Back to the East (1)

In the outskirts of the Royal Capital, near the city gates, a large square buzzed with activity. A crowd of merchants and laborers shouted and waved their hands wildly. Hundreds, even thousands of crates were piled high like a mountain, while heavy sacks towered even taller, forming literal small hills. It was harvest season. Far more goods were being transported than usual, and their quality was significantly better.

One hour until departure. The regular supply convoy bound for No Man's Land stood in orderly lines, waiting. “An escort request, huh? Quite an inventive way to send someone east. The road to the east is harsh and takes a long time, so it's not exactly a popular regular commission.”

The branch manager of the Royal Capital guild spoke while watching Maxim load cargo onto a wagon. The hooded shoulders shrugged in response. The cargo wagon was packed full, and the two massive horses pulling it pawed at the ground, snorting impatiently.

“The regular supply transport to the east is so massive that they can't inspect everything in detail. No matter who they are, they won't be able to check every single person among the personnel escorting this much volume and these many wagons.”

The branch manager flashed a friendly smile and waved his thick hand at adventurers passing by who greeted him. Then he quickly turned back to Maxim. “It's the safest and fastest way to move forces under the command east while avoiding the eyes of the Benning family. I truly cannot help but admire His Majesty's foresight.”

As if seeking agreement from Maxim, the branch manager shifted his gaze to follow him. Maxim simply shrugged again. “Just how did you come to be connected with His Majesty?”

“Everyone has their own circumstances.”

The branch manager still did not know Maxim's face. He knew neither his true identity nor the fact that he had been reassigned to the King's personal guard. He simply thought of him as an adventurer who had received the King's patronage. The guild master had left word with the Royal Capital branch manager not to ask questions and simply do as instructed. That had left the branch manager with enormous curiosity.

The skills and background of the hooded adventurer. Everything else. The instincts of a former adventurer turned branch manager were sounding alarms that this was no ordinary person. “Impressive.”

The branch manager's head spun with complicated calculations as he looked at Maxim ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠with covetous eyes. Maxim pretended not to notice that gaze and loaded the last piece of cargo onto the cart.

“When will the other adventurers arrive?”

The branch manager cleared his throat and glanced around hurriedly. “They were notified to assemble thirty minutes ago, so they should be here soon if you wait a little. I selected quite capable adventurers, so you don't need to worry.”

I never said I was worried. And whether they're skilled or not doesn't really matter to me anyway. Maxim looked at the excitedly chattering branch manager with a slightly sour expression. Of course, the branch manager couldn't see Maxim's eyes hidden in the shadow of his hood.

“Still, they should be arriving around now...”

The branch manager frowned and tapped the ground. Then, from afar, distinctly audible footsteps approached. People with clearly rough appearances were rushing over with fierce expressions. The branch manager nodded toward an adventurer waving enthusiastically at him. The shaggy-haired adventurer at the front grinned, baring a savage smile.

“Right on time.”

“How long has it been since our last transport mission? Especially the regular runs to the east—they're practically our bread and butter. We have to do it right.”

“Yeah. Make sure there are no mistakes. Even if it means the merchants get overcharged, it's to keep them from using mercenaries instead.”

The adventurer guild master, who had been chatting away so excitedly moments before, had switched back to his usual stern demeanor. Maxim, hiding in the shadow of a caravan and watching the scene, let out a dry laugh.

“By the way... it looks like one person's missing. What if the most skilled one isn't here?”

At the branch manager's words, the shaggy-haired adventurer smacked his own head as if he'd forgotten. “Ah, he's probably talking with the merchants' representative first.”

“As proactive as ever.”

The branch manager sighed. He seemed pleased that the man was handling necessary tasks on his own, and not at all displeased. “There he is. He's coming.”

The branch manager's head turned at the adventurer's gesture. “Ah, Pierre. Come on over. You didn't have to step in yourself.”

Pierre?

Maxim's shoulders twitched inside the caravan. A face came to mind, but there was no way that person would have become an adventurer. It must be someone with the same name. How many people named Pierre could there be in the Royal Capital anyway? Maxim shook his head, thinking it a coincidence.

“It's nothing major. Shouldn't I handle something like this myself?”

And at the voice that followed, Maxim's hopes were cruelly betrayed. That deep, low voice unmistakably belonged to the bald instructor. He peeked out from the caravan and saw the burly instructor standing there in the shabby attire of an adventurer. He had no idea how that instructor had ended up as an adventurer, but if his identity were exposed, things could get a little troublesome. Though the chance of that was extremely low.

Maxim slipped a hand under his hood and rubbed his now-black hair. Thanks to the King's help, Maxim's overall appearance had changed so much that no one could recognize him.

'It's the Transformation Potion.'

Maxim had hesitated for a long time after receiving the vial the King had handed him. The green-glowing liquid somehow resembled poison. 'Just take a small sip first.'

When the King saw Maxim's hesitant expression after receiving the potion, he realized his mistake. 'Ah... my apologies. Of course you wouldn't easily accept medicine given by another.'

'Not at all, Your Majesty. This servant has committed a discourtesy.'

Maxim drank the potion on the spot. Surprisingly, it tasted like melted sweet candy. He felt it slide down his throat. '...!'

His face burned. Maxim felt as if someone were violently grabbing and twisting his face. The structure of his face was changing little by little. Amid the tearing pain around his eyes, Maxim thought, The change must be finishing. The pain is subsiding.

The King nodded in satisfaction as he looked at Maxim's transformed face. 'Your hair color and eye color have changed. Even the impression of your features is different.'

In the mirror handed to him by the guard captain, a handsome man with black hair and black eyes stood reflected. Maxim's features had been sharpened to a keen edge. His original face left only a faint impression. A thin scar now crossed the bridge of his nose. Maxim traced the area around his nose in admiration. 'It even creates scars that weren't there.'

'It's one of the few remaining vials in the palace. The recipe was lost quite some time ago, so I'm not sure if we can obtain more. Still, there's enough left for you and me to use.'

'Your Majesty, how could you give me something like this...'

'There is no one else who can use it. Take it.'

As expected, it was an extremely rare item. Maxim once again realized that the King held great expectations for him.

'The facial transformation is random but stays within a range that doesn't stray too far from the original. It suits you quite well.'

'You flatter me.'

Maxim returned the mirror to the guard captain and expressed his gratitude. The King stroked his chin thoughtfully as he gazed at Maxim. 'We should decide ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on an alias. Once you return from the east, you'll likely have to serve by my side in that form. Any good ideas, Sir Hugo?'

So the guard captain's name was Hugo. Maxim mulled over the newly learned name.

'To make the background clear, it would be best to make him a relative of mine. That should raise fewer suspicions.'

'Then let's use Bern as the surname. As for the given name... how about Arsen?'

The King looked positively delighted, as if he were truly naming a person. 'This servant is deeply grateful for Your Majesty's grace.'

'Very well, Sir Arsen. You are now Sir Hugo's distant nephew who has just joined the Royal Guard. Understood?'

'Yes. I will do so.'

At the name he would now be called, Maxim couldn't hide his bewilderment as he answered. A vial containing green liquid was placed in his hand.

'If you drink the entire bottle, the transformation should last at least three days. I'll give you some extra, so take it regularly while carrying out your duties in the east.'

The King emphasized as he closed Maxim's fingers around the vial. 'Remember this. Only I, you, and the guard captain are to know that this face and name are the altered form of Maxim Apparte. Do you understand?'

'I will keep it in mind.'

Arsen Bern. Maxim repeated his alias to himself.

The branch manager and Pierre, having finished their conversation, approached the caravan where Maxim sat. “Adventurer sir.”

At the branch manager's call, Maxim straightened his posture. The bald adventurer whose massive frame made even the portly branch manager look small stared at Maxim. Pierre's eyes glared at him sharply. For some reason, it reminded Maxim a little of his days as a knight cadet, and he let out a small internal chuckle.

“This is Pierre Fabien... He served as a knight for a long time before retiring and joining the adventurers' guild. You can think of him as the person in charge of leading the adventurers on this escort mission.”

Maxim nodded. “His skills are excellent, and having served as a knight for so long, he's quite experienced at controlling adventurers as well.”

Pierre narrowed his eyes. The branch manager, who spoke casually and comfortably with the other adventurers, was strangely polite to this unfamiliar adventurer. If it was a man wearing such a pitch-black hood and carrying a longsword...

“Could that person be the rumored...”

Pierre recalled the “Nameless Adventurer.” Come to think of it, seeing how he operated without showing his face, “Faceless Adventurer” might suit him better.

“That's the one. I personally persuaded him to join this trip.”

Pierre crossed his arms with clear displeasure, twisting his lips. “...Is it really alright to include ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠someone with such an unclear identity on a mission like this?”

“When have we ever only recruited people with solid identities? His skills are certain, so the journey should be comfortable. Whether he'll listen to your orders is another matter.”

The branch manager shrugged nonchalantly. Pierre clicked his tongue at the carefree branch manager. What suspicious plan is he hiding this time?

“Since it's you, I assume you won't do anything unnecessary.”

“If he values his life, he won't pick a fight with that man either.”

Pierre shrugged his shoulders in resignation and approached Maxim. “I'm Pierre Fabien.”

Maxim silently took the hand Pierre offered and shook it. Pierre seemed to have something to say, his mouth working silently, but he soon swallowed his words and stretched awkwardly. “I'll be counting on you from now on.”

Leaving those words behind, Pierre began calling out to the adventurers as if issuing urgent orders and assigning them to wagons. The branch manager roughly checked that the adventurers were properly positioned, then returned to Maxim to bid him farewell.

“Then I'll take my leave here.”

Just what did the man think of him to treat him with such deference? Maxim watched the branch manager with a slightly uncomfortable feeling. The branch manager gazed worriedly at the wagons lined up in a row, now fully prepared for departure. Then he turned and began walking toward the guild located in an alley of the Royal Capital.

“Alright everyone, to your positions! We'll depart as soon as all the escorts are in place!”

The merchant representative's booming voice rang across the square. The murmurs of merchants and adventurers filled the air as the adventurers mounted their horses or climbed onto the caravans. The caravan Maxim sat on jolted slightly. It seemed an adventurer had taken the driver's seat in front, grumbling and cursing to himself.

“Damn it, some people get to lie down comfortably while others have to sit and drive the horses. Huh?”

The adventurer narrowed his eyes and turned his head toward the caravan. His sour gaze landed on Maxim sitting atop the stacked crates. “Hey, you son of a bitch.”

The adventurer's face twisted as he spat out the curse. Maxim paid him no mind, counting the number of potion vials in his pocket and pondering whether he could endure this mission without being discovered.

“Hey, you there!”

The adventurer's hoarse voice called out. Maxim ignored him completely and tapped the crate beside him. The caravan shook violently once more. Maxim sensed someone clambering recklessly over the crates toward him. The one-eyed adventurer grabbed Maxim's shoulder roughly and spun him around.

“Bastard. Didn't you hear me?”

Maxim turned his head with a bored expression and sighed. Since he was currently an adventurer, there was no need to let it slide politely. His skills had already been somewhat revealed anyway. “Perfect timing, you little shit. You know how to handle horses, right? You take the front.”

And as he looked at the one-eyed adventurer's babbling face, a laugh escaped him.

Clatter.

Pierre was walking around inspecting the condition of each wagon when he noticed one caravan shaking violently several times and changed direction. Which bastard caused trouble this time?

Pierre suppressed his anger toward the adventurers who caused problems like children the moment he took his eyes off them. His hurried steps quickly brought him to the front of the caravan.

“These bastards again...!”

In front of the wagon, in the driver's seat, sat the one-eyed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠adventurer hunched over strangely, clutching the reins and trembling violently. He looked so pitiful that Pierre's face instantly shifted from anger to confusion.

“Nothing's wrong.”

Pierre turned his gaze inside the caravan. The hooded adventurer sat casually atop the crates, turning his head toward him with perfect composure.