I regressed and became the Sword Ice King-Chapter 196 - - Trip to the East 15

"So, would you let me in on your argument just now, or?" Raph asked as he released the aura over his long sword, and retreated it into his subspace.

Malicia and Raja glanced at each other, before sighing in defeat.

"It wasn’t an argument. We simply had a conversation" Malicia replied while she pulled her arm away from Raja.

"Um, okay then. So, who sent you and what was your purpose for coming here?" Raph asked while he folded his hands and glanced at them.

Malicia slowly rubbed the side of her third eye while she struggled with the urge to keep silent. An image of the scene that had occurred only a few minutes ago played out in her head, and the very thought of keeping silent disappeared. She looked up at Raph and replied.

"We were sent by a Merchant. We don’t know the details, other than he’s from the west but sides with the east". Malicia explained. Discover hidden content at novelbuddy

"A merchant?" Raph muttered as an image of a particular Man came into his thoughts. ’Like I thought….are the Red Peacemakers influencing the East as well…did they always have a grand goal like this in my past life?’ He wondered while she continued.

"We were here to steal the goods containing food supplies and weapons that were meant for the Eastern army, to the Eastern Frontier so it could be supplied to the needy, who require it".

"But, since you’ve stopped us, we haven’t just failed the mission but also killed a lot of malnourished kids", Raja said with a click of his tongue. "This is why I hate powerful people. They never think for themselves and follow the rules of the Country, just because they were made for people to abide by".

Raph tilted his head as he stared at Raja, causing the latter to take a step back in shock. "What?" He asked, taking a defensive stance with his arms up.

"You’re….smarter than you look?" Raph replied, his tone laced with curiosity and surprise.

A muffled laugh echoed and the two boys turned towards Malicia to find her looking elsewhere with her hand clasped on her mouth.

A sudden silence suffused the air before Raph turned back to walk away. "You can’t have those goods. They were sent here for a reason" he explained. "Also, call off the rest of those demons and turn off the portal". He instructed while they stared at him with baffled expressions.

"Um, is that it?" Malicia asked while Raph paused in his action. He turned back at her and tilted his head.

"I more or less get the gist of it. I just needed confirmation" He replied. ’And the rest of the information from my past life adds up the rest’. Then again, it may seem useless to have fought in that manner just to hear their confirmation of his hypothesis.

’...At least I gained something’. He thought as he walked away from them while he smiled at his progress. He was just one step away from breaking through to the 9th star. Resonance.

****

Soon, the clouds in the sky began to move, with the warmth of the Sun and it was soon replaced by a comforting darkness.

The moon had taken the place of the sun, and the clouds could hardly be spotted in that darkness. Instead, a cold and chilling breeze took its place, in contrast with the heated sun of the Day.

While this tranquil process occurred, Cruz, Colyn and Rodrick were currently seated by a bonfire outside the cave with some merchants who survived unharmed.

Their carriages consisted of a passenger seat and a cargo spot for the goods, so having them stay inside was a means of protection and endangerment since they were susceptible to death if their carriages were destroyed.

There was a solemn silence that suffused the atmosphere while a brewing tension hung in the air. They all seemed in their little world, as they probably played images of the series of events that had led to this point in their heads.

One of the few people that it affected the most was Malen. He was stuck on a path to the east, with goods that would supply the war, and encourage the Warriors to go into battle.

Each time he thought about it, he would get a panging headache that didn’t seem to diminish. He was currently standing furthest from the group of people gathered, resting on the wall of the entrance to the Cave, while his thoughts arranged in order.

’This is annoying…why haven’t those two appeared yet? Was there some kind of obstacle along the way?’ He thought while he glanced at the three mercenaries around the fire. ’One is unconscious, the other, their leader, is missing in action…and most likely dead, and the final one, Kael was it? He has not been seen since he went after the two’. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and looked away.

’Something is wrong. Terribly So’. He thought in conclusion when he heard a scream that shook him back to the present.

He snapped towards the source, as the three merchants stood in unison in a defensive position.

The few mercenaries left began to retreat to the cave while everyone stared at the source of the commotion.

Malen squinted his eyes in confusion. ’There’s nothing there’ he thought, as his confusion turned to curiosity. He walked forward a little and at that moment, he gasped when he noticed a figure approaching the glowing dome.

The reason why he gasped was simple. It was Kael, and on his arms was the unconscious body of the Captain of the mercenaries, Azby.

’Impossible! They are both fine? Weren’t those two called the Hazard Duo?! Why didn’t they perform their task as they were told?! What is the meaning of this?!’ His head spun around in circles while he contemplated a reason or solution to his predicament.

And while he did that, Cruz and the others rushed towards the Dome, reducing the intensity to let the figure in.

Rodrick was the first to get there, with his gaze overwhelmed with emotions as he stared at Azby, and then at the figure of the boy that saved her before him. "Is….Is she alive?" He asked, his voice shaky and in disbelief.

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Raph glanced at him and then at the figures present, before nodding his head. "She’ll be fine. Luckily, her body was still stuck under the carriage so the demons couldn’t spot her on time since they were after you. She was still breathing when I found her, and I luckily have some proficient healing potions" He explained as he handed her body over to him. "She’ll be fine in about three days but she’ll wake up tomorrow".

He walked past them, and towards Cruz, noticing the rotating orb in the air, a smirk formed on his lips, thought they couldn’t see it. "You did well, guys. You fought against a horde of 7th-tier Great Demons and survived. Please be cheerful and have fun this night; it will probably be the best of many".

He said before continuing his walk towards the Cave, after all, if there was one person that expended themselves that day, it was him. He needed to recuperate.

As he got to the entrance of the cave, he could feel an unwanted stare coming from beside him, causing him to slowly turn to the source. "Merchant Malen, was it? You survived too. Congratulations". He said with a cheerful tone, while Malen stared at him with mixed feelings.

It seemed like a short moment of silence suffused between them as Malen contemplated on what next to say.

A sigh exuded his lips and curved into a smile soon after."Yes, congratulations on returning". He said while Raph nodded and walked in.

Malen continued to stare at him until his figure disappeared from his sight, as his thoughts came in order. ’I can’t read him…that guy. He is hiding something…. something that could hinder my plans’. He turned towards the moon and stared at its glorious shade of white. ’The world deserves to be coloured red because blood is the only salvation for sinners. The Blood Cult that looks over the people, the Red Peacemakers that keep the peace of the society….’ A frown crossed his face and darkened his expression as he walked into the Cave. ’....I must contact the boss’.

And so, the first attempt of snatching the goods of the Merchants had been halted, but how long and how far are the Mercenaries able to go to keep them safe? Who knows.

Colyn, Cruz and Rodrick could only look after their unconscious Captain and teammate while the series of folded events occurred behind the scenes, unbeknownst to them of the grand plans that awaited them.

Surviving now, meant surviving at the moment, but how about the morrow?

The Merchants returned to the cave for the night, with frightened thoughts that had not been settled, while the Mercenaries prepared themselves and their unconscious comrade for a rocky journey. Things might have ended nicely, but it had been made clear for some reason, that this was merely the beginning.