The journey towards Sigrid will take 3 weeks so we stocked up on food before leaving, Everyone was fully armed and eager for a fight...

"You guys do know that we're sneaking in right?" I asked, I was the one holding the reins on the horse. Blue was also sitting beside me, she was enjoying our time together while everyone else was inside the large carriage that I modified

"Yeah" Mizu chuckled

"Then do you guys look so eager for a fight?" I asked

"Can't help it" Clay answered this time

"I heard the Heroine has a thing for Cap!" Rivera laughed, everyone gave her an inquisitive look while Blue smiled threateningly at me

"Oh? please do tell~" Arachne laughed

"I heard it from ate-Mira!" Rivera laughed and looked at Mira

"That bitch kept seducing Lyan" Mira briefly stated

"Cap, you chick magnet! what do you think about the heroine?" Clay asked

"She was like a magnet, attractive from the back but repulsive from the front" I laughed

"Magnet?" Clay asked

"Oh, nothing, just me talking to myself" crap, I forgot, magnets are still non-existent here

"I don't know what a magnet is but is the Heroine that ugly?" Rivera asked

"Her personality is" I replied

"Oh" everyone synchronized

Everyone started meaningless chatter while Blue and I started talking to each other

"Mira and Arachne huh..." she looked at me

"...I'm sorry your husband is weak" I apologized as I scratched my head

"It's not that, I was a bit curious about them that's all"

"Oh... where do I begin? Mira is my childhood friend, her mother was saved by my family before so she vowed to serve our family for as long as she lives, therefore, Mira was assigned to me as my personal maid. I don't know when but she fell in love with and I too fell for her, I held out for as long as I could but everything crumbled when she confessed to me"

"She seems a bit cold" Blue laughed

"That's just how she is" I laughed

"How about Arachne?"

"Arachne was once my partner, her mother died protecting her when she was just an egg. I raised her as my partner, she confessed to me as soon as she had a humanoid body. I didn't respond to her feelings back then because I didn't feel the same way as she felt for me but in the end, I too fell for her"

"Love really is weird" Blue leaned on my shoulders

"You're not mad?" I asked

"Of course not" Blue smiled but the mood was shattered by a shout

"Hehe, quite the carriage you got there and a beautiful beastwoman... hehe... I'll let you run away with your life if you leave now" A burly man blocked the way, two more skinny men appeared behind him

I was about to kill him for ruining the mood but Blue only waved her hand and blue flames shot out from her arms before the bandits burned to death while screaming in pain

"Let's go" Blue smiled at me while my mouth was wide open

"R-right" I stuttered before replying

After the bandit incident, nothing much happened for two weeks. I was the coachman during the morning while Blue, Mira, and Arachne took turns sitting beside me and sleeping with me. Clay and Rivera watched over us during night

We finally arrived at the Migrand, it was the city in the west of Steel kingdom, this is also the city that protects the western part of Steel country ever since the western walls fell. Migrand was just as developed as Central city, the city was filled with 2 story houses that are made out of bricks, multiple guards also roamed the streets. The castle at the center of Migrand city was home to the city's city lord, he was known to be very extravagant and arrogant. We didn't want to stay for long so we only stopped by to restock before going on our journey, we had to leave Migrand city and take a long detour around a Mountain that we traversed in order to arrive at Migrand city. We were at war so it was normal that Migrand city gates are closed toward those who came from outside Steel country yet they forgot to send guards at a path leading to the fallen western walls, this is probably the same path that Sigurd took in order to arrive at Central city.

We will encounter demons once we arrive outside at the fallen walls so we must stay vigilant but something tells me that we're being followed so I asked Arachne to hold the reins before using [Vanish] and climbing up a large tree, my instincts were right on the money. 4 men were following the carriage, they were skillfully running through the forest without making a sound, these cunts were highly trained...

I jumped up and brandished Rea as I used [Dragon rush] before appearing behind the last stalker, I cut him in half before he could even scream out in pain. The stalkers were only good at following people because they didn't even realize they're comrade had died, I used [Storm dash] before arriving at the third and smashing his head into pieces. The other two finally noticed but two of their comrades were already dead, I threw Rea at the second stalker before conjuring an [Ice Lance] and throwing it at the first. They reacted to my attack and jumped to the sides in order to dodge, I used [Storm Dash] and grabbed the second's leg before throwing him towards the first. I made another [Ice Lance] and threw it at the two cunts, they were both skewered on a tree. That's a job well done, I started running back to the carriage

"Did you get them?" Mira was peeking out as I was jogging beside the carriage

"Yeah" I replied before jumping up and landing at the coachman's seat.

"What did you do?" Arachne asked

"Just took care of some cunts" I laughed

Arachne only tilted her head but didn't ask any further, everything went smoothly after that. Those cunts were probably spies that Sigrid sent out in order to monitor Steel kingdom's movements. We never encountered demons when we passed by the walls which weirded me out, it was only a 4-day trip until we arrive at Sigrid kingdom. We never met any hindrance along the way but I can't help but notice the dreary and sorrowful atmosphere that every town exuded when we passed by them, all the townsfolk were lifeless and robot-like. I ignored it and focused on our mission instead. In order to get inside Sigrid's main city, we need disguises for our identities but this was already taken care of by Mrs.Sasha's spies. We were disguised as Mercenaries that came from Sigrid's rural area, I expected it to be something like a merchant but this is also good.

We finally arrived at Sigurd's main city, Siegmund, after a ton of paperwork and background checks, we finally got inside. After buying a simple house and fixing our things, I went out to a pub. I sat in the corner and ordered a simple meal, A man sat at the table behind me and ordered some beer, we both had our backs facing each other.

"You're the one they sent?" He asked

"Yeah" I replied

"Aren't you a bit too young?"

"We're at war, if young men don't take up arms then their mothers and sisters will suffer"

"We're that desperate?"

"Yeah"

"Alright, the name's Joe McGrand"

"Lyan Timberwolf"

"So you're the brat that took down Helios, seems they sent someone capable but let me ask you something"

"Go ahead"

"Why did you come here"

"To get revenge for Ms.Lucia's death"

"That's good since that prince already ran away"

"...Where?"

"You'll never going to believe this, he ran towards the Religion of Light at the southeast part of Central city where the Heroine is"

"...What the hell?"

"Yeah"

"But why did you say 'escape'?" I'm starting to suspect this spy

"Because when he escaped, he took most of his women with him along with half of the castle's gold and treasures"

"Alright, thanks for the info" I guess he's clear

"Don't worry bout it, I'm known around here as Johny so don't call me by my name alright?"

"Alright"

I finished my meal and left the pub after paying for it, why did that asshole run? no matter how much I rack my brains, no answers came so I decided to ignore it and think about it once we're done here

The house was 3 stories high, made out of bricks and was positioned in the city's middle-class area, the first floor was where we will open a fake shop since we're mercenaries. The second floor had five empty rooms while the third has four, Mira, Arachne, Blue, and I were sleeping on the third while Clay and the others were sleeping at the second. As for our roles, it was simple, Rivera and Talia were the receptionists while Arachne, Valeria, and Mizu were tasked with kitchen duty. Mira was going to act as a boss while Blue was to going to be her secretary and finally, Clay, he is going to be the guard. My job was simple, collect info and plan the attack. Everyone's role was decided after a meeting with everyone, I never really wanted my job but they forced it upon me.

It was the first day and we opened our shop, I roamed the streets while observing Siegmund castle, this is where my target lives. Siegmund Castle was like that of a demon lord's castle, it was dark and dreary. The castle walls were 70 feet high and was crawling with sentries, the gates were 30-feet high and was guarded by 16 heavily armored men

There was mo way of sneaking in the castle with all those guards so we must look for another way in... I went south of Siegmund and found the slums, I kept walking until I found a run-down mansion. I opened the gates and entered the mansion, I quickly raised Rea to block on my right before jumping forward. I managed to block an arrow while the spot where I used to be was smashed by a hammer, A man walked out of the dark and picked up the hammer.

"Good reflexes kid" He laughed

"Is this your way of greeting?" I asked

"Sorry kid, I was curious about the son of the northern hero and I couldn't help myself"

"Come on George, take our guest to a more proper place" A woman walked out of the dark while holding a crossbow

"Yeah, yeah, I heard ye" George waved his hand and patted my shoulders before leading me to a guest room

"I apologize for the way welcomed you, I'm Rose" The woman introduced herself as she served tea and bread

"I'm Lyan, nice to meet you" I returned her greeting

"So, what did you come for kid" Johny came in the room and quickly asked

"I need info and probably a means of entering the castle" They've been here far longer than I have so they must have info

"Infiltrating the castle is next to impossible but we have a way but this is risking the safety of another companion, we will only do so when we are properly ready" Johny brought out a map of the castle

"Our last companion, Christy, is a chef at the castle, she managed to enter after her skills were recognized by the castle's head chef. She managed to make these maps as she worked there" Rose spoke as she sat beside Johny

The castle had 3 floors in total, they didn't go with height and went with length instead. The first floor was where the throne room, kitchen, dance hall, training ground, and workers quarters were all located while the second floor was where the prince's room was located, they also had their treasury here. The third was mainly for the King, I took a closer look and the castle actually looked like a pyramid. It was only because of the large walls around the castle that made people mistake it as the same as any castle you can find.

"The only way to infiltrate the castle is when they restock on food, this only happens once a month and they've already restocked for this month. The 2nd week next month, that's when they're going to restock again, use that chance and enter the castle. Use the time we have now to devise a plan" Johny gave me the maps

"Won't you need these?" I asked

"We already made a copy" Johny showed me another set of maps

"Oh, if that's the case then I thank you for your help" I stood up and left

I returned to the house and was greeted by Rivera and Talia, I greeted them back and went to the office where Mira and Blue was.

"We've got a request" Mira spoke out as we all drink some tea

"What is it?" I asked

"A young lady come in and requested that we search for her friends that have been missing for a week now"

"Can't we send in Clay?" I asked

"No, I think this task is more suited to you since you're gathering information"

"Is the lady of high birth?'

"Yeah, her family owns the largest shops here"

"...Alright"

"Here's their location" Mira gave me a piece of paper

Looks like I'm up for a sidequest