes of goblins, people could coordinate much better together with more refined weapons. They all also had techniques of their own making it far more dangerous than facing the rabid aggression of a goblin.
Cleo could most likely take on one or two of the slave traders, but her specialty wasn't close combat. She provided much greater support by adding ranged pressure against them.
"Hand over that woman and the boy and we'll let you off!" One of the slave traders licked his lips pervertedly as he locked his eyes on Alise.
She had the aura of a noble; elegant and pure. Even for noble standards she was outrageously beautiful, with her platinum gold hair and pale supple skin. Her proportions were also perfect, for a brief moment the slave traders couldn't help but sneak a glance towards her.
'That body…Darius really found us a good catch!' The man sneered inwardly.
Albert narrowed his eyes, rage slowly building up like a dam about to burst. The fact they had the guts to shoot lecherous stares as his mother in his presence.
'You dare?'
He was going to kill them.
"Pfft, look at that kid glaring at us! Oh no, I'm so scared!" one jeered, earning chuckles from his companions.
"Don't worry kid! We'll let you watch while we have fun with your mother!"
The men continued to laugh while Lael and his party continued to stay in place. They couldn't attack first as it would force an opening in their defense. They had to fight reactively.
If Lael was younger, he most likely would've already charged in to kill the snobby bastard who insulted his wife, but he had a much more level head on his shoulders now. Although it was frustrating, he needed to keep an eye on the bigger picture.
For a brief moment, neither of the two groups moved. Albert quickly scanned through the slave trades and noticed a man standing in the very back giving orders. The man wore clothes unbefitting of the harsh nature of his profession, and if Albert didn't know otherwise he might've even mistaken him for a noble with his dignified appearance.
'That must be their leader,' He thought as his hand tightened around the dagger's hilt. Although he couldn't make out what he was saying due to the distance that separated them, Albert read his lips.
'...finish surrounding them, then attack on my signal.'
They were going to strike, and soon.
Albert felt his skin shiver as watched the regal man mouth the order, 'Attack.'
As soon as his order went through, all hell broke loose. The slave traders began their attack from all directions with swords in hand. Lael, Chris, and Eve immediately intercepted as the battle began.
Albert held tightly to his mother's hand, guiding her to crouch down behind the carriage for cover from any stray arrows that might fly their way.
"Albert, stay with me. Your mother will protect you," Alise's voice was strained, her hands trembling with a mix of fear and bravery.
'Those fucking bastards…'