Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 376: Help No One

The next day swiftly arrived as the sun rose into the sky once more, morning rays of light tearing through the darkness that blanketed the entire forest. Asher, who sat with his eyes closed, finally opened them, his purple eyes adjusting to the brightness that spilled across the treetops. He had spent the entire night cultivating; since he could not exactly train during a mission, he could at least cultivate to maintain his progress and sharpen his mind.

He yawned for a brief moment, stretching his limbs slightly as his gaze drifted toward Finch and William, who were also perched on top of a tree, their eyes wide open and alert. Although they had stayed awake throughout the day and night, it would not affect their journey, minds, or bodies. With their superhuman physiques, they could afford to stay awake for two days or more without suffering any adverse or negative effects of any kind.

’It seems there aren’t many bandits in this area,’ Asher thought, his purple eyes narrowing slightly. Throughout the night, only one bandit group had made their way toward their location, a group William had silently eliminated before they could even get too close.

’I hope something entertaining happens soon,’ Asher mused to himself, a thought far different from what most people would wish for. Usually, others would pray to the stars for a safe mission, hoping for nothing to happen, no bandits, no monster packs, no surprises of any kind. Yet here he was, wishing for something entertaining to occur.

Without hesitation, he dropped down from the branch he was standing on, his feet landing softly on the earth below with a perfect, silent touch. William and Finch also descended from their positions moments later.

”That was a boring night,” Finch stated as he walked beside Asher and William, unknowingly turning into someone who looked forward to battles just like them. They were both influencing him without realizing it, and he was yet unaware of this subtle shift within himself.

”That’s how night watch duties usually are. Most of the time, nothing happens,” William replied casually as he walked with relaxed steps.

”You sound like you’ve been on many of these kinds of missions,” Finch said with a soft laugh, raising an eyebrow.

William shook his head as he responded, ”I simply heard it from the guards and knights in my Barony. Although most of the time nothing happens, that calmness leads to a false sense of safety for many of them. Hence... deaths occur whenever bandits or any kind of enemy finally strikes.”

Finch paused for a moment, absorbing the message, then nodded. Asher, Finch, and William returned to their tent as Aiden and Samuel took over the watch duty. Minutes passed as everyone visited the makeshift bathroom; after a bath and a change of clothes, they prepared to resume their journey.

”At least we only have two days left for this journey,” Finch murmured as he mounted his Enduron horse with a slight sigh, his thoughts drifting to his sister and the comfort of home.

”Don’t jinx us, man...” William’s voice echoed from his own horse.

”I’m pretty sure that isn’t how jinxing works,” Finch intoned dryly.

Norman stepped out from his tent, walking toward the group. Everyone had already mounted their horses, and Aiden had once again taken the position of coachman for the carriage.

”Good morning. We will be continuing our journey, same formation as yesterday,” Norman announced in a calm tone, his usual gentle smile resting on his lips.

After receiving nods from everyone, he turned back to his tent, rearranging and storing it into his space ring with a smooth motion. Then he mounted his horse, and once again, their journey began.

Asher’s eyes moved slowly from Norman to Aiden, then to Samuel, Daniel, and Clara. Although he, William, and Finch were on night watch duty, he knew Norman and the rest of the senior members never slept throughout the night. They stayed awake without even closing their eyes. William and Finch might not have known this, but Asher saw it clearly with his Omni Perception.

Another round of silent traveling stretched ahead as they moved deeper through the forested path. Along the way, they passed by various merchants, mercenaries, and adventurers who were either heading toward their missions or returning from their tasks. Throughout these encounters, not a single smile was exchanged between any of the travelers. Everyone bore a cold expression, their muscles tense as if ready to react at the slightest hint of danger from the strangers they passed.

Asher understood their caution perfectly. After all, nowhere was it written that only bandits robbed and killed people. Everyone in Crymora did, anyone with the will and strength could rob, kill, or deceive. The only difference was that bandits made it their full-time occupation.

Thus, on this journey, the dangers did not only come from bandits, Emovirae, monsters, or beasts. Their fellow humans were threats in their own right.

”On escort missions, monsters, Emovirae, and all that are the least of your worries,” Norman began to explain in a calm, lecture-like manner. ”Your fellow humans are the greatest threat. And I don’t mean only bandits, I mean everyone you meet over the course of the mission.”

He paused, his black eyes shifting backward as though to ensure Asher, William, and Finch were paying attention.

Seeing that they were, he continued, ”When you encounter beasts, Emovirae, or bandits, there’s no need to talk or understand each other. You simply go straight into a battle of life and death. They are hardly cunning. Completely opposite of humans. One lesson I can give you: help no one... and I mean no one during your missions. Yes, some genuinely need help, but some are just traps... most of them are traps.”

His tone was calm but carried the weight of certainty formed through experience.

Asher, Finch, and William nodded quietly. Although they might be strong, they still lacked true mission experience. Asher’s thoughts drifted toward the group he had helped during his journey to the Rivelle Barony on his very first mission.

A faint smile tugged at his lips. If that situation had been a trap, then he would have easily wiped out everyone involved, awakened or unawakened. He did not discriminate when it came to ending enemies.

’Sigh... such serial killer-like thoughts. No wonder the Wargraves called it the ”True Awakening.” It truly changes you,’ Asher mused internally.

’When I go back, I will ask Father if there is a recording of Big Brother Malrik and Big Sister Wuthenya’s True Awakening battle. There has to be one somewhere,’ he thought, a bright smile appearing on his face.

Personally, he wanted to see Malrik’s battle recording the most. As a novel reader before his reincarnation, he knew that every novel or anime always had that one overpowered side character who overshadowed even the main character. To Asher, Malrik was exactly that figure, an existence formidable enough to steal the spotlight if his life was a novel.