Extra Survival Guide to Overpowering Hero and Villain-Chapter 248: Escort II
The guards moved quickly.
Ropes were brought out.
Hands were tied.
Weapons were kicked away.
All eight bandits were forced to kneel by the roadside.
Some were injured.
None were dead.
Manager Horen walked up, breathing hard.
"You caught them alive," he said. "That’s... impressive."
Fenric nodded. "Alive means answers."
Liana crouched in front of the nearest bandit.
"Who sent you?" she asked.
The man hesitated, then spoke. "No one. We’ve been watching this road for days. Beasts moved closer. Guards got fewer. We thought it was our chance."
Fenric listened closely.
"Did you see anything strange?" he asked. "Anything driving the beasts?"
The bandit shook his head. "No. Just more of them. Stronger ones too."
Fenric straightened.
"That’s enough," he said. "Take them along."
Horen blinked. "Along?"
"Yes," Liana replied. "They’ll be handed over at the next city. Guild law."
The manager nodded quickly. "Of course."
The caravan started moving again.
This time, two wagons were used to hold the prisoners.
Guards stayed close.
Fenric returned to the front.
His grip on the bow was steady.
Liana walked beside the middle wagon, eyes always moving.
The road stayed quiet for the rest of the day.
No more attacks.
No signs of beasts.
That night, the camp was tighter.
More guards on watch.
Fires kept low.
Fenric took second watch this time.
He stood near a tree line, listening.
The forest was calm.
As the night went by and they once again started moving.
As the night passed, nothing happened.
No sounds in the forest.
No movement near the road.
When morning came, the caravan packed up and moved out again.
The road slowly widened.
The trees thinned.
The hills lowered.
Fenric noticed fewer tracks.
Older ones.
Nothing recent.
By the third day, the land changed.
The air felt lighter.
The pressure he had felt before was gone.
"That means we’re out of the unstable zone," Liana said after checking the surroundings.
The guards relaxed a little.
Not careless, but calmer.
The prisoners stayed quiet.
No escape attempts.
No trouble.
The caravan kept a steady pace.
Day passed into night.
Night into day.
No ambushes.
No beasts.
On the fifth morning, Fenric saw the river.
Wide.
Slow-moving.
Bridges stretching across it.
Rivergate Town.
The walls were visible soon after.
Clean.
Well-maintained.
The caravan rolled up to the gates without issue.
Town guards checked documents and opened the way.
Inside, the streets were busy with merchants and travelers.
Manager Horen let out a long breath.
"We made it," he said. "Without losses."
The caravan stopped near the trade quarter.
Guild officers were already waiting.
The bandits were handed over immediately.
Chains replaced ropes.
Records were taken.
Fenric and Liana stood aside as everything was processed.
After it was done, Horen turned to them.
"Silverleaf Trade Company thanks you," he said. "This escort was handled perfectly."
He handed over a sealed pouch.
"The agreed reward," he continued. "Plus the bonus."
Fenric accepted it with a nod.
"Safe travels," Liana said.
With the job complete, they left the caravan behind.
The mission was finished.
They did not leave Rivergate Town right away.
After days on the road, both of them needed rest.
Rivergate was a good place for it.
The town was built around the river.
Wide stone bridges crossed the water.
Smaller streams flowed through the streets, carrying clean water past homes and shops.
It was calm.
Orderly.
Well cared for.
Fenric looked around as they walked.
"This place feels... familiar," he said.
Liana glanced at him. "How so?"
"It reminds me of somewhere from my old life," Fenric replied. "A town near water. Busy, but not loud."
Liana nodded. "That makes it good for recovery."
They chose a decent inn near the river.
Not cheap.
Not luxurious.
Clean rooms.
Quiet halls.
Fenric paid for several days in advance.
"No rush," he said. "Let’s rest properly."
They put their gear away and cleaned up.
Fenric took a long bath.
The tension in his muscles finally faded.
After that, they went downstairs and ate.
Warm food.
Fresh bread.
River fish.
Simple, but good.
For the first time in days, Fenric felt fully relaxed.
That evening, they walked along the river.
Lanterns reflected on the water.
People talked quietly.
Children played near the banks.
No danger.
No pressure.
"We’ll stay a few days," Liana said. "Let your body and Aura settle after the level-up."
Fenric agreed. "I don’t want to push again too soon."
That night, he slept deeply.
The next morning, Fenric woke up slowly.
No tension.
No pain.
His Aura moved on its own, smooth and quiet.
That was a good sign.
He washed, dressed, and went downstairs.
Liana was already there, drinking tea.
"You look rested," she said.
"I feel rested," Fenric replied. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦
"After days of sleeping in tents, I finally slep peacefully in a hotel bed" He said chuckling as she nodded.
They ate breakfast together.
Nothing heavy.
Just enough.
After that, they spent the day simply walking through Rivergate Town.
They passed markets filled with river goods.
Fish.
Herbs.
Polished stones.
Craftsmen worked near the water.
Children ran across the bridges.
Fenric watched quietly.
"This place is stable," he said. "No pressure in the air."
"Yes," Liana agreed. "No large beasts nearby. Good patrol routes. Trade keeps it safe."
That afternoon, Fenric did a short circulation session in his room.
Ten minutes.
No more.
The silver tint in his Aura was steady.
No fluctuations.
Liana checked him afterward.
"Your Aura is now perfectly at Silver Quality," she said.
Fenric nodded.
"Anyway, did you find another mission?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No, but I did find something more interesting."
Fenric looked at her. "What?"
"There is a dungeon about one day’s walk south of here," Liana said. "It’s newly discovered."
Fenric nodded again.
"You want to go dungeon exploring?" he asked.
Liana nodded.
Fenric thought about it for a moment.
"A new dungeon means unknown dangers," he said. "But also fresh resources."
"Yes," Liana replied. "And fewer people. The guild hasn’t fully mapped it yet."
Fenric leaned back slightly.
"My Aura just stabilized," he said. "This would be a good test. Not too rushed."
Liana smiled faintly. "That’s what I thought."
They went to the guild branch in Rivergate Town later that day.
The dungeon notice was simple.
Newly Discovered Dungeon
Location: South of Rivergate Town
Estimated Rank: Low Rank 3
Status: Partially explored
Notes: Unknown internal structure
