I Got Isekai’d, Well Shyt!

Night has fallen onto the camps outside of the Labyrinth of Lost Souls. Most of the Knights were still up, and the other three groups of bodyguards kept to themselves. Two of the groups only had two guards each. In contrast, Johnathan Bluewood brought five bodyguards.

And of the five, two of them were new hires. They were both twenty-year-olds from a foreign land north of the kingdom. The other three were older, and they had experience working as private guards for nobles throughout the kingdom.

”Oye? Are you two going to stare at those women all day, or are you going to get some sleep?” the commander of the bodyguards asked.

”We’re only looking at the one woman, Master Ronin,” one of the young bodyguards replied in a cold voice.

Ronin was a forty-three-year-old mercenary turned bodyguard that has been a soldier for the past twenty years. He served a noble house for the first fifteen years, then worked as a Royal Guard for the Kingdom of Fiafyr. He was a seasoned warrior and knew his way around a battlefield.

”Just keep your distance from the Prince’s people... Oye! Nikolai. Zephyr. Are you listening to me?” Ronin yelled.

”Yes, Master Ronin... We heard you...” Zephyr said as he was studying all the Knights’ patterns and routines.

”We’ll take the first shift if you don’t mind, Master,” Nikolai said.

Ronin didn’t know what to make of these two. They weren’t all that talkative, and they seemed cold. Like they were murderers, and his master hired them without his input. But it wasn’t his place to question his employer.

”Fine... Just don’t bother anyone. Especially the Prince’s party. We aren’t on good terms with them, and we are outnumbered,” Ronin replied.

”Yes, sir,” the two replied.

Ronin just turned around and went to their tent. Once inside, he spots the other two guards sitting there on the ground, playing a card game.

”So, are those two taking the first shift again?” Rylan asked his commander.

”Yeah... Those two are a strange pair,” Ronin replied.

”Why did the Lord hire those two freaks as his bodyguards? It’s like-”

”There killers, Rylan,” Ronin interrupted.

”I see,” Rylan replied.

Dante jumped into the conversation, ”Do you know why they would hire killers to be our Lord’s bodyguards? They aren’t even from the kingdom. Their accents are very different.”

”I don’t know... Sometimes it’s better not to know,” Ronin said.

”Maybe they want us to fail,” Dante muttered.

”I wouldn’t worry about that. The Young Lord is a mage and is well-trained. He can protect himself... What I’m more worried about is how those two keep staring at the woman... The one that’s dressed as a maid.” Ronin said.

”Haha! Well, I can see two reasons why they are staring at her,” Dante smirked as he played a card from his hand.

”Pff! Only two reasons? I count more than that,” Rylan replied.

”You have a dirty mind, Rylan,” Dante commented.

”I know,” Rylan smiled.

Ronin sighed as he sat down in the chair, ”Those two are not our concern. But I do worry that they are going to try something and we might need to throw them to the wolves. And that Knight Captain-”

”Sir Mathew?” Rylan interrupted.

”Yes... Sir Mathew and the others aren’t going to accept excuses. It’s best if we just keep them away from the group, and if they disobey... We’ll offer them up as a sacrifice,” Ronin replied.

The other two didn’t like that option, but it was a probable outcome.

”Understood,” the two replied.

”Anyway, go get some sleep. Hopefully, we will be here for two more nights before the young lord finishes his trial. The faster we get out of here, the better,” Ronin said.

”Understood, sir,” the two replied.

They all got up and went to their bedrolls to go to sleep.

***

Zephyr and Nikolai were standing there watching the prince’s camp for a few more hours as the twin moons moved across the sky.

”It’s been a while since we were able to take our time, eh Zephyr?” Nikolai asked.

”Hmmm, this is nice. But it seems we aren’t the only ones here...” Zephyr commented.

”I only noticed Soren’s group. Did you spot another?” Nikolai asked.

Zephyr nodded his head.

”Yes, Zane’s group is here too,” Zephyr said.

”Hmmm... That makes things difficult. But it’s not unexpected... As long as we can get the head of that traitor,” Nikolai muttered.

”Yeah, it’s not every day that an Umbralis assassin betrays their client and the Society,” Zephyr said.

”Yes... I can already see us moving up the ranks already,” Nikolai smiled.

”So can I. Once we return, the Society will have to promote us to Mortis rank,” Zephyr said.