[Let's go, Men! Prepare to depart!] Gordo

We're departing after a little bit of rest and tending the wounded.

Umm... And clean the road...

From what? From all the bandit corpses of course.

They just throw the corpses into the woods. No burial, no burning, nothing. Guess they depend on wild animals to finish the job.

It's a sight to behold, to be honest. People of this world seem to be very lenient seeing and handling corpses. I don't know if it is because they are a guard and have a lot of experience in this, but I don't see any disgust or disturbed expression on their faces.

Me?

Well, lycan is one thing because in it's dead, it's not a lot different than dead animals even though I completely explode its head. But seeing a lot of corpses and body parts being thrown here and there does make me a little bit agitated.

Maybe I can handle it a bit better if all the corpses are only from a gun wound, because, you know, it'll be just corpses with a bunch of holes and blood. But with the majority of corpses receive a sword slash like this, even the one that I shot still gets a slash on the neck, well... you can imagine it yourself. Let's just pretend to check the parameters so they don't know I'm still inexperienced.

[Yosh! If all is done, let's move! Mr. Dean's party! you can take our front because you're the one who is familiar with the area.] Gordo

[Leave it to me!] Me

Well, to be honest, it's also my first time using this path, Gordo. Lucky for me that I check the map before and know it's just a straight road from here to Romora so I'll just pretend I do know where we're going. I also already planning where we'll take a camp for today, let's just hope we can get there before dark.

Along the way, we do small talk with Gordo. I intend to get more information on why they are here. But alas, he's not a guard captain for nothing. But I do learn a bit about Laniella. She is the second offspring of Titanyle and Igur, the ruler of the Otista kingdom. Her older brother, Vyncent la'Nova is the next in line for the throne. Igur himself is still young and kicking so there didn't seem to be any power struggle in the kingdom, or so Gordo told me. I really can't get anything about their journey to the Kenari Kingdom.

Meanwhile, Billy asks about the payment we'll get after this job. He told me he needs to buy more arrows as the bow I give him is too powerful it shatters every arrow that he missed.

Right... I forgot about how important it is to confirm how much we'll get for the job. Guess I do still inexperienced in this business.

Gordo who heard our conversation assured us that Laniella will certainly pay it justly. To be honest, after my conversation with her, I can see why Gordo has high praise for her so I don't really doubt that. Besides, it's not like there's much I can say to deny this job when we're also going to Romora anyway. But still, I need to make sure to confirm the price for every job I'll take later.

Hmm... Do I also need to make a contract for every job I undertake?

[Mr. Dean! Do you have a spot ahead to make a camp? I don't think we'll reach Romora before night.] Gordo

[I know. I already planned a spot for us to make a camp. Though I think we'll arrive a little bit late.] Me

[Then let me ask my men to gather firewood along the way.] Gordo

[Sure, it's a good idea.] Me

Thanks to our battle earlier we'll surely arrive at the camp area after dark. It is a good idea to gather firewood while the sun has not yet set. It'll also make the camp ready faster.

I think I'll also volunteer to be a night guard. It's different than me that only have a sore shoulder because of all that shooting, I'm sure they all have more fatigue after swinging their sword.

---------------------------------------------

So... Where were we again? Right... The camp spot. I've not missed it, am I?

Daylight has gone for a while now and we're not reaching our camping spot yet. On the map, there should be a wide-open area on the side of the road.

The sky in this world is so clear that we didn't even need any light source to navigate the road so we shouldn't have missed that obvious landmark. But who knows, with how out of scale the map is, we might as well reaching there after dawn. I can see some guards already have this doubtful face asking for the location's whereabouts. Poker face... Poker face...

[There, Mr. Dean! We can rest there.] Billy

[Hmm? Where?] Me

[Well, it's still way over there. But I can see where the trees are sparsely over there.] Billy

I... Didn't notice anything different as far as I can see. Is it the difference you make from years of being a hunter?

...

[Ah, you're right. Thanks, Billy.] Me

Right. I can see it now. But it's still way over there. It might seem obvious now that there is a vacant spot between all these rows of trees. How the hell did he even notice it back there?

[We'll arrive shortly, Mr. Gordo. Sorry if it takes long enough.] Me

[Did we? Ah. Takes you long enough. I almost thought you're playing with us.] Gordo

[Sorry. It's because we don't expect we'll be involved in a fight that makes our schedule a bit late.] Me

[Hahaha... We're already promised that we'll compensate for that. Well, now that we're here, at least I know that I can trust you.] Gordo

...

[Yosh! Start unpacking boys! Prepare the tend for Princess Laniella first!] Gordo

[I'll also prepare our tend Mr. Dean.] Billy

[Thanks, Billy. I'll help the guard preparing the campfire.] Me

I can see the tidy remains of a campfire. I think in this world, it's mean that the spot is safe. It said that whoever has been using this spot is manage to properly put out and tidy up their campfires without any hindrance.

[Mr. Dean, we're finished building our camp. I'm gonna instruct some of my men to be a night guard.] Me

[Ah about that, I think I can do that for you. I know that your men are more tired than I'm.] Me

[Are you sure about that? I can see that you're a magician, but I don't think you're not tired at all after using that highly potent magic.] Gordo

[No worry. You can tell all your men to rest for tonight. Your Princess is paying me for the job anyway.] Me

[Hmm... True enough. Oh well, I'll wake up later so we can swap before morning.] Gordo

[Yep, leave it to me.] Me

No hesitation at all. I can see that you're tired yourself. Well, that's good leadership right there. No need to save your face when you know all your men need a proper rest themselves.

Billy who happens to finish his job also wants to do the night watch. I've told him that he can rest as well but he keeps pushing it so yeah, we both sitting in front of the campfire now.

Hmm... I know that I'm not tired stamina-wise, but my eyes keep getting heavier and heavier.

Ah, I know! When I open my miracle shop yesterday, I see that it's selling an MRE. I'm gonna grab one that has a coffee in it.

*tear*

*pour*

[Is that a magic potion Mr. Dean?] Billy

Ah, right. I forget that billy is beside me. And here I am casually ripping a plastic sachet containing powder that turns black after being poured with hot water.

[Ye... Yeah. It's some kind of potion, but it didn't magical or anything like that. It'll help you stay awake though. Want some?] Me

[Are you sure it's not dangerous? You always whipped out something strange out of nowhere.] Billy

[Why can't you trust me for once? I mean that bow that I gave you is not making you lost your head isn't it?] Me

[Well, it's true. But it is still a strange bow, Mr. Dean! I can't comprehend how you can make a powerful bow like this and with this strange shape, I might say.] Billy

[Its the shape that makes it powerful! Here, drink it. Or do you want me to take that bow back?] Me

[Err... Okay.] Billy

[It tastes a bit bitter so drink Carefully.] Me

[Hahaha... You say a weird thing again! How can a potion didn't taste bitter?] Billy

*Gulp*

[It's sweet! What the hell are you talking about? Are you adding honey into it?] Billy

[No, it's sugar. Drink slowly, will you? It's a drink that you should enjoy.] Me

[Su... Su... Sugar? First, you throw round steels everywhere and now you tell me that you add highly expensive ingredients into the potion to make it less bitter?] Billy

[Aaa... It produced magically...] Me

[Alright, Mr. Dean! I can't stand this oddity anymore. We need to resume our conversation before that battle!] Billy

And with that, I told Billy everything. Well, not everything because I still cover up a lot of details with a totally lie story.

I told Billy that I develop a lot of things including weapons, armor, potion, and many magic tools under my master's guidance. Now, everything that I developed is safely kept in a dimensional space so I can summon it anytime.

I also told Billy that a lot of stuff isn't even magical at all. Sometimes I just alter a property of materials or use special techniques to make the finished product performed a hell lot better.

[Dimensional space, summoning magic, altering material, secret manufacturing process, and you learn all of this like what? 10 years? Then what about your magical weapon? And please explain about that steel and sugar? Can't you just make gold if you can produce it magically?] Billy

[One at a time, Billy!] Me

[About my weapon, well it's a magic tool. But the rod itself is just a mechanical tube that I made. The magical thing is this...]

I show billy my 9mm bullet and explain the work of firearms in magical terms. I also told Billy that you can easily make high quality steel as long as you know the recipe so it basically included in my material altering teaching.

[About sugar... Well... Let's just say that it turns out that my Master is very rich.] Me

[I'm kinda not buying it, to be honest, Mr. Dean. But considering your lack of courtesy sometimes, well... it kinda makes sense... I guess.] Billy

[It's up to you for believing it or not. But that's all I can tell. And make sure to keep it a secret! I don't want to bother with...] Me

*whisper*

[Someone spying on us, Mr. Dean..] Billy

Eh?

----------------------------------------

Inside guards tend, near morning

[Oy, wake up! Prepare to change places with Mr. Dean.] Gordo

[Hoaamm... Hmm? Ah, okay boss.] Guard

...

[WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING MR. DEAN??] Gordo

...

[Ah good morning. Sleep well?] Me

[Don't 'good morning' me! What's up with the corpse in front of you? What's happening while we sleep?] Gordo

[Well... You see...] Me

I caught three people spying on us. Yes, when I said 'caught', I did catch them alive and it's not an easy task to do. Using a single shot, knob shape manually operated rotating bolt is not easy. But it sure does perform as well as what I've read. No one wakes up by the sound of this welrod.

But the MVP for this night is Billy. Not only does he realizes the spy, but he can also easily predict the location and accurately shot his arrow in this darkness. He managed to incapacitate the 2 spies that are trying to run away after I release my first shot into one of his buddies.

But alas, they sure are very experienced and devoted spies. After they realize they can't escape from my modern handcuffs, they immediately swallow the poison they kept in their mouths. It never occurred to me that they'll do what a Nazi General does. I need to be properly prepared for something like this next time.

[Ahh... What a waste. We can't interrogate a corpse, can we?! But thank you, Mr. Dean and Billy. We'll take it from here. Please, do take your rest.] Gordo

[You! Wake up the others and check these corpses!] Gordo

...

After last night's trouble, we finally reach Romora without a hassle. You can easily see the difference between a town and a small village. This time, they use a proper stone wall and a big wooden gate. You can see some guards wielding a crossbow patrolling on the wall. Even to enter this town seems to be not as easy. There is quite a long line of people that want to enter through the gate.

I don't know what procedure we'll partake at the end of that line, but Billy said they'll just question us and checking our belonging. Let's just hope we can get through this without any problems.

[YOU THERE!]

And... My hope is already shattered.

A bunch of town guards is running and yelling at us.

[Let me handle this.] Gordo

[Where are you come from? What purposes do you come here?] Town guards

Gordo then converses with the town guards. They do it quite far away so I can't hear the dialogue.

But then

[Alright, you need to come with me. But you, mercenaries over there! Follow the line as usual after you take your payment!] Town guards

Right... Safe... Thank you, Gordo.

*creak*

*step*

[Ah, Princess!] Gordo

[Guess this is where we'll part, Mr. Dean. You did your job well. Here! Your payment.] Laniella

[Umm... Thank you, Princess. I hope for your safe journey.] Me

[Thank you. I hope we can meet again. Goodbye now.] Laniella

[Yep, goodbye!] Me

Leniella give me a big pouch and holy shit it contains a lot of money. Even if I spent a whole month slaying lycans, the payment won't even be close to this much.

Looks like I can improve my arsenal by a lot with this. That's even after including half amount for Billy shares. Oh, I'll also buy a carbon composite bow for Billy. Or sniper rifle?

[Let's follow the line, Billy.] Me

[Okay, Mr. Dean] Billy

[Did you just skipping?] Me

[No!! Well, that's my first payment as a mercenary so I'm a little bit excited okay!] Billy