Fake

Telling the driver to stop for the night, Harry first went towards the carriage's side and told Jackson about his decision.

"I simply expect to arrive at our destination safely, I'll trust your decisions Mercenary Captain," Jackson said, his expression as always was entirely indifferent as if he was a marble statue.

Harry nodded his head and then said.

"I suggest Your Highness sleeps in the carriage today, while it will be less comfortable, it will make it much easier for us to make sure you stay safe," Harry added, though his expression showed how nervous he was when making such a request.

'Let's just hope that his reputation is correct and he doesn't make a fuss' Harry thought as a bead of sweat started going down the side of his face.

Jackson's butler looked like he was about to say something but Jackson simply raised his hand as if to tell him to not speak and then nodded his head towards Harry.

"Thank you for your consideration, your noble highness," Harry said as did a full bow and then closed the door of the carriage slowly.

Finally, he turned towards his mercenary group and loudly told them.

"We will be setting up camp here for the night. Bring out the tents and set them up, after you finish that come and meet me before my own tent." Harry commanded his men as they all started scattering, trying to hurry up and prepare the tents so that they could finally get some rest after an entire day of walking.

It truly had been a shitty day, first the mist incident happened and then they had to evacuate as fast as possible from their spot and they continued walking for the rest of the day and well into the night.

They were truly exhausted.

After a while, all the tents had been set up, and Leroy got called over by Harry as he told him.

"You will be sleeping in my tent tonight as it's the closest to the carriage and I need someone rested enough near it in case something happens." 

Leroy just nodded as he helped Harry set up the tent.

While helping set up the tent, Leroy noticed that Harry had actually positioned all of his strongest warriors as close to the Carriage as possible.

Gorkuis, Ordis, Jakins, and Henry all had the tents closest to Harry and the Carriage.

'If the mist does come then we would be the last to be attacked, but why is he considering me someone who has just unlocked mana, more important than other members who have been in the group for years?' Leroy thought to himself.

Leroy shook his head to clear his thoughts.

'It doesn't matter, all that matters is that I survive whatever comes at us.' He thought as the tent was finally set up.

Huffing, Leroy turned around and stared at the other tents, most of them had been set up with only one that was still being built.

A while later that tent was also set up correctly and everyone came in front of Harry.

Harry stood in front of the entire Jackals as he told them his plans.

"Considering what happened this morning, I want at least three people always on night guard duty from this day forward, if something does happen then don't even try to confront it and just shout as loudly as possible so that the others wake up, do you hear me?" Harry asked

"Yes, Captain!" The Jackals responded to their Captain.

Harry nodded as he continued.

"The rotations will be changed every four hours, until six am when we will wake up, not all of us will be doing night guard duty and we will switch every day. Meaning six people will be on guard duty per day." 

Harry said as he explained how the rotations would work.

Then he proceeded to name the ones who would be on guard duty for tonight.

Leroy listened but noticed that neither of the rotations had anyone notable.

Weltist was of course excluded as well, Harry just couldn't trust him.

As people started scattering towards their own tents, Leroy also decided to go inside his tent and rest.

It wasn't that easy however, as every time Leroy closed his eyes, he could see the faces of Travis, Arthur, and Ivar as puppets but now another face had been added to the bunch, it was Weltist.

'It's been a while since I had this problem, I thought I overcame it.' Leroy thought as he turned around but no matter what position he took, sleep was becoming more and more of a dream.

He Lay there for a few hours, hearing the insects of the forest until sleep came suddenly as if it was a predator jumping on its prey.

"Wake up!" 

Leroy heard a voice as he felt himself being shaken.

Opening his eyes quickly, he immediately put his hand on his sword and was ready to slash whatever had grabbed him.

"It's me, Harry." 

Finally, Leroy noticed that it indeed was Harry, his captain. He lowered his hand from his sword handle and then finally got up on his feet.

Harry looked at him for a moment and then nodded his head.

"It's a good reaction to have, and it's also good that you slept wearing your armor when in enemy territory you never know when the next battle is going to start so you need to always be ready," Harry said as he then turned around and then headed for the outside.

Just before going outside, however, he stopped and turned his head back.

"It's already six am, get ready quickly and close the tent up, we will be starting the trek in half an hour."

And then Harry disappeared from Leroy's view, going outside.

Leroy nodded to himself and then started packing the tent up.

A few minutes later, he was done with his job and put the tents back into their spot at the back of the carriage where a small compartment could be opened up and used as storage.

They hadn't eaten anything besides dried meat on the road yesterday, and it felt like they wouldn't get anything else today either.

Leroy sighed and thought.

'When I was back in the Slums I would have been happy with dried meat but now that I have tasted all kinds of food, it feels like I can't appreciate it the same way as back then when I could barely survive.'

Turning around Leroy started heading towards the driver's position just as he had done yesterday.

As he walked however he noticed something strange.

Three people were standing close to Weltist as they had a conversation with him, it looked as if they were having the time of their lives. Smiles and laughter could be heard even from afar.

Leroy however could notice something else, something terrifying to him.

'Their joy, why isn't it showing in their eyes? No... even their actions seem fake... just like Weltist's.' Leroy thought as his pupils contracted.