Just Another Beginning After the End | TBATE

The Princess

The Thunder Armlet was surprisingly effective... at killing people.

"Tsk."

The fried corpse of the slave trader revealed nothing about the location of the main encampment.

"...?"

Then, I took notice of what looked like paper. Despite the ridiculous voltage coming out of the armlet, it seemed to be as pristine as the day the guy probably got it.

Pulling it out, I detected a few faint traces of mana.

Curious, I tried injecting some of my mana into it.

"Oho?"

I flinched at the sudden voice but what revealed itself was far too fascinating to be distracted from. In slight awe, I spoke.

"A map?"

Aya nodded and remarked on the way they managed to conceal it.

"Mana lock or something like that."

"That's a thing?"

"Yep."

"...Well, X marks the spot."

"No, that's the place we were just at."

"..."

"The little crown marks the spot in this case."

"But that's..."

"Sapin's territory..."

Though my face sank a little, Aya shrugged, unfazed.

"That means that we can't interfere anymore. Let's just pick up the kidnapped elves and return."

I sighed.

"Got it."

**

"Understood."

After concluding our report, Alduin nodded.

"Also, yow were the artifacts?"

"...Oh, yeah. They were..."

I turned to Aya, but she had already turned away.

"Uhm..."

Turning back to Alduin, I tried to think of something that didn't sound insulting.

"...Lethal."

"I see, I see."

Seemingly happy, he sipped on a cup of tea.

"For now, Aya, you're dismissed. Asher, I have another assignment for you."

"Yes, your majesty."

Aya disappeared like a ninja.

I, on the other hand, internally groaned in displeasure. I wanted nothing more than to take a shower and sleep.

"So..."

I plopped down onto a sofa as it seemed like it wasn't serious job time anymore.

"...What am I doing now? I need to start training again."

"What more do you need to train?"

"Stealth, different weapons, mana control, Reinforced Mana—"

"Ok, ok. Good grief."

He sighed and smiled tiredly.

"I want you to serve as an escort."

"...?"

Escort?

"For who?"

"The princess."

I paused, going through the archives of my brain.