The Regression Of A Grand Mercenary - 83 - To the Capital

After the incident with those ‘visitors,’ we proceeded to handle another event that was nearing in our daily lives.

“So you really want me to come with you to the festival?” I asked as I sat in front of her.

“Of course I want you to come with me. This is the only opportunity for us to finally gain ground to stand with the nobles and have our say. If we do this right, it won’t be long before the kingdom realizes the family’s worth…”

“…I just think that my being there won’t help much with anything you have planned. What am I supposed to do?” I asked.

“The eighth princess has invited us to the festival, and granting us the privilege to protect ourselves, she’s allowing us to bring a single guard. And judging from the information I gained from Rhoads in his cell, he too had the same information. From the looks of it, we were all asked to bring a single guard to protect ourselves in this festival.”

“That’s suspicious.” I said.

“I know. For each invited family, they are allowed a single guard…its also making me uneasy.”

“It seems dangerous…like the princess is expecting trouble or something.” I said.

“…That’s why I want you to come. I want you to be by my side and protect me and my family. Other than me, my father and my mother is also coming to this festival.”

“What about your brothers and sisters?” I asked.

“Its sad to say, but we thought it would have been better to limit the number of people in our family to come. With the spring season starting, our business tides are starting to rise…many of them are too busy handling the work, so out of my siblings, I’m the only one going because the letter itself was directed at me.”

“I see…But what about Escanor and your sister Eliana? Don’t they live beside the capital as serving knights to the kingdom?”

“Of course they will be there. But they will be too busy handling the festival to make time to come with us to the castle ball.”

“Hm…so if that’s the case, you won’t have any proper protection. Fine, I’ll come. But only because I’m worried of what might happen there. Something about this festival is making me uneasy.” I said.

“Thank you.”

“Hmm, wait speaking of the festival. What about Rhoads? Will he remain inside your domain despite being invited?”

“Of course he will. He’s going to spend the rest of the week inside that prison until we settle the issue he caused this day. With how large the scandal was, I’m sure my father’s ties with their family will only rot even more. This won’t end peacefully that’s for sure.” she said.

“You sound pleased.”

“I would not call it pleasure.” Her smile was dry, almost playful. “Relief, maybe. It’s easier to face a festival without his face in the crowd.”

“Hmm…”

After we talked, I finished eating dinner with her and I left her domain to make time for myself away from everything.

To decide on joining this event…it seemed like a trap set out by Velorria. Although it wasn’t obvious that she was out to find me, for some reason my senses were screaming about how dangerous this decision was.

I’m literally stepping into the trap set up by her.

But I just can’t ignore the fact that Evelyn is also stepping into that same trap. Whatever it is, I need to prepare myself for anything that might cause harm to Evelyn and her family.

And to do that, I need to do my role as a guard.

So off I went to my workshop…preparing for what is to come.

The next day, we set off to the capital. Just me and Evelyn by our own. And a coachman to drive us to our location.

“Hmm, its been a while since we spent time like this together.” she said as she stuck close to me while we were inside the carriage.

She wrapped her arms around me and smiled with a flirtatious grin on her face.

“…How long will we be away from the village?” I asked as a tint of red was showing on my cheeks.

“…About a week at least. I don’t really know the details of how things might go in the end, but the festival has a clear row of events that will follow, so I should explain to you what me and my family planned to make this event successful on our end.”

“Okay…tell me.”

“On the very first day, once we arrive in the Goldensun Kingdom, we’ll go straight to the mansion my family owns in the capital. My father and mother will be there, and that evening, we’ll host a private gathering of allies and merchants to reaffirm ties before the festival begins. It’s more about preparation and positioning than celebration.”

“Hmm. So the calm before the storm.”

She smirked. “Exactly. The second day begins with the Royal Parade — the Goldensun family will lead it, and all noble houses are expected to follow. My family will march behind them, showing loyalty. That night, there’s a grand opening banquet at the royal palace. We’ll attend as guests, not hosts, but our presence is important.”

I stayed silent, memorizing each detail.

“The third day focuses on the market fair and exhibitions. We’ll sponsor certain stalls, mostly craftsmen and artisans tied to my family’s trade. I’ll have to make appearances, greet buyers, and strengthen connections. That night, there’s a masquerade ball hosted by the royals — the one everyone whispers about.” She gave me a teasing glance. “You’ll need a mask too.”

“…Great.”

She chuckled, then went on.

“On the fourth day, the royals will oversee cultural showcases — rituals, performances, and the like. My family’s role is minor, just attendance and diplomacy, but the crowds will be overwhelming.”

Her grip around my arm tightened ever so slightly.

“The fifth day is the martial tournament. Knights, adventurers, and even mercenaries will compete. My father is sponsoring a few competitors from our territory to raise our standing. I’ll need to sit with him in the stands. You, on the other hand…” She smiled faintly. “Well, we were hoping that you would also participate in this event. It’s one of the best ways to elevate our standing and make a name for yourself.”

She wasn’t wrong.

“The sixth day is the royal banquet. That’s when every noble family gathers under the same roof. Announcements, alliances, secret pacts — all wrapped in wine and music. That’s also when tensions are at their highest.”

“And the last day?” I asked.

“The seventh is the closing ceremony. Blessings from the high priests, fireworks, the final parade. Then, once the festivities are over, we’ll return home. Hopefully, without incident.”

“Hmm, I see…seeing as how I will act as your guard this, I made preparations of my own to fully accommodate my role.”

“Oh? And what did you do?”

“Hmm, it’s a surprise.” I said.

“If that’s the case, then I can’t wait.” she said.

“By the way, I know this may seem like an abrupt question…but the capital is about a week away if we travel by road in a carriage like this. Since you planned on having to arrive by tomorrow, what are we going to do?”

“Oh, its simple. We’re going to take one of the most fastest forms of travel this kingdom has ever molded.” she said.

“Hm?, and what is that?” I asked.

“A Dragon Cruise!” she said plainly.

“A…Dragon Cruise?” I repeated, almost certain I misheard her.

“Yes!” Evelyn leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’s a marvel born of both magic and beastcraft. Instead of horses pulling carriages, entire fleets of sky-carriages are tethered to trained drakes—giant, winged creatures raised by the kingdom for swift, long-distance travel. One of the proudest achievements of the Goldensun dynasty.”

I blinked.

She giggled softly at my flat expression. “The carriages are reinforced with steelwood and enchanted runes, suspended beneath the dragons with chains and mana-binding harnesses. They soar across the skies, covering in hours what would take days on land. It’s faster, safer, and far more comfortable.”

“I see…now it makes sense. But aren’t you afraid of heights? Will you be okay during this entire journey?” I asked as I remembered when I used my wings to carry her high in the air, she was barely hanging on for her dear life.

“It’s going to be fine. After all, I’m going to be asleep the entire time!” she said.

“…What?”

“This is a sacrifice that I must make to accommodate for our lack of time. So, once we arrive at the Dragon terminal, I’ll be taking a few pills to force myself to sleep, and as I do that, I want you to be by my side to keep watch of anything dangerous that might happen!”

“Fine…although this entire plan of your is risky, I can’t really object.”

“Of course! And don’t worry, this entire dragon cruise is already paid for by my father! We have everything already planned out, so lets just get to it!!” she said excitedly.

On our journey, the Dragon Terminal could only be found in on top of a mountain. That particular mountain was the location of a formerly renowned nest filled with blood thirsty drakes, but since the years past, it has been contained and the drakes were turned into an asset of transportation.

The distance of our travel towards the mountain would take about ten hours at most…although I can’t say that it was close to the village, it wasn’t really that far either.

And despite the convinience of these kinds of transportations, a dragon cruise was an expensive form of travel…and only the rich could afford to ride dragons. A single ride’s expense depended on the distance they would travel…

A few hours later, we finally reached the foot of the mountain where the entrance to the Dragon Terminal was put. And here, it would take about four hours of the carriage just to make it to the top. And not only was the ride steep, but the roads were rough and dangerous. It was filled with all sorts of dangers, ranging from natural disasters to monsters and hiding bandits.

Thankfully, I proposed to Evelyn that instead of riding the coach, I would carry us to the top using my abilities.

It would only take us minutes literally.

“You sure? I brought with me a lot of my luggage. And it technically isn’t that light either…it’ll be difficult for you.”

“Don’t wory about that. We’ve been riding inside the coach for six hours now, and I’m sure you’re tired. Lets go up to the terminal fast so that we can rest up there.” I said.

“Hmm, that would be nice.” she said as she accepted the offer.

So without further complications, I got all of our things from the carriage and used the winds to manipulate my control over the bags and luggage.

“You know, I don’t saw this often…but your power is really handy sometimes.” she said.

“Yeah…sometimes it’s a cheat in life. Okay, grab a hold of me and we can take off.” I said.

When she wrapped her arms around me, it was there that I manifested my wings made of air.

“Okay, hold on tight.”

With that, I flew her and our things up to the air.

The wind whistled in my ears as I carried Evelyn in my arms, our luggage floating behind us with my control over the air.

She clung tightly to me, her face buried in my chest. “D-don’t look down, don’t look down…” she mumbled.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “You look like a kid right now.”

“I’m not! Just… it’s higher than I thought, okay!?” she shot back, though her lips were curved in a smile.

With each beat of my wings, we rose higher and higher. The road, the carriage, even the villages below us shrank until they looked like toys. The mountain loomed ahead, its peak hidden in thin clouds. And right there, carved into its cliffs, was the Dragon Terminal. From afar, it looked like a fortress clinging to stone—a city in the sky.

The closer we came, the louder it grew. The heavy sound of wings, the low rumble of beasts breathing, and the shouts of handlers echoed up the cliffs. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, pine, and something sharp and wild—the scent of dragons.

I landed softly on one of the wide platforms, letting the wind wings fade behind me. Workers and merchants gave us quick glances before returning to their business. This place was far too busy to stare at every new arrival.

Evelyn stepped beside me, her eyes widening as she looked at the rows of dragons resting on the platforms. Huge scaled bodies, wings folded like sails, and saddles fitted with glowing runes. Each beast was chained and harnessed, but their presence alone was enough to make the ground feel small.

“So this is the Dragon Terminal…” Evelyn whispered. Her smile softened. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Beautiful and noisy,” I muttered.

“Hmm, the departure isn’t until a few more hours…lets wait by one of the inns and eat. I’ve been a bit hungry for a while now.” she said.

“Okay.”

With that said, we approached one of the two only inns in the mountain.

The inn was built right into the side of the mountain, its stone walls glowing faintly with embedded runes to keep the cold air at bay. A wooden sign creaked above the door, painted with a dragon curling around a mug of ale.

Inside, warmth washed over us. The smell of roasted meat, baked bread, and spiced stew filled the air, making my stomach tighten. Travelers crowded the tables—merchants in heavy cloaks, dragon handlers with soot-stained gloves, even a few nobles dressed too finely for the place. The clatter of mugs and low laughter mixed with the faint rumble of dragons outside.

Evelyn pulled her hood a little lower and leaned toward me. “Let’s find a corner. Less eyes that way.”

We slipped into a small table near the back, away from the main crowd. A tired waitress came over with a forced smile, setting down a pair of wooden mugs filled with something warm.

“What will it be?” she asked.

“Just give us your specials for the day…and also, do you have any empty rooms for us to rest.  We’ll only be resting for a few hours until its time for our cruise to depart.” she said.

The waitress nodded. “We have rooms available. Today’s special is Dragon Curry with a side of Melting Cheese Bread.”

“Perfect. We’ll take that,” Evelyn replied.

She left to give the order, and not long after, a bell boy approached with a polite smile. Our room was on the second floor—Room 203. We handed him our luggage and instructed that it be transferred to the next dragon cruise departing in four hours.

He nodded without complaint and carried everything off.

Our food came soon after. The Dragon Curry was steaming hot, its spices sharp and savory, while the Cheese Bread practically melted at the touch. Evelyn hummed happily after her first bite, and I had to admit—it was good.

When the bell boy returned, he handed us a receipt confirming that our luggage had already been placed in the system. It would be automatically loaded onto the dragon ship once it was ready. Relieved, we tipped him and finished our meal in peace.

Afterward, we made our way upstairs. The room was small but comfortable—two beds, clean sheets, and a view of the mountainside.

Evelyn stretched with a yawn. “Mmm, perfect for a short nap.”

And with that, we finally let ourselves rest, waiting for the moment our dragon cruise would depart.

While she took a nap, I placed myself by the window….watching as drakes came flying by from and on to the terminal, carrying large ships.

I’ve ridden many dragon cruises in my past life. Mostly it was because of the convenience it brought when I was in a rush to go to somewhere.

One sort of memory I had was when I was guarding a noble while we were flying inside the dragon cruise…and during that time, a  group of assassins suddenly came out of the shadows and attacked us. The entire cruise was turned to flames…and this happened while we were flying a few thousand meters up in the air. When the everything was turned upside down, I had no choice but to grab the client and jump off the cruise…

It was there that when we were falling to our death, I was able to learn how to fly using the winds. The pressure of me dying and failing caused me to awaken another level of my ability to use the winds.

And with it, I saved my client and grew stronger as a mercenary.

Right now…I was again facing a similar situation, but from the looks of it, we weren’t going to be facing any danger. It was going to be a peaceful cruise.

*** a few hours later***

It was finally time to depart.

We got inside the ship and Inside the cabin, it was more comfortable than I expected. Wooden walls polished smooth, cushions on the benches, and straps hidden neatly for when the ride got rough. There was even a small curtain for privacy. Evelyn sat down, running her hands along the fabric with quiet satisfaction.

“My father prepared everything perfectly,” she said. “Even something as expensive as this.”

“Expensive doesn’t mean safe,” I muttered, placing our luggage by the wall. From habit, I checked the runes etched along the frame. Strong, well-maintained.

She gave me a look, then pulled a small pill from her pocket. “This is where I’ll trust you, Thill. I’ll sleep the whole way. Keep watch for me, alright?”

“Fine, but are you going to be okay? You already took a nap a few minutes ago.”

Evelyn smiled faintly, swallowed the pill with water, and leaned back against the cushions. Before long, her breathing turned even.

‘I guess…she’s too scared to even care.’ I thought.

Not long after, the dragon roared, the whole carriage swaying as the beast leapt into the air. For a moment, the world tilted and dropped away beneath us. Then the flight evened out, the wings outside beating in steady rhythm.

Through the small window, the world spread out like a painted map—villages, rivers, endless fields gleaming in the sun. From up here, everything looked so small.

But I couldn’t relax. My hand rested on my sword, my eyes on the clouds outside.

This festival… this invitation… it all smelled like a trap.

And slowly…I was approaching a part of my past I didn’t want to face.

“….Velorria.”