Athena observed Ash's movements, feeling a bit of sympathy for the boy. She had heard about his past while he and the princess spoke. His parents had died in an invasion by otherworld monsters, leaving only him and his brother to struggle alone in dire financial circumstances.
He had come here, risking his life, driven by a desire for a better future—his only hope being to grow stronger. Society only favored the strong.
But Athena knew it wasn't her place to intervene. Her duty was clear: protect the princess. Nothing else mattered.
Once all the mercenaries had been patched up, their journey resumed. On the final day of their trip, they stopped in the last city before reaching Grumhald. This city was called Siloak and was located within the empire, near the border between the empire and the orcs' lands.
Guilherme planned to take a short break there to restock their food supplies before continuing the journey to Grumhald.
It was morning when Ash decided to step out of the carriage to catch some sunlight. As usual, Vanessa wasn't keen on talking inside an empire city, so he ventured outside alone.
Unlike a bustling metropolis like Meridonia's capital, this border town had a distinctly military vibe. Rankers walked the streets, some using powerful beasts as mounts.
It was at that moment Ash spotted the last person he wanted to see—Tristan.
Tristan was walking through the streets, chatting with a few others. They all wore clothes marked with a lion emblem, symbolizing their guild, the Golden Lion—one of the top 10 guilds back on Earth.
Tristan carried a bow and a quiver of arrows on his back, likely training to become an archer. Ash recalled that his trait was [Sharpshooter], an A-rank trait.
Ash turned around as fast as he could, and went back inside the caravan, praying that Tristan didn't see him.
Although Ash believed the last punch wasn't significant, and that the fight at school shouldn't have escalated to something more than that, he knew better than to underestimate those used to being on top.
Who knew what they might do over the slightest quarrel? Ash wasn't eager to find out—he was too weak to face them now, and he was certain that Guilherme wouldn't risk getting involved to defend him—the few coins he gave to Guilherme were simply not worth it.
Unfortunately for Ash, Tristan spotted him, and a wicked smile spread across his face as soon as Ash turned around.
Ash entered the carriage and sat beside Vanessa. She didn't say much, only offering him a small nod, which he returned. He knew she was quiet for now, but once they entered the orcs' lands, her chatty personality would be back in full swing.
A few minutes later, Guilherme returned, and they continued their journey. Without Ash knowing, the danger was coming his way.
"Hey, Ash!" Vanessa said, her excitement evident. "We're almost there! I can't contain my excitement about entering the orc lands!"
Ash chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Yeah, it's getting close. I just hope they'll accept me as a trainee. I have no idea what their standards are for orcs to be accepted as warriors, let alone for humans." A trace of worry flickered in his eyes.
Vanessa smiled reassuringly. "I'm sure they'll see your determination. You're someone I admire, so of course, they'll recognize your worth too!" she said, trying to ease his concerns.
Ash smiled back warmly, appreciating Vanessa's attempt to cheer him up. "Thanks, Vanessa."
Vanessa noticed his genuine smile and felt a slight flush on her cheeks. "N-No problem! Just make sure you become an amazing warrior, and we can fight side by side," she stammered.
Ash nodded with a grin. "Alright, you'll be my healer on the frontlines, hehe."
Athena, observing the exchange, furrowed her brow beneath her hood. 'This guy wants to use the princess as his personal healer? He must be out of his mind!' she thought.
Ash continued, his voice sincere. "No matter what happens, meeting a friend like you has already made this journey worth it. Thank you, Vanessa," he said, extending his hand for a handshake.
Vanessa looked at his hand for a moment, then clasped it with a smile. In that simple gesture, they both felt each other determination.
As Vanessa and Ash chatted, three arrows suddenly cut through the air, each aimed at one of the front caravans. Upon impact, each arrow released a burst of pink powder, which spread quickly, covering the caravans in a dusty cloud.
Hearing the noise, the mercenaries halted the caravans and hurried outside to assess the situation. The color drained from their faces as they realized what had happened.
"Damn it, who's the bastard that used beast-attraction powder on us?" the ascended ranker among the mercenaries cursed, his voice filled with anger. Someone was trying to set them up. But why? Attracting wild beasts to attack the caravans would likely destroy the goods—if they were bandits looking to loot, doing such a despicable action would yield nothing.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!" he commanded without hesitation. They had no time to waste—not only would they need to fend off the beasts drawn by the powder, but they also had to stay alert for the enemies who had set this trap.
Even without his order, the mercenaries had already grasped the situation. Each one of them was a battle-hardened fighter, seasoned from years of teetering on the edge of life and death.
Weapons were in hand the moment they stepped down from the caravans, ready to face whatever came next.
Soon, the air filled with the echo of beastly roars. Normally, the creatures around these parts weren't especially powerful—it was uncommon to see evolved beasts.
But luck wasn't on their side today. Emerging from the shadows were not one, but four Ascended beasts: two fierce manticores and two colossal serpents, each one exuding a menacing aura as they closed in.
Ash tightened his grip on his axe. He didn't fully understand what was going on, but judging by the grim expressions on the mercenaries' faces, he knew it couldn't be good.