Infinite Arrow-Chapter 40 - 38: Escort (1)

Chapter 38: Escort (1)

At the back of the carriage, a man is getting beat up by another man whose appearance is that of a thug. Each of his punches was pulled, it was enough power to hurt the guy but not to the point it got him unconscious. After a series of beatings, the man stopped and asked a question.

"What’s your group’s goal and purpose?" The warrior squatted as his fist was bloodied thanks to the amount of red liquid the captive man brought out during the beating.

The captive man panted and grunted in pain before speaking incoherently "I– I wash gonna tsell you butch wash that necesshary?!" He is filled with anguish. But that feeling was dispelled quickly as soon as the warrior lifted his fist again, signaling for another punch.

The captive man closed his eyes and braced for the punch as he pleaded "WAIT WAIT WAIT–! I’LL TELL YOU, DON’T HURT ME ANYMORE, PLEASE...!"

There wasn’t any physical contact. The captive man slowly opened his eyes and found a fist near his face. He was about to get punched but thanks to his plea, he was granted mercy. The warrior sighed and stared at him like he was staring at the man’s soul with his terrifying eyes.

He didn’t need to speak any further, the captive man knew that he had to speak. Otherwise, he’ll be subjected to the torture of getting punched once again.

"W-we are an unofficial organization, most of us are peasants whose goals are to incite revolution and abolish the royal family because of how the social class is...!"

Cliff’s ears perked up. It seems that he recognized something but kept quiet. The rest of the group seems to be in the dark about this organization, except Arnheid. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Her reaction... She knows something.

"Our name... we are called the ’Ombra Fattoria’, Our purpose is to kill every single royal family member...!" The captive man stated their purpose with resolute eyes and a determined heart.

Enrid sighed "Well, that much is obvious. What’s the name of your leader?" The warrior asked, but the man went silent. His unwillingness to speak cost him another punch not to the face, but to his solar plexus this time.

"You better tell me before I rip out your jaw." The warrior threatened the hostage. Even Cliff doesn’t know if he’ll do it or not, but there is a large possibility that he just might do it. He doesn’t disagree with his methods, it is brutal but that’s how it has to be to get information. A peasant who suffers because of the social–

Wait, a peasant?

"How did you learn to fight that good?" Cliff suddenly intercepted the conversation and lifted the man by the ropes he was tied to. That feeling of urgency, there’s something wrong. The man’s head was drooping low, so he shook his body.

"HEY–!"

The captive man’s head tilted and revealed a gruesome sight of his tongue bleeding. His teeth dug deep into his flesh, causing it to bleed an overwhelming amount of blood. Before dying, he conveyed a message.

"He will kill all of you..."

An ominous one.

The man died. Cliff immediately let go of the captive man’s body out of fear, the dead man dropped onto the ground as his forever unconscious body got colder.

The kid’s hands and body were trembling. Flashes of unwanted memories kept appearing inside of his head. He ran to the other side of the carriage and sat down at the corner to calm himself.

"That bitch took himself out... Fuck, at least we got the group’s name... Cliff, take a break and don’t look." Enrid stood up from where he was sitting and went to one of their bags and brought out a spare cloth.

Haa.... Huu... Huff...Haa...

Arnheid stood up and faced the warrior, who seemed to be wrapping up the dead body with a spare large cloth that they had. Enrid noticed her presence and looked at her "Do you know the group?"

Arnheid’s eyes avoided contact with the warrior’s. She wants to say something but can’t get it out, her balled-up fist is an obvious sign of it "Yes... I know the group based on their...reputation..."

Enrid didn’t expect that she’d tell them so soon. By the way, it was going, he expected that she’d be having more dilemmas.

"They were once a peaceful group three years ago... They wanted equality for their people, they used words and peaceful offers to negotiate for equality with other nobles. They were doing pretty well, until... some random noble accused the leader of some crime..." She looked at the wooden surface of the carriage with guilt and shame. She described the group as if she was there to see it all.

"I’m assuming that when the leader got executed, everything went into chaos for the group?" Enrid went straight to the point. They don’t have the time for it, considering how they’ll be trying to survive being killed by these people from now on.

"Surprisingly, no. They wanted to honor his wishes and be the same as before, the change was just so random. Before, they were all just ordinary farmers and people living in poverty..." Before she could even finish her sentences, a younger man interrupted with a rude remark.

"Farmers that know swordsmanship, magic and assassination techniques? I don’t believe it." Cliff stood up with an anguished expression. His reasons for feeling like this are valid, because how the hell do farmers suddenly get stronger during three years?

"That– I can’t disagree with you on that...matter." Her behavior wanted her to disagree, but with him laying out his reasons and logic about the situation, she couldn’t. So, she just sat beside her princess.

Cliff bit his thumb as he started walking around as if he was thinking about something.

This event shouldn’t happen at all. The discovery of this group didn’t happen until four years later in lore. Did the royal family keep this information hidden until it finally became publicized when the first prince got killed during his trip back to his palace?

Cliff looked at the girl who was hiding behind Arnheid’s back. Scared stiff, her strands of white hair are coming out of her cloak.

So, he wasn’t the first one to be killed. It was supposed to be this kid...!

Right now, he realized what he got himself into. A scenario that changes the future and disrupts the canonical timeline of the game. It was supposed to be mandatory? Who are these people hiding behind the system? What are they trying to make him do?

Then, a voice from the front can be heard at the back of the carriage.

"We’re at the fork road now. I shall warn you, we’ll be deviating from the original path to this point. Kid, do you still want to continue?"

It doesn’t matter, I don’t even have a choice to change the course. The two choices are both poisons, the only difference is how lethal they are.

Cliff closed his eyes, he gritted his teeth before he fortified himself with his decision.

"Yes, Let’s get this escort mission over with." He opened his eyes filled with determination and perseverance. Looking at the road he’s about to take, a deviation from his plan thanks to the System.

<•••••••••••••••••••••••>

In a dark stone room, a lone knight can be seen sitting on a throne with his sword sheathed on the side. Below him are the corpses of countless soldiers with splintered spears and shattered swords.

"Nyeh... I was expecting more...threatening attacks from the royal guards, but they just sent foot soldiers instead. Disappointing."

Then, a cloaked shadow came inside the room from a window without making a sound. The shadow knelt on the bloody ground as he put his hand on his chest, saluting the man on the throne.

"Sir, there hasn’t been a report from the guys we sent after them..." A woman’s voice, her appearance is being hidden thanks to her cloak.

"I figured, never had any faith in them anyway. That’s why I went with my guts and overtook this place, they’ll never suspect it if we wear these clothes, right~? Haha! This’ll be fun!!"

A menacing laugh came from the knight while an ominous chuckle came out of the woman’s mouth.