Journey to the North - Part 1
A new family had joined mine, and a whole month had slipped by as I spent time with them. Now, the moment had arrived for the journey to fulfill the special mission bestowed upon me by His Imperial Majesty.
The carriage I would ride in, along with wagons loaded with supplies for the long trip, waited in front of the mansion.
I'd changed into comfortable traveling clothes and stepped out of my bedroom. Meeting dignitaries might call for finery, but heading to see barbarians? No need for that.
"Young master! Everything's ready—I came to report!"
"Got it. But really, are you sure you want to come? You could stay in the forest longer."
"Still on about that? Taking care of the World Tree isn't my job. Do you think an assassin like me should be guarding the village?"
"It's not your role, no."
"Right? Village defense is for the sentries. My main duty is eliminating threats to you, Young master!"
Rena beamed, casually tossing out talk of killing like it was nothing. It was perfectly natural for an assassin, so I nodded.
An assassin just needed to excel at assassination—that was it. Expecting them to master everything else and assigning them unrelated tasks would be idiotic.
"I'll handle every danger that comes our way on this journey, so relax!"
"That's reassuring, but don't push yourself. We've got plenty of escorts."
"Sounds like you don't trust me."
"You're overthinking it."
If I couldn't trust her—my first bodyguard, who'd toiled for me all this time—who could I trust? I patted Rena's back and headed for the main gate.
As I walked the corridors, the servants bowed deeply and greeted me politely. At first, they trembled in fear every time, but now their gazes held respect. Things had changed a lot.
"There you are."
"I said no send-off was needed..."
At the main gate stood Count Mikhail Altesia, Countess Dere Altesia, and my twin stepsisters. I'd expected it, but seeing them there left me at a loss for words. As I scratched my cheek awkwardly, my stepmother enveloped my hand in her warm grasp.
"No need for such formalities between family."
Over the past month, Dere Altesia had treated me like her own son. It started off awkward, but the distance faded with time, and now she always wore a gentle smile. I didn't know much about Hines's real mother, but Dere matched her in maternal love.
"Take care of yourself. Now, May and Sui—say goodbye to your brother."
"D-Do we have to?"
"Yeah! You'll be back soon anyway, right?"
It wasn't just Dere who'd changed. The bratty twins still had their sharp edges, but they followed me well now. They acted like they weren't worried, yet their hands clutched my pant legs. They didn't want me to go.
"It might not be soon, but I'll be back within a year—no need to miss me too much."
"W-Who said we're missing you? If anyone's sad, it's you, big bro!"
"Don't come crying back if you get scared on the road! Though if you do crawl back, we'll graciously comfort our lame brother with our vast magnanimity!"
May and Sui, refusing to yield even an inch in their pride. I gently stroked their heads, and their grip on my pants loosened. They didn't want to let go but knew holding on too tight would annoy me.
"Save that talk for when you're older."
"Ugh...! Just you wait! By the time you get back, we'll be ridiculously strong!"
"And we'll be famous beauties in the Empire! Just like Mom!"
"Sure, sure."
Since joining House Altesia, the twins had proper teachers. Count Mikhail had hired skilled knights and veteran mages to awaken their talents, filling in their gaps. They'd grow strong fast. By the time I returned from the north, they'd be ready to spar evenly with Coco.
I left the pouting twins behind and stood before Count Mikhail. Without a word, he handed me a necklace with a bear's paw attached.
"Hines, take this."
"What's this necklace radiating such savage energy?"
"Your grandfather got it as thanks from a northerner he helped during a trading trip up north. Might bring good luck—keep it."
"That was grandfather's era. Wouldn't the northerners have forgotten what it means by now?"
"Who knows? Someone might recognize the favor. You're the only one from here heading north anyway, so better to have it."
"Got it. It's a bit cumbersome, but thanks."
I pocketed the bear paw necklace. Wearing it openly would be too bulky. With final goodbyes to my family, I boarded the carriage. Waving through the window, the northward-bound convoy set off.
"Lord Hines, you look close with your new family—it's heartwarming."
"Got some quirky little sisters, but they're good kids, just bad at showing it."
"They stuck to you like glue, even when teasing."
"Cute, but exhausting too. At least I'm free of that now."
No more twin tantrums demanding playtime. Grinning at the thought of some personal time on this trip, Rena suddenly pressed close.
"No thoughts of me being a nuisance?"
"If I firmly order you to stop, you would, right? The sisters just get stubborn."
"You're soft on those twin sisters. What if they ask you to marry them later?"
"If they grow into my type of beauties, I'd have to apologize to Count Mikhail and abandon House Altesia, naturally."
Blood didn't bind us, so ditching the house would solve it! I flashed a thumbs-up, only for Maribel to fix me with an icy stare.
"Lord Hines...?"
"Joking. Won't happen. Accounting for the age gap, they'll find someone else they like later."
The twins' affection stemmed from never meeting any decent men besides me and Count Mikhail. Once they met a handsomer, kinder guy, big brother would be forgotten. Sending them to the capital academy later would sort their ideals out. But Rena stroked her chin, looking unconvinced.
"My intuition says that won't happen..."
"Enough about the sisters. You've memorized the plans I outlined, right?"
"Of course!"
"Every detail."
Before linking up with the emperor's special envoy guards, we'd hit Ludmilan Village first. We'd smash the Nidhog cult's schemes before their village raid, snag the Rune Fragment, and create a crisis to alter the protagonist's fate. To direct her hatred toward the cult.
"Good. Time to put the plan into action."
I told the coachman to halt the carriage. Slipping a gold coin into his pouch, I sent him home to live it up—we'd drive ourselves. He left joyfully from the driver's seat.
Kizen moved to take the reins, but I shook my head.
"I'll drive for a while."
"Pardon? B-But!"
"It's fine. Just guard from my shadow. Necessary."
"...Understood."
Everyone, Kizen included, eyed my sudden move suspiciously. Fair reaction—I'd never mentioned driving. But I had reasons I couldn't share.
"P-Please, save me!"
On a secluded forest path, a woman burst from the trees, begging for help. Her clothes were torn—likely chased by goblins or orcs—and her face pale with fear. Confirming her, I nodded.
"Hyah!"
"Y-Young master?!"
"Huh...?"
Neighhh!
I yanked the reins hard, spooking the horses. The woman's face drained of color as she leaped into the road; a horse's kick sent her flying sideways. Bloody blades poured from her body.
"How'd you know she was a bandit?"
"Later. Hold on tight! More death-wish friends ahead!"
I still can't forget that journey north—the Aslan Chronicle devs' biggest blunder: random encounters ballooned fivefold on that route due to a bug. This world was real, not a game, but its backdrop and setup matched perfectly. The northern road crawled with bandits.
Assassination for assassins, roadkill for scoundrels.