Chapter 10: To Guard's Point

As they finished their preparations, a messenger arrived—a scout from The People's Shop.

He spoke briefly to Hargun before turning to the group.

"You're heading to Guards' Point, right?"

Kaiser nodded.

The scout pulled out a sealed letter, holding it out. "Deliver this to a merchant named Fargus in Guards' Point. No one else. It's important."

Elric raised an eyebrow. "We're not couriers."

The scout shrugged. "It's a simple job. You're going there anyway, aren't you?"

Kaiser took the letter, slipping it into his pack. "Fine. We'll deliver it."

One more task added to their journey.

A Hidden Observer

As the group mounted their newly purchased horses, preparing to leave, a hooded figure watched them from a distance.

He leaned against a wooden stall, arms crossed, observing Kaiser with particular interest.

The baby Liemur rested on Kaiser's shoulder, curling up for warmth.

The figure smirked, speaking under his breath.

"Another one with Quas blood... how interesting."

Then, without another word, he vanished into the crowd.

Departing for Guards' Point

With the sun beginning to rise, the group rode out from Hargun's camp.

Espada rode ahead, her posture relaxed but alert. "We better not run into more of those Chichutu warriors."

Elric followed behind, his flail resting against his back. "If we do, let's hope they don't recognize us."

Kaiser, Nyx still perched on his shoulder, took one last look at the merchant's camp.

Something told him this journey was only going to get more complicated.

And so, they rode toward Guards' Point, unaware of the dangers that awaited them.

Part 8 – A Duel in the Public EyeThe Journey to Guards' Point

The road to Guards' Point stretched before them, winding through rocky terrain and sparse forests. The region was well-patrolled, but even with the presence of Royal Guards, there were growing tensions. Rumors of rebellion, mercenary raids, and internal conflicts spread like wildfire among travelers and traders.

Kaiser, Elric, and Espada rode at a steady pace, their newly acquired horses making travel easier. Nyx, the baby Liemur, clung to Kaiser's shoulder, occasionally hissing at Elric and Espada when they got too close.

"Your little demon's getting possessive," Elric remarked with a smirk, riding beside Kaiser.

Espada chuckled. "Guess it thinks you're its parent now. Congrats, dad."

Kaiser exhaled, scratching the small creature behind its ears. "It's not a pet. It's just… staying with us for now."

Espada leaned forward in her saddle, grinning. "Yeah, yeah. Next thing we know, it'll be sleeping in your bedroll."

Kaiser ignored them, focusing on the road ahead. He had other things to worry about.

Arrival at Guards' Point – The Military Encampment

After several hours of travel, Guards' Point came into view.

The encampment was massive, surrounded by stone walls and wooden watchtowers. Inside, it was alive with activity—Royal Guards training, blacksmiths forging weapons, merchants selling supplies, and mercenaries looking for work.

The entrance was heavily guarded, with a long line of travelers waiting to enter.

As the group approached, a gruff-looking gate captain stepped forward, eyeing them with suspicion.

"State your business."

Espada took the lead, flashing her most charming smile. "Just passing through, Captain. Mercenaries looking for work, maybe some supplies."

The captain studied them, his gaze lingering on Nyx, who bared its tiny fangs.

"That thing with you?"

"It's tame," Kaiser said, patting Nyx's head.

The captain frowned but waved them through. "Don't cause trouble."

With that, they entered Guards' Point.

Delivering the Letter to Fargus

The first stop was Fargus, the merchant they had been assigned to find.

Fargus was an older man, thin and wiry, with a hunched posture. His small stall was tucked between larger merchant tents, selling general goods and minor trinkets.

Kaiser handed him the sealed letter. "From Hargun. He said to give it to you directly."

Fargus took the letter, carefully opening it. As his eyes skimmed the contents, his expression darkened.

He muttered under his breath, "So… it's finally happening."

Kaiser narrowed his eyes. "What's happening?"

Fargus quickly folded the letter, shaking his head. "Nothing you need to concern yourself with."

Espada raised an eyebrow. "You sure? Because you look like you just read your own death sentence."

Fargus ignored her, reaching under his stall and handing Kaiser a small bronze token.

"This is proof of delivery. Take it back to The People's Shop when you get the chance."

Before they could ask more questions, Fargus turned away, signaling the conversation was over.

Elric crossed his arms. "That guy's hiding something."

Kaiser pocketed the token. "Not our problem—for now."

The AWL (Analytic Warrior Level) Evaluation

After leaving Fargus, Espada led them toward a large stone building near the training grounds.

A sign outside read:

AWL RANKING CENTER – EVALUATE YOUR WARRIOR LEVEL! 50 GENNY PER SCAN.

"Time to see what we're made of," Espada said, flipping a coin between her fingers.

Inside, the facility was filled with warriors lining up for evaluation. The AWL system was a massive, reinforced chamber, with a circular platform in the center.

One by one, fighters stepped onto the platform, where the machine scanned their bodies, analyzing:

Strength, endurance, weapon masteryQuas Blood compatibility (if any)Other special abilities

The results were projected onto a glowing stone slab, displaying their rank and combat data.

How AWL Ranks Fighters

The rankings were as follows:

F Rank – Non-combat individuals (ordinary people).

D Bronze, D Silver, D Gold – Basic warriors with little combat technique.

C Bronze, C Silver, C Gold – Fighters with poor to intermediate combat skills.

B Bronze, B Silver, B Gold – Competent fighters, some with Quas blood abilities.

A Bronze, A Silver, A Gold – Highly skilled warriors with strong abilities.

S Bronze, S Silver, S Gold – Commanders, elite warriors, and powerful individuals.

SSS Rank – No known individuals have reached this level.The Group's AWL Results

Elric went first. The machine whirred, scanning him before displaying his rank:

B Bronze.

Espada stepped up next, her rank appearing as:

C Gold.

Finally, Kaiser took his turn.

As the machine scanned him, it hesitated for a moment—as if struggling to categorize his power. Then, his rank appeared:

C Silver.

Espada tilted her head. "C Silver, huh? Not bad, considering you're new to all this."

Kaiser clenched his fists. He had expected more.

A Confrontation with a Royal Guard

As they left the AWL center, a loud, mocking voice called out.

"C Silver? And you call yourself a warrior?"

A Royal Guard soldier approached, his stance arrogant. His armor was polished, his blade resting on his hip.

Kaiser narrowed his eyes. "Something wrong?"

The guard sneered. "It's pathetic. You barely qualify as a fighter. People like you should stay out of real battles."

Kaiser felt his blood boil. He had already been frustrated by his ranking—this idiot was pushing it further.

"Want to find out how weak I am?" he snapped.

The Royal Guard's smirk widened. "Gladly."

By now, a crowd had gathered, sensing an upcoming fight.

But instead of stopping them, the other soldiers cheered for the duel.

Espada crossed her arms, amused. "Well, this should be entertaining."