The crowd of drunken men ogled the captivating girl, swallowing hard as one of them staggered over, holding his tankard aloft, "Hey, beautiful…"
Smack! Before he could finish his line, the man was knocked back by the burly warrior, sparking a round of laughter from the tavern.
Du Wei's gaze sharpened with intrigue: a towering warrior for close combat, an archer for distance—this girl must be the leader, encircled protectively by her companions. Could this be one of those famed, small adventuring parties?
In this world, as Du Wei had discovered, adventuring parties operated like mercenaries, ranging from groups of hundreds to mere trios. Often, they hunted low-level magical beasts in southern forests, risking life and limb to claim bounties. In times of need, even local governments would hire such parties to take on tasks their forces couldn't handle, from apprehending bandits to more daring quests.
The Empire, however, hadn't established large-scale mercenary guilds; imperial law forbade such armed coalitions to prevent them from challenging state power. In Du Wei's view, this was a wise move—controlling private forces was vital to maintaining national stability.
But… a magician among them?
This revelation shocked him. From his readings, Du Wei knew that magicians were a rarity, almost legendary figures. Becoming one required both rare talent and years, even decades, of rigorous study and training.
Records stated that the Empire had no more than a few hundred magicians in total. Many noble houses longed to recruit magicians into their service, though even the wealthiest families could rarely afford their upkeep. So valued were they that any noble with a magician in their household was the envy of their peers.
That this ragtag adventuring party included a magician was astonishing.
The trio of men and the girl claimed a secluded corner of the tavern. The hulking warrior drank straight from a large keg, the archer savored a piece of roasted meat, and the magician sat in tranquil meditation. The girl, on the other hand, looked visibly annoyed by the swarm of male gazes upon her.
Fortunately, her companions' formidable presence deterred most from approaching, though hushed whispers abounded.
Especially among Du Wei's own group.
These knights, scions of noble lineage, held themselves above a mere band of adventurers. A few drinks deep and burdened by their own grievances, they sought a release for their frustrations.
No one dared disturb the girl's party—except the fearless knights of House Rowling. But in their lord's presence, they kept their impudence to hushed comments and sideways glances.
As Du Wei sipped his drink, he couldn't help but laugh as he listened to his men's appreciative murmurs about the girl's long legs. The scene reminded him of nights in city bars, swapping banter over beautiful women with friends.
As their voices grew bolder with drink, one knight, emboldened, muttered, "Look at those legs—my God, I've never seen such beauty. If she were in the capital, she'd fetch at least a hundred gold coins…"
"Only a hundred?" another knight scoffed. "Shows what you know. In those capital dens, even the lowliest girls start at three hundred!"
Listening to his disgruntled entourage, Du Wei was struck by a mischievous idea. Smiling, he remarked, "She's quite something, isn't she? Those legs alone… quite the allure."
The knights gaped, stunned. The silent, "dim-witted" young lord speaking so boldly! This out-of-favor heir, rumored to be little more than a silent fool, hadn't spoken so openly before. His reputation emboldened the knights to behave as they had.
"Well? Are you not men?" Du Wei laughed. "She's just a girl, after all. You're all skilled knights, yet you only dare whisper from afar? I'll pay ten gold coins to anyone brave enough to go talk to her."
Laughter broke out among the knights. The daring young lord, even if not esteemed, certainly matched their sensibilities. One bold knight leaped up with a grin. "My lord, those ten gold coins are as good as mine!"
He strode to the corner and called out, "Hey! Fancy a drink with me, girl?"
The girl glared back, visibly irked, rising as though to confront him before her magician companion gently held her back, whispering to her. He seemed to recognize Du Wei's noble attire and counseled restraint.
As the knight stood awkwardly, Du Wei, on a whim, gave a loud whistle and held up a mocking finger.
His own knights stared in shock at this crude gesture. For all their lives, they'd never seen nobility act in such a vulgar manner—let alone the son of a Count!
The girl, however, responded instantly, hurling her mug at Du Wei. One quick-thinking knight leapt up, deflecting it, though the drink splashed onto Du Wei's sleeve, sparking an uproar. The knights drew swords, charging toward the girl's party, who met their aggression with steely resolve.
A brawl erupted, sending onlookers scurrying for cover.
The hulking warrior held his own, fending off five or six knights, though both sides had clearly drunk enough to hold back. Only when a knight landed a punch, shattering his nose, did he grow serious. With a swing of his massive shield, he sent a knight flying, blood spilling over the counter.
The archer, meanwhile, struggled. Bows are poor weapons in close quarters, and within moments, he was knocked to the ground.
The girl, agile and deadly, deflected a knight's sword, her moves lithe yet precise. Spotting Du Wei, she darted toward him, her eyes blazing. A nearby knight quickly hurled a table at her, blocking her advance, but another knight's sword struck her, only for her armor to shimmer with magical light, deflecting the blade.
At last, the magician rose, chanting arcane words. A shimmering aura radiated from his hands, and the knights staggered, their swords suddenly weighing as though made of lead.
Du Wei watched, entranced.
A spell of slowness—true magic!
The magician retreated, launching a fireball that one knight managed to deflect, scattering embers over his companions, who recoiled in pain. Flames flickered everywhere, the magician seeming to summon fire at will. What had been a battle of superior numbers was now a hard-won struggle.
Du Wei sensed something amiss.
The magician had unleashed eight spells in rapid succession—without incantations. According to what Du Wei knew, no first-level magician should have this kind of power.
He hurled a bottle at the magician, who barely dodged in time, the glass shattering against the wall, slicing his face. Du Wei seized the chance, lunging and pinning him, though his own strength was quickly overpowered. Just as he was about to call for help, a loud thud resounded, and the magician slumped, unconscious, struck by Du Wei's faithful servant.
With the magician incapacitated, the knights rallied, regaining their strength and turning the tide. The warrior fell under a barrage of strikes, the archer lay unconscious, and the fiery girl, despite her enchanted gear, was finally overpowered and restrained.
Breathing heavily, Du Wei assessed the scene. His knights, though disgraced, now wore expressions of shame as they helped him to his feet, guiding him to a seat.
But Du Wei's interest was piqued.
Examining the girl's leather armor, he confirmed it bore dual enchantments: one for agility and another for strength, a rare and valuable combination. Even the highest weapon shops in the capital would prize such an item.
Her scimitar, he noted, was similarly enchanted, its hilt inset with a gem likely to store magical power.
But the greatest treasure was her silver bow. Though softer than most metals, silver held unique properties for dispelling magic—a weapon designed to counter magicians.
Du Wei's gaze lingered on the girl. This low-level fighter carried powerful enchanted gear, even a rare anti-magic weapon.
The girl, sensing his scrutiny, glared back, defiant, while the knights exchanged knowing glances.