22- Escort mission ( 2 )

" Master, how are you feeling ? "

With mariane walking by his side, it has been quite some time since they departed from the city, and the reason for her worries were two things.

One, she probably thought that he was mad over the mercenaries, which he wasn't really, as they were just that small, like frogs in a well, not able to recognize one's strenght.

Though his strength wasn't magic or his body, but something else, since they couldn't know about it, it was normal to not take it to mind.

And the other reason was because he was the one holding the box instead of her while walking, although she insisted to do it, he already told her that if a monster was to attack their side of the carriages, she was the one who will defend it if possible.

" I'm fine, what about you Mariane ? "

" I'm in perfect state. "

Receiving an answer to his question, he couldn't help but think, ' that's a given ' , considered that she wouldn't tire herself out from just a bit of walking, no, even if she were to walk all day and night, her natural regeneration would stop her stamina from even dropping in the first place.

That plus the fact that she didn't needed to eat or drink, maybe if he put her in the real world with a phone that could record the number of steps taken, he could actually put to ruin those apps that would pay you for walking everyday.

But well, that was just a futile thought that quickly disappeared from his mind, as of now, he didn't wanted to go back to his world, just probably add a pay to win function to the store, but that was basically it.

" We're almost at the first rest point, just another effort everyone ! "

With a loud voice that came from the first carriage, he could hear some cheers from behind, everyone trying to keep the moral higher as they've been walking in silence since quite a bit of time now, it was something he didn't expected, but wasn't surprised by.

At least, he knew that he could soon rest, and it was enough for him, even if he wasn't particularly tired, he wasn't really in the mood to spend the whole night walking.

" Master, I can sense a few presences. "

Maybe he shouldn't have yelled so loud.

Within a few minutes, he could see Mariane's ears perking, as if she was hearing something special, and her report came in.

" How many ? "

" About three or four, should I deal with them ? "

Pondering over it for a small moment, he ended up shaking his head.

" No, stay with the group for now, unless they're famished, monsters won't attack such a large group, and if anything, you could fight with the guards once they approach. "

" I understand. "

Explaing his thought process, there was two or three things that he didn't said, like the fact he thought that she could get injured with a four versus one, or even that four monsters wouldn't even be able to let him complete his daily quest, but there was two other things other than that.

First, the monsters didn't appeared for anyone to see them, so people couldn't watch her fend them off by herself, which could certainly provides some sort of 'power' when talking with someone else, as if proving one's strenght.

Secondly, and most importantly, she had no reason to show people about her gears that would be considered as artefacts here.

It was a simple reason, and while she wouldn't sleep to not show a weakness, who knew what mercenaries or guards would do upon seeing them.

So with the thought of hiding their strenghts for now, he kept walking until they reached a flat and apparently well used land, as there was no grass on that spot.

" We'll stop here for the night ! Get down and start helping with the horses and the camp ! "

The order of getting down was for the ones in the carriages, mostly merchants, supervisors and coachmans, along with few confidents.

The task of setting the camp and tents was mostly destined for the guards, while adventurers and mercenaries would patrol around, which he had no choice but to accept.

The coachmans leading the horses to a patch of grass, few people remained to prepare a campfire and pull out the ingredients from the carts.

" Mariane, did they followed us ? "

Finding an opportunity with their 'patrol' , if one where to be missing for a few minutes, it wouldn't cause much chaos, so asking if she knew about it, he quickly received an answer.

" They did, however, there are fewers of them now. "

" How long will it take you to get rid of them ? "

" Three minutes will do. "

Nodding at her words, he didn't hesitated any longer.

" Alright, don't let anyone see you, and don't get hurt. "

" Yes, master. "

As she started running towards a certain direction, he could have sworn that he saw a smile on her face, but for someone as expressionless as her during her work, he thought that maybe he dreamed it, or haven't seen it properly as the night was setting in.

' Guess I'll just do a quick round here while waiting for her. '

Since it wasn't entirely dark yet, he couldn't just stand idle, so walking away a bit further, he didn't tried to explore around, but was just waiting for Mariane to come back.

And while he was dragging his feet on top of the grass, he saw a notification, following by another, popping in his sight, which gave him a smile.

' Still no shards though.. '

While it was a poor sight to see his luck dropping like that, when he thought that a full exploration of 8hours would give three shards at most, he finally realized that maybe, he wasn't that unlucky.

Quickly, Mariane came back by his side, as if nothing happened, her dress wasn't covered with a single drop of blood, showing that she did a neat job.. probably.

After all, there was no way for him to know if the outfit she was wearing right now, and the one she wore when fighting, were the same in the first place, though he doubted that.

" Let's return before they raise their suspicions. "

" Yes master. "

Walking back to the camp where new lights were seen, surely from lanterns and a fire in the middle of it, since they weren't done preparing it, they had to keep waiting by walking around along with the group of five mercernaries which seemed already used to that as they were talking between them.

Actually, maybe he was the only one waiting, with others taking their jobs seriously, especially for Mariane which possessed enhanced senses, but since she was his card, wasn't he considered as him working as well ?

With no answer to such a question, he kept doing a few turns before they were called in to eat.

" Come on guys, the dinner is ready ! "

Of course, they won't all eat at the same time, first were the merchants and such, then the guards, and only then would mercenaries and adventurers eat, taking turns being obligatory if they wanted to protect the camp from any kind of intrusion.

After waiting for so long that he felt bored of it, he finally stepped up inside the camp, looking around to the few tents and the fire with a huge pot on top of it, a nice fragrance could be smelled.

Not one of a woman, but one of a soup with chunks of meat in it.

Being handed a bowl and a spoon along with a piece of brown bread, it was the most simple dish there was in this world, and that wasn't even the cheapest version of it.

' At least, it's pretty good to fill the stomach.. '

Missing most of the dishes from the modern world, he sat himself on a corner before he started eating, Mariane following just after him.

The hard bread softening after being soaked in the soup, it was the only way to eat that kind of ' jawbreaking innovation ' , and after he finished his bread, it was time to eat what vegetables and meat there was in before drinking the soup as it was.

It didn't took him long to finish his bowl, yet, something came up as he was about to hand it back to the one serving the meal.

" Everyone, we should set the roles for the night guard, who want to start and who wants to end it ? We'll do cycle of two hours and two persons per group. "

Well, he already knew who he was about to stay up with.