Days had passed since their departure from Eddenvilla and their destination was the Republic of Lineva. Rasmus wanted to see the so-called emissary that turned the wasteland into fertile land. He also heard about the project that the government was trying to build in that area, the Mercantile Town from Eduard.

“Looks like something is happening over there,” Carrion muttered as he looked at the knights that had gathered at the camp. “There’s a mage there too,” he added.

Rasmus looked at the other side and saw dead bodies that were being carried by the knights. Not long after that, their carriage was stopped by them, and asked everyone to walk out of the carriage.

The knights were surprised when they saw Rasmus and Aris because of their white hair. They shared a look and wondered if those two were of an ancient race, Orthias.

“What’s the matter?” Carrion looked at the knights who couldn’t stop staring at Rasmus and Aris.

The knights looked at Carrion and based on the attire that he wore, they knew that he was a noble.

“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, my lord, but there have been rumors going around here. Rumors about bandits have been roaming around this area, we just want to make sure of everyone’s safety,” the knight answered as he lowered his head.

“Bandits, here?” Carrion furrowed his brows and looked at the camp. He had come to Lineva a few times and it was the first time for him to see knights patrolling.

“Yes, my lord. Ever since the wasteland has become fertile, the bandits and most wanted criminals have been moving out of their lair. They killed everything in their sight, and took anything from them,” the knight answered as he looked at the bodies being stacked on the wagon.

“There have been multiple cases like this. Merchants, nobles, travelers, and even adventurers got killed around here. It would be wise if you don’t travel at night, my lord,” another knight added.

Rasmus knew that the wasteland was the perfect place for criminals and bandits to stay. The authorities didn’t have the time or resources to waste to find and capture them. The wasteland was a rough place to live in and not to mention there were beasts living there.

“How many of them to be precise? The bandits and criminals that used to live in the wasteland?” Rasmus asked the knights.

“Hundreds, close to a thousand,” the knight answered and couldn’t stop staring at Rasmus’s white hair. “If I may ask, are you an Orthias?” He asked nervously.

“No, my name is Rasmus Blackheart, the Blackheart,” Rasmus answered calmly.

The knights looked at Rasmus and they were anxious when they heard Blackheart’s name. They knew about the story, especially about Aristoria Blackheart, the one who killed a few Swordmasters and fought for days.

They slowly turned their heads to look at Aris and they were anxious since they all knew there was no other Blackheart in the world, only Rasmus. With that being said, they could guess that she was an Orthias based on her white hair and tall body.

Suddenly the night became cold and the knights felt chills down their spines. Their torches got extinguished at the same time and it made them anxious as if it was a sign of a bad omen.

“W-well then… we have checked the carriage, so please go ahead, my lord,” the knight bowed to Carrion and Rasmus.

“Before you go, do you perhaps know their hideouts?” Rasmus looked at the knights.

“Hideouts? The bandits and criminals, my lord?” The knight asked. “We did some scouting and there’s a possibility that they make a new hideout somewhere in Sodul Forest. It’s not far from the wasteland and it’s quite vast,” he added as he pointed to the southwest which was behind him.

Rasmus looked at Carrion with his brows raised, asking him if he knew anything about Sodul Forest. Carrion nodded his head and knew about that place.

They got back inside the carriage and continued their journey.

“Sodul Forest. It’s one of the few big forests in South Neva, and it’s used for the knight’s exam, especially for the elite knights who are enrolling to become the knights of the Union of South Neva,” Carrion explained as he looked at the stars outside and the two moons.

“That forest was said to be cursed and every knight that had entered that forest always had some weird experiences. They heard hum, laughter, screams, and even saw apparitions,” he leaned back and looked at Rasmus, Aris, and Videl.

“It has a lot of histories, dark and gloomy ones. That forest took so many lives during the war before South Neva got united. It has become the most avoided place around here,” he crossed his arms and stared blankly at the ceiling.

“People said you will find what you fear and you will also find what you need like treasures, weapons, and even artifacts or relics…” He muttered.

Carrion looked at the three of them and at their faces. Although they had stoic expressions, their eyes were lit up by the story.

“You’re not planning to go there, right?” Carrion looked at Rasmus as he gulped.

“No, we are,” Rasmus answered with a cold smile.

Carrion sighed as he rubbed his face because he knew those three loved adventures. He regretted telling the story to them and it gave him a lesson not to tell anything interesting to those three.

…

They arrived in a small town at midnight and decided to rest there until morning. Unfortunately, the inn only had two rooms left, so they decided to share the beds. Carrion was with Videl while Rasmus was with Aris since she didn’t want to be with those two.

“We are being followed…” Rasmus muttered as he looked at the people in cloaks who were walking into a dark alley. “Looks like bandits,” he sighed as he walked toward the bed.

“Do you want to go out there and kill them?” Aris looked at Rasmus lying down on the bed.

“I don’t think it’s necessary…” Rasmus yawned. “They might come to us while we are asleep. Just wait,” he muttered and closed his eyes.

Aris walked toward the window and looked at the street. She could hear what she saw, it was one of Orthias abilities. She could hear footsteps and other sounds toward the area her eyes were staring at.

“We walk in there in half an hour. Let’s wait here for a moment and we will kill them and get all their belongings…”

“Are you sure? Didn’t he say that one of them was a Blackheart and the woman could be an Orthias?”

“What? Are you afraid? How strong can an Orthias be? I think the rumors and stories about them are exaggerated. We will be fine since they’re going to be asleep anyway…”

Aris heard enough and walked away from the window then sat on the edge of the bed. She looked over her shoulder at Rasmus who seemed to be asleep even though he was supposed to be pretending.

“Are you asleep?” Aris asked.

“Not anymore,” Rasmus answered immediately. “What’s wrong?” He asked without opening his eyes.

“They know about you and me. One of the knights that we encountered earlier, they might be working together with those people outside,” Aris answered as she looked at her feet.

“That’s not a surprise. There’s no way those bandits and criminals can be out there so freely. Corruption happens everywhere…” Rasmus muttered as he turned toward the edge of the bed. “When are they going to make a move?”

“In half an hour. They’re waiting for us to fall asleep,” Aris said as she lay down.

Rasmus didn’t respond and continued to sleep.

…

The door to their room was slowly being unlocked and an eye was keeping through the gap. They looked at the bed and saw them sleeping. He signaled to the other and slowly opened the door wide.

Three bandits entered the room while the rest went to the other room where Videl and Carrion were. They looked around the room and they were confused because they didn’t find anything.

One of them went to check under the bed while the other two checked on Rasmus and Aris. He couldn’t find anything under the bed, and suddenly he heard a slowly creaking sound from the bed followed by cracking sounds.

He slowly lifted his head and was startled by the backward heads of his friends collapsing. He shrieked when they saw Rasmus and Aris staring at him coldly.

He crawled backward toward the door but then noticed the door was shut. His back was against the door as he watched Rasmus get up from bed and walk toward him.

“Let’s talk,” Rasmus smiled with his eyes closed.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep