Chapter 862

Chapter 862: Night on the Journey

The next day, Lolan Hill arrived at the Adventurer’s Hall to meet up.

Pushing open the half-closed door, she entered the slightly stuffy and noisy hall. Her eyes scanned the area and soon spotted a group of caravan members sitting around a round table. The brooches on their cloaks bore the emblem of a three-stringed lute, indicating they belonged to the Lurchen Trading Company.

After tidying her attire, the young lady adjusted her skirt with the armored arm guard before approaching them.

“Hello, are you part of the Lurchen Caravan? I was assigned a mission to assist with the escort,” Lolan Hill asked a man standing beside the table who seemed idle.

The man, dressed in brown-gray clothes, looked up and sized her up—a blonde pigtails swordswoman with a somewhat dashing demeanor—and nodded.

“Yes, that’s us,” he replied, then turned to shout.

“Miss, our requested guard has arrived.”

On the other side of the round table, a woman surrounded by a few people who were discussing matters turned her head. While continuing her conversation with those nearby, she nodded to acknowledge the news.

A minute later, after all the arrangements were made, the Merchant Lady stood up and walked over.

“Hello, I’m Sharin from the Lurchen Trading Company,” said the Merchant Lady, appearing around 20 years old with light brown skin, wearing a sleeveless dark red dress, and holding a woven shawl that added an elegant touch.

“Hello, my name is Mesia,” Lolan Hill nodded, her hand hesitantly moving a bit.

Though she knew imperial court etiquette, she wasn’t quite familiar with how to greet ordinary people or adventurers.

Seeing the young lady’s slightly awkward demeanor, Sharin smiled and extended her right hand. Lolan Hill responded by shaking it.

After a simple handshake, Sharin invited Lolan Hill to sit down.

“The arm guard must be heavy; I thought you’d move more lightly when I first saw you,” Sharin remarked.

“Well, it’s made with some tempered steel for better protection,” Lolan Hill explained, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Haha, that’s good too. Being professional makes one feel more secure. If you had come in a light, flowing dress, I might have been more concerned, even though I heard you’re a Sequence 4 expert.”

They exchanged a few words, and Sharin got a preliminary impression of this swordswoman—seemingly highly skilled but lacking in combat experience.

While not quite meeting her ideal guard criteria, hiring a Sequence 4 expert for this price was already quite reasonable.

In the southern provinces, unrest persisted despite the Regent’s quelling of overt rebellions. Dangerous elements still lurked in remote areas—former soldiers, ex-nobles now fugitives, and bandits who lost their homes during the turmoil.

Under such conditions, stronger escorts were naturally preferred.

“Mesia, haven’t you eaten yet? Why don’t you join us for a meal before we set off?” Sharin invited after an hour, as other members of the caravan had also arrived.

“Sure, thank you,” Lolan Hill replied, curiously looking at the new mercenaries and adventurers before nodding.

Soon, the Adventurer’s Hall staff brought out dishes for the caravan members.

“Here you go,” a wooden tray was placed in front of Lolan Hill.

The tray contained baked square bread and a bowl of steaming potato vegetable soup. The potatoes were cooked thoroughly, giving the broth a thick consistency. Besides small pieces of vegetables, there were a couple of meat bits, suggesting this lunch was quite generous.

For travelers, this was a decent meal, especially since Sharin had offered it for free.

The mercenaries thanked her and began eating heartily, clearly only able to eat about half full.

Tearing apart the bread, Lolan Hill ate quickly, finishing the vegetable soup. A warm sensation filled her stomach. Although the ingredients were basic, the taste of the meal from the Adventurer’s Hall was surprisingly good.

“Now, let’s set off,” Sharin stood up, clapping her hands to signal the young men around to start their work.

“Alright!”

The caravan members exited the hall, went to the stables to bring out the wagons, and checked the cargo.

“Mesia, why don’t you sit with me?” Sharin called out when Lolan Hill was unsure what to do.

She gestured for Lolan Hill to join her at the rear of a wagon.

Soon, the convoy set off, heading out of the city.

The roads of this era were not like the smooth streets she remembered, but instead were uneven and muddy, causing the wagons to jolt constantly. Sometimes, the heavily loaded wagons would creak audibly.

“Are you getting used to it?” Sharin put down her ledger and glanced at the quiet young lady beside her.

“Yes, I am,” Lolan Hill nodded. In truth, she lacked experience traveling alone and didn’t know how to strike up a conversation with strangers.

She felt like she was back to square one. Though she understood the theory, practical application was another matter.

If Pulman were here, he’d probably already befriended everyone in the trading company.

“Haha, it’s normal to feel uneasy at first. You’ll get used to it. If you’re tired, you can take a nap.”

“A nap? That might not be appropriate, considering we’re here to protect.”

“You still need more experience.”

Indeed, when we take a rest later, you should see those accompanying mercenaries; many of them are sleeping on top of the carriages.”

“During the day, it’s rare for someone to directly attack us because they can see us from far away, giving us ample time to prepare and wake up the accompanying personnel.”

“But at night, things are different. Many attacks occur during the night, so adventurers and mercenaries often take turns keeping watch to maintain alertness and combat readiness.”

“Additionally, one must be more cautious in densely forested areas as such places are suitable for ambushes.”

“I see. I understand.” The young lady nodded.

“Good. Let’s take a rest now. The journey is still long, so try to conserve your energy.” Miss Sharin suggested.

“Mm-hm.” Lolan Hill nodded and then moved back, lying down with her back against the cargo, holding her longsword in front of her.

After closing her eyes, after a while, Lolan felt something draped over her.

“How young she looks,” Miss Sharin remarked beside her, followed by the sound of pen scratching paper.

With the jostling of the carriage, Lolan drifted into a half-sleep state, only waking up as dusk approached. She rubbed her eyes, lifted the blanket off herself, and stepped down from the carriage. By then, the sun had already set, casting a few rays of afterglow through the fiery clouds onto the branches nearby.

Around the campsite, members of the trade caravan were setting up tents and preparing fires for cooking, bustling about.

Watching everyone busy with their tasks, Lolan felt somewhat out of place and wanted to help but wasn’t sure what to do.

Scanning the area, she saw Sharin standing some distance away talking to someone, and walked over.

“Add another fire pit here tonight to provide more light. Also, have someone go to Grayeye’s carriage. There are chains and bells inside the cargo. Take them out and tie them in the eastern forest.”

“The trees there are too dark to see clearly, so we need to set them up to serve as a warning if someone tries to sneak in at night.”

“Understood, Miss.”

“Mm-hm. Remember to leave two bonfires at the head and tail of the camp tonight. Have the guards split into two shifts, patrolling back and forth to stay alert. This way, they won’t fall asleep, and they can keep an eye on the surroundings. Don’t let anyone sneak in unnoticed.”

“I understand. It’s standard practice.”

“That’s good. I’ll emphasize it again: it’s better to spend extra effort than to be careless and end up in trouble.”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Alright, go ahead and get started. Make sure to arrange the guard shifts before dinner.”

With that, the middle-aged man next to Miss Sharin left.

Turning around, Sharin spotted Lolan and waved her over.

“How was your sleep?”

“Not bad.” The young lady felt a bit embarrassed, knowing she was supposed to be a guard yet had been sleeping.

“Heh, you’re adapting quickly.” Seeing the blonde girl’s embarrassment, Sharin chuckled and patted her shoulder.

“For tonight, you’ll have to take your turn keeping watch with the other mercenaries.”

“No problem.” The girl nodded.

“Mm-hm. Get used to it. By the way, if you’re bored at night, talk to those older mercenaries. Although they love boasting, they have useful experiences and insights, especially for someone like you who’s just starting out.”

“Also, I’ll think of something else. Remember to bring a blanket; it gets quite chilly at night.”

“If there’s a real night attack, remember to wake others and respond cautiously. Even though attackers aren’t usually strong, they use all sorts of methods without restraint. Poison, ash, and fire could all be used.”

“That’s it for now. Before it gets completely dark, take a walk around and familiarize yourself with the area, then come back for dinner.”

After saying this, Miss Sharin patted Lolan once more and headed toward the center of the camp.

Lolan picked up her scabbard, glanced around, and walked towards the hill to the east, which offered a good vantage point over much of the area.

This was a clearing near a small river. To the east was the hill, to the west was the river, and to the north and south were relatively flat plains. Even at night, it would be easy to spot any attack coming from the plains, so the eastern side needed extra attention.

The fallen leaves covered the ground in the mountain area, with some stones peeking through the foliage. It didn’t seem like a well-trodden path.

Holding her sword, Lolan surveyed the surroundings. As the sky grew darker, she heard the sound of bells from the camp and returned.

Dinner consisted of boiled potatoes and vegetables served with naan bread. Everyone sat together, eating and chatting.

“Congratulations on your wife having a boy this time,” said several members of the caravan as they settled down to talk about family matters.

“Ah, it’s certainly a joy, but it also brings a lot of pressure. I can’t drink anymore; I need to save money to buy meat for my wife.”

“Haha, it’s tough to give up drinking. But for the sake of the child, you’re doing the right thing,” a companion said, patting his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, I’ll share some with you when I have wine,” they joked.

The group of temporary hired guards sitting around the fire Lolan was near consisted of roughly ten people, mostly wearing armor, and generally over 30 years old. Besides the young lady, only two younger faces stood out.

One wore a deep green robe, with a cloth covering his head, and a row of potion bottles tied to his leather belt, looking like an alchemist. The other had a gaunt face, carrying a curved knife, dressed in light leather armor, without any armor.

Neither was particularly outgoing. One was engrossed in reading a thick, worn, yellowed book during dinner, while the other stared straight ahead.

The campfire seemed lost in thought.

“Come, little girl, have some hot soup,” said a bearded uncle as he handed a bowl of steaming potato soup to the young lady after she sat down.

“Thank you,” Lolan Hill took the scalding bowl, catching a faint burnt smell, suggesting it had been cooking for quite some time.

After a simple dinner, the mercenaries divided up their watch duties; Lolan Hill was assigned to guard the first half of the night.

As the night fell, the members of the trade caravan returned to their tents to sleep, leaving only a few figures around the campfire.

The flames crackled as the people sat on wooden stools around the fire. Some were checking their belongings, while others were running their hands over their weapons, examining them for any nicks or dullness, considering if they needed sharpening.

“Little girl, how old are you? Working at such a young age,” the bearded uncle sitting across from the dazed Lolan Hill asked.

“I? Probably about 17,” the young lady lied, feeling a twinge of guilt.

“It certainly looks like it,” he picked up a stick and stirred the slightly dim fire.

“Weren’t you planning to continue your studies? At your age, you should be making rapid progress.”

“This, I want to earn some money and get some experience first.”

“Getting experience is indeed good, but if you want to make money, it would be better to advance to a higher Sequence. Then even when you’re at home, people will come to you with money to ask for your help,” the uncle shared his oft-repeated wisdom.

“Forget it, I haven’t achieved much myself, so I won’t give unsolicited advice. Ha ha.” Then, as if recalling something, he scratched the back of his head.

“I’ll go patrol as usual,” after a moment, he picked up the rough greatsword beside him and walked off into the night.

At this point, the campfire scene fell silent again. Under the summer night sky, the sounds of crickets occasionally echoed from the surrounding grass. The light from the fire illuminated the wilderness, casting everything in darkness, with no end in sight.

After sitting for a while, the young lady looked at the other two. One was the young man with the curved sword she had seen earlier. He was now gently stroking the blade, its bright arc shimmering in the firelight.

“A fine sword,” another mercenary holding a sword leaned against a cargo box, squinting at the opposite side of the fire, offering his assessment.

The young man with the curved sword did not respond but slowly slid the blade back into its scabbard and placed it back on his knee.

This sword seemed somewhat damaged. Lolan Hill’s light blue eyes glanced at the virtual screen before her, which evaluated the sword.

[Gray Twilight Curved Sword] (Damaged Golden Grade): Crafted by a master craftsman centuries ago, many parts are now damaged, and the runes and arrays are incomplete, though the surface has been repaired, making it look as good as new.

Compared to this decent curved sword, the young man’s strength was average, only at War Sequence 3, with an evaluation of merely Excellent Bronze Grade.

After observing for a while, Lolan Hill withdrew her gaze. By then, the uncle had returned, but unlike before, his greatsword now had two large fish impaled on it, occasionally twitching, water droplets splashing from their tails. Although they still appeared to be alive, the fish had already been processed.

“While patrolling, I went to the riverside and caught two fish for a midnight snack,” he sat down again, picked up two sticks, threaded the fish through them, and began roasting them by the fire.

“When they’re done, we’ll each have half a fish to share,” as he spoke, he took out a small salt bottle from his pocket and sprinkled some on the fish.

Soon, the aroma of the roasting fish filled the air. At this point, the other two also turned their attention to the gradually browning fish.

“Ha ha, they’re almost ready, no rush,” seeing them looking over, the uncle smiled and split the cooked fish into halves, skewering them on sticks before handing them out to everyone.

“Thank you,” the quiet young man finally spoke, his voice unexpectedly clear and crisp, contrasting with his somber appearance.

Only then did the atmosphere around the fire begin to warm up.

“Where are you from, young man?”

“I’m from Crimson Heart Province.”

“No wonder, your accent is so correct.”

Upon hearing this, Lolan Hill noticed that the young man frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed, seemingly not wanting to draw attention.

Then another mercenary started chatting with the uncle. Both were long-time mercenaries, sharing many topics, from the climate in the southern part of the Empire to what kinds of demonic beasts could appear during certain seasons, from the personalities of women in the northern regions to the quality of swords and blades from a particular workshop. They chatted about all sorts of things.

Although Lolan Hill couldn’t join in, she still learned a lot of useful knowledge.

He was listening intently too. At this point, the young lady realized that the young man was not daydreaming but genuinely paying attention to the conversation. It seemed he was also a novice, just better at hiding it.

From his appearance, he didn’t seem to have much experience traveling, like a child from a wealthy family. But his supernatural Sequence was quite ordinary, and there were no signs of physical training, so he wasn’t likely a pampered noble child. There was something contradictory about him, Lolan Hill analyzed simply.

And at this moment, she suddenly sensed something, briefly scanning her surroundings and slowly placing her hand on the hilt of her sword.

A few calls of a bird, reminiscent of quails, echoed from the distant forest. If one didn’t listen carefully, they would have been drowned out by the surrounding insect sounds.

Was she going to alert the others or pretend to patrol and take care of it herself? Lolan Hill hesitated for a few seconds.

“Thank you for the grilled fish, Uncle. I’ll go patrol around a bit,” the golden-haired young lady stood up under the slight surprise of the others, volunteering to patrol.

End of Chapter