Chapter 10: Road to Ragnick
After defeating the bandit leader in a brutal clash, Zaboru turned his attention to the boy and Renny. As he approached, his sharp gaze softened slightly, trying to gauge their state.
"So, Miss Renny, are you with the Adventurer's Guild? And are you from Ragnick?" he asked directly.
Renny shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze. She fidgeted, glancing to the ground, clearly uneasy. "Umm... yes... I am an adventurer from Ragnick City," she replied hesitantly, her voice faint.
Zaboru gave her a crooked smile, sensing her discomfort. "Are you uncomfortable around me? Hah, it can't be helped. Do you happen to have a mask I could wear? It might make things easier."
Renny's fidgeting increased, and she stammered. "I... it's not like that... but, um, here, h-here's a mask." She handed him a simple cloth mask from her pouch.
Zaboru took it without hesitation and secured it over his face. Instantly, the tension in the air seemed to lessen. "Better now?" he asked, his tone more relaxed.
Renny nodded. "Yes... it's better."
"Good. Now we can talk properly." Zaboru inclined his head slightly. "My name is Zaborn, and I'll be honest with you. I'm a former mining slave who escaped from a mine beyond this forest. I'm trying to get to Ragnick to start a new life. Could you show me the way? Also, can I leave the boy in your care? He's from Ragnick too, right?"
Renny's eyes widened in shock. The man before her, with his rough demeanor and intense aura, was a former slave? She felt a pang of guilt for being so uneasy around him earlier. Despite his intimidating appearance, he spoke calmly and even politely.
"Umm... I could guide you to Ragnick," she said after composing herself. "I'll vouch for you at the gates to ensure they let you in. And yes, this boy is from Ragnick. I heard he was kidnapped, and I've been searching for him along with three other colleagues. We split up to cover more ground."
"I see. Thank you, Miss Renny, for being willing to help me," Zaboru said sincerely, bowing slightly.
"It's... it's okay, Mr. Zaborn. It's not a big deal," Renny replied, a hint of warmth breaking through her earlier discomfort.
Zaboru straightened and asked, "Miss Renny, may I take the bandits' belongings? I'll leave the scroll and weapons with you since they might be of use, but I'd like the rest."
Renny considered this and then nodded. "You can have everything except the scroll. I want to investigate how bandits like these managed to get their hands on a good magic scroll. The rest is yours—you earned it after defeating them."
"Thank you. But to be fair, I couldn't have secured the boy without your help. It could've ended badly otherwise." He gave her a respectful nod and began looting the bandits' bodies.
From the corpses and their tent, Zaboru gathered a handful of silver coins, minor health potions, and a substantial stash of mana dust. His eyes lit up at the sight of the latter. 'Nice! With this mana dust, I can craft scar cosmetics later.'
Once he finished, he approached Renny again. "Miss Renny, I'm done. What about their corpses?"
"The Adventurer's Guild will handle them once I submit my report," she explained. "For now, let's head back to Ragnick."
Zaboru nodded and followed as Renny guided the boy by the hand. He maintained a respectful distance, ensuring he didn't make her uncomfortable again.
As they reached the side of a road leading to Ragnick, Renny stopped. "Mr. Zaborn, my comrades will come here soon. We should wait for them."
With that, she conjured a flare spell and fired it into the sky—a signal to her team. They settled down to rest by the roadside, and Renny handed bread rations and honey to the boy. He ate eagerly, clearly famished.
Renny also took a portion and then offered some to Zaboru. "Would you like some?"
Zaboru hesitated briefly before accepting. "Thank you, Miss Renny."
As they sat in relative quiet, Zaboru's thoughts turned inward. 'She seems like a kind person, but with my -1 charm, I can't risk pushing my luck. I need to act carefully—one wrong move, and she'll think I'm a freak. Best to maintain my distance for now.'
The trio rested, the boy seemingly more at ease, as the flare burned brightly in the sky, waiting for Renny's comrades to arrive.
After resting for thirty minutes, Renny's teammates finally arrived at the designated spot. She stood up, waving them over enthusiastically. "Hey! Goldia, Ziel, Valen! Over here!"
The three approached quickly. The first was a petite blonde girl clad in white mage robes. Her radiant smile and cheerful energy lit up the area. The second was a tall, black-haired man with a massive sword strapped across his back, his sharp gaze surveying the scene. The last was a silver-haired boy with a longbow slung over his shoulder, his movements precise and deliberate as he maintained a watchful stance.
As they reached the group, Renny stepped forward to greet them. "Guys, I found Ronny! He was kidnapped by bandits, but he's safe now. Mr. Zaborn over there saved him. I just helped a bit."
Zaboru, maintaining his guise as Zaborn, gave a small bow. "Hello, everyone. My name is Zaborn."
Goldia's cheerful demeanor didn't waver as she bowed back. "Hello, Mr. Zaborn! Thank you so much for rescuing Ronny. My name is Goldia!"
Zaboru returned her smile from behind his mask, but the other two men were far less welcoming. Valen, the warrior, narrowed his eyes slightly, his posture stiff. Ziel, the archer, maintained a calculated distance, his hand brushing near his bowstring.
Valen broke the silence first. "Mr. Zaborn, why are you wearing a mask?" His tone was direct, suspicion laced in his words.
Before Zaboru could respond, Renny stepped in, her voice hurried. "Guys, it's not like that! Mr. Zaborn has a good reason for—"
"It's fine, Miss Renny," Zaboru interrupted calmly. "I'll explain." He reached up and removed his mask, revealing his face.
The reaction was immediate. Goldia's warm smile froze, Valen's stern expression faltered, and Ziel instinctively took half a step back. An indescribable unease settled over them all.
Zaboru sighed and gave a wry smile as he put the mask back on. "Now you understand why I wear this, don't you?"
Valen scratched the back of his head, clearly embarrassed. "Yeah... I get it now. Sorry about earlier, Mr. Zaborn. My name's Valen, and this is Ziel."
The archer nodded curtly, still wary but now slightly more at ease.
"It's alright," Zaboru replied smoothly.
Renny clapped her hands together, eager to move the conversation along. "Anyway, let's head back to Ragnick. We need to return Ronny to his parents!"
Everyone nodded in agreement, and they quickly got moving. Zaboru kept to the back of the group, as always, maintaining enough distance to avoid making anyone uncomfortable.
The journey took about two hours. The sun was beginning to dip in the sky by the time the city walls of Ragnick came into view, towering and steadfast. The gates were bustling with activity as merchants, travelers, and adventurers came and went.
At the gate, Renny approached the guards, vouching for Zaboru's entry. After a brief exchange and some wary glances from the guards, he was allowed in.
Zaboru turned to Renny and her party, offering a polite bow. "Thank you for your help, Miss Renny. It seems this is where we part ways. I hope we meet again someday."
Renny smiled, her earlier unease softened by gratitude. "Take care, Mr. Zaborn. Let's hope we do."
Before they could part, Ronny ran up to Zaboru, his small face beaming with gratitude. "Mister!"
Zaboru crouched slightly to meet his gaze. "What is it, kid?"
"Thank you so much for saving me!" the boy exclaimed, his voice full of sincerity.
A small smile formed behind Zaboru's mask. He rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Take care of yourself, kid. Grow strong, alright?"
Ronny nodded enthusiastically before running back to Renny.
The group watched Zaboru for a moment. Despite the unsettling aura that lingered around him, they couldn't deny his actions had spoken of a kind and noble character. Still, the unease persisted, especially when they recalled his exposed face. They couldn't explain it, but the sensation gnawed at them.
It wasn't their fault—it was the weight of Zaboru's cursed -1 Charm.
Without another word, Zaboru slipped away, blending into the shadows of the bustling city streets. He found an empty alleyway and paused, taking in the sights and sounds of Ragnick. Merchants called out their wares, children darted through the crowds, and adventurers strode by with confident purpose.
Zaboru's eyes narrowed as he surveyed the scene. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth beneath the mask.
"Finally. Ragnick. Now, I can begin."