A week before the 'safe passage' escort mission for a seemingly special customer began.
Outside the vast premises of the Hero Academy, among the prosperous and grand establishments of luxuries and order, there erected the conspicuous main building of the Golden Crown Merchant Guild situated in the City of Solana, the heart of the Holy Empire of Divinia.
A man in his early thirties, with short fiery hair and sand-hued eyes, whose desert-colored body was honed through countless life-and-death scenarios, faced his fox-like master—the embodiment of cunning and unfathomable, with gaze gleaming in deep emerald.
"You want me to lead the escort mission for this special client?" The man inquisitively looked at the particular document containing the client's information laid on the table.
It was a student who abandoned every benefit unimaginable by dropping out of the Hero Academy for reasons unknown, leaving only room for speculation.
"Yes. Ensure his safety as I promised, and merely observe him." Ravelle Au Regina smirked.
'Observe him…? It only means that this person is either a potential asset or a threat… If it's the latter then…' The man thought carefully.
The command 'observe', especially from Ravelle, was anything but simple work, prompting the man seated across from her to say a few words before complying.
"…-"
At least he tried to when Ravelle continued, seemingly knowing what he was about to say.
"Ah, don't entertain such ideas. Just as I said, merely observe him. Whatever actions he will take throughout the time he's with us, so be it. Of course, you know very well not to compromise the name of Golden Crown. Am I clear, Sir Sohkran?"
The brown-skinned mercenary faithful to the Golden Crown nodded in compliance.
He was paid to do his job, not to question any underlying motives.
In addition, he would not dare question the decision of the one who could be cruel against threats, but angel-like to those in her dominion.
"Yes, Master. I will perform this mission as intended."
*
Present Day.
Sohkran, the leading mercenary of the Golden Crown for this particular escort mission, witnessed what had just transpired.
A gush of blood splattered, the head of the so-called knight rolled, whose body soon fell on earth, lifeless and painted with an expression of utter confusion.
Though unsurprisingly for a veteran mercenary or a pseudo-hero, Sohkran remained stoic, silently scrutinizing the situation while the others had a mix of reactions.
"What was that…?"
"That was a mana blade, right?"
"But it's crude… it's not even worth anything unless it's used for a surprise attack."
'Indeed, it's a crude mana blade. But is this the possible potential that Master Ravelle saw through this man?' Sohkran thought as he inwardly acknowledged his subordinates' mumblings.
In the next moment, as they remained perplexed for several seconds, Lugh coughed a mouthful of blood; his entire body lost its strength, causing him to kneel on the ground.
It was the backlash of what he utilized despite his lacking Body and Soul in terms of physique and order respectively.
'He's at Dim Soul at best. His physique's nothing but frail too.' Sohkran mused, concluding that Lugh's action a moment earlier was nothing but a burst of emotion.
Seeing his pathetic state, Sohkran then ordered the others to secure the area and assist him in recovering.
"Secure the area, and guide him to his room so that he could rest. Then, about all-"
Before he could address the remaining citizens of this desolate land, whose bodies and health were gradually deteriorating to the point of no return as they seemed to await death at any moment, Lugh's voice cut through the wind, containing authority as the self-proclaimed, unofficial lord of the Eshu County.
"Distribute the food and basic medicine. Cough."
Ignoring his battered state, Lugh continued.
"I'm fine. I can manage. Prioritize the people first." Lugh looked at Sohkran, who was the escort mission's authority based on Ravelle's absolute arrangements.
However, even if that's the case, the special client also held rights of order, as long as it's logical and within the capability of the mercenaries.
That being said, distributing necessities was a walk in the park compared to fighting for their lives.
'This man…' Sohkran muttered, seeing Lugh sat on the blood-stained ground beside his unconscious sister.
After that, every poor soul throughout the puny territory of Eshu County was provided relief. Even if it was temporary, it was enough to survive another day.
Moreover, before the Golden Crown caravan continued on their own way, Lugh seemingly took advantage of their presence as he released a set of commands to at least establish a semblance of order.
The cold evening then fell.
With the chilling winds brushing past the skins of the lost, it marked the era of a little flame burning in the shadows.
*
Throughout the evening, after chugging at least two potions the caravan brought, I barely recovered my strength to address the urgent matters necessary to keep this small dying society on its feet.
'What the hell's with this bastard's weak body?' I mumbled.
My eyes then landed on the remaining figures of the family.
We were currently in the dining room… that was in ruins.
On my right side, my younger sister seated, her demeanor betrayed her anxiousness.
On my left side, there's an old man in his early sixties, who was the family butler. His face was filled with bruises, and his body with wounds.
Apparently, the fake knight earlier trashed everything in this house, causing the butler to lose consciousness after a seemingly intense one-sided beating.
Apart from these two significant figures of the family, there were also six maids in their respective maid uniforms, their expressions inquisitive.
After all, they were maids. Serving was all they could do.
'Serving huh…? I'll put that loyalty to good use.'
"Y-Young Master… About the knight earlier, w-what should we do?" The butler stuttered, snapping out my thoughts.
"About that? There's no need to worry." I said calmly.
"…"
"…?"
"…"
Their gazes and ears fixated on me.
"That's no knight. He's a fraud who pretended to be one."
After saying such words, I explained to them how that was the case.
A real knight in this world of the Hero's Apocalypse was a monstrous being in their own right.
They could cut a mansion in one swing, and depending on their might, they could literally cut a mountain from afar, or even split the sea.
'That royal knight…'
I suddenly remembered the one protecting the Imperial Princess, the female royal knight who could seem to solidify 'light.'
I subconsciously gulped; it looked like my body tensed at such a thought.
Upon hearing my explanation, murmurs spread across the table.
"So that's why he's looking for the family's mana cultivation technique manual?"
"It makes sense… if he's truly a knight, he wouldn't get caught off-guard against Young Master…"
"…"
I listened to the mutterings of the maids for a moment before getting into a serious matter.
"Now then… we will slowly stabilize the citizens, and… first things first, I will not take a 'no' for an answer."
With their eyes looking at me with a myriad of emotions, I opened my mouth to continue,
"We will discreetly militarize the estate."