After I finished getting Bong ready and made sure he was properly fed— I and the others immediately headed over to the city gate so we could meet up with the new mercenaries Miguel had hired.
’They’re probably around the same level of strength as Geremie and Albert.’
I thought that to myself as soon as I caught sight of them waiting there. They were three men in total, and they looked like they had worked together as a group before; one of them was an archer, another was a swordsman, and the third one was a large guy carrying a heavy mace and a massive shield.
"This is Sir Verc, he is a wandering knight who will be travelling along with us for a day."
Miguel said that, introducing me to the new faces. The archer and the swordsman both gave me a polite greeting, and I simply nodded my head back at them in response.
Though—
"Hah! This kid looks like he has been spoiled since the day he was born, are you really sure he is not just going to be a piece of dead weight for us?"
The huge guy with the mace and shield commented that with a mocking tone.
Geremie and Albert both immediately frowned at the comment, and they turned to look at the guy with total confidence—
"He is more than capable of doing all of our jobs by himself, so you really need to shut your mouth if you do not know what you are talking about."
Albert said that, glaring intensely at the man.
"I am quite sure that if our employer here had to choose between the five of us and this gentleman here, then we would have no job today."
Then Geremie followed up with a fake, polite smile as he turned his gaze toward Miguel.
"Haha, that is actually very true."
Miguel laughed lightly as he said those words.
I felt a bit flattered seeing how high they both thought of me. Anyway, I saw the guy with the mace frown deeply at their words, and he opened his mouth because he was about to say something back—
SWOOSH~
But at that exact moment, I decided to activate my [Dominion Aura] and stared him down while I was still riding on top of Bong.
FWAAHHH~
The entire surrounding area was suddenly enveloped by my heavy, pressing aura, and I saw Albert and Geremie start to smile as they looked over at me. Miguel and the two coachmen were visibly surprised by the sudden change in the air, and the same could be said for the new archer and the swordsman.
"...?!"
The guy with the mace suddenly froze in place, no more words came out of his mouth and his eyes were locked onto me in surprise.
Fwip-
I calmly placed my hand on the handle of my sheathed sword, and then opening my mouth to speak—
"If you really want to confirm my level of skill for yourself, we can go ahead and have a go at it right now."
I declared that firmly.
"It would not take very long to finish anyway."
Then I confidently followed up with those words.
The guy with the mace turned white as a ghost, and cold sweats started forming on his forehead.
"W-Whatever."
In the end, he just looked away from me and grumbled that under his breath. I deactivated my skill immediately after that, and with a satisfied smile on my face—
’Haha, this skill is really nice for situations like this.’
I thought about that.
*****
After that small incident was over, we all immediately departed through the gate.
’Goodbye, city of Nash.’
I said that in my mind as I took one last look back at the tall city walls. I had actually enjoyed my stay there, especially since it was the very first city I visited— it was just too bad that I had to leave so abruptly.
’Still, this is a much better choice than staying there and risking another meeting with that saintess.’
I got lucky last time because of how my skill worked, but once she actually confirms that I am a vampire; then I’m dead as hell.
"Where exactly are you headed now, if you don’t mind me asking?"
Anyway, just then, Geremie walked up and asked me that question.
"I don’t really have a specific destination in mind just yet."
I replied to him.
"Really? We thought you must have had something important planned, considering that you are leaving the city without even spending a full week there."
Albert mumbled that as he got closer to me as well. Both him and Geremie were walking right beside me and Bong.
"Haha, something just came up suddenly, but I would have liked to stay a bit longer if I could."
I said.
"Oh, is this something connected to the saintess? What did you even talk about with her yesterday?"
Albert followed up, being nosy as usual again.
"It was really nothing important, I already told you that she was just interested in me."
With a straight face, I just waved my hand casually as I lied to them and dismissed his curious words.
"I know you are handsome, but damn... I still can’t believe you caught the eyes of someone as high up as her, you are really lucky."
Albert said that, and Geremie nodded his head in agreement after hearing his words.
"Haha..."
I couldn’t help but let out an awkward laugh, I can’t believe they are calling me lucky for meeting my natural enemy.
Anyway, I shook my head to clear the thought, then shifting the topic of our talk—
"Do you two happen to know of a place where I can find and fight a lot of monsters?"
I asked that.
"Huh...?"
Geremie and Albert both looked up at me weirdly after hearing my question. But I just shrugged my shoulders at them.
"I want to train more and get much stronger, and I plan to do that while fighting against real monsters."
I said.
’If I can find a way to fight a lot of different monsters, then I can drink a lot of their blood and acquire all sorts of new skills.’
I smiled internally as I thought of that possibility.
"Hmm, well... I don’t really know a specific place for that."
Geremie whispered that under his breath, and it seems that Albert was in the same case as him. I was hoping that they could tell me exactly where to go next, but it seems like I would be wandering around aimlessly for a while.
Or so I thought—
"Why don’t you try heading to [The City of Zore]?"
One of the new mercenaries, the archer, cut into the conversation and told me that.
"Hmm?"
My attention quickly went over to him.
"Hello, my name is Brylle... I’m sorry for butting in like this, but I could not help but overhear your conversation from where I am stationed."
The archer introduced himself and apologized for listening. The four of us were grouped near each other at the back of the carriages.
"Oh, don’t worry about it at all... can you tell me more about this city that you just mentioned?"
I responded with that, and then with a quick nod of his head—
"[The City of Zore] is under the rule of the Ironcrest Empire, and it is a place completely surrounded by a huge forest and tall mountains. A lot of knights are stationed there because the monster population and bandit groups are very abundant in that area."
Brylle explained that to me.
"Also, some news has been spreading lately that a new dungeon has appeared right in the middle of the city, and it is apparently a labyrinth-type."
He followed up with that.
’That is exactly the kind of place I am looking for.’
I thought to myself, my eyes shining after hearing his explanation.
"Where exactly is that city located from here?"
I asked, feeling a bit excited about the prospect.
Brylle looked off to our left, and then as he pointed in that direction—
"Just head in that direction, and make sure to ask some villagers for further instructions if you encounter any. From our current position, it will take you more than a week to get there even if you are on a horse."
He instructed me that.
"..."
I went silent after hearing that... it seems like I will be travelling alone for quite a while.
I saw Albert and Geremie looking at me with eyes as if wishing me goodluck on my journey.
Well, anyway— it seems like my next destination is already decided.