Chapter 10: Ambush at Dawn’s Breath

When I arrived at the Adventurers’ Guild, a receptionist greeted me with recognition.

I remembered him as the kind receptionist who had previously introduced me to requests.

“Seris. Are you looking for a request again today?”

“Yes, something suitable.”

After finishing my greeting with the unnamed receptionist, I headed towards the bulletin board.

There were various requests available today, including goblin extermination, gathering unusual herbs, and finding lost items.

Among them, one request particularly caught my eye: a request for finding a person.

[Missing Person Search]

A girl aged 13-14.

Beautiful blonde hair.

Her name is Emily.

Last seen wearing a thick fur coat.

Reward: 1G

As I looked over the request, I stroked my chin.

It seemed that I should stay put or leave the city until her parents, who had come to the town, gave up and returned.

Just then, another request caught my attention.

[Escort the Caravan]

Requirements: Bronze rank or higher swordsman.

No criminal record.

Duration of the request: about 30 days.

Meals and lodging provided by the client.

For further details, please visit the Dawn’s Breath caravan.

Reward: 2G

A long-term request lasting 30 days.

Furthermore, if it’s an escort, I would have to leave the capital.

Without hesitation, I tore off the request and headed back to the reception desk.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Excellent choice. Usually, escorting a caravan is a request that allows you to gain experience safely while earning a decent reward.”

The receptionist nodded while checking the details of the request I handed him.

He took out a pen and began to write diligently before handing me a small note.

“If you make it to the port city, I highly recommend trying the fish dishes there.”

“Is there a particular restaurant you would recommend?”

“Salt Plains!”

The receptionist replied confidently to my question.

I nodded and left the guild.

I made sure to pull down my wolf fur hood.

After all, there was a request out for a missing person.

It would be a disaster if I showed my face and ran into the townspeople.

Finding the caravan known as “Dawn’s Breath” wasn’t difficult.

When I asked a guard responsible for the city’s security about its location, he kindly provided the directions.

Joining the caravan went smoothly.

Of course, my appearance raised some doubts about my abilities, but I was able to pass that by demonstrating some simple swordsmanship.

It was possible because there was someone among the caravan staff who could handle a sword.

The person who seemed to be in charge of the caravan handed me a badge stamped with the caravan’s mark and said, “I’m Verde. The caravan will depart two days from now at noon, so I hope you arrive on time.”

Two days from now. That just so happened to be the date I had to leave the inn.

I nodded and returned to Mary’s inn.

Mary was very sad when I told her that I would be leaving the city in two days.

It seemed she didn’t want to part with a friend her age after not having seen one for a long time.

But what could I do? Adventurers aren’t a profession that stays in one city for long.

I practiced my swordsmanship in my room until the day of the caravan escort approached.

I performed my best sword techniques until I was out of breath, pushing myself to my limits.

Sweating profusely, I faintly fell asleep after repeating this for two days.

Early in the morning, as I was leaving the inn, Mary handed me a small pouch.

Inside the pouch was some jerky.

“I-I made it…”

I accepted Mary’s gift as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Receiving a gift filled with affection from a friend my age was something I had already grown accustomed to.

“Could you… come back to visit later?”

I didn’t know when that would be, but since it wasn’t a difficult request, I nodded.

Mary smiled brightly at my answer and dashed back into the inn.

Mornings in the city were always bustling.

Merchants setting up their stalls, workers heading out for the day, and adventurers loitering around in search of jobs.

The sun, which had begun to rise high in the sky, brightly illuminated those people.

“Ugh…”

The wind was chilly.

I sniffled and headed towards the caravan.

The appointment was set for noon, but I had nothing to do until then.

I hoped I wouldn’t be turned away for arriving too early as I ran.

Finally, I arrived in front of the Dawn’s Breath caravan.

I wasn’t the only adventurer to arrive early that morning.

Three adventurers with awkward expressions were loitering near the entrance of the caravan.

A subtle silence flowed among the adventurers.

Since no one stepped forward to speak first, a natural silence settled over the group.

At that moment, a staff member from the caravan approached the adventurers gathered at the entrance.

“Are you the ones who took the escort request?”

“Ah, yes…”

“That’s correct.”

The adventurers awkwardly responded to the staff member’s question.

The caravan staff’s gaze turned toward me, as if to ask whether I was also an adventurer here for the escort request.

I nodded and took out the small badge that Verde had given me.

“This way…”

It seemed that this wasn’t the first time the staff member had done this, as he led the adventurers into a small room.

Inside the room was a large table and several chairs.

Judging by the lack of decorations, it seemed to be a room prepared specifically for adventurers waiting for the caravan.

Even after arriving in the room, there was no particular conversation.

As time passed meaninglessly in silence, perhaps feeling uncomfortable, a man stood up and spoke.

“How about we all introduce ourselves briefly?”

That was the beginning.

The adventurers began to introduce themselves one by one.

“I’m Rick. A bronze swordsman.”

The first to introduce himself was a bald man.

He had a scar that looked like it was torn across the top of his head, and the weapon he wielded was a short one-handed sword and an oval-shaped shield.

“I’m Jane. I serve the goddess of war. My rank is bronze.”

The second to introduce herself was a pale-looking female adventurer.

From her words about serving a goddess and the unique symbol she held in her hand, she seemed to be a priestess.

There were still countless things in this world that I didn’t know.

I gazed at the symbol in Jane’s hand with shining eyes.

“I’m Agul. A warrior. I’m half-orc. My rank is bronze.”

The third to introduce himself was a giant who looked to be about two meters tall.

He carried a massive battle axe that suited his large frame.

Finally, it was my turn.

Confirming that everyone’s attention was on me, I opened my mouth.

“I’m Seris. I’m also a bronze swordsman.”

Once the introductions were finished, the adventurers began to ask each other questions.

I received the most questions among them.

I couldn’t understand their reactions. Isn’t it more interesting to be a half-orc or to serve the goddess of war than a typical 13-year-old girl?

I glanced at the other adventurers, but they all looked at me with expressions of curiosity.

After chatting for a bit, I realized that the adventurers gathered here weren’t bad people.

Especially Agul was surprising; despite his intimidating appearance that suggested he would chop everything annoying into pieces with his huge axe, he was the most talkative among them.

While we were conversing, a staff member came over and shouted,

“Everyone, please get ready to depart!”

At the staff’s words, I stepped out in front of the caravan and saw that other adventurers had arrived and were waiting besides us.

There were a total of 12 adventurers, including me.

It seemed that the caravan owner had hired 8 more adventurers besides us.

There wasn’t any time to chat or bond with the other adventurers.

We had to board the carriage and depart immediately.

Rick, Jane, Agul, and I were grouped together as a team.

Since we only knew each other’s names, it made sense that we naturally gathered together.

The caravan, “Dawn’s Breath,” left the capital at a leisurely pace.

I leaned my head out of the carriage to gaze at the distant capital.

Would I return here someday?

Although it was a short time, the connection I made with a girl named Mary lingered in my mind.

I smiled faintly and turned my body back inside the carriage to escape the cold wind.

The carriage began to pick up speed once it reached the wide avenue.

With the sound of the coachman’s whip and the pounding of the horses’ hooves, the carriage accelerated.

The canopy covering the carriage fluttered in the chilly winter wind.

The first two days after leaving the caravan were filled with boredom.

There were no monster attacks and no ambushes from thieves.

Of course, I knew that it was better for our safety, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

On the third day after departing the caravan,

I had grown accustomed to the jolting of the carriage.

I could even manage to sleep inside the bumpy carriage.

So, on the fifth day after leaving the caravan, it was late evening.

After finishing the meal provided by the caravan, I lay down in the carriage, trying to sleep when suddenly I heard a shout from outside.

“It’s a band of thieves!”

At that sound, I grabbed my sword and jumped up.

In that instant, I heard a thud from inside the carriage, and a huge shadow burst through the canopy.

It was Agul, the half-orc. Despite his enormous size, he moved with surprising agility.

Starting with Agul, everyone who had been riding in the carriage jumped out.

The area was in an uproar. Adventurers drew their weapons, moving around the carriage to guard it, while some of the staff members from the caravan who were capable of fighting also moved alongside the adventurers.

I narrowed my eyes and observed the writhing figures in the darkness.

They were clad in shabby clothes, armed with nothing more than sickles or axes; only a few wielded proper weapons like swords or spears.

At that moment, Agul stepped forward, wielding his massive battle axe, and let out a roar.

“Whoaah!!!”

Before anyone could stop him, he charged at the closest thief, swinging his battle axe.

The enormous weapon made a terrible sound as it split the thief’s head in two.

With a single blow, a person was torn apart.

Red blood splattered everywhere. This blood served as the signal for the real fight with the thieves to begin.

“Uwaah!” “Die!”

The band of thieves screamed in terror.

Even after witnessing Agul’s overwhelming strength, they did not retreat.

No, perhaps they couldn’t afford to back down.

I steadied my breath and aimed my sword.

Did my small stature make me look ridiculous?

The number of thieves approaching me was greater compared to the other adventurers.

“Shit…”

My hand gripping the sword trembled nervously.

At that moment, a man wielding an axe charged at me.

His eyes were filled with a deep sense of self-loathing.