"Yes, I'm proud to serve our lord and defend his property," a nearby guard chimed in, nodding in agreement.
The steward Kao, however, was far less optimistic. He stood with a worried frown, silently offering prayers for the lord's safety.
"Don't worry," said Jug, the young servant, attempting to comfort him. "Lady Ashina is incredibly strong, and the Winter Goddess will surely bless the lord."
Kao rolled his eyes, unimpressed. "You don't understand anything. I'm not worried about the journey; I'm worried about what will happen once he reaches Maple Leaf City. Don't forget, Maple Leaf City has its own Chosen."
"Huh? But… we're going there for trade, not war. Why would there be any conflict?" Jug's voice faltered under Kao's stern gaze. "And besides, with Lord Field's charm, I doubt there'll be a problem."
Field's actions over the past days had earned the absolute loyalty of his servants, and Jug genuinely believed in his lord's charisma.
"That's why you're just a servant, Jug. You have much to learn," Kao said smugly, his lips curling into a knowing smile. With a flourish, he added, "The official faith of Maple Leaf City is the Goddess of Love and Ecstasy. Their Chosen, the 'Peerless Dancer,' rose from the pleasure districts to her exalted position. Countless nobles have fallen under her spell, surrendering their fortunes and… bodily fluids."
"Wha—?! That actually happens?!" Jug exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Jug was utterly dumbfounded, his face turning beet red at the thought.
"Otherwise, how do you think Maple Leaf City, a remote frontier town, managed to become so wealthy, boasting rare alchemical recipes and an irreplaceable commercial position?" Kao smirked, his tone dripping with cynicism. "Do you think it's because of Baron Maple's 'brilliant leadership'? Let me tell you—our lord went to watch female slaves relieve themselves last time! That's beyond eccentric! If the local lord unleashes the Peerless Dancer's divine powers on Lord Field, with his 'ironclad' self-control, he'll—uh, cough, let's just say it won't end well."
In Kao's mind, Field's trip to Maple Leaf City was practically a hunt for beautiful women. He half-expected the lord to be utterly captivated, perhaps even settling there permanently in blissful abandon.
Jug fell silent, his thoughts swirling. He could only pray that their beloved lord would not succumb to corruption.
"Wait a second… Did I just say too much?" Kao's face suddenly paled. If either Field or Ashina caught wind of his remarks, he might find himself demoted from steward to stable boy—or worse.
Glancing at Jug's innocent expression, Kao's palms grew sweaty as he began to worry the boy might report him.
Field, meanwhile, had no great desire to venture further into the Bull Territory for trade. Baron Bull's blockheaded son was almost certainly still keeping the fortress gates sealed, and considering Field had raided Bull's lands, gambling on their goodwill seemed unwise.
Maple Leaf City's baron, however, was a wealthy magnate whose magical plants and potions generated immense profits. Field was confident his Black Pearl wine would fetch an excellent price there.
"Do you really have to go in person, my lord?" Ashina asked with a sigh as she meticulously polished her gleaming longsword. She admired her diligent lord but found his hands-on approach unnecessarily risky. "I could handle this. The journey is dangerous, but I would give my life to protect your property and ensure nothing goes wrong."
"That's exactly what worries me. Who told you to risk your life over a pile of coins? Coins can't buy me another Chosen," Field said, ruffling Ashina's head. Her cheeks flushed a soft peach hue, her expression a mix of pride and embarrassment.
Field patiently explained, "Besides, I need to visit Baron Maple personally. The future of Nightfall's production depends on his vast wealth and connections to absorb it."
What Field didn't mention was his unique ability to detect nearby monsters. Without him, the caravan would repeatedly stumble into undead hordes, turning the journey into a death march.
With the mist-repelling lamp lit and hung securely on the wagon, the caravan set off.
The rhythmic clip-clop of warhorses echoed along the path. Accompanying Field were Ashina, her raiding cavalry, three personal guards, twenty slaves tasked with carrying goods, and the maid Scissors, who was responsible for Field's day-to-day needs.
The moment they left the Starry Night Winery, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. It felt as though they had entered hell itself. Twisted vegetation loomed on all sides, and shadows danced ominously in the corners of their vision, as if monsters might leap out at any moment.
The slaves, visibly unnerved, darted their eyes around fearfully. While their primary role was carrying goods, Field had armed each of them with spears for self-defense.
"This road is awful," Field muttered, grimacing at the corrupted path, which was riddled with tiny writhing tendrils that slowed the wagon's progress. "We'll need to fix it. Better yet, I should build a proper trade route—a paved road connecting Nightfall directly to Maple Leaf."
Before he could muse further, clusters of red skull icons suddenly began closing in on his minimap at alarming speed.
"Stay sharp—they're coming," Field said, exhaling deeply.
"Awooo~!"
Ashina's draconic wolf let out a thunderous roar before charging ahead, her lance crashing down with deadly force. A spray of blood and inhuman screeches followed as the corrupted dead crumpled to the ground like freshly mown wheat.
The draconic wolf shook its head and unleashed a sweeping arc of ghostly blue fire. The flames surged forward, incinerating a massive wave of undead in its path.
The other cavalry quickly drew their weapons—some raising lances, others unsheathing swords—and launched a charge against the undead horde. Despite their relatively short training period, demi-humans were natural-born riders and had swiftly mastered the art of mounted combat.
"For Lord Field!"
"Charge!"
The cavalry thundered forward, smashing through the decaying ranks.
On Field's minimap, the red markers representing the undead vanished rapidly. Yet even as they cleared one wave, more clusters of red dots began converging from all directions.
"Bring it on!" Field shouted, his blood pumping with adrenaline as he drew his longsword with a metallic shring.
As they neared Maple Leaf Fortress, the imposing sight of one of the Empire's border strongholds came into view. Its defenses were formidable: towering walls bristling with ballistae and catapults, flanked by mage towers emitting an eerie, faint glow. Floating magical crystals hovered above the fortress, a testament to its advanced enchantments.
The moment the caravan crossed the gates into Baron Maple's territory, the oppressive gray mist was left behind. Before them stretched a vibrant and open landscape, bathed in natural light.
"Good heavens! Those knights came out of the death mist!" one of the local soldiers exclaimed, his accent marking him as a native of Maple Leaf Province. He pointed nervously at the black-cloaked riders, their mounts equally shrouded in dark coverings, giving them a menacing appearance.
"That's insane. They must be adventurers—or part of the Empire's investigation corps," another soldier chimed in, his eyes wide with awe.
"Look at them—they're covered in the blood of corrupted beasts!"
"Close the gates quickly," their commanding officer barked. Then, clearing his throat, he added, "Welcome to Maple Leaf Territory. We hope you enjoy your stay—and spend generously."
"Thank you," Field replied, surprised by how smoothly their entry went. He had even prepared a pouch of gold coins as a bribe, but it proved unnecessary. Letting out a long sigh of relief, he muttered, "Whew… I was expecting some kind of hassle."
The caravan's main trade goods included ten barrels of Black Pearl Wine and a chest of magic scrolls. The scrolls were in such decrepit condition that Field worried they might soon be worth more as toilet paper than magical artifacts.
"If only I could establish a proper trade route, I wouldn't have to make this trip myself," Field muttered. On the journey to Highwall Province, he had successfully avoided numerous massive undead hordes and taken out several smaller ones. Without his minimap and careful planning, their arrival would have been impossible.
Remarkably, they had reached their destination with minimal losses—just half a cart of provisions that had toppled into a ditch along the way.