Chapter 33 : Where Do You Think You’re Going
Chapter 33: Where Do You Think You’re Going
Step, step.
The sound of Robin’s footsteps echoed steadily as he walked along the river.
Even the sunset had vanished, leaving only the torch to light the path ahead.
‘By now, I guess everyone’s probably having dinner.’
Barely thirty minutes after parting ways with Paul, the sky had grown dark.
He followed the valley, but it would be a long while before he reached the river.
On his way toward Steelwater, Robin abruptly stopped walking.
Grrrrhhh.
A faint beastly cry drifted from afar.
A sound cutting across the forest deepened his wariness.
‘I should stop here for today.’
The source of the beast’s cry lay in the direction he was headed.
It was best to avoid unnecessary confrontations.
After sparring with Paul, he’d gained confidence that he wouldn’t lose to an ordinary person in a fight.
But humans and beasts were different.
He couldn’t be certain he’d walk away unscathed if he met wild animals traveling in packs.
‘If this was going to happen, I should’ve prepared camp a bit earlier.’
He planted the torch into the ground and pulled a sleeping bag from his pack.
With his back to the valley, he built a campfire and stretched it as long as possible.
It was to keep any beasts that might appear from approaching easily.
To fill his empty stomach, he took out a piece of toast.
Chewing quietly, Robin let out a small laugh.
“Delicious.”
It had been generously made with the butter and honey Mirian had prepared in Butterhills.
The sweet, fluffy bread filled his mouth.
He had owed an enormous debt to the Calimacos Mercenary Band.
He had learned the knowledge and skills needed for traveling.
He had observed their swordsmanship and combat techniques and made them his own.
Robin resolved to repay this kindness severalfold someday.
‘What Paul told me… it was comfort.’
Paul had dragged Robin away under the pretense of doing the dishes, then spoke to him.
It helped ease, if only a little, the guilt weighing on him about Jeremy.
He hadn’t forgotten his promise.
He would become a knight.
He would grow stronger and see the world Jeremy had spoken of with his own eyes—his resolve hadn’t changed.
‘Meeting Baron Tefir can wait for a bit.’
Leaning his body against his pack, Robin stared past the campfire into the forest.
He didn’t lie down completely, ready to react instantly to anything unexpected.
For the sake of his new journey, Robin closed his eyes.
Rustle.
“Huh… urgh… over… there…”
A strange sound caught on Robin’s sharp ears.
The rushing valley behind him.
The fire crackling and flicking sparks.
The pitch-black sky.
Nothing had changed since he’d fallen asleep.
Holding his breath, he wondered if he’d misheard, but the surroundings were silent.
“……”
He quietly sat up and grabbed his sword first.
Srrng.
Robin’s sword reflected the wavering red glow of the campfire.
At a glance, it almost looked like blood.
Walking toward the forest step by step, Robin peered inside.
“P-please… save me…”
“Palacio?”
Palacio lay collapsed not far away.
Robin rushed over, his eyes trembling.
Palacio was scraped all over, his body covered in wounds.
The amount of blood he’d lost was significant—he was in critical condition.
“Palacio! What happened!”
“Bandits…”
Letting out a ragged breath, Palacio couldn’t finish his sentence and lost consciousness.
Robin looked around—no one else was in sight.
‘First, save him.’
A knot of unease tightened inside him.
If something had happened to Palacio, then something had gone terribly wrong.
Robin dragged Palacio near the campfire and rummaged through his pack.
They were herbs Bellif had given him in Butterhills.
He removed Palacio’s clothing and applied the herbs to the wounds.
“Ughh…”
Still unconscious, Palacio groaned faintly.
When Robin pressed the back of his hand to the man’s forehead, it was burning hot.
He took out herbs with antipyretic effects, crushed them, and mixed them with water.
He pried Palacio’s mouth open and poured the makeshift fever remedy inside.
After adding more branches to the fire and getting it burning, he finally let out a breath.
‘I’ve done everything I can for now.’
What Palacio had said weighed on Robin’s mind.
He needed to hear the full story, but it seemed the Elize Merchant Company had encountered bandits.
Sword in hand, Robin glared into the forest.
Fortunately or unfortunately, no one else approached.
Only after an hour did Palacio finally awaken.
“Are you all right?”
“Little mercenary, what are you doing here…?”
Robin hesitated for a moment.
He didn’t know what the Calimacos Mercenary Band had told others about his whereabouts.
Could he tell Palacio the truth?
Given Palacio’s injuries, he didn’t seem like any sort of threat.
“I parted ways with the Calimacos Mercenary Band. Our destinations were different.”
“I see. Thank you for saving me. I owe you my life.”
Palacio accepted Robin’s explanation without suspicion.
He didn’t seem particularly interested, either.
“The Blue Wing Mercenary Band. They weren’t mercenaries.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean they were bandits disguised as mercenaries. Our entire merchant company fell for their ruse.”
Robin didn’t know how to react to the unexpected claim.
Palacio’s next words were even more shocking.
“They drugged our dinner. Everyone passed out. In that time, they looted the entire company.”
“The entire company…”
“They took everything—wagons and people alike. I didn’t eat dinner, so I escaped, but the rest… I don’t know what happened to them…”
Robin felt as though he’d been struck in the head.
It was hard to believe the Blue Wing Mercenary Band were bandits, let alone that they’d taken people captive.
“What about the Calimacos Mercenary Band?”
“They ate with us, so they must’ve fallen asleep as well. They were probably taken too.”
‘That can’t be.’
The moment he parted ways with the Calimacos Mercenary Band, disaster had struck.
It hadn’t even been a full day since he’d vowed to repay their kindness.
Seeing Robin grow pale, Palacio continued.
“I’m sorry. This is my mistake. I never imagined there was a traitor within the company.”
“You mean someone from the Elize Merchant Company was working with the bandits?”
“That’s right. His name is Tupi. He disappeared from Vermilion. He’s also the one who recommended the Blue Wing Mercenary Band.”
From what Palacio said, this Tupi was like a merchant who held a grudge against Robin.
Robin could no longer remain still.
“I need to go.”
“You can’t handle them alone. Let’s wait until morning and go to Regiville for help.”
Palacio was right.
Robin was strong enough not to be seen as a child, but the enemy was a group of bandits.
There was no way he could win against so many adults.
Moreover, the bandits were holding hostages.
It would have been reckless to go after them as things were.
‘If something happened to the Calimacos Mercenary Band…….’
Robin recalled the moment Jeremy died.
If even one member of the mercenary band died, he would have to endure that same pain again.
He didn’t believe he could bear it.
He didn’t even want to think about it.
“I’m going. Palacio, stay here and head to Regiville after sunrise.”
Determined not to hear another word, Robin packed his things.
Palacio watched in disbelief.
Then, as if unable to stop him, Palacio rose to his feet.
“If you push yourself, your wounds might tear open.”
“I may look like this, but I’ve traveled through many cities for ten years. I’ve been through worse than this.”
Despite his words, Palacio flinched from the pain of his wounds.
“Follow me. I’ll guide you.”
Robin followed Palacio as he entered the forest.
“Are you sure this is the place?”
The spot Palacio led him to was somewhere Robin remembered well.
It was the place where he had prepared to camp before following Paul down to the valley.
Just a few hours ago, wagons and people had gathered here.
But now, nothing remained.
“The damned bandits took everything. They had enough wagons to carry people too.”
“There should’ve been an Orc Corpse. They took that as well?”
“Who knows what those bastards are thinking.”
If there was any consolation, it was that long tracks were left behind, allowing them to follow where everything had been dragged away.
Robin still had no trouble with stamina.
Palacio, on the other hand, looked as if simply standing took effort.
‘It’s a waste to use here, but given the situation…’
Robin took out the lowest-grade potion from his pack.
It was a potion Mirian had packed for him.
He handed it to Palacio without hesitation.
Palacio’s eyes widened.
“You’re giving this to me?”
“Yes. It’s not free. I’ll charge you later.”
Palacio drank a sip while thanking Robin profusely.
He poured the remaining half over his wounds.
Ssszzz.
With a bubbling sound, Palacio’s condition improved.
“I’m going all the way. What about you, Palacio?”
“You’re giving me a choice?”
Robin nodded.
Palacio followed the wagon and human footprints.
“Our direction is the same as Regiville’s. I’ll think as we go.”
It was an unclear answer, but Robin didn’t press him.
The safety of the Calimacos Mercenary Band came first.
Robin quietly followed the tracks.
Thanks to the potion’s effects, Palacio’s pace quickened.
‘There are more and more footprints.’
Thirty minutes of walking along the forest’s edge.
The number of bandits increased.
It meant they were close to the base.
Robin gradually raised his alertness.
Perhaps bandits were already watching him and Palacio.
He moved his hand to the sword hilt, ready to unsheathe it at any moment.
“To think a place like this existed. The Regiville Guards would lament if they knew.”
Palacio stopped in what looked like an ordinary forest.
It looked the same as the woods they had followed so far.
The only difference was the footprints leading deeper inside.
“The end of this forest is a cliff. Unless someone wants to throw themselves off it, no one comes here.”
“So the bandits’ trail ends here.”
Palacio nodded—or began to, then stopped.
He approached a tree at the forest’s entrance.
Running his hand along strange characters carved on its surface, he spoke.
“‘Only those chosen may enter.’”
“It’s my first time seeing these characters. What country’s language is it?”
“This is the script of the Demon Tribe.”
Robin flinched.
He instinctively stepped away from Palacio, who gave a small laugh.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a Demon Tribe worshiper. Among rare goods, items of the Demon Tribe exist as well. There aren’t many who can read this, but more than you’d expect.”
“So this means only those chosen by the Demon Tribe may enter.”
“That’s right. This is as far as I go. When the sun rises, I’ll head to Regiville and bring the guards.”
The Demon Tribe.
A race wielding powers humans could not comprehend.
They used magic.
They created something from nothing and devoured humans.
After losing the war against the Empire long ago, the Demon Tribe had retreated from human lands.
Now, it was a history few remembered.
“I’m going in.”
“May fortune be with you.”
Robin tightened his grip around the sword.
He had no intention of turning back after coming this far.
There was no way a Demon Tribe member could be here.
It was surely just a remnant of the past.
Rustle.
A presence emerged from within the forest.
Robin and Palacio moved back at the same time.
The torch didn’t illuminate the deeper parts of the woods.
The presence pushed through the bushes toward them.
Robin and Palacio swallowed hard.
“Palacio, run.”
Robin drew his sword and stepped forward.
“You know how to use a sword?”
“This isn’t the time to be surprised. Go to Regiville and get help.”
Palacio hesitated.
It was surprising to see a child wielding a sword, but to him, Robin was still just a kid.
While he wavered, a low voice came from the forest.
“Where do you think you’re going.”
“Tch.”
Robin gripped his sword and charged forward.
Thud.
Robin’s sword stopped midair.
A man had caught it with one hand.
Robin steadied his startled heart and looked up.
“You looking for me, kid?”
Calimacos held Robin’s sword with a wide grin.