Gillian had said he could leave at any time, but actually, preparing for the departure took longer than expected. He didn’t have many belongings, but the numerous weapons scattered throughout the house posed a problem. The carriage was too small and old to carry all the weapons stored in the house properly. Unable to bear it any longer, Ghislain handed over some money. “Go and buy a decent carriage. Make sure Rachel can travel comfortably.” After gathering all the luggage, the modest carriage pulled by two horses took on a grotesque appearance, looking more like something out of a nightmare. Small lances were attached to each horse’s saddle, and various weapons were plastered all over the sides of the carriage. Gillian, too, strapped a sword and a hand axe to his waist and even mounted a crossbow on his back. Anyone who saw him would think he was heading straight into a battlefield. The knights shook their heads, their faces weary with disbelief. ‘It looks like a mobile bandit fortress. Does he really need that many weapons?’ Powerful warriors usually only carried a small selection of their preferred weapons. Even heavily armored knights would typically bring just a couple of weapons to the battlefield, and if they needed more, they’d have their squires carry them. To the knights, Gillian looked like someone who simply couldn’t bear to part with his weapons, dragging along every last piece of gear. However, Ghislain merely nodded his head as Gillian packed up his weapons, not offering any further comments. “Let’s depart. Anything we missed can be fetched later by sending someone back.” 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎 Gillian drove the carriage, while the rest of the group rode on horseback, just as they had when they first came to Raypold. Glancing at Ghislain from a short distance away, Belinda quietly fell deep into thought. ‘It’s not just his personality that’s changed. No matter how I think about it, something’s off.’ At first, she had believed that Ghislain had simply matured and came to his senses. She thought his skills were finally starting to reflect the effort he’d been putting into training all this time. She had convinced herself that his remarkable talent, which had always been there, was finally showing itself. Because she had cared for the wayward Ghislain since they were young, she’d grown accustomed to always interpreting things in the most favorable light. But no matter how much she tried to rationalize it, she couldn’t understand how he had cured Gillian’s daughter. ‘There’s no way the young master could have known that kind of knowledge on his own.’ Ghislain wasn’t particularly smart, and his worldview was narrow. He’d never left the estate, so how could he have gained such insight? Besides, Belinda knew well that Ghislain had distanced himself from books since childhood. How could someone like that know a cure no one else knew of? It didn’t make any sense. ‘Could it be... black magic?’ Belinda absentmindedly fiddled with the dagger inside her sleeve, considering every possibility. She had heard stories of legendary black magicians who could transfer their souls into other people’s bodies to continue living. Belinda tried to find something odd in Ghislain’s calm expression. ‘No, no. It’s because he looks different but is still our dear young master.’ Though he occasionally showed different sides of himself, the distinctive aura Ghislain gave off hadn’t changed. Having taken care of him since childhood, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize it. He had become strangely more composed and sly, but it wasn’t entirely impossible when she thought about the old Ghislain. He had always had a bit of a nonchalant side. Now, it felt like he had layered an excessive amount of confidence on top of that. A person who was the same yet different. That was how Belinda saw the current Ghislain. ‘I really don’t know. He just won’t tell me anything.’ She had questioned him multiple times, but Ghislain had casually brushed it off each time, saying he’d explain later. Eventually, Belinda stopped pursuing her suspicions and started thinking about how to use the medicine Ghislain had developed. ‘If I handle this well, it might make some money.’ Belinda managed all the funds Ghislain received to maintain his noble status. She struggled to stretch the small amount to support him, so the thought of even earning a single coin made her heart race. ‘The problem is the ingredients. Only wealthy people would be able to afford it.’ The ingredient known as “Fairy’s Blessing,” used in the medicine, grew in such small quantities in specific regions that it was more expensive than gold. Despite its exorbitant price, it had a variety of beneficial properties and was used as an ingredient in high-end medicines and potions. ‘Still, it would be cheaper than receiving divine healing... Even just selling the recipe through a contract could make some money.’ While the group each pondered their own thoughts, Ghislain was engaged in a lengthy conversation with Gillian. Since Ghislain didn’t flaunt his noble status and behaved casually, Gillian felt comfortable talking to him. “For a nobleman, you seem quite carefree, my lord.” “Heh, yeah, I guess I’m pretty laid-back.” Though Gillian had phrased it politely, Ghislain didn’t really come off as a noble. In fact, it made sense, given that he had spent more time living as a mercenary than as a noble. Ghislain only maintained the bare minimum of noble etiquette, so to others, he appeared more like a confident commoner than a nobleman. “Well, lately, I’ve been trying to act more dignified. But honestly, it feels really awkward.” “Sometimes it’s better for young people to act freely. You should enjoy your youth.” “I’d like to, but my youth is already mortgaged to other matters. It’s a bit unfortunate.” There were times when Ghislain’s remarks didn’t make much sense to Gillian, but he simply brushed it off, thinking it was just part of Ghislain’s unique personality. * * * The group reached the outskirts of the Raypold estate without any significant events. At first, they were a bit tense, unsure of what Amelia might try, but there were no ambushes, even when passing through some rather dangerous areas. “If we get through this part, we’ll be out of the Raypold estate soon,” Ghislain said with a sense of relief. Ahead of them, trees lined both sides of the path. It wasn’t a vast forest, but the dense woods were enough to get lost in if one wasn’t careful. The same density also meant there was a high risk of an ambush, but it was the fastest route to the Ferdium estate. Otherwise, they would have to either climb over the mountain or take a much longer detour. ‘If she were to stage an ambush, she’d send enough force to ensure it’s dealt with properly.’ Of course, Ghislain was confident he could repel any forces Amelia might send. He hadn’t yet revealed his full abilities, so Amelia wouldn’t be able to assess his strength correctly. Besides, even for someone like Amelia, sending someone capable of handling Ghislain would be a significant burden. Talented individuals weren’t something you could just summon whenever you needed them. Still, it never hurt to be cautious. As they approached the path’s entrance, Ghislain quietly released a threadlike stream of mana into the surroundings. ‘This is the best spot for an ambush. It’s an awkward position to raise a formal complaint to the Raypold estate if something happens here.’ The thin strands of mana spread out from Ghislain, sweeping the area around the group. This was a technique that only someone at the highest level of mastery could detect—a skill unique to Ghislain. After nodding his head a few times, Ghislain turned to the group and said, “Let’s move forward.” They slowly urged their horses forward into the narrow path. As they traveled through, Ghislain remained silent, and the knights followed, somewhat tense. Yet, even after a considerable amount of time passed, nothing happened. One by one, the knights began to relax. As they neared the end of the small forest path, Belinda, riding next to Ghislain, furrowed her brows. A faint, prickling sensation touched her skin—a hint of killing intent. Her instincts, honed through years of experience, alerted her. As she focused her mana, familiar presences began registering in her senses. Confidently, Belinda spoke up. “Young master, wait a moment...” But before she could finish her sentence, Gillian had already leaped onto a horse and cut the reins connecting the carriage. “I’ll handle this. Please, stay back and rest.” He drew the crossbow from his back without hesitation and fired a bolt. At the same time, his horse charged forward. Thud-thud-thud! The modified crossbow, capable of firing three bolts rapidly, sent its projectiles soaring between the tall trees. “Ugh!” Several people, who had been hiding and camouflaging themselves among the trees, fell to the ground. At the same time, loud noises echoed from various directions. “They’ve noticed!” “Attack!” People sprang out from the ground while those hidden among the branches covered by leaves leaped down. Their numbers are easily estimated to be around thirty. While Ghislain’s escort knights were startled and hurriedly drew their swords, Gillian charged toward the emerging enemies, shouting. “A whole lot of rats have shown up!” With a scoff, Gillian discarded his crossbow and pulled out two hand axes hanging at his waist. Thud! The hand axe buried itself into the forehead of the enemy at the front. They collapsed without even a scream. However, Gillian didn’t spare a glance at the newly made corpses. Without delay, he reached for the small lance attached to the side of his saddle and charged straight toward the mass of approaching enemies. Smash! “Arghhh!” In an instant, several people were impaled by the small lance, their heads crushed. Without mercy, he pierced through any enemies in his path as he advanced. The escort knights, seeing this, were so shocked that they forgot they were under attack, their mouths agape. “A lance charge?” “In this kind of terrain, is that even possible?” In a forest filled with obstacles like trees and rocks. Moreover, skewering enemies consecutively like that was difficult even on flat ground, unless one was a master horseman. Yet Gillian skillfully avoided obstacles while maintaining his horse’s speed. In his wake, only the corpses of enemies remained. It was truly an astonishing technique. Even the enemies, stunned, gritted their teeth and shouted. “Forget that guy! Kill that Ghislain first!” All of them turned away from Gillian and rushed toward Ghislain. “Young Master, let me...” As Belinda and the escort knights tried to rush to his aid, Ghislain raised his hand to stop them. “It’s fine. Gillian told me to just rest.” By then, Gillian had already turned the reins and charged back toward Ghislain. Ignoring the enemies scattered around him, he swiftly approached the carriage and grabbed the large shield attached to its side. Now, at close range, one of the enemies pulled out a dagger and hurled it toward Ghislain. Swish! The sound of blades cutting through the air echoed endlessly. Daggers were flying in from all directions. Despite the sharp blades hurtling toward him, Ghislain’s expression remained calm and relaxed. Rat-a-tat-tat! At that moment, Gillian leaped in front of Ghislain. The massive shield blocked all of the incoming daggers. He then swung the shield widely in front of him. Two or three enemies, charging forward, were flung back in a straight line by the sheer force. Belinda, in astonishment, asked in a bewildered voice. “Who is that man? What kind of person is he?” This time, Ghislain, who usually dismissed such questions with secrecy, answered casually as if it were no big deal. “Gillian, the captain of the Ratatosk Mercenary Corps. A master of weaponry who can fight in any terrain and under any circumstance.” Ghislain quietly smiled as he watched Gillian’s reliable back.