The two did not put their plan into action right away. The place they had arrived at was a remote mountain village, and there was no way a suitable moneybag(?) would be wandering around such a place. So the two asked the villagers for directions and made their way to a place with a major road.
“This should do.”
Chewing on coarse black bread as they continued their journey, the two finally reached their intended destination.
What they arrived at was a broad, well-maintained official road. Boundary stones had been set along the edges, gravel filled the center, and then it had been pressed down with something like a heavy roller. At a glance, one could tell it was an official road (官道) built on a national scale.
Once they reached a suitable spot, the two immediately began preparing for their grand undertaking. The preparations did not take long. All they had to do was make masks to cover their faces, then turn their clothes inside out.
They also made the tool they would use for the crime. Mitchell had a sword, but Yuliana had nothing, so they had to make at least a decent-looking club. Fully prepared, Mitchell and Yuliana hid in a secluded spot beside the road and waited eagerly for suitable prey to arrive.
“This is truly absurd. A princess suggesting that they commit robbery, and an escort knight agreeing to it… How could such a thing happen?”
Watching Helbertron shake his head as if dumbfounded, Damon smiled faintly. Though he was an expressionless Death Knight, one could still guess at his emotions to some extent from his movements.
“It makes sense. Because I followed them around for days and tormented them…”
“Well, if they fell into your hands, then I suppose.”
Helbertron nodded as if he understood. Reindelf stood beside him. Damon had summoned the two Death Knights from Increcia in order to carry out the plan he had devised. A plan to thoroughly make fools of Mitchell and Yuliana. Reindelf, who had been silently listening to their conversation, suddenly spoke up.
“So what are we supposed to do?”
Damon continued with a confident expression.
“The plan is simple. First, we approach them disguised as prey they’d be likely to target. A wealthy merchant should be suitable. Of course, you two will play the role of my escorts.”
“Wouldn’t it be a little strange if the escorts were Death Knights?”
“You idiot. That’s why you have to change your appearance. I heard Death Knights can use black magic quite skillfully, so what’s the problem?”
At Damon’s words, Helbertron shook his head.
“The most we can use is about the 5th Circle. Even if we can barely change our appearance, we’ll be exposed immediately because of our aura and presence.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll help you…”
In the end, Helbertron and Reindelf had no choice but to join Damon’s plan. Helbertron grumbled as if he found it ridiculous.
“Damn it. I never dreamed I’d end up doing something like this.”
“When you live long enough, all sorts of things happen. Then I’ll go prepare a carriage. Make sure you’re thoroughly ready.”
After saying that, Damon vanished from the spot. He had gone through spatial movement to prepare suitable clothing and a carriage. The Death Knights grumbled as they began preparing to change their appearances. Since magic was not their specialty in the first place, the casting took quite a long time.
“They’re coming.”
Mitchell, who had been looking toward the far end of the official road, let his eyes shine. Several carriages had already passed by, but not a single prey suited to their tastes(?) had gone past. Most had been farmers’ ox carts or caravans of great merchants escorted by twenty or thirty mercenaries.
Although they had skill, having many witnesses was never a good thing, so the two had decided to wait a little longer. But this time, prey perfectly to their liking was ambling toward them.
“Judging by the carriage, it looks like a typical merchant. Seems he’s heading to a big city to buy something.”
“Perfect. There are only two guards.”
As if there were no need to think any further, the two pulled their masks over their faces. The most suitable prey for their situation had appeared. The carriage approaching them was a typical four-horse carriage, with a cart attached behind it for carrying goods. Seeing that the cart was empty, it was clearly the carriage of a merchant on his way to a big city to purchase wares.
As if to prove that, the middle-aged man driving the horses was dressed like a merchant. The two large fellows sitting beside him, nodding off, were clearly mercenaries serving as guards at a glance. Seeing this, Yuliana’s eyes gleamed.
“If this goes well, we should be able to get enough travel money.”
“This is the only time. I’m never taking part in something like this again…”
At Mitchell’s firm declaration, Yuliana nodded as if she understood. In truth, once was more than enough for this kind of experience. If this became known in Karcel, she would never be able to return to her homeland again.
“There are only two mercenaries guarding him, so there’s no chance we’ll fail, right?”
“Don’t worry. I could knock down men like that with my eyes closed.”
The two novice bandits(?) who had covered their faces with masks waited tensely for the carriage to approach.
“Halt.”
Seeing the two masked figures leap out with vigor and block the road, the merchant immediately stopped the carriage.
“Hm?”
Mitchell, who had been preparing to cut down the horses in case they tried to flee, tilted his head in confusion. In a situation like this, common sense dictated that one should whip the horses and force a breakthrough. But this was not a moment to think deeply about the situation. Seeing the two mercenaries leap nimbly down from the carriage, he took his stance and carefully examined the merchant and the mercenaries.
The merchant had an extremely ordinary appearance. He seemed to be in his mid-forties, a middle-aged man whose face shone with oil, and from the way his eyes darted about quickly, one could tell at a glance that he was a seasoned merchant.
The mercenaries, too, were just as ordinary. Both had imposing builds, and as if they had made a promise, both had thick sideburns, making them seem like brothers. Seeing Mitchell and Yuliana, the merchant shouted boldly.
“Who the hell are you?”
“Who do you think? We’re robbers.”
A deliberately rough, heavy voice burst from Mitchell’s mouth. Afraid that she would be exposed as a woman, Yuliana did not utter a single word. Her role here was merely to make up the numbers. After all, bandits who robbed people alone were not particularly common. Of course, dealing with two mercenaries was nothing for Mitchell. All he had to do was swiftly subdue them, take money from the merchant, and disappear.
“Don’t move.”
Recalling that fact, Mitchell attacked the mercenaries without asking questions or listening to reason. Against opponents of that level, there was no need to draw out his Aura Blade. Of course, he absolutely could not leave behind proof that he was a Paladin. So it would be enough to exchange a few blows, seize an opening, and subdue them—and Mitchell was fully confident he could do so. But the situation did not unfold so easily.
“Ugh.”
When his confident attack was blocked with perfect ease, Mitchell let out a groan. Surprisingly, the mercenaries’ level was higher than expected. They had lightly deflected his attack without even drawing their swords.
Of course, Mitchell’s attacks continued even after that. Growing impatient, he was attacking with all his might. Since he had to finish the job quickly and disappear, he could not help but feel hurried.
But astonishingly, the ordinary-looking mercenaries blocked all of Mitchell’s attacks while leisurely chatting with each other. Their skill was impossible to regard as that of mere mercenaries.
“What is this? He’s just a brat.”
“He was going to try banditry with skill like this?”
Mitchell was so dumbfounded he could not even speak. The mercenaries blocked every one of the attacks he had been certain would succeed with simple sword movements. Seeing that, the mercenaries must have possessed tremendous swordsmanship skills, despite their appearance. Either that, or his own skills were below standard.
“You bastards.”
In the end, Mitchell, angered beyond restraint, drew out his Aura Blade to the utmost. Until now, he had not intended to take their lives, but when things failed to go as he wanted, he even began considering murder. In his mind, there was no possibility that ordinary mercenaries could block an Aura Blade.
At the sight of the Aura Blade, the mercenaries visibly grew tense. However, neither of them drew a sword.
“An Aura Blade… He’s quite something.”
“Why is someone like this committing robbery?”
When the mercenaries showed no fear even after seeing the Aura Blade, Mitchell was dumbstruck. According to the common sense he knew, the mercenaries should have turned pale and run away. And yet the mercenaries were even discussing their own countermeasures while approaching him instead…
“You must never clash with a sword holding an Aura Blade. Your sword will be cut apart as it is.”
“We have to avoid it completely. Then, after that, we’ll look for an opening and subdue the brat…”
Mitchell was so furious that steam seemed about to rise from his head.
‘What do these bastards take an Aura Blade for?’
The only thought in Mitchell’s head was to cut the two arrogant mercenaries in half with a single stroke. When the mercenaries drew close, Mitchell let out a fierce shout and swung his sword horizontally.
“Hyaaaap!”
He had no doubt whatsoever that the Aura Blade dwelling in his sword would cut through the mercenaries’ weapons and their bodies alike. But things did not proceed as he expected. Though the Aura Blade was a wondrous technique that cut through everything, it was useless if it did not hit.
The mercenaries avoided Mitchell’s Aura Blade with astonishing skill. One leaped nearly as high as his own height, while the other flattened his body and dodged. No, it did not end with simply dodging. The mercenary who had ducked low twisted his body and kicked Mitchell’s ankle outright. Mitchell’s body staggered from the powerful impact to his ankle, and the mercenary who had leaped upward followed up with an attack.
Thwack.
Struck squarely on the back of the head by a scabbard, Mitchell toppled forward. They truly were possessors of astonishing skill. Somehow managing not to lose consciousness, Mitchell struggled to get up. But before he knew it, the cold edge of a sword giving off a chilling sharpness was pressing gently against the nape of his neck…
The mercenary on the left revealed his yellow teeth and smiled faintly.
“What will you do? Do you want your head cut off here? Or do you want to go to Dontrel, stand trial, and have your head cut off there?”
Mitchell had no way to answer. To be honest, he still could not believe his own defeat. Seeing Mitchell in a daze, the mercenary on the right rose to his feet.
“You tie this one up. I’ll go catch the other robber.”
“Do that.”
Seeing Mitchell subdued by the mercenaries in the blink of an eye, Yuliana reflexively bolted. She could not understand at all how the situation had turned out this way, but in circumstances like these, running away was the only sensible course. However, before she could take even a few steps, she was caught by the mercenary’s hand.
“Let go of me!”
With a shrill cry, Yuliana desperately swung the club in her hand. Even if she died here, she had to avoid being captured. But there was no way an opponent Mitchell had failed to overcome would fall to her clubbing.
Crack.
The club snapped helplessly, and Yuliana ended up dangling in midair, caught in the mercenary’s powerful grip. When the mercenary forcibly removed her mask, Yuliana quickly covered her face with both hands. A strange light appeared in the mercenary’s eyes.
“Look at this, Helber. The robber’s a woman.”
“A woman committing robbery? How surprising. Rein, bring that girl over here.”
“Got it.”
Pitifully, Yuliana had no choice but to be transported to the carriage, dangling from the mercenary’s arm.
Mitchell had already been bound so tightly that he could not move at all. As if they were the type not to show leniency just because she was a woman, the mercenaries bound Yuliana tightly as well. After twisting her hands behind her back, tying them firmly with a thick rope, and clapping shackles around her ankles, the mercenaries bared their yellow teeth and laughed.
“You fools. You should have picked your target properly. Of all things, you attacked our carriage?”
“Exactly. Do you have any idea how experienced we are as mercenaries…?”
Once the two had been completely subdued, the merchant approached this time.