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Chapter 31
The Road to the East
Clank.
Clank.
Clank.
The repeated sound of metal striking wood echoed softly through the quiet forest clearing.
Prince Alex swung his practice sword once again, the dull iron blade cutting through the cool evening air before colliding with the wooden training dummy in front of him.
A dull vibration ran through his arms.
"Haah…"
He exhaled slowly, lowering the sword while wiping the sweat gathering on his forehead.
The evening breeze carried the faint scent of pine trees and damp soil.
For a moment, Alex stood still, trying to calm his breathing.
His chest rose and fell steadily as his muscles trembled slightly from exhaustion.
Three days.
It had already been three full days since they departed from the capital, beginning the long journey toward the Eastern Province.
Three days of endless travel inside a carriage.
Three days of bumpy roads, cramped legs, and stiff muscles.
For someone who had started training recently, the journey was not exactly comfortable.
Alex rotated his shoulder slowly, feeling the tightness in his joints.
"Well… at least my body is finally starting to move better."
He lifted the sword again and performed a short series of practice strikes.
Left swing.
Step forward.
Downward slash.
The movements felt clumsy compared to the sword techniques stored in his memory.
But compared to a week ago…
He had improved.
"Now I can run for longer without feeling like my bones are breaking apart," he muttered quietly.
Just as he prepared for another strike, a voice called out from behind him.
"Your Highness."
Alex stopped and turned around.
One of the knights from the escort unit stood near the campfire.
"Dinner is ready."
Alex nodded.
"Alright."
He lowered the sword and placed it beside the training dummy.
"Let's eat."
---
The Traveling Camp
The convoy had stopped in a wide forest clearing surrounded by tall trees.
Several tents had been arranged in a circular formation, with the royal carriage positioned safely in the center.
A large campfire burned brightly, its orange flames casting dancing shadows across the ground.
Around the fire sat several knights, some sharpening their weapons while others quietly talked among themselves.
The smell of roasted meat slowly drifted through the air.
Alex approached the fire and sat down on a wooden log.
Across from him sat Max, the company commander responsible for leading the escort unit.
Max was a tall man with broad shoulders and thick arms that made his armor appear slightly strained.
A faint scar ran across his jawline, hinting at many past battles.
Despite his intimidating appearance, his expression remained calm and respectful whenever he spoke to the prince.
Max handed Alex a wooden plate filled with roasted meat and vegetables.
"Careful, Your Highness. It's still hot."
Alex smiled slightly.
"Thanks."
He took a bite.
The food was simple.
Nothing compared to the luxurious meals served in the royal palace.
But after a long day of traveling, the warm meal tasted satisfying.
For a few minutes, the camp remained quiet except for the crackling of the fire.
Then Alex looked toward Max.
"Tell me something."
Max lifted his gaze.
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"How much longer until we reach the first territory?"
Max wiped his hands with a cloth before answering.
"Well…"
"If the roads remain clear and the weather stays favorable, we should arrive in about two days."
Alex nodded.
"And whose territory is it?"
Max answered immediately.
"The first territory we'll enter belongs to Baron William."
Alex's eyes narrowed slightly.
Baron William.
The name sounded familiar.
In the game Chronicles of the Ruined Empire, the eastern region was filled with small noble territories that primarily focused on agriculture.
Food production.
Trade routes.
And unfortunately…
Bandit activity.
Max continued speaking.
"Baron William is considered a decent noble by most standards."
"He maintains order in his villages and pays his taxes regularly."
Alex tilted his head.
"So he's not corrupt?"
Max chuckled quietly.
"In the empire, finding a noble who isn't greedy at all is rare."
"But Baron William is known for being relatively fair to his people."
Alex nodded slowly.
"That's good."
Max studied him curiously.
"Is this your first time traveling outside the capital, Your Highness?"
Alex shrugged slightly.
"Something like that."
Max laughed quietly.
"Most princes complain constantly about long journeys."
"But you seem rather calm about it."
Alex smiled faintly.
"I prefer moving around instead of sitting inside palace walls all day."
Max nodded approvingly.
"That's a rare mindset."
The conversation slowly faded as the knights continued eating.
Some joked with each other.
Others quietly polished their weapons.
For a moment, the traveling camp felt peaceful.
But Alex knew better.
The Eastern Province was far from peaceful.
And something told him…
This journey would not remain quiet for long.
---
Late Night
Eventually the campfire began to die down.
Most of the knights had already retreated to their tents.
The forest became quiet except for the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind.
Inside his tent, Alex leaned back against a wooden crate.
His body felt tired from both travel and training.
But before sleeping, there was one more thing he wanted to check.
"System."
The familiar blue interface appeared instantly in front of his eyes.
Yes, Host.
"Open status window."
The interface expanded smoothly.
---
Status Window
Name: Alex Von Voldigord
Age: 11
Status: Second Prince of the Ether Empire
Titles:
• Mad Prince
• Kind-Hearted Prince
SC Coins: 12,000
System Shop: Available
---
Alex crossed his arms thoughtfully.
"Open stats."
Another screen appeared.
---
Stats
STR : E+
AGI : E+
INT : C+
MANA : E-
AURA : E-
LUCK : C+
CHR : B
Skills:
• Mana Infusion
• Holy Spell — Curse Breaker
Bloodline: Locked
---
Alex stared at the numbers for several seconds.
"They've improved a lot since the last time I checked."
His intelligence and charisma were already respectable.
But physically…
He was still weak.
Alex sighed.
"If I'm going to face what's waiting in the Eastern Province…"
"…I'll need more power."
He looked back at the system.
"System."
"Yes, Host."
"Find a sword technique manual worth 10,000 SC."
The system processed the request.
Then—
DING
A new window appeared.
---
Sword Manual — Iron Heart Blade Technique
Rank: D+
Description:
The Iron Heart Blade Technique was originally developed by veteran soldiers who survived countless battlefield encounters.
Unlike flashy sword styles used by noble duelists, this technique focuses on practical combat efficiency.
It teaches the user how to maintain balance, conserve stamina, and deliver precise killing strikes during extended battles.
The technique consists of twelve foundational movements designed to improve reaction speed, defensive posture, and strike accuracy.
Although considered a beginner-level martial technique, it is extremely valuable for building strong sword fundamentals.
---
Cost: 10,000 SC
Purchase?
---
Alex nodded.
"That's exactly what I need."
"Purchase."
The moment the purchase completed—
A massive wave of information flooded into his mind.
Footwork patterns.
Sword angles.
Combat instincts.
Training exercises.
Alex grabbed his head.
"Ugh…"
The sudden information transfer made his vision blur for a moment.
But slowly…
The sensation faded.
Alex exhaled deeply.
"That's… a lot of knowledge."
He looked down at his hands.
"If I practice this properly…"
"…my swordsmanship should improve quickly."
He glanced at the remaining SC balance.
"Almost broke again."
Alex chuckled quietly.
Then he lay down on the bedroll.
"Still…"
"If I'm heading toward those ruins…"
"…I'll need all the power I can get."
The forest outside remained quiet.
Alex slowly closed his eyes.
"Better sleep."
"There's a long journey ahead."
---
Somewhere Deep in the Mountains
Far away from the royal convoy…
Inside a dark cave hidden within the mountains…
Dozens of torches illuminated a large underground chamber.
Rough wooden tables were scattered throughout the cave.
Men with scarred faces and cruel eyes sat around them, drinking alcohol and laughing loudly.
Axes and swords leaned against the stone walls.
These were not soldiers.
They were bandits.
At the center of the cave sat a massive man with thick arms and a long beard.
His body was covered with old battle scars.
The bandits called him simply—
Chief.
One of the men rushed into the cave.
"Chief!"
"Everything is ready."
The giant man slowly lifted his head.
"Oh?"
He grabbed a large mug filled with alcohol and drank deeply.
"It's been too quiet lately."
"My men are getting bored."
Several bandits laughed loudly.
The chief wiped his mouth with his sleeve.
"And my lower half is starting to complain."
The cave exploded with crude laughter.
One bandit shouted.
"Then let's hunt soon!"
The chief nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"In two days…"
"We raid the nearest village."
Another bandit leaned forward.
"Which one?"
The chief smirked.
"The one near Baron William's road."
More laughter filled the cave.
"Easy prey!"
"Farmers don't fight back!"
"Plenty of women and gold!"
The chief slammed his mug on the table.
"Prepare the horses."
"In two days…"
"…we hunt."
---
Final Scene
Back in the forest camp…
The night had grown completely silent.
Inside his tent, Alex suddenly opened his eyes.
His instincts felt uneasy.
He sat up slowly.
"…Strange."
Something felt wrong.
Somewhere in the darkness…
Danger was approaching.
And in exactly two days, the royal convoy and the bandits would arrive at the same place.
Neither side realized it yet.
But fate had already begun moving.
And the road ahead…
Would soon be stained with blood.
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End of Chapter 31