After Eman and the others left their previous encampment near the river, some people that were wearing hoodlum-like outfits came to the area. They numbered about 500 people. Most of them were mounted in grotesque creatures with greenish-brown skin and furless. Their faces resembled that of the rhinoceros and pig. And they were making low growls that could sent shivers in a person's spines. Also, some fierce-looking beast that looks like wolves were tagging along with them. They looked like the Noclur beasts, but with different color.

Each of the people was holding different kinds of weapons in their hands, and some were fastened on some parts of their bodies.

"Boss, look at this!" A raspy voice of a man resounded. It came from a person wearing a vest that was made from a thick fur of an unknown beast. He called out to a person with a tattoo on his face. The collar on his dark-colored coat was made of feathers from an unknown bird. And a big ax was fastened on his back. His mohawk hair was dyed in red and on his face, some piercings could be seen.

They were the bandits.

The boss twitched his face when he saw what was lying around them. Everywhere was red. And the smell of blood was rich in the area, making their noses twitched. However, it seemed like they were unbothered by it.

A bandit with a red bandana on his forehead stopped on his feet. "Could it be…." He muttered while staring at the carcasses of beasts on the ground. Five beasts were lying close to each other with their heads severed.

"Yeah! Those sissies from the empire!" Another bandit with black lips bellowed angrily while having his brows knitted. 

"Heh!" The former scoffed. Then he opened his mouth once again. "After so many years of turning their tails away from this place, those fools came back to have their butt to be taken care of with us for another time!"

Step, step, stop.

They stopped their conversation and glanced at the 6 feet and 7-inch tall person who just arrived beside them.

"Boss!" They called out upon identifying him. But the tall person did not say anything. The next second he frowned, then. "Ptuii!" He spat with a gleam in his eyes after seeing the lying dead beasts around them. 

"T-those rrrraaats!" He screamed in anger with veins and pulse visible on his face.

"Looks like they came again after a few years…" said the boss in a cold tone.

"Hehehe! Let's kill them and make a fest with their bodies, boss!" Said the bandit with a red bandana.

"Of course, we will do that, right boss?" Added the bandit with black lips.

The boss did not respond to them but they all knew that he was itching to kill them. His anger was visible on his face. After all, these beasts were their companions. Yet, those soldiers killed them!

"They can only compensate for their lives!" A cold overbearing voice resounded.

"Blacklips, take some of our men and check the people in the canyon!"

"Okay, boss!"

The bandits with black lips snapped. Then he ran away and called some men. After finding some suitable companion, they mounted on the grotesque beasts and swaggered towards the west, to where the canyon was located. They needed to check on their people guarding the place. They needed to check if there were some survivors. The ground trembled from the repeated stomping coming from beasts' thick and powerful feet.

Their group was just patrolling the surrounding area. But then they heard a commotion coming from this place. Some of the beasts reported to them through the deep connection of a pet and the tamer relationship. They learned that a group of people was camping here. But when they arrived, only the carcasses of their friends could be seen lying around.

"Boss, what are we going to do? Shall we tail those chickens?" Asked the bandit with a red bandana after the group of Blacklips disappeared from their sight.

"Of course!"

"Hehe!"

"But!" Out of a sudden, the boss added.

The bandit with a red bandana suddenly paused and stared at their boss.

"We needed to split into two groups!"

"What do you mean, boss?"

The other group will follow this path and the other will take the Curse Mountain!"

"..."

"Boss, isn't that place dangerous?"

…

After handling their tribute, Eman and the soldiers proceeded to their advance. Thanks to Little Sky's blessings, everyone regained their stamina. They also felt stronger.

While advancing, everyone was talking about how lucky they were to get a chance to meet a real deity. Not only that, but they also got a blessing from it.

"Don't you know, it was the young commander who discovered it…" whispered one of the soldiers to the other soldier beside him.

Everyone was talking about him. Their initial thought about him had changed greatly. They started to see him in a different light.

Bross, on the other hand, had repeatedly asked for forgiveness from the young commander. Though, the young commander just shrugged his shoulders while saying not to mind it as everyone could make a mistake. And it wasn't an issue that anyone could settle figure. It was only thanks to his high perception that he discovered the truth by accident. In fact, he could also be wrong, but thankfully his suspicions were on the spot.

Bross was ashamed because, even though he lived near this area, he had no idea of the real reason for the deaths of many people. For all those years, everyone was in a belief that the mountain was cursed. But in reality, it was a holy mountain where their ancestors fought bravely to obstruct the enemy's advance.

'Truly a shame,' Bross thought dejectedly.

Don't mind it, everyone can make mistakes. "The commander also said it, right?" Demyul tapped on his shoulder and whispered the words. Following closely, was Harry and the other two in their party. "Regardless, we will be depending on you from now on…" Demyul added. The way they were seeing their young commander was already different from the beginning.

Now, everyone thought that this young commander was not so bad. He was dependable in some aspects.

Finally, after several days of traveling, they were able to have a glance at the village.