Chapter 46: An Encounter on the Road!

No matter which city you found yourself in, the Adventurers’ Guild was always a microcosm of society unto itself, a place where the full spectrum of human joys and sorrows, anger and happiness, could be observed. Seasoned adventurers knew well that no matter how bizarre the scene unfolding within the guild, it was hardly cause for surprise—for in a place where gains and losses were so stark, human emotions were either suppressed to the barest minimum or magnified to extraordinary heights.

That was why, even as Teresa crouched dejectedly in the very center of the first-floor hall of the Cervantes Adventurers’ Guild, drawing circles on the floor in a show of wounded pride, she failed to attract the slightest interest from those around her. Most went about their business as if nothing unusual was happening, each busy with their own affairs. Occasionally, someone with a kind disposition and a penchant for meddling might approach to ask what was wrong, but they were all rebuffed by Teresa’s sulky expression and pursed lips—she made it perfectly clear she didn’t wish to talk. It wasn’t until she had been squatting there for nearly twenty minutes that June finally emerged from the staircase.

June spotted Teresa instantly. Her posture and expression were quite a sight, and he couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile before walking over and patting her on the shoulder. “Teresa, don’t be upset. Grandfather’s making you do these chores not just to punish you, but also to help reinforce your mental foundations. You’ve only just recovered from a backlash, after all—you still need plenty of restorative training.”

Teresa let out a soft, disgruntled sound, but it seemed she accepted his words. She brushed off her knees as she rose, asking, not entirely graciously, “Where’s the bloodroot? Hand it over—I’ll take care of it at home.”

The true source of her grievances lay in the fact that Carol’s punishment was far from limited to “coating glue.” It was as if he intended for Teresa to master every basic process from scratch: first processing magical beast hides for scroll-making, then using groundfire to refine enchanter’s iron sand, and now, her current task—extracting the herbal essence of bloodroot, the main ingredient in hemostatic potions. Each of these jobs was both tedious and repetitive. The benefit was the constant tempering of her spiritual sense, but the drawback was the sheer monotony—endless repetition enough to drive anyone mad.

Clearly, Carol was truly angry this time.

Hearing Teresa ask for bloodroot, June’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “The military’s demand for bloodroot has surged lately, and its price in the market has become outrageous. So, I thought, why don’t we just go to the Gray Forest and pick some ourselves? What do you say?”

At that, Teresa’s eyes brightened instantly! Bloodroot was, after all, just a basic ingredient for beginner potions—one of the most common alchemical herbs. No matter how expensive, it could never be truly exorbitant. June’s suggestion was obviously just an excuse to let her get out and stretch her legs, and she was only too happy to accept.

☆☆☆

Though they said they were heading into the Gray Forest, bloodroot was so abundant that Teresa and June had no need to venture into its depths. Skirting the outer woodland was enough to gather all the herbs required for Teresa’s task. This part of the forest was only ever inhabited by mild-mannered beasts of level one or zero, so both Teresa and June were completely at ease. The weather was beautiful, sunlight streaming through the branches, and the two of them strolled along in leisure, chatting as they searched for useful herbs. Whenever they spotted a suitable plant, they would dig it up and stow it in the herb box. The whole outing was as relaxed as a countryside excursion.

As they walked and talked, they suddenly fell silent in unison. Teresa frowned in hesitation, while June’s face grew grave—they both sensed a strange disturbance in the distance. Birds took flight in panic overhead, and woodland creatures scattered in every direction. Even the dullest observer would have noticed something was amiss. June immediately drew a magic scroll from his robe, activated it with a surge of mana, and from its surface rose a plume of blue-green flame. An object, pale and shaped like a human eye, shot into the sky.

The Eye of Magic—a level five spell for magical reconnaissance, offering a twenty-kilometer range.

It was the most basic reconnaissance spell, and also one of the most practical—at least until a mage mastered its advanced form, the Eye of Truth.

“Soldiers!” June’s face changed dramatically as the magical eye soared upward. He blurted out the word just as Teresa noticed the eye in the sky was abruptly struck by a flash of red light. The magical eye shuddered twice before dissipating completely—a level eight spell, Magic Dispel, the most effective countermeasure against auxiliary spells like the Eye of Magic.

“June, what’s going on? Whose army is it?” Teresa asked, alarmed.

“It’s the Empire’s forces,” June replied, a look of confusion crossing his face. “From the looks of them, they’re in a terrible state… but I haven’t heard of anything happening near the Gray Forest lately that would require troop movement. How odd…”

But Teresa only grew more uneasy. The more mysterious an army’s movements, the greater the danger! Who knew if they were on some secret mission? Who could say if they would silence any witnesses they happened upon? Who knew—

Wait, silence witnesses?

Teresa smacked her own forehead in exasperation. She was letting her imagination run wild. Given their route, these people couldn’t possibly avoid passing through the Gray Forest. If they had emerged from the forest, they would have encountered countless adventurers and explorers—how could they possibly be carrying out a secret mission in such a busy place, let alone silencing people?

As June puzzled and Teresa chastised herself, the source of the disturbance—responsible for sending the woodland creatures fleeing—finally appeared before them.

It was indeed a small squad of soldiers, three to four dozen in all, clad in Imperial uniforms, battered and disheveled, bearing the marks of recent battle. Some had wounds only hastily bandaged. Though their appearance was ragged, each one radiated a lethal intensity, like swords drawn from their sheaths.

Given that the Aubrion family counted a career soldier and two reservists among its ranks, Teresa had long since become familiar with the Imperial military’s structure. With a single glance, she recognized these men as belonging to the Northern Front.

The nearest garrison to the Gray Forest was part of the Northwestern Glacial Barrens command. In other words, these soldiers had most likely come down from the icy barrens—they had traversed the entire Gray Forest!

What could be so urgent as to force them to abandon the well-traveled northwestern route and march directly through the forest?

While Teresa reeled in shock and June fretted in unease, the soldiers halted not far from the two of them. One of the knights rode forward, saluted, and asked, “Can you tell me where the nearest administrative village is?”

The town outside the Gray Forest was called a town, but it was not an official administrative village of the Empire, and thus not part of its bureaucratic system.

June was still dazed, but Teresa responded at once, her directions clear and concise. She even pointed out a few shortcut paths. The knight listened, then saluted her in earnest. “May the Empire’s glory be with you.”

With that, the soldiers melted away in the direction Teresa had indicated, vanishing as swiftly as they had appeared—like the wind itself. Only after they were gone did June snap out of his daze. “What was that all about? Did something happen at the front?”

Clearly, he recognized their military insignia as well.

Teresa pressed her lips together, her face expressionless. “Back to the city?”

June looked at her with concern, attempting to reassure her. “Don’t worry. Lord Aubrion is a formidable man—he’ll be fine.”

Teresa merely murmured her assent, wheeled her horse, and rode off in the direction she’d shown the soldiers.

Now, all she wanted was to find out, as quickly as possible, just what had happened on the Northwestern Front.

The bells are ringing—it's Christmas Eve. Wishing everyone peace and happiness.