Chapter 14

The soldier lead us to the front of their battalion, where we were greeted by a hulking man wearing heavy armour. There was no need for confimation, it would not take a genius to figure out he's their leader.

The man was probably standing around 195cm. Complementing his height was an incredibly large build. He was the kind of person you would imagine lift a boulder with a single hand. However, despite the brute stereotype, his face was youthful and has a gentle tone to it.

"My name is Jonah, the commander of this assembly of soldiers. May I ask who the two of you are?" he asked in an unusually polite manner.

"I'm Eria, an adventurer," I briefly introduced myself.

"Finral Eldrich," Fin followed with an even shorter introduction.

"It's my pleasure to meet such a beautiful elf lady like yourself, miss Eria," he flattered, and then he smoothly pivoted towards Fin to address him, "And what could possibly be the reason why a member of the esteemed Edrich noble family in a place like this without a single guard?"

"Nothing that concerns you," Fin matter-of-factly replied.

"I see, if you don't want to provide me an answer, then I shall not question you any further about it," Jonah bowed, a gesture of apology. "I did not wish to bother you, but only to warn you of the deadly bandits that are attacking travellers on this path."

"Bandits, huh?" I mumbled out loud.

"They have pillaged many things and have kidnapped several women already, and now, they have attacked and killed a nobleman's son. To punish them, my soldiers and I were dispatched."

"I can't believe they have the courage to do that to a noble," Fin comments, looking baffled.

Fin's reaction was justified. Even if those group of bandits stole a mountain of gold coins, or killed and kidnapped a dozen of villagers, an army won't move to subjugate them. Only adventurers will be sent to deal with them no matter what crime they did to commoners. Now that they have victimized a noble, they won't be given mercy anymore.

"It was apparently a band of bandits that has more than 40 or so members. As precaution, I brought a total of 60 soldiers with me."

"40? That's a large number of bandits..."

"Indeed, miss elf," Jonah turned back towards me and replied, "That's why, I'm suggesting we guide you until we reach the enemy encampment. I want to make sure you wouldn't encounter any bandit before we do on this path ahead."

"That won't be necessary," Fin interjected.

"Hm? Seeing you're a noble, I merely want to see you protected," Jonah said, sounding genuinely concerned.

"I don't need your protection. Besides, Eria-sama is with me. No mere bandits can stand against her. I'm sure you heard of her, the...!"

"Shh...!"

Before Fin could continue, I sealed off his mouth. I don't really mind other people figuring out who I was, hence I don't hide my name, but I feel awkward when my status as a legend was directly revealed to anyone...

"Hm? I know it does not relate to the matter at hand, but may I ask what kind of relationship the two of you have?" Jonah asked in confusion as he sees me cover Fin's mouth, a noble.

"Well, he's kind of my student. Aren't you, Fin?"

"Yes! I'm definitely Eria-sama's student!"

"I see, so you hired an elf who is aversed in magic to teach you," Jonah mutters, then his eyes stumbled on the sword on my waists. "But you have such a fine sword on you, does that mean you're a swordsman and not a mage?"

"I'm both."

"Interesting, a magic swordswoman—it's such an uncommon thing to encounter," Jonah showed a curious smile. "I would love to see what you can do, but I can't have that for now. Finral-sama, I know this is rude of me, but I truly need you to come with me. If somehow, anyhow, you get caught or killed by these bandits, most of the blame would point at me," he said as he bowed his head for the last time.

"But that's not really my..."

"I see. Well then, miss Eria, if I may ask of you," realizing that it was really me who decides the final say, he asked me instead.

"We're going to the same direction anyway, so we might as well, right?" I reluctantly said.

"If you say so, Eria-sama," Fin obidiently nodded.

"Then it's decided."