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nNot long time before the carriage started to march towards the capital. Seeing the shadow of the trees outside through the black window, Eisherz reminded a certain time of day. 𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗹．𝐨𝗿𝗴

n“It’s already noon. The intensity of the ambush really make me forget my sense of time. How about having a lunch with us then continue our discussion later?”

n“Well, if the lady herself insist…”

n“Good. Estella.”

n“I understand, Milady.” The woman besides Eisherz, her lady’s maid, Estella, finally opened her mouth since Michael stepped in the carriage.

nStella is a woman in her late twenties. Her long black hair tie in a French twist, her sharp and cold gaze added to the unwavered seriousness of her expressionless face. Along with her orthodox maid uniform, she was like a strict matron of a girl’s dormitory.

nShe stood up from the seat and walked towards the table at the center. As soon as she raised her right hand, a familiar pitch-black disk appeared in front of her.

n“An Item Box…” Playing dumb, the group of Michael gasped upon seeing they’re Mom’s storage spell.

nSpace-Time Magic was already very difficult to learn, let alone mastering it. For that reason, spacial magicians only focuses on levelling the proficiency of Space-Time Magic spells that they intentionally neglect the basic elements.

nStella ignored their shock as she is putting her hands into the disk. She took out a pile of seven white ceramic plates from it and laid quickly but gracefully on the table. In just a matter of seconds, each of the plate already occupied with mouth-watering beef steak drenched in aromatic sauce.

n“Please enjoy your lunch.” Estella bent her body before turning back to her seat.

n“If it’s not enough to satisfy your palate, Estella can serve another dish or two.”

n“Thank you very much. Thanks for the meal.”

nMichael and his team used their fork and knife to slice the same meal they had on breakfast. The people inside the vehicle enjoyed their several minutes consuming the blessings in front of them. They didn’t utter a word while eating as the wheels go round and round.

n◆◇◆◇◆◇

n“Now that we’ve finished with our lunch, we can now start our postponed discussion. Are you fine with that.”

n“We fine with that, Lady Eisherz.”

nWith lunch done, Eisherz opened the discussion again. There are mountains of things need to topic in the conversation.

n“What we are going to tackle first?”

n“Pardon my rudeness, Milady.” Van chimed in. “Can I give my report about what happened earlier?”

n“Go ahead, Van.”

nHaving the permission to speak, Van nodded. “Understood.”

nVan starts narrating the incident. Michael and the team carefully listened to Van story. Then they grasped a gist of why the ambush happened.

nAccording to Van’s statement, the caravan was ambushed by a group of twenty-six outlaws. Due to the duration of the travel, the magic casters, who safely riding the front carriage, were called by nature.

nUrged by a body metabolism, the caravan park besides the road, for them to drizzle. But that was the most anticipated opportunity that the observers patiently waited for a long time.

nWithout wasting any second, the bandits unerringly took down the whistling mages. Before the knights realized it, they were already surrounded by an overwhelming force of outlaws.

nThe knights desperately tried to resist and fight back. But they were too many for the five of them to handle. Though the brave knights managed to kill five of them before the group of Michael intervene.

n“If your team haven’t came to our rescue, we wouldn’t here talking right now.” Van chuckled after he ended his story.

n“Many noble children will come or coming back to the Imperial Capital. So bandit attacks are frequently occurring during these days.” Eisherz added.

n“It remains me, these days are the time for the academy to open its gates again, accepting new and old students after the winter break.” Michael repeatedly nodded his head in realization.

nAtrocious attacks of bandits are common during these times, instead of merchants, they’re targeting noble children in lieu. That’s why the empire deployed more patrons outside of city. But the location they were before was way far for the guards to roam.

nOutlaws attacking convoys of nobles for some reasons. Abducting rich and pampered kid in exchange of ransom or selling them to illegal slave merchants for large sum.

nIn isolated cases, some hire bandits to assassinate a noble children and make it looks like an average bandit attack. Whether it’s for personal gain or so, Michael can’t ignore this case as intended assault given how the mages sprinkled together.

n(Might investigate later.)

nSpeaking of the academy, Raphael’s sister, Louise Raevender, is currently on her way to the capital, just departed a few days ago. Even if they were attacked, she was accompanied by their mother. Therefore, Raphael and the others won’t have to worry at all.

n“So Lady Eisherz is a student of the academy?”

n“Yes. This year is my third year of studying in the academy.” Eisherz answered Uriel’s inquiry. “Although I am a student there, I am only taking the general studies, so I am not able to fight the whole thing.” She continued with a low volume.

n(She’s not a combat type? Then what is that numbers for?) Michael wanted to say something but he didn’t.

nSeeing her expressions, Gabrielle tried to console Eisherz. “You don’t have to worry about that, Lady Eisherz. Everyone has its weaknesses and strengths. Even me, I am not skilled in close combat but I am confident with my healing spells, it’s one of my contributions in our team. It’s up to you how to use the power you’re good with.”

n“Thank you, Gabrielle.” As if swayed her Gabrielle’s enticing voice, Eisherz gained her confidence again.

nThe evidence of her lack in experience and strength was shown in the last attack. That’s because she can’t use her abilities in that kind of situation. Every single thing has its own time and place to become valuable.

n“Let’s close this topic about mine. How about telling yours?”

n“Sure thing.”

nBeing asked by an aristocrat about themselves, the group of Michael come up with the story Raphael made up in case this kind of situation occurs.

n“Just as she said earlier, Lucy and I are twins. We live somewhere in the Kingdom of Astley.”

n“You all came far from the County of Arts?”

n“Well… yes. We have traveled for several days up to now.”

nEisherz heed attention of the group’s origin, which was too far from the empire. Traveling from the Kingdom of Astley all the way to the Dixon Empire indeed is a long and tiring trip. There are two routes between those countries if one travel by land.

nOne is to turn way and cross the elongated Kingdom of Boulder to get from Astley to Dixon and vice versa. The Kingdom of Boulder is vertical in shape and one have to track the whole kingdom to cross countries.

nThe shortest route is to pass the Primaria Theocracy and Dwarf Nation of Doria, but have to climb a mountain range first after crossing the theocracy to enter Doria. Which is why many took the Boulder route to travel between the two countries.

nIf someone what’s the best way to get to the empire from Astley or vice versa, air would be the best answer. No traffic, no obstacles aside from flying monsters, no bandits, except if they were airborne. But one have to find a flying mount first, like a Pegasus or a trained Wyvern, which were hard to acquire and not available all the time.

n“But why travel to the empire?” People won’t travel far away unless there were some reasons. Eisherz couldn’t help but asked.

n“We trained ourselves earnestly and eagerly for a long time. Slaying monsters, challenging local dungeons, fighting outlaws and so on…” Michael paused to fold his arms. “But recently, we realized that we couldn’t find enjoyment of what we’ve done so far. All the achievements we’ve attained doesn’t spark any further. We want to experience more challenge and trill. That’s why, we want to challenge the most difficult dungeon in this continent.” Then he pointed a finger to the north, where the Imperial Capital located.

n“Mmm.” The three girls nodded in agreement after Michael’s motivational speech.

n“That’s a courageous objective you have, but I heartfully wish you a good luck.”

n“You have my wishes too.” Van joined Eisherz encouragement. “It might not be easy to achieve and you might encounter endless obstacles, the way how strong you all are despite being young, I know you will achieve your goals someday.”

n“Thank you for your words.” The four bobbed their head upon the ones in the front.

n“If you happen to conquer the Imperial Dungeon someday, I’m sure that you all will become big shots. Anyone who will conquer that dungeon will receive great fame and achievements after all.”

n“Throughout the entire history of this continent, only a handful of brave people managed to conquer the Imperial Dungeon. Even reaching the 60th Floor serves as a great feat among adventurers.”

n“The first one was the founder and the first emperor of Dixon Empire. It happened a thousand years ago.”

n“Indeed. It was after the he ended the Demon Lord’s tyranny.” Michael expressed his harmony concurring with the statements of Eisherz and Van.

nThe hero, also the empire’s first ruler, Alfred Dixon, was the first person who managed to reach the 70th Floor of the dungeon and become its Dungeon Master afterwards.

nAfter ending the five-hundred-year rule of the Demon Lord, the hero attempted to challenge the dungeon that the demon desperately trying to conquer to, and the rest is history.

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