Chapter 54

Raon and the trainees followed the instructor through the dimensional gateway, arriving at the southernmost part of the Sigurd territory in just one day. Normally, they would have moved slowly, camping and gaining various experiences along the way, but the sudden change in mission left them no choice but to move as quickly as possible. The trainees' faces, tense from their first mission, looked even darker than the sky.

"Today, we'll rest there."

Rimer pointed to a village below the hill. Though small, the gray smoke rising from the rooftops made it look cozy. The village, part of the Sigurd territory, had the emblem of the burning sword carved at its entrance.

"Instructor, shouldn't we keep moving instead of resting?"

Baren stepped beside Rimer and asked.

"Look at you. You've used up all your strength just by passing through the dimensional gateway. How can you track anyone in this state?"

"Hmm..."

Baren turned back and swallowed hard. The dimensional gateway, while allowing long-distance travel, consumes a lot of physical and mental energy. Most of the trainees, using it for the first time, were even more exhausted.

"Tonight is your last chance to rest. We'll start tracking without any breaks from dawn tomorrow, so don't worry."

"But if we're late, other incidents might occur..."

"The Shelloh bandits have connections with the Northern Alliance. Don't assume you'll win just because you're strong. If you meet them in a weakened state, you might be the ones to suffer."

Rimer's cold gaze pierced the trainees.

"I told you before, don't be complacent or tense. Right now, you're nothing. Rest tonight and gather your resolve."

"Yes..."

"Let's go."

He led the way to the village, followed by Raon and the trainees.

"Hmm?"

Raon narrowed his eyes. A familiar yet intense aura emanated from within the village.

"Instructor."

"What is it?"

"Is there a family knight in the village?"

"You really have a good sense."

Rimer whistled and nodded.

"You felt it?"

"A strong aura that doesn't fit the village."

"Right. A family knight is here. In case the bandits move north and attack."

"Ah..."

The Sigurd family is known for protecting the villages and cities within their territory. It seemed they sent a knight as soon as they heard of the problem.

"Your senses are really amazing."

"Hmm..."

"Hmph!"

Rimer's admiration made Baren frown, trying to sense the knight's presence, while Marta snorted, dismissing it as nothing special.

"The Sigurd knights have arrived!"

"Wow!"

As they approached the village, the people cheered and waved, recognizing the burning sword emblem on the instructors' uniforms.

"Open the gate!"

The gate was opened without proper verification, showing the significance of the Sigurd name in this area.

'Robert was similar.'

In his past life, when he moved with Robert's emblem, the people in the south reacted similarly.

"Huff."

Raon buried his long-suppressed vengeance and entered the village. The smell of cooking dinner wafted through the air.

"Welcome, Sigurd knights. I am Kemen, the village chief of Jarten."

An old man with gray hair approached, leaning on a cane and bowing.

"My name is Rimer."

"The Sigurd's Flame Sword! It's an honor to meet you!"

The chief bowed repeatedly, and Rimer smiled and greeted him before turning around.

"They will show you to your lodgings. This is your last chance to rest well. We'll gather before dawn. Don't be late."

"I still have plenty of energy. I'll scout the area."

Baren raised his hand, his eyes gleaming.

"Good spirit. It will be easier if you know the way. But do you know the geography around here well?"

Rimer looked at Baren sternly.

"From the map..."

"This area is surrounded by forests and mountains. Even if you've seen the map, you won't know where you are when you actually go there. If the bandits suddenly ambush you, you won't be able to counterattack and will lose your head."

Rimer patted Baren's head and laughed.

"I understand your enthusiasm, but being hasty will give the bandits an opportunity. As I said, they can't leave this area. Calm down."

"Yes, I understand."

Baren and the collateral trainees bowed awkwardly.

"From tomorrow, there won't be any time to rest, even if you want to. Rest well tonight. We'll start the search at dawn."

"Yes!"

"Let's go."

The trainees followed Rimer to the village hall in the center.

* * *

The next morning at dawn.

As Rimer declared, the forced march south without rest continued. They ate dry rations on the move and slept for less than three hours. To make matters worse, a sudden blizzard blocked their vision, slowing their steps to a snail's pace.

"Hmm."

Raon shook off the snow on his shoulders and looked at the trainees.

"Huff."

"Snowflakes from the sky, like powdered dung!"

Baren and Marta, with snow up to their knees, struggled to walk.

"Ah, I'm going to die!"

"How long will this blizzard last!"

"The speed is too slow."

If Baren and Marta were struggling, the other trainees, blocked by snow and ice, were floundering even more, and their movement speed was less than half of normal.

"Huff."

Only one person, Lunan, was smiling and making snowballs, but he was an exception.

If this continued, they might really miss the bandits.

Rimer and the instructors watched silently, seemingly thinking that giving advice was a luxury since they were here as protectors. Ultimately, he had to take the lead.

"Stop."

Raon stepped to the front and stopped everyone.

"On a snow-covered ground, don't put force on your ankles. It will slow you down and waste energy."

Raon looked at the trainees and continued.

"Relax your ankles and knees, and step on the snow as if you're bouncing a leaf. Since you've learned the Garambu technique, a little practice will do."

He demonstrated by stepping softly on the snow and moving forward. His legs moved much more smoothly than when walking normally, almost like sliding on ice.

"Huh?"

"Wow."

The trainees gasped at the sight.

Raon showed the steps a few more times to ensure everyone could follow.

"From now on, we'll move in a single line. Baren, come to the front."

"Why?"

"When the snowstorm or wind is strong, moving in a single line reduces the wind's impact. You'll lead the others."

"Okay!"

The word "lead" made Baren's eyes sparkle.

"The rest, follow Baren in a single line."

A single line was formed with Baren at the front, Marta in the middle, and Lunan at the back.

"The lead will change every hour. Let's go."

Raon didn't join the line but moved to the side to lead the trainees.

Once the trainees mastered the snow steps and moved in a single line, their speed nearly doubled.

"Huff."

"It's really fast. It's not much different from usual."

"How did Raon know this?"

"He's a remarkable kid."

"Maybe he's a veteran?"

"Indeed. His teaching method is very efficient. It's like he's done a forced march before."

"I was going to give a hint, but it wasn't necessary."

The instructors behind them marveled at Raon's back.

Rimer smiled, looking at Raon and the trainees.

* * *

Raon and the trainees managed to reach a village through the blizzard. However, the village was half-burned, and there were no living beings left. The bodies of men, women, and children, whose names and faces were unknown, filled one side of the village.

This was the village the Shelloh bandits had attacked.

"Ugh!"

"Ugh!"

Some trainees with weak stomachs vomited, while others with stronger stomachs frowned or turned away.

But Raon, standing beside Rimer, examined the bodies with a calm face.

'They were cut first, then burned.'

Most of the people had been killed by swords before the fire. As he had heard, the bandits attacked, stole, and fled.

'But...'

The bandits, who usually cleared the mountain paths and extorted money, had no clear motive for attacking this place.

"Are you okay?"

Rimer, worried, approached as Raon continued to examine the bodies.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

Indeed, among the trainees, only Raon and Marta were examining the bodies up close.

'Sure enough...'

Marta, as he had felt before, seemed to have seen many bodies, or perhaps even killed.

"Ugh."

Baren bit his lip and approached to examine the bodies, clearly forcing himself.

"Hmm..."

Lunan, despite his discomfort, examined the wounds on the bodies to understand the bandits' swords. He had changed from the person who used to be scared by the sight of blood. There was no need to worry about him anymore.

"This is what the Shelloh bandits did. Remember it and engrave it in your heart. When you meet them, don't hesitate to draw your swords. We're moving out."

"Yes!"

Rimer's final words made the trainees' eyes flash with determination. The excitement of their first mission turned into a surge of anger.

Two days later.

Raon and the trainees arrived at the Luten Mountain area, where the Shelloh bandits were believed to be hiding. Two more days of travel would lead to the main road, and the family knights were closing in, so the bandits were definitely hiding nearby.

"Everyone, pay attention."

Rimer clapped his hands to gather the trainees.

"This is our base. From now on, we'll form teams to track the bandits' location."

He formed the teams himself. Raon was paired with Lunan.

Compared to the other teams of three or four, their team was smaller but more powerful.

"Each team will receive a silver whistle."

Rimer handed a silver whistle to each team.

"Only those trained can hear the whistle. If you're in danger, blow it. The instructors watching you will move immediately."

"Yes!"

"However, try to do what you can on your own. You can work with other teams or face the bandits alone without our help. But the bandits' swords show no mercy, so don't be complacent."

"Understood!"

The trainees, remembering the horrors of the village the bandits attacked, started moving in the direction they chose.

But Raon didn't move immediately. He looked around the mountain path, the Luten Mountain to the east, the low hills to the west, and the dense forest beside them.

'That mountain.'

His gaze focused on the Luten Mountain. From there, they could overlook the area and escape if necessary, making it the standard hiding place.

But it was too standard.

Knowing the knights were closing in and there were trackers, the bandits wouldn't hide in the mountain.

The forest was similar. Though it was dense and hard to spot, it was difficult to escape.

'So, probably...'

Raon's eyes finally landed on the hills. It was a conspicuous place, but there might be other terrain inside.

He decided to check there first.

"Raon."

When he stood up, Lunan approached, tilting his head as if asking if he wasn't going.

He thought about why he was paired with Lunan and concluded it was to take care of the gentle Lunan.

"Let's go this way."

"Okay."

Raon led Lunan up the hill.

'Sure enough.'

As expected, there was a forest inside the hill, not dense but quite deep.

He lowered his gaze and examined the forest's entrance. There were many small footprints, making it hard to find human traces.

'But...'

For a regular hunter or tracker, it would be difficult. Raon was different.

To become the best assassin, one must excel not only in killing but also in tracking, sensing, and gathering information.

Raon didn't give up and slowly moved through the forest, looking for the bandits' traces. As humans, they couldn't avoid leaving traces, even if they were experts in the mountains and forests.

'I found it!'

Raon's eyes glowed red. The trace wasn't on the ground but on the shoulder-high bushes, where someone had passed through.

"From now on, don't even make a sound. Follow me."

"Okay."

Raon lowered his posture, following the barely visible trace to estimate the bandits' location, moving slowly.

"Stop."

Raon extended his hand backward.

"Why?"

"There's a trap."

A transparent trap made of thin threads was right in front of them. Passing through it would cut their legs and send a signal inside.

'I can't let that happen.'

Raon disarmed the trap without triggering the signal and moved forward.

-Did you see that?

A sigh of admiration escaped Las's lips.

-I really can't understand what this human is capable of. Even with my long life, I can't figure it out.

'It