Chapter - 78

The sun was barely peeking over Auravale, and the streets were mostly empty, save for the occasional stray dog and the few men heading out of the town to hunt.

Leo glided through the streets all alone toward the South Gate. His Wind-Chaser Boots made no sound against the stone. He was like a ghost moving through the town.

He rolled his neck until it cracked, slow and deep. His body felt loose, rested, and charged with leftover heat from last night. Every muscle felt used in the best way. Seraphine had made sure of that.

Getting out of bed had taken more willpower than any fight.

She had been wrapped around him, naked and heavy with sleep, her warm skin sliding against his whenever she shifted.

Her soft breasts had pressed into his chest, rising and falling with her breath.

His hand had been on her without thinking, roaming over her curves, squeezing her firm, perky ass like he could never get enough.

She would make a low sound in her sleep and pull him closer, her thigh hooking over his leg, refusing to let go.

The bed smelled like sweat and sex. The sheets were a mess. His body remembered every second of it.

It would have been easy to stay. Easy to slide back under the covers, wake her up, and go for another round.

But the [Carrier of Calamity] quest was waiting, and fifty thousand gold coins won't earn themselves.

He approached the massive iron gates. Two soldiers stood guard, leaning on their spears, looking half-asleep.

As Leo stepped into the torchlight, they stiffened. Their eyes went wide as they took in the black adventurer's coat, the Twin Serpent Daggers on his belt, and the face that had become the subject of every terrifying rumour in the barracks.

They didn't ask for papers. They didn't ask for a toll. They didn't even dare speak.

They scrambled to unbar the pedestrian door, fumbling with the latch in their haste, their eyes fixed firmly on the ground.

They were terrified to make eye contact with the "Monster of the Banquet," the man who had butchered seven assassins while others watched.

Leo smirked. Fear was a useful currency.

"Morning, ladies," he teased as he stepped through the opening.

The guards flinched but said nothing, hastily closing the door behind him.

Leo stepped onto the dirt road beyond the walls. The morning mist swirled around his ankles, cold and damp. He adjusted his coat, preparing for the long walk.

"Yo! Hero!"

A familiar, craggy voice cracked through the silence.

Leo stopped and turned towards the direction of the sound.

Parked in the shadow of the wall was a big and new wooden cart. Sitting on the driver's bench, chewing on a piece of straw, was Grendel.

The old man was wearing a new hat, slightly less battered than his old one and a thick new cloak. And Hilda, the beloved mule, was munching on a patch of grass near the wheel, looking as grumpy as ever.

Leo blinked, "Old man? What are you doing here? I thought you would be halfway to the next county by now."

Grendel laughed, a wheezy sound that turned into a cough. He spat the straw out.

"Run away? And miss the show?" Grendel grinned, revealing his yellow teeth, "Get in, boiy. The road is long and my ass is getting tired of waiting for you to finish saying goodbye to your lady friend."

Leo hopped up onto the cart without another word. The cart groaned under his weight.

"I thought you would be lying low, old man." Leo asked.

"I was!" Grendel said, flicking the reins. Hilda grunted and began to plod forward, "I was lying under tons of beauties thanks to you, boiy!"

Grendel patted his chest pocket, "That Lady Seraphine... She is a generous one. Gave me 100 Gold Coins the night you were taken away. Said it was for my 'services rendered' and to keep my mouth shut."

He cackled, "Hahahaha!"

"I have been living like a king since then!"

"The soldiers? They treat me like royalty now. They buy me ale, they slap my back, they even paid for my nights at the brothel. I have been there six nights in a row!"

"Can you believe it? I thought my heart was going to give out, but fuck yeah! What a way it would have been to go, eh?"

Leo frowned, eyeing the old man, "They weren't buying you drinks because they like you, old man. They were digging for information."

"Aye," Grendel nodded, his expression turning sly.

"You are right boiy! Once the ale flowed, the questions would start."

'Who is he?'

'Where is he from?'

'Is he a demon?'"

'Does he bleed?'

"And what did you tell them?" Leo asked, his hand drifting instinctively to the dagger at his belt, "Did you sell me out?"

"I told them everything!" Grendel declared, puffing out his chest.

"I told them that you are the bastard son of the Emperor of Ironblood, exiled from the Empire for seducing his father's own wife, the Empress and her three daughters!"

Leo stared at him, "You... what?"

"It explains everything!" Grendel argued, "Why are you so strong. Why you have fancy gear. Why you act like you own the place. And why are you so good with the ladies."

Grendel winked, "And you know what? They bought it, boy."

"And now they are terrified of you."

"They think you have a legion of the Ironblood army waiting in the woods for your signal. They think if they touch you, the Empire will burn Auravale to the ground."

Leo let out a short laugh. It was absurd. It was ridiculous. But it was perfect.

"You old bastard," Leo shook his head, impressed, "That's actually brilliant."

"I know," Grendel beamed, "I wouldn't sell out a friend, Leo. Especially one who gets me free drinks and premium whores."

Leo relaxed against the wooden seat. The lie gave him a layer of protection he hadn't anticipated. Fear of the Empire would keep the City Patrol and the soldiers hesitant long enough for him to finish his business.

"But why are you here, Grendel?" Leo asked, looking at the road ahead. "This trip isn't going to be safe. I am going to the edge of the Endless Forest. There might be monsters out there that will eat Hilda for a snack."

Grendel's expression softened slightly. He adjusted his hat.

"Do you think I wanted to come?" Grendel scoffed, "If not for this, I would still be in the warm embrace of my dear Elzie."

"But last night, a guard came to the tavern. Said the Lady requested my presence."

"Seraphine?"

"Aye. She met me at the servants' gate. She looked... sad. On the verge of crying almost," Grendel shot Leo a knowing look.

"She gave me this cart. It's better than the last one, see? And then she told me to wait here for you."

Grendel mimicked Seraphine's voice, poorly, "'He is too stupid to walk fifty miles alone. He will get lost or distracted. Make sure he gets there safely.'"

Grendel nudged Leo, giving him a teasing look, "She likes you, boiy! Don't know why. You are ugly, you have a bad temper, and you attract trouble like shit attracts flies."

"But she paid me well to make sure you don't get eaten by a bear."

Leo smiled, looking back at the receding walls of the Keep. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon, bathing the stone in gold.

"She's thoughtful," Leo murmured. "I will give her that."

"So," Grendel flicked the reins again, picking up the pace, "Where are we headed, Your Highness?"

Leo pulled up his system map. A glowing red marker pulsed in the distance.

[Distance to Destination: 53 Miles.]

[Estimated Travel Time: 11 Hours by cart.]

"South," Leo said, "Towards the mountains."

"And old man, keep your eyes open. The soldiers might be scared of me right now, but the beasts aren't."

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