Chapter 319 (Patreon)

They were originally supposed to leave in a few days. At least, that was the previous plan.

That plan vanished overnight.

A last-minute notice arrived a few days informing them that departure had been moved to today for safety reasons. Nobody explained further than that, and strangely, nobody dared ask either.

That alone told Kana enough.

Something had changed. The trio had originally planned to visit the orphanage one final time before leaving for the empire. Suri even spent most of the previous evening preparing what she called a perfect farewell speech, though Kana suspected it would have turned into insults halfway through.

Now they no longer had the time. Instead, Suri created one of her illusionary birds, carefully shaping glowing mana into the form of a small blue sparrow. The creature fluttered above her fingers for a moment before taking flight toward Saltrain Orphanage carrying their letter.

Kana silently watched it disappear into the bright morning sky. For some reason, seeing it leave made the journey finally feel real. There was no grand ceremony for their departure. No noble speeches. No cheering crowds.

In fact, everything about it felt intentionally secretive.

The group gathered near the rarely used backside entrance of the royal castle, far from the main gates where merchants and citizens usually passed through. The road there was longer and rougher, eventually circling back toward the kingdom’s main routes through less populated areas.

Even the servants nearby spoke quietly.

As if the castle itself wished this departure to remain unnoticed.

Three enormous wagons waited near the gates, each one reinforced with thick metal plating along the sides. Instead of horses, they were being pulled by massive lizard-like beasts whose bodies were nearly larger than the wagons themselves. Dark scales covered their muscular frames while steam escaped occasionally from their nostrils against the cool morning air.

The creatures looked more suited for war than travel.

Nearby, around fifty knights prepared equipment and supplies. Armor clinked softly while crates of provisions were loaded into compartments beneath the wagons.

Kana immediately noticed something else. Only two royal knights.

Rose Light and Artin. The rest were ordinary knights. That alone felt strange. Were they were really enough?

Artin eventually approached them carrying several folded dark green cloaks over one arm.

“You five need to wear these,” he said while tossing one toward Boris.

Suri caught hers reluctantly before frowning.

“You mean during the trip?”

Artin nodded cheerfully.

“For the entire month.”

Suri stared at him in disbelief. “For a whole month?” she repeated. “Do you know how horrible that sounds?”

Chelle, who bought new clothes especially for this trip, suddenly lost her enthusiasm.

Before Chell added her complaint, Artin immediately pointed behind himself toward the distant figure of Commander Rose speaking with several captains of the knight.

“If you have objections,” he said with a smirk, “feel free to explain them directly to her.”

Suri instantly became quiet.

“…The cloak suddenly looks fashionable,” she muttered.

Boris snorted loudly. Unfortunately for him, he had no time to relax afterward. Several knights quickly noticed his large frame and immediately decided he looked useful.

“Big guy! Carry this!”

“Not that one, the heavier crate!”

“What’s the point of those muscles if you stand around?”

Boris looked betrayed by the entire world as he carried yet another supply crate toward the wagons while the knights shamelessly continued piling more work onto him.

“I’m a student,” Boris complained weakly.

“Your body is designed to do hard labor,” one knight corrected.

Boris suddenly put his one arm over Ryle who tried to quietly leave and said,”This guy is actually stronger than me.”

Ryle couldn’t help but click his tongue in annoyance and asked himself when did the commoner feel comfortable around the nobles?

Meanwhile, Kana stood quietly beside Suri, her eyes half closed.

She expanded her [High Awareness] slowly across the surrounding area.

Movements. Footsteps. Breathing. Positions. More importantly their chattering.

The moment she did, her expression  changed lightly.

“Looks like we’re in good hands,” Kana murmured. Suri glanced at her curiously.

Kana could feel it now. The knights surrounding them were not arranged randomly. Scouts moved ahead of the formation. Pairs guarded elevated positions along the walls. Several hidden presences lingered entirely outside visible sight.

Even the wagons themselves had layered protection. Rose Light truly prepared like someone expecting danger at every turn.

Artin smiled proudly after hearing Kana’s remark.

“Of course you are,” he said. “We’re talking about Rose Light here. She’s the biggest perfectionist among the royal knights.”

He crossed his arms confidently.

“She usually handles long-term missions near the borders. Apparently, she finished her assignment earlier than expected, so the king immediately assigned her to escort duty.”

Kana looked toward Rose again. The woman stood near the front wagon, calmly discussing something with another knight while the morning wind tugged softly against her black cloak. She could hear it all well, everything she said was very specific and explaining the importance of it.

Even from afar, Rose still felt strangely… weak or empty.

Kana frowned slightly before asking,

“She’s not related to the principal, right?”

Artin blinked once. Then burst out laughing.

“Of course they’re related!”

Kana tilted her head slightly.

Artin grinned. “She’s Principal Light’s only niece.”

For the first time since meeting Rose, Kana genuinely looked surprised.

Then suddenly…

Chelle couldn’t help but laugh,”I thought everyone knew that.”

Suri only forced a smile in response.

…..

The capital disappeared behind them quietly.

No cheering crowds followed their departure. No nobles stood on the walls offering blessings for a safe journey. The massive gates of the kingdom simply opened beneath the pale morning sky, and the convoy rolled out like a shadow slipping into the wilderness.

Three enormous wagons traveled together along the road, their reinforced wheels grinding against stone and dirt alike. Each one was large enough to carry an entire squad of soldiers comfortably, built more like moving fortresses than ordinary transport wagons. Thick wooden panels reinforced with metal lined the sides, while heavy canvas coverings concealed most of the supplies within.

The beasts pulling them were even more intimidating.

Massive reptilian creatures with dark scales and muscular limbs dragged the wagons forward with unnatural stability. They were nearly larger than the wagons themselves, their clawed feet crushing loose rocks every few steps. Steam occasionally escaped from their nostrils into the cold morning air.

Kana watched one blink lazily and decided she would rather fight another dungeon boss than anger one of those things. She was curious though how they tame it in the first place.

Artin rode in the first wagon alongside several scouts and knights responsible for navigation. The rear wagon carried the bulk of the soldiers and supplies.

Kana’s group rode in the middle. The wagon swayed constantly as it rolled along the uneven road. Wood creaked softly beneath their weight while loose equipment rattled every now and then with the motion.

Inside, the atmosphere was strangely stiff and heavy.

Ryle sat quietly near the corner, trying to appear calm while failing miserably. Chelle folded her hands neatly beneath the dark green cloak they had been forced to wear earlier. Suri leaned against the side wall of the wagon with the expression of someone personally betrayed by fabric itself.

And directly across from them sat Rose Light.

Perfect posture. Even while the wagon moved, she somehow looked unmoving, as if the shaking world simply adjusted itself around her instead.

Kana studied her quietly for a while before finally speaking. “Lady Rose,” Kana said, breaking the silence, “can we stop at a small town near the southern outskirts?”

Rose lifted her eyes toward Kana.

“No,” she answered immediately. “We cannot afford delays.”

Her voice wasn’t cold. If anything, it sounded practical. Like someone discussing weather instead of people.

But Kana did not back down. “It’s important.”

The wagon suddenly felt quieter. Even the rattling wheels beneath them seemed distant now.

Rose rested one finger lightly against her jawline, watching Kana carefully.

“How important?”

Kana met her gaze directly.

“It might save our lives.”

Chelle visibly stiffened.

Ryle awkwardly looked toward the wagon floor as though pretending not to hear the conversation at all. Even Suri straightened slightly from her relaxed posture.

Because Kana rarely sounded like that. Not unless she truly believed something dangerous waited ahead.

For several long seconds, Rose simply stared at her. The tension inside the wagon slowly tightened, invisible yet sharp enough to cut.

Kana did not look away either. It felt less like conversation and more like two swords quietly testing each other’s edges.

Then finally, Rose nodded once. “Be quick.”

Kana lowered her head slightly. “Thank you.”

The pressure eased afterward, though only slightly.

A few moments later, Chelle slowly raised one trembling hand. “Uhm…” she began carefully, “can we remove these cloaks while we’re inside the wagon?”

“No,” Rose answered instantly.

Chelle slowly lowered her hand again.

Rose continued calmly, “This is one of the measures ensuring your safety.”

Suri frowned immediately. She pinched the dark green cloak between two fingers with obvious suspicion.

“These things don’t even look enchanted,” she muttered. “How exactly are they protecting us?”

Rose turned her eyes toward her. Then, in the same calm voice, she replied, “If someone attempts to assassinate you and loses even one second identifying the correct target beneath identical cloaks…”

She paused slightly. “that second may save your life.”

Silence filled the wagon again.

Rose’s gaze remained focused. “Every second matters,” she added quietly. “You should understand that already. No. The three of you should already know that. ”

Suri froze. The words struck far harder than they should have. Because the underwater dungeon returned instantly inside her mind.

The one sided beating. The crushing pressure. That impossible sword descending toward Kanas. And the horrifying realization that their lives had once balanced upon a single moment.

Suri unconsciously tightened her grip on the cloak resting over her shoulders.

For once, she had no sarcastic response ready. Across from them, Rose Light simply sat there calmly, her expression indecipherable as the wagon continued forward into the main road ahead.

Post note:Time for our spy to make his move?

Third chap of the week! 🙂

Hope you enjoy the chap!

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